The Waiting Game

The auditorium buzzed with anticipation, the chatter of competing schools filling the air with nervous energy. Ria glanced up at the stage, trying to picture Northwood up there, the lights bearing down on Kael, Ethan, and the rest of the group. But instead of calming her nerves, the thought only made her more anxious.

She glanced at Kael again, still standing by himself near the edge of the stage, his shoulders hunched as if the weight of the entire performance rested squarely on him. The script he had tucked under his arm was worn, dog-eared, like it had been through too many sleepless nights. His gaze never left the empty stage, his expression unreadable, but Ria could sense the tension radiating from him.

Olivia, who had been sketching something in her notebook beside Ria, snapped it shut and elbowed her lightly. "I don't know about you, but I can't sit here any longer. Let's go explore. Maybe check out what the other schools are doing."

Ria nodded, relieved at the suggestion. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea." She turned toward Kael, raising her voice over the hum of the auditorium. "Hey, Kael! Want to come with us? We're going to walk around, get a feel for the place."

Kael turned slowly, blinking as if he hadn't quite heard her. His face was pale, the lines of exhaustion clear under his eyes. For a moment, he hesitated, his eyes flicking to Ethan and the others gathered around him, then back to Ria. "I think... I'm going to skip it."

Ria furrowed her brow, stepping closer. "You sure? It might help take your mind off things."

Kael offered a thin, tired smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I didn't get much sleep last night," he admitted, his voice quieter now, as though the admission itself cost him something. "I need to rest. I'll be fine, though. You guys go ahead."

"Are you sure?" Olivia asked, her usual energy dimming slightly at the sight of Kael looking so worn down. "You could use a break, too."

Kael waved them off with a dismissive gesture, though his hand trembled slightly. "I'll catch up with you later. Just... need a minute."

Ria and Olivia exchanged a glance, neither of them entirely convinced, but they let it go. "Alright," Ria said softly. "Get some rest. We'll see you in a bit."

With that, Ria, Olivia, and the rest of the group started toward the doors of the auditorium, leaving Kael behind. As they walked out into the brightly lit hallway, the tension that had hung over them inside began to ease—just a little.

The hallways of Riverton High were bustling with students from different schools, each school easily recognizable by their matching shirts or jackets with logos. The smell of cafeteria food mingled with the sharp scent of fresh paint, and the sound of laughter mixed with hushed conversations as students passed in and out of classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and common areas.

Ria trailed slightly behind Olivia and Kayla as they led the way, pointing out various bulletin boards that displayed each school's play poster. Hillside Academy had a large, colorful display for their whimsical, experimental piece, while Riverton High's board was sharp and serious, full of character profiles and dramatic photos of rehearsals.

"Wow," Kayla said, stopping in front of Crestwood School of the Arts' display. "Their set looks insane. How are they even going to move all that on stage?"

Liam, who had been walking beside them quietly, nodded appreciatively. "Yeah, their lighting setup is supposed to be just as complex. I wouldn't be surprised if they bring half their school's equipment with them."

Ria scanned the crowd, her thoughts briefly drifting back to Kael, wondering if he was really resting or if the pressure of the competition was just getting to him more than he wanted to admit. She felt that familiar tug of worry in her chest but forced herself to focus on the group.

They rounded a corner and found themselves in a large common room where students from different schools were milling around, relaxing before their performances. Some were sprawled on the couches, rehearsing lines or chatting, while others were gathered in small groups, laughing and talking about their productions. The tension of competition hung in the air, but there was a friendliness, too—a shared sense of being in this together, despite the stakes.

A group of students from East Ridge High were lounging on one of the couches, their laughter carrying across the room. Ria recognized Lucas Weaver immediately, the brash lead actor from East Ridge, with his overconfident smirk and loud voice. He spotted their group, eyes lingering on Ethan before flashing a cocky grin in their direction.

"Well, if it isn't Northwood," Lucas called, leaning back against the couch with an air of casual superiority. "You guys ready to get schooled tomorrow?"

Ethan didn't miss a beat, grinning as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Schooling's what we do best, Lucas. But thanks for the concern."

Lucas laughed, his voice carrying through the room. "Just trying to keep the competition friendly. You guys still doing that small-town tragedy thing? Sounds... cute."

Ethan's smile didn't waver. "It'll be more than cute when we win."

Kayla snorted at the exchange, while Olivia rolled her eyes. "Wow. He's charming," Olivia muttered under her breath, pulling Ria aside as the banter continued.

As they drifted toward another part of the room, Ria spotted Mila from Hillside Academy, the girl they'd met earlier at the registration table. She was sitting cross-legged on the floor with a few other students, laughing as she gestured animatedly during a conversation.

When she saw Ria, her face lit up, and she waved them over. "Hey, Northwood!" she called. "Come join us!"

Olivia looked at Ria, raising an eyebrow. "Why not? Better than hanging around with Lucas."

They made their way over to Mila's group, who welcomed them with easy smiles and handshakes. Mila grinned as Ria sat down beside her. "So, how's it going? Nerves kicking in yet?"

Ria shrugged. "A little. Our lead's... tired, I guess."

Mila's expression softened. "Yeah, it's a lot. Especially for the leads. But I'm sure you guys will kill it tomorrow. Hillside's not going down without a fight, though."

"You've seen the other schools perform?" Olivia asked, curiosity piqued.

"Bits and pieces," Mila said, leaning back against her hands. "Riverton's got that whole 'intense drama' thing going on, and Crestwood... well, they're probably going to blow everyone away with their tech stuff. But hey, there's more to a play than fancy lighting, right?"

Ria smiled, appreciating Mila's laid-back approach to the competition. It was a refreshing break from the undercurrent of tension she'd been feeling all morning. Still, thoughts of Kael tugged at the back of her mind.

"You know," Mila added, glancing around the room, "there's a meet-and-greet thing later tonight at the hostel. Everyone's staying there, so we'll all have time to chat more. Maybe your lead will get a chance to relax a bit before tomorrow."

Ria nodded, though she wasn't so sure. "Yeah, maybe."

That evening, the Northwood group found themselves lugging their bags into Riverton's school hostel—a sprawling building that had been converted into dorms for the duration of the competition. The hostel had a lived-in, comfortable feel, with bunk beds crammed into shared rooms and common spaces decorated with posters and couches that looked older than most of the students staying there.

Ria dropped her bag on one of the lower bunks, stretching her arms after the long day. She could hear voices from down the hall, a mix of excited chatter and friendly arguments as students from different schools settled in for the night.

"Looks like this is home for the next two days," Olivia said, tossing her bag onto a top bunk.

Ria sighed, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. "I hope Kael's doing okay."

"I'm sure he's fine," Olivia replied, though her voice wasn't entirely convincing. "He just needs to rest."

"Yeah," Ria muttered, though the worry didn't leave her.

As the night went on, students from various schools filtered into the common room of the hostel. Conversations sparked between the different groups, some discussing their performances, others talking about life beyond the competition.

Ria, Olivia, and Kayla found themselves mingling with a mix of Hillside and East Ridge students, listening to Lucas boast about East Ridge's previous wins, while Mila and her group kept things more lighthearted, cracking jokes about their costumes.

"Have you seen Riverton's setup?" Mila said at one point, raising her eyebrows. "It's insane. Morgan's got this whole brooding lead role thing down, but I swear, the sets are doing half the acting for them."

Ria laughed, appreciating Mila's easygoing approach to everything. It was a nice distraction from the weight that had settled in her chest ever since they'd arrived.

Still, as the night wore on, Ria couldn't shake the image of Kael standing alone in the auditorium, his face pale and worn. Tomorrow was looming over all of them, and while the rest of the team seemed ready, Ria couldn't help but wonder if Kael would be able to handle what was coming.

As the conversations around her ebbed and flowed, Ria found herself staring out one of the hostel's large windows, watching the dark sky shift slowly above the school grounds. Tomorrow was the competition. Tomorrow, everything would change