Page 21 of The Perfect Hit

We both chuckled at that. With Scott’s arrogance, I would probably have to dig way deep to learn anything.

I thought it over. Having a more prominent part would take up a lot more time than I’d be able to give. With baseball in full swing now, I needed to stay focused. Although being up on stage would be fun. That was why I followed the urge to audition in the first place, right?

I shook my head, glancing down at my hands. “I probably shouldn’t have even shown up, Hazel. All I was thinking about was supporting you, and you were nervous after yesterday, not knowing who would be in which part. To be honest, I don’t have a ton of time to be there. And I’m sure it would conflict with baseball.”

I looked up at her and saw she was smiling. “Well, I talked to my mom about it earlier, and she said something that resonated with me. So I might’ve called to convince Mrs. Sanderson that it would be better to let the students go home and get things done before rehearsals. We wouldn’t be starting until around six and going until eight on most nights, at least until we get to the final couple weeks.”

Practice usually ended around five thirty but sometimes stretched until six. It would give me a chance to shower and avoid the guys so they wouldn’t know what I was doing. That would make for some long nights, but it was only for a few weeks.

“You did that for me?”

Hazel glanced away, trying to hide a smile. “I guess I was really excited to have my best friend participating in the play. I tried to find a way to help it happen.”

I grinned wide enough that my cheeks hurt. It wasn’t a declaration of a crush, but it meant I’d get more time with her and would be able to try out something new.

“Well, then. I’m in, as long as we can keep this all a secret. I don’t need my family or my team knowing, you know? There’s enough pressure for winning state that I don’t want them to think I’m not focused.”

She pinched her pointer finger and thumb together and pulled them across her lips. “They won’t hear it from me.”

I did a little dance, trying to shake out all the strange excitement and nerves I was feeling.

Could I really pull off playing baseball and being in the spring play? I guess I’d find out soon enough. The best part was I’d get to see Hazel that much more and in her element. I just needed to up my game so I didn’t embarrass her.

13

Hazel

Something was seriously wrong with me. I mean, touching Colt’s bicep had set my fingers on fire, and I couldn’t get the feeling of excitement to leave while I was with him.

Even on the walk home and as I got ready for bed, I couldn’t process the fact that a guy would actually do something so far out of his comfort zone as to audition for the play. Seth never would’ve done something like that. It was just another bonus point for having such a great guy friend like Colt.

Although my growing attraction to him was a bit unnerving.

On the one hand, it would be fun to have him around more, practicing in the play and just being there. But would I like him more and then have everything get ruined?

I couldn’t lose him. I’d had a rough time the last few weeks at my previous school the year before, and I didn’t want to repeat that in any way.

And now we were here, in the auditorium, students milling about as they waited for us to start the first rehearsal.

Mrs. Sanderson gave me a slight nudge, and I finally cleared my throat, trying to channel the vibes she’d given in our last production. Warm, encouraging, patient.

“Welcome, everyone, we’re so glad you made it. Thank you again for your auditions. We couldn’t make this production work without you, and I’m grateful for the chance we have to work together over the next couple of months.”

I had everyone grab a chair, and we sat in a large circle. Mrs. Sanderson had asked one of her teacher assistants to make copies of the script for everyone, and while we hadn’t done this forBeauty and the Beast, I wanted to have everyone read through it in the hopes that we’d come up with some ideas I hadn’t thought of as far as executing each scene.

“We’re not going to pair off and go over our parts?” Scott asked, leaning back in his chair as he accepted the packet of papers from me.

I shook my head. “With the script being so new, I’d love to go over it together and get a sense of your ideas. You might think of something that could make this play shine better than I originally thought. This is going to be a team effort.”

“I doubt Mrs. Sanderson would make us do that,” Scott mumbled.

Words didn’t come like I needed them to, and I was gaping at Scott.

“Actually, a first read-through is a great idea,” Mrs. Sanderson said from her chair in the corner. “Hazel is directing this, and while she’ll have some guidance from me, she’s the one to listen to.”

Footsteps raced across the stage, and Colt slipped into an empty chair just in time to accept a script from me. “You’re late,” I whispered.

“I know, sorry. Coach Maddox made us do extra-long conditioning, and I needed a shower.”

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