Page 25 of Bring me Back

She shrugged. “At least you didn’t say something about my generation…”

I feigned injury, my hand to my heart. “Jesus, Hals, don’t make a man feel that old.”

And she giggled. Fuck, she giggled and like a fool, I opened a smile the size of a continent. “Tell me what you do if you’re not on social media.”

She rolled her eyes at my request but didn’t seem put out by it. Coming closer, she took her phone from her back pocket. “I make vision boards.” She clicked in one on the front page. “This one is for the play, you see?”

I scrolled down. “I don’t see the drawings you made.”

She shook her head. “No, that’s the inspiration before I get to work.”

One picture grabbed my attention. She probably saved it because of Oberon’s costume, but my eyes went behind the actor, to the forest set. “I can do something like that.”

“Can you?” she asked with doubt.

I scowled, making her laugh. “Not because I doubt your abilities. But money is short…”

“Now that we entered the competition, I just have to reason with Sharon.” Hallie snorted, I chuckled too. “Don’t be so skeptical.”

“I’m sure you can charm her…” she said, and I was good at hiding my wince. I definitely had no plans for charming Sharon Campbell. “You’re putting a lot into this.”

Hallie threw it out there, her voice soft as usual, but I could feel the question wasn’t that casual. She was right. I was trying more than I’d ever tried. It was embarrassing to think it tookA Midsummer Night’s Dreamfor me to wake up and take the reins of my life. I couldn’t tell Hallie it was the first time in the last three years that I woke up with a purpose. I couldn’t tell her my ex-wife’s last words to me still rang above my head, making me feel like the shittiest partner and the personification of apathy.

“I thought you wanted fabric?” I shrugged.

Hallie flashed me a look so intense, for a second I was sure I fucked it up. But then her expression softened, her lips parted, and she nodded.

“So, I’m getting you fabric, Cricket.”

The days went by in a blur. The kids who didn’t care that much about theater suddenly were the first arriving at rehearsal. Everyone knew their lines. I would’ve said it was a miracle if I didn’t know about the Spring’s Harbor treat dangling in front of their eyes.

Cricket remained quietly working in the seats. She didn’t dare to come over backstage now that the rehearsals were so chaotic and people were coming and going like it was their grandmother’s backyard. Which meant I had to watch her from afar, her small smiles when someone messed up their lines, her tongue peaking out when she was concentrating too hard.

She was fascinating. Guarded and timid at first, but alive and full of passion, too. I couldn’t help myself from wanting to discover more and more about her.

After a full week away from backstage, I was surprised to see her there. She sent me a small smile when I arrived, and we got into our backstage game of silence. I was happy to watch her work, barely concentrating on my own tasks until Delilah Campbell came in to take her measurements.

She arrived with her nose upright. She was the kind of student I hated. Kids who thought they knew better than everyone, who treated teachers and staff like we worked for them. Bluehaven High was filled with those. It was a rich town with kids who were born into practical royalty and royalty was never afraid.

“Don’t suck your stomach in, please.” Cricket asked.

“I’m not,” Delilah replied aggressively.

Silence.

“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m going to lose a ton of weight before the play,” Delilah announced. “So it’s better if you make it a little tighter.”

“I will make a corset,” Cricket sighed. “It’s better for everyone.”

“So you can tie it real good? When I lose all the weight?”

Silence again.

“I asked you a question.” Delilah practically stumped her feet.

A beat.

“I’m making the dresses with a corset because they can fit a larger range of sizes once this play is finished. It’s better for the school.” Hallie sighed. “You don’t need to lose weight, you know?”

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