Date Me, Bryson Keller(43)

“So, what, is this a date?” Donny jokes.

When I don’t answer, both Priya and Donny turn to me.

“Don’t tell me—” Priya says just as Donny says, “Wait! It’s true—” They stop speaking and look at one another. Then they shift their attention to me.

“Seriously?” they ask in perfect unison.

I smile.

“Dude!”

“Tell us everything.”

And for the first time in my life, I do. I talk openly and freely to my best friends. And it feels so good.

It feels just right.





18


My leg won’t stop shaking. It moves up and down without my having any say in the matter. Bryson and I are seated in the back row of the auditorium. We’re waiting for Mrs. Henning to call us to perform. Right now, Isaac is onstage, but I’m too nervous to care.

Bryson places his hand on my knee and I stop moving.

He grips it tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” he says. “Just look at me, only me, and trust me.”

I exhale a nervous breath. We’re one of the last groups waiting to perform.

“I don’t think anyone’s going to believe our performance.”

“Why?”

“I’m Romeo and you’re Benvolio.” I turn to look at him. “How does that make any sense?”

“Why not?” Bryson asks.

I snort. “Because you’re the leading man in almost every sense of the word, and I’m just a supporting character.”

Bryson leans in, closing the distance between us. His next words are just for me, just for my heart. “Don’t ever say that again,” he says. “You’re every bit as much the leading man as anyone else. Never forget that, and remember that I like you just the way you are.”

    Before I can say anything or even react, Mrs. Henning calls for us. “Bryson and Kai, you’re next,” she says. Today she’s wearing an ensemble that looks to be Victorian inspired. She even has a cane.

But how can I go anywhere when Bryson Keller just said he is attracted to me? How does moving from this spot make any sense? I should live here now, never moving, never budging. Please forward all mail to this address.

Bryson grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. He lets go and makes his way toward the stage. I follow, my stomach twisting.

We take our places on the stage. I blink and everyone in the class comes back into focus. Those who have already performed occupy the first two rows of seats. Mrs. Henning sits at the center.

“What have you chosen to perform?”

“We selected a scene from Romeo and Juliet,” Bryson answers.

“Wonderful,” Mrs. Henning says. “In my youth, Baz Luhrmann, the famous director of the 1996 movie, considered casting me in it. Of course, at the time of shooting, one of my characters on My Face, Your Life had just returned from being abducted by aliens, so I wasn’t in the right place emotionally to commit to a role in such a film. You know as actors it’s about living your role. I was nominated for an Emmy that season.” Mrs. Henning straightens her black skirt and rests her hands on the top of the cane. “So this movie has always held a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to see your interpretation. Who will you be performing as?”

    “I’ll be Benvolio,” Bryson says. “And Kai will be Romeo.”

“Very interesting choices,” Mrs. Henning says. “I look forward to being dazzled.”

I don’t know about being dazzling, but I’m going to try my best. Bryson and I did a run-through last night before he dropped me off at home after our date. And then this morning at Glenda’s, we worked through the scene again. I know that I am as prepared as I possibly can be.

“We can do this,” Bryson mouths. I nod.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Mrs. Henning says. She taps her cane on the floor to silence some of the whispering around her.

I’m so nervous that I’m numb. I try to ignore my racing heart and quickly reddening face as much as I can. Bryson delivers his first line. And I react like I’ve practiced. I turn to look at Bryson and find that he’s looking at me. No, it’s Benvolio looking at Romeo.

Everything fades away. I imagine that we’re performing with no one watching. Bryson embodies the character of Benvolio. At first I’m stilted as Romeo, but soon I get carried away on the wave of Bryson’s performance. The scene unfolds in a blur, and I’m sure that later I won’t be able to remember any of it. Not the words I mess up, or the awkward way I move across the stage.

    At the end, Bryson takes my hand in his and we both bow. He squeezes my hand once before letting it go and we stand up straight to await our critique.

“Bryson, please, I beg you to try out for the next production. Your talent should be shared with a wider audience. What I truly love about your performance is your confidence. You aren’t afraid to go for it. Which is a must as an actor. There were many times on my show where my characters did things that I thought were absolutely absurd, but if you act with confidence, that is when real performances are born.”

Mrs. Henning looks down at her notes briefly before turning her attention to me. “Kai, this is probably the best you’ve performed in this class. You and Bryson work well together. The chemistry between your two characters felt real. I believed them, and that’s what I want to see as an audience member.” Mrs. Henning applauds in that special way of hers, where she taps only the tips of her fingers together. “This was a successful performance. Bravo!”