Happy World (16 page)

As Rory turned back to the cast list to read it again, a thought that hadn’t previously occurred to him began to take hold. Quickly scanning the column of names, he searched for one in particular. A second read didn’t make it appear, nor did a third.

Kyle wasn’t on the list. He hadn’t gotten a part.

Although Rory was sure that was also Charlie’s doing, it didn’t change the outcome. Kyle hadn’t gotten the part he was dying to have. Rory pictured Kyle delivering Rory’s news to him, knowing that he himself hadn’t made it, and Rory felt sick.

If things had been fucked before, Rory knew they’d just gotten a thousand times worse.

Chapter Fifteen

Kyle leaned against the wooden fence separating Fantasy Street from the backstage area, feeling sick to his stomach. Why did he keep torturing himself with Rory? He hadn’t needed to come into the Park on his day off to deliver the word of Rory’s newly won part of Pierre in person. Rory could’ve read it for himself in the postings on the Happy World bulletin boards backstage. If he were honest with himself, he’d admit he just wanted to see Rory, to hear Rory’s voice. Why couldn’t he just put his affair with Rory behind him and get on with his life?

The small voice in his head, the one he hated, whispered, What life would that be? You don’t have a life. You don’t have anything. You had a good thing going, but you blew it, as usual. Instead of talking it out with Rory, maybe showing a little faith in him, you threw a hissy fit worthy of a first-grader. You refused to file the sexual harassment grievance against Charlie like Rory suggested because you were a fucking coward, and now look what happened! Is it any wonder he doesn’t want to talk to you anymore? He’s probably counting his blessings that he got out as quickly as he did.

It was true; Kyle knew it in his heart. He’d blown it big time with Rory, and it was too late to make it better. He got the distinct feeling he’d lost the best thing ever to happen to him, almost before he had a chance to appreciate it.

He banged the back of his head lightly against the wooden barrier. God, he was such a loser!

He would never get a gig in Entertainment, either. He knew that now, after seeing Charlie sitting on the judges’ panel. All the crap Charlie had thrown at him, the compliments, the asking out on dates... Kyle’s instincts had been spot on. Charlie was only using Kyle to get to Rory, and Charlie had won, hands down. Rory would be working closely in the new role as Pierre to Charlie’s Daniel the Dragon Slayer. Charlie wouldn’t give Kyle the time of day after this, and would never allow Kyle to get into Entertainment and possibly come between Charlie and Rory.

Not that he wanted Charlie’s attention. It was Rory that Kyle wanted, but Charlie would no doubt put the kibosh on any interaction between Kyle and Rory.

To paraphrase Mama Rose in Gypsy, “Some people got it and make it pay, and some people can’t even give it away.” Kyle was obviously forever stuck in the latter group, doomed to spend his career at Happy World up to his armpits in tossed trash and protein spills.

Why am I bothering? I should quit. Right now, today. Just march into the office and resign, hand over my costume, nametag, and identification card, and try to forget I ever heard of Happy World and Rory Stafford. He pushed away from the wall and started walking. He headed in the general direction of the tunnel entrance, trying not to think about what a shitty turn his life had taken, his eyes on his feet, his mind a million miles away. Maybe he could get a job over at Movie Land, Happy World’s biggest competing theme park in the area. Although Movie Land wasn’t as big as Happy World, or as family-oriented, and didn’t have as many stage shows, he supposed tossing Voban on vomit was the same in any Park.

Or, maybe Burger Heaven was hiring.

“Excuse me, you’re Kyle, right?”

He stopped, startled, his head jerking up to see an attractive, older woman standing in front of him. She was dressed as the Fairy Queen, complete with wings, tiara, magic wand, and lots of pastel-colored tulle. Her handler hovered nearby, a guy named Jared or Josh or some “J” name who Kyle dimly remembered as having started with Happy World in Groundskeeping. “Um, yeah.”

“I’m Kara. I was at the open call when you auditioned.” She fluffed the layers of tulle comprising her skirt. “I’ve seen you from time to time. I’ve been in Entertainment for ten years, playing the Fairy Queen.”

“Yes, I’ve seen you do the show. You’re very good at it.” Kyle managed to sound polite, but the last thing he wanted at the moment was to be reminded of his abysmal failure at the open call, particularly by an Actor who played such a prominent role as the Fairy Queen.

“I watched your audition. You were the best one I’ve seen in a while, and believe me, I’ve seen hundreds of open calls over the years. It’s astounding how many people try out who don’t have enough talent to fill a thimble. Anyway, I can’t believe you weren’t selected for a role, especially since you look so much like Prince Erik.”

Kyle started to say thank you, but stopped short. “What?”

Kara smiled and picked a minuscule speck of lint from among the mass of sequins decorating her bodice. She wrinkled her nose at it, and flicked it away. “You know, Prince Erik, the son of the Fairy Queen? You look just like his character. Same brown eyes, same chin, same hair... everything! I can’t believe they didn’t pick you for the part.” She tiptoed closer and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Listen, I shouldn’t say this, but I’m fed up with Charlie Taylor. I heard him talking to the other judges after your audition. They wanted to give you the part, but Charlie threatened to get them thrown out of Entertainment if they did. It sounded like he has some personal vendetta against you. I’ve seen him do this before, to others. If I were you, I’d file a complaint. Everybody in Entertainment is talking about it, and most of us, especially the people who’ve been around awhile, are pretty pissed off. He acts as if he’s the only talent on property! Nobody’s happy with him, and we’d love to see him booted out on his fine rear end. You’d get a lot of support from the Entertainment crew if you complained.”

Her handler interrupted, tapping his wristwatch. “Sorry, but we need to go, Kara. You’re due onstage in two minutes.”

“Okay. Think about what I said. Take care, Kyle.” She flounced off, followed closely by “J” somebody-or-other.

Kyle stared after them. Kara only confirmed what he’d thought about Charlie all along, but it was startling to hear the judges considered Kyle for the part of Prince Erik, and that people watching the audition thought he was good. Him? Plain ol’ invisible Kyle?

Damn Charlie Taylor!

So, what are you going to do about it, Kyle? The wicked little voice inside his head was back, yelling energetically at him inside his skull. It sounded suspiciously like Rory’s voice. Be a coward and cut and run? Are you going to let Charlie win and take away everything, or for once in your life are you going to fight for what you want?

After all, what was the worst that could happen? He’d nearly decided to quit his job before his chance encounter with Kara, anyway. If he failed, he’d just leave, quit and try to start over somewhere else. He certainly wouldn’t be any worse off than he was now.

And maybe, just maybe, he’d be a lot better off.

Was it possible? Could he make things right again?

Before he’d met Rory, he wouldn’t have even had to think it over. He would’ve tucked tail and run, ducking back into the shadows, and it would’ve been a long time before he found the courage to dare try again.

But he wasn’t timid little Kyle anymore. He was a different person now. Rory had rubbed off on him, giving him a measure of self-confidence he’d never had before. This new Kyle didn’t take his lumps and hide. He didn’t live his life by the Happy World handbook. The new and improved Kyle broke the rules. Hell, he’d even had sex onstage, practically in public! Timid, invisible Kyle would never have dared dream of doing such a thing before.

Kara’s compliments only served to bolster his fledgling ego. She was practically a legend in Happy World, playing the part of the Fairy Queen so long and so well that in the last five Fairy Queen movies, the animators actually drew the character to resemble her more closely.

If nothing else, Kyle decided he owed Rory an explanation. Rory had been right all along, and deserved to hear it from Kyle. Kyle should’ve filed the sexual harassment grievance against Charlie and dealt with the fallout like a man, instead of running away like a... well, like a hamster. If he had, none of the rest would’ve happened. He wouldn’t have broken up with Rory, and he would’ve landed the part of Prince Erik.

He was going to make things right again. He was going to get Entertainment to change their minds about giving him the Prince Erik part. He was going to make sure Charlie Taylor couldn’t do what he’d done to anybody else, and most importantly, he was going to get Rory back.

Straightening his spine, summoning his newly found courage, he marched back onstage.

***

It took him nearly half an hour to find Rory in a corner of Fairy Tale World next to the Rabbit Warren, sweeping up popcorn. The Rabbit Warren was exactly what it sounded like -- a series of concrete tunnels cleverly covered with fake grass, fiberglass tree roots, and plastic heather. Kids were set free at the entrance to wander through the maze of tunnels populated by animatronic characters from the Little Rabbit Foo-Foo cartoon series. At the moment, it was one of the few attractions currently closed for renovations.

God, Rory looked so good. His costume was at least a half-size too small (hadn’t Kyle warned Rory repeatedly to get to Wardrobe early before all the popular sizes were taken?). The material hugged Rory’s broad chest and firm butt in a way that brought Kyle’s body to instant, full attention.

It saddened Kyle to think that only a week ago, Rory would’ve greeted him with a happy smile. Hell, Kyle could’ve crept up behind Rory and surreptitiously given those buns a good, solid squeeze, and Rory would’ve welcomed his touch.

As it was, Rory’s face held a wary frown as Kyle approached, but he forced himself to keep going until he stood only a couple of feet away. “Hey, Rory.”

“Hey, yourself. What do you want?”

Rory’s sharp tone cut Kyle deeper than ever, but he knew he deserved it, and more, and refused to let it stop him. “I was wondering if I could talk to you.”

“I think you pretty much said it all the other night. There’s nothing else to say.”

“I know, I know. Look, just let me say what I have to, and I’ll leave you alone, okay?” Kyle rushed on, afraid that Rory would walk away. “I was wrong, Rory. About everything. I know it’s too late now, but you deserve to hear the truth from me. You were right. I should’ve told you straight up about Charlie coming on to me, and understood why you would feel jealous. I should’ve listened to you, and filed the grievance against Charlie. I had no business blowing up at you, and I’m sorry I acted like a stupid infant.”

Rory didn’t say anything. He just stared at Kyle until Kyle began to squirm and think coming to talk to Rory had been a mistake after all. “Anyway, I’m sorry. And I’m really glad you got the part of Pierre. You deserve it, and you’ll do a great job.” He hesitated, but it didn’t look as if Rory was going to say anything. I guess there are some things an apology can’t make right. “Well, that’s all I had to say.”

He turned to leave, each step feeling as if he was walking through quick-drying cement. Well, what did he really expect? Did he think Rory would burst into tears and take him back, maybe declare his undying love for Kyle? That only happened in the movies, and Kyle’s life lately was as far from a fucking fairy tale as it got, unless it was something dark and gruesome from the Grimm Brothers. In a way, it made Kyle angry. He’d been perfectly happy before, going about his business, living by the rules, until Rory showed up and shook his world upside down.

He could’ve held on to his anger, too, if he didn’t admit that he’d been happier in the few short months he’d had with Rory than in the years preceding it.

A hand suddenly pulled on his elbow, jerking him to a stop, and spinning him around. He found himself face to face Rory, who looked furious.

“You’re sorry?” Rory hissed. “You’re sorry? Christ, Kyle! Do you know how fucking miserable I’ve been? It’s ridiculous. I don’t understand it. You pulled a goddamn hissy fit and it pissed me off, yeah, but we were only seeing each other for a couple of months. Breaking up shouldn’t have knocked me for a fucking loop.”

Kyle blinked, not quite understanding what Rory was getting at. “Uh... “

Rory threw a hand up, cutting Kyle off. “We had some great sex, but so what? I’ve had good sex before. It should be over and done with, right? I shouldn’t be losing fucking sleep over you.” He pointed to his beautiful eyes, which Kyle noticed were carrying some heavy baggage. “Look at me! I haven’t slept. My appetite is fucking gone, and let me tell you, that doesn’t make my sugar levels happy. Why, Kyle? Why am I such a wreck?”

He continued before Kyle could even begin to come up with an explanation. “Then, when I finally decide it’s over, that it’s for the best, what happens? You march up to me and tell me you’re sorry, like that fixes everything! Well, it doesn’t. Sorry doesn’t cut it, pal.”

Kyle swallowed hard. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t get emotional. He planned to tell Rory how he felt and then leave quickly. This wasn’t how it played out in his head on the walk over. He hadn’t counted on a confrontation, especially in public. He resisted the urge to glance around and see if any guests were nearby. “Rory, I--”

“Shut up and listen to me. Yeah, we had a pretty good thing going. We had great sex, and we laughed a lot, and I liked being with you, but you have to get a fucking backbone and grow up, Kyle. I don’t want a relationship with somebody who doesn’t trust me, and who keeps running away whenever trouble comes along.”

Kyle felt anger begin to cramp his gut, but quickly staunched it. Rory was right, after all. It was exactly what Kyle thought, too. “I know. I said I was sorry, but I don’t know what else to say.” He turned to leave again. Better to go now, than risk getting into another argument trying to defend himself, especially since there was nothing to defend.