In real life.
And in fake.
Dammit! Keep walking, Logan!
Don’t stand offstage and watch them from the sidelines. You’re not on again until after intermission.
Go to your room.
Don’t torture yourself.
I’m not that strong.
Because look at how her brown eyes are clear, frightened, but filled with hope. It’s as if she didn’t mean to come this way, had tried to deny she wanted him, but now here she is with no control over what happens next.
Donavan doesn’t see her approach. She leaps in the air at the sight of him. This brings him to life. I didn’t witness them rehearsing last night after dress rehearsal crumbled. We were sent home so they could work. It never occurred to me that it meant they’d be alone.
It’s devastating how perfectly they dance together. They float on the song of angels standing in the background. Samantha is breathtaking as she gives herself to his lead, the years of our training granting her feet not just grace but wings. She was made for this role. One night and she has surpassed weeks of Marion’s forced charisma.
I am shattered, yet can’t stop watching. One second I’m seeing her as eleven-years-old performing a jazz routine in an orange costume with tassels, her hair in blonde braids. The next I’m hypnotized by the talent she’s become.
He does something new with Sam, unrehearsed with Marion. As he brings her close, he lightly brushes her lips with his. She closes her eyes, keeps them closed when he leaves her there, alone.
The audience sighs as Sam’s arms float out. She bends as if giving in to whatever will come of her. The lights go dark, and I bow my head.
Chapter Eleven
SAMANTHA
I ’ve never felt so high in my entire life.
The applause.
It’s intoxicating.
Alliance is sold-out, its entirety on their feet for an ovation I’ve never experienced.
I cannot stop grinning.
For once I’m not in the back making room for the stars. No wonder people chase a dream as hard as they chase this one, appreciation of this magnitude on the other side. I could get addicted to such a feeling.
Our star takes his solo bow, and I eagerly clap right along with the audience even though perhaps I’m not supposed to. I completely forget myself. Look at how he shines in the lights. So beautiful. Back poised, muscles in his legs flexed as he takes two steps back to be at my side. Asher truly is a star, dignified, even regal! But he has experience standing upfront like this, basking in the smiles of strangers who are grateful to have seen his talent tonight.
I glance to Logan, but find him staring expressionless.
He must be in shock.
We’ve always danced background. That he had a speaking role in this beautiful musical that brought tears to people’s eyes — they’re wiping them now! — is as uncommon an experience for him as for me.
Our choreographer steps forward to take her bow. Many in the audience know exactly who she is. Tonights crowd contains many of the theaters sponsors and benefactors. Besides them, Atlanta isn’t a huge city. It’s the biggest we have in Georgia, and we have much pride in our arts here. Galloway’s face and reputation are well known.
Her applause is stronger than ours. And just like Asher, she shines. With perfect timing, her fingers float to the orchestra and we all point as well, indicating that it’s time for the audience to send a little love.
I clap very hard, beaming at Jacob Fiorentino, our composer. He will forever be burned into my memory as the one who guided my first lead-role dance. I’m acting like a complete dork right now, but so what? I’m beyond grateful.
Dad whistles from fourth row, center. Mom is grinning next to him. With them are Lexi, Hunter, Max and Natalie, all so proud. I wish Caden were here!
I wave and bend as the curtain closes.
But the applause does not stop.
Ms. Galloway directs us to remain where we are as it escalates. Music resumes. The curtains glide back open.
It was all worth it.
The bruises.
The tears.
Being yelled at by her genius.
Standing onstage, faces spotlit, every single one of us would do it all again.
My mind flashes to Marion, smile flickering. What a tragedy my ticket cost her so much.
Asher takes my hand and my focus, lifting both into the lights. This is very generous of him to showcase me. I don’t have a huge role. Logan’s part is much bigger than mine. I never even speak.
But the love story is what propels the story, so I guess I never needed to.
As I watched Marion rehearse every day and night, I always thought it powerful that Izzy never uttered a word as drama unraveled around her.
That’s how I knew the steps. I’d learned the main dance in the audition, the rest memorized from how many hours I spent watching her perfecting them. I could’ve scrolled through random stuff on my phone in some corner like most everyone else during our breaks, as the main act solidified. Instead I studied to become a better dancer.
There’s Zoe with her brothers, Nathan and Wyatt. Musicals aren’t their thing, but they showed! I want to kiss them, I’m so glad to see their faces. Nicholas and Maddie, I can’t see. I guess they couldn’t make it.
Oh, Hannah and Tobias! She blows me a kiss, and I laugh and throw one back. They must have gotten a sitter for Clara.
Where is Emma? They’re best friends, and this would have been exactly their jam.
Grandma Nance and Grandpa Michael are in the second row, so close I didn’t see them at first! And they’re with Ethan and Charlie.
“Grams!” I call out as I spot her on the other side of Grandpa, her ex-congressman son who
