Page 91 of You Float My Boat

Violet:

Tell me about it. I have rehearsals all morning, lectures all afternoon. And we’re in the theatre today, which adds another twenty minutes to my journey time.

I checked the clock.

My first class didn’t start until after lunch, but I had to return a couple of books and I’d promised Gordon I’d meet him before our Friday physics tutorial. If I really hurried I could swing by the theatre and see how all Violet’s hard work was paying off.

It was on my way.

At least, it was on my way if I took a huge detour across the city.

I eased open the doors of the theatre as carefully as I could, hoping to catch a glimpse of Violet in her natural habitat because as she was perpetually late, it wasn’t often I got to see her without her noticing me.

‘Bollocks,’ I hissed to myself as the hinge stuck and shoved me forward with a clattered close. So much for being careful.

Thankfully no one on stage seemed to notice, so I slipped in undetected and sank into one of the plush velvet seats on the back row. I’d even managed to remove my very wet coat, and put down my umbrella without causing too much of a commotion. Or any commotion.

The commotion seemed to be happening on stage.

‘No. No. No. It’s stage left. StageLEFT,Matthew. It says right here in the script, supporting cast come in stage LEFT,’ bellowed a voice from the front.

Clearly size didn’t equal volume because right then a very small red-headed girl stormed up the steps in front of the stage brandishing what looked like a script, still bellowing. I was amazed her voice hadn’t given way as she strode across the stage, short legs powering her towards a group of people, one of which I assumed was the errant Matthew. It was hard to believe she was capable of producing such a loud volume, and where in fact she had room for the vocal chords needed to produce it. If she ever gave up studying whatever it was she was studying, she could apply to be a foghorn in the navy.

One thing for sure, based on half the people who shrank back and the others who half rolled their eyes and turned away, this girl was in charge. Either way, I did not want to be on the receiving end of her wrath and had a feeling she wouldn’t be quite so happy with a stranger being present, so I sank further down in my seat, praying I wouldn’t get caught.

Even if I was here to see one of the stars.

‘Ah … Cecily,’ crowed a voice, equally as booming but much deeper, ‘that’s my fault. I told them to come on from stage right. From an audience perspective, it’s much more helpful for the scene I have with Stella, and really brings her to the forefront for Olivia’s entrance.’

I watched as a guy, dressed head to toe in what looked like dark-green velvet, sidled up next to the redhead and put his arm around her. Points for bravery, I’d give him that. Not sure I’d be getting so close seeing as she looked capable of breathing fire and reducing him to a pile of ashes.

‘You see?’ he said, turning them around so their backs were to the audience. ‘Stella, come out. Show Cecily.’

I had to hold back the laugh rumbling fast up my throat at the sight of Stella shuffling onto the stage looking like she’d rather be anywhere else. Her jaw was clenched so tight I could see it popping from here, along with her arms crossed tight over her chest. It should have been a warning to this guy, but he didn’t seem to have noticed.

Plus, you know, he was brave.

‘Come on, Stella, come here.’ He gestured her over, ignoring the impatient look she shot at him.

Stella took a deep breath, glaring to her left, before looking back to Cecily. ‘Leo’s correct. It’s better,’ she said through gritted teeth.

Ohhh. So this was the famous Leo Tavener. Maybe if I squinted a little he did look kind of familiar, but ifI was being honest he wasn’t in the kind of films I ever watched. Or we watched in the house.

But this guy had me paying attention because he was the one who Violet complained about more than anything. Actually, thinking about it, I don’t think I ever heard her complain about anything else, period. She wasn’t that type of girl. Violet was easy, happy and nearly always smiling.

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