Entangled Summer (5 page)

Our schedules were different, so Kenzie headed to her session as I made my way toward mine. I followed the path laid out on the hand drawn maps and arrived at the outdoor theatre.

The stage was flanked by purple velvet curtains and rows of folding chairs, most of which were occupied by fresh and eager puppet-masters-to-be. Only the front row was empty and I grabbed a seat dead center before I looked up and stopped breathing. Troy Bellisaro strolled onto the stage. Was he actually
running
this class? But... but... he was the owner. He was supposed to stay hidden in his office behind closed doors and away from my over active imagination and morbid sense of embarrassment. I shrunk down in my chair.

He sat down on the edge of the stage, his long jean-covered legs hanging over the side. Our eyes locked for a second, and it was one of those time stands still kind of moment. Only, I didn’t want it to linger, I wanted to bolt, as far from this place as possible. He looked away to address the group, and I could breathe again.

“Welcome everyone new, and some not so new...”

Okay I can do this.
Maybe he just gives the welcome pitch, or at the worst teaches a class or two. If I timed it right, I might not see him more than once or twice all summer.

“If you’re an intern, I want to you stick close to your mentor. You are their shadow. “Nora Dultry?”

I think I swallowed my tongue. I lifted my eyes and answered in a tiny voice. “Yes?”

He fixed his gaze on me, and I felt the warm dark chocolate of his stare melt all over me.

“You will have to be my shadow, since your late arrival has left you without a match,” he said.

Oh god, this just got awkward. So much for timing it right.

The girl next to me nudged my arm. “You lucked out. Every girl here was hoping for Troy as their partner.”

Really? Were they willing to trade, because I’d take it. I smiled thinly. “Huh. Lucky me.”

“It’s the art of storytelling and it’s as old as time,” Troy continued. “Find your own creative direction and process and move with it. We’re taking it beyond the sock, people.” Everyone laughed.

I felt like I was sitting in on a secret club meeting, and I was the only one who didn’t know the language.

“We’ll be covering Breath and Movement, Puppet Building, everything from Monster Puppets to Hand and Rod style.”

The girl next to me snickered and I rolled my eyes. She had to have been at least eighteen to apprentice here, but come on, giggling over hand and rod?
This
was going to be my summer?

“Performance, Acting and lastly there’s Design. Consider things like balance, weight, material movement. How do you want them to feel on the stage in relation to the story?” Troy pointed to me. “Nora?”

Crap
, I didn’t even realize that was a real question. My mind went blank. “I uh, I guess it depends? On the backstory, I mean.” Actual beads of sweat trickled down my back.

He held my gaze long enough for people to start gawking at us, then he clapped once. “Yes. Exactly. That’s what we need to explore. It’s about relationships and all relationships have history. What we use how we use it, all piece together to convey an emotion. And that’s what’s at the heart of human existence. Emotion.”

I wasn’t a student, there were no grades to pass, and yet I was literally sweating under the pressure.

“That’s it for now everyone, I’ll see you back here in a couple of hours.” He rose his voice over the din of people leaving. “Take up the tour guides on their offer, it’s a huge place and you’ll need to know your way around. Especially those of you who are new.” His eyes wandered back to me. I froze. Like, deer in the headlights froze.

“Nora. If you wouldn’t mind staying after, I have a few things to go over with you.”

I swallowed and nodded, ignoring the whispers of the girls around me. Juveniles. It was like junior high all over. Except back then, I wasn’t the one being called out by the cute boy.

He waited for everyone to clear out before he leapt down from the stage with the agility of a gymnast, then sat in the folding chair next to me.

“You’re new to this aren’t you?”

Was it that obvious already? “Pretty much. But I’m a quick study.” I added, sounding more confident than I felt. Inside my head was filled with insecurities. Stuff like
please don’t fire me.
And of course the inner monologue vacillating between
thank god he doesn’t remember me, please don’t let him remember me,
and
why the hell doesn’t he remember me.

“Well, it’s a lot like acting, art and sculpting combined. You up for that?”

“I guess. I can honestly say I’ve never considered puppetry that way before.”

“You’ve never considered it at all, from what I understand.”

Grace must have told him about my pathetic interview. I still have no idea how I was even here. I hung my head, a little ashamed. It’s true I knew nothing about this discipline. Didn’t even know it
was
one until Kenzie brought it up. And I admit I mocked it mercilessly at first. But now, I was growing to see how much magic it really entailed. The movement, and music, the grace and feeling, it really was enchanting and I could see why not only children but adults too were riveted by the beauty of the performances.

“Don’t worry Nora. I’m not calling you out. Sometimes the most reluctant trainees turn out to be the best.”

“Even the desperate skeptics who are selfishly only in it for the money?” I chewed my lower lip.

“Especially the desperate skeptics. They have the most to gain.” He lifted his gaze. “And the most to lose.”

I was the first to pull my gaze away.

He led me to an adjacent building where I gathered all of the magic happened. We stood in the doorway as he pointed out a few different assignments I’d be working on. Secondary projects, since I was new.

“Ever co-create a group project on this scale before?”

“Not even once.”

His gaze found mine. "I get to be your first. Lucky me."

I narrowed my eyes, ignoring the way my insides jumped up and down.

Full lips curved into a half-smirk, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. “We keep a schedule in here. Wanna pass me that clipboard?”

I turned around a crashed into tray of paint sending it splattering to the floor. Smooth.

“I see we're going to have to take things slow,” he winked.

Was he seriously flirting with me right now? I wanted to be enraged at the nerve, but all I could work up to was flattered. This was going to be a long summer.

My gaze floated back to his. “Well, all I can say is this puppetry department is pretty amazing. Jim Henson would be impressed. I mean look at this prop shop.” I waved my hand around the room, overflowing with machines and tools, fabrics bolts and paints, wood and metal. I was expecting less interpretive dance and artistry... and more sock.”

He laughed. “Glad we changed that perception.”

That laugh was still hypnotic. I closed my eyes briefly to regroup.
This is stupid. You cannot pine for some guy who doesn’t even remember you.
No matter how cute he is. Or how good he smells. Or the way he licks his lips every time he laughs. I opened my eyes again. Wasn’t helping. It just provided a screen on which to project images from the night we were together.

Kenzie strolled over as we were heading back toward the stage, her gaze hopping from Troy to me and back. “You almost finished Nora, or should I meet you at the cabin later?”

“Done already?” Troy asked. “Things move fast in the drama department.”

“You have no idea.” She flipped her braids over her shoulder and cocked her head.

Kenzie was flirting and it bugged me. Why did it bug me? He wasn’t mine. We barely knew each other. Less than barely, considering he DOESN’T EVEN REMEMBER ME. Ugg...just let it go already.

“We’re pretty much done.” Troy said.  “I can get you caught up on the rest later Nora.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he turned to Kenzie. “Hope you ladies enjoy Camp Wanderlust.”

She beamed her brightest flirtiest smile. “Oh, we plan on it.”

We mounted the broad steps to our log cabin. The living room alone was bigger than Granddad’s old house. I headed straight for my room. “I’m exhausted.”

Kenzie followed me. “Too much dreaming again last night,” she said, then proceeded to rummage through the stuff on my dresser, picking up my well-read copy of Pride And Prejudice.

I groaned. “Let it go Kenzie.”

“Lots of people have imaginary friends babe. No judgment here.”

“He's not my imaginary friend.”

“Isn't he? ‘Kay, lets recap. He's not real— soooo...”

“People who have imaginary friends
think
they're real. I just told you he's not. He's just someone I dream about.”
Fabulous amazing heartbreaking dreams.

“Yeah, night after night. And he's why you've never met anyone else. I'd say your dream guy is a lot more than just your dream guy. He’s your reason for not living your life. But don’t listen to me,” she waved the book in the air. You go ahead and wait for the real Mr. Darcy to walk into your life.” She checked the clock. “He should arrive anywhere between 9am and, oh I don't know, a quarter to never?”

I knew this track, we’d been down it a million times and there was no derailing Kenzie once she started on it. Like a dog with a bone, the only out was to throw her something bigger to chew on.

“I
am
living my life.” I said measuring out my words for greater impact. “Someone from the life you claim I’m not living is actually here at the school.”

She stared me down, her eyes challenging. “Whaddy mean some-
one
? Like as in a guy?”

“As in
the
guy. Remember the one you forced me to go out with with last year?” I had to give her details or she’d never let up about Darcy. Yes, my dream guy had a name. No, I’d never tell her that.

Kenzie grabbed my watch from the dresser. “You have exactly ten seconds to spill, then explain why you’ve waited til now to spill.” She checked the watched. “Okay go.”

I took a quick breath. “It’s Troy.”

She dropped the watched. Her mouth fell open. And for the first time in forever, not a sound came out.

“Troy.” She repeated when she regained speech. “As in... Troy. You... and the Theo James lookalike?”

I rescued my watch before she could step on it. “How many times do you want me to say it? Yes. He was the guy. The one I almost slept with.”

“You said you took his class.”

“I did, but he used a different name, obviously. Last day of color theory, I was late... missed the bus from the hospital, and he offered to help me catch up on what I'd missed, but they were closing the school. It started with drinks, followed by dinner. Then it kinda became more when we went back to his place. It was supposed to be uncomplicated. Hashtag no strings.”

“Uh, Hashtag too-late-for-that-now.” Her brows tightened as she tried to work things out. “So, he’s the one you bailed on when he went to the loo to grab a condom?”

Why do I tell her so much when it always comes back to bite me. “Yeah. The one and only. In the flesh.” I cringed at how literal that had been. We’d been wearing next to nothing when he... we... oh god. What did it matter? It was over, and he either doesn’t remember it, doesn’t recognize me, or is playing it cool. I was grateful for any one of those, even if the first two bruised my ego just a bit. I mean seriously, who forgets an
almost
one-night-stand with a girl he met a year before hiring her for a job?

Kenzie pressed her hands on the edge of the desk and leaned forward. “Hey, d’ya think you can get my black bra back?” she deadpanned.

I blew out an agonized breath. “Not likely, I don’t think he remembers.”

Kenzie was still processing as she hopped onto the desk, dangling her legs over the side. She frowned. “Wait a sec. Lemmie get this straight. You were in his class, you went to bed with the guy, and he doesn’t remember you?”

I shrugged like it was no big deal. Although it was. “Nothing much happened really. We... I chickened out, remember. Wish I could forget the whole thing too.” I let out a long sigh.

“Maybe he’s just being nice. Not to embarrass you or something. I mean he is your boss now.”

“Thanks so much for bringing
that
up.” I snapped. “No really. It’s not like I couldn’t get the fact out of my head since day one or anything. All I know is I need this job too desperately to let anything screw it up. Grandad’s bills are going to be more than covered with what we make in a month here. No fling with a guy is worth that.” Even if he is hotter than the man in my dreams.

“Alright. Fine. Then you stick with your denial. But I’m still really proud of you.”

“Of course you are.”

“Seriously Nora, it means you’re capable of having real relations with a real guy. Not just the one in your head.”

I nodded trying hard to remember why I’d given her the role of best friend.

She hugged me. “This is good hon. It’s progress. It might actually mean fewer sessions with Dr. Franken-strange.”

I had to laugh at the comparison, cause let’s face it, the name fit. Anyway, it was nice not having to hide all of this from Kenzie anymore. “Now, you have to swear not to breathe a word of this to him.” I warned her.

“Not a word.” She held up her hand, girl scout-like. It meant about a fifty-fifty chance. I’d have to take it.

My phone rang and Kenzie grabbed it before I could. “Nora’s phone, who’s calling please? —Of course she’s here,
Troy
.” Her eyes flashed to me as my breath caught.

“We were just saying what a small world it is. Imagine
her
taking
your
class a year ago. What are the odds?” She winked at me then handed me the phone.

“I hate you like poison.” I whispered, taking it. Seriously with friends like that... “Hello? Hi Troy.” I scowled at Kenzie as she bounced down from the desk over to the bed.

“No idea. She’s mental.  Might want to get Miss Strange to have a chat with her. Anyway, what’s up?”

“Tonight? Sure. Okay, I’ll be there. Thanks, bye.”

“Where will we be tonight?”

Apparently my assessment of Kenzie’s mental state hadn’t fazed her. She was all but bouncing off the mattress waiting for me to give her every last detail. I opted for the abridged version. “Next Puppetry and Drama orientation have been bumped up by an hour.”

“Oh gawd. That’s in thirty minutes,” she groaned.

“And, Troy and I... are going out tonight. For dinner.”

Her expression lifted. “Like a date?”

“More like a business meeting. He has some papers for me to sign that got missed.”

Kenzie stared at me for a beat then rolled her eyes. “I don’t know which of you is more pathetic. You could sign papers anywhere anytime. Dinner is hardly a requirement.”

“Maybe there’s a lot of papers.”             

“Uh-huh. That, or maybe it’s a date.” She pushed off the bed and sashayed down the hall toward her room. “Just make sure you wear something that didn’t belong to your grandmother for a change,” she shouted over her shoulder.

I hoisted myself onto the desk, staring blankly at the phone still in my hand, wondering if any of this was real.

Moments later Kenzie came back with an armload of clothes and dropped them on my bed.

“All I know is we have another four days til the little buggers invade our utopia with their runny noses and jam hands, and you need to make the most of the alone time you’ve got. Have you seen the way every other girl in the place ogles him. Stake your claim babe, before it’s too late.”

I held my phone up in front of her face.

“What are you doing?” she frowned.

“Taking a picture. I want to remember this as the moment you completely lost your mind.”

“Ha. You’re funny.” She snatched it away to inspect my photography skills then wrinkled her nose. “At least wait till I’ve fixed my face.” Her finger hit delete and she handed it back to me. “Anyway, this isn’t that moment. I’m not crazy. I’ve never been so right. Otherwise you wouldn’t be making such a fuss. You like him. I mean you
like
him like him, and it’s totally freaking you out. It’s okay to say it.”

“I’m not saying anything. Except that we’re going to be late for training.”

“It’s summer camp Nora, chill out.”

“It’s a high paying job Kenzie, I can’t afford to chill out.” I peeled myself off the desk and headed down to the kitchen, with Kenzie right on my heels.

“Hey, at least give it a shot. Maybe, just maybe he’ll be the guy who finally gives you a good night’s sleep. I’m tired of all that moaning you do in your room at night.” She proceeded to demonstrate her porn version of my nightly dreams.

I tossed a crumpled napkin at her, on my way to the door. “I do not moan in my sleep. Besides it’s never that kind of dream.”

“I know.” She muttered. “That’s the problem. Even your hot guy dreams are vanilla boring. How sad is that.”

I shut the door before the napkin she tossed back could land. She had a point. I was boring, but I really didn’t see that as being a bad thing. If I was going to have to spend all summer shadowing this guy, then there were somethings that needed clearing up.

In a moment of unprecedented bravery, I went back inside, grabbed two mugs, filled them with coffee and headed to the main stage.