Directing Disaster

Sometimes it’s just one thing after another.

Jayden forgot his line and stood in blank silence under the dark stage lights. Unfortunately, this disaster happened during the most important scene in the play—the romantic confession with Lexy Monroe.

Which was terrible timing because Jayden had been hopelessly in love with Lexy since the first rehearsal, when she’d accidentally hit him in the face with a fake tree branch and apologized by giving him half a granola bar.

The audience waited.

The cast waited.

A guy in the third row coughed like a dying cow.

Finally, the director clapped his hands furiously from the back of the theater. “Jayden!”

Jayden jumped. “What?”

“Stop goofing around! We don’t have time for this. Just say the line!”

Jayden cleared his throat dramatically and grabbed Lexy’s hands.

“You are my destiny!”

There was a horrible pause.

Then Lexy exploded with laughter.

Not normal laughter, either. Violent laughter. The kind that makes people sound like a malfunctioning robot.

She bent over, wheezing.

“Oh no,” Jayden whispered.

Lexy tried to speak but only made a squeaking noise. Her face turned bright red. Then she collapsed.

The audience gasped.

The director screamed, “WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?”

Jayden panicked and called 911 while two stagehands fanned Lexy with old restaurant menus from the prop room.

Ten chaotic minutes later, the ambulance carried Lexy away. One paramedic assured everyone she’d be fine, although she probably should remain in the hospital overnight.

The director rubbed his temples. “Understudy!”

Caroline marched onstage like she’d been training for this moment her entire life.

Before Jayden could say anything, she grabbed him by the shirt and planted the most passionate kiss imaginable on him.

Jayden stumbled backward. “What was THAT for?”

Caroline shrugged. “I’ve been an understudy for six years. Opportunities like this don’t come twice.”