Chapter 5

When I enter the big hall, a few students greet me. I head straight to the teacher who is standing beside the stage, talking to Audrey, the main role of this year’s play. She gives me a side look, before rolling her eyes.

A lovely type of greeting.

“Hello,” I say in my nicest voice, trying to make clear that I wasn’t interrupting for fun. “Mr. Darin, there is something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you have a minute?” He sends an apologetic look to Audrey, and she turns around with a huff, leaving us some space. Not as much as I would want her to, but it was something. “What’s up?”, Mr. Darin asks curiously.

“I had a few ideas about the posters. Something that might attract a larger audience to your play. We can discuss the details later since I know you’re busy, but I thought that making Audrey a part of it, would be an idea.”

Before the teacher can answer, Audrey appears again, this time with the biggest smile she probably ever offered. She grabs me by the shoulders and nods her head in agreement. “This is a great idea! I heard only great things about you.” Her face looks so convincing, that I can barely recognize it’s fake. She is a great actor. But so was Selene and I started to wonder if that could have sparked any jealousy in Audrey. Deadly jealousy.

Observing her would now become the highest priority. We both look at the teacher pleadingly, and he sighs, which must have become his trademark by now. “Alright, Alright. You can try. Take a few sample shots, and then we will discuss what can be improved.”

“Perfect”, Audrey answers and looks at me. “Meet me at the entrance, after school, I’ll think of a location for an aesthetic background. She leaves to stand with her friends on the stage without waiting for a reply and I can see how she immediately tells her friends the news. I stare at her, wondering what kind of relationship Selene and Audrey had.

“You know, that’s a little bit creepy.” a voice appears beside me. Aidyn grins at me, offering me the bag of chips he’s holding. I take one out, before looking at Audrey again. “I just zoned out while thinking about something. We’re going to do a photoshoot later for the posters, so I was brainstorming already. But what about you? Are you stalking me? That seems creepy.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Stalking is your job?”

“I mean it is a lot of work…but no”, he replies, trying to hold back a smile. “I am responsible for the lighting. I did it last year too, and since they definitely won’t find anyone better than me, I thought I’d try again.”

“Mr. Darin would have lost his last brain cells, if not for you, saving the play. Truly the water source in the desert.”

“What a way with words. But is that sarcasm I hear?”

“Interpretation is a core part of art,” I shrug, watching him lift an eyebrow.