Starlet

18. You Are Done

The next Friday, I am jumping up and down. I dress up extra. I bought a black dress with a princess cut top. The bottom flows and goes to my knees. It's a little fancier than what I'm used to. It cost me 75g. It's pretty. I think he'll like it.

Silvia does my makeup and has to tell me to hold still about 84 times. We get everything done right on time.

I hope I get some snuggles.

Then Frank doesn't show up. I sit in the chair and try not to cry. I was so excited. I wish I knew what I did.

"I'm going to go take this off and take a bath."

"I'll try to figure out what happened. Maybe he's dead. That would be a good reason not to be here."

"He doesn't want to be here. That's why he's not here. Let it go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a good night."

I soak in the bath for a long time. I put some bubbles in it. It smells good and it's relaxing.

Then I sleep. I wake up thinking the scars have come back. I was covered in scars in my dream. It's not a new dream, but I hate waking up like that. It's better than my dreams about Jareth though.

I spend the morning fishing. Enjoying the water and sun. I make 720g. I think that's good. I get cleaned up and eat a late lunch, then sit on the porch.

Owen comes up and sits beside me. "You want to go to the theater tonight?"

"Yea. I'd like that. I got a new dress. It's black. It's fancier than my other dresses."

He smiles and stands up. Then he kisses my head. "I'm sure it's beautiful. I will be back in 2 hours. We can eat dinner afterward."

"I'll be ready. Thank you."

I spend 2 hours making myself pretty. He shows up a few minutes early. I run out on the porch smiling.

He gives me a kiss. "Well, that's a little too fancy for an afternoon show."

"I'm sorry. Did you want me to change?"

"No. I don't want to be late. Let's go. You'll be fine."

I don't think I like this guy. Nothing I do is right. We sit with his friends in the restaurant again. I feel stupid about the dress and shoes.

He leans into me, "Will you at least pretend to be having fun?"

"Of course." I wish I was having fun.

We get to the theater and I sit beside him. He still won't put his arm around me. Then his friends start laughing. I laugh too. I have no idea what they're laughing at. I'm pretending to be having fun. That pisses Owen off. He pulls me up and outside.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad."

He hits me across my face. "Do not laugh at me."

"I'm sorry."

"Wipe your lip off and get back up there."

"Ok."

He goes in and I run for it. I run home. I'm sobbing by the time I get there. I run by Jack, Lindsay, and Marcus. I don't care. I run in and slam the bathroom door.

Lindsay comes right in any way. "What happened?"

I shake my head and wash my make-up off.

I get the blood off and she hugs me. "What happened, Star?"

"He hit me. He said I was laughing at him."

"Were you?"

"No."

"It wouldn't have mattered if you were. That was no reason to hit someone anyway. Get cleaned up. Where is he?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to date him anymore."

"That's a good idea. What were you doing?"

"We were at the theater. Getting ready to watch the show."

"You clean up and relax. I'll go tell them you're alright."

"Ok."

By the time I leave the bathroom, I hear people yelling on the porch. I peek out the window. Jack punches Owen in the face. He falls backwards down the steps and runs off.

"Problem solved." Jack sits down and picks up the paper. "f*****g asshole."

Lindsay nods. "Yea, he's not coming back."

"Can I talk to her?" I peek the other way and Frank is coming up the path.

"NO. YOU ARE A f*****g ASSHOLE." Silvia jumps off the porch and hangs on him, pulling his hair.

Lindsay pulls her off. "What did he do?"

Silvia punches him in the nose. "YOU WERE HER FIRST KISS, YOU ASSHOLE. INSTEAD OF TALKING TO HER, YOU BELIEVED SOME STUPID RUMOR. SHE WAS SO EXCITED TO GO OUT WITH YOU. YOU ARE DONE." She tries to jump on him again.

He jumps out of the way. "I just want to explain to her."

"MEET HER BROTHER, ASSHOLE." Silvia whips around. "JACK, GET RID OF HIM."

Jack stands up and Frank steps back. "I'll leave her alone."

I go to bed. Maybe I need a nap. Today is horrible.

I dream about being in the dungeon. Cold. Dark. Never really dry because of the water they throw on me. The door opens and Jareth steps in. "Miss me, my little mate?" He flips a knife in his hand.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" I scream so loudly I wake myself up. I am covered in sweat. I guess that's why I was wet in the dream.

I take a bath and change the sheets, then I lay back down. It's pitch black outside. I am so tired.

For the next month, I concentrate on my schedule. No more dating. No more boys. I don't want to be alone forever, but I can't deal with them.

Bayden goes crazy for the show. He has us rehearsing for 3 hours a day the week before. The day before opening night, we have a 6-hour dress rehearsal. I don't understand how it's 6 hours. The show is only 3.

Thora is stuck there for most of it too, but she does amazing with the hair.

The weekend comes to perform, and we do 9 shows total. 2 of them sell out but all the others get pretty full.

I love being on stage and being someone else. I love seeing everyone clapping and cheering. I feel famous.

The final meeting for the play is on a Thursday. We meet at the restaurant by my house. So, that's convenient. Thora comes as Lindsay and even Tye comes.

After we eat, Bayden stands up. "Thank you all for an amazing performance. It went beautifully." Everyone claps. "Now I know you want your money." We start laughing. I honestly forgot I got paid for that. "I'll explain it first. For practices, everyone gets paid 50g for each practice. This counts for practices and rehearsals. There were roughly 60 in total, so if you went to all of them. That would be 3k. And that is for all jobs and positions. Stage, props, lighting, hair, actor, it doesn't matter, 50g a practice. Now for the shows. Cleaning crew, concessions, tickets, ushers, you get 50g a show. So, 9 shows, 450g for the weekend. Stage crew, sound, hair, makeup, props, lighting, costumes. You get 100g a show. So 900g for the shows, plus any practices and rehearsals you went to."

Someone hands Thora an envelope. She whispers, "1.6k not bad." That is good, actually.

"Now for the rest of you. You are divided into 2 groups. Main characters and minor characters. All understudies are paid for the role they understudied. Main characters and their understudies. This is 6 people. You are paid 3k per show as well as 50g per practice." I about fall off my chair and Thora stabilizes me. "Minor characters. You are paid 1.5k per show and 50g per practice."

Someone hands me an envelope and I tear it open. It's 16,050. I about fall over. I show it to her and her eyebrows shoot up.

"Did everyone get their check?" I nod. "Good. If anyone has an issue, see me after dinner. For right now, I want to talk to you about the next play. Auditions won't be for 2 weeks. But I can't wait to tell someone." We start laughing. "It's about a group of 8 people who get stranded on an island. All sorts of funny stuff happen to them while they learn to survive alone. There is love and comedy. Trials and tribulations. It will be amazing. But now these 8 people. 4 male and 4 female will all be the main actors. There will be very limited minor rolls. I think there are 4 or 6 minor rolls. They will be more at the end when the 8 are rescued. However, all 8 main characters will also need understudies. So that is something to think about if you've never had a main roll. Now I just happen to have the audition lines here if anyone wants to get a head start."

My hand shoots up so fast and Thora cracks up laughing. I don't care. Give me the paper.

I get the line sheet but so do a lot of other people. It's ok though. I have to try. I love this. Understudy for a main part would be amazing. Or even another minor part. I could do a few lines at the end.

"Now auditions will start, not this coming Tuesday but the next 1. We will be handing out the audition lines starting this coming Tuesday. If anyone is available to help with that, until the auditions we will be outside the theater and in the concessions area."

"Can you get me another 1 of these next week in case something happens to this 1?"

"Yea, I can run over and get a couple." Lindsay puts her hand up and gets the papers. "You have 2 already. I'll get at least another 1."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

"Thank you all for the wonderful show. You did amazingly. There is a lot of talent in this room and I hope to see you all again soon."

I take my check to my apartment in the castle. I'm not sure what to do with it.