I called Mom last week and told her I was going to cut my hair short for my role. A perfect cover-up for having short hair—thank you, Rizzo. Mom fought against it—always preferring my hair long—and suggested a wig. I told her the director made me. When in doubt, blame the director. My hair has grown out a bit—my curls are the perfect length for Rizzo. After my parents leave, I’m going to a real barbershop and getting a haircut—a gift to myself for surviving both the musical and my parents’ visit.

Jamaal and I wait outside the school for the rest of the cast. It’s already dark out—the sun now sets before we get out of rehearsal. Fall is here, and without much notice, it became hoodie and leather-jacket weather. Soon it will be puffy-coat weather.

“Can you keep-eth a secret?” Jamaal asks. Sometimes sharing a soul with Shakespeare is just adding “eth” to the ends of words.

“I can try-eth,” I say.

“I’m crushing on Yazmin hard.”

My heart sinks. Yazmin ghosted me after the auditions. She’s friendly to my face—which is good because we’re in a show together—but no more texts, tamale lunches, or even eye contact. I’ve accepted that I ruined any chance with her by getting Rizzo, but I haven’t stopped liking her. How do you unlike someone?

“Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?” I ask, pretending not to know.

“She says they’ve been fighting. Anyway, I’m only looking for a showmance.”

“Maybe Tess?” I offer.

“Her and Justin have something going.”

“Oh,” I say, stunned. I’m behind in my gossip. Anna is dropping the ball.

Jamaal hops off the wall and stands face-to-face with me. “Maybe you could talk to Yaz for me? See what you can find out?”

I almost laugh, but hold it in. I’m never having that conversation with her. “Sure,” I say, wanting to be Jamaal’s friend.

“Thanks, man,” he says, then gives me a hug.

“Whoa, what’s happening here?” Elijah yells, emerging from the school with the group behind him.

“We’re hugging it out,” Jamaal says. Elijah joins and the others do, too.

There’s an unexplainable bonding that happens within a cast. We get so close during the show, like going through a war together. It’s weird and hard to explain, but when the last performance is over, I miss the cast as much as I miss the show. The bond is so real. There are inside jokes, games, and drama unique to each show. And there’s one thing that can end the bond: a showmance.