"A
Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Twenty
Monday after school…Salem
High School's theater…
"Wind? Did you say wind? There's not a breath of wind anywhere in the world…" Jason read, his voice flat and void of any emotion as he walked along the empty corridor, his head bent low into the small book he held in his hands. "The name's Starbuck…Starbuck is the name…"
"The name's not Starbuck," Jason muttered, stopping to lean against the wall slapping the book against his thigh in defeat as his voice echoed in the silence, "the name is mud…that's what my name is. I'm never going to be able to do this."
Jason flipped to the first couple of pages of the script and again read the story of the play. His eyes widen when half way down the page he came to the description of Starbuck. "A picaresque character with a mellifluous tongue and the most grandiose notions a man could imagine. What the hell does mellifluous mean?"
"I think its Greek for a guy who's after two girls at the same time."
Jason swung around to find Steve Karlson, a member of the football team, coming towards him. "What? Hey man, what are you doing here?"
"Cleaning out my locker since we aren't going any farther this season," Steve said. "What are you doing here? And what are you reading?"
"Ah…nothing," Jason slide the script behind his back. "Just something for school."
"So tell me, have you made up your mind yet or are you just planning on playing one against the other?"
"What are you talking about?" Jason asked, his confusion clearly visible.
"You and Mimi and you and Jan."
"What!"
"Hey, I saw you and Mimi at the party out at Nick's which didn't surprise me after I heard about that kiss you laid on her outside the locker room before the game but today I was hearing stories about you and Jan. So the two of you back together huh?"
"Where did you hear about Saturday night?"
"Hey, people talk…and I saw you and Mimi with my own eyes but when you didn't feel like dancing I didn't have any problem getting out there for a little hip action myself. And since you and Jan were getting all hot and heavy later that night I guess that means Mimi is free." Steve shifted his duffel bag from one shoulder to the other. "You know, I never really noticed Mimi Lockhart before but after Saturday night and since you don't seem to be interested-"
"Look Steve…there is nothing going on between me and Jan. No matter what you heard or what you were told. It's over between us and it has been since school started. Jan and I just went down to that gazebo to talk."
"To talk? You need to take your clothes off to talk?" Steve teased.
Jason pushed off from the wall and headed towards the double doors that led into the theater. He could feel his anger rising at Steve's words but he swore that after today's events, he would learn to control it. "Believe whatever you want Karlson but there is nothing between Jan and me."
"What about Mimi?"
Jason stopped, his hand stilled on the door handle. "What about Mimi?"
"Look Jase, I don't like stepping on other guy's toes. I could see that Mimi's eyes were all over you Saturday night but then you disappeared and now I hear…well, anyway, I don't want to move in where there isn't room. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I know," Jason nodded. "Right now there isn't anything between me and Mimi but that doesn't mean…well, it doesn't mean I don't want there to be."
"Okay," Steve said as he turned away, "message received."
Jason proceeded through the double doors into the dark theater. The only light came from the stage area and the entire room had an eerie kind of silence to I as if it vibrated with an unheard sound. Shaking off his crazy thoughts, Jason walked down the long aisle toward the stage wondering where everyone was. Mimi did tell him that rehearsals started right after school but he was the only person here.
Not noticing the set of stairs off to the right, Jason hauled himself up on the stage taking in the furniture set up like a combined dining and living room in the center of the stage. An office area was off to his left and what looked like the inside of barn to the right. Along the back was a set of walls, windows and doorways and there was a set of stairs that lead to nowhere. Turning around, Jason looked out over the empty rows of seats stretched out in front of him. Picturing it filled with students and families, he felt a fear overtake him that he never felt in his life.
"How do I get myself in these situations?" Jason's voice reverberated across the stage. "First with Jan and now this…"
"Must be a natural talent."
Jason whirled around to see Mimi standing just inside the doorway of the set. Her arms folded across her chest raised the edge of her cropped sweater and again, a circle of gold caught his eye. Forcing his gaze away from her midriff and her belly ring, Jason slowly walked over to where Mimi stood.
"Well, I'm here," he said, holding his arms out wide.
"Yes…you are."
Jason didn't stop until he standing directly in front of Mimi. "You sound surprised."
"I am," Mimi answered stepping around Jason towards the center of the stage, stopping to rest on the arm of a chair in the living room. "But of course you could just be here to see if you can sweet talk your way of this."
"Is that what you really think?" Jason asked looking over his shoulder.
"It doesn't matter what I really think."
"It does to me."
"Look Jason, you got yourself into this and I'm sure if there is a way out of it you'll find it."
"Wait a minute," Jason said, turning around. "If I remember it was you who got me into this."
"It wasn't me who punched Scott in the face."
"No it wasn't," Jason admitted. "It was the way I felt when I saw him grab you and kiss-"
"Okay stage crew, let's get the props set up here," Mrs. Lakota called, walking onto the stage, "oh, hello there Jason. I can't tell you how grateful I am that you have volunteered to take over this role. It was such a freaky accident that happened to Scott and I must admit I was quite upset but Mimi here assured me that she had the perfect person in mind to take over his part." The diminutive woman, dressed head to toe in black, never broke her stride as she walked past Mimi offering her a quick pat on the arm before continuing. "Costume people…we need to have a dress rehearsal so please get those costumes from the storage room."
Suddenly the stage was filled with kids, some Jason recognized from classes but this was a whole different crowd from what he was used to. He noticed the stares and glances in his direction and for the first time he knew what he felt like to be the odd one out. He watched as Mimi talked and laughed with the others, her face lit with a confidence and happiness that he'd only seen before on their afternoon car rides.
Tightening his grip on this backpack, he found himself unable to take his eyes off of her as she laughed with a couple of boys who were moving the furniture around. When she refused to move from the chair, the bigger of the two, who immediately made Jason wondered why he wasn't on the football team, grabbed her and hoisted her over his shoulder. Forcing his feet to remain where they were, Jason watched as Mimi squealed, begging to be let down. The boy refused, swinging Mimi around in circles but then he stopped suddenly and quickly put her down.
"Whoa Reed," Mimi stumbled, trying to get her balance, "next time give me a warning before you drop me like that."
"Umm…yeah right."
Mimi looked up to see Reed wasn't looking back at her but over the top of her head and she quickly turned around to find Jason staring intently at her.
"I gotta get back to work," Reed said. "I'll catch you later."
Mimi watched as he walked away before she quickly crossed the room to where Jason stood. "What are you doing?"
"I didn't do a thing and I didn't say a thing but what I want to know is why you didn't tell Mrs. Lakota I was the one who hurt Scott."
"It wasn't my idea it was Scott's. He told me, through clenched teeth mind you, that he knew you didn't mean for him to get hurt and he didn't want to cause trouble for you."
"I guess I will need to thank him for that."
"Believe me he was relieved when I told him that you would take over his part in the play."
"He was…why?"
Mimi pulled Jason out of the way as a couple of kids tried to get by with some boxes. "I don't know why Jason…I guess because he thinks you are a nice guy."
"Well, I guess that one in this crowd that does."
"Yeah, the only one."
Jason dropped his backpack into a growing pile in the corner of the stage. "Come on Mimi…when are going to let me explain about Saturday? You can't stay mad at me forever ya know."
"Yeah I know…but it's a goal."
"Look I need to set the record straight with you, especially if I am going to be here with you every day for the next week-"
"Mimi dear, here is your dress." Mrs. Lakota interrupted as she hurried over a long, blue gingham dress laid over her arm. "And Jason here is your shirt and since Starbuck's outfit is basically this and jeans I guess you can wear your own. Oh, and what size shoe do you wear?"
"Why?"
"For your cowboy boots of course!"
"Cowboy boots?"
"Yes and since you seem to be a bit bigger," Mrs. Lakota took the chambray shirt out of Jason's hands and standing on her toes, she held it up against his chest at his shoulders. "Oh dear! You are a lot bigger than Scott. It must be that athletic physique of yours. I am afraid that this shirt will never fit you and we can't have you walking around naked from the waist up through out the whole play."
"God forbid," Mimi muttered under her breath.
"Look Mrs. Lakota," Jason pulled the shirt out of her hands. "I'm not sure that I should be doing this."
"Of course you should, we need to make sure the costuming is correct."
"I don't mean the costuming…I mean the play itself. I don't have any experience in this kind of thing and I'm afraid I will just screw things up for everyone."
"Oh I see. Well I know this is really short notice but I thought Mimi…" Mrs. Lakota's voice trailed away as she glanced over at Mimi. "I was sure I understood her to say that you were happy to help us out here. I know it will involved intense rehearsals and I know there is quite a few lines for you to memorize but Mimi pointed out that if you can remember all those football plays you should have no problem with this script."
Jason looked over at Mimi but she refused to meet his gaze. He watched at she looked away, biting down hard on her quivering bottom lip. Her hands clenching tightly at the dress she slowly shook her head back and for and Jason realized he couldn't do it…he couldn't back out on her. Taking a deep breath, he slowly released it before speaking.
"Okay, I'll do it."
"Oh thank you!" Mrs. Lakota gushed. "You will be terrific I'm sure! Now about this too small shirt…"
"I think I can find something like this in my closet," Jason said, looking down at the shirt and missing the quick swipe Mimi made at her cheeks. "Why don't I bring in a few in and you can decide which one works best."
"That would be wonderful, thank you so much. With only a week away we are still so behind on things. And why don't you stop by and see Mr. Casper about your boots."
"Mr. Casper?"
"Yes of Casper Shoes down on Main Street? He agreed to provide the boots at a discount for us. You know, it is such a coupe for us to get a football player involved with the production. I only wish we could get more of the school's athletes involved."
"Well I'm sure if you asked Jason to talk to his friends…" Mimi voice trailed off as she turned to look out into the theater and saw Philip and Shawn standing about ten rows from the stage.
"Umm…I'm not too sure about that," Jason said, his gaze following Mimi's to his friends before returning to Mrs. Lakota and Mimi who stood there with one eyebrow arched in defiance.
"It's too late for this production of course but there is always the spring musical. You know, I always thought that you football players would make such graceful dancers. I'm thinking about the musical "Guys and Dolls" and oh wait a minute children," she called, her eyes quickly moved to the far side of the studio. "Those don't belong there. Mimi dear, why don't you go put that on so we can check the fit of your dress before we start."
Mrs. Lakota headed off across the stage and before Jason could stop her Mimi disappeared as well. Shaking his head, he hopped off the stage and headed towards his buddies who looked a lot more comfortable than him dressed in shorts and tee shirts.
"So you did show up." Philip said, tossing a basketball back and forth in his hands.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Jason said, joining them. "Where are you two going?"
"Just a little pick up basketball game in the gym. Chloe and Belle headed over to the hospital so we thought we'd hang out here for a while and then pick them up later. But back to this play, you know, you sounded pretty determined a few hours ago to have nothing to do with this whole thing." Shawn said, motioning to the action happening on the stage.
"I know but that kid Scott didn't rat me out and since I haven't gotten called down to the principal's office I guess no one else has either. I owe it to him I guess."
"But acting?"
"I know I know…I'm in way over my head but I don't want to disappointment everyone."
"Everyone?" Philip asked. "Or just Mimi?"
"Yeah her too…not that it much matters."
"Still not talking to you huh?"
"Just the all the daggers and digs she can get in."
"Come out here Mimi," Heather called, "I want to see how the length of the dress moves out on the stage."
Mimi followed Heather and Kim out to the stage dressed in the long sleeve, floor length dress with a high collar and a row of buttons up the middle. She stood still, staring out at the three guys talking as Heather knelt at her feet.
"Here Kim, give me some of those straight pins. This hem still isn't hanging right. Why don't you check the length of the sleeves and her shoulders?"
"Okay." Kim moved behind Mimi and began checking the lay of the dress across her back. "So it's really true. I thought it was just another product of the Salem High gossip mill."
"What is Kim?"
"Jason Hillman is really taking over the lead in the play."
"Yeah I guess he is," Mimi answered in a quiet voice.
"Rumor has it," Heather mumbled past the pins in her mouth, "that his famous temper had something to do with him being here."
"Well I don't care why he is here," Kim said, "I just can't wait to see him walking around minus one shirt. You are so lucky Meems, you get to be up close and personal with him."
"Yeah lucky me."
"You don't sound very excited," Heather said, sitting back on her heels scrutinizing the dress. "Could it be you are more worried about dealing with Jan than with Jason?"
"What?"
Kim lifted Mimi's arms out to the sides, pulling down on the fabric near her wrists. "Don't tell my you haven't heard the latest about him and Jan? I guess they have patched things up and got back together at the party."
"Oh really?" Mimi answered calmly, pushing her hurt and anger back down inside of her.
"Come on now Kim, get it right. Rumor has it that Mimi and Jason were seem getting pretty intimate before the game but later it was Jan he was spending quality time with. But no one has seen them together at all today to who knows?"
Kim walked around to check the other arm. "Yeah that's right. You want to tell us about that kiss Mimi? And the fact you were wearing his jacket during the game but later at Nick's he was wearing it?"
"Sorry ladies…there's nothing to tell."
"Right," Heather said, standing up, "so there will be nothing to see during the kissing scene with you and Jason huh?"
"Are we done here?" Mimi asked.
"Yeah I think you are all set," Kim said. "Hey, look who's here."
"Well, well I wonder why Jan is here," Heather said, taking one last look at the dress as she circled around Mimi. "Could be she thinks she needs to keep any eye on Mimi and Jason here?"
Mimi gazed out into the darken theater, watching Jan. "You're crazy Heather," she protested, trying to suppress the budding idea that suddenly formed in her mind.
"I don't know…I didn't see that kiss Jason laid on you but from what I heard it wasn't too shabby and since no one has actually seen Jan and Jason together today maybe she is here to check out the competition?"
"Hey, we've been working on a little side thing of our own," Philip said.
"What's that?"
Shawn grabbed the ball out of Philip's hands. "We think Jan deserved a little pay back for what she did to you this past weekend. It's about time someone put that b*itch in her place."
A figure entering through the theater doors captured Jason's attention. She only walked down the aisle a few feet before stopping, resting her books on one thrust out hip. Still in the shadows, she looked around the theater until her gaze rested on Jason.
'What in the hell is she doing here?' Jason thought to himself as he stared at her past his friends. 'Dammit Jan…you are the last thing I need to deal with now.'
"So what do you think?" Shawn asked.
"Think? Think about what?" Jason asked.
"Our plan? You know, to get back at Jan?"
"Forget it."
"What!"
"You can't be serious," Philip said, "you are just going to let her get away with that sh*t?"
"Look…I'm not interested in paybacks or pranks…just let it die."
Shawn and Philip shared a confused stare as they took in the solemn look on their friend's face and the quiet yet strong tone of his voice.
"But why? What she did wasn't just a regular prank." Philip asked. "She seriously messed with you and-"
"I'm not getting into it with you guys," Jason waved his hand in the air cutting off Philip's words. "And before you ask this has nothing to do with Mimi or anyone else…just…just let it go."
"Did I hear my name?"
Jason turned around to see Mimi coming towards him, holding her dress up off the ground. The top of her costume hugged her upper body tightly from her neck to her breasts to her waist before flaring out at her hips into a full skirt.
"Hey Meems," Philip said, exchanging glances with Shawn and Jason. "Nice outfit there."
"Yeah aren't you glad us girls don't walk around like this all the time?" Mimi smiled at the guys as she joined their group. "Not an inch of skin showing."
"I don't know," Shawn said, "it looks pretty good on you."
"Okay you can stop flirting Mr. Brady," Mimi said with a quick laugh. "But the opinion that really counts here is my co-star's? What do you think Jason?"
Stunned at the question Jason could only stare at Mimi for a long moment before he looked over at the confused faces of Philip and Shawn.
"Well, he's speechless," Mimi placed a hand on Jason's arm as she took a step closer to him. "I guess I can take that for a compliment then?"
"Yeah," Jason nodded, finally able to find his voice, "you look great."
"Thank you," Mimi replied holding his gaze before turning back to Philip and Shawn, letting her hand drop down to his. "I'm sorry guys but I have to break things up here. But its rehearsal time and I need to have Jason all to myself now."
Mimi headed towards the stage pulling a still bewildered Jason with her. Walking up the stairs she stumbled at the top step and Jason quickly wrapped his arms around her to keep the both of them from falling.
"Thanks," Mimi said breathlessly holding on to his upper arms, "I almost landed on my face there."
"You're welcome."
Mimi smiled. "You think you can really handle all this?"
"Well, it's a hand full," Jason asked, still a bit taken aback by the sudden change in Mimi's attitude toward him. "But I think I can handle it just fine."
Mimi stepped away from Jason and headed across the stage, a quick glance out into the theater telling her that her intended audience had seen only the beginning of her performance and one thing was very clear.
She wasn't happy.
To
be continued…