Page 40 of Dream On

A chuckle slips out, and I close my eyes. “Dream on, Nicks.”

I wait for music, curious what she’s going to play. But I don’t need to wait long. Within moments, a familiar song reaches my ears, hiking my lips up into a smile as my eyes remain closed. “Dream On” by Aerosmith.

Her fingers dance over the keys, hitting every note with precision and passion. The melody wraps around me, pulling me into the moment like a lucid daydream. Her voice joins in, soft at first, then growing stronger, filling the room with emotion so raw, it’s like she’s pouring her soul into every chord. I feel it. Every ounce of it. Stevie isn’t just playing a song; she’s living it.

And I’m living it through her.

I lie sprawled across her bed, my legs splayed, hands linked behind my head. Music spills from piano keys and skillful fingers, reminding me of my mother’s long-ago lullabies. It’s soothing. A peaceful, nostalgic feeling that chases away my burdens and ghosts.

I’m not sure when it happens.

But at some point, my eyes feel heavy. My limbs become weightless, and the chaos leaves my tortured mind, replaced by the lyrical sound of her voice.

I fall asleep.

Chapter 11

Stevie

Come what may.

Solid life advice, on par with “let it be” or “for better or worse.” They are hollow words for some people, but to me, they are a guiding principle: take things as they come, roll with the punches, and embrace every uncertainty. It often feels like I’m walking a tightrope without a net, but I always find my balance. I just can’t look down or let fear take over.

“Come What May” happens to be the song we’re working on at today’s practice as we inch closer to opening night. It’s beautiful. It’s a climactic moment in the show, filled with impact and emotion. It showcases the depth of the characters’ feelings for each other and their determination to face whatever challenges come their way, regardless of the consequences. It’s my favorite of all the musical pieces. It’s a true love song, an overture of sweeping melodies that underscores the gravity of Christian and Satine’s forbidden and tragic circumstances.

“Cut!” Mr. Hamlin cuts us off mid-scene, just as I am mustering a fair amount of tears for Lex. “Start again. I know you’re both tired, but we only have two more rehearsals before Thanksgiving break as we gear up for opening night.”

“What was wrong with that?” Lex looks damn near exhausted as he rubs a hand over his face, forehead to jaw. “Stevie nailed her harmonies.”

I send him a soft smile from across the stage.

I’m tired too.

We’ve upped our practices to four to five days a week now that opening night is looming around the corner. Background dancers and side characters aren’t required to come as often, but Lex and I haven’t missed a single session. I suppose it’s good discipline that will prepare me for future acting roles and movie sets. It’s just not easy when I’m also juggling homework, family responsibilities, and social commitments.

“Nothing was wrong, per se,” Mr. Hamlin says, tapping an index finger to his lips. “But it wasn’t quite right.”

Lex sighs wearily. “That makes total sense.”

“Something is missing. The chemistry is there, no doubt.” Mr. Hamlin turns his attention to Lex. “You just seem a bit…distracted.”

“I’m fine.”

Lex’s defenses flare, while I obsess over the wordchemistryand nearly melt into the sprung floors.

Mr. Hamlin makes a humming noise as his eyes narrow with consideration. “All right. Let’s pivot to something with a little more fire so we can amp up the energy. How about we rehearse ‘El Tango de Roxanne,’ and we’ll come back to this scene tomorrow.”

The first kiss.

While we’ve rehearsed the song plenty of times, we have yet to lock lips. Mr. Hamlin told us they only needed to be quick pecks, so I don’t know why I’m nervous about it. I figured Lex would be eager for the kissing part, considering he’s a teenage boy, but he hasn’t shown much interest. On the contrary, he seems nervous too. And that has only heightenedmynerves.

My face breaks out into a flush as I swallow down the dry lump in my throat. “Sounds good. I’m ready.”

Mr. Hamlin veers off to speak with the music director, and Lex deflates in front of me, his shoulders slumping. I’ll admit Mr. Hamlin wasn’t wrong; Lex does seem distracted today.

I take a step forward. “Are you okay?”

He rubs his forehead with two fingers and averts his eyes. “Why does everyone think something’s wrong? I’m fine. Good. Fucking peachy.”