Page 144 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

We reach the dining hall, pick up trays, move through the line, and once we sit, I glance up to find my friends looking at me. “What?”

Taylor smiles. “It’s like you’re back to your old self.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Ro, you didn’t think you were fooling us, did you?” Maya asks. “You haven’t been yourself for a while.”

I meet Marnie’s eyes, remembering our phone call. I should’ve known I couldn’t fool any of them. They all know me too well. I don’t ever want to take their friendship for granted again.

“It’s just good to see you happy.” Taylor reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“Why is everyone here old?” Maya asks, and not quietly.

Beside us, a table of ladies shoot her a look.

“Maya,” Marnie says.

“Sorry.” Maya widens her eyes unapologetically. “But seriously, Rosie, why?”

I check my emotional pulse, then say, “It’s a retirement community.”

Maya is mid-drink and chokes on her Diet Coke. “What?”

Taylor frowns. “You spent the summer living in a retirement community?”

Marnie smiles at me because, of course, she already knows this.

“I spent the summer directing a show for senior citizens.” I pop a french fry in my mouth.

“So Cinderella is... old?” Maya winces, as if this thought has left a sour taste in her mouth. But I’m not offended because before I saw Grace, I was doubtful too.

“She’s... seasoned,” I say. “And brilliant. Voice like an angel. You’re going to love her.”

“I think it’s awesome,” Marnie says. “There was a big flood in the theatre, and Rosie handled it like a champ. Rallied the troops and got the local news out here to do a story on the production.”

“I’ve learned so much being here.” I look at them, one at a time, and I remind myself that these three believe in me. They want to cheer me on. They’reforme—maybe more than anyone else in my life.

“The truth is, when I got here, I was pretty close to quitting,” I say.

“Quitting what?” Taylor takes a bite of her sandwich while Maya crunches kettle chips beside me.

“Auditioning. Performing. New York.” I shrug. “Everything.”

A double take from Taylor. “Really?”

I nod. “It’s hard when yourbig dreamdoesn’t come true.” I go quiet for a moment. “But I think I was thinking too small.”

“You never think small,” Marnie says. “You’ve always been the world conqueror.”

“But I haven’t,” I say. “Not really. I mean, Iwantedto be. I tried to be. Even pretended to be. But it turns out, I couldn’t do it. Not that way at least. Thinking that there was only one way to make my dream come true was silly. This place showed me I can be happy anywhere if I’m doing what I lovewith peopleI love.”

“Like your boy,” Maya says.

I shake my head. “No, like myman.”

We erupt into giggles then, but once the laughter falls away, I’m left in the middle of an admission I should’ve made years ago.

“You guys, I’ve been pretending. Alot,” I say. “I didn’t want you to worry about me, but I also didn’t want anyone to think I was a failure. I didn’t want to admit that I was struggling, especially when you are all doing so well. I mean, coming back and seeing everyone was so, so good. But it really reminded me how far behind I am.”

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