(Is the pace too fast?)
Seven
Fawn emerged from the doors a few minutes later and stood above me. I glanced at her knee high leather boots and wondered when they became cool to wear again. As far as I knew, they were not in style. But, then again, how am I to know what is and what isn’t cool?
“Marcia wants me to be on the tech crew,” Fawn said in a harsh tone. “She made me sing to prove that I wasn’t lying. That was embarrassing.” After a few moments, she turned on her heel. “Come back inside.”
“I just made a fool of myself,” I said. “I can’t just go back in.”
She teased, “oh, please, Fayette. You are being way too dramatic about this. Get over it and let’s go.”
I shook my head. “She’ll make me sing your part.”
Fawn knelt beside me. “Big deal! You’ll be the star of the show. Colleges will love that kind of thing, especially if you are going to take theatre courses.”
I smiled a little. “Fawn, you are so ridiculous sometimes.”
She laughed and held out her hand. “What are sisters for?”
I glanced at her face. She seemed sincere, so I took her hand and let her lead me back into the school.
When we walked into the auditorium, Foster was singing Music of the Night, moving around the stage. There was no music, just his mesmerizing voice.
When we made it to the first row, Fawn pointed to the seat next to Warren, meaning for me to sit next to him instead of her. I did so, just so she wouldn’t get mad.
Warren leaned close to me, putting his lips close to my ear. My eyes didn’t leave Foster. “Are you alright?”
I simply nodded. Foster had finally made eye contact with me for a moment. The moment right before his sudden crescendo, where he broke with me and looked up to belt.
“Maybe you should sing,” Warren continued. “We have yet to hear your voice from your own lips.” There was obvious humor behind his words. I looked away from Foster to look at Warren. Half of his face was shadowed, but the other seemed to be glowing from the stage lights. His eyes, both of them, were very clear and staring deep into mine. He smiled at me then.
“No.”
I looked back at Foster as he finished his song. Marcia started clapping as she rose from her seat. “Wonderful, Foster. I don’t believe there is any room for improvement on your singing. We’ll just have you actually acting next time.”
“What?” Foster asked.
“You’re not playing the Phantom. You have the song down, but I no longer feel your mysterious side. Maybe you are just off today, but you should work on being more…more mysterious.”
I brought my hand up to my face, hiding a smile. One could always trust Marcia for harsh criticism.
“Fayette. I guess we should work on your part next.”
My hand turned into a fist in front of my lips. “What?”
Marcia motioned towards the stage with her hand. “We are all friends here. Just show us what you have to offer.”
“I don’t have anything to offer. I’m not singing.” I tried to sound strong, but my voice broke.
Suddenly, Warren placed a hand over mine. I loosened my hand on the arm rest when I realized I was gripping it for my life. But his touch caused something in me. A certain spark of energy that caused my heart to quicken it’s beating pace. I looked down at our hands, fascinated.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “Go.”
Without even thinking about it, I rose from my seat and began walking towards the stage I pulled at my fingers as I tried to conjure up the courage to actually perform. I decided on a song quickly.
I closed my eyes, like I had before, so I could not look at the faces of the few people that were my audience. I started singing Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, slightly smiling as I remember the words and tone of the song. I started off very soft, so soft that they probably couldn’t even hear me.
I stopped after the first chorus and slowly opened my eyes. Marcia started clapping and Fawn crossed her legs, clearly bored. But that is not what caught and held my attention. Both Foster and Warren were standing very close to the stage just staring at me; both their mouths were opened wide.
Then, suddenly, they both knelt in front of me. I took a step back, shocked. “What are you doing?” I asked.
Foster glanced at Warren then shot up and stared at me. That time, he looked at me curiously, as if I had caused his weird actions. Warren moved slower, not looking back at me as he turned and took his seat.
I hopped down from the stage and took my seat next to Fawn. Warren was in a different seat, one down from the chair he previously sat in.
“What do you think?” Marcia asked. “Do you think you can do it? Can you be our Christine?”
My eyes widened. I was so shocked by Foster and Warren that I had forgotten to be nervous about their reactions. Maybe I was satisfied with their actions; I didn’t need to be scared.
I nodded, not knowing what else to say or do. Marcia hopped up once and clapped.
“Wonderful.”
We spent hours taking turns hearing Marcia’s harsh words of wisdom. Warren didn’t look at me and seemed to be trying to pay more attention to Fawn. Fawn, however, did not want to talk him. Her scheme building inside of her, she focused on either me or Foster.
When an eon waved as it passed us by, Marcia started packing away her papers and her stereo. “We’ll be having another rehearsal Wednesday. Please make sure you all attend.”
We all stood and followed Marcia out of the auditorium.
In the parking lot, Warren stopped Fawn before she could open the passenger’s side door to our car. I rolled my eyes and got in the car. I started the engine and let the heat escape the vents and kiss my cheeks.
There was a tap at my window which caused me to both gasp and jump.
I rolled down the window to see what Foster wanted. “We are planning to go out for dinner. You in?”
Dinner? The four of us? As in…a double date?
I silently wished that Fawn was sitting next to me to tell me what to do. But since she wasn’t, I said, “Sure.”
*
On the car ride to the restaurant, Fawn discussed her plan. In order to get Warren jealous, she had to flirt with Foster. I repeatedly told her that throwing herself at another guy could only turn off Warren as he’d see that she would only seem like a slut.
“You’d be keeping him entertained. Make sure he notices me, but not too much. Just the right amount to get his blood boiling, you know? I don’t want any fist fights over me in the parking lot.”
I shook my head. “So that’s the only reason why I’m coming with you? I’m just your pawn?”
“Fay, you’re being overly dramatic again. I’m not asking you to date the guy, just be his friend.”
I nodded. It didn’t sound as bad the second time around.
When we arrived, I couldn’t find where the boys had parked their cars. The parking lot was almost empty, so I parked as close to the door as I could. We got out of the car, stood by the entrance, and just glanced at the road.
“Maybe they got lost,” I offered.
Fawn shrugged. “It’s right down the street. I don’t see how they could.”
We stayed silent for another minute. We both turned behind us when we heard men’s voices, but where disappointed when it wasn’t Warren or Foster.
One of the boys looked at me and flashed a smile. They were older, mid twenties would have been my guess. When they reached us, they began to talk to us as if we were long lost friends.
“Hey, girls. How about we go inside and get to know each other. You in?”
Fawn shook her head no. “Sorry, boys. We’re waiting for our dates. Maybe next time.”
One of the boys feigned being heart broken. “You know, if I were your date, I wouldn’t have left you out in the cold.”
Another boy reached out to take my hand, but I pulled away from him. “C’mon, baby. Don’t be like that.”
“I’m not your baby, ass-whipe,” I said. “Back off.”
That angered the two boys trying to get with us. The two behind them started laughing. “She sure told you, Bret.”
“Listen, stupid—”
I felt an arm wrap around my waist and gasped, thinking it was another one of his friends. But when I turned my head to see who it was, Warren was standing beside me, staring down Bret.
Foster was doing the same behind Fawn. He just stared.
“Beat it,” was all Warren had to say. The group of boys walked around us and into the restaurant.
I released the breath I hadn't known I was holding, wanting to give in to Warren’s warm body behind me. “Phew,” Fawn said. “I thought I was going to have to go Kung-Fu on their asses.”
We all laughed.
While we ate, we all talked in a group. There was no entertaining to be done. Fawn and I got along and Foster and Warren seemed to be enjoying themselves. I felt a wash of relief flow through me. I could so be normal.
By the end of the night Fawn and Foster where holding hands under the table and Warren had inched his way back towards me. His uneasy attitude faded as time was spent.
Even though I had refused several times, both Foster and Warren insisted on following us home after dinner to make sure we made it safely. Secretly, I thought it was very cute.
I parked the car in the driveway and took a deep breath. It’s almost over. Fawn and I waited at the front door for the boys to join us to say good-bye. Warren took my hand, and unexpectedly, led me away from my home and towards his car.
“I just wanted a little privacy, that’s all,” he whispered.
I smiled as my stomach began to fill with butterflies. Something that I had only read about in books, never actually experienced.
“What is it?” I asked.
He looked into my eyes. “I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
Uh-oh.
He sighed. “I like your sister. She’s a cool person to hang out with. But I don’t…like her like her. You know? It’s not like that between us.”
My forehead creased in confusion. “You might want to tell her that.”
Warren shrugged. “Foster seems to be keeping her busy.”
I laughed at that. When I sobered, he took my hand again and brought it close to his face. “I like you.”
When I didn’t say anything, too shocked to form any words, he finally touched my fingers to his lips. That slight touch sent a shock through my spine. It felt amazing, so incredible that I wanted him to keep doing it. He smiled at my expression and as if reading my thoughts, he kissed my hand again.
Only then did I want his target for such kisses to be my own lips.
“Good night, Fay. Dream well.”
Dream well.... hmmm 
