... not in love with Kale Eddison (8 page)

All the
journalists scribbled furiously at this and Kale regretted saying
too much; he knew he shouldn’t have said more than was necessary –
the basics would have been suffice. Thankfully, he was saved from
what was sure to be many tricky questions when his agent announced
to the room that they were done for the day. Many of the reporters
looked peeved to have been cut short of what was promising to be a
juicy story that they could turn whichever way they wished. Kale
breathed a sigh of relief and watched them all exit the room and
for a split second, he was sure he had seen Izzie’s red hair among
them but that was impossible. He stretched and managed to brush off
his manager; he needed time to himself.

Izzie had just
about managed to sneak back out of the room undetected; she had
been sure that Kale would have given up her identity and was very
pleasantly surprised that he hadn’t. Although, when the last
reporter had asked that tricky question, Izzie just wanted out of
the room – and fast! However, she had to admit that she had been
quite touched when Kale hinted that he wanted to be friends with
her. Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing … if she could stick
him that long!

Chapter
Seven

Izzie sat in
Drama class and thought she deserved a medal; she had so far
managed to put up with Kale for nearly a week now but she felt that
was about to change if today kept going the way it was now. After
Monday’s conference, Kale had taken to walking with Izzie to their
every class – a habit that Izzie didn’t really mind; after all, the
poor bloke was sure to get bombarded by his female admirers every
time he was alone. However, Izzie was beginning to get seriously
peeved with him and it was all down to the auditions for the play;
that’s what Ms Belson was carrying out right now. Kale was called
for his two minutes ago and Izzie found herself nervous about her
own; it would be straight after Kale’s. She wouldn’t have been
nervous but now she was and it was all Kale’s fault! She didn’t
know if she was going to throw up or punch him but she knew one
thing for sure; she was spitting mad when she found out what he had
done. Ms Belson had stuck a large piece of paper on the notice
board when they had arrived and told them all to look at as it was
their audition times for today. Izzie hadn’t been too upset by
this; she had her ‘Margaret’ dialogue prepared anyway, however,
when she looked for her name and scanned her eyes across to the
time, she found that she was down to audition for ‘Beatrice’ as
well. Positive that it had been a mistake, she told Ms Belson but
Izzie was extremely shocked when the teacher showed her the sheet
that everyone had signed and found her name under ‘Beatrice’. Izzie
knew she hadn’t written her name there but it looked very much like
her handwriting and she was forced to go through with it; so now
she was quickly learning some dialogue to get through the horrible
experience.

Kale had seen
her shocked and puzzled expression and inquired what was wrong,
when Izzie had told him what had happened, he couldn’t hold back a
guilty smile. Izzie had immediately questioned him on it and he had
confessed that he had forged her signature as he believed she would
make a ‘terrific Beatrice’. Izzie had been so furious she was at a
loss for words; she had settled for giving him a death stare until
his name was called.

Now she
breathed deeply and ran through her lines once more; she had just
finished when the door opened and Kale sauntered in with Ms
Belson.

“Now, Izzie
Frank you’re next for ‘Beatrice’ and ‘Margaret’. Come along
dear.”

Izzie got up
and gave Kale an evil look as she crossed the classroom and left
with Ms Belson. They walked to the Theatre and Izzie cleared her
throat nervously.

“Now dear,” Ms
Belson said, “there’s no reason to be nervous; it’s just me and
you. When you’re ready, please start with the ‘Margaret’ piece and
then the ‘Beatrice’ – good luck.”

Izzie drew in a
deep breath, ‘Please don’t let me suck’, she thought desperately,
‘and if I do, please give me the strength afterwards to kill Kale
Eddison!’

Ten minutes
later and Izzie had managed to find her way back to her seat and
gratefully sat down; she felt traumatised by her experience but was
relieved it was now over and she could now yell at Kale. She
gathered up the energy and turned to him, “So, was that your idea
of fun? Making me a laughing stock and humiliating myself? You
happy now or shall I let you push me off my chair so you can get
some more kicks?”

Kale looked
shocked at Izzie’s outburst; many of the other students had stopped
what they were doing and turned to stare. Avoiding their gazes,
Kale glanced at Izzie, “Um no, I thought you wouldn’t mind. Besides
you made a great ‘Beatrice’ that time we did a scene together. You
don’t give yourself enough credit; you’re better than you
think.”

Izzie shook her
head at him, “I really can’t believe you. You have the nerve to
justify your actions? How would you like it if I put you down for
some character you didn’t want to audition for?”

Kale gave her a
small half-smile, “Ms Belson beat you to it.”

Izzie had been
about to continue her rant but she stopped what she was about to
say, “I – oh, why … what’d she make you do?” She was curious
against her will.

Kale laughed,
“It wasn’t that bad – you’ll actually like to know you were right –
she made me audition for ‘Benedick’ while I was there. I tried to
refuse but she insisted; I had to comply.”

Izzie smiled,
“Ha! It’s not the same thing but at least I was right and you were
wrong.”

“Yeah, yeah,
yeah,” Kale rolled his eyes like Izzie would’ve done and she
laughed. “So are we even now? Can you forgive me?” He stuck out his
lower lip in a comical pout and Izzie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ok, I just
hope she casts you as ‘Benedick’; ‘cause then I get a free
dinner!”

Kale’s mouth
pulled up a one corner into a crooked smile, “Well you won’t have
to wait long; she told me she’ll be announcing them at the end of
the day on the main notice board.”

Izzie felt a
knot in her stomach and hoped Ms Belson took pity on her and cast
her as ‘Margaret’; she couldn’t mess that up too badly when they
performed on opening night. She pushed these thoughts away and
changed the topic as she and Kale walked along to their free
period.

During the last
class of the day, Izzie felt sick; the cast list would be up in
less than twenty minutes. Kale glanced up from his novel and saw
Izzie’s pale complexion.

“You ok?” he
whispered; his voice full of concern.

Izzie shook her
head, “No,” she muttered when Mr Rowntree wasn’t looking, “I’m
nervous about the casting.”

Kale smiled,
“You’ll be fine; Ms Belson knows what she’s doing. Look, try not to
worry about it … think about where you want to go for dinner which
I will inevitably have to pay for, judging by our good Drama
teacher’s excitement at my audition.”

Izzie laughed
despite herself, “In that case I’ll have to research the most
expensive place in town!”

Kale chuckled,
“It’s your choice … now stop worrying; you’re distracting me from
‘Jane Eyre’!”

Izzie
sniggered, “Yeah and you looked so engrossed before! Although, I
guess you’re right; we’ll find out soon enough … now, I may return
to ‘Mr Brocklehurst’ myself.”

They both
quickly returned to their books as Mr Rowntree swept past them and
they remained silent until the bell rang.

“So, time to
find out who’s made the cut.” Kale raised his eyebrows at Izzie in
a comical way and she laughed.

They walked
along the corridor to where the main notice board was located and
found that the entire Drama class had beaten them to it. They
waited until some people had moved away and gradually edged closer
but they still couldn’t see. Izzie did see Maddie, however, and she
didn’t look very happy. She beckoned her friend over; she hadn’t
really spoken her since Saturday and she wanted to catch up.

“Well Maddie,
who’d you get?” Izzie smiled at her encouragingly.

Maddie looked
like she was sucking on some lemons, “I got the part of
‘Hero’.”

Izzie hugged
her friend and exclaimed, “Well that’s brilliant but why do you
look so sad? I mean it’s a main role … who’s your ‘Claudio’
then?”

Maddie still
looked peeved off, “I really was looking to play ‘Beatrice’ but
whatever. Oh, Jake’s been cast as ‘Claudio’.”

Izzie found
herself not really caring that Jake was one of the main characters;
she had totally forgotten about him regardless of what Maddie had
said on Saturday. She shrugged and settled for a polite, “Oh,
that’s good.”

Maddie nodded
but had a peculiar look on her face; she looked like she was sizing
Izzie up, like she wanted tell Izzie what she really thought of
her. Izzie felt awkward but was saved from Maddie’s withering looks
when Kale interrupted them.

“Hey Maddie,
how are you? Congrats on your part; I’m sure the other girls
would’ve killed for it.” He flashed a smile at her and she visibly
warmed a little.

“Oh thanks
Kale, yeah it’ll be great getting the chance to actually be on
stage, you know.” She simpered at him and ignored Izzie.

“Yeah,” Kale
said, “well I guess we’ll see you in rehearsal then.” He moved away
and Izzie followed him but not before she noticed the jealous look
Maddie was now giving her. ‘Jeez’, Izzie thought, ‘she really needs
to grow up.’ She shook her head and managed to get within viewing
distance of the board since many others had left.

She scanned her
eyes down the list and saw Kale’s name at the top beside
‘Benedick’; she smiled to herself; looked like she was getting a
free dinner. She followed the list down until she saw her own name;
she took a deep breath and then looked to the other side of the
list … ‘Beatrice’. She was stunned and didn’t stir until Kale gave
her a hug.

“Wow buddy,”
she began, pulling out of his embrace, “what the hell you
doing?”

Kale pulled
back also and shrugged, “It was just a celebratory hug, that’s
all.”

“Oh,” said
Izzie, feeling a little bit stupid now, “Sorry, I’m not much of a
hugger, thanks anyway.”

Kale eyed her
curiously, “You are a very unique girl; you know that?”

Izzie threw her
head back and laughed, “Yep, I’m one of a kind. Anyway, I will
return the favour and give you a celebratory hug; I like to try new
things, you know.”

Kale smiled
crookedly as she gave him a quick hug and they smiled at one
another.

“Now,” began
Izzie, “let’s hope your acting doesn’t suck too badly in this. I
can’t afford for you to make me look bad too.”

Kale chuckled,
“And there’s that honesty I’m so fond of; I knew it wasn’t far
behind – it never is.”

They walked
down the corridor together discussing their roles and Izzie found
herself actually warming to the part of ‘Beatrice’; Kale made her
believe she could do it and that helped. They made it out the main
door and were met with flashing bulbs and microphones thrust into
their faces.

“Oh no,” Kale
said despairingly, “I figured they wouldn’t leave me alone too long
after the conference.”

Izzie felt
blinded by the flashes and noises that surrounded her and she felt
Kale put an arm around her protectively as he attempted to guide
her to her car.

“Hey, everyone
back off, let her get to car and then you can ask me whatever you
want.” Kale sounded very annoyed but somehow managed to push
through far enough so that Izzie could make a break for her car.
She ran and once inside, she locked the doors and looked on at Kale
with pity.

Kale grunted in
frustration as the reporters surrounded him again, “Look guys; a
bit of personal space wouldn’t go amiss … just make this quick, ok?
What are you looking?” He sighed and the reporter nearest to him
jumped in quickly.

“Who’s the girl
Kale? Are she and you dating? What’s the story kid?”

Kale shook his
head, “Look I’m not revealing the poor girl’s identity just so you
can all follow her like vultures; she is a friend and will remain
an unnamed friend. We are not dating, so there’s no juicy story for
you all to chase.”

Another
reporter cut in, “Yeah right, cut the crap Kale. You may not wanna
talk but I’m sure she’d be willing to spill the dirt for the right
price.”

Kale smiled
without amusement, “Try all you want but you don’t know her like I
do; she won’t give you a thing. Now are we going to change the
topic or should I just leave?”

The reporters
were quick to protest and one piped up, “No, easy Kale, we just
want a story. I’m sure everyone is in the same boat as me in that
our bosses are all on at us to get another newsworthy story. Just
give us something kid; it doesn’t matter how small.”

The rest of the
reporters nodded in agreement and Kale sighed reluctantly, “Fine,
the latest thing happening in my life is that I’ve got a lead part
in the school play. Is that newsworthy enough for you?”

They all nodded
and Kale filled them all in on the details and eventually managed
to escape fifteen minutes later. He made his way over to his car
which happened to be parked next to Izzie’s. She rolled down her
window and whistled, “Phew, I thought they’d never leave. I’m glad
they have though; one was blocking me in.”

Kale looked at
her with a distressed look, “Izzie I’m really sorry. I didn’t know
they’d be waiting to ambush but I should’ve figured they’d be
waiting for the opportune moment.”

Izzie looked at
him sympathetically, “Hey, you didn’t know. Anyway, they’ve got
their story so they’ll leave you alone for another bit.”

Kale laughed,
“Yeah, I sure hope so. Thanks for being so cool about this. I just
want to warn you that your picture will probably be in the paper,
as will some ridiculous story no doubt.”