Your Fabulous Face

"My story is much too sad to be told. But practically everything leaves me totally cold. The only exception is the case. When I'm out on a quiet spree. Fighting vainly the old ennui. Then I turn and see, your fabulous face." These words rush through my head as I buy my ticket for the show, Anything Goes. I turn around as someone calls my name.

"Lena!!" Eliana Marlowe calls. I turn around and she's beckoning to me from the concessions stand. Eliana is my guardian, my parents died years ago when I was 4. Now I'm in 7th grade, in a bad middle school where people only go for the credits. Lavender High School has the best arts program in the country, my stepbrother is in it and he is always bragging about that. My stepbrother's name is Hunter(Wy) Marlowe and he is a freshman. I open the door to the concessions stand and take the next customer.

"Can I have a Dr. Pepper, Airhead Extremes, Red Skittles?" the person asks.

I whip around and it's a cute freshman I have never seen before. "How are you paying?" I say.

"Can I have it for free?" he asks, flashing an adorable grin. The grin reminds me of his name, Liam Arrow . He is playing the counterpart of Wy, Spit. Spit and Dippy are the mischievous gambling friends in Anything Goes; Wy told me all about him and Liam.

"You know actors, tech, and pit can't get free things. You are going to have to pay like everyone else, okay Liam?" I sigh.

I shove the Skittles and Dr. Pepper at him. He hands me a 7 dollar bill and I feel my face turn red as his hand touches mine for a second. I mentally groan. Why am I acting like this about some freshman? I take it and shove it in the cash box, embarrassed. I storm to the back to grab the Airhead Extremes and when I storm back out, Liam is standing there, on his phone. My cheeks flush as he looks up at me, as if in slow motion.

"Thanks." He says, walking away. My voice catches in my throat. I'm still standing there as Eliana shakes my shoulder.

"Hey, Lena, Wy's asking to see you before he has to go on stage for Bon Voyage and There's No Cure Like Travel." She grabs my hand, leading me to the hallway. The lavender tinted walls spin, my head dizzy from the thought of maybe seeing Liam. I push open the door and (of course) run right into Liam. His cap flies off and I land on top of him.

"Hi?" He coughs, grabbing his cap and scrambling back.

"Have you seen Hunter?" I ask.

"Why?" He skeptically wonders out loud.

"I'm his stepsister, Lena Marlowe." I bat my eyes. He juts his head backward and crinkles his nose, walking away. My jaw drops and I find Hunter, my emotions brewing inside.

"Hey, Hunter, Eliana said you wanted to see me." My eyes flick down.

"I just wanted to give my favorite girl in the world a hug." He smiled, his dimples lighting up his face. Hunter was one of the most handsome guys in the whole high school and he broke a lot of girl's hearts because he was gay. I squeeze him tight, wondering how to tell him about Liam.

"I was wondering what you know about Liam Arrow." I subtly sneak it into the conversation.

"Oh, Liam. Nice guy, handsome. Aces all his tests, oh and he's gay." Hunter shrugs. "I gotta go, I'm coming in through the doors, bye! See you in the audience!!" My jaw drops again and I ponder this, my heart dropping into my knees. I sullenly push open the doors as the lights focus on Mira, the lead who's acting as Reno Sweeney.

"My story is much too sad to be told. But practically everything leaves me totally cold. The only exception is the case. When I'm out on a quiet spree, fighting vainly the old ennui. Then I turn and see, your fabulous face." She starts singing 'I Get a Kick Out of You' and my eyes fixate on her because her voice is so captivating. Mira is graduating this year and this is her final show here at Lavender High. I slip into my seat as the song ends and she starts singing the reprise. The light fades and we all clap. The curtain slides open and my eyes widen as I see Liam on the side, joking and laughing with Hunter. They're both standing weirdly and making weird hand gestures. Now I can see what Hunter means by Liam being gay. It's pretty obvious. I turn and see all the passengers walking down the aisle. They start singing Bon Voyage.

"Bon voyage," The men put their hands up in a salute and the girls cut in with "You mean bon voyage, sir." The show is pretty awesome and Liam's very good, especially in the scene where Hunter says: "Can you help lead my brother not into temptation?" and Liam has his brow scrunched and his hand in his dirty blond hair, nodding. It's 9:40 and I'm waiting outside the theater hallway, my head on the wall. I'm trying to get these thoughts out of my head and my best friend Reagan appears behind me.

"Boo!" She grabs my shoulders and I jolt up.

"Reagan!!! Are you serious, girl," I growl at her as I slide against the wall, my heart pounding and me half wishing in my heart that it had been Liam. "Is Izzy here?" I ask. She nods. Izzy slides out from behind Reagan and giggles.

"So where is this guy you were texting us about? You said Hunter told you all about him, that he's so cute!" Reagan and Izzy squeal, as if rehearsed.

"He's coming out with all the actors, guys." I answer, my eyes still fixated on the doors. Shadows shuffle from behind it, filling the little crack between the doors. The doors slam open and Mira and Jack(the leads) confidently lead the group of actors through the crowd of fans. They say hi to everyone and break into their little theater groups. I see Liam and Hunter together, laughing and imitating their characters. I lead Reagan and Izzy to Liam and Hunter with the same confidence Mira had. Inside, I'm a churning mess of emotions even getting close to Liam. Why can't I just let this go? I met this guy 3 hours ago! No worries. No matter what, I will get him. I can't let go of this one.