"A Single Yellow Rose" – Chapter Thirty
Mimi paced back and forth, eyes closed and lips moving noiselessly as she recited her character's words to herself. She was in full costume and the gentle swishing of her long skirt and petticoats gave a rhythm to her words as she absently ran her fingers up and down on the skin visible through the open collar of her dress. With buttons that ran from her stomach to her chin, the bodice of the dress fit her like a glove and except for the last half hour of the play, she wore all of them buttoned. So for now she kept a dozen of them open until the moment she had to step out on stage. Her hair was pulled up in a neat bun on top her head but that was only until the third act when she had to look as if Lizzie, her character, couldn't sleep after going to bed. Then her hair would be piled loosely on her head as that was the scene in which Jason took it down just before he kissed-
Mimi's eyes flew open as she stumbled over her own feet. Damn you Jason, she thought looking around to see if anyone in the busy music room had noticed that she almost ended up on her butt. With over fifty kids running around in fifty different directions it was controlled chaos at its best. The sets and props crews were putting on the finishing touches, the musicians were warming up and the rest of her cast mates were lost in their own thoughts, as they got ready for the start of the play.
Turning around, Mimi found Jason staring at her from across the room over the top of his script, the smirk on his face telling her that her less than graceful movements didn't escape his notice. Mimi found herself again stroking her skin and the movement caused Jason's eyes to follow her hand as it ran from her neck to the dip between her breasts and back again. When she realized what she was doing, Mimi dropped her hand away and Jason responded by raising one mocking eyebrow in her direction before he went back to reading his script.
Determined to try one more time to tell Jason how sorry she was for everything that has happened over the past week Mimi started towards him. He was so involved with his reading that he didn't know she had walked over or else he was doing a great job at ignoring her. "Jason, I need to talk to-"
"Okay everyone," Mrs. Lakota called, breezing into the room looking beautiful in black, silk pants topped with an emerald green silk blouse, in her arms she carried a long, rectangle white box. "Show time is in ten minutes!"
Her announcement only seemed in intensity the volume in the room but Mimi tried again anyway. "Jason please, can't we go somewhere and talk?"
"I don't think so," he answered, not even looking up.
"You can't keep ignoring me," Mimi said.
"As someone once told me…'you're probably right…but it's a goal'."
Mimi blew out a frustrated breath knowing that someday she would regret some of the smart-ass comments that always seemed to be falling out of her mouth. And this was the day. "Look…"
"There you two are," Mrs. Lakota said, joining them, "well, look at that makeup job! I know it's uncomfortable but it is necessary. Now don't push too hard for any last minute rehearsing. You both know the lines and Jason you are to be commended for memorizing your part so quickly. Just relax and remember to go with your feelings during the play, they are just as important as the words. Starbuck isn't really sure about what he's feeling for Lizzie and of course everything that she is experiencing is new to her as well."
Jason shot Mimi a quick glance before turning his attention onto Mrs. Lakota before she started up again. "I'm been waiting for you to show up Mrs. Lakota. You mentioned at yesterday's rehearsal that you thought my blue chambray shirt clashed with Mimi's costume so I brought in a couple of other shirts to see if you'd rather I wear a different one."
"Oh that's great! I didn't even remember that! What did you bring?"
Jason stepped around Mimi to where a few shirts on hangers hung from the edge of the chalkboard. "I've got a white, black and brown one here." He said, holding up all three for her inspection.
"Hmmm, let's see," Mrs. Lakota said, taking a step back to look over the shirts forcing Mimi to take a few steps back as well. "I'm not too sure about the black. It might be a bit harsh under the lights and the same with the white. Why don't you try on the brown one?"
Jason just stared at the teacher returned his stare obviously was waiting for him to change his shirt right here. 'Theater people,' he thought giving his head a slight shake, 'I'll never understand them.' Pulling the ends of his shirt out of his jeans and quickly unbuttoned it and discarded it on the floor in front of him.
Mimi bit down hard on her bottom as she found herself unable to stop her eyes from traveling over his strong, tanned shoulders and powerful chest. She watched as he reached back for the shirt and dropped the hanger to his feet. Slipping one muscular arm into a sleeve and then reached back with the other one caused the flat plane of his stomach to outline itself into well defined sections. Clearing her throat against the emotions welling there, Mimi abruptly looked away as Jason looked up at her and she noticed that even Mrs. Lakota's cheeks had a faint tinge of pink of them. Only after she saw him start to button the front of his shirt from the corner of her eye did Mimi trust herself to look back at him.
"Oh yes I think that shirt will do just fine," Mrs. Lakota said, "keep it on please."
"Yes ma'am," Jason answered locking his gaze onto Mimi's as he dropped his hands to his waist. The moment he started to pull on his belt Mrs. Lakota's eyes widened for a quick moment for she quickly started across the room calling out for the musicians to take their noisy warm ups into another room.
Mimi smiled as she watched Mrs. Lakota hurry away. 'Don't worry Mrs. L, she thought, he gets to me that way too. And the kicker of it is that he knows it. Turning back, her gaze traveled down the front of him as she watched him opened his belt and let it hang from the loops on his jeans. The moment he popped open the top button to his jeans she heard Mrs. Lakota calling her name.
"You better turn around before you give her a heart attack," Mimi whispered as was rewarded with a genuine smile before Jason realized what he was doing and quickly erased it.
"Mimi…I forgot I was carrying this in my hands," Mrs. Lakota said.
"That's understandable Mrs. Lakota," Mimi said, stepping in front of Jason even through his back was turned to the room. "There's a lot going on in here tonight."
"Yes…well this is for you," she said handing the long box to her.
"Me?"
"They were delivered just a few moments ago."
Immediately surrounded by a gang of kids, Mimi just stood looking at the box.
"Well, go on…open it," Heather said.
"Yeah, come on Mimi," Reed added from behind Heather, "let's see what's in it."
Walking over to the podium that Mr. Dugan usually used to conduct band practice, Mimi placed the box on top and worked off the large white satin bow. Opening the lid, she pushed aside yards of green tissue paper to reveal a dozen, long stem yellow roses surrounded by greens and baby's breath.
"Oh Mimi, they are beautiful," Rita said, having come back in from the other room.
Mimi gently fingered the soft petals, her vision blurred from the tears that suddenly appeared.
"Who are they from?" Heather asked, "is there a card?"
"I-I don't know," Mimi said. Pushing aside some of the tissue she saw a small white envelope tucked in next to the roses. Pulling it out she gently opened the flap not wanted to ruin it. She quickly read the few words written on the card inside before returning it to the envelope.
"Well…what does it say?"
"It just says 'Break a leg'," she replied tucking it back inside the box.
"That's it? No name?"
"Nope…" Mimi said. Looking up at her friends, she saw Jason was watching her intently before he suddenly turned away and disappeared into the storage room.
"I bet they are from your folks," Heather said.
Pulling one rose free from the bunch in the box Mimi only offered her a small smile before walking away. Moments later, she pushed open the half closed door to the storage room and listened as Jason recited his opening words. Giving the door a quick knock, she took a deep breath and walked in.
"You know there is a tradition of actors receiving flowers on their opening night," she said when Jason turned around.
"That's very interesting," he responded, dropping his gaze as if he had a sudden interest in his script.
"And since this is your first ever opening night-"
"And my last," he interrupted, looking back up at her.
"And maybe your last," Mimi said, holding out the rose towards him. "I thought it was only fair that you get one of these."
"Mimi…"
"Jason I've wanted to talk to you so badly these last few days," she gushed, stepping closer to him determined to use this quiet moment to finally say her peace. "I know I hurt you and I am so sorry for the way I acted…for all the craziness that's been going on this past week. I don't know if it was because of what happened to Belle or my own insecurities but I should have let you try to explain what happened out at Nick's between you and Jan…you didn't have go and do this-"
"I didn't."
"Wh-what?"
"I didn't send you the roses okay?"
"You didn't…but then who…oh God…" Mimi closed her eyes against the embarrassment that washed over her, steadying herself by placing her hand on the music stand that stood nearby. "I…I don't know what to say…"
"I think you've said enough."
Mimi opened to eyes to see Jason had again turned his back to her. "Well I guess I owe you another apology for…for assuming that you cared enough to send-"
Jason spun around and marched over to her, slamming his script down on the stand. "Care enough? How can you say that after-"
"Three minutes until curtain time," Mrs. Lakota stuck her head into the room. "Come on gang, you've got to get into place. Come here Jason, your collar is all twisted."
Jason hesitate for a moment before walking over to stand in front of her, still having to bend over as he easily towered the drama teacher by eight inches. Mimi brushed past the two of them to hurry out of the room. "Good luck Jason," she whispered.
"You too Mimi," he finally responded after catching the stern look in Mrs. Lakota's eyes but he was only talking to air, as she was already gone.
"Don't' worry son," Mrs. Lakota said seeing the desolate expression on his face. "Just trust yourself to know what to say and when to say it."
Too bad that doesn't work in real life, Jason thought. "Thanks Mrs. L." he said instead as he watched her walk away. Having already found a spot backstage where to tuck his script just in case he needed to take a quick peek during the play, he turned back to get it and stopped in his tracks when he saw Mimi's single yellow rose lying on top of it.
The applause was deafening as the curtain finally closed. The cast broke from their frozen positions in the last scene and the relief that their opening night was finished was easily felt in the air.
"Places people," Mrs. Lakota called in hushed whisper. "We are doing the curtain calls next."
Mimi rushed to the left side of the stage with a few of the cast while Jason and the rest lined up on the right. Pressing her trembling fingers to her lips, she could still feel the imprint of his kiss there. He'd done a wonderful job tonight even if he had ad lib a few of his lines in the beginning. But by the time the climax of the play arrived he'd truly inhabited the character of Starbuck and when he had pleaded with her to come away with him Mimi had to remind herself that he was just playing a part. But with his hand outstretched, his eyes starting intently into hers it took all of her strength to follow her character's required actions and turn away from him.
The curtains suddenly opened again and the sound of the applause flooded across the stage. One by one the cast members walked across to the center of the stage behind the sets until they reached the door that led into the farmhouse and then they entered through and made their way down to the front to accept the cheers from the audience. Mimi moved forward knowing that she and Jason were the last two to go since they had the leads. Suddenly it was their turn and Mimi tried to get a look at Jason's face but it was too dark to see. They both started across the stage but Mimi purposely slowed allowing Jason to enter the doorway first. The applause grew as the audience recognized him standing there and Mimi brushed away a tear from her eye as she saw the range of emotions that washed over Jason's face in response to the loud cheers from the theater.
Mimi nodded her head towards the stage silently telling Jason he should walk on stage alone in response to the audience but he slowly held out his hand and she heard the cheering increase the moment she placed her hand in his. Together they walked downstage and dropped into low bows as practiced. Mimi tried to find her family and friends but the lights were too bright to see any farther than the orchestra. She felt a tight squeeze to her fingers before Jason released her hand and stepped away. Mimi turned back to see him joining in the thunderous applause that now filled the theater as she was standing alone. Looking into his eyes she was unable to read the emotions she saw there as he just returned her stare without a smile. Turning back to the audience, she repeated her bow and then stepped back to include the entire cast and crew in a final bow before the curtains closed again.
Immediately surrounded by her friends, Mimi returned hugs and smiles while trying to see where Jason disappeared to. She finally found him enveloped in a hug from Mrs. Lakota and Mimi smiled as he easily lifted her a few inches off the ground before setting her back down. She watched as they exchanged a few words when he suddenly began searching the crowd still on the stage. His gaze landed on her for a long moment before he turned and walked back through the double doors leading into the music department. It took Mimi a few moments to make her way through the crowd to the same doors and once inside, she quickly found him leaning against the wall outside the very crowded boy's room, his gaze fastened on the tips of his cowboy boots.
"You've got a long wait there," she said, her bravo fading.
Jason's head jerked up at the sound of her voice. He had wanted so badly to cross that stage and take her in his arms he knew he had to get out of there before he followed Mrs. Lakota's advice about reaching out and grabbing what you wanted. He knew she was talking about the play but Jason could only think about his leading lady. "Yeah…well, it's a good thing I'm just waiting to wash this crap off my face."
"And get those boots off I bet."
"Oh I don't know," Jason said, gazing back down at them unable to look at the smile on Mimi's face. "I no Garth Brooks but they kinda grow on you ya know?"
"Come with me," she said abruptly, lifting her skirts and turning away.
"What?"
Mimi looked over her shoulder. "Come on…I've got a way to help you get that makeup off."
"You better not be dragging me into the girl's room," Jason said, as he slowly pushed off the wall, following her his eyes glued to the gentle sway of her hips under the yards of materials that made up her dress.
"Chicken," Mimi teased, walking over to where she had left her duffel bag when she'd first arrived.
Jason walked up next to her unsure of what she was doing but when she bent over and started rummaging through the bag she unknowingly gave him a clear view down the opening of her costume. Flashes of bright purple satin danced in front of his eyes before he squeezed them shut and turned away. Purple satin, he thought. Underneath that demure simple dress, she wore bright purple satin.
"Jase?"
Opening his eyes, Jason saw she had her hand out stretched in his direction. "What's that?" he snapped.
"They're called pre-moisten toweletts," she replied, confused at his harsh tone. "To wash off your face?"
"Oh…right." Jason took the packets out of her hand and ripped one open. Shaking out the folded material inside, he watched as Mimi grabbed a brush before rising and started working it through her hair. He found himself unable to stop his eyes from traveling down the front of her dress as she lifted her arms in the air and the sudden desire to know if her purple satin bra was part of a matching set raced through him. Covering his face with the cloth, he forced the thought from his mind as he scrubbed.
"You better be careful," Mimi said, watching him.
"I think I know what I'm doing!" came the sharp, muffed reply.
"Well you don't have to bite my head off! You know, that stuff is really going to sting if you get it in your…"
"Aw…shit!"
"…eyes," finishing her sentence, Mimi winced as Jason furiously blinked his eyes against the burning she knew he must be feeling there. "Here give me that."
"Hey!" Jason cried as Mimi tore the cloth from his hand and quickly rolled it into a ball and neatly tossing it into a garbage can a few feet away.
"Sit," she said, pointing to a chair as she opened a fresh package.
"Don't talk to me like a mother!"
"Then stop acting like a baby," Mimi replied, "and sit!"
Jason did as he was told still trying to blink away the painful stinging in his eyes when Mimi suddenly moved forward and began washing off the makeup from his face.
"Close your eyes," she said.
"Why?"
"Well, I could follow your lead and wipe the cloth over them while they are still open but haven't you experienced enough pain for one evening?"
Jason held her stare for a long moment before finally relenting, closing his eyes. But the moment he did the rest of his senses kicked into overdrive.
The clean, fresh scent of her perfume surrounded him as he felt her fingers move across his forehead, down his nose and across his cheeks. He heard the rustling of her skirt as she stepped between his open legs moving even closer to him as the material of her dress brushed over his hands and forearms. Responding to the pressure of her fingers underneath his chin, he lifted his face and he could feel her warm breath on his skin. After her fingers trailed over his bottom lip, the tip of his tongue quickly stole across after it and he could still taste her there from their on stage kiss.
When her touch passed over his eyelids he peeked from under his lashes and his view was again filled with her peaches and cream colored skin and that same damn purple satin cloth covering her breasts.
"Are you done yet?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"You want this crap off your face or not?"
"I want-"
Suddenly he felt Mimi being pulled away from him and his eyes widened in time to see her being swung around in Brady's arms before he set her back on her feet before dropping a hard kiss on her surprised mouth. "Hey Mimi!"
"Hey Jason…great job man," Philip said, watching Jason's eyes turn to hard slits as he too witnessed Brady's behavior.
Chloe, Shawn and Belle quickly joined the growing circle around Jason and Mimi offering their congratulations for on their performances.
"Thanks," Jason muttered, standing up and turning away from the sight of Brady holding Mimi close in his arms and her answering smile to the words of praise he saying to her.
"Hey bro give someone else a chance to offer a congratulatory hug," Belle said, pushing her brother out of the way before enveloping her best friend in her arms. "You were awesome Meems!"
"Thanks Belle," Mimi said.
"You were really terrific," Chloe added before turning to Jason. "You too Jason. I was surprised to find out there is more to you than just a jock although I suspected as much all along."
"Thanks Chloe," Jason said.
"Considering it was just over a week ago you got yourself involved with all of this you did a hell of a job," Shawn added before turning to give Mimi a quick hug once Belle let her go. "You were okay too," he added.
"Hey!" Mimi slugged him in the arm but she knew he was only kidding her.
"What were you two doing over here?" Belle asked with a sly grin.
"Mimi was just helping me get this makeup junk off of my face," Jason said offering her a long stare.
"Um…yeah and I really should get this stuff off me as well," Mimi said, placing her fingers against her cheek. "I must look like I'm ready for Halloween."
"Oh I don't know about that," Brady said, moving back over to her side and wrapping his arm around her waist. "I had to warn off a few of my fraternity brothers who were asking me who the hot chick on stage was."
"Warn them off?" Jason said coolly.
"Well, I've got to keep an eye on Mimi here," Brady answered with a smirk. "We want to make sure she associates with the right kind of people."
"And what kind is that?"
"Any kind I choose," Mimi answered taking a step away from Brady moving to stand in front of Jason. "I think I know how to judge someone's one character by now."
"Except when it's right under your nose," Jason lowered his voice, "waiting for you."
Mimi took a step closer. "What did you say?"
"You heard-"
"Hey Mimi! Did you get my flowers?"
Whirling around, Mimi stared as the broad smile on Brady's face. "Flower? You mean it was you who sent me those roses?"
"Roses?" Belle asked. "What roses?"
Mimi pointed to the white box sitting on the ground next to her stuff. "I got a dozen yellow roses before the show tonight but the card only said 'break a leg' and there was no name on it."
"Oh man, I can't believe they forgot to put my name on the card. When Chloe and I were out the other night we were talking about the play and she told me about the tradition of leading ladies getting flowers on their opening night. And when you and I talked on the phone later that night you were so excited about the play I thought I would send-"
"Did you just say you and Chloe were out?" Philip interrupted him.
"You sent her the flowers?" Jason demanded at the same time.
Brady looked back and forth between the angry stares he was on the tail end of receiving. "Yeah…Chloe and I were having burgers at doc…wait a minute…is there a problem here?"
Philip and Jason only turned to stare at Chloe and Mimi as Shawn gently wrapped his arms around Belle from behind and rested his head on her shoulder.
"How does your brother get himself into these messes?" he whispered in her ear.
to be continued…