“It’s a plot necessity,” Val says. “They can’t fall in love if they don’t meet each other.”

“That’s technically right,” answers Willa. “That’s its structural purpose. But what’s it really about?”

“Lust!” one of the guys shouts. “He just wants to get with her.” Everyone giggles, and Cole smirks. I feel my face flush.

“Well, yes,” Willa says, and she laughs. “Ultimately everything is about lust of one kind or another. But what else is this scene about?”

“Potential,” I say.

“Yes!” Willa whirls around to face me. “Yes! That’s it, Avril.” She crosses toward the bench where Cole and I are sitting. “Potential for what?”

“For love?” Lex offers from the front row. He grins at me, proud of himself.

“Yes! Absolutely!” says Willa, but she doesn’t turn around to look at Lex. She’s still staring at Cole and me. “But what else?”

“Potential for a story,” Cole offers. “Eden wants to know if they have a story to tell. It’s about letting that story play out to its end. Whatever that ends up being.”

“That’s it!” Willa practically shouts. “Yes!” She raises one eyebrow at Cole. “Not bad for somebody who couldn’t find the theatre.” She crouches down in front of the bench where Cole and I are sitting. Her eyes are so full of fire that it’s almost hard to look at her. “And we have the potential—perfect word, Avril—for all of that laid out in less than a dozen lines here in scene one. You two are off to a great start with this.”

Cole gives me a little grin. He runs one hand through his dark hair. And just for a second, I can’t move.

Alarm bells are sounding in my head. Because I have a feeling this boy could be dangerous.

At least for me.

And then I realize that Eden is feeling the exact same thing. So I tell myself to lean into it. Because that’s what we do in the theatre.

We run that section a few more times, and each time I feel myself becoming more and more Eden. I let myself feel her hope, that little spark of curiosity about this boy. That tiny flicker of maybe in the back of her mind.

But also her fear.

By just the third time through, Cole and I are able to put down our scripts and run the whole thing off-book, and Willa says that’s earned us a break.

“Company, take five,” Jude announces in his best stage manager voice, and he notes the time on his rehearsal report.

Most everyone drifts away to wait in line for the bathroom or step outside for some air. But I stay put. And so does Cole. Val starts in my direction, but I see Lex grab her by the hand and drag her outside with him.

“Not bad for a first rehearsal,” Cole says.