The footstels slowly fade into shadow , behind the spotlight. Just then applause begins . It starts from Emily, and like some sort of ripple effect it breaks out across the stage.
Someone has turns on all the lights. Rachel walks back to the centre , visibly excited as if it's a red carpet .
The 2nd girl stands up slowly, laughing as well . Throws the jacket over shoulder and grabs Rachael's coller
" My love ! You did come back!" She giggles in high pitch .
Rachael laughs along with the antic , peckinng her lightly on left cheek , winks " i sure did ! M'lady!"
Nathan scoffs , ah so childish. It's so irritating.
Emily taps him on the shoulder " you liked it no ?"
Nathan rolls his eyes " fff, as if ! She played like just one scene. Why would l like it ? "
Emily opens her mouth to retort back but Rachael's voice cuts in from stage .
" A denial ! I see , being shy i suppose? "
Nathan pauses at that , eyes snapping at her .
" Not this again! I didn't like it . That's it . It's you whose in denial "
Rachael hugs Emily from behind, trudging her along in a weird dance rhythm, casually.
She humms " no no no ! I saw you looking at me when the " lord " glances back at lady love for the last time before leaving. "
Emily moving along giggles " oh yeah I saw that ! Trust me he was watching with full attention! "
Nathan shoves his hands in pocket " you told me to watch ! Besides carrying a box , and standing on stage what else am i supposed to do ? "
Rachael stop dancing, leaning forward " sure thing new volunteer. Whatever makes you sleep at night. But show times over . Time for labour. "
The storage room is for some reason is on the 3rd floor. With no elevator in the school. It's usually a " let's go on a spontaneous hiking " moment for students.
Rachael points upwards , " 3rd floor let's go . We will take the corner stairs " .
Nathan stares at her , what the hell? There is a stair at the corner of each floor. It's not for regular use or anything.
" Why the hell that ? That's not even the regular stairs . "
Rachael makes a face " regular ones won't work . We have like ten .." she counts fingers " may be more props to carry . They tend to be heavy "
" Oh really ! shit ! You dragged me here to toiling for your damn props huh! "
Her eyes snap on him for a second.
" Why do you think ms Miranda sent you ? " Her voice deadpan .
Let's go she motions , leaving Nathan with no choice .
Turns out spontaneous hiking is the understatement of the century. 4 flights of stairs . But they felt like climbing to mount Everest.
Makes you really wanna question whose the interior designer?
It's right after summer right now . So vacations are over too . Nathan realises there's no way he can avoid being this " volunteer for 4 months "
My god! 4 long months ! That's 16 weeks .. meaning minimum ike 112...days .... everything inside Nathancs head spins...oh how is gonna survive among these lunatics --
" Whose the interior designer man ? " Another club member, a fellow " climber " questions loudly .
Rachel snickers " must be someone over 30 "
Max , a bit ahead of them laughs " really gives you the feel of knee joints at 30 huh ? "
Rachael doubles down from laughing , holding the wall .
As dramatic as they are they really belong in the club it seems .
By the time they reach the 3rd floor. Knees are hurting like bitch . Even for Nathan. He runs every damn morning, otherwise his dad would chase him out . Well he does that anyway yelling " practice Nathan! Or else you will fall behind! "
" this fucking stairs " Nathan swears under breath .
This stairs are old , older than principal. It's uneven and rough , plaster has almost disappeared . Some short , some tilted some broken .
And at every school assembly about heritage and history and pride...and shit that oldman has to mention it .
" Y'all don't complain do much this stairs are the one out principal graduated with... remember these are he pride " max remarks still trying to get rid off the discomfort.
" oh damn true " Nathan himself Saw it 1st hand in the last award ceremony of championship .
Principal was wiping his face for the 100th time that day .
" Our school has been standing tall over a 100 year now ! We have shoulders our heritage and our philosophy with full force! The olden stairs have it all written in their memories! Our students have seen them , the storm our precedeccors endured and fought through....."
" Uff don't remind me " Rachel huffs " just give me the key ! "