by Mia Belle
“Well, I did always want to play Belle…”
“Exactly!”
I puff out my cheeks again. “Okay, I guess. I mean, how can I say no to wearing a beautiful golden ball gown?”
Mom and Dad beam, their chests heaving with relief.
“Will you guys come to the performance?”
“Definitely,” Dad says. “When have we ever missed any of your opening nights?”
My cheeks hurt as a large smile practically splits my face in half. “Never.”
We spend the next half hour updating each other on what’s going on in our lives. I skip the part where I haven’t made any friends yet. I don’t want them to worry. Besides, I’m confident I’ll make a few friends during Beauty and the Beast rehearsals. Maybe not Kelsey, though.
Kitty comes home from her friend’s house and she keeps me for nearly an hour, telling me every single detail of her life. I bet she’s doing it on purpose to either make me realize how much I miss her and my life back in New York, or because she misses me too much.
She finally takes a breath and I can get a word in. “Guess whose high school is putting on Beauty and the Beast?”
Her eyes narrow. “Yours? Woopty doo. Another opportunity wasted.”
“You sure about that?”
Her eyebrows nearly touch her eyelashes. Then her whole face lights up like the sun landed on her face. “You’re in the musical?”
I bow in my seat. “You’re looking at Belle.”
“No way! No freaken’ way! That’s awesome! You’ll be back in New York and on a stage in no time.”
“Kitty, that’s not why—”
“This’ll change everything. You’ll realize how much you love performing and how much you love being in the spotlight and—”
“I don’t love being in the spotlight.”
She gives me a face. “Yes, you do.”
Maybe she’s right, but that was the past. Right now, I’m trying to do whatever I can to avoid being in the spotlight.
“Anyway,” I say. “Are you bummed your run in School of Rock is almost over?”
She shrugs. “I’m gonna miss everyone, but I can’t wait to see what’s next for me. I’m shooting for Young Elsa.” She beams.
“To follow in your awesome big sister’s footsteps.”
“Hell yeah!”
I laugh.
“But I have another dream, too.”
I lean closer to the screen. “What is it?”
“For the both of us to guest star in Star Journey together! Wouldn’t it be so much fun? The ship will meet the hot alien again, but this time she’ll have a little sister! I had a long talk with Abbey last night. And I totally sweet talked my agent into making it happen.”
“You mean you begged,” I tease.
“Fine, I begged. On my knees.”
“I can totally picture it.”
“And no one can say no to this when I beg.” She points to herself. “I bet it’s in the bag.”
I laugh and shake my head. My sister is really something else. I wish I was more like her. She’s so fearless and strong, but sweet and compassionate at the same time. She organizes charity events a few times a year while stressing over school, work, critical reviews, and so much more. She says I’m her hero, but she’s starting to become my hero. After Grandma of course.
“What?” she demands. “Why are you looking at me funny?”
“Because you’re an extraordinary person, Kitty.”
“You’re being weird.”
“I’m serious, Kitty Kat. I admire you so much.”
“Then come home so you can admire me from up close.”
“What about Beauty and the Beast?” I say.
“Oh, so now you have the perfect excuse, huh?”
I grin widely. “Yep.”
“You’re impossible, Kara Starr.” She grabs a ball and flings it at the screen.
Chapter Seventeen
Jax
I leave the costume room and head onto the stage, where Kara stands next to Ezra, studying the sheet music. Ezra is spaced out like he always is, serious look on his face. There’s like fifteen feet between them, and they’re not looking at each other. I don’t know why there’s so much tension between them. But it always vanishes the second they get into character.
Miss Lewis is discussing the score with Carter. The other actors are either on stage or in the audience, the tech crew is busy with tech stuff, the prop crew dealing with prop stuff, and there’s my team hauled up in the costume room trying not to get too excited with the fabric Shawn’s mom donated to the musical.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?” I call.
No one looks my way. I’m used to it. I’m not like Ezra who seizes the spotlight just by entering a room—him being so good looking and all. And I’m not Carter who can entrap an audience just by hitting a single piano key.
I clear my throat and say louder, “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
“Yo, my boy has something to say!” Carter plays a song at a very high key, which seems to snag some people’s attention, including Miss Lewis. She claps her hands and motions for everyone to look at me.
“Thanks. I just wanted to say that the costume department would like every actor to stop by after rehearsal to be measured. Thanks.” I bow.
“You already know my measurements,” Ezra says.
“Dude have you seen your muscles lately? You’ll rip every single one of your costumes if I use your measurements from last year.”
He glances down at his chest like he just realized how buff he is.
“Jax, before you go,” Miss Lewis says. “I want you here in half an hour for your scene with Gaston.”
“Gotchya. I’ll be here.”
The costume room is a total mess, like it is every time we have a production. We only have four people, which makes things a little hard but doable. I won’t let anything stand in the way. Costumes are everything in a production.
Slowly and slowly, the actors trail in. Ezra is so shocked when I tell him his measurements.
“It’s got to be a mistake.”
“Are you kidding?” Shawn smiles from where she’s cutting some fabric. “You totally filled out the last few weeks.”
“Someone’s been hitting the bench a little too strongly.” I poke my finger into his chest. “Dude, you’re like a brick wall.”
“Stop, man.”
“I’m just worried about you. You’re letting out all your frustrations by working out. That can’t be healthy.”
He glares at me. “Don’t tell me how to live my life.”
I puff out my cheeks. “You’re right. Sorry.”
His stone-hard face grows soft. “Sorry for snapping, Jax. I know you mean well.”
“Yeah.” I take the last measurement. “But you need to take things at your own pace. I get that. I just want you to know you can talk to me whenever you need.”
He rests a hand on my shoulder. “I know. Thanks.”
I smile and snap back the measurement tape. “You’re done. With your big body, you’ll actually make the perfect Beast.”
A real smile spreads across his face before he walks off. You can’t read it on him because he always puts on an emotionless expression, but he’s totally stoked to play the Beast. He’s been the male lead in past musicals, but there’s something about the Beast. It’s like he was born to play that role.
I’m busy discussing the latest Supergirl episode with the costume crew, when Shawn looks past me. “Hey, Kara. Here for your measurements?”
My blood freezes. I slowly turn around to face her. Her eyes meet mine for a second before she looks back at Shawn. “Yeah.”
I hand the measurement tape to Shawn, who walks over to Kara and does her work. I catch Kara’s gaze slide to mine, a confused and wary expression in her eyes. I head to an assortment of fabrics piled high to the ceiling on one of the tables, making sure to keep as much distance between us as possible.
&n
bsp; “Oh my god, you’re so skinny,” Shawn complains. “I’d kill to look like you.”
“I have a strict diet, though,” Kara says with a laugh. “No gain with no work, huh?”
Shawn laughs, too. “Yeah, I don’t think I have the willpower. I need my Doritos.”
“Oh my gosh, I haven’t eaten Doritos since I was like seven.”
“Really? What an abusive childhood.”
“I know, right?”
They laugh again.
“You’re all done,” Shawn says.
“Thanks. I’m really excited to see the costumes. Who will be working on the ball gown and the blue dress?”
“Oh Jax is definitely getting down and dirty with the gown,” Shawn says with another laugh. “He’s been sketching it since Miss Lewis announced we were doing Beauty and the Beast. As for the blue dress? Not sure yet. But it’ll be beautiful, I promise. Everything we make will be beautiful. Jax is so talented, it’s crazy.”
Kara’s eyes flick to me, and I’m about to give her a smile, but she turns back to Shawn. “Can’t wait. See you later.”
Once she’s gone, Shawn flops down on her chair with a sigh. “Ugh, she’s so pretty. I want to hate her, but I can’t because she’s so nice.”
“The perfect Belle,” I say.
“Exactly.”
I sigh wistfully before continuing to sort through the fabrics.
Chapter Eighteen
Kara
“There’s something sweet, and almost kind,” I sing, “but he was—” My lips snap shut and I glance at Carter.
“Carter,” Miss Lewis says in a strict yet amused tone. “What did I tell you about sticking to the score?”
He flashes her a cheeky grin as his fingers gently tap on the piano keys. “What can I say? It’s an itch I have to scratch.”
“Carter, please stick to the score. I won’t ask you again.”
“Actually,” I say. “I really like it. Carter, can you do it again?”
With an enthusiastic nod, he plays the song, changing the notes just slightly, but enough that it sounds different and unique, but most of all beautiful. I sing to match the notes.
“I actually like it, too,” Ezra admits. It’s the first thing he’s said throughout rehearsal, excluding his lines.
Carter continues to play and I match his notes, our eyes on one another and nodding as we create a whole different version of the song.
“As amazing as this is, it’s illegal to change the score,” Miss Lewis says. “When you write your own musical, Carter, you can do whatever you want. Take it from where you left off, Kara.”
Carter gently slams a fist on the keys. “So close!”
I continue singing, but my mind is totally somewhere else. It’s on Carter. He’s so amazingly talented. His eyes shut every few seconds as he plays, his head swaying to the beat, his lips parting every so often. It’s like his soul is being lifted up to heaven. All that emotion and passion permeates throughout the auditorium, entering my limbs and uplifting me, too.
“Kara?” Miss Lewis calls.
Carter stops playing. Everyone’s heads twist between me and Miss Lewis.
“Yeah?” I ask.
“You okay? You seem a little distracted.”
I glance at Carter and find his beautiful green eyes locked on mine. He throws me a smile, like he knows exactly what effect his music has on me. I return it before looking at Miss Lewis. “No, everything is perfect.”
***
“That’s a wrap for today,” Miss Lewis calls as she scribbles on her clipboard. “Anyone who hasn’t gotten their measurements taken, please see Jax in the costume room. Have a great night and I’ll see you tomorrow. Please get your lines down. I want you off-book as soon as possible.”
Everyone gathers their things and bolt out the door. Jax hurries onto the stage with pieces of fabrics buried in his hair and all over his clothes. “Sorting through all that material was torture,” he tells Ezra and Carter. “I can’t believe I made it out alive.”
Carter is still at the piano, playing a soft tune. I don’t recognize it. I wonder if it’s his own. Ezra is flipping through the script, eyebrows furrowed.
“Dude.” Jax walks over to him and taps his shoulder. “I thought you knew that thing by heart.”
“I know. But I keep messing up this one line…”
“Carter, Ezra’s gonna hang at my house. You coming?”
A bit of darkness passes over his face. But he gives his friend a bright smile. “I’m gonna stay here for a bit. Maybe another time.”
“I’m totally buying you a grand piano for your birthday,” he says.
“You’re totally not. We don’t have room in the house.”
“Yeah. Bummer. See ya, Cart.” He slaps Ezra on the back and the two of them leave the auditorium.
The only people in here are me and Carter. He’s back at the piano again, his eyes fluttering shut as he continues playing that gorgeous melody.
“Did you compose that?” I ask.
His hands freeze on the keys and his eyes snap open. “I didn’t know someone was here.”
“Sorry. I’ll leave.”
“No! You don’t have to go.” He gives me another one of those smiles that lights up his face. “Yeah, I composed it. You like?”
“It’s beautiful.” I move closer to him. “You want to be a composer?”
“I want to make a musical one day. I already have a few songs down and Ezra’s good with lyrics.”
“What’s it about?”
“No idea.” He chuckles. “We just have a few songs.”
“I’m sure you’ll get there one day.”
“Thanks. Who knows? Maybe you’ll star in it.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I say, even though I’m not sure I’ll ever return to the professional stage.
He continues playing the song. I pull up a chair next to him. It’s a song that resonates deep within me. I feel the raw emotions and the passion. It holds a lot of pain, but there’s so much hope. Hope for a better life, a better future. All that just from a short melody.
“You’re a musical genius,” I say.
His face turns a little red. “No I’m not.”
“I’m serious. I work with musicians all the time and I’ve never met someone as passionate as you. You tell a story through music. I can feel everything.”
His looks a little worried. “What do you feel?”
“Pain,” I say. “Betrayal. Yearning for forgiveness. Yearning for hope. Love for those close to you.”
He blinks at me. “Wow. You picked up on all that?”
“Yeah.”
He laughs sheepishly as he rubs the back of his neck. “I’m not sure other people would pick up on that.”
He continues to play, and I sit there absorbing it all. I can listen to him all day.
“That was crazy during rehearsal, wasn’t it?” he says as his fingers move over the keys. “What you and I did back there. I’ve never done that with anyone before.”
“Me, either.”
His eyes move to mine for a second before focusing on his playing. Then he stops and flashes me another smile. “Want to go at it again?”
“But we can’t change the score. It’s under copyright.”
“We don’t have to perform it. I’m just curious what we can do.”
He starts playing again and I join in singing. We feed off each other’s emotions and passion, creating such beautiful music. His cheeks and ears grow pink. I feel my own face heat up. Not because I’m embarrassed. There’s a charge in the air, a musical charge. It’s like we’re attracted to each other musically. Musical chemistry?
With a laugh, I fan my face. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a musical turn-on before.”
He bursts out laughing. “Is that what this is?”
We both laugh, first embarrassed, but then we laugh harder as though this is the funniest thing we’ve ever experienced.
“Okay,” he says, clutching his stomac
h. “I’ll pee my pants soon.”
“I haven’t laughed this hard since…I can’t even remember.”
“Me, either.” He laughs a little bit more. “Okay, get a grip, Carter.” He glances at me. “I think we need to deal with this musical turn-on before we lose our minds.”
He starts to play “Something There” and nods for me to sing along. Just like by rehearsal, he makes those subtle note changes that brings the song onto a whole new level. I’m totally blown away by how amazing we sound.
When it’s over, we smile to each other, our cheeks flushed. I’m totally on a high, and from the way he can’t sit still in his seat, it’s obvious he feels the same.
“You’re going to be such an amazing composer one day,” I tell him. “No, you already are an amazing composer. I’m totally down to working on a musical with you one day.”
His jaw hangs open a little. “Really?”
“I mean, I’ve never worked on a musical before…”
“I’d love that! You, me, and Ezra would make the perfect team.”
I’m not sure about Ezra. I don’t think he likes me.
He frowns as he stares at his keys. “I wish I had more time. Most nights I’m swamped helping my sisters and brother with their homework. My mom works nights,” he explains.
“Oh. Well, there’s no rush.”
“Do you have somewhere you need to be?” he asks.
“Not really. I was planning on having a date with Netflix, but…” My mouth snaps shut and my whole face heats up. “Oh, god. That was supposed to stay in my head.”
A look of concern passes over his face. “I see you sitting alone at lunch every day.”
I wave my hand. “It’s okay. It’s hard making friends when everyone’s been together since preschool.”
“You can always sit with me and my friends during lunch.”
Probably not the best idea. Ezra is so cold to me and I don’t feel comfortable around Jax. I’m glad he hasn’t thrown himself at me lately, but I’m still getting stalker vibes from him. I’d rather keep my distance.
“Thanks,” I say.
Chapter Nineteen