Graceful Ashes (15 page)

Clara learned about the auditioning process for Broadway from a friend of a friend who ran the scoring for some of the plays there. After she’d graduated Juilliard she moved on to a small job composing music for low budget Indie Films only to get the chance to show someone bigger what she was made of. Little did she know that opportunity would throw her into the world of Broadway.

When she first contacted me about the casting call for Wicked, I brushed her off because I didn’t have Juilliard on my resume. But she refused to hear me sell myself short. After a long argument with her, Talon and Tegan, I decided to make the trip out to audition. Then I found a place to stay until I heard the news of whether or not I got one of the spots.

It’s crazy how someone you run across unexpectedly can end up having such an impact on your life. Clara had officially made a gigantic impact on mine.

Chapter Fifteen

I handed the cabbie a hefty tip for being such a good driver as I exited the cab. The wind was at a minimum, but the chill of the air was lingering. The weather made New York a fickle place to spend the winter, but the city did make for a beautiful season.

My hands trembled as I pulled the thick material of my pea coat tighter around me and secured the top two buttons. I had the cab drop me half a block from the building so I could take in everyone’s enthusiasm for the show. Much like my own, they were buzzing with conversation and laughter. Not only did my lips curve up in a smile but my heart beamed with its own joy.

The warmth inside the building engulfed me as I stepped over the threshold. My eyes scanned the room for the first time and I couldn’t wipe the silly smile off my face. Even if they told me the show was cancelled, the smile would’ve still been plastered on my lips.

“Can I help you ma’am?” a younger man asked.

“Yes.” I smiled politely. “I’m meeting Rick Alverson for one of tonight’s shows.”

The man’s eyes brightened when I spoke of Rick. “Yes, Rick mentioned someone would be joining him tonight. Let me check the reservation listing.” He typed away on a small handheld tablet and a few seconds later his eyes lifted back to mine. “Rick will be here in just a moment. Please feel free to have a seat over in our private section.” He motioned to my right.

“Thank you so much…” My eyes dropped to his nametag. “Ben.”

“You’re very welcome Ms. Fisher. Enjoy the show.” He nodded before leaving me in the private seating area to help other attendees.

His knowing my name caught me off guard, but then I realized I was on the reservation list Rick had left. My giddiness increased with each second that passed. What seemed like an eternity was only a few minutes when a man of medium height with shortly cropped, dark hair and dressed in a nice suit stepped into the private seating area.

“Zoey?”

He smiled with such confidence I sighed from its intensity.

“Yes.” I rose to my feet and slipped my hand into his.

“I’m Rick.”

“Hello, Rick.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” He took in my appearance.

I was wearing a long navy gown that was simple yet chic.

“I’ve only had the pleasure of watching your audition videos a couple times,” he said.

“Oh, well…” I felt my face redden from the blush creeping across my skin. “I guess they were impressive?”

“Very.” His voice dropped an octave as he replied.

My heart fluttered, and I quickly told it to hit the road. The last thing I needed was my heart getting involved with a man who would be the main reason I got a position on Broadway. I learned the hard way once that your heart could destroy your dreams. I didn’t need that to happen again.

Light conversation passed between us as he directed me toward the theater. He still hadn’t mentioned which show we were attending, but my eyes caught the poster just before we passed the threshold and I silently celebrated the fact that I was going to be watching the Broadway Production of Les Misérables.

Once we entered the theater Rick took a left turn. I followed him through a door that read employees only and we turned right down a hallway.

“Everyone should be back here warming up.” He opened a door to the right once we reached the end of the hall.

The sounds of people warming up their voices and music being played flooded my ears as we entered back stage. I stayed close to Rick as my gaze wandered over the different costumes hanging on racks and makeup artists perfecting the performer’s faces and bodies. It was truly amazing to see firsthand.

Rick introduced me to pretty much everyone. A few congratulated me on my spot in Wicked, which I hadn’t filled out any paperwork yet to secure said spot, but it felt nice to be accepted into the group instead of feeling like a newbie. As he finished introducing me, we stepped aside to watch a group of the dancers run through their routines.

“Pretty cool to witness, huh?” Rick asked.

I nodded. Silence was the best answer when you couldn’t come up with words that did what you were trying to say justice. The passion each person involved with the production put into their parts was mind blowing. My heart was full of happiness knowing that I would soon be a part of a similarly large family on another production. I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

Rick escorted me to our seats with his hand on my lower back. I tried not to over think that gesture. I reasoned he was simply polite and doing what a gentlemen would do. Once we took our seats, the lights dimmed and the thought of him being overly friendly faded.

We sat in silence as each scene played out before our eyes. The emotions that ran through me were a mixture of awe, happiness, wonder, and heartache. Each person’s role was almost as important as the other. The raw emotions thrown into their singing and performing brought me to full on tears. Rick leaned over the armrest that separated us and handed me a handkerchief.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He grinned. “You’re welcome. I love it when I feel a performance rather than just watch it.”

“Me too.”

I held the handkerchief in my lap with both of my hands.

Rick gently laid a hand on top of them. “You’ll fit in perfectly, Zoey.” He gave my hands a squeeze letting them go.

I smiled.

He leaned back in his chair and we fell silent once again.

“Spill!” Clara leaned onto the table, her arms crossed.

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up my throat. She’d called me three times and texted me five, saying she’d be at the Perry Diner that was a couple blocks down from Broadway. Meaning, I’d better have my ass there as soon as the show let out so I could fill her in on everything that transpired.

“Patience is a virtue,” I joked.

“Yeah, yeah.’ She waved me off. “Well, I wasn’t born with patience so spill.”

I slipped my arms from my pea coat and draped it across the back of the tall chair. My floor length navy dress was definitely out of place in Perry’s, so I wasn’t surprised to have a few of the patron’s eyes on me as I took a seat across from Clara. They most likely thought I was important, and that wasn’t even remotely the case.

“Rick’s a super nice guy...” I paused as I tried to think of the right words to use, knowing Clara would blow the situation out of proportion if I didn’t tread carefully. “just a little touchy I guess you could say. But not in the creepy kind of way.”

“Oh, shit. Not already…” Clara groaned.

“What?”

“You’ve already hooked a guy that works on Broadway with your sexy ass …it’s inevitable.”

“You’re crazy.”

“No, you’re blind.”

“Here you go, ladies. If you need anything just give me a shout.” A thin man sat two baskets of cheeseburger and fries on the table beside two cokes I hadn’t noticed.

We both thanked him.

Clara snatched a French fry from my basket and took a bite. “Yes I ordered for you.”

I laughed when she answered my question before I could ask it then I switched the baskets. “One, you have your own fries.” I pulled my new basket closer. “And two, how did you know I wanted something greasy and fattening?”

“E.S.P. I suppose.” She shrugged before taking a bite of her cheeseburger, moaning as she chewed and swallowed.

“Is all of that noise really needed?”

“Ummm…hell yes it is. They have the best burger I’ve ever eaten, thank you very much.”

I shook my head and laughed as I dug into my own basket of food.

She took a break from devouring her fries. “So tell me about this Rick fella.”

“There really isn’t much to tell. He’s average height, short dark hair and brown eyes. Your everyday man.” I tried to brush her off.

“Yeah right.” Clara tossed a fry at me but I dodge it so it tumbled to the floor.

“Why do you have to play with your food?”

“Because you’re lying and I don’t have anything else I can throw at you.”

“I’m not lying.” I took a drink of my coke.

“It’s all over your face, Zoey,” she argued. “Admit that he’s hot and has your panties in a bunch.”

My eyes watered and nostrils burned as I choked on my coke.
Her and her obscene point of view about Rick and my panties.
“Okay, he’s good looking,” I coughed my admittance.

Clara fist pumped as soon as the words left my mouth.

“I’ll take good looking. I know how you tend to shy away from the truth of some matters.” She winked.

I coughed again. “On to another topic…” I offered once I gained complete composure. “He took me backstage during warmups. It was unbelievable, Clara! I mean…I can’t even put into words how much I enjoyed being able to be there for it all. This opportunity you opened up for me is more than I could ever imagine.” Tears welled in my eyes.

“Don’t you fucking do it.” She pointed a fry at me. “If you cry, I’ll cry. Then we’ll look like two nut jobs crying over cheeseburgers and French fries. I refuse.” She sniffled.

I giggled. “Okay.” I held up a hand then wiped underneath my eyes.

“But in reality, Zoey. You deserve to do something magical with the gift you’ve been given. It sucks that things didn’t turn out how you dreamed they would, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a new dream. Right?”

“You’re right.”

Clara had no idea how indebted I was to her for taking the time to hunt me down and push me into the auditions for Broadway. She might believe that I deserved every bit of it, but she deserved more for being such a wonderful friend.

We finished our food and I had to almost fist fight her to pay the bill. She wasn’t big on people paying things for her, but a greasy cheeseburger and fries was the least I could do.

“So what’s next?” Clara asked as we stepped out into the cold night’s air.

“I fill out all of the paperwork tomorrow morning and we start rehearsals next week.”

“That’s fast!”

“I know.” I bit my lip.

“You’ll be fine.”

“I hope so.” I wrapped my arms around my midriff.

“You will.”

“It’s been so long since I’ve done a routine that doesn’t involve shaking my hips to a Pop or Hip Hop song.”

Clara stifled a laugh. “You did what you had to do and loved every minute of it.”

“I didn’t mean I didn’t love teaching those girls. Teaching’s a big part of who I am, thanks to Tegan. It just wasn’t what I expected to be doing for a couple years out of my life.”

“You need to let the past go and live in the now.”

“I know…” I lifted my arm to hail a cab as we came to a stop under a light post. “It’s just hard.”

“Life can be a bitch. But you can’t let it get you down. Turn that sour ass shit into some Margaritas and live it up, girl!”

Our bellowing laughs echoed through the air as a cab pulled up to the curb.

“What would I do without you?”

“You’d be bored.”

“You’re probably right.” I pulled her into a hug.

“Let me know when you get home.”

“I will.” I slid into the backseat of the cab.

Just as I went to shut the door Clara called out, “And I want to see some of those Pop and Hip Hop dance routines!”

The cabbie’s gaze connected with mine in the rearview mirror. He raised an eyebrow. All I could do was shake my head and laugh.