I lean forward, my hand meets his, and I squeeze. “And that’s what you’re doing, Jacob. You being here, helping these kids, giving them a play from an actor they adore . . . you’re making a difference. You’ve already done it for Sebastian.”
His thumb glides against the back of my hand, and everything around us seems to disappear. Jacob and I are sitting here, holding hands as though it were the most natural thing in the world. The beating of my heart is so loud that I can barely hear Magnolia approach with our lunch. Quickly, I pull my hand back, placing them both in my lap, and work to get my heart rate under control.
“Thank you for that, Brenna,” Jacob says after Magnolia takes her leave.
A few breaths pass, and I plaster on a fake smile as though something crazy didn’t just happen between us. “Of course.”
And then I force myself to eat and pretend everything is fine.
Chapter Eleven
Jacob
Mrs. Finnegan is everything I remember and more—a maniac. That’s the only word I can manage to come up with. She’s fucking nuts.
Anyone who agrees to work with these kids has to be certifiable.
Which is now what I am.
“Okay, everyone, listen, I will not be signing any autographs, taking photos, or doing anything along those lines until after the play is done.” I see the one kid with his phone up and point to him. “Stop posting on your Snapchat and all that. If it gets out that I’m in this town, I’ll go to ground, which means no play.” I go back to looking at students who are here for the auditions, most of whom probably aren’t the least bit interested in the school play. “I am here as a teacher and to make sure the school play happens. If you’re not here to audition, then please leave, but be sure to buy your tickets to the play, which I will happily sign as a souvenir as well as do an after party where we can do photos.”
I watch as at least half the students get up and head out the auditorium doors.
My eyes find Brenna’s, which are dancing with laughter before she goes back to looking at the papers on her lap. At least she’s enjoying my discomfort.
“All right, now that we’ve got that out of the way. I’m Jacob Arrowood, and I’m going to be the director of Grease this year. Mrs. Finnegan has given me about six years’ worth of papers to read on each of you, and we don’t have that time. So, this is going to happen pretty fast because the play is in three months, which . . . you know, is insane, but it’s what we got. Auditions will be in a week. Any questions?”
Hands go up within a half a second. “I do, I do!”
“Yes, person with the blue shirt.”
She stands. “Is it true that you got fired from Navigator?”
My head jerks back a little. “What?”
“My mom said that you probably got in trouble doing drugs or whatever and this is your community service.”
The bratty kid sits, and I want to say that her mom probably hasn’t had sex in the last decade and that’s why she is pissy. That would probably make Mrs. Symonds fly off the handle and get me in trouble. Not to mention, I know someone is recording this crap.
Brenna stands. “Clarissa, we all know that’s not true, and it’s not polite to relay gossip. Mr. Arrowood is a famous actor who has volunteered his time to help us not miss out on our yearly play. We need to be kind.” She sits back down as if she didn’t just verbally spank the kid.
I make a mental note that, no matter what the hell this girl’s talent is, she’s in the chorus or an understudy.
Another hand goes up. “Yes.”
“Mr. Arrowood, I heard that you were really bad in the play you did and not really a good actor, do you even know how to be a director?”
I swear, I’m going to kill someone. I go to speak but again, Brenna is on her feet before I can open my mouth.
“Mr. Yates, I know that you weren’t just insulting the director, correct?”
He shakes his head. “No, Mrs. Allen. I was just asking a question.”
She sighs. “Let me be clear, I will not tolerate any disrespect. Anyone who forgets that will face the consequences of Saturday detention or worse. Now, if anyone has questions pertaining to the play, you’re welcome to ask, otherwise, we will not be rude or anything less than grateful, understood?”
I fight back the smirk that I want to give the little girl and the other kid. I know I’m not mature, and I don’t feel bad about that. They just got verbally whacked by Brenna, and I feel victorious.
However, I’m not fifteen, and I channel my inner Noah Frazier. He would never let this shit fly and neither will I.
“I can handle this.” I wink and then turn back to the kids. “Unless any of you are more knowledgeable on set design, costumes, casting, tone, musicality, or putting a scene together, I suggest you not question me. I’ve worked on numerous types of movies and plays. It shouldn’t be you questioning my ability, it’s me evaluating yours. Worry about yourselves, your roles, and impressing me before asking anything else. To be clear, I’m not here for any other reason than because I want to do something to help the community who made me who I am. I will push you hard to be better actors and actresses. I want this to be the best play this town has ever seen. If you’re not up for it, don’t try out. I will cast you for the roles that fit best, even if it’s not the one you signed up to audition for. You have four days to study the lines from the section based on who you’re trying to be casted as. I suggest you take that time and work hard. I’ll see you at four o’clock.”
I grab my packet and head out of the room. There’s nothing like a dramatic exit in show business.
The only issue is, I have no fucking clue where I am. Since I went to school here, they’ve combined the middle school and the high school into one building and built a huge wing. I’m lost, and I would be wasting the dramatic flair I was going for if I have to pass the kids again.
So, I slip into an office on the right and hope to God it’s not some restricted area or a student lounge. Not that we had anything like that when I was a kid, but it seems this generation gets all kinds of crap.
After a few minutes, I figure the coast should be clear and reach for the doorknob, only to freeze when someone on the other side turns it.
Shit.
I step back, and Brenna enters. Her breath hitches as she sees me there. “Jacob.” Her hand flies to her chest. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I’m sorry. I ducked in here to . . .” Saying that I came here to hide makes me sound like a pussy, so I am not admitting that.
“I understand. I was irate on your behalf. I don’t know what is wrong with some of these kids lately. I think they just want to look cool.”
Good, she thinks I was mad. I should’ve gone with that. “It’s fine. I would’ve done the same shit at their age.”
She tucks her hair behind her ear. “I would’ve been hiding under the seat.”
“Because?”
“I would’ve been far too embarrassed. Well, I probably wouldn’t have been in the auditorium in the first place.”
I try to imagine what group she would’ve been with then. If she doesn’t like attention, it wasn’t sports or drama. I wonder if she was a loner or more like Devney, who was pretty but not exactly popular. She much preferred to sit and watch Sean than try to fit in with any group.