Take Two (17 page)

“Right.” He stood and helped her to her feet. Again the touch of his hand against hers spread an intoxicating sensation throughout
her body. She let her fingers stay in his a few seconds longer than necessary, the whole time looking straight into his eyes.

“I hope you like the script.” His voice was soft, his face just inches from hers.

“Me too.” She didn’t blink, didn’t dare break the connection between them.

He gave her hand a final squeeze and then released it. “This could be interesting.”

“Yes.”

“Complicated, but interesting.” He was so close he could’ve leaned down and kissed her. But instead he took a step back and
led the way as they walked the path back to the theater. At the lobby doors, he stuck his hands into his pockets and shrugged,
his eyes full of depth and kindness, and a power she didn’t fully understand. “See you around, Andi.”

“Yeah.” She gave a slight wave. “See ya ‘round.”

She had five minutes to report for dance rehearsal, and after that the night show passed in a blur. Her parents didn’t show
up, but they left another message. Their plane would arrive sometime around midnight, and they’d see her in the morning —
before the Sunday matinee. But even with that disappointment, as she and Bailey headed back to the Flanigan house for Pictionary,
Andi was beyond happy. On the drive, Bailey asked about Taz, but she kept her answers short and evasive. She didn’t want to
talk about him, didn’t want anyone judging her. “It’s no big deal,” she lied. “I probably won’t do the film anyway.”

“What’d you guys talk about?” Bailey’s eyes were shadowed in suspicion. “You were out there a long time.”

“Mostly filmmaking. A little bit about the script.” She shrugged. “It was nothing.”

Bailey dropped the subject, which was good for both of them. They played on the same Pictionary team with Bailey’s mom, and
they won easily.

“It’s not fair.” Bailey’s brother Shawn slumped back in his chair after the game. “Girls just know each other better.”

Everyone laughed, and the girls won another round before calling it a night. On the way back to the dorm, Andi was grateful
Bailey didn’t bring up Taz again. Instead they listened to Rascal Flatts, which was perfect. The break in conversation gave
Andi the chance to privately relive the time with Taz. Enough so that as she got ready for bed, for the first time she didn’t
think once about grabbing her Bible or Rachel’s journal. She had no conflicting thoughts or pangs of guilt. Only memories
of Taz. His smile and his eyes, the way he thought differently than the other kids she knew. The way he made her feel. And
as she fell asleep she realized she was not just intrigued by the film student from her science class.

She was head over heels.

B
AILEY WATCHED THE CLOCK ON THE
wall in her Advanced Algebra class and willed the last five minutes to pass quickly. She was meeting Tim for lunch, and she
could hardly wait to see him. Since Christmas, both their schedules had been too busy to spend much time together. Bailey
had been so focused on her grades it was already late January, and the two of them hadn’t been on a date in weeks. Not only
that, but life was about to get busier. Tim and Andi had auditioned for the university’s upcoming musical —
Robin Hood
. Bailey’s current class schedule was too intense for theater, but she was taking private voice lessons with Katy Matthews,
Dayne’s wife, and dance classes at night on campus.

On top of that Bailey wanted to be more involved with Campus Crusade, which was organizing a late-summer mission trip to Costa
Rica. The Cru meetings had taken on a pattern. She and Tim would sit near the front, while Cody sat in the back. Most Thursdays
Andi found a reason not to go. As for Cody, Bailey felt so distant around him, it was like they’d never known each other.
But rather than focus on Cody, Bailey was getting more involved with the ministry aspects of the group. She and several other
Cru girls had started meeting once a week in the common area of Bailey’s dorm, and she was grateful for the interaction. They’d
met twice so far, and both times Andi had been too busy with schoolwork to join them.

Bailey had a feeling there was more to it than that. Her roommate was splitting her time between schoolwork and Taz, but whenever
Bailey asked about the filmmaker, her roommate shut down. As difficult as it had been for Bailey to imagine Cody and Andi
together, certainly Cody would have been better for her than Taz.

“What about his faith?” Bailey had asked a few weeks ago.

Andi had given her a tired look. “He thinks everyone should have a right to believe what they wish.”

Bailey wanted to ask her what Bible verse that came from, but she didn’t want to be sarcastic. Cynicism would only turn Andi
further from the truth. Instead she nodded thoughtfully. “And what about him? What does he believe?”

“He’s agnostic. A skeptic, as he likes to say.” Andi was quick to follow up on the fact. “Which is why it’s good he has someone
like me in his life.”

Bailey tapped her pencil on her math book and tried to focus. The professor droned on about integers and absolute values within
the context of a proof. Bailey let her eyes wander to the window and the snow outside. She missed Tim, but the time apart
for them wasn’t all bad. Bailey and her family had been together more often, which gave her the chance to hang out with her
youngest brother, Ricky. He’d been sick with winter colds lately — coughing a lot and feeling tired. When she was home, Bailey
could play backgammon or the Wii with him — so he wouldn’t notice the cough so much. Not that she was worried about him. Ricky
had had successful heart surgery as a baby, and he was very healthy now. But every winter was a struggle.

At the front of the classroom, the professor checked the clock and smiled at the auditorium full of students. “That’ll be
all. Tomorrow’s Friday. Come prepared for a quiz on chapter 2.”

Bailey slung her backpack over her right shoulder and hurried out the back door. She scanned the distance from the math building
to the cafeteria and saw Tim walk into view. This was their meeting spot on Thursdays, when their schedules allowed them time
to share lunch. She smiled and waved, and he jogged to meet her, his backpack pulled tight around his shoulders. “Hey.” He
gave her a quick hug as they walked. “I can’t believe how cold it is.”

They’d had a record-breaking winter so far, more snow than any of the locals could remember. Classes had even been cancelled
a few days last week. One of the students had tacked a note on the Math Building: “School closed — due to global warming.”

Bailey pulled her coat more tightly around her shoulders. “I can’t wait for warmer weather.” She felt her eyes light up. “I
almost forgot. My mom’s taking us to New York City for spring break. She wants to meet up with one of her old friends.” She
grinned at him. “She said you could come with us.”

“Really?” He stopped and dropped his backpack on the cement pathway. “Are you serious?”

Her laughter was light and easy. “Yes, I’m serious!”

“We’re going to New York City!” He let out a celebratory hoot, picked her up, and swung her in a full circle. When he set
her down he did another solo circle. “I can’t believe this.” He put his hand on his head, his expression dazed. “That’s the
most amazing thing ever!”

“I know.” She laughed again. “Come on. We’re making a scene.” She linked arms with him and snuggled close to his side. “If
we’re going to live there someday and star on Broadway, you better at least learn your way around.”

“I still can’t believe it.” He stopped again. “I better double my hours at the bookstore.”

“Nah, silly.” She gave him a gentle tug and they kept walking. “My mom’s treating. You’ll go as our guest.”

“Now I’m really in shock.” He ran ahead of her a few steps, turned and faced her, walking backwards. “You’re serious?”

“Tim.” She shook her head. “You’re acting crazy.”

“Okay, okay.” He exhaled. “I’ll try to believe I’m not dreaming.”

Inside the cafeteria they got their lunches and found seats together in a quiet back corner. This time Tim controlled himself.
“Will we see shows and everything?”

“Of course.” Bailey giggled. She realized something that had been more obvious lately: Tim made her laugh. Everything about
being with him was wonderful and getting better all the time. “Going to plays? That’s the whole point.”

“So … I mean, I haven’t ever really researched Broadway. What’s playing there?”

“My mom said something about seeing
Mary Poppins
— which is amazing, because we’ve seen it before. Then maybe
Shrek, the Musical
— which would be funny and stars Sutton Foster, who is, like, the best Broadway actress ever.”

They talked about the brilliant set design and music of
The Lion King
, and a new show called
In the Heights
, about life in the barrios of New York City.

“Too bad we don’t have more time.” Tim was eating a cheese-burger. A blob of ketchup smeared onto his cheek, but he didn’t
notice it. “We’ll be there just a week.”

Bailey pointed to her cheek, and Tim caught the message. He swiped a napkin over his face and grinned at her. “I’m too frozen
to feel anything.”

“Yeah, but anyway, the shows are every night except Monday. Two on Wednesday and two on the weekend days. We could pretty
much see whatever we want. My mom loves Broadway plays.”

“Wow.” He seemed speechless. “Tell your parents thanks. I can’t wait.”

The topic changed and they talked about
Robin Hood
. “We’ll find out tomorrow if we got cast.”

“Of course you will.” She rested her forearms on the table and leaned closer to him. “You’re unbelievable on stage, Tim. You’ll
be Robin Hood, for sure. You and Andi will have a great time.” She no longer worried about Tim being attracted to her friend.
Andi was different these days, and she spent much of her time with Taz. The time away had hurt their friendship. At least
it seemed that way. She said she hadn’t committed to Taz’s film. But Bailey thought her roommate might be lying to her. She
actually hoped Andi would get a part opposite Tim, so he could help talk some sense into her.

“There was more competition this time.” Tim glanced at her, but only as he hurried to finish his burger. “You glad you didn’t
try out?”

“Definitely. I need a break. Katy Matthews is giving me voice lessons and I added a few night dance classes. That’ll help
me more than being in a play right now.” Bailey’s strength was dance, but it didn’t hurt to brush up. Especially if she was
serious about getting an audition in New York City. “One more thing about New York. My mom’s friend knows the casting director
of
Wicked.
I guess he’s going to introduce us to some people while we’re there.”

“That’s crazy.” Tim looked beyond thrilled. “That’s so great. I mean, picture it. You and me performing on Broadway together!
Living the dream.”

“One day.” She gave him a full-faced grin. “But for now … we better eat. Class starts in ten.”

They finished and said good-bye just outside the cafeteria and walked separate ways to their next class. Tim was fun, Bailey
thought as she trudged down the sidewalk. Never mind that sometimes she wished he were a little more romantic, a little more
like the guy who had held her hand on stage during
Scrooge
opening night. Since then she’d longed for those moments, but they rarely came. Tim didn’t look at her long enough to give
her a window to his soul. But that could come later, if the two of them stayed together. For now it was nice to have a great
guy in her life, someone who shared her faith and wasn’t about to let her down.

The way she’d been let down before.

Snow began to fall as she reached the English building, and after she’d walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs, she
saw the note. English 102 was cancelled. The instructor was ill and not expected back until Monday. Bailey adjusted her backpack
and pulled her coat tighter. The walk from English to her dorm was the longest of the day. As she stepped back outside, her
hood helped take the edge off the biting wind, but it only allowed her a limited window of sight. She was halfway to her dorm
when she felt someone come up beside her.

“Bailey.” The voice was Cody’s. No amount of time could remove the sound of it from her heart. “Didn’t you hear me?”

“What?” Her heart pounded so loud she was sure he could hear it. She pulled her hood down so she could see him. The campus
was quiet this time of day, only a few people out of class walking across the outdoor mall.

Cody’s eyes were intense, full of questions. “I had to run to catch you.”

“Oh.” Her mouth went suddenly dry, and she wondered if her heart might burst from her chest. “My hood … I can’t hear anything
with it up.”

Snow fell softly around them, and Cody tried to catch his breath. “Did you get a new phone?”

“No.” Bailey looked down and kicked at the loose snow gathering near their feet. She lifted her eyes to him. “I’ve been busy.”

He looked like he was trying to process that. “Okay.” He shrugged and for a long moment he seemed at a loss. The muscles in
his jaw tightened and he exhaled hard. “I’ve called a bunch of times. You know that, right?”

“I guess I’m not sure why.” She took a step back and folded her arms across her chest. A chill cut through her, one that came
more from being so close to Cody than because of the winter wind. “You went months without calling, and now … Now I don’t
get it.”

“That’s why I’ve been calling.” He moved like he was going to take a step closer, but then changed his mind. He buried his
fists in his coat pockets and held his ground. “During your show, it was like —” He hesitated, struggling, his eyes lifting
to the slate-gray sky. After a few seconds he looked at her again, his eyes bathed in emotion. “I can’t let you go, Bailey.
It was my fault. I talked about being your friend, but I didn’t act like one.”

Bailey thought of all the times Cody had blatantly ignored her, the times when he’d talked to Andi but couldn’t be bothered
to call her. Tears poked at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back. “I was so mad at you.” Her voice caught between
heartbreaking sorrow and fighting mad. “You had Andi and it was like … I didn’t matter at all.”