What If... All the Rumors Were True (24 page)

HAPPY ENDING

It's easy to be happy when things are going your way.

“I
can't believe you actually thought there was something going on between me and Mia,” Johnny said to Sasha, practically laughing.

Haley had gone to Bubbies with Sasha as backup, to confront Johnny and try to clear things up between them. There Haley was, standing awkwardly in the middle of their conversation and feeling like an intruder in their private affairs.

“I didn't really think so,” Sasha said. “But when I saw you two together I just…wondered. It seemed like you two were confiding in each other. And I'm still not convinced she's the most trustworthy girl.”

“Well, we were keeping a secret,” Johnny announced. Haley braced herself. “This.” He took from his pocket a small blue box tied with a white ribbon and gave it to Sasha. “Go ahead, open it.”

Sasha looked confused, but her face softened completely once she opened the box. Inside was a gold sunburst medallion hanging from a delicate chain. Engraved on the back of the medallion were the words
Sasha + Johnny. Year one.

“Johnny,” Sasha gasped.

“I was going to give it to you on our anniversary.”

“It's beautiful.”

Sensing Johnny's sideways glances in her direction, Haley took two steps backward and pulled out her cell phone, trying to figure out someone to text-message. She realized she definitely needed to let them have their moment.

“I thought that since Mia was a model, she might know some cool new designer that you would love,” Johnny explained. “She sent me to a store in the city, and I found this.”

“I love it!” Sasha put the necklace on. “But it looks really expensive.” She seemed concerned with how he had afforded such an extravagant gift.

“Why do you think I've been working here at Bubbies?” Johnny said. “Though it turns out, the tips are better than you'd expect. I might actually keep this job.”

Sasha hugged him tight. “I'm sorry I ever doubted you,” she whispered, nuzzling his neck.

As Haley stood there watching Sasha and Johnny make out, she suddenly realized her own life needed tending to. She pulled up an old text from Reese on her phone. It read, “Sorry I had to cancel dinner. Make it up to you soon. Promise.” Haley frowned. “Soon” never seemed to arrive. Haley walked toward the bathroom, tears rolling down her cheeks. She was feeling sorry for herself that she didn't have a boyfriend who was out buying her jewelry. In the mirror, she silently promised herself she would confront the Reese situation. She adored him, but she couldn't go on like this, never seeing him and always coming second—make that fifth, behind soccer, family, friends and his all-important GPA.

Perhaps it was time to move on.

 

THE END

WATCH AND LEARN

People can sometimes teach you more than schoolbooks.

H
aley and Reese had both had a grueling week of testing, homework and soccer matches, so she fully expected him to bail on weekend plans. But much to Haley's surprise, Reese asked her to go to the school play,
A Midsummer Night's Dream
on Friday night. It was a thrill to be sitting alone in the dark with Reese once again. Even though he'd been preoccupied lately, Haley still had strong feelings for him.

“Shaun's hilarious,” Haley whispered. It was the scene in which Shaun Willkommen, as the weaver Nick Bottom, wakes up from a dream with an ass's head instead of a man's.

“A comedian is born,” Reese whispered back. The audience roared while Shaun ran around the stage on all fours and kicked up his back legs donkey-style. Reese, too, was laughing out loud.

At first, when Reese had come over to her house that evening to pick her up, Haley saw the tension in his face from all the recent stress. But now, as Haley watched him laughing, Reese looked transformed, as if he didn't have a care in the world. He smiled at Haley and put his arm around her. She snuggled in close. What a relief it was to finally have his full attention.

After the play ended and the audience cheered and called out “Bravo! Bravo!” Reese and Haley migrated outside with the masses.

“Your sets were gorgeous,” Haley said to Irene, who slipped out from a stage door.

“Thanks,” Irene mumbled, sheepishly. Haley noticed she seemed glad to have her work acknowledged.

“What do you say we stop for ice cream,” Reese suggested after he and Haley had congratulated the cast. “If you're lucky I might even let you get your favorite—mint chip with chocolate sprinkles.”

Haley was impressed he remembered her favorite flavor. But before she could answer him, Reese took her in his arms and kissed her. It was the perfect kind of kiss too: the cozy boyfriend kiss. And it went on…and on…and on.

“I owe you an apology,” Reese said, touching his forehead to hers and looking deep into her eyes. “I'm sorry I've been so distracted lately. I know I haven't been a good boyfriend. It's just that…I'm starting to get serious about college. Which doesn't mean I'm not serious about you. It's just a lot to balance is all, and I haven't been doing a very good job of it.”

“I understand,” Haley said. She knew the Highlands had soaring expectations for their only son. He was so good at so many things he tried, it had gotten to a point where he wasn't allowed to be less than perfect. At anything. “We're all under a lot of pressure,” Haley said. “Some of us have parents who are pushing us and some of us put that pressure on ourselves, but we're all feeling it. Believe me.”

Just then, they heard tires screech by on asphalt. “Need a ride, lovers?” someone yelled from Spencer's sports car. Haley recognized Coco, Mia and Whitney as his passengers.

“Not a chance,” Reese replied long after they'd blown by. “I can't believe I used to be friends with those kids. So how about that ice cream?”

Right at that moment Haley knew she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with the only guy who mattered: her beloved Reese. He wrapped his arm around Haley as they strolled toward the ice cream shop. Haley sighed, utterly content. It was good to have the old Reese back again.

 

THE END

THEATRICAL RELEASE

Performance anxiety comes in many forms.

I
t was opening night of the big Hillsdale production of
A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Haley had rehearsed her lines until she knew them in her sleep, but she was still terrified of forgetting something crucial. The dressing room buzzed with excitement as Whitney hopped from actor to actor with pins between her teeth, double-checking every costume and making sure every piece of flair was intact, just as she'd intended.

“Opening night!” Irene said enthusiastically as she zipped Haley into her costume. “Nervous?”

“No,” Haley lied. “Why should I be nervous? I am Helena.”

Irene laughed. “Please. Save the lines for your audience. Even I'm nervous, and I don't have to set foot onstage.”

Shaun was pacing the room, muttering to himself, “I am the ass, forsooth I am the ass….”

Haley realized that everyone around her was probably feeling the same jitters she was. To settle herself down, she headed over to hair and makeup.

Once her face and coif were done, Haley stood with Irene in the wings, counting down the minutes to curtain.

“Take a peek,” suggested Irene. Haley parted the curtain just a crack and gazed out at the audience. She was blown away by the crowd. But even more impressive was Irene's set design.

“Irene, the forest looks spectacular,” Haley said, genuinely awestruck. “It
is
the magical forest where the fairies live.” Haley's stomach lurched as she caught a glimpse of her parents, Mitchell, her teachers and all her friends sitting in the first few rows. She quickly pulled the curtain shut, feeling slightly panicked. “Maybe peeking isn't such a good idea.”

Irene patted her on the shoulder. “Don't sweat it. You're really talented. The audience is going to love you. What am I saying? They already do. I think I saw your Gam Polly out there.”

“Really?” Haley asked, excited.

“You're so lucky, Irene. Your work is already done.”

“You think so?” Irene challenged. “Try moving those giant sets around without knocking one over. We'll be lucky if we don't conk somebody on the head with a tree by the end of the night.”

“Places, everybody!” Assistant Director Coco shouted, clapping her hands authoritatively.

“Man, that girl sure loves bossing people around,” Irene whispered. “I'd better go. Break a leg!”

“Thanks!” Haley took her place backstage among her fellow actors. The curtain went up, and the play began.

When she heard her cue and stepped onstage, the lights dazzled her for a moment, but then she recovered her composure. Her lines poured out of her as naturally as if she were speaking them for the first time. She forgot herself and really did become Helena, the lovelorn maiden. When the moment came for Demetrius, played by Devon, to suddenly realize he's loved Helena all along, Haley felt as if she and Devon were the only people on the planet, living through this beautiful moment. His eyes shone, and he kissed her with real emotion.

Mia drew cheers for her portrayal of Titania, and Spencer somehow pulled off a puckish Puck in spite of having blown off the last dress rehearsal. But it was Shaun's portrayal of Nick Bottom that brought down the house.

When the play was over, the entire cast received a standing ovation. As the final curtain fell, they jumped up and hugged each other, laughing. Haley never knew being in a play could be so thrilling.

As Haley went back to the dressing room, which buzzed with talk of an afterparty, Xavier Willkommen breezed in to find his four pupils.

“There you are, my starth!” he cried, wiping away a tear. “You were brilliant, BRILLIANT, all of you! Thhaun, it lookth like you've inherited the family acting gene!”

Irene and Haley exchanged a quick glance and tried not to laugh. Xavier was an awesome teacher, but his acting was less than spectacular. Shaun, however, had proved that you could make anything happen as long as you had enough passion.

Joan and Perry and Mitchell came in to congratulate Haley, beaming with pride. They were trailed closely by Gam Polly.

“My girl,” Gam said proudly.

“You were
really
good,” Mitchell, dressed primly in his tiny blazer and bow tie, said. “Here, these are for you.”

He handed her an armful of yellow roses. Haley breathed in their sweet scent and smiled brightly.

“Thanks, you guys,” she said. “And thanks, Mitchell, for not taking the roses apart before giving them to me.”

“I wouldn't do that, silly,” Mitchell said. “You can't put flowers back together again.”

Standing there with her family, friends and fellow cast members, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins, Haley knew she would always remember this night. She felt deeply satisfied knowing she'd taken a chance on performing in the school play. Even though her part was a supporting one. She came out feeling like a star. And on top of all that, she had Devon, her leading man.

 

THE END