Chapter 3

Richard carried disassembled set panels to the freight elevator. The elevator reached the basement and he pulled open the door. Another student helped carry the materials. “There’s a cart of folding chairs to come down here,” Richard said. “Then I think we’re done. Trent wants to see everyone on-stage.”

Richard stood beside Crystal on the now empty stage. Other Guild members joined them and their professor addressed them.

“This was one of the best productions we have done,” he said. “All four performances were first-rate. Everyone here will be receiving an A and you all have earned it. As I mentioned, there is a wrap party at my place... 123 Cedar street and all are invited to attend. Other than that, this production is a wrap and I hope to see you all next term.”

Richard walked with Crystal. He took out his phone. “Maps aren’t loading -- guess it’s lousy reception here.”

“Looking for Trent’s place?” one of the State students asked. “It’s easy. From the campus turn right on the main drag, then right again onto Graham. Cedar is on the left and Trent’s place is three or four houses down on the left. It’s well marked.”

Richard escorted Crystal toward the house. “There it is,” he remarked.

They approached an older bungalow. Together they climbed the steps to the front porch and rang the bell. A slightly-built woman with long graying hair opened the door.

“Come in,” she said with a slight British accent. “I’m Letitia Lockwood. I teach English Literature here at State.”

“This is Crystal Greer and I’m Richard Wrenn.”

“Oh, and which parts did you play?”

“George and Emily,” Crystal replied.

“Your performances were excellent. Funny I don’t recall seeing either of you in any of my classes.”

“We’re from Tech,” Richard said.

“We joined the Guild for a humanities elective,” Crystal added.

“Welcome, then. Please make yourself at home. I’m getting some refreshments ready so if you’ll excuse me.” The doorbell rang again. “Would you mind getting that?”

More students arrived and soon the house was packed. Trent wheeled a large cooler into the living room and opened its lid. It was filled with ice and packed with bottles and cans. “We have beer and soda,” he said. “We work on the honor system -- I’m not going to card anyone. All I ask is that you drink responsibly.”

Students began grabbing and opening bottles. Richard removed a green bottle. “Rolling Rock beer ... My dad likes this and he pours one for me now and then.” He looked toward Crystal. “You want one?”

She regarded him with pursed lips and shook her head. “No,” she said.

“Maybe I shouldn’t...” He put the bottle back in the cooler.

“Richard,” she said quietly in his ear. “I want to leave.”

“The party’s just getting started.” He regarded her and perceived distress. “Something wrong?”

“I need to go back to the dorm,” she said. “My heart is palpitating.”

“Do you need to see a doctor?”

“I need to get out of here. I’ll go by myself if you want to stay. No reason for me to spoil your fun.” She stepped into a guest room and retrieved her coat from the bed.

“No -- it’s a long walk and it’s getting dark. I’ll come with you.” He grabbed his coat. “Let’s say our good-byes to our host.”

They approached Lockwood. “Crystal and I have to leave,” he said.

“So soon?” Trent replied. “We’re just getting started.”

“We both have early classes and it’s a long walk back to the dorms.”

“That’s right -- you’re from Tech. Thank you for coming and thank you for your contributions. You two are naturals. I hope to see you here next term. We’ll be doing a musical.”

“I can’t sing,” Richard replied.

“Neither can I,” Crystal added.

“Oh, well. There are other roles and responsibilities. Good luck with your studies at Tech.”

Richard escorted Crystal to the door. She sprinted down the porch stairs and walked briskly down the street, pulling away from Richard.

“Crystal -- hold up,” he called and dashed toward her. She had reached the intersection with Graham and turned left. Richard ran toward her. “Crystal!” he shouted. “Tech is this way.”

“Oh my God!” Crystal turned around and joined him. “I could have gotten hopelessly lost and the cell service here is poor.”

She headed up Graham, still walking briskly but not as fast as before. “What happened in there?” he asked. “You bolted out of there like a bat out of Hell.”

“A feeling came over me -- a feeling that I wasn’t safe and I needed to leave.”

“It looked like you were having a panic attack.”

“I was, of sorts. I’m settling down a bit, now.”

“I’m starting to catch my breath,” he panted. “Still having palpitations?”

“No. My heart is back to normal.” They turned onto the main boulevard toward the Tech student union. “Union’s closed,” she remarked.

“Yeah -- the whole campus shuts down on a Sunday evening.”

They crossed at the corner and made the long walk up the hill and past the Gamma Nu house. “Goonie house seems quiet,” she observed.

“Even they shut down on Sundays.”

The Tech upper campus came into view. “I’m feeling a little better now,” she said.

“Starting to feel hungry?”

“No. I’ve been feeling hungry.”

“Let’s stop at the Quad. The snack bar there is open and makes a really good sub sandwich.”

“I’m out of cash,” she replied, “until I get my allowance. I don’t even have enough change to get a candy bar from a vending machine.”

“You get an allowance?”

“The first of the month my mom sends me a hundred dollars for incidentals. I spent the last of it on some books I needed for a class.”

“I’ll buy and you can owe me.”

They reached the snack bar. Rich took out his wallet and counted his bills. “Three dollars,” she remarked. “You’re not much less broke than me.”

Richard reached behind his driver’s license in its clear window and produced a twenty-dollar bill. “This is my emergency fund. This qualifies as an emergency.”

He stepped to the counter and ordered the Italian Special sandwich and a soda. “What for you?” he asked Crystal.

“I’ll have a tuna melt and some water.”

“No sub? They’re really good.”

“This is cheaper.”

“You don’t have to go on the cheap for my sake,” he replied.

“I’m not -- I’m going on the cheap for my sake. I have to repay you, after all.”

They sat at a table. “If I were you,” Crystal said, “I’d find a different place for your emergency fund. If some cop pulled you over and saw that bill along with your license he might think you’re trying to bribe him.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. Good advice. I don’t have a car here so I’m not getting pulled over.” He sipped some soda. “So are you taking Trent up on his offer for next term?”

“I don’t know. I got my elective and an A for the effort. This took a lot more time and was a bigger distraction than I bargained for. I have some ground to make up in my major classes between now and finals or my GPA is going to be under water.”

“I’m with you there.” He stuffed his sandwich wrapper into his empty soda cup. “That hit the spot.”

“Same here. Thanks for suggesting this. I was so hungry I was getting hypoglycemic.”

“Maybe that contributed to your anxiety at Trent’s place,” Richard remarked.

“Maybe.”

“Let’s head out.”

“I’m good from here, Richard. No need to escort me to my dorm.”

“I want to walk with you.”

They reached the Whalen lobby and Crystal unlocked the main door. “Thanks for walking with me,” she said. “Thanks for everything. You made a big difference.”

“Crystal -- wait. Can we sit? I have something I need to tell you.”

They sat together on a bench. “What’s on your mind?”

“You asked me how I solved the George equation. I remember you telling me I needed to find something that George and I had in common. Well, I found it.”

“What was it?”

“It’s you, Crystal. George loves Emily ... and I love you.”

Her jaw slackened. “No ... no, Richard. Stop.” She stood and stepped away from him.

“Crystal -- wait. Please hear me out and then I’ll leave you alone.”

She sat on the bench. “All right. Finish what you started to say.”

“In the funeral scene when George was grieving ... those were real tears, Crystal. I was imagining how I would feel if I lost you the way George lost her. It all came out like a volcano.” He brushed a tear from his face. “I’m still feeling it.”

“Oh, God, Richard. PLEASE stop.”

“I know you told me you don’t want a relationship...”

“I never said I didn’t want one. I said I couldn’t have one.” Crystal drew in a breath and released it slowly. “All right. You deserve to know. Promise me you won’t repeat what I’m about to tell you. Promise me.”

“I ... of course, Crystal. I promise.”

“Do you know about the Me Too movement?”

“How could I not? It’s been in the news daily for the past two years.”

“Well, Richard ... Me, too.”

“You’ve been harassed?”

“I was raped.”

“Oh, my God. No.”

“I was.” She took another deep breath. “It was my freshman year of high school. I joined the Drama Club. I didn’t realize at the time it was more like a clique for the juniors and seniors. I was fifteen and the youngest one there. We were doing ‘Diary of Anne Frank’. My experience with the youth drama program gave me an edge and I got to play Anne.”

“That didn’t sit well with the upper class members,” Richard remarked.

“It did not. One girl, a senior, was the popular one. She was Junior Prom Queen, Senior Homecoming Queen, the works. She always got the lead. This time she got to play Anne’s mother.”

“Judging from your acting skills, you probably nailed Anne.”

“I did okay.”

“Don’t be modest,” he replied.

“Okay, I nailed it. I got a standing ovation. Moms and grandmas were coming to me with tears in their eyes. Afterward Prom Queen’s parents threw a wrap party. They were the cool parents. They always served alcohol at their parties.”

“One reason that Prom Queen was so popular, I bet.”

“One reason. There was a cooler with beer and soda. I grabbed a bottle of grape. I didn’t realize it was hard soda.”

“Yuck.” Richard interjected. “That sounds like a toxic combination. My stomach is turning just thinking about it.”

“I started feeling woozy and sick to my stomach. I asked where a bathroom is and someone directed me downstairs. I found a powder room, knelt by the toilet and threw up. Then I sat on the floor until the queasiness passed. There was an office or den across the hall with a sofa and a desk. I sat on the sofa hoping my head would clear.”