A misstep.
No more platform.
A downward plummet.
Gasps ring out as I lose my footing, topple backward off the stage, and crash-land a few feet below like a dropped sack of potatoes.
Shit.
I’m pretty sure I black out momentarily because when my vision settles, two Lexes are looming over me, and I think they both want to give me mouth-to-mouth.
“Is this still…the kissing scene…” I mumble, little bluebirds fluttering behind my eyes, tweeting sweet songs from a planet far, far away.
“Jesus, Stevie.”
He’s Jesus. I’m dead.
I blink a thousand times until his two faces morph into one and things start coming into focus. Slow-motion bursts of movement streak across my periphery, and muddled chatter filters into my ears. A hand caresses my cheek. Warm, tethering, soft. It makes me want to close my eyes again.
“Back away! Alice, call for an ambulance.”
Mr. Hamlin sounds frantic, and I wonder if I look as bad as I feel. My head pounds. My tailbone throbs. But the hand on my cheek feels nice.
“Talk to me. Say something.” Lex’s eyes are bluer than ever, but that could be my brain misfiring. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“Oh my God, is she okay?” Natalie appears like an inky princess with jet-black hair and dark eyes. She latches on to Lex’s arm, but he wrenches himself free.
Jameson is hovering over me now, checking for signs of life.
Too many people. Too many faces.
“I’m…fine.” I lift up on my elbows and blink a few more times until the haze clears. “Walking is hard sometimes.”
“Good lord, Stevie,” Mr. Hamlin says, crouching beside me.
Wincing, I rub the back of my head and sit upright. “Don’t worry. My family can’t afford to sue.”
Mr. Hamlin peers down at me with concern. “The ambulance is on the way.”
“No, no…I’m okay, I swear. I don’t need an ambulance.”
Jameson reaches for my hand and pulls me to my feet. “Damn, Stevie. You good?”
“I got her.” Lex forces his way between us, but Jameson doesn’t let go. “Back the fuck up. I said I got her.”
Jameson shoves at his chest. “Jeez, man, calm down. I’m just trying to help.”
“You can help by taking your fucking hands off her.” Lex pushes back, angrier, with more force.
Before a fight can break out, Mr. Hamlin wedges himself between the two of them, his face as pink as his suspenders. “Knock it off, both of you. Control yourselves.” He turns to me. “Are you sure you’re all right, Stevie? If you’re certain, I’ll call off the ambulance.”
Lex snags me by the wrist. I wobble against him, planting both palms against his chest for steadiness. “I’m fine. Promise. Just bumped my head a little,” I say. “I’ll take a quick break, and then we can go back to the scene.”
“No, we’re done for the day,” Mr. Hamlin replies. “Head to the nurse to get checked out, and then make sure you rest. If you need to call off rehearsal tomorrow, we’ll survive.”
My face sours.
Lex places his hand at the small of my back and leads me down the aisle, spearing Jameson with a hostile look over his shoulder. “I’ll drive you home after you stop by the nurse.”
