Page 89 of Bad Crush
She finally starts to get the hang of it after a few laps. Her arms fall to her sides, and her stride lengthens.
Together, we skate to the center of the ice.
“Thank you for this. It was good to get out of my head for a while. This play feels like it might be the end of me.”
“Nah, not my girl. She’s too tough to go out like that.” I squeeze her hands. “You’ve done a whole bunch of these before. Why is this one causing you so much trouble? Or is this like your creative process?”
“Are you trying to politely ask if I turn into a drama queen, tortured artist every time?”
“Your words, baby.”
“No, not usually. I love acting, and when I step on stage, it’s easy. Or it used to be. Slipping into someone else is comforting in a way I can’t explain.”
“What’s different this time?”
“Well,” she starts. “I told you how I landed a part that’s different for me. I’m playing the youngest of three sisters. She’s carefree and fun. She’s a bit silly and always doing things for a laugh.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It is. Turns out fun is harder to pull off. I should have stuck with something more comfortable for me.”
“How come you didn’t?”
“I’ve been trying to summon the courage for two years. Dr. Rossen is great. I really respect her, and when I first got to Valley, I auditioned for two different roles—one serious, girl next door type, and the other was a comedic relief character. She gave me the first part, and I got such great feedback from everyone. I guess I didn’t want to take a chance and fail.”
“And now?”
“I’m taking all sorts of wild chances this year.”
I lift her and spin around, then set her back down. “Show me.”
“What?”
“Perform for me.”
“Here?”
“You need a stage and an audience.” I skate off to the side and pull myself up to sit on the half wall that goes around the rink.
“I can barely stand, and you want me to perform?” She looks around and pushes off one foot hesitantly.
“I had a coach once who made us run drills blindfolded.”
“What?” She laughs. “That sounds really dangerous.”
“Yeah, it was. My parents were pissed. But it actually worked. I had to know exactly where I was on the ice. I had to feel it. Sometimes taking away the ability to see or hear…”
“Or walk?” She screeches. “Your logic is twisted, Dr. Scott. I don’t think that’s going to work here.”
“Either way, it should be entertaining.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Let’s take it from the top of scene two where you enter from stage right.”
She nods, opens her mouth as if she’s going to deliver her first line, and then looks straight at me. “Wait, how do you know…”
“You left a copy of the script in my room.” I hop down from the wall back onto the ice and skate toward her. “It’s a great part. You’re gonna kill it.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do. You’re the most amazing and talented person I know. You can do this.”
