by Holly Hook
"She always overdoes herself," Sarah whispers.
I also hate being next.
Mr. Saffron applauds once Olivia finishes and gives him a little bow. Next to me, Ellie pretends to gag. Noah's mouth is hanging open, and he has that googly look in his eyes.
"Awesome. Outstanding," Mr. Saffron says with a wide smile. "You may have a seat, Miss Olivia. Brie, it's your turn."
I rise from my seat and walk to the center of the stage. I feel as if all eyes are on me. It's not my first time singing in front of people—not by a long shot—but I can feel Olivia's gaze on me, just waiting for me to fail. She'll get the part again and she knows.
"You can go whenever you are ready," Mr. Saffron says, raising his clipboard and rubbing his eyes. The star has already strutted her stuff. I'm just a name on a list and another student preventing him from getting home too close to dinner.
"Okay," I say. Why did Olivia have to sing the same song I chose? Why didn't I have a backup song? I take a breath, trying to counteract the deflation that's happened in the past few minutes.
The door to the backstage creaks open and light shines in the dim space. A large figure fills the door for a moment before slipping into the room.
My breath catches. It's Cayden.
And instead of ducking back out, he slips to the back of the tables and sits behind everyone else. He's tall enough to see over Olivia and Ellie's heads. And he's watching me. My back tingles as if he's ecouraging me with his gaze. It's dark except for the light on the center of the stage, but my gaze slips over to him for a moment.
I have to sing. My lungs fill and I put my shoulders back.
He says I have a pretty voice.
Somewhere far away, Mr. Saffron taps the table with his pen. "Begin."
Sucking in a breath, I revert to the practices I've done of Belle's first song. I allow myself to move around the town, singing to the inhabitants, to the sky, to the birds. Olivia disappears and even Mr. Saffron fades into the dark background. Cayden watches me under the soft light. I don't miss a note.
I finish the final chorus and face Mr. Saffron. For a moment I'm tempted to do a bow, but I can only imagine how the others will make fun of me if that happens. Olivia will never let such a move slide.
Is Cayden smiling, or is my imagination doing wild things in the dim light?
"Thank you very much, Brie," Mr. Saffron says. "I'll let you know my decision within the week. You're free to go. Cayden, you're up."
Already, Ellie and Sarah stand, ready to leave.
I stand there in shock as Cayden walks to the center of the stage. His highlights show under the stage light. He's doing it. I told him to audition and now he's listening to me.
"Ready?" Ellie asks, tapping on my arm. My friends stand behind me, next to the backstage door.
"I want to watch the new guy and see how he does," I say.
"Come on. No one can beat yours truly," Noah says, flexing his biceps.
"You're not nervous, are you?" I ask him with a grin.
"Please tell me what you're singing," Mr. Saffron says, folding his hands on his table. He shifts, making the chair groan.
"I'm going to sing 'If I Can't Love Her,'" Cayden announces with complete confidence.
"That's one of the Beast's songs," Sarah whispers.
And then Cayden begins.
His voice fills the auditorium as he projects his words to an imaginary audience. Silence falls over the rest of us as Cayden perfects every word, molding it into a piece of art. Cayden spreads his arms and steps to the edge of the stage, soaking in all attention. No move gets missed. Every syllable comes out as smooth as a gentle ocean wave. He sings of pain and helplessness and his twisted face, but with the light shining on him, he's beautiful, like a wild god.
And when he ends the song, the awed silence continues.
"Amazing." Mr. Saffron speaks with enthusiasm he reserves for Olivia. "I have a question. How many musicals have you been in before?" He waves Cayden to his table to have a private discussion.
Noah curses as his shoulders drop.
"He was amazing," I whisper to Ellie and Sarah. "I've heard no one sing like that. He must be a pro." Should I say I convinced him to audition? Not with Noah here, I decide.
Cayden puts one hand on the table across the stage as he and Mr. Saffron exchange words. His gaze shifts to me as I finish speaking and another smile lifts the corner of his mouth.
"Me, neither," Sarah says. "Geez, Brie. It's almost as if he heard you."
"He did not," I say, though as soon as I speak, I catch Cayden looking at me again.
"Come on," Noah says. Instead of his usual, happy self, he sounds tired, like he wants to get out of there. "I need to meet up with Scott and Tez to finish that Physics project. See you tomorrow?"
I know what's eating him. "Tomorrow," I say, feeling bad. He must have heard me whispering about Cayden. "I'm sure you and Olivia will make a great Beast and Belle."
My words fall to the floor as we separate. As I exit the stage with the flow of others, Cayden gets off the stage and heads for the door across the gym.
Olivia jumps down and follows him, leaning close as she sparks conversation.
* * * * *
I gather my books from my locker in the empty hallway, listening as the others walk down the Science wing to exit the school and walk home. Ellie and Sarah talk about how their parents always take off time from work to watch them at the play every night, and now they hope the two of them can land a decent speaking role this year. Their conversation only serves to lower my mood. I can't share in it.
I slam the locker door extra hard as I mull over Olivia and Cayden walking out of the auditorium together. The locker door bangs and echoes. She'll throw herself at Cayden.
And I hope she's disappointed.
Now I'm a jealous jerk and I feel awful about it. Aunt May always said jealousy gets you nowhere. Maybe she's right. Now not only will Olivia get the female lead, but she will get to dance with Cayden and I'll get to watch. There's no way he will not be the Beast.
Maybe I'll get to be the maid. At least Noah will have good company. He'll end up the butler. Well, it's better than nothing. Sarah and Ellie got cast as extras one year after audition and it bummed both out.
I freeze when I spot Cayden standing up against my car.
In the empty parking lot. By himself.
I freeze in the doorway of the school. The sun brings out the highlights in his hair and he stands with his legs crossed as if he's been there for a while. Something about the way he stands makes me think of a noble animal for a moment, but the feeling passes.
Olivia isn't in sight. Besides a few cars, the lot is empty.
There's only one explanation: Cayden is waiting for me.
Heart racing, I gather my books and walk across the expanse of pavement, which seems to stretch as I close the distance. Cayden must know the Beater is my car. Maybe he saw it parked at the Grocery. What do I say? What's he going to say?
"Hey," I say as soon as I reach my parking space. "Why aren't you with Olivia? I saw you two walk out together."
Cayden peels himself from my car. It groans as he does. Embarrassing. Even Cayden can't stay quiet around it. "I wanted to congratulate you on how well you did on the audition."
A cool breeze blows against my forehead. "Me?"
"Yes. You. Do you see anyone else in the parking lot?"
Something seems off. My heart races and my tongue struggles to form words. How is he doing this? "Well, I'm the only one you saw sing."
"You'll get the lead for sure."
The face heat betrays me again. At least I can blame it on too much sun if he asks about it. "I won't," I say. "Mr. Saffron likes certain people you might have met."
Cayden looks away for a moment. A noise comes from his throat, almost like he's clearing it, but it's deeper than one should be.
Did I just hear a growl?
No. Can't be. I whirl, but spot nothing else in the par
king lot.
"I think I know who," Cayden says. "Are you available to help me with Algebra? Math is not my strong suit and I don't want my grades to slip."
"Huh?" That's all I manage.
He fixes me in his gaze. It's powerful in a way I can't describe.
"Are you available? I mean, I understand if you're not, but I could use help with that class. You're always getting the answers right when you get called on."
"Um, maybe?" I ask. "I thought you understood the class pretty well." From what I'd seen, Cayden had asked no one a single question in Algebra, instead finishing his work well before anyone else and keeping to himself.
"I keep to myself," he says. "Thanks, Brie. Is it Brie?"
"Brie for Brianna." I've never told him my name. Maybe he has trouble with math tests like the rest of us do. "I can help. It's no big deal."
I haven't realized Cayden had his muscles tensed because he relaxes and releases his fists. "Appreciate it," he says. "I've got to go pick up the squirt from school. See you around."
He turns and jogs across the parking lot, loping with grace. He speeds up at first and then matches the pace of an Olympic runner for a moment before slowing and disappearing behind the sports shed and the fence. I shake my head, convinced my imagination's working overtime.
Boys, I think, rolling my eyes. They're never easy to figure out.
Chapter Six
"Auditions were great, Aunt May, except that one girl." I hike my backpack up on my shoulder and breathe the scent of coffee. Aunt May always brews a big pot in the morning, but she won't let me sample any, no matter how tempting. She doesn't understand teenagers and mornings do not mix.
She shuffles around, getting ready to go to the store and start her shift. "That one girl. Auditions were that way when I was younger, too. Don't let her get to you. There are no small parts. Only small actors."
"You don't understand. What bothers me isn't her getting the lead. I hate how she treats everyone when she does. Olivia won't even hang out with us anymore."
"Don't worry about people like that," Aunt May says. "Just enjoy your life. Not everyone gets to have the experience you have."
"I knew you'd say that." Resisting the urge to shake my head, I gather my homework papers off the table.
"Theater can be a soul-sucking business. I used to do it often in high school," she says. "But enjoy acting and singing because someday, you might not be able to anymore."
"Thanks for being uplifting."
Aunt May helped with several sets over the years, but the store's eaten her time during the last year. Sadness fills her eyes. She's holding something back but won't confide. I love Aunt May, but I've always detected an invisible wall. We're close but distant.
"Maybe you can get back into it soon," I say. "A new guy was amazing at the audition yesterday. I guess there's a new family in town."
"A new family?" Aunt May lifts her eyebrow.
The sadness evaporates, leaving me able to breathe again.
I tell her about Cayden and that amazing singing voice of his, though I leave out the part about him finding me in the store, practicing. "He has a bunch of siblings," I say. "Ten or twelve. I'm not sure."
She lifts an eyebrow. "Really? What's his name? Do you know where he came from?" Aunt May stops shuffling around the kitchen and pours the coffee into a thermos for the day. The sun makes her blue eyes almost impossibly bright.
I wish I had them.
Maybe Cayden would ask me out...
I tell her his name. "He didn't say where he's from. I haven't gotten to talk to him much. He wants me to help him out with Algebra. Remember the stranger I told you about? He's the guy who came into the store two weeks before school started."
"Ooh," Aunt May says.
"Don't tease me again."
She pinches me on the arm. "I'll tease and embarrass you all I want. I'm doing the jobs of two parents here. And while I think about it, there's a new family that moved in just down the street about the same time that guy came into the store."
* * * * *
Cayden continues to keep to himself in our first period while Mrs. Connors drills us on a boring lesson about supply and demand. He sits in the back, and since Olivia is sitting next to him (having gotten there before anyone else could take the seat) I have to settle for the next table over. Besides, abandoning Noah will just raise too many questions.
Does he really live down the street? Until now, I haven't thought about where in Breck his family has settled. But where else would the Lowe family go? A cave? A hidden campsite?
Cayden pays strict attention to taking his notes throughout class. At lunch, he once again sits at his own table with his sister and the big blond guy who isn't a full brother. I consider going over there and asking him if he's still on for math tutoring, but his siblings feel like a wall I can't break. I have the sense they don't want me to pry. Maybe my unconscious has picked up on their cues. Don't they say intuition works from cues we don't see?
What does that mean for the time we first met?
Logically, I don't want to get Cayden in trouble if his family doesn't want him to put himself out there. He's already taking a risk by trying out for the musical.
"Hey." Noah pokes me. "Is that guy a vampire or something? You keep staring at him and can't seem to stop. He must have hypnotic powers."
I jump and face him. "I'm not staring."
Sarah has her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. I'm the butt of the joke this lunch period. A flush fills my face, one I know everyone can see.
Cayden faces me from across the room.
It's as if he's heard me again.
"Are you sure?" Noah asks.
"But he's in the sun," I say. "So he can't be a vampire."
"She didn't say she wasn't staring," Sarah tells Ellie.
"And so many vampire legends exist we can never be sure," Noah adds.
But my mind spins. Every time I say something about Cayden, he faces me as if he hears. Something about his wild eyes...his stance...and maybe the growl I heard...no, it's all a coincidence. I'm imagining things.
"Why would I be staring at him?" I ask.
"Because he's hot?" Ellie asks. "Just admit it. Him and the blond over there are flaming hot, but they're too good for everyone. Just look at them."
Cayden hunches up his shoulders as if he's listening to us over the chatter in the room.
I want to change the subject but I need to know more. An idea tickles the back of my mind. "Noah, do you want to come over and study this afternoon? The house should be free."
Cayden snaps his gaze to me.
Before I look away, I catch shock in his eyes, even from across the room. Disappointment. Maybe hurt. His sister tugs on his sleeve, drawing his attention back to his family.
"Can't," Noah says. "That project with the guys from Physics is eating every potato chip of my time, even the burnt one on the bottom of the bag."
"So I'm not even the burnt chip now?" I ask, watching the Lowes from the corner of my eye. "I'm just the grease that coats the bag?"
"Hey. That grease is good," Noah says.
"I miss hanging out with you guys," I say.
"We'll catch up." Noah stands and spreads his arms for a hug.
I rise and take it as the warning bell rings.
I expect it by now, but as I sneak another peek to the Lowe table, I catch Cayden watching as Noah and I embrace.
But he once again sits by Olivia in Algebra. So much for wanting my help with math. Cayden didn't even set a place or time.
Trying not to let the heavy feeling in my chest get to me, I focus on my work, pushing away thoughts of how strange everything is surrounding Cayden. My brain tries to put pieces together and chase solutions, but all of them lead down dark forest trails and into wild shadows. But the more I try to chase the thoughts away, the more they invade, demanding my attention. By the time the final bell rings and Cayden sweeps out of class, I've had enough.
&nb
sp; So I follow.
"Cayden," I call down the crowding hallway.
He doesn't even turn around. Now he doesn't have superhuman hearing.
Or maybe he has mood swings and now he's decided he will ignore me.
Cayden doesn't even stop at a locker. After waving to Ellie, I decide I will not stop at mine, either. He heads outside, picking up his pace, and I follow, catching the door as it swings inward. I burst into fresh air. The clouds hang low today, blocking out most of the sun, though Cayden's highlights still show.
I go to call his name again, but stop when I realize that instead of heading to the parking lot, he's walking across the grass and towards the tree line that marks the start of the woods. I stand there and watch as Cayden, without looking back at anyone, pulls aside thick vines and ducks into the wall of leaves.
Why would he be going that way?
I expect him to come right back out, but he doesn't. The vines tremble one last time and go still. It's as if he's escaping something, or stalking something.
My feet itch. I should go back into the school and get my things, then head home and study. But mystery calls, and if I don't at least try to follow Cayden and figure out what the heck is going on, this will eat me for the rest of the night. No, the week. Or the month.
I'm going to follow him and demand to know his deal.
Glancing at the school to make sure no one's following, I run across the grass and enter the forbidden wilds.
Chapter Seven
Maybe Cayden just likes to take shortcuts and not talk to anyone on the way home. There turns out to be a narrow trail in these woods, one used by deer and other wildlife, that winds around ancient trees and snakes through foliage. Pines tower over my head, creaking in the breeze as I walk in silence. At least the carpet of needles on the ground mask my footsteps from both Cayden and any animals that might be out here.
Or can he hear my shoes hitting the ground as I struggle to follow? So far, the answer seems to be no. Cayden jogging two hundred feet ahead of me might have something to do with me staying undetected. He might not hear me over the sound of his own footfalls.
