Given Up

Chapter 34

The theatre was packed as I stepped around and looked across the aisles. 

"Everyone be seated for the Contemporary dance section."  A voice boomed out of the sound system.

I scanned the milling crowds taking their seats; the sweat from my run here starting to slide down the back of my neck.

"Kyle!"

I heard a shout down the front and saw Mr Evans waving frantically to me.  I dashed down the steps and squeezed past a few people to them.  Mrs Evans smiled warmly at me as she moved her bag off the chair next to her.

"Sorry I am so late, the bus broke down."  I took a deep breath. "How is Cassie?  She sounded pretty nervous last night."

Mr Evans shook his head.  "Upgraded from pretty nervous to a nervous wreck I am afraid.  She made us get here at the crack of dawn to be certain we wouldn't be late.  And then when we get here we find out she is the last one to dance all day!"  He stifled a yawn then.

The lights in the auditorium dimmed and we sat back in our seats as the first dancer took to the stage.  One by one they did their 2 minute pieces which were all good - well, what did I know - but I honestly was starting to get a bit bored as I clapped for the tenth contestant.

"Our final dancer today is Cassie Evans who will dance a piece entitled 'Grief'."

I sat up in my seat then.  I watched as she walked gracefully out and slid into splits - her starting position.  The music began playing.  It was a beautiful ballad and I was mesmerised as I watched Cassie glide around the stage.  I had watched her rehearse this piece quite a few times, but I still couldn't take my eyes off her.  It was so moving and descriptive - the piece showed anger, fear, hurt - all the feelings I had experienced since Mum died.  As she finally pulled into the ending pose, I couldn't help the tears in my eyes.  The audience burst into applause as did I.  I wiped away the tears at my eyes and as I did I noticed Mr Evans doing the same.  He caught my eye and gave me a comforting smile.

The lights went up and suddenly everyone started moving around.  We were meeting Cassie outside the auditorium and it looked like everyone else had the same idea.  Ten minutes later we finally got to the door.

"I don't see her."  Mrs Evan's voice was laced with motherly concern.

I squeezed past a group of people that decided to just find each other and stop; effectively blocking the exit.  I craned my neck around and recognised her from behind as she was stood talking to another dancer I had seen perform earlier.

Her friend clocked me as I came closer and I put my finger to my lips.  Cassie let out a little shriek as I grabbed her and twirled her around.

"You were incredible,"  I whispered into her neck as I put her down.

She smiled at me and gave me a peck on the lips.  There was a cough and we both stepped away from each other and coloured as her parents appeared.

I watched as they hugged each other in greeting, both of them telling her in their own way how proud they were of her.  I remembered then the times Mum had come to watch me in competitions: her arms wrapping around my shoulders and her smile against my cheek.

Cassie's anxious voice cut through my thoughts.  "So how terrible was it?"  She looked between the three of us expectedly, one arm snaked around her thin body.

"What are you talking about?"  Her Dad put his arm around her.  She pulled her hand up to her neck and started rubbing it.  "It was fabulous."

"I doubt the judges will agree," she muttered, pulling away from his touch.  The Evans' shared a look over her sunken head.