Opening Night (Ch. 7)
Stage glow and storm clouds
Welcome to a fictional series I’ve poured my heart into these past few months. Follow me into the world of high school theatre, where friendships, rivalries, and backstage crushes collide—and one girl fights for her dream as love and loyalty tug her in opposite directions.
I hope you enjoy reading as much as I loved writing this!
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10
Chapter 7
Indigo took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. It had been a while since she’d felt this way; the only time she got the jitters anymore was on opening night, and it was finally upon her.
Her hair fell onto her shoulders in the kind of soft waves that came from wearing braids all day. Up close, her makeup was heavy, but it was necessary to prevent her features from washing out under the stage lights.
Tonight was the first of seven shows and Indigo brimmed with excitement. She tried not to think about how soon it would all be over, instead focusing on the thrill in her chest as she brushed highlighter onto her cheeks, then pulled on her strappy sandals.
The students had practiced, danced, and sung their hearts out over the past several weeks. Refining every movement and syllable, Mrs. Green had polished every scene to absolute perfection. Tech week had gone smoothly, the costumes were clean and ready.
It was time.
“Five minutes!” Mrs. Green called through the doorway of the dressing room. “Indie, head to the wing!”
Indigo exhaled through her nose, held it until she couldn’t keep the air from her lungs a moment longer, and inhaled deeply. Closing her eyes, she focused on the rush the oxygen brought with it. She was Sophie now.
Indigo left the dressing room, walking through the small waiting area toward the door at the end. She was to enter from the wing on stage left, waiting there while the overture played.
But just as she reached for the handle, someone grabbed her hand. She turned.
Nic—no, Sky—was holding her hand, smiling. The blue of his tank top made his eyes even more vibrant than usual. Her heart skipped a beat at the intensity of his gaze.
“Hey, Sophie,” he said quietly. “Break a leg.”
Had he always been this cute?
“Thanks, Sky.” Indigo felt herself slipping—out of character? Into character? She couldn’t tell. She let the butterflies suddenly fluttering in her stomach carry her further into Sophie.
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll see you out there.”
Releasing his hand, Sophie slipped into the darkness of the wing, her palm tingling. The orchestra was just beginning the overture and the sounds from the audience hushed into silence.
Sophie picked up the envelopes that waited for her on the prop table. Holding them to her heart, she felt her chest swell with anticipation. She had so much expectation; so many glorious, hopeful unknowns in her future.
A whole world at her fingertips. Just for her.
The music slowed, the curtain lifted—her cue.
Mamma Mia! had begun.
The play was one big, beautiful haze that far surpassed anything Indigo had anticipated. The laughs and sighs from the audience fed the current running through the stage; the students sang and danced like they’d been born dancing and singing.
She didn’t know it was possible, but Nic’s acting leaped to an entirely new level. Indigo believed she was Sophie; she believed he was Sky. For three hours she was hopelessly in love with him, and their scenes together were electrifying in a way they hadn’t been during rehearsals.
All too soon the students were all crowded together, hopping along to the closing song, “Waterloo”. Final bows were given, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd, and then the curtain fell between them.
Indigo found herself smothered among her friends, arms wrapping around her in one massive group hug. Mrs. Green ran out onto the stage as they pulled apart, pride etched into every inch of her being.
“What a SHOW!” Wiping a tear from her eye, the drama teacher looked as if she’d spent the entire play crying. “What a talented group of kids. What an honor.”
She surveyed them each one by one—their mother hen that had pecked them into order, finally pleased with what they’d become. “Well! Now, go get out there and say hi to everyone!”
Mrs. Green shooed them off the stage as the tech crew came out of the wing with brooms to sweep up the confetti from the ground. Following her friends through the wing and out into the hallway, Indigo was suddenly tackled from behind as someone squealed in her ear.
“You were amazing!!!” Alice released her chokehold and threw her arm around Indigo’s shoulders. “You’re always amazing, but up on stage you are amazing amazing!”
Indigo laughed. “So were you! I couldn’t help it, with so many amazing people around me.”
“You really were incredible, Indie.” Nic’s voice came from her left, opposite of Alice. He tossed his arm around her back, linking the three of them together.
“Says you!” Indigo’s face flushed, but whether from the warmth of everyone around her or Nic’s closeness, she couldn’t tell. “Seriously, I didn’t know you could act like that!”
“So… you’re saying you think I’m good?” A teasing grin spread across his face.
“Oh, stop fishing for compliments!” Alice leaned forward to look at him sideways as they entered into the flood of people and pushed through to a spot from which they could shake everyone’s hands. She pointed a finger at him, scolding. “You already know you’re good!”
“I do now,” Nic said, pretending to toss a lock of hair over his shoulder. He bumped into someone and stammered an apology, a touch of red creeping up his neck.
Alice laughed at him, and sandwiched between the two of them, Indigo giggled along—then faltered when she looked up. Hudson was standing ahead of them against the wall, arms folded, glowering at Nic.
Indigo pulled free from her friends and kept a smile plastered across her face, hoping her happiness might pull Hudson free from the stormcloud brewing on his face. She leaped over to him and threw her arms around his neck.
“So, how was the show?” She tried to kiss him, but he turned his face, and it landed on his cheek instead.
“Good.” Hudson kept his eyes fixed on Nic, who was now surrounded by a crowd of worshipers.
“Just good?” Allowing a hint of disappointment to creep into her voice, Indigo turned his face toward her. “You didn’t like it?”
Hudson blinked, his eyes finally focusing down at her, softening. “No, no, I did. You were great. The best one up there.”
“Really?” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
He smiled, just a bit. “Really.”
“Indie!!!”
Indigo turned, the sound of her mother’s voice pulling her away from Hudson. Her mom came flying out of the crowd and smothered her into a hug.
“Indie, you were spectacular,” she said finally when she stepped back, holding Indigo at arm’s length. “I still haven’t figured out where you got it from, but you certainly have such a talent.”
Indigo forgot about everything else when she saw the tears in her mother’s eyes. She never could bear to see her mom cry.
“Don’t cry, Mom!” She wrapped her arms around her mom again. “It’s okay!”
“I know, you’re just so…” Her mom squeezed tighter as she finished her thought with a whisper. “Wonderful.”
Now Indigo’s eyes were filling with tears—but she didn’t have time to let them fall, because a new wave of friends, parents, and strangers she’d never met were passing by, offering their praises. The next quarter of an hour was a blur of faces as Indigo expressed her gratitude over and over, smiling until her cheeks hurt.
Soon enough, the human tidal wave had passed, and Indigo breathed a sigh of total contentment. Her peers were shuffling around, gathering their wits and stretching their faces, heading back to the black box to collect their things.
Realizing she hadn’t said goodbye to Hudson, Indigo looked around; but he was nowhere to be found. She shrugged to herself, thinking she must’ve missed him as he left.
She headed down the hallway, suddenly very tired and ready for bed. Alice joined her with a stream of chatter that Indigo tuned out; somehow Alice was able to talk for hours, even when she was exhausted. They made their way to the dressing room and changed, Alice finally running out of steam and falling into silence.
As they waved to Mrs. Green on the way out, Indigo realized she hadn’t said goodbye to Nic either. A glance around showed no signs of him—he must’ve slipped out during the chaos, too. Oh well.
Indigo felt an unexpected flicker of disappointment creep up, but shoved it down, burying it beneath the lingering stage glow. He was probably just tired and forgot to say bye.
She’d be seeing him again soon, playing Sophie alongside Sky again; and she’d let herself ride the wave of euphoria until then.
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In case you missed last week…
Indie, Hudson does not love you if he's acting like this. But also, you know you shouldn't be with him. XD
Fun! I really enjoyed this instalment! Hurry up, next one!! Very telling that Indigo shrugs off missing Hudson and is disappointed she missed Nic! Dump H already!! Is it wrong that I sort of hope Hudson and Nic are outside having a punch up? Can't wait to find out what happens at the final night party!! (That's a thing, right?)