“So why are you still standing here? Don’t you have a clarinet to blow?”
Reid nods and takes a step backward. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
He descends the stairs, not missing a beat. His cheeks don’t flush, not even when I emphasize “blow.” Reid woke me up before the sun and co-opted my parents… and I couldn’t even make him blush? Everything makes Reid blush! I’m seriously off my game.
What a waste of a line, honestly.
CHAPTER TWO
An hour later I’m waiting in the wings, my cowriter cannot stop pacing, and our talent is late.
In this case, the wings are the bench across from Mrs. Mulaney’s office, where I sit scrolling through my phone while Henry grows more annoyed with each step. Fitz is supposed to be here by now. As the de facto leaders of LHS’s drama club, we’re supposed to present Melted as a unit. Henry and I as the writing and directing duo behind the scenes, and Fitz representing on the onstage talent.
I stare at my phone, watching our Team Melted group chat light up.
Makayla Okoye
IT’S MELTED DAY AHHHH
7:29 AM
Arjun Patel
7:29 AM
Arjun Patel
Tell us everything ASAP. I know we subscribe to being a low stakes org but…
7:30 AM
Makayla Okoye
TODAY THERE ARE STAKES
7:30 AM
Arjun Patel
(no pressure!!!!)
7:31 AM
Makayla Okoye
(some pressure )
7:31 AM
I swallow the lump in my throat. Cool. Pressure. Cool cool cool.
I get it though. We’ve always branded ourselves as a low-commitment come to have fun! club. We’re not serious thespians like the musical theater kids or intense musicians like the band. We’re a mix of athletes and scientists, quiz bowl captains and future politicians, all bonded by our mutual appreciation for the yes and technique and putting together a solid production. For us, theater is in the B story in our life. But the best character moments are always in the subplots. So the thought of losing it?
It rattled us more than we expected it to.
So we came up with a plan. A low-budget proposal Mrs. Mulaney and the school committee cannot refuse.
I switch into my private group chat with Henry and Fitz as it buzzes with an update.
Fitz (Not Ava)
SORRY. OVERSLEPT. ON MY WAY!!
7:35 AM
“We should’ve told her to be here thirty minutes ago,” Henry says.
)