Page 78 of Pride High 2: Orange
“As I said,” Keisha murmured, “things get a little intense on opening night.”
“Don’t you have to change into a costume?” Silvia asked.
“I won’t be on stage. Even though Iamin the play.”
Silvia cocked her head. “How does that work?”
“Like this.” Keisha began skipping around in a circle while waving her arms gleefully. “This is Belle in the town square.” Her body language changed suddenly, her limbs tight against her body as she started creeping instead. “And this is Belle in the cursed woods.”
“Isn’t she great?” Whitney said from the makeup chair. “I pay so much more attention to how I walk now, thanks to her.”
“I’m in charge of choreography,” Keisha clarified.
“Like dancing?” Silvia asked.
“No, Ilovedancing,” Keisha replied smoothly.
Silvia realized that she was being toyed with. She felt exceedingly self-conscious. And yet, she couldn’t think of anywhere else that she would rather be.
“Five minutes until your curtain call!” a teacher yelled when blowing past them.
“Hurry!” Whitney said. “I’m so excited!”
“Hold still!” Mindy hissed.
“Have you found a seat yet?” Keisha asked her.
Silvia shook her head. “I’ll go so I’m not in the way. Break a leg, everyone!”
“Thanks,” Mindy said. “Oh! Are my parents out there?”
“Yes. I’ll be sitting next to them.”
“Or you could sit in the front row with me,” Keisha offered.
“Do it!” Mindy said. “That way you can see everything up close.”
How could she refuse? When they returned to the auditorium, Keisha led them to the front row, where several chairs had reserved signs. They passed Principal Preckwinkle along the way. She was a short woman with a blond perm and large round glasses.
“Are you sure we can sit here?” Silvia asked. “This is the VIP section. I think I see Julia Roberts over there.”
“You’ll be okay as long as you stay close to me,” Keisha said. “I mingle with the rich and famous.”
They sat just left of center stage. Keisha was on her right. Silvia glanced at her casually while hanging her jacket on the back of the seat, and for whatever reason, thought of Anthony. Maybe because he and Keisha were so unconventional in their fashion choices. She felt flustered as the audience grew quiet in anticipation. Silvia didn’t want the show to start. Not yet. They hadn’t had much time to talk.
“Aren’t you glad we’re finally on break?” she asked.
“Honestly?” Keisha turned sparkling brown eyes on her. “It hasn’t sunk in. Maybe because we’re here tonight.”
“Does this count as your final?” Silvia asked.
Keisha shook her head. “I’ve already passed this class. And done my part. You can’t force anyone to take your advice. I’m only here to see what happens.” She leaned closer as if not wanting to be overheard. “To be honest, I don’t have much of my self-esteem wrapped up in this. That’s why I told my parents not to bother.”
“What do you mean?” Silvia asked while breathing in the alluring perfume she wore. Or was it cologne?
“My little sister has a pageant tonight. My parents were going to divide and conquer so they could see both until I convinced them not to. Now if I ever run myownproduction, it’ll be a different story.”
“Is that something you want to do?” Silvia asked. “Be the director?”
