Page 22 of A Game as Old as Time

Who is she?

The voice pulled him closer. The girl on stage was singing the audition song for the lead, but from what Gunner had heard earlier, she was much, much better than any of the others who had tried out.

This girl is amazing.

He ended up backstage before even realizing that he had moved. A peek around the large cotton curtain finally revealed who was performing to the empty seats.

Hailey!

He almost squealed as he caught a glimpse of her moving on stage. Thegirl who had blown off every advance he had tried so far was graceful, moving effortlessly in a floral print dress to the song playing over the speakers.

Beautiful.

He watched as she repeated the number, sounding even better this time and almost floating along the wood. He could not help but take another step closer, trying to hear what she was angrily mumbling to herself after yet another flawless performance.

“Shit!” he cursed as he slipped on the curtain.

Damnit!

The landing was hard, and the bright lights that spotlit him from above felt like just another taunt from the universe.

“Oh my god!” Hailey shouted. “Are you OK?”

Gunner jumped up, trying to play off the pain in his back.

“Fine! Just fine!”

Damn, that hurt.

His voice cracked with the lie.

“Gunner?” she squealed as he lifted himself onto the stage.

You’re an idiot.

A bruise was probably already forming near his shoulder blade, but his burning face was much more distracting.

“Hey!” His voice cracked again.

“What are you doing here?” She was the one who now looked embarrassed, rubbing her arm at the speed that her father normally shifted his visor.

“Well, you know…” He straightened out the curtain and coughed, trying to think of something to say. “I work for the stage crew, and well, and I was just trying to get everything cleaned up from tryouts.”

Stop lying!

She tilted her head as he played with the nylon string on his gym shorts.

“You work stage crew?” she asked skeptically.

“Yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders, a small wince playing across his face at the sudden jolt of pain. “Everyone has to do some type of club or after-school activity at South Mountain. My dad always wanted me to do stage crew for some reason.”

She stared at him for a few more seconds before quickly twirling around.

“Well, that’s great. I am sure they can use the help. I have to go, though. It’s getting late.”

She had recovered quickly, but Gunner was still stuck in place.

“I didn’t see you at tryouts today?” he finally managed.

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