Page 5

“Wow.” Gunner tiptoed around the outside of the door. The voice that had drawn him in continued to echo in the empty auditorium.

Amazing.

When he had first entered, he had done so to think. He needed a quiet place to process everything that had happened over the last few days. The auditorium after musical tryouts had seemed like the perfect place, but just like every other recent decision he had made, it appeared he was wrong.

Who is she?

The voice pulled him closer. The girl on stage was singing the audition song for the lead, but from what Gunner had heard earlier, she was much, much better than any of the others who had tried out.

This girl is amazing.

He ended up backstage before even realizing that he had moved. A peek around the large cotton curtain finally revealed who was performing to the empty seats.

Hailey!

He almost squealed as he caught a glimpse of her moving on stage. The girl who had blown off every advance he had tried so far was graceful, moving effortlessly in a floral print dress to the song playing over the speakers.

Beautiful.

He watched as she repeated the number, sounding even better this time and almost floating along the wood. He could not help but take another step closer, trying to hear what she was angrily mumbling to herself after yet another flawless performance.

“Shit!” he cursed as he slipped on the curtain.

Damnit!

The landing was hard, and the bright lights that spotlit him from above felt like just another taunt from the universe.

“Oh my god!” Hailey shouted. “Are you OK?”

Gunner jumped up, trying to play off the pain in his back.

“Fine! Just fine!”

Damn, that hurt.

His voice cracked with the lie.

“Gunner?” she squealed as he lifted himself onto the stage.

You’re an idiot.

A bruise was probably already forming near his shoulder blade, but his burning face was much more distracting.

“Hey!” His voice cracked again.

“What are you doing here?” She was the one who now looked embarrassed, rubbing her arm at the speed that her father normally shifted his visor .

“Well, you know…” He straightened out the curtain and coughed, trying to think of something to say. “I work for the stage crew, and well, and I was just trying to get everything cleaned up from tryouts.”

Stop lying!

She tilted her head as he played with the nylon string on his gym shorts.

“You work stage crew?” she asked skeptically.

“Yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders, a small wince playing across his face at the sudden jolt of pain. “Everyone has to do some type of club or after-school activity at South Mountain. My dad always wanted me to do stage crew for some reason.”

She stared at him for a few more seconds before quickly twirling around.

“Well, that’s great. I am sure they can use the help. I have to go, though. It’s getting late.”

She had recovered quickly, but Gunner was still stuck in place.

“I didn’t see you at tryouts today?” he finally managed.

She bent down to pick up her books, which were lying next to the curtain, and he could not stop his eyes from following her every move.

“Well, I already have a part in the musical, so I did not have a tryout today.”

Gunner stood up straight.

“Wait, you’re not the lead?”

She spun, her eyes narrowing as she practically ran past him.

“I am surprised you even know what a lead is.”

Man, she is tough .

His feet instinctively followed.

“Number one, everyone knows what the lead is in a musical. And number two, you were ten times better than any of the others who auditioned today.” A soft laugh escaped before he continued. “I mean, I’m assuming Bridgette will get the role, and you are like a million times better.”

She stopped abruptly. Her books were clenched directly against her chest when she turned to him, and he once more could not help where his gaze traveled.

“Bridgette has spent three years preparing for her chance to be the lead in this play, and she deserves the opportunity.”

The tone made Gunner jerk his eyes up from her chest. The piercing glare of her hazel irises was more intense than ever before.

She really does hate me.

He cleared his throat and kicked at the ground in defeat.

“Yeah, I guess. I mean, she has been doing this for a while.”

He could feel her looking him up and down. The microscope treatment made him shift uncomfortably.

“I would not expect you to understand, but I am playing a very important part in this play, as well.”

She stormed off toward the end of the stage, her feet heavy against the laminate wood planks.

Jeez, this girl.

Gunner inhaled to collect himself.

“I’m assuming you’re playing the teapot, then?” It was the only thing he could think of saying to keep her in the room .

“Why…” She stopped at the top step, her back still toward him. “Why would you say that?”

Here we go.

Gunner took a step forward, his confidence growing since he had clearly piqued her interest.

“Well,” he said, sitting on the edge of the stage and dangling his legs. “She sings the famous song in the movie, and, well, your voice sounds like a soprano.”

She twisted toward him, reluctantly moving back across the stage.

“What do you mean?”

Gunner brought one knee up to his chest. A slight twinge crossed his face when pain played across his back, but he didn’t hesitate.

“Well, from listening to you sing, you sound like a soprano.” She appeared to like what he had to say, and he cracked a slight smile.

There you go, bring her in.

“Are you trying to explain vocal ranges to me?” Her voice went harsh in an instant, and the confidence that Gunner had felt moments earlier shattered around him.

“No, no, I just…” She was moving quickly toward him, standing over him in seconds. “I just, I mean, you know…listening to everyone over the last few years, I just picked some things up.”

She glared down at him, making him squirm.

“Well, I appreciate you trying to show off, but it is getting late, and I have to go.”

Damn, she is SO tough.

And just like that, she was already back on the steps. Her dress bounced above the Converse sneakers that she always wore.

“I mean, you can also dance…”

Last chance, Gunner.

“So I assume you are going to teach Bridgette how to waltz?” He tilted his head in hopes of a response.

“The waltz?” She stopped. This time, though, she immediately spun to him. Her eyebrow curled inquisitively instead of furling in anger.

Got her.

**********

He is baiting me. This is a game to him.

Her mind was telling her to simply walk toward the exit.

Do not respond; just walk to the door and leave.

Hailey, however, did not move. The young man she had been trying to avoid for weeks was now front and center, and she was again struck by just how attractive he was. His short, dark brown hair was messily parted to the side, and his green eyes glistened in the lights. He played the part of a football player perfectly, with his broad shoulders and shirt sleeves that hugged his large biceps. The tight South Mountain Football shirt also made it clear that he took good care of his core and chest muscles.

Walk away!

She couldn’t help it. His eyes pulled her back toward him.

Stupid, stupid Hailey!

“What do you know about the waltz?” she asked.

He smiled at her, his white teeth gleaming in the auditorium light .

“Well, most believe that the waltz originates from outside Vienna in the early seventeenth century. Since the film we all watched as kids is staged during the Victorian period, I guess this dance is some adapted French version of it.”

How does he know any of this?

She was moving across the stage without even realizing it.

“I see you have watched the movie and have access to a computer.”

He shrugged, his eyes pulling her even closer as he got up and began to amble around the stage.

“You see,” he said, taking a few steps. “My dad had the entire football team take dance lessons two years in a row.”

He was box-stepping across the stage, and she was struggling to pull her gaze away.

“The waltz, you see…the waltz was one of my favorites.” He started inching closer to her. “It’s slow tempo, elegant, forces you to work with your partner.”

He stopped and extended his hand to her.

Not a chance.

“You have to work with and trust your partner, each following the other at times.”

Do not grab that hand.

Her fingers itched, but then she turned away and stomped back to the steps.

“Well, just because you know a few vocal ranges and how to dance does not make you a musical expert.”

She fought the urge, but she could not stop herself from peeking back at him. He merely shrugged and continued to dance alone, clearly enjoying the spotlight provided by the lights above.

“Well, I didn’t tell you about my singing lessons.”

He’s lying.

He smirked at her, dimples creasing his cheeks.

“You took singing lessons as well?”

He lowered his head playfully.

“Well, no. My only singing lessons came from the shower.”

She giggled before she could stop herself.

Stop that.

He was good, exceptionally good, at this game, and she was enjoying it. It had been a long time since she had talked with a boy one-on-one, and even though he was the quarterback of the football team, this was nice.

“But I was being serious when I said you have the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.”

Game over.

Just like that, her shoulders tensed. She pushed her books back up against her chest and pivoted away, leaving him standing with his arms stretched toward her.

“I’m sorry…” he said quietly, confused.

“Please, Gunner. I need to go, and you realize who you are talking to, right?” She was frantically waving her hands by the time she hit the bottom step.

“Yeah.” He jumped off right in front of her. “The most talented person I’ve seen on this stage, ever.”

Sure, sure.

“Listen.” She kept moving, and he let her step by. “Before I moved here, I was in a performing arts school in California. Of course I am going to have more practice than most of the people here.”

Please do not follow me.

She could hear his footsteps behind her.

“Well then, even more reason for you to be the lead!” She turned, standing almost eye-to-eye with him due to the gradually rising floor. She was ready to fire an immediate retort, but his smile ignited a spark in her chest that surprised her.

“It’s not that easy…”

“Really?” He stepped by, opening one of the wooden double doors and holding it for her.

“Yeah, really,” she said as she went past, keeping an eye on him as they made their way into the main lobby of the school.

What is going on?

“You know, my dad used to tell me that life is made up of moments. You have no idea when a moment is coming, but when it does, you have to just take it. You know?” He had walked to a trophy case not far away. A picture of a man hung right in the middle, smiling out at them. “Go for it and see what happens. He always used to tell me that it’s not the result of that moment but the fact that you actually took action that matters.”

She watched him as he stood in front of the glass, silent and still.

His father.

Hailey had heard a lot---too much---about Coach Weston since she arrived in town, but this was the first time she realized what he had looked like. She couldn’t decide what she hated more, hearing about Gunner Weston or his father, who had been the perfect coach for this town.

I’m done with this.

“Well.” She headed for the door, but he beat her there, his shoes scuffing against the floor, and again held it open for her. “I have some moments that I need to take care of at home.” The outside heat smacked her in the face. “I just…I just don’t think now is a good time for me to take on the lead.”

Or ever.

He started rubbing his hands together as they walked toward the parking lot.

“I understand that.” He leaned back and peered into the nighttime sky. The stars from above lit up the car hoods as they walked in silence.

Who is this guy?

This was not the Gunner Weston she had heard so much about, the superstar quarterback who could have whatever and whoever he wanted. This was someone who was lost, someone who was hurting. His green eyes had deep pools of sorrow in them, and while he might have been able to hide it from most people, Hailey had seen that look before.

“Gunner, Hailey!” The voice startled them. “Wait!”

Ms. Summers sprinted toward the parking lot.

Oh no.

Hailey looked over at Gunner, and she saw the same surprised expression that must have been on her own face .

“You two!” Ms. Summers was out of breath when she stopped next to Hailey’s car. “You two were wonderful back there!” She pointed to the school and smiled. “You two have so much chemistry!”

What!?

“I told her she should be the lead, Ms. Summers, but she was having none of it.” Gunner hadn’t missed a beat. He flashed a smirk her way.

He does not quit.

“Gunner,” Ms. Summers asked excitedly, “how would you like to be in the musical this year?”

Excuse me!?

Hailey’s mouth fell slightly ajar. Her eyes widened as Gunner gave a vain laugh and rubbed his chin.

“Ms. Summers,” he said, the sarcasm returning to his voice, “with all due respect, I don’t think I’m the right fit for the musical.”

There is the arrogance.

Her cheeks started to heat up immediately.

“Gunner, you are the perfect fit!” Ms. Summers was prancing around the parking lot as she pleaded with him. “You are so confident on stage, and the way you danced! Plus, you were in the chorus up until ninth grade, so I know you can sing.”

“You were in the chorus?” Hailey blurted.

“For a few years.” He threw his backpack into his car.

“Gunner!” Ms. Summers stepped closer to him. “Think about it, please. Right now, I only have Brad. While he is currently cast to play the male lead, I’m not sure I can get him out on stage in front of even one person, let alone hundreds. ”

Hailey leaned in so as not to miss this part of the conversation.

“Gunner. You would be incredible in the starring role!”

Hailey caught his gaze briefly as he glanced over at her and then down to his steering wheel. He was quiet for a few seconds, almost as if he were entertaining the idea, before he finally looked up.

“With all due respect, Ms. Summers…” His flashy grin to Hailey was no longer playful but full of self-absorption. “I already star every Friday night.”

What a jerk!

Ms. Summers said no more. They watched as he fired the engine to life and drove off, his lights slowly disappearing around the corner at the end of the parking lot.

“I’m sorry, Hailey.” Her teacher’s voice was barely audible. “I really want this play to work this year. This town, this community deserves something special after everything that has happened.”

Ms. Summers walked slowly to her car. Hailey clenched her fists at the sound of the teacher sadly toying with her keys.

What a selfish jerk.

She glanced one more time at the end of the parking lot.

What a coldhearted, selfish jerk.

She threw open her driver-side door, cursing out everything that was Gunner Weston and his family.