Page 58 of A Game as Old as Time

“Andy.” Hailey was intrigued by the young man’s performance. “You were fantastic. Where did you learn how to sing like that?”

He flashed an embarrassed grin.

“Coach W. had me stick out the chorus for a while, and Ms. Summers coached me through the number last week.”

Such a sweet guy.

“Well, I think you’re perfect for this. You are just so---”

“Charismatic and charming!” Juliana jumped in, grabbing his hand.

“Yes!” Hailey laughed as Andy’s face became red. His eyes instantly darted to Emilio, who was now turned away with Bridgette.

Oh boy.

“If you don’t mind, Hailey, I would like to borrow my candlestick so we can practice our dance routine.” Juliana was moving closer to Andy, but his stare remained on her brother.

Watch it, Juliana.

“Don’t you think you have worked on that enough?” Her best friend shot a playful glare her way.

“You can never be too careful with things like this.” She winked and pulled Andy to the corner of the stage, which just so happened to be out of her brother’s line of sight.

Those two.

They had spent hours working on the very short number they had together, but from what Juliana had told Hailey in private, it was not spent dancing or singing.

“Is something going on between my feather duster and candlestick?” Ms. Summers stepped across the stage and put her hand on Hailey’s shoulders.

“No idea,” Hailey teasingly lied. The auditorium was filled with thevibrant sounds of dancing, singing, and laughter.

Unbelievable.

She shook her head at the image. Football players were conversing with Theatre Club students and cheerleaders all over the stage. Each part of the cast seemed to seamlessly fit, and she could not help but exhale a sigh of relief.

“Well, it is slowly coming together, Hailey,” Ms. Summers said, beaming over to her. “It might not be perfect, but it will have character, that’s for sure.”

Absolutely.

“I love what they are doing with their characters. It makes it…special.”

“Very true, Hailey.” Her teacher’s words became secondary when Hailey’s eyes fell on Gunner, who was practicing one of his more difficult numbers. “I think it will have that special feel I was hoping for.”

Hailey only nodded. While she would have loved to continue the conversation with her teacher about the play, seeing Gunner in his cut-off football shirt, muscles tensing with every move, stole her attention.

Wow, he looks---

“Hailey!” A girl’s voice stopped her before she could make it over to him.

Peyton Weston.

The young cheerleader’s eyes were wide.

“Do you mind if the girls and I put a few new steps in the final number of that song? I know we are just the feather dusters, but, I don’t know, I think it would be fun!”

“I actually think it would be perfect if you put your own spin on it,”Hailey agreed. “I would talk to Ms. Summers about your ideas, and I am sure she could incorporate them.”

Peyton pranced away, giving a thumbs-up to her friends.

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