Phantom

by Laura DeLuca

  “Rebecca, stop lingering in the doorway!” Her father urged her forward as he lifted his video camera to the best possible angle. “The anticipation is killing us.”

  Now that she had been spotted, there was no putting it off any longer. Rebecca held her breath and started her slow catwalk down the stairs. As she turned the corner, she heard four people gasp in almost perfect unison, though she was pretty sure each gasp was for a different reason. Her dress swished at her feet with each step, and she hoped she wouldn’t trip, especially since her father had the camcorder ready to capture every embarrassing moment.

  “Isn’t she beautiful?” Darlene gushed to her mother.

  Mrs. Hope nodded, but Rebecca knew her mother well enough to know that of all the adjectives running through her head at that moment, beautiful probably wasn’t one of them. Strange, bizarre, freaky, ethereal maybe, but beautiful—

  “Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe her.” Justyn’s voice was filled with such pure, honest emotion, it didn’t even matter anymore what anyone else thought. “You did this for me?”

  Rebecca shrugged her shoulders, and noted again just what Justyn was referring to as she glanced at her reflection in the living room mirror. The black make up, the black tight fitting gown with a long black train. Black spider web lace trailed the length of her arms and ended in a pointed tip at her wrists. Her face was pale as snow, making her dark eyes stand out in amazing contrast. The entire outfit seemed only fitting when she had chosen it. After all, Justyn was going against his very grain by attending the cliché senior prom at all. The least she could do was accompany him dressed as his Gothic queen.

  “Unbelievable,” he whispered as he slipped a corsage of blood red roses on her wrist.

  “You really like it?”

  He smiled at her insecurity. “There aren’t words in any language that could express to you exactly how much I like it. Becca, my love, you are beyond stunning.”

  She felt herself blush at the sincere compliment and hoped it didn’t ruin the effect.

  “If you two love birds don’t hurry up, you’re going to miss your ride.” Her father informed them.

  Even as he said it, an almost musical honk emitted from the driveway. Rebecca peeked out the window and saw Carmen and Tom both hanging out the sunroof of the waiting limo, waving excitedly and gesturing them to come out and join them. They had gotten together not long after the play. It was true what they said about tragedy bringing people together.

  “Your carriage awaits.” Justyn offered her his arm, which she accepted gratefully. Not as much chance of her falling when he was at her side.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Darlene called as they went out the door.

  “That leaves us open for a broad spectrum of possibilities.”

  Justyn turned around to give his mother a conspirative wink, and Rebecca pulled him through the door before her father could ponder that comment long enough to have an angina attack. Tom threw open the door of the limo, and Justyn, in pure old-world fashion, took hold of her hand as she stepped inside. It was a good thing, too. For Rebecca, walking in high heels was a precarious endeavor.

  “Wow, Becca. You do realize its prom and not Halloween, right?” Carmen asked as she gave Rebecca’s dress a once-over. Her own light pink fitted gown looked spectacular, especially with the billowing black curls that cascaded down her back.

  Tom grinned, as boyishly handsome as ever, especially in his tux. “Oh, leave her alone, Carmen. I think you look great, Bec. But of course, not as beautiful as you.” He kissed Carmen’s nose and the pout that was just beginning to form instantly vanished.

  The four of them were a strange quartet. Yet, a quartet they had been for the last seven months, practically inseparable. That wasn’t so odd for Carmen and Rebecca, who had been best friends since grade school. But a real comradeship had grown between Tom and Justyn as well. Rebecca wouldn’t have believed it was possible if she hadn’t experienced it firsthand. The surfer and the Goth, once bitter enemies, were now best friends and confidants.

  Rebecca wondered what they were all going to do without each other the next year. With graduation looming threateningly, she realized they only had a few months left with their friends. Then Tom would be off to his ideal endless summer in California, and Carmen would be packing up for Rutgers University to study physiology. Rebecca and Justyn would both be attending the New York School of Performing Arts, thanks to the talent scout who had given them full scholarships. Darlene was already helping them look for a little studio apartment off campus. It was something Rebecca was dreading having to share with her parents.

  “Why the serious face?” Justyn asked. “This is supposed to be a fun night.”

  “I was just thinking about how much I’m going to miss nights like this once we’re all off in the real world.”

  “We’ll keep in touch,” Carmen said. “Thanksgiving comes pretty quick.”

  Rebecca didn’t miss the quick sidelong glance she gave Tom. Her boyfriend was going to school on the other side of the country. At least Rebecca would get to be with Justyn. Of course, not being with Justyn wasn’t really an option. She gave him a small smile, and gingerly touched the scar on his forehead. It wasn’t nearly as awful as the hole in his shoulder, but it was still a lasting memento of the opening night of the play. It was barely noticeable to anyone who didn’t know it was there, but for Rebecca it was a constant reminder of everything she almost lost. And everything she had to be grateful for.

  It didn’t take long for them to get to the restaurant where the prom was being held. They piled out of the limo and joined the other seniors in the elaborate ballroom. Red and white balloons and streamers, the school colors, decorated the hall. And every table setting offered a picture frame with the memorable words, “These are the days to remember.” And that prom night was certainly a night Rebecca would never forget. Filled with fun, romance and even a few surprises—at least for Justyn.

  Justyn didn’t think much of it when Miss King, who was working as a chaperone, walked up onto the stage, and borrowed a microphone from the band. But the rest of the party at their table exchanged secretive smiles. Luckily, Justyn was too busy doing origami with his napkin to notice.

  “Good evening, seniors. I hope you’re all enjoying your night!” There were lots of hoots and hollers from the crowd on the dance floor. “That’s wonderful! Well, we have one more little surprise for you—one more thing to make this a night to remember. The graduating seniors of the drama club would like to give one last farewell performance.”

  Lots of clapping erupted around them, and finally Justyn’s head snapped up. On his face was a look of wide-eyed confusion. Rebecca had to cover her mouth to stifle a giddy giggle. Beside her, Carmen and Tom were smirking too. They were all pretty proud of themselves. It wasn’t easy to take Justyn by surprise.

  “What are you three stooges up to?”

  “One last hooray,” Tom told him.

  Justyn narrowed his eyes. “And why wasn’t I let in on this little secret?”

  Miss King answered that question for them. “Without further ado, let me introduce Justyn, Tom, Carmen, and Becca. They’ll be performing their own special rendition of “Love Shack.”

  Justyn’s mouth fell open in dumb shock.

  Rebecca smiled. “It’s not that bad.”

  “You don’t actually except me to sing that nineties retro nonsense, do you?”

  “Blame it on me, Justyn,” Carmen offered. “It’s the only song with multiple parts that was anywhere in my voice range.”

  “Come on, dude, be a good sport,” Tom said, and clapped Justyn on the back.

  Justyn glared at him. “You’re pushing it, dude.”

  “Do it for me.”

  Rebecca fluttered her eyelashes in what she hoped was a provocative way. They were so heavy with thick, black mascara, she couldn’t really be sure. But when she saw Justyn’s frown relax into that sweet smile she knew and loved, she rea
lized that victory was hers.

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

  “Come on, Lord Justyn—your fans await!”

  Rebecca took his hand, and the two of them followed Carmen and Tom onto the stage. With the four-piece band as their back up, they sang—loud and clear and strong. The entire class joined in for the final chorus, and laughed at the silly, exaggerated expressions they wore as they got into character. Rebecca noted that Justyn didn’t need the cheat sheet of lyrics she had pulled from her handbag. Apparently, he was a little more familiar with “that nineties retro nonsense” than he wanted to let on.

  It all went very smoothly. Rebecca wasn’t even nervous about performing at all. The song actually ended way too soon, as did the rest of the night. Before long they were lost in the crowd on the dance floor as the last slow song of the night began to play.

  “This is it,” Rebecca whispered as Justyn pulled her close. “Sure there’s a few more exams to take, but this is really the last big night of high school.”

  “Any regrets?”

  “Only the weeks that I wasted that I should have spent with you.” Rebecca smiled, but then grew a little more serious. “And of course Debbie.”

  “What Debbie did wasn’t your fault.”

  How many times had she heard that? More than she could count. But it didn’t really change anything. She still felt guilty, and at least partially responsible for everything Debbie had done. But she couldn’t tell Justyn that. He would spend the rest of the night trying to change her mind.

  Rebecca sighed. “At least she’s getting the help she needs.”

  Justyn pulled her closer. “I wish you wouldn’t torture yourself.”

  She should have known she couldn’t hide her feelings from him. He practically read her mind most of the time. “I think it will be easier when we leave for New York. There are just too many reminders here. Of Debbie. Of Jay. Even of Wendy.”

  Justyn nodded. “I know how hard this has been for you. But Becca, I swear to you, if I can help it, no one will ever hurt you again.”

  Rebecca smiled. “Oh really, Lord Justyn. Are you going to be my hero? Are you going to ride in on your black horse and save me?”

  She had only been kidding, but his eyes grew serious, and he actually stopped dancing as he raised a hand to stroke her cheek. “How about we save each other.” He leaned down to kiss her. “Every day for the rest of our lives.”

  She had to swallow past a large lump in her throat before she could speak again. “Sounds good to me.”

  Rebecca sighed as he pulled her back into his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the kind of bliss she didn’t even realize existed before she had met him. Finally they had gotten it right. The final curtain had fallen. The show was over. And in the midst of art coming to life, Justyn and Rebecca had found true love.

  Coming in 2013 from Author Laura DeLuca

  Demon

  Dark Musicals Trilogy, Book 2

  Rebecca Hope was sitting high atop a deserted lifeguard bench, watching the waves roll in along the oceanfront, bringing with them an abundance of broken seashells and seaweed. Behind her, the sand stretched for miles. The distant screams from the roller coaster were the only sounds marring the peaceful beauty of the night. She watched as the sun dipped into the deep blue sea, turning the waters a murky gray. Looking out at the endless stretch of water made anything seem possible, but not even the spectacular beauty of the evening was enough to pull Rebecca from her sullenness.

  “I can’t believe the summer is already over.” She sighed. “This is it. It’s really our last night together. Tomorrow we’re officially college students. ”

  Rebecca’s boyfriend, Justyn Patko, gave her a supportive squeeze, but when she looked over at her best friend, Carmen Webber, her eyes welled with tears. They had been close since grade school. Rebecca wasn’t sure how she was going to face life without her best friend by her side. They had never been apart for more than a few days.

  Carmen waved her hand in dismissal, but Rebecca heard the catch in her voice. “Please don’t talk about it. You know I don’t like letting people see me cry.” She squeezed the newly acquired teddy bear that her boyfriend, Tom Rittenhouse, had spent at least fifty dollars trying to win for her.

  “Come on, guys.” Tom gave Carmen a light jab in the arm. “It’s not that bad. It’ll be Thanksgiving before we know it. Then we’ll have a big reunion. We’ll all swap stories about college life and how hard we partied.”

  “Besides,” Justyn added, “this is a beginning. Not an ending.”

  There was a commutative sigh as they considered that. It was the last day of summer vacation. It was bitter sweet, but they had decided to make the most of it. They drove the forty-five minutes to a little tourist town called Wildwood, a resort known for its free beaches and spectacular amusement parks. They spent the day sunbathing, exploring the boardwalk, and stopped for dinner at a little restaurant called Duffy’s on the Lake. Finally, they headed back to the beach to watch the sun set on the nearly deserted shoreline.

  “At least you two will be together,” Carmen said with a wistful glance at Tom. “Tom and I are going to be on opposite ends of the country.”

  Rebecca couldn’t argue. She knew how lucky she was. Tom was off to his endless summer in California while Carmen would be staying close to home and attending a state college in New Jersey. They were going to be a world apart.

  Rebecca and Justyn had both been accepted to the New York School of Performing Arts. Their tuition was paid in full, thanks to the talent scout who had come in search of Justyn, but found a duo he refused to leave behind. They even arranged to rent a small apartment off campus, much to her parent’s displeasure. Still, the fact that Rebecca was going to have her boyfriend by her side didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous about leaving her hometown and everything she knew. In fact, she was downright terrified.

  Justyn seemed to read her thoughts, even though he addressed everyone. “Don’t worry. After all we’ve been through his past year . . . college will be like one big vacation.”

  Rebecca saw Tom nod in the darkness. They were all contemplative for a moment, remembering the nightmare they had faced. During their high school drama club’s production of Phantom, one of the students had stalked and terrorized them, even going so far as murdering two of their classmates, including Tom’s best friend, Jay. Justyn had been close to death when the crazed killer was de-masked on opening night. Luckily, the gun shot only hit his shoulder.

  Rebecca noticed Justyn grimace and try to readjust his arm on the cramped bench that was only meant for two. He was lucky he was an actor and not a pitcher because his shoulder would never to be the same. Rebecca still felt responsible. After all, it was her friend Debbie who had hurt all those innocent people, including Justyn—all because she had secretly yearned for a romantic relationship with Rebecca.

  “Hey, babe,” Tom said to Carmen, interrupting Rebecca’s dark reverie. “How about one last stroll along the beach?”

  Carmen nodded. The pretty Latina was trying so hard to maintain the tough girl façade, but Rebecca could see her eyes glistening as she climbed down the ladder that led to the sand. She watched them walk away hand-in-hand, but they hadn’t gone far before Carmen finally fell apart. Tom wrapped his arms around her and stroked her long black hair. Rebecca, feeling like an eavesdropper on the intimate moment, averted her eyes to give them some privacy.

  “You know, we really are lucky.” Justyn whispered, and tilted her head to place a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ve moved a dozen times in my life. I’ve left friends and family behind more than once, but I don’t think I could bear to leave you.”

  Rebecca smiled, and studied his familiar face in the moonlight. His multiple facial piercings glistened against his pale skin and dark outlined eyes. His solid black ensemble should have made it hard to see him in the night.

  When people saw Rebecca with the dramatic Goth, it took them by surprise. They mad
e a strange pair. With her everyday jean shorts and curly brown hair, Rebecca was the poster girl for boring. Yet they made it work, and Rebecca couldn’t imagine herself with anyone else. They were completely in tune with each other, and created a sort of magical harmony, not only with their voices but in all aspects of their relationship. She had even learned a few things from him. She touched the silver pentacle that dangled around her neck. She was still in the midst of her year and a day training; she had a few more months before she could call herself a full-fledged witch. Thanks to Justyn, she had discovered her spiritual path as well as her soul mate.