Play the Game (13 page)

‘My sister has taken over – apparently I’m too slow.’

He nodded. ‘That’s great delegation. She does the work – you get the credit. Now
go and put your feet up, and I’ll bring you a cup of tea and a bickie.’

I laughed. I seemed to do that a lot around Jackson. He was funny, but he was also sweet and silly, and he liked mucking around. Ever
since I’d decided to do the sets instead of being in the play, he’d been really supportive.

Freddy, on the other hand, had been really busy being Freddy. I’d barely seen him
or talked to him. I’d been a bit sad at first, but then I’d become so busy with the
sets, I’d sort of forgotten to be upset.

‘How’s the rehearsal going?’ I asked Jackson.

He sighed and shook his robes, trying to create a breeze. ‘It’s so hot under these
things! Especially when the stage lights are on. Then again, the other guys are wearing
tights – at least I’ve avoided that!’

I laughed. ‘No tights under the robes?’

‘A lady should never ask a Friar what’s under his robes,’ said Jackson playfully.
‘In fact, I’m surprised a lady would think such a thought!’ Then Jackson stepped closer
to me and leant down. For a second I had this weird feeling that he was going to
kiss me, but instead he said, very seriously, ‘When this is over and we have some
normal time again, would you like to come over and watch a movie?’

Before I could even speak, I was nodding. Then I managed to respond. ‘Yeah, yeah,
yeah!’

‘Sounds like a song,’ he said, and pretended to sing. ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah!’

‘I think you’d better get back to the stage. Obviously it’s calling you,’ I said
dryly.

He nodded. ‘Good luck with the painting. I’ll see you on other side!’

He swept off with a dramatic flourish, stopping once to do a little dance. I smiled,
then remembered I had to get back to the shed to finish off the rest of the sets.
Even though I’d promised myself I wouldn’t think about Jackson until we opened, I
couldn’t help myself. Someone else could have Freddy. I wasn’t interested.

‘Pleaaaaaassse,’ begged Jean.

‘But nobody’s going to see me,’ I argued.

She shrugged. ‘Doesn’t matter. You’ll see you.’

I knew there was no point resisting. She’d end up wearing me down anyway. Sighing,
I sat down at the table and closed my eyes.

‘Just don’t make me look too fancy,’ I said, dreading the idea of a makeover.

‘How come you got all the eyelashes in the family?’ she complained, as she worked
on making them longer – or was it bigger? I wasn’t quite sure how that worked, but
I didn’t dare ask.

‘You have eyelashes,’ I said stupidly.

‘Of course I do, otherwise I’d look creepy, but mine are short and stumpy and yours
are all pretty and long. It’s not fair – especially as you don’t even know how to
look after them.’

‘I didn’t know you could look after eyelashes. I thought they just were?’

‘Yep, that’s exactly my point. You don’t deserve them.’

I couldn’t believe I was having a conversation about eyelashes, but at least it meant
I could put my nerves on hold for a bit. I’d spent last night dreaming all the sets
were going to collapse – or worse, fall apart and crush someone. I’d stupidly thought
that opening night jitters were reserved for the people on the stage, not those behind
it. Clearly, I’d been wrong.

‘There, I’m finished. You look … good.’

‘What’s with the pause?’

She shrugged as she started putting away all her equipment. ‘Nobody’s perfect.’

Terrified she’d made me look crazy, I rushed to the mirror. But it was fine. I looked
just like me, with a bit of make-up on. Even my hair wasn’t much different to normal.

‘I figured you’d be a bit freaked out if I went for the whole shebang,’ said Jean,
looking over my shoulder.

I smiled. ‘Thanks.’

‘Relax. You look so nervous. You don’t even have to go on stage!’

‘I know, I know. I can’t help it – I’m still so jittery.’

‘God, I remember that feeling,’
she said.

I stared at her, surprised. ‘But you were always the star of the show!’

‘Yeah, but I would always get super nervous. It got to the point where I wasn’t having
fun anymore – I was too stressed. That’s why I dropped out of drama class,’ she said.

‘Really?’ I couldn’t believe it. Jean never seemed nervous. I was so relieved to
finally hear that she hadn’t quit because of me.

‘Yeah. But I miss it. I’m thinking of going back next year. Maybe we both could?’
she said quietly.

‘I’d love that,’ I said, really pleased that Jean and I were finally getting along
again.

‘Well, I’ll see you at the show. Hope the set stays up,’ she said with a laugh.

I groaned. Trust Jean to pinpoint my greatest fear.

Everyone I knew was coming tonight. My parents were bringing Tess and Jean, and they’d
managed to score front-row seats – which would only make it worse if the sets fell
down. Mum offered to drive me, but I’d decided to ride my bike. I felt like a dose
of normal before all the madness started. As I rode towards the school, I could see
some of the other kids arriving. I was so happy to be part of it, but also relieved
that my part was almost done.

I found Jackson pacing back and forth outside the theatre. He was half in costume,
and he looked terrible. ‘Are you okay?’ I asked him.

‘Nope. What if?’ he managed to say, before blinking wildly.

I touched his arm. ‘I know. But it won’t. It’ll be great. You’ll be great.’

He started nodding as if he was taking it in. ‘Really? Do you think?’

‘I don’t think. I know. You’ll be the star.’

He breathed in deeply and gave me a huge smile. Then he leant over and kissed me on the lips. Just like that. Right outside the theatre, where
everyone could see.

‘A good luck kiss. Thanks, Edie,’ he said quietly.

‘I didn’t kiss … you did … it wasn’t … it …’ was all I got out.

He laughed. ‘You’re right. Sorry. I kissed you. I didn’t mean to. I just …’

I started laughing too. ‘It’s fine.’

Jackson pulled a face. ‘Are you calling my kiss
fine
?’

Shaking my head, I added,‘No, not fine – nice.’

‘That’s better.’ He grabbed my hand and bowed down to kiss it. ‘Good luck, my lady.
I’ll see you after the show.’

‘Break a leg,’ I said, as he disappeared into the theatre.

I knew I was blushing like mad. I wondered if anyone had seen. Then I decided I didn’t
care. It
was
nice
and
fine. I liked him. And it was a good start to opening night.

Argh! Opening night. The thought made me hurry. I still needed to check that the props
had all been set up.

There were people everywhere backstage. It looked so crazy, it was hard to believe
we’d be putting on a play anytime soon, let alone tonight! Angus was running down
the corridor in half his costume. I jumped out of the way as he hurried past.

‘Sorry, Edie,’ he called. ‘I’ve lost my top!’

‘Try the boys’ dressing room!’ I called back.

I squeezed past a couple of cast members who were huddled together, nervously running
lines.

‘Break a leg,’ I said as I passed them.

As I made it to the stage area I saw Freddy and Zoe in the wings, warming up their
voices and giggling. They were already in costume and they both looked incredible.
I started to walk past them, then stopped and headed back.

‘You two look amazing,’ I said. Freddy looked at me and smiled. I think it was the
first time he’d really noticed me since I’d pulled out of the play. As cute as he
was, I didn’t feel all jittery and nervous around him anymore. ‘Knock ‘em dead,’ I
said with a smile.

Zoe turned to me. ‘Thanks, Edie. I’m so nervous I think I might be sick.’

I laughed. ‘You’ll be fine.’

As I started to walk off, I heard Freddy yell behind me,‘The set looks amazing!’

And it did. It looked better than Mel and I could’ve hoped for.

Mel! I had to get back and help her check the props. Dodging half-dressed actors
and anxious looking stagehands, I rushed to the maintenance shed where we had all
our props stored.

Mel had beaten me to it. She was already there, ticking off the props.

‘Hey, Edie. Nervous?’

‘Yeah. Totally.’

‘Me too. Didn’t expect it back here, but I had these crazy dreams that the bottles
of poison had disappeared and the play was ruined,’ she said, her eyes wide.

I laughed. ‘In mine, the sets fell down and crushed everybody.’

‘Ew, gruesome.’ She showed me the list of props. There were red ticks next to almost
all of them. ‘I’ve nearly finished. Everything’s where it should be. I’ll just check
the last few then we can start moving the first set on stage.’

Mel had been awesome. She’d worked as hard as I had getting it all finished, and
we’d become really good friends. It was nice to have someone to hang out with when
Tess was off doing netball stuff. Plus, Mel was cool and funny, and she liked being
backstage nearly as much as I did.

I started moving the parts of the set for the first scene out onto the stage. Then
Mel and I lifted the backdrop and carefully manoeuvred it into place. We stood back
to admire our work. It was a huge picture of a beautiful large Italian square with
a fountain in it. One of the older art students at school had drawn it, then Mel
and I had painted in the colour.

‘Wow!’ said Mel.

‘Yeah. Looks pretty good, doesn’t it?’ I said, amazed at how professional it seemed.

‘Certainly does,’ said Kerry from behind us. ‘Well done, you two. You’ve created a
whole world. Now let’s hope the actors do it justice!’ she said, smiling.

As she hurried off to get the cast ready, I whispered to Mel,‘Promise me the sets
aren’t going to fall down.’

‘I promise,’ she said, then, sounding worried, added, ‘And the poison isn’t going
to disappear. Right?’

‘No way. It’s right where it should be,’ I told her.

‘Well, let’s go and take our positions.’

With a crazy nervous feeling in my tummy, just like the one I’d had before trying
out for state netball, I stood in the wings next to Mel and waited. We watched as
the cast made their way on stage. I could hear the audience settling in their seats.
Mel reached across and grabbed my hand, giving it a nervous squeeze. I squeezed back.

Everyone was ready. The curtain opened and the lights dimmed. The play had begun.

It was strange watching the play from the side of the stage, particularly as I had
to keep concentrating on set changes. Everything seemed to be happening faster than
it did in rehearsals, but I think that was just because everyone was so focused.
I did manage to watch all of Jackson’s scenes. Each time he came on stage, I’d smile
secretly to myself, remembering his kiss.

‘Balcony scene next,’ I whispered to Mel. ‘You ready?’

She nodded. As the lights dimmed on stage, we switched the backdrops as quickly as
we could, sliding the ladder up behind the balcony drop so that Zoe could peep out
the open window.

Even from the wings, the set looked incredible. The ivy was straight and draped right
down across the pale pink wall. Zoe leant out of the window and delivered my favourite
speech in the whole play, and just for a second, I wished it was me.