Page 101 of Reaching Avery
When lunch ended, Avery and I walked to the performing arts building together.
“Time for you to get your Gaston on,” he said once we were in the auditorium and going toward the stage.
“And you to get your art on,” I replied, holding his hand and swinging our arms between our bodies. “Hey, do you wanna get dinner with me after school?”
“I’d love to,” he answered.
Since we were still rehearsing for the musical, our classes were rehearsal times as well and was treated just like the after school ones. Before we started that day, Mr. Lee called us all to the stage to give us some updates.
“Opening night will be November ninth,” he said after getting everyone’s attention. “The show will run the following weekend as well. We’ll do another one the weekend after Thanksgiving. So all in all, three weekends total.”
Excitement spilled out amongst us, and people started chatting all at once. Other than a few costumes and some of the backdrops, we were ready. The band knew the songs—and they’d have sheet music anyway—the choir knew the backup parts, and we’d rehearsed the dance numbers, songs, and lines so much that I could do it in my sleep.
Honestly, I probablyhaddone it in my sleep if the disarray of my blankets and pillows in the morning meant anything.
“Okay, that’s all I have,” Mr. Lee said, unrolling his script from when he’d rolled it up while talking. “Let’s start with scene six with Gaston and LeFou in the tavern.”
“Looks like I’m up,” I said, turning to Avery.
“No one sings like Mav and no one stomps his foot like Mav,” Avery answered in a dramatic voice, mimicking the song.
“Those aren’t the lines, dorky.” I gave him a quick peck on the lips before walking backstage to get in place.
I heard him chuckle from behind me and my heart fluttered at the sound.
***
“Try this on,” I said, handing the costume to Avery.
He gave methelook—the one that said I was an idiot—and scoffed. “Ricky and Travis are doing the prince thing. Not me. Unless there is an emo prince I don’t know about.”
With a defeated sigh, I placed the Prince Charming outfit back on the rack.
Rehearsal hadn’t taken as long that Wednesday, so we’d decided to go out to dinner and then hit a few shops. It was only a few days until Noah’s party and we hadn’t bought our costumes yet. We’d decided on what to be already, but I wanted to try on crazy outfits just for fun.
“Are you seriously pouting?” Avery asked, peering at me over the top of the next aisle.
“Maybe.”
“Fine. Hand it over.” He snapped his fingers at me. I grinned as I took the prince costume back from the rack and handed it to him. “It’s a good thing I like you, big guy.”
His famous last words before disappearing into the dressing room.
We had seen each other after school every day that week. Monday, I’d taken him to dinner. Tuesday, rehearsal had taken a little longer than usual, so Mr. Lee provided pizza again. But we had taken a drive afterward before stopping near the water and just sitting out there, car off, and talking. Maybe some kissing happened too.
Okay, alotof kissing. Nothing past that, though.
I’d explored a bit of his body with my hands as we’d made out—across his small chest, down his back, and around his sides—but something weird had happened when I’d tried gripping his thighs. He’d jerked out of my hold with such fear in his eyes that I’d started apologizing even though I’d had no idea what I did wrong.
I had taken him home after that. And things had been weird.
“I’m not coming out,” Avery said from the dressing room, bringing me back to the present.
I leaned against the door. “Babe. I think you already have.”
He snorted. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
“It’s a miracle,” I said, smirking. “Now, don’t be shy. Let me see.”
