Chapter 26 Opening Night
December 2, 6:30 P.M.
Nina's .
"Your hair curls so much Nina!" Amber lamented, "I told you we should have come earlier so we'd have more time to straighten your hair."
"You're probably right." I said absent mindedly, though I did cringe when Amber pulled a little to hard with the hair straightener. To be honest I've never like hair strengtheners, they smell weird and burn your hair, but tonight I had more than that on my mind. Tonight was opening night for our play and besides butterflies in my stomach I have a lot more uneasiness coursing through my body. Specifically a kiss with a certain male who I can't figure out.
Does Michael like me? He sometimes acts like he does, but most of the time he's just a friend. My treatment of him for the past month hasn't helped our friendship though, or whatever it is that we are. I've ignored him and only really dealt with him directly for the play or whenever we have to do school work together. This awkward phase kind of reminds me of Fabian and I last year, though much more awkward.
Amber is rambling on about something that Mick had done to annoy her, which to be honest was annoying me for two reasons. One was that I didn't really care that much about Mimber or Amick, or whatever Amber calls her and Mick's relationship. I didn't even care about Jara or anybody else's problems in Anubis except for Fabian's. I had my own problems to deal with in Odin, and while Amber always listened and gave advice it was usually impractical advice. 'I've got a girl that hates me, an athletic Patricia type character, a womanizer, a loner, a total geek, a spoiled princess, a guy who may or may not like me, and terrible housemother to live with! I don't give a damn if Mick forgot to hold the door for you one time Amber! I've got worse problems that nobody in Anubis could possibly understand!' I thought angrily.
And that was my second reason for being annoyed. Nobody in Anubis could understand because we are part of two separate worlds now. I hated when I found I'm just not capable of caring as much about my former housemates as I am for myself. I've tried to make myself care, I really have, and something's I care about but most of the time I could care less about what was happening in Anubis House.
"There you are Nina! Gorgeous as always, but now only more so!" Amber said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. I looked into the mirror in front of me and smiled, I did look very nice. Maybe I should go for a straight hair look? If Amber likes it then it must be good, though Amber does also like fluffy pink clothing as well.
Before I could admire it more, Amber grabbed my straightened hair and pulled it back to make a bun. "It's a shame that your hair has to be in a bun, it would look so much better if you just ponytailed it." Amber said, shaking her head as she moved my hair into a bun formation. "Your going to look a little old womanish."
I had to agree with her, and my character was suppose to look younger and innocent. "Mr. Winkler was a great director but I'm going to go against him on this one." Amber said, taking my hair out of a bun and forming it into a ponytail. I cringed when Amber pulled a little too hard.
"Ah! Amber!" I said.
"Sorry!" Amber said, "Pains just the price of beauty!"
I shook my head, my body tense from pressure and Amber's meddling with my hair. In the mirror I could see Amber giving me a stare, her eyes trying to work something out. Part of me wanted to tell Amber what I was feeling for Michael, but another part warned me against it just like it did with Fabian. I've hidden so much from Fabian that the guilt is just boiling through, and it's going to explode on stage when I kiss Michael.
"Soooo," Amber said smiling deviously, "How are you and Fabian doing? You never did tell me how your date went last Friday."
"It was good. But Amber I need to tell you something." I said, turning to Amber. I decided to tell Amber that I was going to kiss Michael. Maybe not tell her that I might actually like him, but just that we're going to kiss. Amber, while in the production, hasn't been able to focus too much on my play since she's been busy with her own. She has no idea what to expect from my play, just like I don't know what to expect from hers though I have read the scene from 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' that she's about to do.
Amber tsked me, "Nina keep your head straight! It's not easy to ponytail and braid your hair." She spun me around so I once again faced the mirror in front of me. I sighed in frustration.
"Amber I really need to tell you something." I repeated.
"Nina there can't be anything more important than this-" Amber began.
"Well there is, so please just focus on me!" I said, spinning around and grabbing both of Amber's arms to stop her from talking. Some of the other girls in the dressing room looked at us weird but I gave them my best smile and they dissipated to their own conversation again.
"Nina!" Amber said shocked.
"I'm sorry Amber. It's just that… that… I need to tell somebody and I think…"
"I'm the best candidate?" Ambers said extremely happy with herself. She put down the brush she was using and pulled up a seat next to me, looking at me with puppy dog eyes wanting gossip. I sighed when I began to fear that everything I was about to say would be everybody's knowledge tomorrow. But hopefully Amber can keep this secret, one of them everybody will know about tomorrow already.
"Ok," I began, "Alright." I breathed in slowly, trying to focus my mind and calm my nerves.
Amber held my hand in support, "It's ok Nina, you can trust me-" she began but I blurted out what I was going to say before she had a change to finish.
"I'm going to kiss Michael tonight during our play segment!" I whispered quickly.
Her reaction was just as bad as I thought it would be. "WHAT!" She screamed, throwing my hand away and jumping out of her seat so fast it actually fell backwards. Her face was molded into pure horror and disbelief. Many of the other faces in the changing room were too, stunned by Amber's outburst.
"I can believe this!" Amber was shouting hysterically, "How could you possible *muff, *AAH." She didn't get to finish as I held her mouth shut with hand, muffling her future outburst. I gave a weak smile to everybody in the room but nobody was buying it. All the girls were coming closer to catch some drama, like sharks closing in on their prey.
"We'll just be going, heh heh." I said nervously to all the other girls. I dragged myself and Amber out of that room, closing the door behind us and moving further away from it to make sure none of the girls could pick up our conversation. I took my hand off Amber's mouth and she continued her rant.
"Michael Nina? MICHAEL? Out of all the guys on campus that you have to kiss it has to Michael!" Amber screeched.
"I know Amber! Fabian will-"
"Fabian will be mad as hell Nina! I won't be surprised if he rushes on stage and- AHHHH!" Amber shouted, "Does Fabian even know?"
I opened myself to say something, but closed it before I did and looked away from Amber. "WHAAAT!" Amber shouted loudly enough that I actually cringed, "HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL FAB- *meh! *MFFF"
"Amber you need to calm down!" I said harshly, putting my hand over her mouth again. Amber was too full of rage though and she pushed my hand away angrily.
"YOUR TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOUR DOING NINA MARTIN?" Amber shouted.
"I do Amber!" I lied, "This kiss doesn't mean anything!"
"Does it Nina? DOES IT?" Amber said. "Do you like him?"
"NO!" I shouted, though even I knew my protest was weak. Amber inhaled sharply again and screamed "WHAT?" for the third time.
"Nina how could you?" Amber shouted, now looking completely hysterical. Wrinkles had begun to appear in the makeup she was wearing and her clothing looked wrinkled with the amount of pacing and arm flapping she was doing. I grew angry at myself for thinking to tell Amber, 'What the heck was I thinking? She's going to blow this way out of proportions!' I thought.
"I don't like him Amber. I love Fabian!" I said.
"Just like Mick 'loves' me Nina?" Amber said, tears coming to her eyes, "Just like he says that he enjoys being around me?"
Now it was my turn to say "What?". 'How the hell is this now about her?' I thought angrily.
"He says he loves me! But he doesn't I know it! He's always out and never around when I need him! I practically have to force him to go out on dates with me now!" Amber said, tears running down her face which messed with her makeup. I turned to the door of the changing room and saw that it was cracked open just slightly.
"Can we please not do this now Amber?" I said, trying to quiet her down so people would stop listening in on us. I don't really want my personal life on display for everybody around me to hear about and comment on.
"Then when Nina? When?" Amber said, "I can't even be around you right now! I… I… I have to tell Fabian! That's what I have to do!"
"NO!" I shouted, "That's exactly what you're not going to do!"
"Why not? Why not tell him?" Amber demanded, "You don't want me or anybody to tell Fabian because you want to kiss Michael! You want to kiss him because you want to know if you do like him or not! I can't believe you Nina! And I can't believe Michael for going along with this! Joy was right! I was right! Michael does like you and he's going to break you and Fabian apart!"
"WHAT?" I shouted myself, "What was that about Joy?"
Amber immediately froze and calmed down when I asked her about Joy. Her face was a mask of shock though and she stumbled nervously, attempting to recover from her foul. "It's nothing important! It's just something that she mentioned a few months ago!"
"A few months ago?" I said thinking, when suddenly it hit me. "A few months ago was when I brought Michael over to dinner at Anubis! When you attacked him and thought he was stealing me away from Fabian!"
"Nina-" Amber began.
"YOU LISTENED TO JOY?" I shouted angrily myself, "You let her manipulate you into thinking that Michael likes me? He doesn't and didn't!"
"But he does and now I know that you like him!" Amber protested, defending herself from my attacks.
"He doesn't like me and I don't like him!" I shouted, "God! You really are stupid aren't you Amber? I know that you can't figure out that Mick has something going on with Sophia and can't realize that Alfie might be better for you, but even you have to run out of stupidity at some point!"
Amber recoiled like she had been slapped, and I gasped when I realized what I just said. My face warped into an apologetic one while Amber's became hard and impassive. "Amber I am so sorry! I didn't mean that! I was just angry and scared!"
Amber's eyes were distance and not focused on me. "Just like you didn't mean to not tell Fabian? Or your best friend until the night of the production? Are we even friends anymore?" Amber said calmly.
"Yes! Of course we are!" I said, stepping closer to Amber. Amber took a step back though.
"Really?" She said, "Could have fooled me. In fact, I think you have and are. And everybody else around you."
"Amber!" I said but she brushed me off and ran away. When she was out of earshot I heard whispers behind me and saw that the door to the changing room had opened up quite a bit. I rushed forward and grabbed the knob, slamming the door shut loudly. After that I took several steps back and began to cry, actually falling to the ground as I did so.
'Why was I like that? That wasn't me! I'm not a bitch who yells at her friends after deceiving them for months! What's happening to me?' I began to cry harder, using my prop dress to dry my tears. 'It's Odin House! It's what causing all my problems! Why couldn't I just have gotten Anubis House, everything would have been so much better if I had!'
I cried harder as I thought of Anubis House. There were a ton of memories I would love to forget from that house, but those memories also defined my experience at Anubis. It's what made it unique and something special for me, all of which lead to me to my love, Fabian. But now that was endangered by a house which was turning me into something I was not.
Odin House has ruined me.
6:56 P.M.
Alfie's P.O.V.
"Alien or Predator?" I asked Alan.
"Hmm…" Alan thought, "I'm going to have to go with Alien."
"Are you joking? Alien?" I said laughing.
"No, Alien would be so much cooler to be." Alan said, "You'd be the ultimate predator in the entire galaxy! You could climb walls, spit acid, and rip people to shreds in less than five seconds."
"If you don't stop with your totally geeky conversation, I'm going to rip you two to shreds in less than three seconds!" Patricia said, sitting a row in front of us. We had been going on for a while now, asking what type of monster we would prefer to be. So far I've learned that Alan would be an Alien, a vampire, or Bigfoot if given a choice.
I'm also happy that Alan is being a little more active with conversation. He was acting a bit depressed for the past week, saying that it was just because him and Michael were fighting a little bit, which shocked me personally. The two of them seemed like such good friends, what could have possibly happened? Alan didn't tell me but I figured it out myself later, realizing that Michael must have told him that he was going to kiss Nina. Joy had confided in me that Charlotte and Michael have a bit of a romantic history, and Alan also told me that he thought the two of them would be good together. I was able to piece together what happened next really easily.
"Let them talk Patricia," Mara said, "The productions about to start any…ways… Jerome!" Mara shouted mid sentence. I looked over to Jerome and saw that he had a bag of popcorn in his hand. "Jerome, you aren't allowed to bring food into the theatre!"
"But its butter melted! Trudy made it herself!" Jerome protested, "Do you want some?"
"What! Of course I don't…" Mara said weakly. She began eyeing the popcorn herself, the smell no doubt overpowering her as it did me. "Maybe just a bite." She said, reaching quickly for some popcorn and stuffing it in her mouth. Jerome laughed and put his arm around Mara, who cuddled up next to him and grabbed some more popcorn.
"Well be nice!" Patricia said, reaching over Mara to grab some popcorn. Jerome moved the bag away from Patricia as she got closer to it.
"This isn't for you! I brought it for us." Jerome said. Patricia gave him a stink eye and Mara giggled softly. She dumped a few pieces of popcorn on Patricia's lap which caused Jerome to sigh.
"You're too nice sometimes Mara." He said.
"And you're too mean sometimes." She said.
"Never to you though." Jerome said, leaning in to kiss Mara.
"Oh come on!" Patricia said, groaning along with Alan and I. Mara and Jerome kissed and they drew closer to one another, so close they could probably mold together if they were any tighter.
The entire theater was packed for that matter, with only a few rows left in the building all the way in the back. We had gotten here early so we could get seats in the middle of the theatre, which makes no sense to me since I think we should have gone towards the front. Mara tried to explain to me how the sound quality was the best in the middle and how our eyes will observe everything on stage because of our position, but I got bored after the first twenty seconds and tuned her out.
"How much longer till it's seven?" Fabian asked on Patricia's left. Patricia looked at her watch, rolling her eyes as she did it.
"Three minutes Fabian. Don't you have anything other to say than just that one question? You've been asking it for the last twenty minutes." Patricia said.
"I just can't wait to see Nina." Fabian said.
"At least somebody here cares about their girlfriend." Patricia said, looking past Fabian to the empty seat on his left.
"Hey!" Jerome said offended.
"I wasn't talking about you Jerome," Patricia said. "I'm talking about clueless Mick. Where is he anyways? We've been saving his seat since we've got here!"
"He said he'd meet us here in a little bit." I said.
"I know what he said Alfie." Patricia said irritated, "Look! Even Joy bothered to show up!"
All of our heads turned to Joy, who was several rows in front of us. She was sitting where I thought we should be sitting, with two friends of hers on her left and right. They were laughing about something and looking expectantly at the stage in front of them. Joy had told me earlier today that she wouldn't need me for the night so I was free to do what I wanted. Alan invited me to the play since Sophia decided to not go all of a sudden. I agreed, but made the mistake of telling everybody in the house which meant that they invited us to go with them too. I wasn't to thrilled about going with them though just because I didn't want to witness Fabian's melt down when he saw Michael and Nina kiss.
I was dreading that moment, and according to the playlist brochure their play segment was up after Amber's A Midsummer Night's Dream excerpt performance. Between them was a short segment that would serve as an intermission between the two play excerpts, and another short segment was happening before Amber's performance to start off the night and after Nina's performance to serve as an intermission before the final play excerpt.
"Just try and ignore her." Mara said, "Joy doesn't mean anything."
"Ya right." Patricia muttered, earning herself a series of angry glares.
"What time is it now?" Fabian asked.
"Are you kidding me Fabian?" Patricia exclaimed.
"I think I'm going to go find Amber." I said standing up to get out of the row.
"What?" Alan said confused. Everybody else was staring at me confused and I smiled.
"Just want to wish her good luck!" I said.
"You did, about ten times before she left the house." Patricia said.
"Then I'll say it one more time." I said, moving out of the row while trying not to touch to many people's feet. I still did and one girl yelped as I stepped on her foot.
"We're not saving your seat!" Patricia called.
"I will Alfie!" Alan's voice chorused, smiling at Patricia who gave him the stink eye.
I nodded in appreciation to Alan and stumbled out of the row, falling to ground as I tripped over somebody's feet. There were gasps and shouts of concern but I jumped up off the ground and held thumbs up to show that I was fine. I started to run to the back and almost hit somebody as I threw the door open to exit the theatre.
"Oh I'm sorry." I said to the girl. I then realized who I was talking to and did a double take, "Charlotte! How are you?"
Charlotte looked at me confused, "I'm… I'm fine. How are you-um- How are you?"
I smiled nicely, "Alfie. And I'm fine too."
Charlotte smiled nicely and nodded her head awkwardly. Though she didn't know my name I felt a bit of a connection to Charlotte, we were both being used shamelessly by Joy. Though Charlotte had it a lot worse than me and had little to show for it, and that also scared me. I saw future self in her if I wasn't careful. Though it's already too late, Joy has too much over me and I guess it is only a matter of time before I'm the sad, lonely husk that Charlotte is right now.
"Are you going to sit with Joy?" I asked, trying to make small talk for some reason.
"Oh, um no. I'm just going to sit in the back here." She said.
"Are you sure? You could also sit with Alan is you want. We have on open seat down there."
"It's really ok Alfie. I'm just going to sit here." She said, and to prove it she sat down quickly in an aisle seat in the very back row.
"Ok, um see ya later I guess." I said, opening the door again to leave. Charlotte nodded and looked to the stage. As I left I shook my head, 'I can never end like that, never.' I thought. I didn't leave just yet because I noticed something around Charlotte's neck.
"I like your necklace Charlotte. Where did you get a clam shell around here?" I asked.
Charlotte's face went red and she was determined not to look at me. "It was a gift." She said, her voice shaky with sadness it sounded like.
"Oh ok." I said, "Well see you later… again." This time I left, running down the hall towards the entrance to backstage. I noticed that there were a few actors hanging around outside so I snuck past them as best as I could and made my way backstage ninja style.
It was a circus backstage with hands moving everywhere, grabbing everything and moving things around at a furious pace. I heard a voice shouting that sounded a lot like Mr. Winkler who sounded frantic and annoyed. I decided to stay clear of him and moved towards the area marked "Girls Changing Rooms". I knocked on the door softly and after getting no response opened it up.
I've never heard screams so loud and I closed the door quickly. "She's not in there." I said, running away from the room before I was chased down and dragged before Mr. Sweet. My frantic search was interrupted when I saw Nina.
"Hey Nina!" I called, running over to her, dodging people who were walking around with their heads down in their lines or moving props and sets around. Nina looked up at me, shocked to see me.
"Alfie? What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Looking for Amber. I want to wish her luck." I said.
"Oh," Nina said, her face dropping and a shadow forming over her facial features. "I think she's over on the other side of the stage.
"Thanks!" I said. I moved quickly across the stage, weaving in and out of props and scenes again. I was happy that the curtain was drawn because that might have been a tad bit awkward and I don't think Joy would be happy either.
I saw Amber brushing her hair in a mirror, looking rather depressed. I saw that there was a vase of prop flowers and grabbed one of them before going over to Amber. I came up behind her and smiled. "Surprise!" I said, holding out a flower. I cringed when I realized that the flower I was holding was actually a prop dead flower.
I tried to hide it but Amber had already seen it in the mirror's reflection. "A dead flower? Gee thanks Alfie." She said bitterly.
"Amber I'm sorry." I said, throwing the flower across the room. Amber turned me and gave a small smile.
"It's ok Alfie. I know that you're just trying to make me happy, everything you do you do to impress or show that you like me right?" Amber said.
I looked at her confused and a little nervous, "Um… yes that's right."
Amber nodded her head at me. She turned away from me again, looking back into the mirror. "Is Mick here? I looked out at the audience earlier and I didn't see him there."
I shifted awkwardly at the mention of Mick. "No, he wasn't there when I left."
"Oh, I see." Amber said, looking even more depressed.
"But um I wanted to come here and tell you good luck! Again!" I said in an attempt to cheer Amber up. "You look amazing right now in all your make up and you're going to totally rock whatever it is your about to act out."
Amber laughed lightly, "You certainly do care about me." Amber said.
"I do." I said, not even bothering to try and hide my feelings anymore.
"More than Mick I imagine." Amber said.
"I think so…" I said. 'I know so!' I thought to myself.
"Then Alfie, there is something we need to talk about." Amber said, raising herself out of her chair.
"Yes! Yes I think there is!" I said excited. Could this be happening? Could Amber really be about to confess her feelings for me? If she did that means that I won't rely on Joy and I can break free! And I would Amber, the girl I've wanted since like… ever I think!
"There he is!" I heard some girl shout. I turned and saw that it was one of the girls from the changing room with a pissed look on her face. Mr. Winkler was behind her, looking just as mad if not madder.
"Alfie Lewis!" Mr. Winkler shouted, "What were you thinking when you burst into the girl changing room? I should have you sent directly to Mr. Sweet and demand immediate discipline!"
"He was just looking for me Mr. Winkler." Amber said behind me. She stepped forward and stood in front of me, protecting me from Winkler's wrath. "I told him I'd be near the changing room area so it's my fault that he though to look inside. I'm also sorry Lizzie that he actually did look into the changing room."
Mr. Winkler's gaze softened when Amber stepped forward, though the girl Lizzie looked even madder. I guess Amber is Winkler's favorite which is a bit of sore spot for the other actors and actresses.
"Well make sure it doesn't happen again Mr. Lewis." Mr. Winkler said, "Apologize please."
"I'm sorry Lizzie." I said quickly. She snorted at me.
"It's Elizabeth to you Lewis!" She stormed away, fists still clenched and the look of violence still in her eyes. Mr. Winkler sighed and resumed his stern director face.
"We have to get moving Amber, we're already a beyond schedule. Alfie if you could please leave so we could get started."
"Actually do you mind if he stays here Mr. Winkler?" asked Amber with her sweetest smile, "I'd like him here for support and he promises not to stay out of the way and not cause to much trouble. Don't you Alfie?"
"Of course sir." I said.
Mr. Winkler looked a little uncomfortable but one more 'please?' from Amber was enough for him to break. He beckoned over some stage hands and told them to find me a seat. "We'll talk after I'm done Alfie." Amber whispered to me. I shuttered as her breath touched her ear and I smiled while nodding my head in agreement. When they arrived back with a seat Mr. Winkler dismissed them and told them to get into places and sound the final call for all actors.
"It's time to get this show started." Mr. Winkler said proudly.
Thank you all for your reviews and alerts!
A filler chapter mostly, but the next few chapters are going to get more and more tense with action and drama. We are reaching the climax so be prepared! Anything can happen! I would of posted this chapter on Friday, but I looked over it Friday night and decided that I wanted to change somethings... which lead to a lot of things. The ending of this chapter was suppose to be radically different but due to chapter length (it got to long) I cut down on some of the content so it will appear in the next chapter!
So far I'm really enjoying Season 2, specifically the acting of all the characters. Last season the acting (honestly people) wasn't exactly amazing (I'm looking at you Amber & Mick) but this season I think it's improved a lot. Amber has definitly gotten better, Alfie isn't as ridicolously silly, and Patricia seems to be a much better and more believable character. I am glad that Mick is gone though, he still seems like the weakest link of all the actors and I'm happy he's gone and Eddie's replaced him. Eddie is annoying, but he a good annoying. If you've read the previous chapter you know what I think of Mick...
Joy is still my favorite character on the show. She's devolped at such a good rate and I also believe that Klariza Clayton (her actress) is the best on the show followed closely by Tasie Dhanraj (Mara). I'm not always a fan of all of Mara's scenes, but her acting makes them worth watching. Jerome's actor too deserves the good actor award from me.
So once again... PLEASE REVIEW!