That was not going to happen. I was cool and aloof when I saw him, just so he would know whose side I was really on. Stevie and Beckett managed to be cordial to each other in the halls and when we all hung out in the lobby together. When Arcadia rehearsals started, it was clear they were going to be able to work together, which was a relief—you did not want to make an enemy of someone on the tech crew. (When Erik and Marco, who ran the lights, had a terrible breakup, Marco took it out on Erik onstage, the follow spot always just managing to miss him.)

Stevie never brought Beckett up or talked about him, but even so, I’d been worried she still wasn’t quite over him. This was why I had been so excited about the Zach Ellison development—and why I wasn’t thrilled that Beckett and Stevie were now having a random private conversation.

Mr. Campbell pushed through the lobby door, a stack of papers tucked under his arm. “Are you telling me your teacher isn’t even here yet?” he asked, grinning, as he took the stairs up to the second level two at a time. “What kind of operation is this? Class is starting, chop-chop!”

Everyone jumped to their feet, and I looked over at the shop hallway, wondering if I should go get Stevie, not really minding the fact that I’d have to break up whatever was going on with them. A second later, though, the hallway door swung open. She headed out, and I saw Beckett walking toward the shop, lumber back over his shoulder. I grabbed her stuff from the couch and walked over. “What did he want?”

“Thanks,” she said, taking her bag from me. “It was about tonight. His parents’ new play is in previews, and he wanted to know if I wanted to see it. He got an extra comp ticket.”