I should have asked Cole for directions to the computer lab. Alex always picked me up after math class and we walked to the lunchroom together, but today he didn’t show. He was probably sulking and playing Gathering of Gods, and I really wanted to smooth things over between us. If I didn’t, I would be pissed at myself for letting a drinking mistake ruin our friendship.
Some teacher tried to point me in the right direction, but I was definitely lost. There was a wide set of double doors in front of me, which I was positive didn’t lead to the computer lab, but I pulled them open anyway, not knowing what else to do. The room was huge, with rows and rows of red theater chairs. The space was dark, except for a spotlight on stage, and I realized that this must be the auditorium. I was about to turn back around when I noticed someone pacing back and forth down below.
“‘O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night.’” It was Danny, and he was reading from a script I knew by heart. “‘Being o’er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven…’” He trailed off, leaving his line unfinished as he pulled his hair in frustration. From the way he spoke, I knew that he had every word memorized, so it must have been his line delivery that was upsetting him.
“‘O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?’” I called down Juliet’s next line, hoping to inspire him. Danny’s head snapped in my direction, and he stared at me as I made my way down to the front of the stage. “‘Deny thy father and refuse thy name. Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love. And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.’”
“‘Shall I hear more,’” Danny whispered Romeo’s response, “‘or shall I speak at this?’” He sounded breathless—my sudden appearance was clearly a surprise.
I clapped my hands, a huge smile on my face. “Romeo and Juliet, huh?”
“Yeah, it’s this year’s spring play. I didn’t know anyone else was in here with me.”
He looked away from me, and I took the opportunity to study his face. He had all of the beautiful Walter facial features, but in more of a rugged way with the usual scruff covering his face. He was just as good-looking as Cole, but it was subtle—something I had to study to notice. It was a silent, softer beauty.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I told him as he shuffled his feet. “I was trying to find the computer lab.”
“That’s on the other side of the building.”
“Figures,” I said with a sigh. “So you’re the male lead? That’s pretty cool.”
Danny shook his head. “Not yet. Callbacks are next week.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll get the part,” I told him, as I pulled myself up onto the platform. I sat on the edge and let my feet dangle over the side. “It sounds like you have everything down.”
“I don’t know,” he said, sounding agonized. “Something is off. I’m having a hard time getting into character and this part…” He sighed. “This is the most important play I’ve ever auditioned for.”
“Is it your favorite or something?”
“No, but our drama teacher told us that one of his friends is coming here to watch it. She’s a talent scout.”
“Maybe you just need someone to read lines with,” I said, trying to look casual. This was by far the longest conversation I’d had with Danny since moving in with the Walters, and I wanted to see how far I could take it. “I can help if you want.”
Danny looked unsure, as if he thought I would rather give myself a paper cut. “You’d do that?” he asked.
“Well, Romeo and Juliet isn’t my favorite Shakespeare play,” I said, giving him a hard time. “But I suppose I could spare some time.”
It took Danny some time to warm up to me. At first, when he spoke, his lines were clumsy. But after one run-through of the famous balcony scene, he forgot I was standing there with him. He transformed into Romeo and I was Juliet.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch period, and Danny shook his head as if waking from a daydream. I could see why he was the president of the drama club. Danny didn’t just act out a role; he submerged himself in it until he believed he was the character.
“That went well, don’t you think?” I asked, hopping off the stage.
Danny followed me down and walked me to the auditorium door. “It did. You’re pretty good. Ever considered acting?”
“Heck no,” I laughed. “I get way too nervous in front of crowds. I don’t understand how you do it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know…” I said, unsure of how to verbalize what I was thinking. “You’re just so—”
“Shy?” he said bluntly.
“Yeah, that.”
“Most people think I’m unfriendly,” Danny explained, shoving his hands in his jean pockets, “but I just have a hard time talking to people I don’t know.”
“Me too,” I told him.
Danny gave me a look. “That’s not true. You talk to everyone.”
“It’s not like I have much of a choice. I don’t know anyone here,” I said. There was a distinct note of grief in my voice, so I quickly changed the subject back to Danny. “If you have such a hard time talking to people, how do you stand up there in front of so many of them?”
“That’s different.”