A/N: LET'S PUT ON A SHOW!
But on a more serious note, the last few weeks have been insane for the site. Glitches all abound!
E-mails just kept getting bumped back, no matter what account I use, so none of my updates ever got out. I had to contact most of you directly to let you know Chapter 24 came out. To counter this in the future, I highly recommend downloading the FF app on your phone or tablet. That way, any update or new story or interaction with users can be sent to your notifications. I realize now that relying completely on your email notifications isn't dummy proof.
Also, this whole experience really was like a bucket of cold water on my head! I came to terms with how fragile this platform could potentially be. So, please BACK UP YOUR FILES! If you write elsewhere like Word or something, keep the originals! But, if you're like me and you write totally on the Doc Manager, download your work, then do a little copy and paste and voila! You just digitally backed up your story! All 50+ stories of mine are now archived in my hard-drive AND email. That includes every chapter of this story so far.
Fortunately, for those of us that are hella busy; you can download a multi-chapter story in one ENORMOUS chunk that you can copy and paste. You still keep author notes and border breaks; it was a time saver. And now that I know my work going back years are backed up, it's a life saver.
So, please don't lose your hard work to the wind! Don't let this place become the next BLIP, where so many video producers lost years of work because they didn't hold onto their files! I implore all of you to do the same because I love ya and I never want to lose the ability to revisit some old favorites!
Thank you for reading this. I told myself I would start this chapter with a Public Service Announcement and here we are.
Hope this finds you well, if you received the notification that the story updated, spread the word!
I really don't want to leave the site; I've scoped out AO3 and Wattpad and not a fan of how they're set up. I know there are people who swear by those sites and would never set foot here, but I'm sorry I have gotten so used to the interface here. I like how the stories are presented. I would only relocate if publishing was no longer possible.
I have a social media account. Look me up on Twitter: metatron8539459 and that is where I can share updates with everyone!
I will add other platforms as I go.
STAY TUNED.
But for now...on with the show!
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
The big premiere of The Other Side of Time was on at Hollywood Arts.
Attendance was usually steady at H.A. productions but the buzz surrounding this play was incredible. Seats quickly filled up with some standing toward the back of the theatre. Tori had to turn people away because she didn't need the aisles filling up or people sitting on the steps, which would violate the fire code.
It couldn't be helped. Everyone was talking about this show, just as much about the behind-the-scenes as the play itself. An autocratic senior who abandoned the project only to be replaced by an unknown director, a freshman no less! If they only knew, she was also the daughter of celebrated horror scribe, Jade West.
That was fortunate for the 14-year-old. That last name of hers created a safe barrier from strangers figuring out her famous mom. It was known that Jade West had a child, but she said she would rather not discuss it in interviews and only family and friends were privy to photos they both appeared in. She stressed that her kid's privacy was important, and her fame shouldn't rob her family of a life of their own.
Jade once joked that she wasn't scared of Alice getting kidnapped and held for ransom. She was worried that she would only see her daughter through plate glass because somebody was going to be murdered.
"OKAY, GANG!"
The diminutive director was trembling like a leaf, but she forced herself to keep her head up.
Everyone huddled around Alice, the actors wearing their costumes, some tucking away little scraps of paper into their pockets. They had their parts down pat, but they were understandably nervous over a few passages of dialogue so in between scenes they could give themselves a refresher.
"This is the big night!" Alice smiled, her eyes crying (HELP ME!) "You guys nailed it during dress rehearsals. Nothing has changed, we're just not playing only for ourselves this time! We have an...audience..."
Her voice cracked a bit.
"Yeah..." Alice stood like her shoes were bolted to the floor. "People...lots and lots of...people..."
Becky leaned forward.
"Alright, you all know the drill!"
The cast and crew got into a group hug with Alice at the center. Within moments, her anxiety subsided, and her muscles relaxed. She closed her eyes and lost herself in the good vibes. Alice was a talented director, but she had her moments. Some days, her nerves would become too much, and she would have a mild panic attack. Unlike Geoffrey who would unload his wrath on whoever was nearby, Alice would get noticeably quieter and retreat into herself.
Becky devised this "aggressive love" tactic to reassure the poor girl. She was hesitant at first but when she understood they were trying to give her an emotional totem to hold onto, she grew to appreciate it. It wasn't hard, everyone adored Alice, so they wanted her to feel better when she was stressed.
Alice cleared her throat to signal that she was okay now. That made them relent. She looked around at them with such gratitude. How they came together at the drop of a hat. She had no doubt they could pull off this play.
"Thanks, guys" she said.
Alice hugged her trusty clipboard to her chest.
"Now let's go out there and break a leg!"
The crew ran to their stations while the actors in the first scene found their marks. The others waited in the wings for their cues.
Mia was saving the seat beside her, waiting for Tori to come.
"Hey, you."
She looked up to see Jade who sat beside Mia on the other side.
"You made it," Mia said.
"Hell yes! I wouldn't miss this for anything!"
It's been a few weeks since Thanksgiving and since then, Jade would think about Mia from time to time. Nothing from Alice regarding the young Vega but that didn't mean she wasn't hiding something. Jade was there once; she didn't share everything with her folks. Especially her dad. She just hoped it wasn't anything too serious.
Jade felt lucky that Alice had a good head on her shoulders. And it wasn't like Mia was a bad kid in her eyes. Otherwise, she would object to the upperclassman being friends with her daughter. Having knocked the block off some bitchy girl on their first day of knowing each other let Jade know Mia was a real one. She had character. Jade was just concerned with the teen daughter of it all coupled with Tori's textbook naiveté, was she oblivious to what might be wrong.
(Let's do some digging but play it cool.)
"Mid-terms coming up for you, huh?"
Mia glanced over, expecting something like that from a friend's mom.
"Uh, yep. Can't wait 'til next week."
"Yeah, I remember that" Jade said.
"Well, I'm gonna use the bathroom. I'll be back."
With that the teenager left.
Jade's approach yielded very little.
(Maybe I'm just blowing this out of proportion.)
"Jade!"
The former goth smiled at the school principal (one more and we will have "things Jade never would do" Bingo).
Tori parked herself beside her, looking over at the empty seat.
"Have you seen Mia?" she asked.
Jade nodded.
"Yeah, after I got here, she excused herself to use the restroom."
Tori looked behind herself.
"Oh, okay."
"So... how's it been with you?" Jade asked.
Tori stretched; her interlocked hands put out as far as they could reach.
"Alright," she sighed. "Actually, the other day was challenging but it made me feel a bit better in the long run."
Jade raised an eyebrow.
"Huh?"
"Oh, sorry. I actually started seeing someone."
The former goth's heart struck an iceberg.
"You..." she cleared her throat. "You have?"
"Have you met Dr. Ivy, the school counselor?"
Jade shook her head.
Tori smiled.
"They're pretty great. I was looking for help with Mia and they surprised me by filling me in as well."
Some color returned to Jade's face.
"Oh. OH! You meant that you're in therapy."
Tori leaned back, looking around, worried someone might have heard that.
"Hey, hey, don't be ashamed," Jade said, with her hand on Tori's arm. "I did some couch time myself. Believe me, working on me was a lot less annoying than trying to work on my marriage."
The Latina hugged herself.
"Ivy insisted on it, believing it would be beneficial for Mia's sake." She blinked. "Oh, I'm pretty sure Mia didn't tell Alice about it so that stays between us."
"When do the two of you go?" Jade asked.
Tori shook her head.
"No, we are separate. They said that being isolated from the parent usually gets a kid to open up more. Plus, Ivy suggested I not tell Mia I'm being seen as well."
"But why?"
"Again, to establish trust. Ivy doesn't want Mia to infer that we are discussing her."
Jade rubbed the back of her neck.
"I...guess that makes sense."
Indeed, Alice had no part of the couples therapy her and Harry attended years ago. As far as the child knew, her mom and dad were happily married and never going to divorce ever. That was a rough conversation. Indeed, it didn't hold a candle to explaining that your father was never coming home.
But Tori would never tell her that.
She was always empathetic; never one to downplay someone else's bad time. Even when they were technically not friends, she still dropped everything to help with her and Beck.
"You said that so far it's been helpful?" asked Jade.
Tori nodded slowly.
"Yeah," her voice broke a little. "I mean...we didn't discuss anything new exactly...but...I guess I've been hanging onto some...stuff and...and..."
Her breath hitched when Jade held her hand.
"Hey, I'm happy for you. This sounds like just what you need."
"Thanks. That's nice of you to say."
Jade cracked her neck.
"Well, it's been what, two decades almost? 'Bout time I paid the kindness forward, right?"
Tori smiled, "Right."
"I'm back!"
Jade tensed up and broke the handholding at the sound of Mia returning.
The teenager missed the physical sign of affection; Jade was just that quick. Tori was confused but brushed it away at the sight of her daughter.
"Good timing," Tori said. "Show's about to start."
Mia's nose twitched and she sniffed deeply.
"What the...Mom, did you bring popcorn?"
Tori made a face.
"No, there's no popcorn here-"
She glanced over and there was Jade holding a giant bag of buttery premade popcorn from the store.
The brunette already had a mouthful when she noticed the mother and daughter gawking at her.
"I'm sorry," she managed through her chewing. "Did you want any?"
Jade tilted the bag to her right and Mia grabbed some.
"Seriously, Jade?"
She shrugged as she finally could swallow.
"WHAT? I never see a show without refreshments! Plus, it's my baby's big night."
"That's fair," Tori sighed as she took a handful herself.
A voice whispered a row behind them saying, "We should've done that."
"Thirsty?"
Tori looked confused at Jade.
"Yeah, but there isn't any-"
She cheekily produced a couple of Cokes. Jade handed one to Tori and it was ice cold in her hand. Mia accepted the other with a whispered thank you.
Jade pointed down and Tori saw beside her boot was what she thought was a purse turned out to be a mini cooler bag.
(This woman continues to be full of surprises.)
The lights begin to dim, and everyone starts sitting higher up in their seats.
The play unfolded and the audience were captivated by Jenna's performance from the very get-go. Her portrayal of Kelly Wittenberg was engaging as we followed her sorrow at the arrest of her anarchist father and later on had to come to terms with his death.
Things went on a downward spiral after that.
Her mother committed suicide. But since she never told anybody about her relationship or the child she had out of wedlock, only her body was sent back to America. Nobody came back for Kelly, so she had to make her own way in the nation that condemned her father. Her formative years was a cavalcade of trials and abuse.
At one point, Jade leaned toward Tori and whispered, "And I thought Oliver Twist had it bad."
Things finally started to turn around when she meets a kind young man named Conrad, the son of a German ambassador. They connect initially as both German of origin (at least half in her case) and how they felt like outsiders who struggled with adjustment. He too spent most of his life in Paris. Since he rubbed elbows with a higher social circle, they never crossed paths until now.
Kelly lies in the beginning about her social status but to everyone's relief, it wasn't a lie that gets dragged out. One night, he confesses that he knows she isn't from where she says but that doesn't matter because he loves her.
When Billy kissed Jenna's hand, there was an audible "awww" from the crowd.
If this were a more modern tale, it would have culminated into a full-on kiss. But given the time period and place, it wouldn't be proper. But post WWI, this was as hot as it could get, and the strength of their performances made that shine through.
Mia noticed further down the third row was Lauren and Chase, looking pretty cozy as the love scene progressed on stage.
The girl sighed, having to admit that they did look endearing. If Chase hadn't done a 180, she would certainly object to this union.
(You ever slide back into being a jerk, I will turn you into a scarecrow!)
Mia regained focus on the romance between Kelly and Conrad as it wore on.
She couldn't help but think back to a time she felt just like this.
[FLASHBACK]
The auditorium was all clear that day, nobody around.
Mia liked to use the empty stage whenever she could to rehearse her dancing. It was on these boards that she auditioned, so it felt safe for her.
She took out her trusty Bluetooth speaker from her back and synched it up with her phone.
Scrolling through her picks, Mia settled on an old favorite: "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake.
Mia was having a shitty day and wanted something pop that was extra peppy to groove to.
There was no particular routine she was practicing. Mia would hit a wall now and then and "just needed to dance" to unwind.
The girl took off, her legs and arms trying desperately to keep up with her beating heart. People would say to Mia that she must not have a skeleton because her moves were ridiculous. Indeed, not many people could keep up with her. The usually laid-back teenager was often written off as lazy but in reality, she was resting up for the next time she would have to "stomp the yard" if the situation called for it.
Sometimes Mia would get so caught up in it that she would dance until her muscles ached. Then she would have to break out the ice like an athlete in the playoffs.
She made a mental note not to overdo it this time. She didn't want to wake up tomorrow sore.
One time, she limped for the better part of a week.
When her body whipped around, her pointed foot almost connected with a tall boy. Luckily, he had some good reflexes and stepped just enough out of the way. Mia's heart was beating like mad from the moving around. Now it stopped cold like she was going to die from the shock.
The music deafened her to the sound of anyone approaching. It was well after school, and everyone had gone home.
Most of them, anyway.
"Damn girl, you're like a dance machine!"
Mia reached into her zipped pocket and turned off the music playing on her phone. She was out of breath and not in the mood.
"Who the hell are you?" she huffed. "Where did you come from? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"
He looked apologetic.
"Sorry, sorry. I was walking past the doors, and I heard the...couldn't help it; and I love that song."
Mia didn't reply.
"I mean...who doesn't, right? It's only J.T."
She blinked and reached for the white towel draped on the chair nearby.
"Oh, so I don't have a...s-stalker?" Mia said, still catching her breath. She checked her pulse briefly.
"If you move like that, I don't think any stalker has a shot," he smirked.
Mia sat down.
"That's what they tell me," she said. "What are you doing after school other than spying on me?"
"I was actually leaving a club meeting and..." he stared at the floor and collected himself. "Okay, starting over...I'm Ryan."
"Mia."
He nodded.
"I'm new," he added.
"Makes sense," Mia said. "Because I never seen you before."
"Oh, but I've heard of you."
"I'm sure what you heard was just great," she sighed sarcastically.
Ryan shrugged.
"I mean I have a buddy who goes to dance, and he goes on about this girl named Mia who is a beast when the music starts."
Mia stood back up, dabbing herself with the towel.
"You seem more beauty than beast."
The made her stiffen.
A pained expression came across his face.
"Oh, crap, did I just say the quiet part loud?"
They both stood there blushing out of embarrassment.
Not at all what she was expecting to hear. She wasn't exactly...popular in that regard. Her tomboyish nature stood in contrast to the majority of the girls at Hollywood Arts. So, most guys were not interested in her. Mia was used to people saying all sorts of things to her and normally had a string of comebacks at the ready. Since she never would anticipate a boy saying that to her, the Latina just crashed.
Ryan scratched his head, clutching the strap of his backpack.
"Well, I'm leaving now before I do anything else to humiliate myself."
As if the universe wanted to make a clown out of him, Ryan's words were immediately followed with him unwittingly stepping off the stage. It was only three feet but that was plenty to knock the boy senseless.
"AH! DAMN!"
Mia leaned over the edge of the stage, concerned.
"You alright?"
"I'm good," he winced. "I do this all the time."
She snickered to herself as Ryan got up and bolted out of the room.
And as fate would have it, the moment he fell of the stage was when Mia began to fall for him.
But nothing came of it. Savannah Gilmore had beaten her to the punch.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
Mia folded her arms as the character Thea tried to drive a wedge between the happy couple. She couldn't help but imagine Savannah in that role.
She bet any amount of money in her daddy's big fat bank account that she hides her true nature from Ryan. Mia could sense that the off-beat guy had a good heart; nobody had a word against him.
(That was MY handsome dork!)
The climactic set piece was underway.
This was the most rehearsed portion of the play on a technical level.
Alice and the lighting crew collaborated on the special effects to pull off the bombing of Conrad and his father's home.
Suspense built as Kelly accepted her fate and turned on the lamp of the upstairs bedroom. This would signal to the terrorists down at street level that the ambassador and his son were at home but she lured them away with a false telegram and she sent the servant girl on an errand. Nobody was in the house but her.
Then the time came for the explosion, which they brilliantly staged with color filters to make the arc lights look red like hellfire. Then foam pieces they spray-painted grey rained down form the rafters. Jenna sold the disorientation of the scene by acting like she couldn't maintain her balance. It was all working in congress beautifully and the whole front row practically stood up because the melee looked that distressing.
Then the scene went totally dark and you could hears gasps from the audience.
The curtain came down and then rose back up.
Now the debris were all swept into huge piles to indicate the rubble from the devastation. Conrad and his father return to see their building lay in ruins. They hear sounds in the rubble and rush over, thinking its the servant girl. Conrad is shocked when he sees it's Kelly but she didn't look good.
In the final scene, at the infirmary, Kelly regains consciousness in her hospital bed. Jenna was convincing that her character was in so much pain as well as delirious from the traumatic event.
Billy as Conrad entered.
"You're awake! Oh, thank goodness!"
He rushed over to Jenna's bedside.
"They said that you di-"
She grabbed his hand, her face showing it hurt to do so, but she didn't care.
"I'm sorry," Kelly said.
"What?" blurted out Conrad. "No, I'm the one who's sorry..."
As they worked on this scene in earlier rehearsals, Alice and the actors felt the emotional punch of the scene would be undermined with long-winded speeches. So, the fewer words the better.
"Come closer," breathed Kelly.
Conrad didn't hesitate; he leaned in and they both shared a sweet kiss.
The lights then dimmed, leaving a single spotlight on Kelly and Conrad. Soon that faded and faded before the whole stage was dark.
Curtain fall and that was the end.
Everyone exploded out of their seats, applauding.
The red curtain rose up, revealing the cast standing in line to receive their kudos for their performances. The crew joined in on the sides, with some kneeling in front and the taller ones in the back.
But somebody was missing.
On the edge of the stage, Alice was clapping for everyone. She couldn't have been more proud; it was all well-done.
Jenna looked over and noticed the girl hanging back. She tapped Billy to get his attention and the pair playfully dragged Alice to the forefront. Her eyes widened as the sound of thunderous cheering grew louder.
A boy ran up and gave each of the girls a single rose, the last one for Alice.
"Let's hear it for our director!" said Billy, clapping with vigor.
That only made the crowd more intense.
Alice turned as red as a beet, her smile wide but crooked.
"Is she alright?" Tori asked Jade.
"She'll be fine, but her feet are now stuck to the floor."
"Yep," Mia agreed.