Leo: Stage Fright Page 5

  "Hey, Lydia," Eric said with his charming smile, as if nothing was unusual. "We were just talking a little astrology."

  "Really?" Lydia said.

  "I was telling Eric that my horoscope told me I might make a new friend," Page said.

  A new friend? Like Eric? Lydia put aside her jealous thoughts. "That's funny," she said. "My horoscope said the same thing. Are you a Leo?"

  Page nodded. "Just like you! Isn't that great?"

  "How did you know I was a Leo?" Lydia asked, cocking her head.

  Page gestured casually to Eric. "He told me. What day were you born?"

  "August sixth."

  Page's eyes grew wide. "August sixth? That's my birthday, too!"

  "It's fate," Eric said, looking from one to the other.

  "Well, that certainly helps explain why I feel so comfortable around you," Page told Lydia, "even if you are a star."

  Lydia ignored the compliment and said, "I didn't know you were registered here."

  "Oh, I liked you and your friends so much, and you seemed so much nicer than the kids at Chisholm High, that I begged my parents to let me apply," Page explained. "My dad pulled a few strings and got the selection committee to let me audition yesterday – and guess what?"

  Lydia shrugged. The answer was obvious.

  "Last night they called to tell me I'd gotten in!" Page said, elated.

  Lydia was surprised. Page didn't strike her as the type to take the bull by the horns. And how did she ever find the courage to not only get up in front of a faculty selection committee, but also be good enough to get into this special school for the arts?

  As if to answer her question, Page said, "I think they let me in just because a few kids had moved away. I mean, no way I would have been considered if I'd applied when the two of you did."

  She's trying too hard to be liked, Lydia thought, but I guess that's to be expected when you're new. Maybe my horoscope was right. Maybe A. J. is out and Page is in. Presto! A new friend.

  Yet, for all her good feelings, something nagged at Lydia. Page and Eric had looked pretty cosy together. Would a mouse like Page dare to put the moves on him?

  "Robin!" Page looked beyond Lydia and waved. "Wait." She turned back to Lydia and Eric, saying, "I'll leave you two alone."

  That's a relief, Lydia thought as Page ran off to join Robin. Obviously, Page understood the situation.

  She turned to watch Robin mime being inside a box. When Page arrived, he insisted silently that she had to "knock" to come inside to talk to him. Page pretended to rap her knuckles on the invisible box. Robin opened an imaginary door and waved her inside, forcing her to stand very close to him.

  Better yet, she's definitely interested in Robin, not Eric.

  "Looks like those two are really hitting it off," Lydia said to Eric.

  He nodded. "It's nice that two of your best friends like each other."

  Lydia was perplexed. "Robin's certainly a dear friend. But Page? I hardly know her."

  "Really?" It was Eric's turn to be surprised.

  "From the way she talked, I thought you two had known each other for years."

  "Well, maybe it feels that way to her," Lydia replied. "But I only met her last weekend at the cast party."

  "You're kidding. She seemed to know so much about you." He shook his head and smiled. "Maybe you are spiritual twins."

  "It does seem incredible," Lydia agreed. "Not only are Page and I both Leos, we were born on the same day in the same year. We're exactly the same age. Though I understand that can make for a tricky friendship, especially when two Leos try to share the same spotlight."

  "Well, that won't happen with Page," Eric predicted. "She's crazy about you. But it's hard to believe she's a Leo. I mean, she's so...so mousy."

  "And I'm such a nasty lion, is that it?" Lydia said, feigning hurt.

  Before he could reply the first bell rang, ending the conversation.

  "Want to get together at lunch?" he asked, about to turn towards class.

  "Sure," she said with a flirtatious smile. "What's the cafeteria serving?"

  "Gazelle. Leos love it." Eric roared like a lion, much to Lydia's delight.

  The day passed quickly. The gossip between classes was about how Robin and "that new girl" were looking like an instant couple. Lydia was happy to throw in her opinion that he and Page were "absolutely made for each other" – especially as it helped steer any gossip away from Eric.

  As she arrived for her last class, advanced acting, she realized that the only sour note all day had been A.J., who seemed determined to maintain the chill in their relationship. A.J. had avoided her in art class where Lydia had hoped to clear the air, as her horoscope had suggested. Seeing each other in the hall between classes, A.J. had responded to Lydia's questions with the shortest possible answers.

  Lydia knew the source of the problem. She's jealous, plain and simple. But knowing the reason for her friend's anger and dealing with it were two different things. She hoped that time would sort it all out.

  Lydia took her seat and watched Page enter the class and take an empty seat at the back. She looked very nervous. This was understandable since the teacher, Zoe McGuire, had enjoyed a brief success on the New York stage and wouldn't tolerate "amateurs".

  "I see we have a new student," Ms McGuire said, studying a paper from the office. "Page Adams. Are you here, Miss Adams?"

  Page timidly raised her hand.

  "Welcome," Ms McGuire said, managing a thin smile. "Do you have something to share with us?"

  Page cocked her head. "Beg your pardon?"

  "A monologue," Ms McGuire said. "Everyone else had to present a monologue the first day of class. Since this is your first day, it's only appropriate that you do the same."

  "But I just got here," Page said, horrified. "I'm not ready."

  "You're not prepared. Is that what you're telling me?" Ms McGuire leaned forward, staring at poor Page.

  Nobody breathed. Page turned to Robin for help, but he lowered his eyes. Robin wasn't about to take on Ms McGuire.

  Maybe I should say something. Lydia was one of Ms McGuire's favourites. Perhaps a word on Page's behalf would help. Then again, maybe it was time for Page to test her wings.

  "This is advanced acting," Ms McGuire informed Page. "All students should have several monologues ready at all times. A Shakespearean piece. A modern, dramatic piece. And a contemporary comic piece. What if a powerful casting agent came to this school and expressed some interest in you? Being unprepared could cost you the opportunity of a lifetime."

  "Yes, ma'am," Page said stiffly.

  Ms McGuire was about to turn to other matters when Page raised her hand.

  "Yes?" Ms McGuire asked.

  "I have a monologue I could try," Page said, her voice betraying her lack of self-confidence.

  "And what is it?" Ms McGuire stared at her.

  "Something I did last year at my old school," Page said, standing up. "Emily's speech from the grave in Our Town by Thornton Wilder."

  "I know who wrote it," Ms McGuire said, not giving Page an inch. "Well, Miss Adams, we're waiting."

  As Page passed her, Lydia squeezed her hand for luck.

  As if Page wasn't already nervous, Ms McGuire took a seat in the very front row. Page faced the class, then took several deep breaths and closed her eyes, as if trying to remember a speech long forgotten.

  "We don't have all day," Ms McGuire said, tapping her fingers on the desk impatiently.

  "Emily, now dead, is in the graveyard," Page began, setting up the monologue. "And she's come back to say one final farewell to her home and family and all earthly things." She turned and focused on a spot at the back of the room. Her face transformed completely from a plain teenager to a beautiful young woman. She raised one delicate hand in farewell and began the speech.

  "Goodbye, world. Goodbye, Grovers Corners..."

  Her voice was clear and powerful. All
of the sorrow of Emily's short, tragic life filled the room.

  Page was mesmerizing. Her talent caught Lydia completely by surprise. She's good. Very good.

  "Oh, Earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you!"

  When Page was done, everyone sat in awed silence for a moment. Even Ms McGuire wiped a tear from her eye before she uttered, "Thank you, Page."

  Then the class burst into wild applause. Lydia leaped up and hugged her new friend. "That was amazing," she told Page. "Wow!"

  Lydia was sincerely happy for Page – until she heard what everyone else was saying.

  "I've never seen anything like that before," Robin gushed.

  "You have what is known as a natural talent," Ms McGuire said. "That is very rare."

  Lydia panicked. Her smile froze on her face. Could Page possibly usurp her spot as the school's, and the DYT's, leading lady?

  No. That was just beginner's luck.

  Lydia knew that being an actress took much more than doing one good speech in front of a Texas high school class. It meant going out night after night in front of a crowd of strangers, not just a circle of supportive fellow actors.

  Lydia's smile began to thaw. It was just a fluke.

  After class, Lydia led her classmates in complimenting Page. It was all very friendly – until Keenan appeared.

  "Feeling a little shaky up on that pedestal?" he whispered into her ear.

  "What does that mean?" Lydia flinched away from him.

  "Looks like you got more than a little competition," he said, obviously pleased with the development.

  Lydia was about to respond when Page stepped between them.

  "Excuse me, everyone," she said. "I have a confession to make."

  The room became silent.

  "Don't tell us you're wanted by the police?" Robin joked, hoping to ease the tension.

  "Not exactly." Page smiled, appreciating his effort. "I want everyone to know that what you just witnessed was a pure imitation of Lydia."

  All eyes turned to Lydia, as if somehow she was responsible.

  "She's the great talent," Page went on. "In my mind, I was imagining how she would do Emily's speech."

  The look of total admiration in Page's eyes was impossible to deny, and Lydia relaxed for a moment.

  Not able to resist getting a dig in, Lydia motioned Keenan back, then whispered in his ear, "You're just worried for your girlfriend Jill. Because now there's another blonde on the scene, and my bet is that Page will give your girl a run for her money."

  Leaving Keenan speechless, Lydia joined Robin and Page and the threesome left the room.

  "Boy, some debut," Robin said, as he, Page and Lydia left the room. "The perfect warm-up to Saturday afternoon's auditions."

  "Auditions?" Page asked, completely mystified. "I totally forgot about them."

  "You should call ahead and reserve a slot," Robin went on.

  "Oh, I couldn't," Page looked to Lydia for support. "I'm not ready. I think I'll wait till another time."

  That's fine with me. After her beautiful performance, Lydia wasn't about to encourage Page to audition.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Red alert, red alert: Mars in retrograde has come back to devil you a bit. Remember, it isn't only knives that cut. Sometimes it's tongues. Be on your guard!

  Lydia – have to work late. Microwave something from freezer for you and Jake. Love, Mom.

  Lydia studied the note left on the kitchen counter. What's happened to our family? No one is ever home. We communicate by notes. And eat frozen food. Yum.

  Grabbing an apple and a glass of iced tea from the fridge, Lydia moved to the phone to check the answering machine. From the flashing red light she could tell that there were two messages.

  She pushed the button to listen to the first message, and immediately recognized A.J.'s voice. "Lydia, this is Anna Jo Gender. I'm just leaving DYT. They've posted the Evita audition sheets. I signed you up for next Saturday morning at 10.30 – your usual lucky time. Please call the theatre if there's a conflict."

  Boy, A.J. sounds awfully formal. Hoping to find some friendliness in the very business-like message, Lydia replayed it. Nope. She's still mad.

  "Fine. Be that way," Lydia muttered, erasing the message and getting ready to listen to the second and last one.

  For a moment she didn't recognize the male voice which said, "I hope I got the right number. Lydia, I, uh, was hoping... Oh, it's Eric." That was all.

  Eric! Lydia was thrilled – and anxious, given that he had never called her house before. And his message. What was that about?

  She punched the button to replay the message, which she did four times, if only for the pleasure of hearing him say her name. But even after repeated playings, she had no clue what he had stopped himself from saying. Was he calling to ask her out? And did he get nervous when she didn't answer? Or was he calling with bad news? Like he was interested in Page, after all.

  The suspense was killing her. But would it be too forward to call him back?

  Come on, you're a Leo. Where's your courage? You know you won't be happy without Eric in your life!

  Before she could pick up the phone book to find his number the front door banged open and a voice called, "Mom?"

  "She's staying late at work," Lydia called back. "As usual. I'm in the kitchen, Jake."

  Her twelve-year-old brother shuffled into the kitchen. He was in his standard uniform: extremely baggy shorts, oversize black football jersey, and a faded Rangers baseball cap. He clutched a skateboard in one hand and the mail in the other.

  "Anything interesting?" Lydia cocked her head, trying to read the writing on the envelopes.

  "Just bills. And more bills." Jake tossed the telltale white envelopes on the table. "Oh, and something for you." He handed her a large Manila envelope, on which her name and address had been typed. There was no return address, so from the outside there was no way to know who the sender was.

  Jake grabbed a handful of tortilla chips from a half-empty bag sitting on the counter, and waited for her to open the envelope.

  "Do you mind?" Lydia turned her back. He was such a snoop!

  "Must be your Tony Award," he sneered. "Or your contract from Stephen Spielberg to co-star in the next Tom Cruise blockbuster."

  Lydia tore open the envelope and studied the single page inside.

  MEET ME BY THE FOOTBRIDGE IN THE PARK AT DUSK.

  The message was clear, but unsigned.

  Very strange.

  Stranger still was how the message looked. It was a collage of letters pasted together. And it appeared the letters had been clipped from the DYT program for My One and Only. But it wasn't crude. No, it was definitely made by someone with an artistic eye. Someone who appreciated how letters looked and the words they made.

  Eric! It has to be Eric!

  As if she needed further proof, the site for the rendezvous – by the footbridge in the park was notorious as a place for couples to meet. This had to be an invitation for a romantic evening. And how wonderfully mysterious Eric was being with this "secret admirer" approach.

  Jake, who had polished off the tortilla chips and was working his way through a bowl of stale popcorn, mumbled, "So who's it from?"

  Lydia pressed the letter to her chest. "That's for me to know and you to find out." She checked her watch. There was just enough time to microwave a frozen dinner for Jake, then hurry to redo her make-up, pick an outfit – something not too flashy, she was learning what Eric liked – and then run. No time for homework, which she knew she desperately needed to do. No time for more than a quick note to her mother:

  Mom— meeting friends to rehearse. Will do homework later. Won't be too late. Love you! L.

  "Look, Jake," she said, as she scribbled the note, "I need to go out and meet a friend. I just remembered we're supposed to rehearse tonight."

  Jake stopped chewing. "You're leaving me alone. Again?"

&nbs
p; Lydia grabbed an individual serving of lasagne in the freezer and popped it in the microwave oven. "I'll make you some lasagne – and I promise we'll spend time together tomorrow."

  Jake's face registered his disappointment. "Why aren't you eating?"

  "I've got to go." Lydia looked out the window. The sun was definitely setting. "And I'm not hungry."

  The microwave beeped, and she brought over his dinner.

  Jake poked at the lasagne. "I can see why you lost your appetite."

  "I left Mom a note," she said, grabbing a brush from her purse and pulling it through her hair. "She'll be home in a few hours."

  "Hey, don't worry about me," he said sarcastically. "I just love being by myself."

  "I'm sorry, Jake, but I really have to go!" Lydia raced for her room and starting pulling off her clothes. She slipped on a long-sleeved T-shirt with little pearl buttons down the front, and grabbed her pin-striped waistcoat off a hanger in the wardrobe.

  Brrringl

  "I'm sure that's for me!" Lydia charged into her mother's room, dived across the bed, and grabbed the portable phone. "Hello," she said, hoping it was Eric.

  "Lydia? Are you OK?"

  She recognized Page's soft voice. "I'm fine." Lydia glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. She had hoped to be on her way by now. "What's up?"

  "Oh, I just wanted to thank you for taking me under your wing," Page said. "You've been so nice, introducing me to your friends, making me feel welcome at school — everything."

  "Look, you gave a terrific performance in Ms McGuire's class," Lydia said quickly. "That'll take you further than anything I might do."