He looked completely lost. “You’re leaving.”
“How long did you think I would stay here? As soon as the show’s established all that’s really needed is a tailor. I have the chance to lead a production. This is everything I’ve been working on since I was a kid. It’s my dream come true. From here I can work up to Hollywood. God, I could get a Tony for costumes!”
“Awesome.” Austin smiled, but his enthusiasm was not there.
“What’s wrong?”
He shook his head. “I just thought that you’d be here.”
I grabbed his hand. “The show closes in four months. You’re going on tour after that to support your album. I need to keep working, and this is what I want to—havedreamedof doing.” I let go and stepped back. “Aren’t you just little happy for me? I came here first, to tell you.”
“No, I’m thrilled for you!” His voice was a little perkier. “I just didn’t realize that we wouldn’t be working together.” He took a deep breath and grinned. “Let’s celebrate. Dinner out.”
I froze. “With me? In public?”
“I was going to invite everyone…”
“Of course,” I said.
Of course. With everyone.
Austin
Uriah walked in thedoor and everyone cheered. He waved and bowed and walked to the head of the table, thumping down the massive portfolio he’d been carrying.
“Can you show us anything?” Noah asked.
“Oh, sure,” he said, pulling it up from the ground. “Nothing is secret. Yet. We’re just working through ideas. I get to sit there and hear Kirk Bergen compose music… I mean, it doesn’t get better.”
“That was your whole first week?” I asked.
“The whole thing. Sitting in the room while he, Darlene Sillstone, and Mac Veracruz worked on lyrics. I had most of the stage play with me and I was following along, but I got to listen and sketch ideas. Me and Opal.”
“Who’s Opal?” I asked.
“Set designer. She and I sat there giggling like idiots the first day. Even Ilson wasn’t mad at us—she knew we were both first time leads.”
Opening the portfolio, he started paging through it.
And I realized I had never seen his work before.
He wasfucking talented.
Every stroke on the paper had a reason, every color had a place. He had simple designs, complex ones, all with color palates down the side so he could work with the story.
Noah pointed to the color rows. “Your synesthesiaagain?”
“When isn’t it?”
“What’s that?” Luis asked. “Syntest-eesia?”
“Synesthesia,” Uriah said.
“He can see music in colors,” Noah said. “I got the ability in math and numbers, and he got the weird wiring that lets him see music.”
My eyebrows rose. “Really?”
“Mom and Dad saw it early, and helped him learn how to use it.” Noah smiled softly.
