“Okay,” he said, “I guess that’s sorta cool.”
A few minutes later, after Kaylee and her castmates had arranged their simple set pieces on the stage, the lights dimmed once again. Once on This Island’s prologue began:
“There is an island where rivers run deep
Where the sea sparkling in the sun earns it
The name ‘Jewel of the Antilles’ . . .”
The pulsing rhythm of the musical introduction sent a chill racing up my spine. A split second later I realized that the spinal jolt had actually nothing to do with the music; it was because Tanner’s hand was suddenly resting halfway on top of mine. I froze, keeping completely still, as I wondered whether the placement of his hand was some kind of accident, and whether anyone (namely Jack or Jenny) had noticed. There was a chance Tanner didn’t even know we were touching. But then, after a few moments, he lifted his fingers and gently curled them around mine. I instantly had two thoughts: the first, that there was nothing accidental about intertwined fingers; the second, how different this hand-holding was from when Tanner almost crushed my fingers during the curtain call. With what felt like a great deal of courage, I pressed the tips of my fingers into his hand. He turned his head in my direction to flash the Grin, which prompted my stomach to flip over about twenty times. On the other side of me I felt Jack’s elbow digging into my ribs once again, followed moments later by Jenny pulling on the waistband of my skirt from her seat behind me. Guess they noticed. But as I sat there watching Kaylee and her classmates deliver a stunning performance of Once on This Island, I didn’t feel embarrassed. I just felt happy.
Playing Ti Moune, Kaylee sang that she was “waiting for life to begin,” yearning for opportunity and adventure. I realized that, at least in this moment, I wasn’t waiting for anything. My life—the life I dreamed of living—had most certainly begun.
Jack
“AND THE WINNER OF THE Ghostlight Festival is . . .”
My grip tightened around Lou’s shoulders as the announcer’s voice echoed through the event center. The memories from the previous two days all swirled together in my head like a kaleidoscope. The only sound that could be heard was the tearing of envelope paper and the sounds of a thousand hearts beating in unison.
“Rustin Middle School, for Once on This Island!”
A seismic wave of screams and cheers swept the auditorium as the entire audience leaped to its feet. Of course Rustin Middle School won! The second Kaylee opened her mouth to sing the first notes of Ahrens and Flaherty’s enchanting, soulful score, everyone in the audience realized the contest was over. While Once on This Island didn’t have the slickness of Cavendish’s How to Succeed or the improvised comedy of our The Fantasticks, the simple beauty of their stripped-down performance—plus Kaylee’s devastating pipes—made Rustin a shoo-in for first place. In the end, it didn’t matter how cutting-edge a concept was, or how much money was spent on sets and costumes. The school that simply told the story the best was the one that took home the trophy.
Lou and I screamed ourselves hoarse as the Rustin Middle School team swarmed the stage, their faces streaked with tears as they passed the giant trophy down to our friend and newly crowned Queen of Ghostlight, Kaylee Cooper.
As for Cavendish? They placed second, collecting high points in creativity and production elements. As for Shaker Heights Middle School . . . we came in eighth. It was still a pretty amazing feat for a school that had never even competed before—and whose entire show had been rebuilt in the span of an afternoon.
Once the commotion finally ended, representatives from each of the top ten teams joined Rustin Middle School on the stage to collect our plaques. Even over all the applause, I could hear the sound of Teddy whistling with his fingers as I took a self-conscious bow.
As the cheering subsided, the cast of Once on This Island started a celebratory and impromptu a cappella version of “Why We Tell the Story.” The rest of us joined in with gusto.
“Hope is why we tell the story,
Faith is why we tell the story,
You are why we tell the story.”
“I feel like I’m dreaming,” Kaylee said, hugging Lou around the waist.
The Four Musketeers had gathered in the lobby following the awards ceremony, savoring our final moments together while our parents and chaperones settled bills, returned room keys, and tried to track down Tanner, who had insisted on bouncing on his hotel bed one last time.
“Excuse me—you’re the girl who played Ti Moune, right?” a nearby girl asked shyly, her group approaching us nervously. “Can we take a selfie with you?”
“Are you for real?” Kaylee laughed. “Of course!”
Lou, Teddy, and I stepped out of the way as Kaylee leaned in and smiled alongside the pack of grinning strangers (the first of many moments in the spotlight for Kaylee, if I may be so bold).
“Thank you so much!” the shortest girl said nervously. “You are going to be so famous one day!”
“Omigosh,” Kaylee gasped, still clearly in shock from her newfound fame. “Thank you so much!”
“Thank YOU!” the girl’s friends cheered before they skipped off, fired up from having a picture with the rising star of Ghostlight.
“Next year we’re going to need to get you a security detail,” Teddy whispered with a grin, once the kids were out of earshot.
Following our performances last night, Teddy and I finally got to spend the time together that had motivated me to come to Ghostlight in the first place. We brushed elbows at dinner, filling our spoons with gross things for him to eat in his newest game: Rodgers and Hammerstein Sludge Bucket. We laughed as we rode the escalator up and down with Lou and Kaylee until the hotel’s overnight manager demanded that we went to bed. But we still hadn’t had a chance to talk just the two of us. Even at the dance mixer, where I promised myself that I’d say something, the music was too loud and the dance floor too crowded to have a serious conversation. Now I found myself standing with my suitcase, ready to head back to life in Shaker Heights, and I still hadn’t uttered a word about how much he meant to me.
“Oh no,” Kaylee said, looking out the giant glass doors of the Marriott. “My bus just pulled up in the driveway. I think it’s that time.”
The Musketeers groaned, pulling her in for one last giant hug, whispering words of congratulations and promises to stay in touch. We watched her disappear into the November daylight, a champion leaving the ring in victory.
“When does the Cavendish bus leave?” I asked Teddy.
“Not for another hour,” he replied. “But I came down anyway. I didn’t want to miss saying good-bye to you guys.”
“Aw, you’re the best,” Lou said, hugging him around the waist.
We compared travel times and road-trip snacks that we’d bought from the gift shop. We talked about our hometowns and the ways we’d spend the last few weeks of autumn. We swapped Ghostlight memories and hopes for our next starring roles, and before we knew it, our moms were calling for us from across the lobby.
“Jack and Lou!” Mrs. Benning said. “Time to get on the bus!”
“Ugh. We have to go.” Lou frowned. “Thank you so much for convincing us to do Ghostlight,” she said, pulling Teddy in for a hug.
“You promise you don’t regret not doing Sound of Music?” he asked, hugging her tight.
“I wouldn’t trade this weekend,” she said, her eyes beginning to fill with her token good-bye tears, “for anything. I’ll see you next summer!”
Lou wiped her face with her sleeve and grabbed ahold of her rolling suitcase. As she turned to leave, she gave me an encouraging nod, both of us knowing that if I was going to say something to Teddy, now would be my last shot. I looked back to Teddy, whose hands were in his pockets. He rocked slightly back and forth on his feet. I couldn’t help but be reminded of Camp Curtain Up, that afternoon in August where we stood jus
t like this, neither of us quite knowing how to say good-bye.
“Lou’s totally right,” I said finally. “This weekend was pretty incredible.”
“Even the part where you puked your guts out?” he asked, giving my arm a little punch.
“Well, okay, not everything.” I laughed.
I looked down at my shoes and took in a deep breath. Now or never, the voice echoed in my head. Now or never.
“But, Teddy.” I looked him straight in the face. “I did like all the parts that I got to spend with you.”
I watched as the words played through his mind, his eyes flickering slightly with recognition.
“Aw, come here,” he said, wrapping his arms around me.
The hardest part was over, I told myself, resting my chin on his shoulder. Whatever happens now is out of my control.
“Maybe you can come visit us on winter break or something?” I said, pulling out of the hug and reaching down for my duffel bag.
“Yeah, maybe.” He smiled. “I’d like that.”
“Jack!” I heard my mom call again. I could see my cast through the big glass windows, boarding our yellow school bus.
“Okay,” I said, slinging the strap over my shoulder. “I’ll see ya.”
“Bye, Jack.” He nodded and gave me that unforgettable crooked smile.
I turned and walked to the exit. My shoulders dropped an inch, finally unloading the weight that came from having to guard a secret. Sure, I hadn’t told him how many times a day he crossed my mind, or how I would replay our weekend in my head the entire bus ride back to Shaker Heights, but I had been brave enough to show him a little bit of what was going on in my heart, and for that, I had no regrets. I took one last look over my shoulder as I pushed through the revolving doors, Teddy’s hand raising slowly, giving a little wave as he watched the wheel of glass return me safely to the reality of eighth grade.
A wall of sadness hit the second my foot stepped onto the bus, but it was different from what I’d felt on the drive down. It wasn’t the worry of ruining a perfectly good show, or the anger of being in a fight with my best friend. It felt more like a tugging, an acknowledgment that things were probably going to be different now. My final scene with Teddy hadn’t ended like it would have if we were characters in The Fantasticks, but I still had a feeling that everything was going to be okay.
My mood brightened ever so slightly as I walked up the aisle, passing the fond faces of my cast, past Raj and Radhika, who flashed me their twin grins, past Sebastian, who raised his hand for a fist bump, past Sarah and Esther and Jenny and Belinda, all smiling and congratulating me once again.
“Jack,” a voice called from the back of the bus. “Come sit with us.”
The voice belonged to Lou, who to my delight was wedged into a row with none other than Tanner Falzone. The only thing separating them was our Top Ten plaque, sandwiched between their blue jeans.
“We saved you a spot,” Tanner said, reaching across the aisle and pulling his backpack off a vacant row. I stole a quick glance with Lou as I slid into my seat.
How did it go? her eyes asked.
I’ll tell you later, my shoulders shrugged back.
For now, I was content with sitting back and watching my friend share a seat with her crush. I couldn’t believe that after six months of enduring Tanner’s tireless flirting, she’d finally given in and allowed herself to like him back. And while I was over the moon, I couldn’t help but feel a tiny sting of jealousy, knowing that I wanted those same things with Teddy.
Just as the engine of our bus rumbled to life, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I fished it out and read the notification on my screen
“New Message from Teddy Waverly.”
I swiped my finger, expecting a goofy selfie.
HEY BUDDY, the text read. I REALIZED I NEVER REALLY GOT TO GUSH ABOUT HOW AWESOME THE FANTASTICKS WAS! STRIPPING IT DOWN LIKE THAT WAS SO SMART—YOU MADE OUR HOW TO SUCCEED LOOK SO OVERDONE. HAHA. LOU WAS PERFECTLY CAST AND AS FOR THE DIRECTION . . . IS IT LAME TO SAY IT WAS FANTASTIC? ;-)
A huge smile spread across my face.
BUT MOSTLY . . . the next text bubble read. MOSTLY I’M SORRY I DIDN’T GET TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU. EVERYONE WHO SAW YOUR SHOW KNOWS WHAT AN AMAZING DIRECTOR YOU ARE . . . BUT WHAT’S EVEN MORE AMAZING IS HOW YOU MAKE ME FEEL WHEN I’M WITH YOU.
The bottom of his text was signed with two tiny symbols. Two simple characters that on their own meant little, but when put together made my eighth-grade existence burst open wide with possibilities.
<3
I looked around the crowded bus. Our driver, Larry, was turning his wheel, getting ready to pull out of the parking lot.
“WAIT!” I shouted, standing up in our row.
Larry screeched the brakes as every head on board turned back to look at me.
“What?” Belinda said, looking concerned.
“I forgot . . . ,” I muttered, looking around the bus. “I forgot . . .” My eyes landing on Tanner and Lou. “I forgot our Top Ten plaque! I think I left it on the desk in the lobby.”
Tanner reached underneath Lou’s arm, “No, Jack, it’s right—”
Lou cut him off, elbowing him in the side. “That’s . . . right!” Lou jumped in, sliding the plaque under her leg. “That’s right! I saw you leave it on the desk!”
“Oh, riiight.” Tanner nodded slowly. “Yes . . . we can’t leave . . . without our plaque,” he said, overemphasizing the sound of worry in his voice.
“Okay,” Belinda clipped. “Well, run back in and get it, Jack! We’ll wait here.”
“Totally!” I said, scrambling to the front of the bus. “I will be so quick!”
I leaped down the stairs of the bus and dashed up to the entrance of the hotel. I pushed through the revolving doors, my heart pounding like a drum. I sprinted through the lobby, a wave of instant relief crashing over me as my eyes landed on Teddy, who was thankfully still waiting, staring down at his phone.
“I like how I feel when I’m with you, too!” I blurted out.
Teddy looked up from his phone, a mixture of surprise and excitement spreading across his face.
“You do?” he said meekly.
“Yes,” I breathed. “A lot, actually.”
Teddy looked around the lobby, clearly startled by the spontaneity of my declaration. “Well . . . good,” he said finally. “Me too.”
“Yeah, I’ve felt that way since camp,” I continued. “I just didn’t know if I should tell you or if you even felt . . .” I shook my head. “. . . that way.”
“Well, I’m glad you came back,” Teddy said. “If you didn’t reply to that text, I was pretty sure I was going to have a heart attack.” His face broke out into a wide grin.
“Don’t do that,” I said, kicking his shoe.
For a second we just stood there, laughing awkwardly, afraid to break eye contact. The whole thing began to seem ridiculous in hindsight—the hours I’d spent worrying, the negative thoughts playing through my head on loop, all that time unaware there was someone out there thinking those same things about me.
“Argh!” I growled. “I wish I could stay and tell you everything, but I really need to go.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t miss your bus, stinker.”
“Okay.” I grinned. “Bye, Teddy.”
I turned to walk away but felt a hand on my shoulder. This time, it was Teddy’s turn to be spontaneous. He spun me around, placed his hand on the back of my head, and leaned in, gently touching his lips to mine. They felt soft and kind of warm, not wet and heavy like the kisses I’d seen in cheesy movies. As he pulled away, I could feel a breath of warm air exhale through his nose.
“I’m sorry,” he said, blushing from his chin to his forehead. “I hope that was okay.”
“It was,” I replied, feeling a little light-headed. “I’m .
. .” I stammered. “I’m really glad I came back.”
“Me too.” Teddy giggled. “And for what it’s worth, I’d really, really like to come visit you on winter break.”
“Yes!” I cheered. “I’d like that, too.”
“Good.” He kind of laughed. “You better.”
I marveled at his crooked smile one last time, forcing my brain to memorize this moment as I turned and walked to the door. As I neared the exit, I looked over my shoulder and called out, “Less-than sign, number three.”
“Less-than sign, number three, you too,” he called back.
“So where’s the plaque?” Belinda said the second I climbed the stairs to the bus.
“Oh!” My eyebrows shot up. In all the excitement of my musical-romance ending, I’d completely forgotten the excuse I’d made to chase down Teddy in the first place.
“I . . .” My eyes darted around the bus.
“Here it is, Jack!” Lou called, popping up from her seat. “It’s right here on the floor. It must have fallen out of your bag when you sat down.”
“Oh, phew,” I said, loving my friend, perhaps more than ever. “Yeah, I’m glad I didn’t lose it.”
“Okay, okay.” Belinda swatted. “Go take your seat. I want to be home in time for the Wife Island season finale.”
I hustled back to my row, flashing Tanner and Lou a thankful grin as I ducked into my seat. As we merged onto the highway I looked at my reflection in the key-scratched glass, the golden Columbus skyline disappearing behind us like a fading memory. Thinking about the roller coaster of events we’d endured was almost too much to take in, so I decided to just relax and listen to the rumble of tires on pavement.
“Jack,” Lou’s voice whispered from across the aisle. “How’d it go? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s great,” I whispered back. “Thanks for covering for me.”
“Anytime, friend.”
When I moved to Shaker Heights, I knew I’d have to adjust to life in a new city, but I never realized I’d also have to face all the stuff that comes with growing up. I’d taken on school bullies, overcome rejection, started new projects and said good-bye to others. I’d turned foes into friends and learned truths about myself, but what made them all seem a little less scary was knowing that I didn’t have to face them alone. As the morning sun shined through the window, warm against my face, I thought of my friend across the aisle and the events that led us to this precise moment—Lou holding hands with the boy she liked and me, dizzy from my first kiss—both of us knowing that no matter what happened next, we’d have each other to lean on.
Act 3 Page 14