Ethan by Ryan Loveless

Author:Ryan Loveless [Loveless, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult
ISBN: 978-1-63477-417-8
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2016-10-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Carter

A PUBLIC high school played host to the event, and its auditorium was packed, likely due to the high-caliber celebrities playing the main roles. I didn’t know how Alice had pulled this off. It was a big deal. Residents of a women’s shelter filled out the supporting cast, as the benefit was for the shelter. I sat in the third row behind Will Smith and next to Ethan’s family. Ethan had spent all day in rehearsal.

“He wouldn’t let us come,” Liz said, her voice a whisper below the anticipatory murmur of the audience. “He wanted it to be a surprise.”

“Not like he wasn’t practicing ever since he heard the line,” Elliot said, but he seemed happy about it.

During the day I had popped in and out of rehearsal and glimpsed Ethan talking with Alice, but I hadn’t been able to do more than wave. I’d spent most of my day making last-second changes to the transposed songs. “I’m sure he’ll be great.”

“Of course he will be.” Liz looked affronted that any other possibility might exist.

I opened my program. I hadn’t been able to read any of the production notes, but with ten minutes before curtain it was a good way to kill time. I was reading the dramaturg’s notes when the woman next to me cleared her throat.

“Do you mind?” I turned to see her glaring at me.

“I’m sorry?”

“You keep bumping into me. Can you sit still?”

“I, um.” My words to explain that I hadn’t realized dried up. I stared at her helplessly.

“Look. Just stop fidgeting, okay?”

“I’m suh-suh—I’m—”

Elliot leaned across me. “He can’t help it. If you’ve got a problem, move.”

“We paid for these seats.”

“I didn’t know I was doing anything,” I said, addressing my apology to my knees. “I’m sorry.” I glanced at Elliot. Elliot is helping? Not only was Elliot helping, he looked like he was going to punch the woman.

“How could you not know?” the woman asked. “You jostled me so much I feel like I’m on a fucking boat.” I kept my gaze down. Shoving my hands under my thighs to stop them from jerking only made my elbows fly out. I wanted the conversation to end. “I’m sorry. I don’t always realize.” If she would just leave me alone, I would spend the entire performance concentrating on holding my tics in.

“I told you, he can’t help it. Are you deaf?” Elliot asked.

“Elliot!” Liz leaned into the conversation. “What’s going on?” I tried to sink into the floor.

“Your son,” the woman said, pointing at me, “won’t stop fidgeting.”

“Carter, trade seats with me,” Liz said.

“I’m not her son.” But I got up anyway and resettled between Elliot and Nolan.

Liz smiled at the woman. “Now, you and I are going to have a little talk about consideration for other people’s situations.”

“You can fidget now. It’s cool,” Elliot said.

Sharp tears gathered in my eyes. I focused on the stage. When the performance started, I had relaxed enough to enjoy it. The new actor pulled off his sudden role superbly.

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