Playbill ran an article today about Conversion hiring me to replace Chris Caesar. They posted a picture of Chris, looking like a model, beside a selfie of me from Instagram. When the article went live, I ignored most of US History reading and rereading it. A small part of me wanted to send it to Mom. I wish she could be proud of me. But we haven’t talked, and it would only upset her.

“Thank you, guys,” I say with the biggest and most humble smile. Then I notice everyone is wearing over-the-top costumes. Elijah has on a black corset with stockings and makeup, Tess and Kelsey are wearing nurse outfits, Justin is in a loose-fitting black suit with a back hump, Meena is a scientist (lab coat and clipboard), and Yazmin is in a leopard-print jumpsuit. But Anna takes the cake—she’s wearing a glittery corset with a matching jacket, plus a red wig and top hat.

“Holy shit, Anna,” I say.

She does a spin. “Don’t threaten me with a costume party.”

“What kind of costume party is this exactly?” I ask, feeling underdressed in my jeans.

Elijah throws his arm around me. “Only one of my most favorite movies ever, Rocky Horror Picture Show!”

Now the costumes make sense.

He continues, “Tonight, in your honor, we’ll be doing the Time Warp in Justin’s very luxurious screening room.”

I know there’s a cult following of devoted fans and midnight showings, but Rocky Horror wasn’t on my radar at West Grove. Too edgy for my old school. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen it,” I admit.

Elijah raises his arms above his head. “We have a virgin!” he announces to the crowd, which is met with cheers and whistles. “Buckle up, baby. You aren’t watching it—you’ll be experiencing it!”

Justin leads the way to his screening room. I walk with Elijah, who still hasn’t perfected walking in heels. “Where’s Jamaal?” I ask.

“Oh, he had a date,” Elijah says, wobbling on a step. I’m happy that Jamaal is seeing someone—his showmance with Yaz never materialized—but I’m sad the intense cast bond is already loosening.

“Right this way,” Justin says, opening huge double doors, revealing a mini movie theater with ten or so seats. There are bags of popcorn and random props spread around. “Show will begin in ten minutes,” he announces.

The drink table is soda and water, no alcohol. “No drinking?” I ask Justin.

He flashes a mischievous grin. “Tonight, we’re getting higher.”

Kelsey passes by with a tray of brownies. “Special brownie?”

“Hell yes,” I say. If my aunt Lil can eat them, I can, too.

“We should hang out soon,” Justin says to me. “We could go out on my dad’s yacht.”

The son of 007 wants to hang out with me. On a boat. “Sure,” I say, as coolly as possible. “I’d be down.”