Compulsion by Martina Boone

Author:Martina Boone
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon Pulse

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Behind the stage the eight lighted columns of Colesworth Place rose like the skeletons of the dying South against a bloody sky. A fitting backdrop for Cassie’s play.

A high school boy in a Confederate uniform led Barrie and Eight through a small crowd of tourists fanning themselves with programs. In the center of the front row, he picked up a pair of RESERVED signs from the folding metal chairs.

“Enjoy the show,” he said. Giving them a smart salute, he clicked his heels together and turned back to the ticket table.

Barrie took her seat, but the pull of something lost drew her attention beyond the columns to where the mansion had stood. Something was buried there; Cassie was right. Something big. The pressure made Barrie’s head ache even worse. At the rate she was going, she’d need to buy stock in whatever company manufactured Tylenol.

“It’s nice that Cassie is so modest about taking credit.” Eight leaned closer and tapped the thin program in Barrie’s hand.

Barrie scanned the text. Written by C. Colesworth based on a novel by Margaret Mitchell, Produced by C. Colesworth, Directed by C. Colesworth, Starring Cassandra Colesworth and the Santisto Players.

“Who are the Santisto Players?” she asked, shrugging off Eight’s sarcasm.

“The high school drama club.” Eight stretched his legs alongside hers, close but not quite touching. “The principal won’t let them say so because Cassie stole the story to write the play. He doesn’t want the school to get in trouble.”

“So all these kids are Cassie’s friends?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

Barrie turned to look around. The seven rows of seats were filling up, and again, she and Eight seemed to be the main attraction. In the area to the right of the stage marked Actors Only, girls in hoopskirts and boys in bow ties and formal coats took turns peering at her from the gap between the curtains. People in the audience cast her curious glances. A curl of annoyance tightened in her chest, but she pushed it down, told herself she was fine. She just wished the play would hurry up and start.

“It’s only a few more minutes,” Eight said. “Are you hungry yet? I could go get our food.” He pointed at someone carrying a small wicker picnic basket from the concessions stand.

Food was the last thing Barrie wanted. Or the second to last thing, because having Eight leave her alone with all these people staring at her would be worse. On the flip side, eating would give her something to do with her hands.

Before she could make up her mind, Eight turned to smile at a dark-haired girl in a pale pink costume who was coming down the aisle. “Hey, Sydney.” His greeting was friendlier than he had ever been with Cassie. “You here to meet your cousin?”

“I was hoping to,” Sydney said. Her smile was tentative, and she lifted both hands to call attention to the picnic basket and the steaming bowl she carried. “I brought y’all some food.”

Barrie set the program on the seat beside her and rose, only to stand there with no idea what to do.

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