Demon (9 page)

Rebecca rolled her eyes. “She’s only one year older than you.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m taken. In this life and the next.” He touched the ammonite necklace around his neck. “No one is
ever
going to steal my heart away from my angel of music.”

Rebecca sighed and closed her books for the night. She had no idea why she was being so insecure. She was glad she had talked to Justyn about it. She suddenly felt recharged and complete in a way she had never thought was possible before Justyn came into her life. Silly things like not getting the starring role or getting one C suddenly seemed a lot less important. Rebecca sank back into his arms, thinking she was the luckiest person in the world. Only the empty cage in the corner of their living room and the strange sense of foreboding that seemed to surround it put a damper on an otherwise perfect evening.

Rebecca wasn’t sure if it was Justyn’s pep talk or just the passage of time, but things started to fall into a more normal routine. Over the course of the next two weeks, everything seemed to improve. After that first disappointing grade, she aced all her other exams and was maintaining a solid 3.5 grade point average. Her acting was becoming second nature, including her cockney accent. Even Chad and Scott were behaving themselves, except for the occasional glare or snide comment. Livy was constantly on the prowl, but Justyn ignored her advances and avoided her as much as possible when they weren’t on the stage. Everyone had memorized their lines, and her friendship with Megan was blossoming as quickly as Megan’s love affair with Quinn. The four of them had spent several nights out on double dates, occasionally with Frankie tagging along. Megan had confided to Rebecca that she was falling hard and fast for her blue-eyed co-star. In fact, that was what they were talking about as they ambled across campus on their way to rehearsal.

After putting in her daily hours at the college post office, Rebecca met with Megan for a quick cup of coffee. Megan had gotten her in the habit of drinking something hot on their way to practice. It helped relax their throat muscles before they sang. Even though Rebecca had one of the smaller roles, she also had to sing with the chorus line. So anything to help keep her voice in key and Professor Carter off her back was a plus. The girls grabbed their coffee to-go so they wouldn’t be late for practice and enjoyed the scenery as they walked. With fall in full swing, the woodsy campus was a canopy of leaves the color of the sunset. It was wonderful strolling along and breathing in the fresh, crisp mountain air. Rebecca pushed her bike with one hand and kept a precarious grip on the coffee with the other as they strolled along, all the while attempting to keep up with Megan’s speed talking.

“I am just so happy!” Megan gushed. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about a guy before. I mean, I never really had a boyfriend. Well, not a real one anyway. A few casual things here and there, like to prom or homecoming, but never anything serious.”

Rebecca was so surprised, she almost dropped the coffee she had just put to her lips. “
Really?
You’re so pretty. I find it hard to believe the guys in high school didn’t throw themselves at you in droves.”

Megan giggled. “If they had, I wouldn’t have noticed. Ever since I was eight years old, all I cared about was music. I studied piano, violin, even the harp, and of course vocals. I practiced for hours and hours every day, all with the hopes of getting
here
someday. Now that I made it, I finally feel like I can breathe a little and maybe have a little fun. Honestly, sometimes I think my life wasn’t all that different from Johanna’s. I spent all those years locked out of sight. Except, in my case, it was my own choice. No one forced me to do it. Either way, I feel like a sheltered, naïve adolescent compared to most of the girls on this campus.”

“I don’t think you’re naïve, at least no more than I am. But it
does
sound like you deserve to have a little fun.” Rebecca felt guilty that she had slipped into the school almost by accident, when like so many others, Megan had to work so hard. “I have to admit, I respect your passion and your resolve. Not many kids would have been so devoted. Most don’t even have any clue what they want to do with their lives by the time they graduate from high school, let alone when they’re only eight.”

“Oh, you’d be surprised,” Megan declared. “Here,
everyone
is like that. Only the
really
gifted people stand out though. Sometimes I’m a nervous wreck, wondering if I’ll have what it takes to make it on the stage or even in the orchestra. But for now, I’m going to go with the flow and try not to get too stressed out over it. So,” she added as she sipped her latte, “speaking of gifted people, I want to hear all about you and Justyn. Was it love at first sight? If such a thing is possible, it would probably happen to you two. I’ve never seen a couple so completely in-tune with each other, and I don’t mean just on the stage.”

Rebecca laughed. “No, it wasn’t really love at first sight. Or maybe it was…I don’t know. I was actually a little scared of him at first. And then there was Tom….” Rebecca gave Megan the summarized account on their real-life version of
Phantom
. But she left out the part about Debbie. Even a year later, she still had a hard time reliving that nightmare.

“Wow, that’s some story!” Megan exclaimed, her eyes wide. “But at least the Opera Ghost got his happy ending.
Phantom
fans everywhere would appreciate that!”

“Yeah, it was a magical experience.” Rebecca’s fingers instinctively went toward the ammonite necklace Justyn had given her. “I really didn’t expect it to be the same in college, but I miss being his co-star. In
Demon Barber
I only get about ten seconds on stage with him. And then he’s either cursing at me or killing me.”

Megan chuckled. “I suppose that is a little anti-climactic after the passion between Erik and Christine. But hey, at least you have intermission. And of course, you get to take him home.”

“I know you’re right, and as much as I hate to admit it, Justyn and Livy are both perfect for their roles.” Rebecca sighed as she locked her bike to the rack. “I could never be as realistic as she is if I were the one playing Mrs. Lovatt.”

“Don’t sound so depressed about it. It’s a good thing that you’re not as nasty as Livy.”

Megan put her arm around her as they walked through the doors of the theater. Most of the cast, as well as Professor Carter, were already in attendance. They weren’t late, and so he didn’t say a word to them, but Rebecca still had the feeling he was annoyed. She exchanged nervous glances with Megan as they dropped their bags off at their lockers. Afterward, they wasted no time hustling onto the stage and getting into position. Justyn winked at her from the corner behind the curtain where he was chatting with Frankie and Quinn. Before she had a chance to greet him, the orchestra was already tuning, and she knew she wouldn’t be talking to him until after practice.

Rehearsal proceeded without incident. Somehow, it was always a relief to make it through a whole run-through without any near-death experiences. After talking with Megan about
Phantom
, she couldn’t help but remember curtains crashing, mirrors shattering, bodies hanging. She shuddered at the memories. But they had been in college for over a month and practicing for nearly as long, and thankfully, there were no signs of any real-life Sweeney Todds threatening to slit her throat. It really
was
just a play. But it was a play she wasn’t the star of, and that was something Professor Carter reminded her of on a daily basis.

“Miss Hope,” he called just as they were packing up their newly acquired props for the night, “can I speak to you for a moment?”

“Good luck, Jerseylicious.”

Scott snickered and retreated behind the stage just as Rebecca stepped down to face the director. Her heart started to hammer as she waited for him to finish zipping up his briefcase. As she waited, she watched Livy pass off a half dozen pizza boxes to Frankie and Chad. Frankie couldn’t help but burst into song at the coincidence. In the play, it was Frankie’s job to serve the customers in Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop. In real life it just happened to be pizza pies instead of meat pies he was getting ready to hand out.

“Want a warm and tasty treat? Something savory for you to eat?

Want to sample the best pies in the land?

Put one of Mrs. Lovatt’s pies in your hand.

Sure to please when you take a bite. Aint that pie a lovely sight?”

Chad and Livy joined in, and Rebecca heard the song echoing off the high ceilings long after they disappeared behind the curtain where the rest of the troupe was undoubtedly waiting. The whole cast and crew had gotten into the habit of ordering takeout after rehearsal. It saved time. And in the hustle and bustle of college life, especially
this
college where extracurricular activities were just as important as actual classes, every second counted. Rebecca watched the remaining actors scoot after the food, but she had lost her appetite. Professor Carter was studying her with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. Rebecca felt so self-conscious she had to cast down her eyes.

“You wanted to see me, Professor Carter?” she asked when what seemed like several long minutes passed in silence.

“Yes, Miss Hope. I would like to talk to you about your performance. As you know, the first show is only six weeks away, and with ten shows already lined up, I simply can’t settle for second best. Do you understand what I’m saying to you, Miss Hope?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I’m sorry, sir, but I really don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”

“Wrong? Miss Hope, my dear, you seldom do anything
right
. You’re a bag of nerves on the stage. You’re stiff and unnatural. It would be obvious to even the most unpracticed eye that you just don’t like your role.
Do
you like your role, Rebecca?”

“Well … yes … yes, of course, P-Professor.” Rebecca stuttered. “I’m honored that you chose me at all.”

He sighed in exasperation. “Why do I hear a
but
in there?”

“I just feel a little self-conscious about some of the lines,” Rebecca admitted. She blushed when she thought about how she had to jack her skirt up and tell Quinn he had a “nice big log to stoke her fire.”

Professor Carter sighed. He almost rolled his eyes, but not quite. “Miss Hope, you will find that in the
real
world, people are crude. Life is not all pretty romances and soft-spoken words of love. There is darkness. There is death. And there is sex. Art reflects real life in all its aspects, from the most beautiful to the most repulsive. It is the actor’s job to take the ugliness in man’s nature and transform it into art. If you are serious about becoming an actress, Rebecca, you will have to broaden your horizons. You cannot always play the witless damsel, no matter how fitting that role may be. While I admit, your voice is exquisite, it is
not
enough to ensure you a spot in this production. If you are unable to improve your performance, your role will go to your understudy.”

“No, please, Professor Carter!” Rebecca held her head up, feigning a confidence she didn’t feel. Who said she couldn’t act? “I can do this,” she told him. “I
will
do this.”

Professor Carter nodded. “That’s a good girl.” Rebecca almost expected him to pat her head like a dog. “I know that it’s a long-standing joke that I like to pick on the freshmen. But this is a harsh business, and a Broadway director will be a much tougher critic than I.”

“I understand.” Rebecca adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.”

“Very good.” He picked up his briefcase and waved her away nonchalantly. “You may go.”

Rebecca nodded and made like she was heading for the stage. It was only after she was certain Professor Carter wasn’t looking that she ran toward the restrooms instead. When she was sure she was alone, she locked herself inside one of the stalls, sank down to the ground, and finally let herself cry.