Our last rehearsal started with a full run of the show. We'd all gotten out of school at noon with special permission from the principal. Anton wanted to see everything, and afterward, he and Jamie called us all to sit on the edge of the stage to give notes after we got out of costume. Everyone wanted to get out of rehearsal early so we could make the school spirit bonfire tonight.

The bonfire was at eight, and it was five now. So far, we have been doing pretty well on time. Although Carson claimed he had to be early to help the band set up, it didn't worry me.

Hanging my costumes backstage, I pulled my normal clothes from the cute costume bags that Jamie had made. They had pouches and pockets for our street clothes and accessories for the play.

At the beginning of rehearsal, she'd given us a stern lecture about ensuring we didn't have any accessories the audience could see that might take them out of the play. No phones in pockets, no watches, bracelets, earrings, rings, etc. She'd called Samantha out for hot pink socks in her slippers under her dress. 

Then, she and Anton showed us the finer points of stage makeup. The lesson had mainly been for the boys since Carson had applied so much blush at our last rehearsal that it made him look more like a modern clown than a harlequin.

I snapped my watch around my wrist and combed through my short hair. My clothes were a little wrinkled, but overall better than expected.

Shayna was in the makeup room, reapplying foundation. Several discarded makeup wipes had already taken off her heavy stage makeup and lay next to her small makeup bag.

"It feels like it takes longer to get out of full costume than do the entire show sometimes," she said. "But we have the bonfire to look forward to tonight. After we perform at the festival tomorrow, we'll never have to deal with this pasty makeup and these stupid wigs again."

"At least we aren't in something like The Lion King or Cats," I said. "But the wig caps are a million times worse than the makeup. That Jaques wig and cap always give me a major headache."

"If Anton organized another play, would you do it?" Shayna asked.

"I'd audition," I said. "Might be kind of fun, depending on what it was. I wouldn't want to be Juliet or anything."

I'd always thought Romeo and Juliet was kind of pointless. It was overdone, and it didn't feel real. Maybe that was because I'd never fallen in love.

Using a microfiber cloth, I took off my makeup since makeup wipes tended to make my eyes sting. I had a nasty allergic reaction to the stage makeup here yesterday. It looked like I had a sunburn this morning.

Jamie was sympathetic when I told her. She said she had a friend who was equally as sensitive-skinned. She suggested I bring my normal foundation and makeup. I'd just have to be a little more heavy-handed in the application, and no one would know the difference.

My mascara was still intact, but I redid my foundation because the stage lights made me sweat.

Novah sat beside me, reapplying her eyeliner and eyeshadow. She somehow made the colors blend into the perfect smokey eye. I wished I was that good with a makeup brush. 

The three of us finished around the same time and walked out on stage to wait. Carson sat on the edge of the stage, nearly in the wings. Kai sat near the middle of the stage, sitting up straight. The three of us found seats between Carson and Kai.

My feet hung down off the stage in the orchestra pit that in no way was wide or deep enough to house an orchestra, and I waited. I sat between Novah and Shayna. We seemed to be the first ones, so we got to wait on everyone else.

Jules came onstage in a black shirt and overalls. They sat on the edge of the stage. Lilly was still shutting down the lights, and Samantha was still changing in the back. She was probably still fixing her new curly purple wig or wasting time redying her hair again.

Carson was humming some song I'd never heard and mimicking plucking his guitar strings. I thought maybe he was trying to get a last-minute impromptu rehearsal.

Jack came out from backstage, gripping his phone hard. His blonde hair was askew, and his pale skin was slightly red from removing his stage makeup. Juan came out behind him dressed in basketball shorts and a sleeveless shirt with a picture of a pop star I didn't recognize.

"Who are we still waiting on?" Anton asked.

"Samantha," Kai said. "And Hugh was dealing with something. He said his sister called, and he had to take care of something."

"Did he say how long he'd be?" Anton asked.

"No," Kai said.

Anton sighed and sat down. Jamie set a hand on his shoulder. She seemed so calm and poised compared to Anton's nervous director energy.

Hugh came onstage a moment later. His dark hair was messy from being under a wig cap, and his glasses were crooked.

"Anton," he said. "So my sister Jessie blew the transmission on my mother's car. She needs me to pick her up at the mechanic."

"Go ahead and go," Anton said. "I'll text you your critiques."

Hugh walked out of the theater in a rush. I hoped that his sister was all right. Jessie was one of the nicer girls on the cheer team.

"Let's hear monologues while we're waiting," Jamie suggested.

Jack volunteered to go first, taking center stage as the rest of us found seats in the audience. His monologue went smoothly. Kai went next and, as usual, gave a flawless and entertaining performance. Jules went next, giving a little shaky but solid presentation. Juan's monologue was perfect, and I followed him.

By now, I guessed everyone was sick of my "All the World's a Stage" bit, but everyone clapped when I was done.

Shayna took the stage last. She had the most monologues in the play, but she was performing a single monologue at the festival.

"It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue;

but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord

the prologue. If it be true that good wine needs

no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no

epilogue; yet to good wine they do use good bushes,

and good plays prove the better by the help of good

epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am

neither a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with

you in the behalf of a good play! I am not

furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not

become me: my way is to conjure you; and I'll begin

with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love

you bear to men, to like as much of this play as

please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love

you bear to women--as I perceive by your simpering,

none of you hates them--that between you and the

women the play may please. If I were a woman I

would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased

me, complexions that liked me and breaths that I

defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good

beards or good faces or sweet breaths will, for my

kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell."

Shayna bowed, and we clapped. As Rosalind, she had learned the most lines and somehow had memorized them all before I'd even gotten a grip on my monologue. Hugh and I had been betting that Shayna would make it to the finals of the monologue round.

"Excellent job," Anton said as Shayna joined us in the audience. "Any notes, Jamie?"

"I love how expressive you are," Jamie said. "You seem very in character, even for being put on the spot for a monologue. All of you did a great job."

"I wish I had a monologue for the contest," I heard a wistful voice say from behind me.

Somehow, Samantha had slipped into a seat silently instead of making a spectacle. Her brown roots were growing back in her pink hair, and she'd reapplied her shimmering eyeshadow.

"I think I'll type up some notes for each of your players later tonight," Jamie said. "These kids have earned some fun, Tony. We wouldn't want them to be late for their bonfire."

Anton smiled. "I agree. Remember, everyone, the bus leaves at 3:45 AM. I know that's early, but we don't want to be the last group to get there."

"You got it, boss," Novah said.

"We pulled off the whole show tonight, guys," Carson grinned.

"As we liked it," Samantha said.

"Leave the Shakespeare jokes to Rita, Sam," Shayna said, and I smiled.

"How about we hit up some ice cream at the malt shop?" Juan said. "My treat."

"Sounds good," Kai said.

"Let's not forget the spirit jamboree tonight," Jules said.

"It's hard to believe you even know when the football team plays, Jules," Kai said.

Jules laughed. "What can I say? I'm a walking calendar."

"We might have a new song for the masses tonight," Carson said.

"Great," Samantha groaned. "A wail fest on electric guitar."

We were all getting along for once. There seemed to be no divisions or factions between us. Sure, Juan was still a little arrogant, and Samantha was a little obnoxious. Carson was a little hyperactive, while Jules was themselves. Kai was book smart, Hugh was a little outgoing, Novah was a little lazy,  Shayna was a little self-conscious, Jack was overly charismatic, and I was a bit of a wallflower. Still, despite our imperfections, we'd managed to come together.

I was so caught in the moment that when we all made it to the malt shop, I think I was the only one who noticed that minus Carson, who'd announced that he had to help his band set up, Shayna and Jack hadn't joined us.

Even Hugh had joined us after he retrieved his sister. I didn't bring it up because I didn't want to put a damper on the celebrations.

Shayna and Jack needed time to talk. They had baggage they needed to unpack before falling into step as easily as the rest of us.

I'd talk to Shayna about it later. For now, I'd enjoy watching Novah and Samantha's speed racing to see who could drain milkshakes the fastest and the boys throwing maraschino cherries into each other's mouths in a ridiculous game of catch. It was a moment I would cherish and never forget.