Anton was gone. Jack was visibly shaken up. I didn't blame them, but the timing couldn't have been worse. We had less than half an hour before our performance started, and nothing seemed right.

Juan was, oddly enough, being a leader all of a sudden. He had Samantha checking all our costumes and brushing up our makeup. He'd already gone to check to see if all the props had ended up in the loading area.

I wasn't as nervous since I knew we couldn't place lower than third. It probably helped that at least three of the groups we'd competed against in the scene round were awful.

Unfortunately, Elmwood and Kirby weren't joking around. I'd heard some of the Elmwood girls talking in the bathroom about how they knew they would win since they'd placed second and first in both rounds of monologues.

Carson was talking to his bandmates who made the trip. His girlfriend Rissa was helping him fix some of his makeup. Carson had somehow ended up with too much blush near his eye, so Rissa was scrubbing at it with a cloth.

"How did you manage that?" The drummer, whom I assumed was Foster, asked.

"I can't believe you dressed up as a clown," Eileen, the keyboardist, giggled. "You know this is totally going on the band's Instagram."

Carson groaned. "I am a harlequin, and I asked for support from my friends, not ridicule."

Foster laughed. "Dude, next time, don't get the role in the school play that requires you to wear a hat with tassels and bells."

"Carson's just clowning around," Eileen smiled and tossed her dark hair. "Actually, that might make a fun song. Foster, make a note for the phrase 'clowning around' later."

"Already dreaming up cords," Foster said as he pulled a string of earbuds from his pocket.

Jack approached the group. He and Foster exchanged slaps on the back. Rissa waved as she finished fixing Carson's makeup.

"You should have let me do it," Eileen said. "I am the professional."

Eileen looked like a model. Her makeup and contouring were perfect. On the other hand, Rissa only wore a little bit of pink lipgloss and blue mascara.

"You aren't a professional," Rissa rolled her eyes. "You have half the girls in the area following you on Instagram for makeup advice. Besides, the only person who gets to put makeup on my boyfriend is me."

"You look great, dude," Jack handed Carson his hat. "And it's almost time to go on. It would be best if you let Rissa, Foster, and Eileen find their seats. They can help us load the truck after the show since I totally saved you last night helping Carson set up for the bonfire."

"Bye, Carson," Rissa planted a kiss on his cheek. "See you after the show."

Carson watched his friends exit the tent and then wiped at his cheek. Jack was silently laughing until Carson shoved his shoulder.

"Do I have lipstick on my cheek?" Carson asked him.

"Nah, you're good, man," Jack said. "And thanks for the help last night, dude. I owe you."

"You never owe me anything," Carson said. "We're friends."

I heard Jamie call for places. I took a deep breath. My multiple costumes were pressed and prepared for my several roles. I'd checked my makeup in a mirror for brush-ups. Then I was ready.

"Do we have everyone?" Juan called, counting heads.

"Has anybody seen Shayna?" Kai asked.

"I sent her to find Lilly," Jack said. "I assumed they'd be back by now."

"I hope your sister isn't wigging," Samantha said. "We kind of need her to run the lights competently, or we're going to get last place."

"Samantha," I said. "Their sister is in the hospital. Show a little sympathy."

"I know that," Samantha said. "And I am being sympathetic. I was concerned about Shayna."

"Shayna went to find Lilly in the bathroom," Jack said. "Why don't you look for them there, Samantha?"

"Sure," Samantha rolled her eyes and stalked towards the bathroom. "Make me do all the work."

"Don't pay any attention to her, Jack," I said. "After the play ends, hopefully, we won't have to see as much of her."

"I'm worried about Lilly," Jack said. "Things have been hard for her lately. She's been visiting our mom a lot, and she's been missing school. I'm honestly surprised she came this weekend."

"I'm sure she'll be fine," I said. "Shayna can help her. The real question, Jack, is, are you going to make it? It's totally okay if the answer is no."

When I was ten, we lived on a Texas military base. It was one of the only times my parents tried living together since my father was on a sabbatical between universities, and my mother was stationed in the country for once.

I'd met this girl named Anette who had just lost her dad. He'd been a pilot, and he'd died in a training exercise that went wrong. I'd learned the best way to be her friend was to give her space, but not enough space, so she felt abandoned.

Jack needed to know that he wasn't alone, but at the same time, he needed space to grieve and work through his issues.

"I can lose myself in Orlando one more time," he said.

"Jack, I said. "I know you don't want to let anybody down, but we'll support whatever decision you need to make. Your sister, too."

Jack smiled. "It's easier for me to run away from my problems, Rita. To slip into a shell and become someone else rather than stay here and deal with everything. I can do it one more time tonight. Besides, Jamie is taping the show for my mom. She's really excited about watching it with me later."

Samantha walked back over, followed by Shayna and Lilly. I smiled. It looked like Shayna had been able to patch Lilly up enough to get her through the day. It was only a temporary fix, but it meant we had our lighting booth person back. Without her, none of us would be seen.

"That's everyone," Jamie said. "Gather round."

We all stood in a big circle. I stood between Hugh and Shayna. Jamie looked exhausted, but she smiled at all of us.

"We're on in five, so this speech will be short. I know it's been said, but you are a remarkable group of kids," she said. "It's not every group of high school students who can conquer this much tragedy. I know professionals who would have quit before going through even a fraction of what you all have endured. I'm proud of all of you, and I know you'll make Shakespeare and Anton proud this afternoon."

"I think there's a rhyme we can't forget," Samantha adjusted her black wig.

I laughed, and everyone crossed their arms and held the hand next to theirs. Jamie counted us off, and we all recited it together.

"Whatever the weather if snow,

Or whatever the weather if sun.

Whatever the weather, we do the show

And be sure to all have fun."

Once we broke loose, Juan gave directions about setting the stage, and we all went to line up in the wings. I found my place with the two assigned columns I had to set out. Then, I released a calming breath.

"You seem stressed," Hugh walked up behind me. "We're going to do fine, Anton or not."

"I think we can do it," I said. "It's not like Anton is in the play. We can still do our show without the director."

"Doesn't mean I don't wish he was here," Hugh said. "It's a confidence thing. Just knowing he's there in the audience just like always..."

"I know," I said. "But we will do just fine."

Hugh leaned in and kissed me ever so briefly. I was so surprised that my eyes went wide, and I felt my face flush.

"For luck," he said.

He smiled at me. There was barely time to process any of it before Emma Kate gave us the green light to set the stage for the first scene.

Time seemed to speed up as I placed my columns and went to my mark backstage. My thoughts were so frenzied and jumbled that I wasn't even sure I was wearing the right costume.

Hugh had kissed me. We'd danced last night, but that hadn't seemed to mean anything. The show was about to begin. Hugh had kissed me, and I didn't even have time to process it.

The announcer interrupted my racing thoughts. "Welcome to the Hillard Shakespeare Festival. First up, newcomers to the competition in their inaugural performance at Hillard. Crestview High School is here to present As You Like It."

Promising myself that as soon as the show was over, I would be free to think about Hugh Donnavan, I took a deep breath and watched from the wings as the curtain opened and the show began.