Stage Presents

by Aidan Wayne

  Ashlee nodded. “Then I don’t feel nearly as bad about ruining it,” she said before she ripped it open, revealing a pretty blue cardboard box. She opened that to reveal a little bubble-wrapped bundle, though she could make out some colors, pink and green and—she gasped. “You didn’t!”

  Dana raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t what?”

  “You know what I mean,” Ashlee said as she carefully peeled the tape off the bubble wrap and unrolled it. Inside was a beautiful floral bracelet, red, pink, and white polymer petals and green leaves attached to silver links. “It’s so beautiful,” she breathed. “Oh my god, it’s so beautiful in real life.”

  “I’m glad you like it. And that it got here on time. I was worried it wouldn’t.”

  Ashlee threw her arms around Dana’s neck. “Thank you. I love it.” She squeezed once and then let go again, to fasten the bracelet around her wrist. She spent a second admiring it and then said, “Okay, your turn. Open yours.”

  She watched as Dana carefully unwrapped the small package she’d been given, stifling a nervous giggle when the wrapping paper revealed… a pretty blue cardboard box.

  “Wait a minute,” Dana said before she lifted off the lid. And then, “Oh.”

  Dana took out the little earring card that displayed the earrings Ashlee had gotten her. They were the dangly kind: purple roses with green leaves, hung on a silver chain and earwire….

  And from the same artist Dana had gotten Ashlee’s present from.

  “Do you like it?” Ashlee asked. “I mean, you said you liked it when we were clicking through the other things Natalia makes, and you kept going back to their pictures, and I knew they’d look so good on you and—”

  “I like them a lot,” Dana said. “Thank you. You didn’t have to get me something so nice.”

  “What are you talking about? You got me something just as nice.”

  “I know, but… they’re really nice.”

  “Dana,” Ashlee said firmly, “put on your earrings and tell me how nice you think you look.”

  Dana laughed and took the earrings off the card before putting them on. “Well? How do I look?”

  “Beautiful,” Ashlee said immediately. “And the earrings look good too.”

  “I’m going to go see.” Dana stood up and headed into the bedroom.

  Ashlee took the opportunity to stand up as well and go to check the custard. It had set, so she went about spooning out portions for her and Dana. “Well?” she called. “Tell me how nice you think you look!”

  “They’re really nice,” Dana said, poking her head back into the room.

  “And?”

  “And I look nice?”

  “Damn right.”

  Dana laughed again. “Is the custard ready?”

  “Yep! Living room or bedroom?”

  “Bedroom,” Dana said. “I already have A Prince for Christmas paused on the TV. It sounds absolutely awful.”

  “It doesn’t sound too awful,” Ashlee said.

  “I am going to make so much fun of it.”

  Ashlee stuck out her lip.

  “So much fun of it,” Dana called over her shoulder as she went back into the bedroom. “You can’t stop me.”

  CUSTARD EATEN, and bowls and spoons set on Ashlee’s desk, Dana and Ashlee continued to watch A Prince for Christmas. They were tucked up together on Ashlee’s bed, and Ashlee was warm against her side. They’d been like this so many times now, curled up together on one of their beds to watch something. It was so nice, and it felt so intimate being able to be right next to Ashlee, even if they were just watching some dumb movie.

  Said movie was just as hilariously awful as Dana had expected. Luckily Ashlee also thought it was pretty silly, so they were able to trade comments back and forth.

  “So he’s the prince of all of Europe?” Dana said when the leading man revealed his true identity. He also hadn’t said where in Europe he was actually from. So he clearly was simply the prince of all of it.

  “The whole thing,” Ashlee said before covering a yawn.

  “Hey, are you tired?” Dana asked. It was still early, but Ashlee also had gotten up early. Dana had too, but she’d been able to go back to sleep. She was sort of used to the routine of it now.

  Ashlee shook her head. “I’m not. I’m not. I shouldn’t be.”

  “You can always turn in now,” Dana said. “I can go into the living room.”

  Ashlee squeezed her arm and pressed tighter against her. “I don’t want you to go to the living room. I want you to stay right here with me. And for us to finish the movie. And maybe then go to sleep. But stay here with me.”

  “What,” Dana laughed, “including while you sleep?”

  Ashlee went suspiciously silent.

  “Hey,” Dana said, turning toward her. “Are… wait. What?”

  “Nothing,” Ashlee said quickly. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “Exactly. You didn’t say anything. But there was a very specific way you didn’t say anything.” Dana paused. “Do you want to say anything? About that? Um, I mean….” It was a nice thought, the idea that she’d be able to fall asleep next to Ashlee. If she could. Dana had never slept in the same bed as someone before, so she had no idea if she’d actually be able to sleep or if it’d just keep her up all night. And the morning wouldn’t be very fun, with Ashlee waking up at her usual 6:00 a.m. It would probably be even more disturbing if they were in the same bed.

  But it was a nice thought, even with the cons. Falling asleep with Ashlee.

  “I don’t mean sex,” Ashlee burst out. “I’m really, really not ready for that.”

  “Okay,” Dana said, somewhat taken aback. “I’m not either.”

  “Oh. Um. Good.”

  “But it’s good we’re talking about it now,” Dana said hurriedly. “It’s way better to talk about this stuff, especially first, right?”

  “Yeah. Yeah.”

  “So?” she prompted.

  Ashlee shrugged against her. “I wasn’t thinking about sex at all. I mean it that I don’t think we’re there yet.”

  “Right. I agree.”

  “But I like touching you. And being with you. And cuddling with you.”

  Dana smiled. “Okay. Me too.”

  “So. I’m just putting it out there. That I’d like to try sleeping with you. Next to you?”

  “I’m willing to try it if you are,” Dana said after a minute. “Though I think we’re going to drive each other nuts.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at the same time,” Dana pointed out. “At the very least, I’d need to move to turn off the TV after you fell asleep. Which would disturb you. And you getting up for morning practice would disturb me.”

  Ashlee giggled. “I hadn’t even thought about that.”

  “That’s why I’m the practical one. But,” she added, “I still think it’s worth, you know, trying. I’d like to try, at least.”

  Ashlee reached to take Dana’s hand. “I’m glad.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  DANA HAD been right that sleeping together wasn’t always the best plan. But while they were both a little restless with having someone else in bed with them, they agreed that they enjoyed the intimacy.

  In the end they decided it was more of a treat thing. One they saved for days Ashlee didn’t work a morning shift. She compromised by getting up a little later; Dana compromised by getting up a little earlier. And it worked, the couple of times they tried that.

  “I can’t believe it’s almost a new year,” Ashlee said, coming up next to Dana on the balcony. It was about eleven forty-five, and Dana had only gotten home ten minutes ago. Ashlee had stayed up special to make sure they’d be able to spend New Year’s night together and see it to New Year’s Day.

  “I can’t believe I actually made it home before the New Year,” Dana said, fingers busily peeling an orange. “Or at all. I thought I was going to die. It was madness.”

 
“That’s what you get for being so good at your job,” Ashlee teased. “They thought you could handle it.”

  “And I damn well did too. But I am so glad tomorrow I’m not working the morning shift. I might be working, but at least I don’t have to get up early. Well,” she amended with a sidelong glance, “I won’t be getting up too early.”

  Ashlee stuck out her tongue before she shivered and put her hands in her pockets. It was chilly, and she’d had to put on a hoodie—a cute one she’d got at the discount Disney store. It had Mickey comic print all over it and had been on sale for eight dollars because the print didn’t match up at the zipper. Ashlee was sort of in love with the Disney discount store.

  And, well, it wasn’t the only thing.

  “I can’t believe the program’s almost over,” she said, tilting her head up to look at the sky. Light pollution aside, it was still a clear night and easy to see the stars.

  “Me neither. Two more weeks.”

  Ashlee looked down again just in time to watch the orange peel drop down from the balcony to the grass below. “Littering.”

  Dana rolled her eyes. “It’s decomposable.” She tore the peeled orange in half and held out one of the segments to Ashlee.

  “Thanks,” Ashlee said, taking it.

  They stood there in silence for a while, looking up at the sky, eating their orange slices.

  “Did your parents get back to you?” Dana asked eventually.

  Ashlee nodded. “Yeah.”

  “And?”

  “And they said that I can do it. That they’ll let me extend my stay till May, as long as I take online classes this semester.”

  “That’s great.” Dana smiled

  Ashlee smiled back. “Yeah. Yeah, and that means I have at least two more audition opportunities.”

  “You’ll get the next one. You won’t have the plague, and you’ll get it.”

  “Don’t jinx me!”

  “So what classes are you going to take?”

  “I don’t know yet. More gen eds, since I’ll need them no matter what. I have to check which ones I can take online.”

  “I’ll help if you want,” Dana offered.

  “Would you? Oh, that would be such a big help. You really know this stuff.”

  “Sure. We can do it tomorrow.”

  “Speaking of tomorrow,” Ashlee said just as her phone started to buzz. She pulled it out and silenced the alarm. “One more minute.”

  Dana took her hand, curling her fingers around Ashlee’s own. “Okay. Let’s wait it out together.”

  Ashlee held up the phone with her free hand and they watched the timer tick down.

  “Ten,” Ashlee counted quietly when it reached that point. “Nine.”

  “Eight,” Dana had joined in. “Seven. Six. Five.”

  They smiled at each other.

  “Four.”

  Breathed three, two, one against each other’s lips.

  The Disney fireworks went off in the background.

  It was perfect.

  LATER, AFTER long moments of kissing, Ashlee pulled Dana back inside and to their bedroom.

  “I might not have to get up at six,” she said, “but even if I still want to talk to you, it might be better if we’re in bed to do it.”

  Dana laughed. “Fine with me.”

  They both changed, facing away from each other, the movements practiced and easy now, without self-consciousness. Then it was into the bathroom to brush their teeth. Ashlee finished before Dana did and made herself comfortable in Dana’s bed.

  “Oh, I see how it is,” Dana said when she’d exited the bathroom and found Ashlee underneath her covers.

  “You should come in,” Ashlee said. “It’s pretty comfy.”

  Dana snorted but slid into the bed next to Ashlee and wrapped her arms around her. Ashlee liked being held and Dana liked holding, so that worked out well for them.

  “Do you want me to turn on the TV?” Dana asked.

  Ashlee shook her head. “No. I’d rather just sit with you. Maybe talk. I don’t always need TV.”

  “If you say so, princess.”

  “I will bite you.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “No,” Ashlee admitted, “I won’t.”

  “I’ll miss you too.” Dana sighed. “I’ve never done the long-distance thing before.”

  “Hey, absences make the heart grow fonder, right? Maybe it’ll be a good thing.”

  “It’ll be a weird thing. Not living in each other’s pockets anymore.”

  “Shhh. It’s not for two more weeks. Let me pretend we have longer.” I wish you’d stay, Ashlee didn’t say. She was allowed to think it, but she wasn’t selfish enough to say it out loud.

  “Well, at least you’ll have Maya, right?” Maya was extending her stay too, to give herself more time to get a permanent position and find an apartment off DCP grounds. She was going to move into the apartment when Dana left. That way neither of them had to find new roommates, and the drama would, hopefully, be kept to a minimum.

  “I hope Maya and I are good at living together,” Ashlee said. “She’s one of my best friends down here, but it can sometimes be different when you live with someone.”

  “Well. She can’t be anywhere near as bad as your last roommate was,” Dana said. “I heard she was terrible.”

  “Yeah,” Ashlee said, pecking Dana on the cheek. “She was pretty bad.”

  When they broke apart this time, Ashlee took Dana’s hand in hers, stroking her thumb over the back of it. “So you’ve got your plan all set, right?”

  “Yeah. All my classes are picked out. Registration opens next Monday, so I’ll be waking up at seven to try to get all the ones I want.”

  “Waking up at seven?” Ashlee gasped.

  Dana snorted. “Oh, hush.”

  “Which ones did you decide on?”

  “Spanish 2010, Chinese 1020, and another couple classes on business and marketing. And a math class.”

  “Full load.”

  “Yeah, but it’ll keep me busy. You know I like being busy. And I’m not going to have to work this semester, which means I’ll be able to dedicate all my time to my classes. I’ll be able to handle it.”

  “I know you will,” Ashlee said. “And you probably can’t wait.”

  “I’ll admit that I might be looking forward to a full semester of studying and homework, over Disney Merch and costumes.”

  “Nerd.”

  “Princess.”

  Ashlee pinched her. Lightly. “First college, then the world, huh?”

  “You know it. Different parts of the world. I can’t wait.”

  “And then you’ll take me with you, and show me around everywhere, and help me order food because all I speak is English.”

  “You’ve been getting a little better at the Spanish,” Dana said, not for the first time. They were working their way through all the recipes in the cookbook Ashlee had gotten Dana, and Dana sometimes was an evil sadist and made Ashlee try to translate instructions herself.

  “I don’t think mix ingredients together will get me very far in Spain.”

  “Maybe. And I would.”

  “Would what?”

  “Take you with me. You know, when I get to that point. If you wanted to come. And could pull yourself away from the busy and exhausting life of a Disney performer.”

  “Maybe by then I won’t be just a Disney performer.”

  “Yeah? What would you be?” Dana sounded genuinely interested and not teasing. Which was nice, considering it was actually a topic Ashlee had put a lot of thought into.

  “Well,” Ashlee said, “I like to perform, you know? I like being able to make people feel something with what I do. And I like how that can keep affecting them.”

  “Okay.”

  “So I think, after Disney, after I can’t just be a performer, that I’d like to open my own dance studio. Maybe.”

  “Really,” Dana said, sounding… maybe a touch too interested.

/>   “What? What’s that tone for?”

  “Oh nothing,” Dana said. “Just that if, you know, you’re planning on going into business—”

  “Don’t you start—”

  “And being an entrepreneur—”

  “Dana!”

  “Running your own business,” Dana continued with glee, “then maybe you and I aren’t so different in our goals after all.”

  “Okay, okay,” Ashlee mumbled. “You might have gotten me started.”

  “Wait, seriously?”

  Ashlee shrugged. “Well, yeah. You have this grand vision and plan about what you want to do. And even if you don’t know exactly what it is, you have all these smaller goals to meet on the way to wherever you’re headed. And I’ve always hung around dancers and stuff. Long-term is sort of a dream that you can keep dancing. But then, after you brought it up a few times and I started to stop and think about what I would do after dancing… I guess I decided that it still would be dancing. But just another aspect of it. And, well….” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Having that goal in mind, a long-term one, makes me feel a little less desperate? About what I’m doing right this instant. Like, now I do have something to work toward, past just the next audition, the next performance.”

  “That’s really great,” Dana said, voice warm. “I’m glad that you have that.”

  “Yeah. So am I.”

  DANA, AS usual, was still awake after Ashlee had drifted off. Thoughts and ideas were running through her brain like a hamster on a wheel, and she couldn’t turn them off.

  Two more weeks, and she’d be back in Ohio. Back to snow (which would not be fun; she’d sort of acclimated to Florida weather) and school and family. Her parents had come down to visit her once to stay in a Disney resort and experience the parks, but aside from that, she’d only seen them on Skype calls through her computer screen.

  It’d be good to see them again, but it would be weird to go back to living at home. She’d gotten used to the independence she had now.

  But, she supposed, not much would really change. She’d still be the one buying most of the groceries (just with her parents’ card, which would be nice) and cooking (with her dad). Getting back to her cleaning chores would be annoying, because Ashlee had been the one to take care of most of those, but at least Dana was naturally a tidy person. And then school would take up most of her time anyway. And she could spend time with her friends back at home. Hopefully she’d meet some new people too, in her new classes. Especially her language ones—she could always use language study-buddies. Ashlee hadn’t been much of one in the Spanish department, though she’d started to learn a little during cookbook time.