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THAT DAY, DURING REHEARSALS for Violet’s Voice, rain and hail beat the roof of the theater until Maude was certain it would fall on their heads.
She refused to see it as a bad omen.
“Scene 3,” the director said. “Violet and Lorenzo’s meeting. Maude. Thomas.”
Maude began singing Greetings.
She tied her hands together and twirled on stage.
I am so happy,
So very happy,
I am so happy,
To meet you, Sir.
My name is Violet,
And I will never let,
Your spirits get too low.
But as Maude moved to take Thomas’ arm such as the stage direction indicated, Thomas slipped from her grasp.
She edged closer, and again he moved further.
He sang his verse, full of enthusiasm, but remained at a safe distance from her.
This continued until the director called out,
“Bradfield. What are you doing?”
“I was thinking, it would be best if Lorenzo shows a little restraint. It could be an interpretation.”
“We’re not paying you to interpret. Just do what the text says. Start over.”
Still they started over, but their disjointed singing proved disappointing.
“Give it a rest, guys. Grace, Jacob. You two. Sing Sister and Brother.”
While Grace and Jacob sang about family bonds, Maude and Thomas moved away from the stage.
“What’s the matter with you?” Maude hissed.
“With me? What about you? Stop coming on to me.”
“Violet and Lorenzo are supposed to have a connection.”
“I don’t want the press to read too much into this.”
“This is a Broadway musical. I know I’m not the best actress, though I have greatly improved since Vampire Love, but come on, you don’t want to screw this up, remember?”
“I do. That’s why it’s best not to seem too cozy on stage. I’ve got a girlfriend. Got it?”
“I’m not interested. Lindsey can have you.”
“And Matt, you. Look, I’m just trying to make everything seem normal.”
“It’ll seem normal if it is. So just stop.”
But no improvement on his part occurred.
Luckily, Grace’s scenes with Maude were much more fun for the both of them.
Maude was amazed at Grace’s transformation. She’d always seen the talent in the sixteen-year-old girl, but her growing confidence gradually softened the sharp edges of her personality. Her happiness when she sang Lilac’s songs filled Maude with joy. Grace’s step was lighter, her face flushed with a passionate crimson. She got along tremendously with the rest of the cast, especially Jacob Salamander, the actor playing her brother, who overtly flirted with her.
As the weeks passed, Maude and Grace’s chemistry enchanted the director while Thomas and Maude’s bland performance provoked his ire.
“You two fix this tonight or someone will have to go,” was his final decree.
Maude and Thomas reluctantly stayed after rehearsal.
“I cancelled a special date with Matt to stay with you so we’d better fix our issues this evening.”
“You’re the issue, don’t you get it?”
“How can I be the problem?”
Thomas turned away from her, moodily.
“Thomas,” Maude insisted, “I haven’t been anything but understanding. If you’re still blaming me for the mistakes we made in the past, I can’t help you.”
He marched across the stage until he stood before her.
“I’m still in love with you.”
Cupping a surprised Maude’s face, he kissed her. She pushed him away at once and slapped him with rage. Stunned with horror, she moved backwards, away from him.
“W-why did you ...?” Looking to the entrance of the theater, she let out a small scream.
Matt stood in the room.
“Matt, what are you doing here? This isn’t how it seems!”
Matt was no longer listening as he ran to the stage and grabbed Thomas. Thomas raised his hands, frantically protecting his face.
“Wait,” Thomas said. “I was just trying something out. The kiss is in the script.”
“You pathetic liar. I don’t know what Maude ever saw in you.”
“Matt, stop!”
“You’re still defending him. I knew he was into you. I told you he was.”
Maude tugged on Matt’s sleeve until he let go.
“I’m out of here. You two just continue inventing new scenes,” Matt spat, turning on his heels.
“Wait!” Maude hurried after Matt, catching up with him outside.
“Stop! Wait!”
“Why should I listen to you? You obviously never listen to me, to my concerns.”
“It’s not my fault Thomas kissed me. You saw how I reacted. I was furious.”
“You enjoyed it.”
“I did not! I pulled away! I slapped him! Please, don’t be mad.”
“You’re asking me to get over this? Are you kidding! If you caught me kissing one of my exes, how would you react?”
“He’s not an ex. I never dated him.”
“You would’ve, wouldn’t you? If he hadn’t stolen our song.”
“What?”
“You liked him! From the start! You liked him more than you liked me.”
“I don’t recall ...”
“You hated me and you went on a date with him. You had feelings for him, Maude. You probably still do. That’s why you always forgive him. Over and over again. I never get the same courtesy.”
“You’re not thinking straight. Let’s go somewhere private and talk.”
“Here’s fine. Why don’t you tell me all about that kiss? Was it everything you ever imagined?”
“I have never imagined kissing Thomas.”
“You don’t need imagination, you already kissed him once, remember? Was it as good as last time? Did he improve with time? Is he a better kisser than me?” he asked, full of sarcasm.
“It was awful! Thomas is self-sabotaging as always. I chose you, didn’t I? I always choose you.”
“You chose me because Thomas disappointed you.”
“I chose you because I loved you.”
“Loved? You don’t love me anymore.”
“That’s not what I meant. You’re twisting everything I say.”
“Because you repeatedly give me reason to doubt that you want this. I’ve tried for months to talk to you about our future? You’ve never listened.”
“What? I never realized, I promise.”
“Do we have a future together or are you still stuck in the past? Not just your past with the Ruchets, but with Thomas? Admit that you liked Thomas way before you liked me and that if he hadn’t screwed up, you’d be with him instead of me.”
“I ...” She thought about the moments Thomas and she had shared at the start of the relationship and froze.
“How about you sleep on it. Sort out your feelings,” Matt said with dejection. “I’m out of here.”
He turned heel and left.
Maude rushed back inside the theater.
“You’re an idiot! Thomas, I really hate you right now.”
“Do you?”
“Why did you do it? Why? Did you know he was standing there?”
“No, I swear I didn’t. I had to know if I still loved you.” He shook his head miserably. “And I don’t.”
“I’m thrilled you had to sabotage my relationship to sort out your stupid feelings! I could’ve told you that you didn’t love me.”
“How did you know?”
“You and Lindsey are in love.”
“She doesn’t love me. She thinks I’m a joke.”
“You two need to talk. I’ve had it with your secrecy. You’re over me. She’s over Matt. Why don’t you two just stop lying to each other, sit down like adults and talk?”
“How do you know Lindsey loves me?”
“She told me so, you fool! She was afraid you were still in love with me, which I assured her was false.”
“It is! It totally is! I need to speak with her. Now. You mind not telling her about this little incident?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
He took out his phone and called Lindsey.
“Hey! Am I catching you at a bad time?” He waited.
“I just called to say I love you. Yeah, like the song. You love me, too? I want to see you right now! Okay, okay, I’ll come over.”
He hung up and grinned, while Maude sighed.
“I gotta go,” he said sheepishly. “I’m sorry I created a huge mess.”
“You should be. I can’t believe Matt thinks I ever had feelings for you.”
“Nah, you never did.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Remember when we were at Ambrosia for our first date. You were totally distracted. Even before you learned I’d stolen your song. I knew I didn’t stand a chance.”
“I remember! I was disappointed. I couldn’t stop thinking about my time with Matt. I saw him in every face and each time I was disappointed. Why didn’t I think to tell him that five minutes ago? I just froze. I should’ve told him that date at Ambrosia was bad from the start.”
“Gee, thanks. What a waste of my time. You should tell him. I’m off.”
“I’ll tell him. But will he believe me?” Maude asked, as a gnawing feeling in her stomach grew.