Page 15 of A Game as Old as Time

“Ms. Bianchi!” The voice of the other customer shook her from her thoughts.

Crap.

“Ms. Summers!” Hailey smiled, trying to seem happy to see her.

“I am so glad I ran into you.” Her teacher waved off the man behind the counter, who seemed upset by something she had said to him. “I wanted to speak with you, but I know how crazy the first week of school can be.”

You have no idea.

Hailey reluctantly kept the smile plastered on her face, but her gaze fell to the ground.

“How are you doing? I can only imagine how different this is for you.”

Very different.

Her teacher’s gaze was welcoming enough to allow Hailey to relax a bit. The craziness and noise of the pizza parlor did not appear to overwhelm this woman at all.

“It’s OK. Different, but everyone has been nice.”

Well, almost everyone.

She had felt the tension with Juliana’s friend, Bridgette, the minute they’d met. It did not help that Juliana had told the entire group that she had come from a performing arts school in California. She could tell instantly that they were intimidated by her, and she could feel the uneasiness every time she entered the room.

Why do I have to be so different?

“I know it can be intimidating, transferring to a new school, but the kids here really are nice.”

Right.

Ms. Summers paused. The awkwardness grew as Hailey tried to figure out something else to say.

“Thanks,” she said finally.

“Well, I spoke with Juelz, and she told me that she introduced you to some of the other students in my Theatre Club.”

Here we go.

Hailey’s smile wavered as Ms. Summers continued.

“I really hope you can join us in the musical this year. You have such a great background in performing arts, and I won’t lie to you: I need as many people as I can get.”

I’m sure you do.

Hailey yanked at her tee shirt as she desperately glanced toward the pick-up counter, hoping with all her might that her name would be called.

“I am definitely thinking about it,” she lied, trying to move a bit closer to the cash register.

“Good!” Ms. Summers’ voice had excitement in it that Hailey was not able to match. “I actually handpicked the musical for this year.” Abruptly, her teacher’s ecstatic grin faltered.

“I heard,” Hailey said softly as she watched Ms. Summers regain her composure. “Juliana could not stop talking about it the other night.”

All night.

Ms. Summers cleared her throat and lowered her voice to a more serious tone.

“I know most of the students think the story is just some girl falling in love with a beast while talking to a bunch of household objects, but,” she looked toward the door, “I think it means so much more. If we do it right, it will be magical.”

Magical?

---