Wooden posts made up the frame of the stage. Red velvet curtains hung from above and tied to the sides with golden ropes. The platform seemed to be made of podiums stacked together and pressed against each other. A small table had been reserved for three judges. A crowd of people, belonging to different age groups, gathered for a chance to participate.
After all, the grand prize was an unlimited buffet meal at the Stitz Diner.
Since the prize was good for two people, participants could either perform alone or with a partner.
“I wonder if Alex and Logan would also decide to enter,” Henley remarked offhandedly. He sat at the middle chair for the table of judges. His ginger hair shined like a penny. He folded strips of paper and tossed them in a basket.
“If they will, may I be excused to barf?” His secretary scoffed with disdain. He had a pair of scissors and cut off the paper into strips. They land on the table for Henley to fold.
The student council president glanced to his right. A teasing smile curved on his lips, “Oh, Devin, do you still hold feelings for Logan?”
Henley recalled his friend’s reaction from that day. A simple touch had affected him greatly. The bottom half of his neck had turned red, the white collar hiding it from most eyes. The student council president had known his companion for a few years now. He could spot his reactions easily.
Devin sneered, “Who would be interested in an idiot like that?”
The scissors snapped loudly. The pieces became uneven because the secretary lessened his attention on them. Instead, he imagined it to be someone else’s skin—a person who acted like he never ignored the other for years. Someone who had a personality to throw people aside.
The more he thought about it, the more his temple throbbed.
“Ah, but wouldn’t you be cheering for him later?”
“Who would cheer for who?” Devin hissed through gritted teeth. He slammed the scissors on the table, already finished with the strips, and stood up, “I’ll be going to the restroom.”
Laughter that sounded like a row of bells came from Henley’s left. A young woman with luscious wine hair sat held a list of participants. They only had a limited time for this activity. Each contestant had 10 minutes of spotlight. The chance for the grand prize could only be given on a ‘first come, first server’ basis.
“My, my, my, President,” the Theater Club’s executive teased. Using the sheet of paper, she covered her nose and her mouth The teal color of her eyes brightened with merit, “So that’s how you display jealousy.”
Henley arches his eyebrows at her, “Jealousy? What do you mean, Penelope?”
Penelope twisted the list and whacked him on the arm, “Try and deny it, Pres. I have seen a lot of acting in my time and observed a lot of characters. I have seen how different people behave even when they have the same emotions.”
The student body president remained silent. He merely pressed his lips together and went back to his tasks. The papers contained fairy tale stories that the contestants needed to do. It would be chosen when it would be their turn next. Their time to prepare depended on the current performance.
“How long has this been going on?” Penelope persisted. She took a sip from her bottle of water and watched his face, “I’m impressed that not a lot of rumors about you two had spread.”
Amber eyes scowled at the table, “Nothing is going on.”
Teal ones blinked as the Theater Club executive rested her elbow on the table. Her hand cupped her cheek, “Did you get rejected?”
“…”
The lack of response told Penelope enough. She tilted her head to one side, “And it was because he still had feelings for Logan?”
“…”
“I will stop prying, Pres” she chuckled, returning to her own work. She waved her hand at the people in charge of the sound system. She asked about the status with a thumbs up, “I do wish you the best of luck though. I think Devin is aware that he also has feelings for you but you might want to try a different approach if you want to be together.”
Henley tossed the last folded strip. He twisted his head towards her, “And what exactly do you propose?”
A small mischievous smile stretched on her red lips, “I am glad you asked.”
After 5 minutes, Penelope let the first contestant pick a paper from the basket. Devin had come back and opened his social apps while waiting. Henley peeked from the corner of his eye. He could see that his secretary went to check the school news. He forced himself to look away.
It didn’t take long for the first performance to begin.
Penelope nodded her head at the ushers. They signalled the pair about their turn on stage.
A horn sounded to ask the audience for some silence. It captured the attention of bystanders, most of them eating nearby. If that had piqued their interest, more so did the first person to step on the platform. Their gazes had turned into stares as a magnetic presence appeared before their eyes.
A well-built young man climbed the small staircase. His deep black eyes had the ability to suck someone like a black hole. His deep dimples on both cheeks enhanced the charm of his smiles. He had used white powder to change the color of his jet black hair. He had grabbed a purple blanket from the provided chest of props.
While walking to the center, he wrapped it around him.
Then, he lied down near the front and closed his eyes.
All became still and quiet.
Breathes hitched in anticipation.
…
…
…
…
…
A loud snore echoed out of the speakers.
The timing had the audience amused. Penelope held back her laugh while Devin rolled his eyes. Henley kept his face neutral as he admired the chosen route for the story. For someone that could be a model, he hadn’t expected for some comic relief.
He leaned closer to the club executive’s ear, “What is his name?”
Penelope widened her eyes at him. She peeked to the third chair on the table. Devin had his eyes trained to the performance but his stiff posture made her think that he heard the question. Using it to her advantage, she grinned at the student council president.
“I actually had a good chat with him,” she started to say, “His name is Erick Kendall from Burkendall High School. If you want to see him more, better check out the football championship as well. He’s the captain of his team.”
Soon, a young woman stepped on stage, carrying a small woven basket. Her white blonde hair instantly made her stand out. Her green eyes glistened vividly as if the sun shone through the leaves of a forest. She had a red cape-like coat wrapped around her neck, its hood covering the back of her head. She seemed calm and composed despite the hundred of eyes on her.
“And who is his girlfriend?” Devin questioned suddenly, cutting into the conversation. He emphasized the last word of his statement.
Penelope desperately wanted to snort. She passed a knowing look towards Henley and leaned on the table. Face directed at the third chair, she supplied the secretary with answers, “She’s Amber Keene. I don’t know about you but she almost reminds me of Amanda Seyfried right now who had a role as Red Riding Hood. She loves food and Harry Potter. When she heard the Stitz Diner could mimic a good butterbeer, she practically dragged Erick to join.”
“Just because she’s wearing the same costume, doesn’t instantly make her celebrity material.”
The club executive rolled her eyes, “Just let me enjoy their performance? I’m sure Henley is looking forward to it too. Right, Pres?”
“Oh, yeah, of course,” Henley coughed, “I’m looking forward to the line up today. The enthusiasm really makes a person excited.”
“Grandmother?” Amber knocked on a wooden post. She made sure to use as much force as she could muster. Each pound sent vibrations down the post and onto the platform.
“Who is it?” A hoarse cack-ly voice asked.
“It’s me! Little Red Riding Hood!” She replied with bubbly energy.
Erick lifted his head as if to check on the door. He held onto the purple blanket and pretended to tuck his hair behind his ears. He croaked, “Oh how lovely! Do come in, my dear!”
Amber opened an invisible door and stepped inside the house. She stared at her ‘grandmother’ curiously. A frown slowly etched onto her face, “Grandmother! Your voice sounds so odd. Is something the matter?”
Shivering, Erick coughed, “Oh, I just have a touch of a cold.”
Amber kneeled beside his chest. She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead. Her own forehead creased with worry. Sliding her hand to the side, she tugged on his earlobe…
… HARD.
“Aaaah…!” Erick yelled involuntarily.
His girlfriend ignored it and exaggerated a gasp, “But, grandmother! What big ears you have!”
Erick pried her hand off gently. He caressed it to soothe the pain. He giggled her remark off, saying, “The better to hear you with, my dear!”
Amber let go of the basket and inspected her ‘grandmother’s face’ more. On each hand, her thumb and index finger formed letter C’s. She placed them on her boyfriend’s eye sockets, stretching them wide.
“But, grandmother! What big eyes you have!” She exclaimed.
Erick gave her a tight grin. His hands clenched over the blanket. He twitched occasionally, acting as if he suppressed his urge to pounce, “The better to see you with, my dear.”
Amber let go of his eyes, noticing his teeth. She yanked his bottom lip as far as it could stretch. Her other hand fanned her scrunched nose, “But, grandmother! What big teeth you have!”
A growl rumbled in Erick’s chest. He snatched her wrists and locked her in place. His black eyes glowered at hers. He bared his ‘big’ teeth similar to a canine that held back a bark. He pushed his back and howled at the sky.
The blood drained from Amber’s face. Her expression showed cold-blooded fear. Her mouth opened as if to scream but nothing came out. Her voice had been blocked by a lump in her throat. She trembled from head to toe.
“The better to eat you with, my dear!”
Then, Erick snapped his jaw, taking a bite in her direction.
