Page 60 of Private Tutoring
I silently cheered Harmony for standing up for herself and moved to center stage. “Regardless of how it has come about, it’s obvious that your voice is not up for the role of Cosette. I’ve given you multiple opportunities, and I’m truly sorry.” Not really. Harmony had been born to play Cosette. Was I sorry thatI had to ruin Leighona’s dreams of playing the role during her final year? Sure. But she already had talent scouts sending her emails. I knew because they cc’d me on every one, asking for my opinion on her skills.
“Professor Bellington,” Leighona wheedled my name in a nasally whine so far outside her normal range that my eardrums throbbed.
I held up a hand to stop her. “The show must go on, and in this situation, it’s going forward with Harmony as Cosette.” I let my hand fall. “And I suggest you see a doctor. It sounds like you’re developing laryngitis. You two will be switching roles. Harmony will be Cosette, and you’ll take the role of understudy.”
It was a demotion for someone of Leighona’s skill and seniority, but I had no choice. I wasn’t about to let her ruin the show because she thought she deserved something she didn’t have the skill to execute.
Harmony remained rooted to her spot on stage. She had to have known this was coming after the whole debacle with Leighona’s voice last week, but she still seemed shocked, even taking a step back and shaking her head.
Leighona stabbed a finger in Harmony’s direction. “You did this. It’s not about the tea. You knew I was better than you, and the only way you could ever beat me was to sleep with Professor Bellington.”
“Leighona.” The warning note in my voice didn’t faze her, and I regretted the familiarity I’d allowed by calling my students by their first names. It took the professionalism and the threat from my position of power. “We talked about this already.”
“I don’t care. I was joking last time, but not anymore.” She took a threatening step toward Harmony, who raised her chin without backing down. “You slept with him so he’d give you the role.” She raised both hands and let them fall with a dramaticslap to her thighs. Her fractured voice gave way as she continued to lob accusations at Harmony.
Harmony went so white her skin turned translucent under the spotlight.
Deny it, Harmony. I silently willed her to respond. She had the strength of character to defend herself, so why didn’t she?
By now, the entire class had gone deathly silent. They crept closer, every single student coming onto the stage to enjoy the show. If only they were this passionate about learning their lines.
“That’senough.” I took a single step forward, which was a mistake because it put me closer to Harmony. Close enough that it looked like I was protecting her.
Close enough that it gave Leighona an edge. And she took it. “See! They’re not denying it. She slept with him.”
Damien ran a hand through his hair and walked over to Leighona. “Maybe you should stop yelling. Your voice sounds really bad.”
She took his words with a reeling step backward. “There’s nothing wrong with my voice. It’s them. Can’t you see? They’re doing this on purpose. He wants Harmony to be Cosette.” Her voice cracked and faded to nothingness.
“Professor Bellington is right. You need to rest your voice. Seriously, Leighona.” Suzie, one of the youngest girls in the class, shook her head. “You’re going to do serious damage.”
I very nearly reached for Harmony’s hand, but the touch was too personal and the situation too volatile. Right now, they all believed Leighona was making a big deal out of nothing because she was jealous. Which was completely true. I’d slept with Harmony because I was halfway in love with her.
And that hadn’t changed except that I might be all the way in love with her.
Guilt crawled across Harmony’s face. She chewed her inner cheek, a telltale sign of stress I hadn’t seen from her in a month. She crossed her arms over her stomach, her skin riddled with goose bumps. “Are you the one who’s been sending me threatening messages?”
Every head in the room whipped around to stare at her.
Harmony didn’t move, barely even blinked.
Leighona’s mouth puckered. “What the hell are you talking about? What threatening messages?”
My thoughts exactly. But we were getting way off track. “All right. That’s enough. No more accusations.” I’d let it go on too long already. “Leighona, my decision is final. Your voice needs complete rest. If you continue to strain it, you’re going to cause permanent damage. As of this moment, Harmony is taking over as Cosette. If you have a problem with that…” I shrugged. “I guess that’s too bad because this is my classroom, and my word is final.”
Leighona huffed, her jaw working but no words coming out. She crossed and uncrossed her arms, hate-filled eyes locked on Harmony. “This is bullshit.” The words were barely a croak, her voice so far gone it had to kill her to say even that much.
“Bullshit is you accusing your classmate of sleeping with me to gain a favor when every person in the class can tell your voice is shot to shit.” I never cursed in class, so the fact that I unleashed two in the same sentence had every eye on me. I pointed at Leighona, then Harmony. “This stops right now. No more accusations. If you can’t be supportive of your fellow performers, then you shouldn’t be in show business. It’s cutthroat enough without trying to sabotage everyone because you didn’t get what you wanted.”
A whistle pierced the air from the back of the stage, followed by, “You tell ’em, Professor.”
Laughter rolled out in a slow wave that built to a frenzy.
I’d had a brief moment of panic, thinking I’d overdone my defense, but it sounded like they all agreed with me.
“You can’t blame him for trying to protect you.” Damien slung an arm over Leighona’s shoulders. “Harmony’s your understudy. Who did you think would take over the role if you couldn’t do it?”
“But I can.” Even now, Leighona tried to argue.
