Each performance flew by until finally it was time for that event anticipated by actors, actresses and crewmembers everywhere: the cast party.
A cast party is a very interesting experience. Everyone who has worked together on a play for months, pouring in sweat and tears, really let loose. People who seemed perfectly ordinary as you worked beside them for months suddenly seem to lose their minds. Pole dancing, making out, racing up and down stairs, charades, board games and the game of Truth are all commonplace occurrences. For the people who stay all night, a cast party can be a life-changing event. So sit back relax and enjoy the conclusion of Much Ado about What?
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�Is that everything?� Mickey yelled up to the tech booth.
�If it�s not, let the janitors deal with it!� Shouted another crew member.
�So we�re free to go?!� Demanded an eager young actress.
�Only if everyone has everything they brought in.� Mickey said in a firm tone. �All the lights are down, but are all the props picked up?� He asked one of the �prop tarts.�Theater slang for a techie who works on the props for a show.
�I think so.� The girl batted her eyes at him.
Lily was filled with jealousy when she saw Mickey smile at the girl.
�We�ll go check, right Joanne?� Lily asked, grabbing the redhead�s arm.
�I guess so.� She said in a disappointed tone.
Toby, who had watched the exchanges between Lily and Mickey with interest for the past two and a half months arched his eyebrows. As the two young men coiled the wire Toby conversationally remarked, �You better watch out tonight.�
�What do you mean?� Mickey asked.
�You know Joanne attaches herself to some random guy at every cast party?�
�Yeah.� He remarked uneasily. �Why?�
�I heard her telling one of the makeup chicks that tonight it�s going to be you.�
Mickey shuddered. �What should I do?�
�Run.� Toby advised. �Or attach yourself to someone else. Lily Black for example.�
Mickey looked up, and anger glinted across his face. �Thanks for the advice.� He said flatly.
�Yeah man, whatever.� Toby said.
�We got everything.� Joanne said, standing closer to Mickey than she needed to.
�Great Joanne, thanks.� He stepped back, trying to maintain a little bit of personal space. She followed him doggedly, determined not to let him get away so easily.
�So will I see you at the cast party?� Joanne asked.
�Maybe.� Mickey answered. �That isn�t really my scene.�
�Oh.� Joanne looked disappointed.
�Mickey you have to come!� Lily exclaimed.
�Oh I do, do I?� He asked, amused.
�Yes.� Lily paused then added boldly, and a tad flirtatiously, �And you have to stay all night.�
�All night? Why?�
�Cause I said so.�
�And why should I listen to you?�
Lily tilted her head to the side. �Why not?�
Mickey grinned. �I won�t even dignify that with a response.�
�Cause you don�t have a good one. I win!� Lily said victoriously.
Mickey rolled his eyes.
�C�mon?� She pleaded. �Please?� She dragged out the word.
�All right, I�ll come and I�ll stay all night. Happy?�
Lily nodded. If either of them had been paying attention to Joanne at that instant they would�ve seen a smile that would do the cat that ate the canary proud. She turned and gave Kay the thumbs up sign. Kay smiled contentedly. Her scheme was working perfectly! Lily and Mickey would realize how they felt and they would never need to know how she and Lyssa orchestrated the whole thing.
At the cast party, around four in the morning.
Mickey Lily, and a group of others are settled on a couch in someone�s basement. Everyone else has fallen asleep during a game of truth. Lily and Mickey are curled together cozily.
�Your turn Horton.� Lily grinned.
�Fine.� He smiled. �What do you want to know?�
�What are you looking for in a relationship?�
�Excuse me?� He choked on his soda.
Lily watched him cough and sputter. When he had recovered she asked again, �What are you looking for in a woman? The girl who�s your meant to be, the one you look at and just know, your soul mate, what will she be like?�
�I,� He stared at her, gauging the seriousness of her question. �I guess I want someone I can love wholeheartedly, someone who�ll love me back. She�ll be beautiful, and smart, and stubborn as a mule. She�ll be sweet enough to care about what�s going on in my life but she�ll have enough of a temper that she�ll be able to hold her own in an argument.�
Lily opened her mouth.
�Yes, I know what you�re going to say. And yes, we will fight. Everyone does.�
Lily shrugged. �I guess.�
�What? Grandpa John and Grandma Marlena never disagree?�
�I don�t know�� Lily said slowly. �I�ve never seen them do so. But since I never see them they might. What about your parents?�
�They have little things from time to time. Nothing major. Why?�
�I never saw them fight either.�
�Like I said, it�s little stuff that probably doesn�t even count.�
�I guess.� She sighed.
�What�re your parents like?� He asked, realizing she needed to vent.
�I don�t know! And I don�t care. They�re never around anyway.� She said, exasperated.
�If you don�t care why were you so hurt they didn�t come?�
�I do care a little. Doesn�t everybody?� She asked. �All I�ve ever really wanted is for them to notice me. For people to notice me. That�s why I started acting you know.� She smiled. �When I�m onstage and the spotlight hits me and I start saying my lines I know everyone is paying attention. I know they aren�t ignoring me.� She bit her lip. �I mean, your parents are great, and Brady does everything he can for me but it just isn�t the same as hearing my parents say they love me and they�re proud of me.� She laughed a little, trying to relieve the tension she brought on herself every time she talked this way. �So, finish answering that question!�
Mickey knew that talking to her any more right now would be futile so he did as she asked. �To finish answering your question I want someone I can trust, someone I can love and someone who will love me back. I don�t expect a mind reader but I do want someone who can tell how I feel just by looking at me. She will be understanding about certain members of my family. She�ll never get jealous because she�ll know I love her whole-heartedly. She won�t ever make me feel bad for working late because she�ll understand how important my work is, and I�ll do the same for her.�
�All excellent requirements.� Lily said approvingly but her heart was sinking. �I don�t meet to many of those requirements.� She thought nervously. �Maybe I was mistaken earlier.�
�Oh and one other thing.� His eyes were twinkling with laughter.
�What�s that?� She asked, sounding upbeat.
�She�ll like takeout.�
�What?� Lily asked, confused.
�If we had to live on my cooking we�d starve. And I wouldn�t ask her to do anything she didn�t want to do. And the girl of my dreams hates to cook.�
�You sound like you already found her.� Lily�s heart sank.
�I did.�
�Who is it?� Lily�s heart was in her throat. �Anyone I know?�
�She�s in this room right now.�
Lily looked around. The only other girl in the room was Joanne and she was pretty sure nothing was going on there. �Oh!� She realized. �You mean me.� She blushed fiercely.
�Well this is awkward.� Mickey blushed too.
�No, no!� She beamed. �I think you might be who I�ve been dreaming of too.�
�Really?�
�No promises. We�ll give love a try, and if it doesn�t work we�ll go back to being best friends, like nothing ever happened. Agreed?� She held out her hand.
Mickey stared at it for a second. �Agreed.� He held out his own hand. They shook firmly. �This way I�ll never lose her.� He thought jubilantly.
�And we won�t sleep together unless and until we�re married.� She extracted the promise. She kissed his cheek, not ready for another kiss like they�d had three days ago. �If he kissed me like that again we might overstep our limits.� She smiled up at him. �Good night.�
�Night.� Mickey had to admit he was disappointed. �We�ll move at her pace and our love, love that�s such a great feeling, will be stronger for it.� He rationalized.
�Even if we break up I�ll still have a best friend.� She snuggled into his arms, using him as her pillow. �Question being, will a best friend be enough?� He stared at her beautiful face. �Probably not.� He admitted honestly. �But we�ll cross that bridge when we get there.� He adjusted so they were more comfortable. He kissed her forehead and they both drifted off.
Lily woke up first next morning. They were alone in the basement. �Great.� She groaned. �Word of this will be all over school come Monday.� She looked down at Mickey. She had to admit that she loved him, even if it was only to herself. She stared at his handsome sleeping face. �I could definitely get used to seeing this face first thing every morning.� She declared, climbing off of him. �Come on sleepy head, wake up.� She patted his face.
He stirred, and looked up. �Morning.� He said softly.
�Let�s go get breakfast.� Lily suggested.
He nodded. She gave him a hand off the sofa.
They walked up the stairs holding hands. When they emerged from the basement, looking like the couple they were the cast and crew of Salem High School�s production of Much Ado About Nothing spontaneously applauded.
Mickey blushed fiercely, and looked like he wanted to flee back to the basement. Lily, who seemed to have been born for the spotlight relished the attention and bowed. Cheers, whistles, and catcalls greeted her theatrics.
She laughed good-naturedly and dragged Mickey to the kitchen where they grabbed some food. �I just wanted to say I think you have a beautiful face to wake up to.� Mickey whispered conspirationally.
Lily smiled. �I already like you. No need to give me a swelled head.�
�But I want to.� Mickey insisted.
She rolled her eyes. �If telling me how beautiful I am makes you happy who am I to disagree?�
They both laughed. �I�m so happy I found you.� He said sincerely.
�So am I.� She grinned. �Let�s go home.�
�Home?� He asked.
�Your home. I wanna tell your mom she was right about us.�
�Of course she was. Lead on.� He followed her out the door, with a feeling that he�d never been so happy.
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