My Life Would Suck Without You
Page 30
~*~
College was more intense than Jillian ever imagined, but she relished the challenge. The more she learned, the more she wrote: papers, stories, poems, and plays. She became the darling of the entire theater department.
As a freshman, she learned the basics. In her sophomore year, Doctor Stevens selected one of Jillian’s plays as part of the spring series. She was overjoyed. Despite Jake’s praise, she always had nagging doubts about her talent, but Doctor Stevens’ decision validated her writing skills. She couldn’t wait to share the news with Jake. After all, he was the one who pushed her beyond her comfort level.
However, in the year he was gone, his contact with his friends grew less and less. There used to be weekly letters; then monthly; then less than that. Jillian’s last letter was returned, but this latest one had a bright yellow Post Office sticker that yelled ‘return to sender; no such address’.
Sadly, Jillian tossed the letter in the trash. She had to face the fact her that best friend was gone.
With the semesters speeding by, Jillian never pulled the group back together. Instead, she concentrated on her education. Her plays were selected three years in a row to kick off the spring series. Each year, her professors encouraged her to enter an original play in New York City’s City Theater New Playwriting Contest. The judges chose six plays each season to showcase unknown writers. There was no monetary prize for the winners, but the selected plays were read by a Broadway production team who could option to produce them.
Jillian declined to enter a play in her junior year, but changed her mind in her senior year. She and the entire theater department were on pins and needles for the two months after the close of the contest. She tried to concentrate on her studies, but the waiting was horrible. Jillian never wanted anything as much as she wanted to win this contest.
Before heading to class, Jillian glanced at her wall calendar. It was the twenty-first. She sighed, locking the door behind her. It’s past the announcement date. Guess my play wasn’t up to snuff. I don’t know if I want to—
“Wait up, girlfriend,” another student grabbed Jillian’s shoulder. “Turn the volume down.”
“Huh? Oh, hi Cassie. What volume?”
“I’ve been yelling for you. You hooked into some rad music?”
Jillian shook her head. “Nah, I was just thinking.” She looked at her friend. “Did you want something?”
“Oh yeah. Doc Stevens wants you in his office ASAP.”
“For what?”
Sam shrugged. “No idea.”
“Okay—I’ll head there now. Will you let Professor Marcus know I’ll be a few minutes late.”
Jillian turned and jogged to the Fine Arts building. Doctor Stevens’ office was on the second floor. When she came around the corner, she saw his door was open. He was at his desk. She tapped on the frame. He motioned her in, gesturing to a chair--the only empty spot in the cramped office.
“This came in the mail today.” He handed her an envelope.
She looked at the return address: City Theater.
“Go ahead and open it,” he urged. “That’s your name on it.”
She tore the flap and pulled out the paper, scanning the writing. She handed the letter to Stevens. "My play… won,” she said calmly. Then with more enthusiasm, “They accepted my play! It won. They’re going to do my play. Someone from Broadway will read it.” She had tears running down her cheeks.
“Tears of joy?”
She shook her head. “Tears for a friend who disappeared. He encouraged me to write.”
“I am so proud of you. I’ve never had a student win the City Theater contest before. I’m thinking I can talk the dean into sponsoring a road trip.”
She cocked her head. “To--?”
“New York City, of course. We must see your play performed.”
“Sir, I don’t know if my budget will—“
“Poppycock. Don’t worry. We’ll come up with something.”
“Thank you, sir.” She looked at the clock on the wall.
“I know. You have to get to class.”