Going Down in Flames (Going Down in Flames #1)(56)

How could Zavien be friends with this woman? She seemed so formal. A quick check of the other Black dragons showed not all of them had wild hair and tattoos. Some looked like they belonged at an art gallery or an opera.

“Everyone come on stage, and I’ll give you a quick tour.” Nola stood and waited for everyone to join her. Bryn followed her friends onto the stage. The gold velvet curtain opened, revealing how deep the structure was. The back wall was made of bare brick. Giant hooks bolted into the masonry ran the length of the wall, and thick ropes wrapped around the hooks in figure eights.

“Don’t touch those ropes. We have sets stored in the rafters. If they fell, someone could be injured.” Nola pointed at a black, wrought iron spiral staircase. “Some of you could work on the catwalk, helping with the lights.”

The metal staircase reminded Bryn of the fire escape leading to her apartment. A pang of homesickness hit, and her chest tightened.

Nola continued her speech. “In the wings, you’ll find signup sheets for different activities. Study them and figure out what fits into your schedule. If you plan to attend the acting meeting, it starts in ten minutes. If not, you’re welcome to stay back here and socialize.”

Bryn investigated the clipboards hanging on nails along the wall. Each one posted different stagecraft assignments. They needed someone to paint primer over old sets. Given her lack of artistic talent, this was her best bet. She grabbed the pen hanging from the clipboard and signed her name.

Clint leaned over her shoulder. “That’s boring.”

“You’ve seen me doodle in class.”

“You’re right. Perhaps it’s best if you’re the Primer Queen.”

If he hadn’t been agreeing with her, she would’ve flipped him off.

Nola’s violin sounded, signaling the beginning of the next meeting.

Ivy grabbed Clint’s arm. “This shouldn’t take long.”

Bryn stood in the wings while Nola gave another speech. She tuned the Barbie out while she scanned the other clipboards. An assignment with the title Paint by Numbers sounded interesting. To paint the background on a set, she needed to use the color denoted by the number in each area. She’d liked paint by numbers as a kid, so she added her name to the list.

Zavien’s voice caught her attention. She peered onto the stage and discovered him sitting next to Nola. On closer inspection, she noticed Nola leaning against him. He didn’t seem to mind.

A small growl threatened to emerge from her throat. What right did she have to be jealous? Rather than torture herself, she moved farther into the wings and sat with her back against the wall.

When the meeting ended, Bryn stayed where she was. Her emotions were all over the place. She missed her real life, and she felt irrational hatred for Nola. Her life sucked.

The acting club was called forward. An equal number of black-and blond-haired students climbed onstage. Not wanting to deal with Blues, she moved behind a set of fake marble columns.

Jaxon’s voice preceded him. “Rhianna, I wish you’d reconsider. Stagecraft is beneath you.”

“You misled me about the meeting.” Rhianna’s voice was calm but cold. “If you’d been truthful, I might not have chosen to join. Since you were deceptive, I’m joining to prove a point.”

“That’s not rational. Doing something to spite me won’t make you happy.”

Rhianna strode over to the clipboards. She glanced at one and wrote two names on it. “You can join with me as an apology.”

Bryn stifled a laugh.

“You can’t sign me up for stagecraft. I won’t do it.”

Rhianna cleared her throat. “I, the undersigned, promise to help the stagecraft department in this manner. If I shirk my duties, I will be expelled from stagecraft and the acting club.” She pointed at the line with Jaxon’s name. “There’s your name. If you want to be the leading man, you’ll have to work in stagecraft.”

Cursing under his breath, Jaxon stormed off.

Bryn chuckled.

Rhianna walked around the columns to where Bryn sat. “Do you like how I handled that?”

“You’re my new hero. I doubt he’ll mislead you again.”

Clint and Ivy arrived in time to hear of Bryn’s hero worship.

“What’d she do?” Clint asked.

Bryn stood and dusted off her pants. “The good news is she doesn’t let Jaxon push her around. The bad news is we have to deal with him in stagecraft. Which project did you sign him up for?”

Rhianna handed her the primer clipboard.

She groaned. “Why couldn’t you pick one I wasn’t involved in?”

“You shouldn’t have been eavesdropping.” Rhianna grinned. “It’s punishment for you, too.”

“I take it back. You’re not my hero.” Bryn made a cross with her fingers. “You’re evil.”

“Come on.” Ivy looped her arm through Bryn’s. “We’ll walk you back to your dorm.”

She parted ways with Clint and Ivy at the front door of the Green dormitory. In the first-floor lounge, students sat in groups talking or playing cards. None of them paid any attention to her as she walked toward the stairs.

What would she do for the rest of the evening? It was only eight. Maybe she’d read one of the books she’d checked out from the library.