Raise the Curtain

by Kirby Hall

  “You’re not stupid,” he countered. He wasn’t trying to make her feel better, he actually meant it. He’d expected worse, but all in all she wasn’t doing too badly. “Wait, you forgot to show the middle step. You’ll lose points.”

  “I know how to get there, but I’m not good at explaining how.”

  “Well, the ‘how’ matters and that’s why we’re here.”

  She turned her face toward him and arched a brow. “I thought you were here to earn an elective credit?”

  “That, too.” He tapped the paper. “Okay, try again.” He waited while she worked her way through the problem. Her lips were pressed in a thin line. He could almost see the function being worked out in her mind line by line.

  She got to the end and looked at him, triumph shining in her smile.

  He tore his eyes from her face and checked the paper. “Nailed it.”

  “Really?” her voice cracked.

  He laughed. “One down, about a million to go.”

  “Thanks for that.” She shoved him.

  Half an hour later, after completing the assignment for Mr. Guin, she sat up and blew out a huff of air, sending a few loose strands of hair waving. The light hit the far side of her face revealing the remains of an angry red patch of skin.

  West placed his fingers on her chin and turned her head to the side. “Is this from the wreck?” Her cheeks reddened and he dropped his hand. Why did he touch her? He shouldn’t have touched her.

  “Um, yes.” She covered the side of her face and stood. “It’s from the airbag.”

  “It’s not bad,” he added when he sensed her unease. He stood too, so he could stop craning his neck to talk to her. They both looked anywhere but at each other. Without the shared task of math, it was painfully obvious they didn’t have anything to talk about. Silence stretched between them and Alexa grasped her hands in front of her, for once coming across as a teenager and not someone much older. It was kind of cute. Huh? Where had that come from?

  All of a sudden standing in the middle of her bedroom seemed too intimate. He grabbed his bag off the floor and headed for the door.

  “West,” she said causing him to stop and turn to look at her. “I know you aren’t doing it for me, but thanks anyway, you know, for your help.”

  “Sure thing.” He started to leave again.

  “Hey, did you need a ride?”

  He laughed. “It’s all good, A-money. I can find my way home.”

  She opened her mouth again, most likely with some kind of snappy retort, so he closed the door between them. It made him uneasy when she was being nice. He’d almost rather she reverted back to yelling at him. Yelling he could deal with.

  Graham was watching TV when he crossed through the living room on his way to the back door. He could see the kid’s hair sticking up over the top of the couch.

  “You still alive?” Graham asked.

  “Yeah, for now.” West paused and watched the cartoon on the TV. Some kids were riding hover boards and chasing a green monster. It was pretty cool.

  His gaze traveled to the table positioned at the back of the couch and paused when a picture of Alexa caught his attention. The table was covered with them. They were mostly of Alexa and Graham when they were little. Missing front teeth, standing on a beach, wearing a pink getup. There was a larger photo on the end, who he assumed, were their parents. Seeing the picture reminded him of Graham’s drawing. “How’d your drawing finish up?”

  Graham turned to look at him and shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  “I’m sure your mom’ll like it.”

  Graham shook his head.

  “Kid, be serious. You’re good. Like, really good.”

  “I know. Everybody’s always telling me.” He glanced back at the TV. “My mom’s dead.”

  In that moment, West wished the ground would open up and swallow him. Dammit. He was such an idiot.

  “Sorry, kid. I didn’t know.”

  He shrugged again. “It’s okay. I don’t really remember her. I was little when she died.”

  West didn’t know what to say so he didn’t say anything. All the usual things people said sounded empty. He wasn’t going to become one of them. He’d always hated the, I’m sorrys, and I know she loved yous. They both focused on the TV for a few more minutes. “I’d better go. See you tomorrow.”

  “See ya.”

  West took a deep breath of air when he stepped outside and closed his eyes. He changed his mind, Alexa’s house was beyond what he’d expected, but then, so was she. He started down the driveway and stopped to look back when he neared the street. He saw her silhouette in one of the upstairs windows and wondered what she was thinking about. The prim girl from school wasn’t as big of a priss as he’d originally thought, which both intrigued and annoyed him.

  Chapter 10

  It was Alexa’s third day working with West and she’d already made progress. There was hope. His arm brushed hers as he reached for his book to flip the page, and she did her best to ignore the surge of butterflies in her chest. She wasn’t supposed to feel that way about West. She didn’t like him. But, this was the third time he’d touched her and the third time her chest had gone all weird. Her mind wandered to their time together the day before when his knee had rested against hers. She hadn’t wanted to break the contact.

  “Alexa? Are you listening to me?”

  She blinked twice. “What?”

  He scowled at her. “Pay attention already.”

  “Sorry. The competition is tomorrow, and I’m freaking out a little.” It wasn’t a complete lie. She was a little nervous about the play, but in truth, she was becoming more nervous about him. She’d dated a few guys; okay two, but never anything serious and they were nothing like West. Where they were preppy with parents who attended the same country club as her father; West was laid back and cool. Those guys played tennis and golf and West . . . well, she didn’t know what he did when he wasn’t walking around cemeteries or tutoring her.

  “What do you like to do, you know, in your free time?” Her eyes widened. Had she really asked him that out loud?

  West used his pencil to close the book. “Not tutor people.”

  “Give me a break, we’ve been at this a long time and the assignment’s almost done. So, tell me, what do you like to do?”

  “Are you trying to bond with me? Is that what’s going on?”

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  “I don’t know.” He sighed and leaned back on his elbows. “I like being outside.”

  “Obvious. Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “Okay,” his eyes focused on the ceiling while he tried to come up with an answer. “I like running.” He turned his face toward hers. “Why the sudden interest?”

  She shrugged. “Curiosity I guess, and I need a distraction. The math isn’t cutting it today.” She dug her toes into the carpet and kept her eyes down. Nerves weren’t something she was used to. She’d grown up around important people. Before shows she was more laced with excited energy than fear, but with West she felt as though she were being turned inside out. And, she wasn’t sure if she liked the sensation.

  “Well, if we’re done with our little heart to heart, I guess I’ll head out.” He got to his feet and she did, too. “So, no studying tomorrow, right?”

  A knock sounded from her open door and when she turned, her father was standing in the doorway. It was the first time she’d seen him home before midnight in days.

  West stood up straighter beside her and she stepped between them. “West, this is my father, Richard. Dad, this is West Howell, my tutor.” She watched as her dad hesitated a moment, took in West’s appearance and then pasted on the smile he saved for people he wasn’t actually interested in. Her father stuck out his hand and West stepped f
orward to take it.

  She looked at West and tried to see what her father saw. A teenage boy in his daughter’s room who was as far from being like himself as possible. West’s hair was a little too long and his clothes a little too sloppy, even his quiet nature would rub her father wrong. They dropped hands and stepped back, but her father’s false smile held in place. She knew when he wasn’t being sincere. A fierce need to defend West built inside her.

  “How’s the tutoring going?”

  “Really well, don’t you think so, West?” She was speaking too fast and tried to make a mental note to slow down. “I mean, we’ve only been working together a few days, but I understand what we’ve gone over so far.”

  “Alexa, I was asking your tutor for his opinion.”

  Heat crept up her neck and face, forcing her into silence.

  West waited a beat, as though choosing his words carefully or maybe he didn’t like the way her father had said tutor, like there was a bad taste in his mouth. “Well, Dick, she’s getting along fine. Is it okay if I call you Dick?”

  She watched as her dad’s smile faded, the pretense of manners gone. West had answered in typical West fashion. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but it didn’t matter. Where her father was concerned, West never had a chance.

  “Mr. Cross would be more appropriate. And, since it appears you two are finished for the day . . .” Her dad stepped to the side and held his hand out toward the direction of the hallway to make his point clear. “ . . . Alexa can see you out.”

  Her stomach in knots, Alexa walked out into the hall and headed for the front door. She could feel West walking behind her, but she didn’t turn around, convinced her embarrassment would show on her face. She paused with her hand on the door and took a deep breath before she opened it.

  She at least managed to smile at West, faint as it was, but he didn’t seem concerned. He brushed past her and started walking down the driveway. With a glance back toward the stairs, Alexa stepped outside and pulled the door closed behind her.

  “West, wait.” She walked closer to him to avoid having to raise her voice.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’m sorry about my dad. He’s always a little intense when it comes to me and my brother.”

  West shrugged. “I’m not worried about what your dad thinks of me, but clearly you are.”

  “No, I . . . I mean—”

  “Chill, A-money. I’m still going to help you and you’re still going to go do your little play and you’ll continue to lead a charmed life.”

  The heat that had subsided from her face ignited again. This time it brought her temper with it. “Why do you do that?”

  He raised his eyebrows at her. “Do what, exactly?”

  “Why are you nice one minute and then rude to me the next? Are you purposefully trying not to have friends? I used to think it was because you were shy, but the more time I spend with you the more it seems you’re going out of your way to push people away.”

  He hooked his thumbs through the straps on his backpack and bounced on his toes. “Looks like you’ve got me all figured out.” He nodded toward the house. “Better get inside before your dad thinks you’re running off with me.”

  “Like that would ever happen.”

  He turned away from her and started walking. “I’ll see you around, A-money.”

  “Stop calling me that,” she shouted at his back.

  He laughed.

  ~ ~ ~

  The next morning, Alexa stuffed her math notes on top of her makeup bag and black character shoes. A look out the window confirmed her father was still at home. Time to start acting a little early this morning. She found him sitting at the kitchen table with Graham; his face was hidden behind a newspaper. Her brother was scooping up cereal and making slurping sounds, most likely to get their father’s attention. Thanks a lot, Graham, she thought as she grabbed a banana from the cabinet. When she remained standing, her father bent the corner of the paper down and peered at her.

  “Why don’t you sit down, Alexa?”

  “I’m meeting West this morning at the library.”

  Her father straightened the paper back out, hiding his face again, but she could guess what his expression might look like. His dark brows would knit and he’d shake his head trying to figure out how he’d ended up with some hoodlum tutoring his precious daughter.

  “He can come over here. It isn’t necessary for you to meet him elsewhere.”

  Alexa kept her face and tone neutral, ready for her dad’s objections. “After yesterday, I thought the library might be better.”

  He refrained from commenting on the previous day’s meeting with West. “Will we see you for lunch?”

  “I’m supposed to get together with Bekah, so it’ll be later, but I have my phone if you need me.”

  He folded the paper in half and laid it beside his elbow. Alexa waited for him to give his verdict on her daily plans and she prayed he’d let her out. She was seventeen for Christ’s sake, not that that made a difference. His roof, his rules.

  “Don’t stay out too late. I’ve barely seen you this week.” A touch of sadness crossed his face. She knew he missed spending time with her and she hated to lie to him, but he wasn’t giving her much choice.

  She hugged his neck, ruffled her brother’s hair and headed for the back door.

  “Alexa.”

  She stopped with her hand on the knob. Had she acted too happy? Had she just blown her only chance?

  “Remember, no talking on your phone while you’re driving.”

  “I know, Dad. I won’t.” She pulled the door closed behind her and let out a shaky breath. For once, she was glad he didn’t pay attention to her Performing Arts schedule. He wasn’t stupid. If he’d realized the competition was today, he wouldn’t have let her out.

  The bus was already being loaded when she arrived at the school. Another truck pulling a trailer was parked behind it full of their props and costumes. Alexa spotted Josh talking to a small group and ran up beside him.

  He smiled at her. “You ready?”

  “You know it. You?”

  He frowned and acted as though he were petting an imaginary tail. “I’m so-o-o sc-cared.”

  “I like it. Very method of you.” They linked arms and boarded the bus. As they passed Megan’s seat Alexa made it a point to look right over her head as though she were invisible. She wasn’t going to let Megan bring her down or spoil her mood.

  They dropped into a seat near the back of the bus and exchanged small talk with some of the other kids around them and then Josh turned to her. “Are your dad and brother coming?”

  “No, not today.”

  “I’m sorry, Alexa.”

  She shook her head and put on a smile. “It’s fine. Bekah is driving over and I have enough to think about.”

  Josh bumped her shoulder with his. “You’re right. Like how we’re going to win this thing.”

  Backstage in the host school’s dressing room, Alexa studied her makeup one last time. Dark eyes, red lips and enough powder to stop the shine and blot out the sun if she were being honest. She checked her phone and then tucked it away in her bag. No calls from her dad which was either awesome or meant he was on the way there. She blew out a breath. It was too late to worry about it one way or the other. This was it.

  Her eyes met Megan’s in the mirror and she turned.

  “Break a leg, Alexa.” It was said without a smile and Alexa had no doubt Megan would like nothing more than for her to indeed fall and break a leg.

  “Look, Megan, one thing you may not realize about me is that I’m hardcore. If I were to break my leg, I’d wrap it up and I would still go out there. Not only because there are people counting on me, but also because I would do whatever I
have to do to keep you from taking center stage and ruining our chances.”

  A hush came over the dressing room as munchkins, monkeys and citizens of Emerald City realized what was happening. All eyes were on the two of them.

  “You think you’re so high and mighty, Alexa.”

  “No Megan, I don’t. I think I got the part fair and square and it’s time for us to work. Not take part in childish feuds. All you’re doing is hurting the production. This is a group effort. Now shut up and get on board, or get out of my way.”

  Whistles and whispers followed Alexa as she left Megan standing open-mouthed behind her and headed to the stage. The lights blinked overhead and soon everyone else was rushing around her to get into their positions. It was their three-minute warning. She could hear the announcer on stage in front of the curtain thanking the previous school and asking everyone to take their seats.

  Calm washed over her as she waited in the darkness. When Josh joined her by the set piece they were in charge of moving into position, he grabbed her hand and gave it a light squeeze. Part of their score depended upon moving the sets silently on and off the stage. They also had exactly fifty-five minutes to complete the play and have all their sets behind the designated yellow line of tape.

  As the curtain parted, Alexa sent up a silent prayer. Her nerves danced, but not in the out of control way they did when she was in math class. These were slight, more excitement than fear because she was home. She inhaled deep into her lungs as the announcer stepped beside her and held up his stopwatch. As his thumb pressed the start button in what seemed like slow motion she came to life. It was show time.

  Chapter 11

  The lights lowered and everyone took their seats in the maroon velvet theater style chairs. He’d sat through two other plays so far and he was questioning for about the millionth time if he’d made a mistake in coming. Two rows in front of him, he spotted Bekah’s bright blond hair. As far as he could tell, she was sitting by herself. He hadn’t spotted Alexa’s dad or brother which was fine with him. He didn’t figure her dad would be too happy to see him.