“Maid! Oh, where is my maid!” Bridget called from the center of the ballroom that was once again our makeshift stage. The real stage was currently being worked on at the far end of the room. Occasionally the sound of hammers or saws would cut through our rehearsal. Bridget said my cue, so I’m forc

Gently, I knocked on Susie’s door. It was already partially opened. When I knocked, the door pushed farther inward. Susie was resting in bed. Nicholas was standing beside the bed, speaking with her. I had just watched the doctor leave before I knocked. Susie saw me and waved me closer. As I follow

I rubbed my own forehead, the questions making my head ache. I could only imagine what Susie was going through. “You have to tell Mark,” I said, because that should be the starting point. Mark was half to blame here, so he should carry half the burden of whatever happens next. “I agree,” Nichola

At the next rehearsal, Susie still hadn’t left her room. When I had visited her, she hadn’t even left the bed. She remained inconsolable, always crying and lost in thought. I had held her tightly, told her she was my dear friend and I would be her for there no matter what, and then left the room.

The next day at rehearsal, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Julian, Nick, and Bridget, watching their interactions. I tried to see them in a new way, now with some more of their past acting like a lens. If Bridget had kissed Julian all night after his love confession, only to break up with him the n

“Get in your places, please,” Nathan called from the bottom of the stage. Bridget hurried to take point beside him. “Are you two ready?” “Ready,” Nicholas said. He had his script out too. “Ready,” I echoed. My heart hammered in my chest as I skimmed the first line. This was going to be even wors

“Piper!” Nicholas called after me. I continued walking, not slowing down until I was in the hallway, with the stage and all of the other candidates safely out of view. Then, I turned toward the wall and truly let the tears fall. I knew Nicholas wouldn’t give up his chase, even though I hoped he

With Julian on my arm, we returned to the ballroom. Nicholas noticed immediately, gaze zeroing in on where Julian and my arms were interlocked. I didn’t move away this time. After all, Bridget had her arm, at that very moment, wrapped around one of Nicholas’s too. On stage, Tiffany and Jessica are

“Wonderful,” Bridget said with an even bigger smile than before. It was a beautiful smile, all pearly white teeth. She looked every bit the part of the a-list actress. Her makeup was on point. Even her hair was perfectly styled. I wondered how many stylists traveled with her. It wasn’t unheard of

I was tired from a long day of acting and handling drama. So when I finally made my way back to my room, my feet were slow, my pace sluggish. I didn’t reach the hallway where the candidates’ rooms were until well after the others had already gone. Maybe this was why I found Mark standing alone out