Trance (20 page)

An alarm infiltrated my dreams, the beeping of the clock on my bedside table mingled inside a complicated drama that played out in my head, full of lust, despair, and chasing swords that tried to slice off body parts. I opened one eye and hit my fist onto the snooze button. I wanted five more minutes, just five more.

My stomach protested at staying in bed with a low grumble, and I knew that I’d have to satisfy that myself, as there would be no breakfast already laid out waiting for me like there usually was. I’d have to make it myself and time was something I didn’t have today. Not even five minutes.

I dragged myself out of bed and into a warm shower, letting the water wake me up. The warmth of the water did nothing for my sleepiness and I found myself inching the cold water on to see if I could handle it. Little by little I acclimatized to the temperature as it gradually got colder and colder until I gave up being nice to myself and turned the hot tap off altogether.

I gasped as the cold water assaulted my neck and sent icy shivers down my back. Jumping out I shivered before grinning. Yep, that worked.

I picked up some clothes from the floor, which ended up being an old t-shirt and shorts that did not match, and frankly needed a good wash. Normally I would not care about that, but today was different. There was no way I’d let Jason see me, or smell me, in anything less that gorgeous.

I texted Lacey to bring me something appropriate and meet me at the hospital. She’d no doubt wonder why I’d care about my appearance today - out of costume, anyway. Of course I’d tell her. Eventually.

A quick cup of weak tea and dry toast, and I stepped out into the sunshine hoping the sudden brightness would waken me further.

The drive to the hospital was, thankfully, uneventful and I was driving into the parking lot in record time. Visiting hours hadn’t started yet, but they’d still let me in, at least they better.

Lacey stood by the entrance looking fresh and gorgeous as usual. She rocked mornings much better than I did. The only exception to that rule was when she’d spent the night with her latest boyfriend, but even then, she could pull off cool and put together better than anyone I knew.

“You gave me no time, so I can’t guarantee they’ll look any good,” she said. She held a small tan overnight bag with
her that I guessed held at least three different options for me to choose from.

“I’m sure whatever you’ve grabbed will be great.”

“Well I would think so.” She looked me up and down with a concerned look. “You do know you are walking into a hospital don’t you? With sick people?”

I frowned. “I’m well aware of that.” I walked up to the sliding doors and walked inside.

She followed me. “Yeah, sorry. Bad timing. How is Thomas doing?”

“Better than expected. The doctor said he was lucky. He’ll walk although he might have a limp. I think I overreacted a bit when it first happened.”

“A bit? When have you ever reacted sanely to anything? It’s the story of you.”

“Yeah, well I was pretty sane last night. Jason was the one who freaked out, not me.” I pressed the lift button, counting down to the moment she shook all the information out of me that she could. I wanted to draw this out as much as possible and have some fun.

“You were with Jason last night?”

“
Uhuh.”

“What happened to just being friends, or never wanting anything to do with him again?”

I shrugged. “Stuff happens.”

“I bet it did. Are you going to tell me exactly what did happen?”

The lift doors opened.

“Maybe.”

“There will be no
maybe
, no
uhuh’s
, and no
sure whatever’s
. I want details, and I want them in crisp Technicolor detail.”

“Sure whatever,” I said.

I headed to my grandfather’s room, and put my hand on the door handle.

“You’re going to leave me hanging. Aren’t you?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you everything that happened. But not right now. Okay?”

She threw her head back and lifted one arm. “Way to drag the tension out.”

I opened the door and walked in to see how my grandfather was doing.

He was much chirpier this morning, and was sitting upright with three pillows behind him for support. A fourth was at the end of the bed, which his bandaged leg rested on.

“There’s my beautiful girls,” he said. “We’re all here.”

I kissed him on the forehead and Lacey took his hand and asked him how he was.

“I’m better than a grasshopper on a toadstool,” he said.

Lacey chuckled. “I’m so glad to hear it. You should see what they are saying online about it. One reporter said that your leg was chopped clean off and another said you were stabbed by a real ninja.”

“A real ninja, hey? That’s a new one. Maybe I’ll tell them that one is true.” He winked, which made her laugh.

“Yeah, well that just proves you can’t believe anything you read on the internet,” I said.

“Have you eaten?” my grandmother asked. She sat in a chair next to my grandfather and I looked across to where she pointed and saw that she had laid a tablecloth over the bedside table. On it was a pot of tea and a plate of delicious looking biscuits.

I walked over and took one, stuffing it into my mouth. Even though I’d had something for breakfast I’d need all the energy I could take, to get through the nerves that had started to build in my stomach.

“Doesn’t look like regular hospital food,
Mrs Tinks,” said Lacey.

“Of course not, have you seen that mush?” She clucked her tongue and shook her head.

“Where did you get this then?” I asked, taking another biscuit.

“A little kind word to the nurses and they let me into the kitchen.”

“You baked? In a hospital kitchen?”

“I made enough for everyone.”

I could just imagine my grandmother staying up all night baking. I hoped she got some sleep at least.

I took my grandfather’s hand. “I did it. I got through the blades.”

He frowned. “You shouldn’t do it. Look what happened to me, it’s not safe.”

“Nonsense Thom,” said my grandmother. “She’s young and spry. If she says she can do it, then she can.”

I beamed. “I really can. And I’m not using the blindfold. For safety.”

“It’ll be on TV on Wednesday,” said Lacey. “You should see the ads they are running on TV and social media. It’s huge. Everyone’s talking about it.”

“They are?”

She rolled her eyes and picked up her phone, keying in something before handing it to me.

I tentatively took the phone. It was a video clip promoting the show, complete with booming suspenseful music and lots of flashing. The announcer’s voice rumbled over the images, and then the moment my grandfather’s foot got caught. A scream and blackness. The announcer’s voice said that I was next. Would I make it through?

I looked up at Lacey.

“Oh my god. It’s...it’s so over the top, so dramatic.”

She looked nervous.

“It’s brilliant,” I said.

“I know. It really is.”

Lacey came with me to the theatre. I wanted her there for moral support, and besides, she insisted, I couldn’t have said no if I tried. She’d been to plenty of our shows so none of the preparations would faze her. Plus she was excellent at hair and makeup.

My nerves had returned. As I walked into the theatre, I glanced down at the stage area. It looked so different from last night, with new sets, new lights. The fan had been moved to centre stage although pushed back. I swallowed the lump that was stuck in my throat as I looked for the dark scruffy hair, the brilliant blue eyes. Jason wasn’t here. Not yet.

The television executive was at the bottom of the seating area near the pit, ordering two young men to do something with the cords that reached from the cameras and across the floor. What was her name again? I always forgot. She looked up and lifted one finger to acknowledge me before looking down at a sheet of paper on a clipboard.

Her navy suit was neatly pressed and stiff. So stiff it didn’t move as she headed toward me. “Audience will be seated in one hour. Can you go on second? I’d like to start with Jason and then build up to you.”

“Um, sure.”

She glanced at Lacey looking her up and down, sizing her to be non-important and then turned back to me. “Also, we are going to dim the lights when you go through the blade thing. Will that be a problem?”

“I need to see where I’m stepping and how they spin.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah, there’ll be enough light.” She looked down at her clipboard and then back at us, surprised that I was still in front of her. “You can go and get ready now. Go on, off you go.”

“Um, can I ask you something about the show?”

She frowned. “We are not changing anything.”

“No. It’s about Jason.”

She rolled her eyes. “He’s in the show, we aren’t changing that, we’ve been over this. He’s a hot hook for the younger demographic, both male and female.”

“Oh no, that’s not what I meant. I mean, he’s given up a lot to do this. Is there something else we can do for him. For his career? Maybe you could use his name, instead of mine?”

“What are you saying? You don’t want to headline anymore?”

“This was never my show, it was my grandfathers. You said yourself that Jason was the only reason the show’s even on. You should make him the headliner.”

A flicker of a smile twitched the side of her lips. “You’ll agree to this?”

“I need the money. But I don’t need to be the star. Not anymore.”

“Well, alright then.” She opened her phone and dialed a number. “You still need to get ready,” she said before she began talking to whoever she had called. Her whole demeanor changed, and she looked almost happy as she spoke.

I grabbed Lacey’s arm and we walked down through the seating area, onto the stage and then toward the dressing room.

“Where is he?”

The murmur of the crowd in the audience got louder as the minute hand on the clock in my dressing room ticked another notch. I looked into the mirror at my makeup, heavier than I would do, it made me look different, not myself.

“He’ll be here,” said Lacey. She was engrossed in a game on her phone.

“What if he isn’t? He should be here by now.”

“Well if he isn’t, then you get the glory. Just add a few more card tricks or something.”

I glared at her, which made no difference at all since she wasn’t looking at me, but rather the screen in front of her.

“Yes! Take that zombie.” She fist-pumped the air.

“A little focus?”

She rolled her eyes at me and put down the phone. “He’s going to be here, alright? Chill. You’re making me nervous.”

“Right. Like you have anything to be nervous about.”

“You’ve done these shows hundreds of times. You’ve got this.”

“But. But not just me. I’ve never done a show alone. I couldn’t do it alone.”

“Sure you could,” said Jason. He appeared at the doorway with a chocolate bar and a small gift box. The box was small, but thankfully not small enough to hold a ring. I might be keen on him, but that was taking things a bit too far.

Lacey waved her hand at him. “See. Told you.”

I held the box turning it over in my hand. “You bought me a gift?”

“And chocolate. For the nerves.” He held up the chocolate bar that looked a little smushed.

“I’m not nervous,” I lied.

“Well,” said Lacey. “Are you going to open it? Because if you don’t, I will.”

I shook it and heard something rattle inside. The gold bow undid easily and I hesitated before lifting the lid.

When I was ready I opened it and stared down at the small flat stone inside. It was the thickness of a penny, and about as big. I picked it up feeling it’s smoothness between my fingers. “A rock?”

Lacey burst out laughing. “He got you a rock!
Ahh, every girl’s dream. I’m going to tweet that.” She picked up her phone chuckling to herself.

“It’s lovely.” I couldn’t think what else to say.

He grinned. “Put it in your shoe, it’s lucky. Every time you take a step, you’ll feel it. It’ll give you the confidence you need to make the performance perfect.”

“So you think I need help to do a good performance?”

“That’s not what I said.”

Lacey rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic.” She got up and walked to the door. “You’re on in fifteen minutes, don’t mess up your hair by doing anything, well anything.”

I shot daggers at her. She laughed and disappeared.

“Thanks,” I said, turning the rock over in my hand. I looked up, “I didn’t get you anything.”

He grinned. “I’m fine with that. Anyway, it really will help, try it.”