Page 113 of Silent Comrade
“Go, Team Britt! Best designer at SCAD!Drinks afterward!” Tachi said, putting her hand in the middle ofthe group and elbowing Rodeo to follow suit. The other modelsstacked hands and gave a big shout, and to Red’s satisfaction drewnasty glares from Jenna’s aloof New York City-based professionalcrew across the room. Behind that group, over on the far wall, ajanitor in glasses clapped in time with the beat, the broom restingon his shoulder, and a gleaming smile on his weathered face.
“Break a leg, fashion plate.” Rodeo smirkedat Red.
Red couldn’t hear much else over the noise.Auditory overload. The virus clawed at his mind. No. He would holdhis shit together for Britt.
Jenna’s glimmering group of female modelssilently lined up, arms stiff at their sides, hair pulled back insevere buns. Too much of one motif, if you asked Red. But hey, hewas only a fake fashion student, not a real one.
The house music morphed to somethingclassical-sounding with a moderate beat as Jenna’s models madetheir appearance. A roar of the crowd answered Red’s question.Apparently gold was in this year. Who knew?
After a minute, the first models to havewalked began to re-enter backstage from a side entrance elevated bya few stairs above the rest of the backstage. As they returned, onemodel from each group returned to the original entry to the stage,and stood next to each designer in preparation for the finale.
Could he seriously do this? Twice?
The stage manager waved the final fourcollections up the back of the stage.
“You all look fabulous,” Britt’s voicequavered over the rolling beat. She looked almost green, and Redwanted to hug her. She descended the stairs to watch the video feedwith the other designers and wait to make her own entrance. Henodded at her small form surrounded by other student designers.Safety in numbers in the few minutes it would take for theteammates to walk on stage and return backstage. Thank God Stumpyhad an eye in the sky fixed solely on Britt. Should be a hiddenteam member somewhere nearby as well.
His skin crawled.
He had one more job, and by God, he’d dowhat he could to make Britt’s dreams come true and then keep heralive.
Tachi and Rodeo would get their chance toface off, as Britt had designed the show with the male-femalemodels entering from opposite sides of the stage, going down thecatwalk together, turning out at the end of the catwalk, thencrossing over each other’s path for a final pose, before bothexiting at the side of the catwalk to return backstage.
Through an opening in the curtain, Redwatched the stage.
The moment before Tachi stepped into thespotlight, her shoulders went back, head came up, and a slyalmost-smile lit up her face. She strode out in heels and canvascapris like she owned the place. Rodeo followed suit from the otherside of the stage in leather shoes and regular length canvas pants,tipped an imaginary hat at Tachi, much to the screaming excitementof the crowd. Those two beautiful people oozed charisma andchemistry, and the audience loved it. Tachi and Rodeo took theirtime strutting. Halfway down the catwalk, Tachi slipped off herstructured jacket and hung it on one finger over her shoulder. Thegreen tank top shimmered in the theater lights, drawing gasps andflashes of cameras.
Upon reaching the end of the stage, theylifted their chins at each other, spun apart, walked five paces,turned back, and gave their best fierce pose-off. Tachi popped afist on her hip and Rodeo made a show of wiping his brow at herperfect posture and angles. The crowd went wild.
Rodeo, resuming the long-limbed, slightlyslouched model posture, crooked a finger at Tachi, who struttedright over to him. They hit one more pose and then exited thecatwalk.
Down behind the stage, Britt stood in frontof the monitor, hands clasped over her chest, eyes shimmering. Shedeserved to savor every wonderful minute of her collection beingpresented to the world. Next up, Kim and Gonzo strutted to similarenthusiastic reception.
Red’s heart thudded. He waited for his cue,then stepped out right as Damaris mirrored his movement. The stagebecame a deafening blur of house music, crowd noise, and his heartpounding in his head. Was that glint of metal in the audience agun? He couldn’t hear himself think, much less detect a safety’sclick. Every step took him farther away from Britt, and his virusstrained against the separation. As he entered the catwalk, hescanned the audience and glimpsed Rivera and Britt’s dad a few rowsback, as well as Pele on the other side, wearing a fashionablecape. According to the plan, Curly would be in the audience, too,likely utilizing his ability to blend in and become no one. Or hewas the backstage team member in support. The guy was a ghost –everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
The rest of the crowd was varied. The lightsilluminated the bright colors, diverse clothing textures, sparklingaccessories, and smiling audience members. A face in the crowdcaught his attention. He almost stumbled. The face didn’t fit.Smiles all around, except for one audience member scowling. Guy insunglasses.
You know what they say about people whowear sunglasses indoors? Either blind or an asshole.Red wouldput money on the latter. The guy looked at his watch. Had Rodeo orGonzo picked him out? Pele or Curly? Red stared for one beat toolong and didn’t move his lips to mutter into the throat mic, “Mythree o’clock.”
Red tried to walk as Tachi had taught him,arms swinging but contained, hips forward without swaying, with the“deep thought” slightly squinting expression. He slowed as Damarisslung her jacket over a shoulder, revealing a semifitted green tankwith silver accents that went well with the canvas deconstructedskirt that somehow managed to swirl. Finally, the end of thecatwalk appeared before him, and he hit his mark right along withDamaris, turned out for five paces, spun back, posed, paused, andthen crossed over again. He waited for Damaris to do her final passon the end of the catwalk before she joined him to exit the stagetogether.
He nearly ran. All he wanted was Britt. Heneeded to reach her. His heart thudded.
In the backstage area, he dashed down thefew stairs and hurried over to where the designers lined up withtheir models. He searched for Britt. Where was she? His earsbuzzed.
Backstage, Gonzo and Rodeo kept Tachi andher model friends together and off to one side. Red met histeammates’ eyes. Rodeo blinked once. All good, so far. Gonzo lookedaround then back to Red. One blink as well. Red kept a hand on histhigh and moved toward the return stairs on the other side of thestage to take up position there.
Where was Britt?
Red scanned the crowd of glittering,constantly moving models, fashion staff, and designers. The virusclawed at him, needing to connect with Britt. Toward the servicedoors at the far end of backstage, he could still see the quirkyjanitor who had worked his way to the back of the space. The guylimped and swept, occasionally bobbing his head to the music withthat occasional smile. Out of place. Alarms went off in hismind.
Red needed Britt. Now. His head swiveledback and forth, sanity clawing for purchase. His vision flickeredcrimson.
Right before he started shoving people tocreate a clear path, a hand pressed against his palm, fingerslacing through his. As he looked down at Britt’s smiling face, theemotional distress response driving the virus dropped severallevels. He could breathe again. His amazing Britt was right next tohim. They were a few minutes away from pulling off this crazyop.
Red and Britt followed the othermodel-designer sets up the stairs behind stage right until it wastheir turn. As last designer to present, Britt walked out on stageto cheers and applause, Red right next to her, motioning as if toshow her off to everyone. Red’s chest swelled as she beamed andlooked around, then up at him. God, the woman glowed from her blueeyes, to the crystals in her hair, to the sexy and fierce skirt andtank top, to those metallic booties that made him think fondly of acertain couch.
She smiled up at him. He would remember thismoment forever. His heart soared.
