“Natalie. You are so off base. I…” Reid’s cheeks flushed in frustration. He zipped his clarinet case and stood. “I don’t even know what to say. But no. I don’t want a chair I didn’t earn. Also, I like Madeline. That’s not a prank.”

Reid pushed past me on his way out of the studio.

Of course, he ran into Madeline on the stairs. He looked between the two of us, stunned.

“Natalie. Your face. Is it that surprising? That Reid would like me?” Madeline said, looking right at me.

“Mads…” My voice trailed off because, honestly, I was still processing.

“A real friend wouldn’t think someone dating me is a prank. Reid likes me. I like him too. The only person I don’t like right now is you.”

My eyes stung like I’d been slapped.

She hugged Reid and they exited scene together as I stayed frozen in the studio, processing the reality that… I was wrong. It still felt so impossible. But I was, and Madeline left without saying goodbye, without looking back. My stomach dropped because in an attempt to expose Reid’s relationship, all I did was sabotage mine.

That moment, the curtain closed on my best friendship with Madeline Park for good.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

We dive into rehearsals head first, and it feels so good being back in the director’s chair. I armored up with a musical movie marathon over Thanksgiving. Highlights include the staged recordings of Hamilton, Rent, and yes, the tenth anniversary Les Mis concert. I took meticulous notes and I’m riding the high from the study session into our first week of rehearsals. Sure, the production schedule is tight, requiring daily rehearsals. Yes, the stakes are high. But when I’m following along during the first table read with the cast of Melted: The Musical, marking up a script with a number two pencil, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Sans the codirector who has always been by my side.

The first few rehearsals are introductory, filled with team building exercises to foster trust among the cast.

By the end of the week, it’s is all about the music, the eleven songs that make up Melted: The Musical. Today, we are working on “For the Last Time Ever” and “Hate Is a Closed Window” with Danica, Emerson, and Toby. Dad should be behind the piano, but a faculty meeting takes precedence, so he is going to be running late.

But I mean, who isn’t running late at the moment?

“Hey, Natalie.”

Danica is the first to arrive, her Doc Martens clomping against the linoleum as she crosses the band room and sets up at one of the chairs by the piano.

“Hi,” I say.