105 Opening Night
We had all gathered at the theatre after having dinner together, to watch Dawn's performance. The place was full for the opening night, which was great to see. I was quite proud of the progress she's made, she's come so far.
I interlace my hand with Sarina's, feeling her engagement ring as I do. We were given seats near the front in the middle, close enough to see well, but not have to swivel our necks either to view other parts of the stage. The lights lower and a man comes out on stage, welcoming us and asking us to quiet our phones, and began to explain the backstory and set the precedent to the play.
Two friends who had been harboring feelings for each other but not told either one about them are enjoying a afternoon out together. Then the act started. Dawn and her fellow actor are strolling down a farmers market like aisle. You see the playful banter between the two, acting silly with different items like funky hats or pointing out things they liked. They build up the tension between them, making me forget, this is all a play.
When you think they're about to kiss, someone comes walking up calling out to them, interrupting their moment, to invite them to a party. They accept and the next act begins. In under three minutes, the curtains raise and it shows a house party of sorts. They arrived together but soon, his character is pulled away from her to talk to some of the guys. A woman introduces herself to the main lead and then a guy approaches Dawn's character.
You see the jealousy of Dawns character as she looks at her friend, when the guy asks Dawn to dance. She accepts and ends up dancing with him almost the rest of the party. The whole time the male lead stares at her, finally, telling the woman who'd been trying to talk to him to leave him alone. He finds Dawn, getting a drink with the other guy, and approaches her to let her know he's leaving. Dawn quickly leaves with him, following him, seeing he was upset. She tries to talk to him, as the curtain falls and they're in front of it acting like they're walking along the street.
She keeps asking what's wrong as the curtain rises to show a quiet apartment like they've arrived at his home.
Her friend finally responds to her questioning, "Yes! What were you doing with that guy the whole time? Do you even know him?!"
"I just met Mark tonight! Why are you acting like this?! ..It wasn't like I was kissing him! It was just a dance!" Dawn starts to walk away when his arm shoots out to grab her arm.
"Just a dance?!" He shouts, then lets his voice becoming softer but still firm, "Just like your kisses, they're just for me!" He pulls her in and kisses her fierce and possessively.
This was the whole part that we'd worked on so I couldn't help but become a little anxious. From the way Sarina gripped my hand, I can tell I'm not the only one feeling that way.
Dawn however looks stunned, dazed, before gripping the lapels of her fellow actors collars and pulls him in closer, "I don't recall you ever saying that before. Why would they be yours?" She asks him.
He does a great job, acting caught, before revealing, "Because, it's all I've ever wanted."
"What is it?" Dawn responds.
Sarina is on the edge of her seat, caught in the moment.
"It is you. Always has been and always will be you."
They kiss again, the curtains closing and we all stand, clapping, hollering, then a moment later, the entire cast is revealed as the curtains reopen and they take their bow. The theatre erupts into more applause and cheers. I lock eyes with Dawn and give her a thumbs up which she giggles excitedly about.
People start making their way out of the theatre, Amanda and Dass leave on their own, Lance and Lirael sticking around with us as the crowd dies down. Once the majority of people have left, we rise to join the small group congratulating the cast and getting autographs.
"Brian! Sarina! Thank you so much for coming!" Dawn gives us both big hugs as we approached her. Then I introduced her to Lance and Lirael who gave her their enthusiastic appraise for a job well done. As we start to talk, a familiar voice comes to my ears, that has Sarina looking for him as well.
John...
"Congratulations Dawn!" John comes up and gives her a hug and he has Tori with him.
"Oh? How do you know John, Dawn?" Sarina asks her, as John turns and gives Sarina a quick hug and hello.
"I met John through Hank and Oscar at one of the dinners we all went to a few months back when we first started trying to find funding for the play." Dawn informs us as John nods in agreement.
"Yes, that sounds about right. You've all met Tori before though, right?" John sweeps his eyes around at us as Tori smiles and gives a light wave of hello.
Dawn nods to Johns question before he turns to Lance and Lirael, "But I don't believe we've had the opportunity to meet you two. Friends of yours Dawn?" Dawn shakes her head and Sarina introduces them.
"This is Lance and his wife, Lirael. They're friends of ours. Lance, Lirael, this is John and Tori. " Sarina smiles, introducing them before placing her hand up on my arm that has her engagement ring on it.
John and Tori both see it, but only John does a double take, while Tori's eyes widen in pleasant surprise.
"Oh wow!" Tori exclaims, "So you did do it!" She beams up at me, "Congratulations to the both you. You're a lucky woman." She winks at Sarina, who smiles but I notice her posture stiffens for a moment.
"Thank you, but I think I'm the lucky one out of the two of us." I quickly say as I wrap my arm around Sarina's waist a little tighter, "I'm honored that she agreed to put up with me." I smirk at Sarina who turns her shocked eyes at me that widen with her smile before she rolls them and scoffs.
"You act like you're hard to handle, Mr. Lucky...."
I lean over and whisper in her ear, "I can be, if you'd like."
This makes her blush crimson and Tori clears her throat. "Well, we just wanted to congratulate you Dawn. You did excellent. I'll heading to the car, John. Bye everyone. It was nice seeing you again, Brian." She pauses a moment, "Sarina, congratulations again. Pleasure meeting you two as well." Her gaze meets Lance and Lirael's before she heads out.
John stiffly smiles at all of us before his eyes land on Sarina, "Rina, congratulations are in order. Now, I was hoping to meet up with you to go over some of the last of the paperwork sometime next week. Is that alright?"
Sarina nods, "Yes, of course. I'll get in touch with you sometime in the next few days."
John stiffly nods and turns to leave, saying over his shoulder as he does, "Tell David I said hello."
Sarina freezes and clears her throat, "Um, about that... I would if I could, John. David, he, he passed last Sunday morning."
John stops in his tracks and turns back around, eyes wide and blinking, giving his head a little shake like he was not believing what he just heard.
I clear my throat and tell Dawn, "We should probably take this conversation outside. Congratulations, Dawn, you did amazing. I'll see you around."
Dawn nods, a smile that's caught between remorse for Sarina and happiness for herself on her face. We all head outside as John and Sarina talk about David giving him more information. By the time we're outside, John's posture is tense as he walks a few paces away and grips his head.
He turns around after a few moments and goes and gives Sarina a hug. "I'm so sorry, Sarina. He was a damn good man, my friend, and I knew he loved you just as much as you loved him. Let me know when the memorial is please? I've got to go." He leaves in a rush keeping his head down to hide his emotions.
Sarina sniffles and Lirael quickly wraps her arms around her to help comfort her. I shake my head still not really caring for John, but it seemed like he was genuinely hurt over the news. I wondered though about him and Tori, even though it was none of my business. They didn't seem like lovers, but at the same time... more involved than just friends. Something was off about them both.
I focus back on the things that actually matter, rubbing Sarina's back as she holds on to Lirael. Once Sarina has calmed back down, we say our byes for the night with promises of gathering together tomorrow evening to barbeque at their place.
In the car things are quiet until finally Sarina lets out a long breath and turns to me, "So why did Tori know you were going to ask me to marry you?"