All the Way by Megan Stine Page B

cast, I want you all to learn your first scene by heart for tomorrow, so you can go off book for at least one scene. Chorus girls, come in here ready to sing ‘Bushel and a Peck’ without lead sheets. Chorus boys, I want you ready to sing ‘Guys and Dolls.’ Okay—that’s it for today, but tomorrow we’ve got to buckle down and really get to work.”
    I stood up and tried to think of some excuse to walk past Tyler, who was still up front talking to Natalie.
    â€œUm, you want me to put that hat in the costume trunk?” I offered, picking up the blue pillbox hat Emily had bought.
    â€œOh, I can do it,” she said.
    â€œI don’t mind.” I practically grabbed it from her. “I want to see what else is in those trunks anyway.”
    â€œWhatever,” she said. “I’ll put the drum in the props closet.”
    She got up and took the most unobtrusive path she could find, slipping down the side aisle toward the door that led backstage. I marched straight down the center aisle so I’d have to cross in front of Tyler on my way.
    â€œHey,” he said as soon as he saw me, turning away from Natalie, who didn’t budge. He noticed the tiny hat in my hands. “Nice hat.”
    â€œIt’s for you,” I joked. “I thought Sky Masterson could use a nice little pillbox to bring out his softer side.”
    Tyler laughed, but I glanced at Natalie, and the chill coming off her glare was so cold, it could have given me frostbite. “So you want to go out for coffee?” he said. “I mean, maybe we need to discuss my costume in a little more detail.”
    â€œSure!” I jumped at the invitation. “But don’t think I’m going to change my mind about the hat,” I teased. “My costume design integrity is worth a lot more than a mocha latte.”
    â€œNot even if I throw in whipped cream?” he flirted.
    Natalie put her foot down at that. “Tyler, I hope you’re not talking about going out now . I thought we were going to keep working and run lines together.”
    Tyler looked trapped, like he didn’t know what to say. “Um, I think Mr. Richards is kicking us out of here,” he said, meaning the school would be closing up. What were they supposed to do?
    â€œYeah, but we could go out for coffee. We could work on our scene at Murphy’s,” she said, naming the best coffee place in town. She softened her voice a little, so she wouldn’t sound like such a demanding bitch. “I mean, I just don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of everyone tomorrow . . .”
    What could he say? He wasn’t going to let his costar down.
    â€œOkay.” He turned to me. “Rain check?”
    â€œWhatever.” I shrugged.
    â€œPromise?” He reached out and tugged on my sleeve. “Tomorrow after rehearsal, okay? We’ll get coffee?”
    I smiled. “Okay.”
    He looked at the blue pillbox hat in my hands again. “And don’t make any hasty decisions about my costume until I have a chance to ply you with a double mocha, extra whipped cream, and all the scones you can eat.”
    â€œOkay,” I laughed.
    Natalie glared at me, and I had to work very, very hard to suppress a triumphant smile.
    I should get three Oscars. I mean, seriously.

Chapter 10
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    â€œSo you want your usual?” the girl behind the counter at Murphy’s asked Tyler when he and I showed up for coffee the next afternoon.
    She raised an eyebrow, her eyes darting back and forth from him to me.
    Yeah, yeah, I get the point. He was in here yesterday with a different girl. Natalie. So what?
    â€œYeah.” Tyler laughed at her, like she couldn’t push his buttons no matter how hard she tried. “Call me crazy, but I can actually drink a straight black house blend two days in a row.”
    I tossed my hair over my shoulders and stood extra tall—which for