by Caro Soles
Finally the curtain came down for good and Beny, tears streaming down his face, hurried Eulio off to his dressing room.
“Thank god that’s over!” exclaimed Triani. “And not a drop of blood shed!” He dropped an arm around Cham’s shoulder.
Cham looked up at him anxiously. “How was I?” he asked, his voice husky.
Triani raised an eyebrow consideringly. “You’ll do, Chamion Adino Eseris,” he said and gave him a sudden hug.
For the first time in days, Cham’s response was instant and heartfelt. He returned the hug. “Let’s go home.”
“You don’t want to go to the party and say goodbye to Luan?”
“I’ve said my goodbyes,” said Cham. “You go, and you can tell me all about it tomorrow.”
Triani paused outside his dressing room door. “No,” he said after a moment. “If you don’t go, I don’t go.”
Cham stared at him in amazement.
Triani grinned suddenly and disappeared into his dressing room. For a full minute, Cham stared at the gold star pulsing on the door below Triani’s name. Then he knocked and went in.
“Did you mean that?” he asked.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean. Which reminds me; don’t ever upstage me again, okay?”
Cham closed the door behind him. He ran across the room and put his arms around Triani’s neck. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I know, sweetie. Me too.”
THE END