ACT 2, SCENE 3

IT WAS A CHILLY SATURDAY EVENING AND AARAV WAS COOKING DINNER FOR AN ARMY OF ELEPHANTS.

Well, not cooking per se. More like opening the refrigerator door and finding a leftover container of ulava charu. He pulled it out and peeled off the plastic wrap. The smell of ginger and tamarind and garlic wafted into the air. The deep orange soup was speckled with green chili and curry leaves. 

His parents had a last-minute business meeting to attend and left him to watch Aadhira, who spent the hours doing somersaults and jumping over couches. If he glanced away for even a second, she would disappear and it would be a long round of hide-and-seek to find her. She had fatefully appeared behind him with arms full of plush elephants, proclaiming that they too were staving. 

Aarav lowered the bowl into the microwave and set the timer for a minute. However, a minute was all it took for Aadhira to disappear. By the time he set the steaming bowl on the dinner table, his sister was nowhere to be found. Biting back a sharp curse, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Gods, if she picked now of all times to play hide-and-seek again...

"Anna!"

He whirled around and nearly stumbled into Aadhira, who was barely half his size. Aarav sighed and adjusted his glasses. "Stop sneaking up on me," he ordered. 

"My friends wanted to go for really short a walk." She hugged the bundle of elephants tighter. Of course, she also demanded he set out multiple bowls for her numerous stuffed animals, and naturally, that came with spoons and napkins. Aarav doled out helpings of rice and divided the soup among ten bowls, two for them and eight for the elephants. 

Aarav's phone lit up with a series of text from Liam and Aaliyah, and he stifled a groan. Not another cast and crew party. It was a tradition to throw one after a successful opening night, but he wasn't sure if his parents would be home in time. Besides, having spent hours editing and reviewing his Stanford application for early action, the last thing he wanted to do was to be surrounded by people. 

"I watched a video on making tortillas." Aadhira's bubbly voice cut through the silence. 

"Did it?" He spooned ulava charu into his mouth and savored the spicy, earthy taste of horse gram balanced with the tang from tamarind and tomatoes and the sharp flavor of garlic, peppercorns, and ginger. Closing his eyes, he focused on the burst of flavorful spices, trying to push all thoughts of Stanford out of his mind.

"Yeah! Can we try that sometime?"

"Absolutely not." Aarav reached for a napkin and dabbed at his sister's cheek where she'd smeared food. "Last time we tried making anything, the toaster exploded."

"But it looked so easy in the video."

"Whoever made it didn't set toasters on fire."

Aarav's phone dinged again. Another text. After setting it face-down on the table, he headed to the cabinet to grab aspirin tablets for his incessant series of headaches. It had been days since they'd run out of caffeine and neither parent bothered to replace coffee. The closest thing he could find was chai—and it was decaffeinated.

Gritting his teeth, he dug through the refrigerator for a soda, energy drink—anything. As expected, the search was fruitless. The fridge was empty save for a couple bottles of water and takeout leftovers. 

"Anna!" came a wail of agony from the dining table. 

Gulping down the rest of his aspirin with a swallow of water, he rushed to Aadhira's side. "What happened?" 

She thrust Flappy the elephant into his arms. The hole had lengthen, the stitches splitting down the half the face. Aarav ran a thumb over the worn gray fabric and pressed the ends together. His sister clung to his arm and buried her teary face into his chest. With a sigh, he patted her head and set Flappy on the counter.

"Finish your food and I'll fix Flappy after dinner."

"Okay." Aadhira wiped her face on his shirt and gathered her other elephants into a hug. 

After setting their dishes into the sink, Aarav spent the next hour looking up online sewing tutorials to patch up the old toy. With the elephant resting on the table before him, he licked the end of the thread and squinted to see the hole of the needle. After multiple attempts, he managed to pull it through and double-knot it like the woman in the video. Sitting across him, Aadhira was a bundle of restless energy. 

"You're saving Flappy?"

"Yes" Carefully, he poked the needle through the elephant's ear. 

"Make sure his ears are still flappy."

"I will." He slowly pulled the needle back and forth through the faded fabric, trying not to pull too hard. If the thread snapped, it'd be a pain to rethread it. He winced when he accidentally pricked his left forefinger, a drop of blood blossoming on his skin, and wiped it off on his jeans. 

"Are you almost done?"

"Patience. I just started." His brow furrowed in concentration. 

Aarav sealed the test at the ear closed so that the stuffing was no longer poking out at the seams. He looked back to examine his handiwork. The stitching was clumsy and uneven in areas, but not bad considering that he'd never sewn before. He snipped off the thread and handed the elephant back to his sister, who squealed and hugged the toy to her chest. 

His phone dinged again and he massaged his temples. Liam again? Stifling a groan, Aarav flipped the screen over and saw not a text but an email notification. His brow furrowing, he opened up his inbox. An email had been forwarded to him from Mr. Wilson. His fingers hovered over the message while he debated whether or not to open it. 

When curiosity finally got the better of him, Aarav caved and clicked open the email. There, in neat black print against his glaring white phone screen, was an invitation letter to the Center Stage awards. 

. . . .

Jackie followed Aaliyah into the party and was greeted by blaring music so loud she could barely hear what the other girl was saying. However, her friend looked fabulous, dressed to kill in a sleek leather jacket and grunge tee and black miniskirt. She wished she could say the same for herself. While nice, her blue dress with the peter pan collar looked too childish among the rest of her peers.

The bass thumped along with Jackie's heart. She could feel the sound vibrations in her chest. She didn't know why she'd agreed. Perhaps it'd been the sincerity in Aaliyah's smile, the earnestness in her eyes. Jackie had been drunk on the sliver of attention. As small as it was, it meant that—even just for a second—she was wanted.

"What did you say?" Jackie shouted. Her voice sounded faraway, mixing with the music and cheers of other teens.

"Cast and crew parties are sacred! You can't miss one!"

Playing with her red hair ribbon, Jackie bit her lip and looked around. The house was chic and modern with pristine white and crystal-clear glass and crisp edges, and a chandelier with spiraling lights hung from the ceiling. The couches had been moved against the walls for a makeshift dance floor. Hanging in the air was the smell of booze and bad decisions. Off to the side were a couple kids playing Dance Dance Revolution while others belted karaoke upstairs and played truth or dare.   

Already empty pizza boxes piled up in the trash can in the corner. A bowl of pink punch, which was probably spiked with alcohol, was set out in the corner. Jackie knew her mom would kill her if she arrived home drunk, so she grabbed a can of cola from the cooler and popped it open.

"Come on, let's check out the game room," said Aaliyah while she led Jackie downstairs to the basement.

"Whoa." Her eyes widened.

The basement functioned as a game room with cozy couches and equipment set up for foosball, pool, and ping pong. It was quieter due to being secluded from the rest of the house. A couple people played matches with each other while some simply sat off to the side. Jackie collapsed on an empty couch, sinking into the cushions. As soon as she did, Aaliyah grabbed her arm and yanked her to her feet.

"Hey, I just sat down!" she protested. 

"Whatever." Aaliyah rolled her eyes. Her gaze moved to an empty pool table. "Let's play a game."

"Just a warning: I'm terrible at this game. You'll cringe so hard at my lack of skills."

Aaliyah shrugged and grabbed a longer cue stick. "I'm not an expert either." 

She gathered the fifteen balls and neatly sorted them into the triangle with the black eight ball in the center. "Why don't you break first?"

Jackie bit her lip and positioned the stick, aiming it straight at the triangle. She set her index finger at the top and thumb at the bottom like she'd seen multiple others do. Then she shot with her back arm and sent the clustered balls rolling across the table. She checked to see which ball had been pocketed and noticed a striped one had rolled in. 

Aaliyah nodded in approval. "Nice job. Your grip is a bit awkward, but you'll get better with more experience."

She lined up her shot, leveling the stick with effortless dexterity. She aimed and smoothly sent a solid ball rolling into the pocket while Jackie watched in admiration.

"You're going to win. I just know it."

"You never know. Maybe you'll have beginner's luck."

With a soft sigh, Jackie lined the pool tip up against the cue ball. She made her shot and the cue ball rolled into another striped one, sending it bouncing against the edge of the table. She stifled a groan when it narrowly missed the pocket.

"Better luck next turn."

The game continued on for the next half hour or so with Jackie missing nearly every shot and Aaliyah landing nearly all of them. Finally, she pocketed the eight ball, ending the game.

"Well that was fun."

"I lost by a landslide."

Aaliyah gave her a tiny smile. "Think of it as a learning experience. You can't be good at everything."

"If only that could be the case," Jackie responded and tucked her hair behind her ears. "I'm going to grab a drink. Do you want anything?"

"Just a Pepsi."

She nodded and scurried up the stairs on her tiptoes, an old habit from childhood that made her feel a little like a ballerina. She headed into the kitchen and dug through the cooler to find the right soda cans. Jackie had only returned to to the other girl when a chorus of screams and cheers made the their heads turn towards the basement door. 

Jackie raised her eyebrows. "Should we head back upstairs?"

"It's probably something stupid," Aaliyah said flatly but grudgingly followed her to the living room.

They arrived just in time to see someone doing the worm, writhing on his belly while a group of spectators circled him.

"We're playing truth or dare. Care to join?" one girl piped up. Anahi, the girl who played the sorceress. 

"She wouldn't dare. Too chicken," added in another girl with a snicker. She had nice eyeliner. Camilla, Jackie believed her name was.

A blush crept into her cheeks but she raised her head. "I'll play."

The circle parted to make room for them, and Jackie sat down criss-crossed, figuring it could be fun, while Liam lounged on the couch. Perhaps this could bring the excitement presented in high school films. It wasn't as though she had anything better to do anyway. 

Jackie turned around to look at Aaliyah. "Are you playing too?" 

The girl sighed and moved next to her. "Well, if everyone else is."

Anahi clapped her hands for the players' attention. "Alright then, let's give these new additions their turns. Now which one of you three wants to go first?"

"I'll go. Dare." Aaliyah stared expressionlessly back at the hostess.

"Eat five spoonfuls of hot sauce."

She walked to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of Sriracha sauce in hand. Methodically, she swallowed spoonful after spoonful until she reached five, her deadpan face never changing. Jackie watched her in admiration. She didn't have any sort of spice tolerance. 

"Impressive," Anahi commented and her eyes narrowed mischievously. "Liam, why don't you go next?"

"Fine, I pick dare."

Her dark eyes glittered. "Let the player on your right mummify you with toilet paper and mix garlic sauce into your hair."

Jackie looked around for a moment before she realized who was sitting on Liam's right. "Wait, that's me."

She delicately picked up a couple of the garlic cups that came with the pizza and set them on the ground. Then she grabbed a spare roll from the bathroom.

"Sorry about this," Jackie apologized while she wrapped a white strip around the his torso.

His blue eyes glittered in the light and he flashed her a bright smile. "Guess I brought this on myself."

She continued until he was nearly blanketed in it but kept the toilet paper loose so he was still mobile. Picking up a container of garlic sauce, she carefully poured it on his head with one hand, avoiding having it drip down his face. With another hand, Jackie massaged it into his hair. She examined her handiwork and wiped the sauce off her hand with a napkin.  

"You were way too nice to him," Anahi grumbled.

"This still satisfies the requirements of the dare," Liam pointed out.

"Ugh, whatever. Jackie, you go next."

"Truth." Her go-to option for every game. Jackie especially didn't want to be dared into drinking alcohol or jumping off heights. 

"Anyone here that you have a crush on?"

Her eyes scanned the group and landed on Liam. He looked as handsome as ever, casually leaning back with one leg crossed over the other. Aside from being toilet-papered of course. A dented red solo cup was positioned next to him. Upon noticing her gaze, his smile only widened.

"You have to tell us. It's the rules of the game," Anahi pressed.

"...Liam."

Anahi snorted. "Of course. That's what most people pick. You're a popular guy, Liam."

"What person wouldn't love me?" Liam tipped his head back and gulped down the remainder of his drink.

Truth or Dare continued in passing with turns going around the circle. Nearly half an hour later and everyone in the group had gone, except for Aaliyah who had to leave early. The latest victim was Carter who was cramming grapes into his mouth. His cheeks resembled a chipmunk and looked so puffed that they could nearly burst. Jackie laughed along with everyone else. At least this dare was much easier than his last one. He forcibly chewed and gradually swallowed the mouthful without choking.

"My turn then," Jackie said when the bottle landed in her.

"I'll ask this one," stated Liam. He looked at her, those dreamy blue eyes nearly making her melt and sending butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She couldn't help but smile back. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"Kiss me."

Jackie was startled to say the least. A blush crept up her neck and onto her cheeks. "What?"

"You said you like me, didn't you? So kiss me. That's your dare."

"Classic Liam." Anahi rolled her eyes. 

Aaliyah glanced at her. "If this makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. A dare isn't a binding contract."

Jackie inhaled slowly to steady her nerves. "...I might as well." 

She sighed and wiped her shaking hands on her pleated skirt. It would take more convincing than that to hide that she was nervous. The kisses in her daydreams were sweet and romantic, not right in front of everyone. This wasn't how it was in the movies, but then again, life wasn't a perfect romcom. 

She inched closer to Liam and leaned forward until they were mere inches apart. His eyes were even more dazzling up close. She felt her heart leap into her throat. The lights were bright, dizzingly so, and Jackie felt detached—almost as if her mind was floating away from her body. Liam smirked and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. As soft as the flutter of butterfly wings, his mouth brushed against hers.

For a second, there was no party. It was just her and Liam and the kiss. 

Liam drew away, the ghost of his warmth lingering on her lips. "Nice job. You have more guts than I expected."

Jackie's cheeks grew warmer, and she retreated back to her original spot next to Aaliyah. 

"Your face is bright red. You okay?"

She nodded wordlessly and placed a hand against her cheeks. Definitely burning. Jackie exhaled slowly, hoping the blush would subside soon. She drew her knees to her chest and buried her head in her legs, letting her hair fall over her face. 

"Oh my god!" a screech echoed throughout the house. "Guys, check your email!" 

Jackie's head snapped up to see a tech girl running into the living room, her red curls bouncing everywhere. 

Anahi raised her eyebrows. "Who uses email these days?" 

"It's Mr. Wilson. We got an invitation to Center Stage!" The girl squealed again and launched herself into a friend's arms.

Mouth falling open, Jackie turned on her phone and checked her inbox. Sure enough, at the top of the list was the very email invitation to the national competition. She sucked in a sharp gasp and clutched her phone tighter. The butterflies swarmed in her stomach. Westminster had made it into the competition. With her. As the lead. 

Anahi slung an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. The brunette raised a red solo cup high in the ear. "Hey everyone, let's give it up for our new leading actress this year!" 

Jackie's face burned a bright red. "Wait, what? No, this was a team effort!" 

What followed next was a series of cheers and hugs, then more cheers and hugs. Jackie stood, dazed, while everyone in the theatre group came over to embrace her. Never before had she had so much attention all at once. While she was no stranger to being onstage, this times all eyes were on Jackie—the girl—without her playing a character.

Soon enough, the party wound down. The floor was littered with crushed plastic cups and greasy paper plates. Anahi positioned large trash bags for people to clean up. Teenagers filed out of the house, biding their goodbyes.

Jackie walked out into the darkness. She raised a hand to her lips, which still tingled from the touch of Liam's kiss. Sure, they'd kissed before for the play, but those had just been fake, their mouths separes by a carefully-placed thumb. Did him kissing her for real mean anything? It was a game of truth or dare, but then again, it was he who dared her to kiss him. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Liam pulling open the door to his car.

"Liam!" she called and jogged over. "Mind giving me a ride?"

"Sure thing. Get in." 

Jackie clambered into the passenger seat and while he turned the key in the ignition. He glanced sideways at her. "Seat belt first."

She quickly buckled it and made sure the strap was properly positioned. 

"Okay, so where's your house?"

Quickly, she gave him the directions to the Aster mansion. Liam nodded and started the car. Jackie pulled her sweater tighter around herself and looked at the window. She watched the mansions pass by with the pretty lights and nice landscapes.

"You can see the stars even from here," she murmured. 

"They're beautiful." 

Skies full of stars were cliché but for good reason—they were beautiful. It was the simple, mundane things that were so easily admired. "Did you mean it?" she asked after a moment's silence. "The kiss." 

"Why else would I have dared you to kiss me?" Liam's eyes gleamed in the darkness. The ethereal hues of starlight flickered across a strong chin and elegant nose set against structured cheekbones. 

"I don't know." Jackie was grateful for the darkness and how her flush was hidden.

"I like you," he admitted, sounding almost bashful. She could've laughed right then and there if it weren't for the nerves in her stomach. Liam, the paradigm of confidence, was actually feeling shy?

When they pulled up to the Aster mansion, Jackie stepped out of the car. The glass tickled her ankles, a feeling between annoying and pleasant. Her hand lingered on the car door, and the pounding of her heartbeat swallowed all else. "I like you too," she said finally.

Gently, Liam's lips pressed against her cheek. A sweet little kiss on her skin. Her eyes snapped to his face and he too looked surprised by the action. 

Jackie cleared her throat. "Thanks for the ride."

"See you Monday."