"Stop, stop, stop." The lights dim and Veronica takes the stage. "You need to stick with the original blocking, Erin. All right? We have discussed this over and over again. Please stick to what we have talked about."
"Yes, ma'am," Erin whispers. She assumes her previous position and the music resumes. She twirls around stage, meets Brendan's eyes, twirls, leaps into his arms, and falls on her ass on stage left. 'Damn it,' she thinks to herself.
"Shit, Erin. Jesus H. Christ. God fucking damn it. We have a show in one week and you are still not prepared. What the hell is up?" Veronica demands.
"Nothing," Erin mumbles.
"Whatever it is, you better solve it in the next few minutes. We don't have all day." She stares at Erin, though her gaze lingers a bit, but then she leaps offstage and into the audience. "Again. Once more from the same spot, please."
The lights increase again. Erin is temporarily blinded, but it does not seem to matter. Her thoughts are on other matters at the moment. A flash of a short black skirt, boots, red lipstick. The thought makes her damp between her legs. Then, the music starts again. She assumes her previous position on the stage and the music resumes. She twirls around stage, meets Brendan's eyes, twirls, leaps into his arms, and lands perfectly on stage left.
Veronica begins to clap. "Bravo, bravo. Now get the fuck out of here." The actors exit, followed by the musicians and techies. Erin sits on the edge of the stage, feet dangling over. Veronica cannot help but think about how beautiful she looks in that light. Her hair shimmers like her blue sparkly gown. A strand of her brown hair frames her face. Veronica reaches down to push it back behind her ear. Erin looks up suddenly.
"Uh, hi..." she stammers, almost whispering
"Hey, listen, I am sorry I was so hard on you today at rehearsal."
Erin is silent and continues to swing her legs.
Veronica continues. "I am just really stressed about opening night. You understand as well as I do. We've both been in this business an extremely long time. It is a stressful time in the production process, and people snap."
"Yes, but I am just sorry that things weren't working out today. I don't know what came over me. I just felt out-of-step for some reason, that's all."
"That's all right, Erin; it happens to all of us." She places her hand on top of Erin's. "It'll all turn out, in the end. How, I could not tell you. It's a mystery."
Erin smiles. "All right."
"Listen, you had better get on home and get some rest. We've got quite a week coming up for us, hmm?"
"Yes, ma'am. We sure do. Have a great night." Erin heads backstage to the exit while Veronica sits on the edge of the stage where Erin just left, chin in her hand, musing.
*
II
Erin is just about to head out to her car when she remembers she needs to change out of her costume. She heads back to the costume room to discover everyone else is already gone. Well, she had spent quite a bit of time chatting it up with Veronica. She seemed really upset about the production. Erin had to admit things were not going as well as they could, or should, and felt slightly guilty for not performing at an optimum level this night. All she could hope for was this show to pull itself together by the time opening night rolled around. Hopefully Veronica would stop stressing about everything.
Since everyone was gone and she does not have terribly much to rush home and do, Erin decides to adjust her costume. The dress is a little bit too long with her lower heels she wears. Erin is shorter, but not terribly short, with a slender figure. The dress is just a little bit long for her height. It is a blue evening gown with sequins and spaghetti straps. She hopes she can adjust the straps or do something else to fix the height. Unfortunately, she is not so inclined with dress adjustments and it easily frustrates her. She sits down in the large couch backstage to relax and think about alterations for a moment. In the next second, she is out like a light.
Veronica just finished striking the set completely. She is angry that the damn techies did not do their job and just left without putting all the light trees away, but they are just kids, after all. The only way to really get the job done, and done well, is to do it herself, anyway. She knew that. She just had one more check, to make sure the costumes were all back and hung up and the door was locked. They should all be in there, but she wants to cover all bases.
As she makes her way behind the curtain, she notices the costume room door wide open. She begins to get enraged and storms toward the door. As she stomps in, she sees Erin fast asleep on the couch.
Erin is eighteen. She is by far the most talented actress Veronica has seen in a long time. Not only can she act, but she is quite pretty, in her own distinct way. She's more petite, little, cute, and Veronica recalls she looked damn good in that black dress, with her tight little butt...oh, but that was another thought completely that she could not let herself have. Well, she could let herself have it, but would never share it with anyone. She stands there at the door a minute and gazes adoringly at Erin, sleeping, unsuspecting. How she would like to kiss her cheek and rouse her from her slumber.
Instead, she sits on the edge of the couch at her feet and gently pats Erin's leg. "Erin, Erin, you've got to get up."
Erin slowly rises from her dreams and gradually realizes where she is. "Oh..oh..oh! Oh, my gosh---I am so embarrassed. I am so sorry Veronica. I came back here to adjust my costume and I must have just fallen asleep or something. It has been such a long week with rehearsals, and final exams coming up in two weeks. I have been running on no energy whatsoever. And I guess I just fell asleep. My goodness, I am so sorry about this. I am sure you have to get home, and here I am sleeping and---"
Veronica places her finger to her lips. "Enough. It is all right, Erin, I understand completely. I have been running you and the cast ragged this week. It has been a difficult night for both of us. I apologize for it."
"Well, I knew it was going to be demanding when I auditioned for the role. Eloise is a demanding role."
Veronica remembered when she had auditioned for the role. She wore low-cut blue jeans and a red wrap-top that just exposed her navel. Besides that, her audition was magnificent. She was completely enthralled as she read, and imagined herself opposite Erin in the piece. It was a fantasy, all a fantasy, but one she had completely planned out in her head, that she one day wished to execute. "But you are perfect for the role. I should know. After all, I cast you."
"Well, thanks. I try as hard as I can." She blushed a bit at the compliment. Veronica was the best director an actress could ever work with. Not only was she incredibly friendly and nice, but she had a great sense of humor, though she tended to be pretty sarcastic and was, at times, offensive. Also, she was beautiful. In a strange way. Erin could not describe how she was beautiful. Maybe it was just she wished she looked like her. Not that she was attracted to her or anything. Not to girls. Oh no. She had dated Josh for two years, and Veronica was married. Or at least she wore a ring on her finger.
She also did not know why she was focusing on trying to figure out Veronica's love life. She just did not know how she felt Veronica was beautiful. There was something about her. She radiated. It was indescribable beauty.
Veronica was much taller than Erin, closer to six feet with a very strong build. Her long, dark auburn hair contrasted with her pale complexion. She was one of those women that you knew did not give a damn about what anyone else thought. One look at her, and you would know instantly she was a drama teacher. Her clothes rarely matched, and she often integrated bohemian scarves and vintage vests into her wardrobe. The clothes flowed, and made her appear to float out of another foreign land. She was Venus de Milo. She was womanly, incredibly womanly, and Erin wished she could know her better, deeper. Their eyes met and lingered just a bit longer than they had before.
"You know, I really should be getting home. I have homework to do and stuff."
"Yes, I believe you have a lot to do. And I better get home to...my cat...Well, I am not so anxious to get home. I think I might stay around here for a bit and work out the blocking for Act 3. You cannot deny we have had major problems with it the past few days."
"Oh, I wish you wouldn't stay here at school still. You're so tired. You put yourself into your work so much and never stop. You need to relax, Veronica."
"Yes, but it is not that easy. I have a lot of responsibilities. I cannot simply abandon them."