AudreyI took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then another. I peeked out past the curtains. There was no one out there in the audience yet, but there would be soon. Just a couple more days and it would be time to go for real.The lighting guys ran a few final tests, and then we waited for the call. It was almost time to step out for the opening routine in the show. I was the first one on stage, and the last as well. What I did here would set the tone for the whole performance. I felt a little shiver run up my spine at the thought of that.The director suddenly appeared there before me. “Audrey, ma belle!” he said enthusiastically, kissing both of my cheeks. The man had never been quite so open and friendly with me before, and that, over the past week, had told me all I needed to know about both my dance and my ability to channel my sadness. That final piece nearly brought tears to my own eyes each time I performed it, and I knew the audience wouldn’t be able to help but be moved.

JesseIt had been over a week since Audrey went back to Paris, but things still hadn’t gone back to normal. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I couldn’t stop feeling alone. Joe had been coming over nearly every night, just like he used to when Dad had died. He brought beer most times, but I drank most of it by myself. Getting drunk seemed to be the only way I could sleep.Not that I slept all that much. I couldn’t bring myself to go upstairs to my bedroom most nights. I’d had Audrey in that bed. I’d planned a life where we woke up together morning after morning. Instead, I was sleeping fitfully down on the couch, and waking up feeling as though I had never slept at all. I knew I probably looked like I was going through hell. It seemed like the whole town was in on it, giving me sympathetic looks.I almost wanted to remind everyone that it was my own damn fault that I felt this miserable. I’d known she’d be leaving. I knew better than to get attached. It wasn’t like she hadn’t disapp

AudreyI couldn’t believe it had been two months and we were almost to the end of the summer season. Just a few more times putting on this costume and dancing this routine. I was going to miss it, that was for sure. But on the other hand, I was already looking ahead to the fall season. We still hadn’t received the final casting list, but I had my fingers crossed that I’d have another amazing part. Maybe not lead for the third time in a row, but I knew that the director had been thrilled with my performance this summer.Especially given the time crunch that I’d had in learning the part. I’d basically had a week to pull everything together after flying back from North Carolina, and then it had been a whirlwind of final dress rehearsals and then performances.I was exhausted, but I was exhilarated as well. My first lead roles couldn’t have gone better. My ankle still gave me a little trouble now and then, but the pain was manageable. Thankfully. I had returned from North Carolina in a bi

JesseI shrugged. “Of course I am.” Joe knew the whole story. He knew that I had liked Audrey back when we were still in high school, but had held off dating her because we had found out that our parents were dating. He knew all the recent history, too: that once Audrey came back to town, I found myself unable to keep away from her, even though I knew that she was planning on leaving in six months at the most, as soon as her injured ankle healed back up.I had admitted to him that I loved her. He knew all of this. So of course, I was still hung up on her. I missed her. That was just the way that things were.I knew what Joe was about to say before he said it. Whatever chance I might have had with Audrey, I had lost it now. She had gone back to the world that she belonged in, and I had just let her go.Well, not ‘just.’ The truth was, I had been thinking about all the ways that we could make things work between us. The only thing that I could think of was for me to go with her to Paris

AudreyAll the same, I grimaced when I heard someone else enter the stall. I quickly flushed the toilet and stood up, wincing as nausea roiled through me once more. Trish raised an eyebrow at me. “You all right?” she asked, looking concerned.“Yeah, I must have drunk that tea a little too quickly or something,” I said, trying a weak smile.Trish held out a glass of water, and I gratefully took a slow sip, trying not to upset my stomach again. From the considering look that she was giving me, I knew that I wasn’t going to like whatever it was she was about to say.“Nausea, weight gain, those fabulous boobs,” she slowly began. “A couple of bad headaches lately too, right?”“It’s nothing,” I said stubbornly. “I’m just under a lot of stress with the show. Nothing that I can’t handle, though.”“Are you sure you’re not pregnant?” Trish said, and I stared at her in shock.“Pregnant?” I echoed dumbly. “Of course not!” The moment the words were out of my mouth, I felt a little prickle of doubt