Waiting in the Wings by Melissa Brayden Page A

make sure things went well for me. It made a big difference.”
    Her eyes left her reflection in the mirror and met mine warmly. “Nothing to it,” she said lightheartedly. “Besides, it turns out you’re not so bad at this whole performing thing after all.”
    “I better go get ready.”
    “See you out there.” Though I intended to dash out of the room, Adrienne’s smile in the reflection held me in place a moment longer than I meant for it to.
    “Right. Leaving now.” The adrenaline already in my system was now clearly in overdrive. I had to resist the urge to skip back to the stage. Life had definite possibilities.
    ❖

    It was a five-hour bus ride from Detroit to Chicago. Everyone seemed pretty low-key as the week before had been an exhausting one all around. We had been traveling for about an hour and I was getting restless. I looked around for Lanie and found her toward the back of the bus in the midst of a conversation with Ben. I knew better than to interrupt that coveted exchange.
    I located Adrienne sitting alone toward the front of the bus. She was staring out the window watching the world go by. I wondered what she was thinking about and wished I had courage enough to ask. We hadn’t talked much after that night on the street, other than the short exchange at the theater. I wondered where we stood. Almost as if she read my mind, she turned her head and smiled that smile that could end wars. I felt my breath catch. Adrienne inclined her head and raised her eyebrows, inviting me to move down the aisle and sit with her. I didn’t need to be invited twice.
    “So is this seat taken?” I asked, arriving at the vacant seat next to hers.
    “I was saving it for an up and coming young starlet, but I suppose you’ll do.”
    “Good thing.” I chuckled as I slid into the seat. “I was starting to get a little too introspective back there. Staring out the window
    for hours on end has a way of doing that to you. What do you do to pass the time?”
    “Well, I’m a list maker, so there’s always that. I also use the time to get my thoughts in order, organize my life a bit since it’s hard to do that in the middle of show week. I decompress, self- evaluate, compose e-mails to friends, relatives, and of course, my agent. Plus, I think about what’s going on in my life.”
    “Wow. That’s quite a lineup.” “Yeah, I suppose it is.”
    “So which of those things were you doing just now?”
    “Hmm. While that’s a little personal, if you must know, I was
    thinking about you in the first Alexis outfit in Act One.”
    My mouth went dry. “Really?” She nodded her head slowly. “And what’s the verdict?”
    Her mouth curled up into what appeared to be an embarrassed smile. “Let’s just say you get the full four stars.”
    I laughed and nudged her shoulder with mine. “Thank you.”
    She covered her face and shook her head slightly. “I cannot believe I told you that.”
    “Why? I’d like to hear more.”
    “I’m not usually that…blatant. You bring that out in me, I guess.”
    I took her hand. “That’s not a bad thing, you know.”
    “Get to know me a little more. You might change your mind.” “Doubtful. Wanna play I Spy?”
    “That depends on if you’re actually serious. I Spy, as in from fourth grade?”
    “Do I look like I would joke about a thing like that?” I said. “I happen to take my road games quite seriously.”
    “I can see that,” she answered, laughing. “All right, you’re on.” Several hours and multiple games later, we arrived at the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago only a little worse for wear. Right away my energy level changed significantly. The buzz of the big city was palpable and I could feel excitement coursing through my veins. As we made our way off the bus, I took a deep breath and
    smiled. Adrienne looked over at me and grinned back broadly. “Are you ready for this?”
    “Are you kidding? This is what I’ve waited my whole life for.” “Well,