second of it. After they stepped offstage, Miss Hernandez cornered her.
“Courtney, I don’t know what happened, but that was outstanding! I don’t think I’ve seen a performance like that out of you in all the years you’ve been here, and that’s saying something. Congratulations!” She gave Courtney a hug.
“Thanks,” she responded, wiping a couple of stray tears that came out. “I don’t know either, but I’m glad it did… Especially on closing night.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do at that audition this weekend. You confirmed, right?”
Courtney’s stomach dropped as the inevitable question came out. She looked so proud and excited that Courtney hated to disappoint her, especially after a night like this. “I, um… I’m not going to be able to do that after all. It’s a long story, but something personal came up and it’s going to take up most of my time.”
“Is there anything I can do to help? It’d be a shame to see you back out, especially after that performance.”
“I wish I could, but it’s just not possible. I’m really sorry. I wish I had known sooner.”
Miss Hernandez sighed, patting Courtney’s shoulder reassuringly. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but things happen. I hope you’ll consider trying something else once everything’s been worked out.”
“Thanks. I will. I’d better go now, actually. I’ve got a ton of stuff to do tonight, but thanks again for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight, Courtney.”
Someone backstage called for her, and Miss Hernandez gave Courtney a quick wave before rushing off to whatever drama might be happening offstage.
Courtney turned and made her way through the wings and into the dressing area, dodging her fellow cast members, who were chatting excitedly as they made their way to the after-show party. She couldn’t help but feel bad about skipping out on it, especially since it was the last one. Courtney figured she must look like the biggest diva in school. She couldn’t worry about that now, though. There was something far more pressing demanding her attention.
Once she’d changed, she waited outside the theatre for Sam and Matthew. The warm air helped to take away the chill she always got from being inside the auditorium. She swore they must keep the place glacial on purpose. She assumed it was because of the lights — they couldn’t have any students passing out in the middle of a production. Still, Courtney would’ve preferred being hot. The change back and forth was never pleasant.
She sat down at a bench and leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. The sounds of people milling about the parking lot and cars pulling out mixed with crickets chirping.
“Court!”
Courtney snapped to attention at the sound of her name. She searched the bustling crowd, spotting Sam and Matthew by a vending machine a few feet away.
“Hey,” she called out as she stood to join them. “You guys ready?”
“You bet,” replied Matthew. “Let’s go.”
Courtney nearly burst out laughing at the look on his face. He reminded her of a mischievous child getting ready to play a joke on someone. That was one of the things she liked best about him; he wasn’t afraid to get in a little trouble. She supposed it balanced out her overly-cautious nature.
“Ready when you are,” Sam said as he gave her a quick kiss. “By the way, you were awesome tonight. What happened up there? I mean, you’re usually incredible, but tonight was something else.”
“Thanks. Miss Hernandez said the same thing. I don’t know; it was like I just got lost for a while there. Maybe my subconscious decided I needed a break or something,” she joked.
Sam walked Courtney to his car with his arm around her shoulder, flirting with her the whole way while Matthew followed at a respectful distance. She blushed and played along with his flirting, knowing he must be trying to keep things light. She had to admit, she’d been
“Courtney, I don’t know what happened, but that was outstanding! I don’t think I’ve seen a performance like that out of you in all the years you’ve been here, and that’s saying something. Congratulations!” She gave Courtney a hug.
“Thanks,” she responded, wiping a couple of stray tears that came out. “I don’t know either, but I’m glad it did… Especially on closing night.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do at that audition this weekend. You confirmed, right?”
Courtney’s stomach dropped as the inevitable question came out. She looked so proud and excited that Courtney hated to disappoint her, especially after a night like this. “I, um… I’m not going to be able to do that after all. It’s a long story, but something personal came up and it’s going to take up most of my time.”
“Is there anything I can do to help? It’d be a shame to see you back out, especially after that performance.”
“I wish I could, but it’s just not possible. I’m really sorry. I wish I had known sooner.”
Miss Hernandez sighed, patting Courtney’s shoulder reassuringly. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed, but things happen. I hope you’ll consider trying something else once everything’s been worked out.”
“Thanks. I will. I’d better go now, actually. I’ve got a ton of stuff to do tonight, but thanks again for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. Goodnight, Courtney.”
Someone backstage called for her, and Miss Hernandez gave Courtney a quick wave before rushing off to whatever drama might be happening offstage.
Courtney turned and made her way through the wings and into the dressing area, dodging her fellow cast members, who were chatting excitedly as they made their way to the after-show party. She couldn’t help but feel bad about skipping out on it, especially since it was the last one. Courtney figured she must look like the biggest diva in school. She couldn’t worry about that now, though. There was something far more pressing demanding her attention.
Once she’d changed, she waited outside the theatre for Sam and Matthew. The warm air helped to take away the chill she always got from being inside the auditorium. She swore they must keep the place glacial on purpose. She assumed it was because of the lights — they couldn’t have any students passing out in the middle of a production. Still, Courtney would’ve preferred being hot. The change back and forth was never pleasant.
She sat down at a bench and leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. The sounds of people milling about the parking lot and cars pulling out mixed with crickets chirping.
“Court!”
Courtney snapped to attention at the sound of her name. She searched the bustling crowd, spotting Sam and Matthew by a vending machine a few feet away.
“Hey,” she called out as she stood to join them. “You guys ready?”
“You bet,” replied Matthew. “Let’s go.”
Courtney nearly burst out laughing at the look on his face. He reminded her of a mischievous child getting ready to play a joke on someone. That was one of the things she liked best about him; he wasn’t afraid to get in a little trouble. She supposed it balanced out her overly-cautious nature.
“Ready when you are,” Sam said as he gave her a quick kiss. “By the way, you were awesome tonight. What happened up there? I mean, you’re usually incredible, but tonight was something else.”
“Thanks. Miss Hernandez said the same thing. I don’t know; it was like I just got lost for a while there. Maybe my subconscious decided I needed a break or something,” she joked.
Sam walked Courtney to his car with his arm around her shoulder, flirting with her the whole way while Matthew followed at a respectful distance. She blushed and played along with his flirting, knowing he must be trying to keep things light. She had to admit, she’d been
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