Chapter 2: School Play

“Hurry up students, that's your queue,” Lauren said, trying to rally the drama club backstage.

She had asked them to stand by, but the kids were goofing around backstage.

Being a high school drama teacher was all the fun for her. She loved her job and as the name implied, all the drama that came with it.

Lauren was walking around backstage, double-checking the costumes and even the actors.

Her pink skirt cinched her waist. She paired the skirt with a white blouse that sat beautifully on her upper body. The knee-length skirt was perfect enough to show her straight legs and the black poms she wore.

Lauren was passionate about her job and not only that, she was a really good teacher too. One could say she was beautiful inside and out.

Her long blonde waves draped over her shoulder extending down to her waist.

She moved gracefully, making sure everything was put in place.

“Hope everyone is ready,” she said.

“Yes Miss,” they chorused.

She looked around for a second and was satisfied with what she had seen.

The crowd was also a huge plus. A lot of parents were present. This was the first play for the term and it meant a lot to both her and the students.

She ushered Juliet and Romeo on stage, and they both kickstarted the play as rehearsed.

Lauren and the rest of the actors listened backstage, waiting for the next queue. Everything was going so well.

After a few lines, Emily and Sean returned backstage. According to Lauren, they were the perfect cast for Romeo and Juliet.

She ushered the other students on stage for the next scene and then went over to Emily, who was having her outfit changed.

Lauren noticed that she had a long face and a slight mood change. Already, she knew exactly what the problem was.

“Is everything alright Emily?” Lauren asked.

“It's nothing Miss Lauren, I'm fine.” Emily said her sad eyes saying otherwise.

“I know you're not fine Emily…He didn't make it today, Did he?” She asked her student.

Emily didn't utter a word or reply to the question. She swallowed hard which was a sign of pain. Her eyes filled with tears for a second.

Miss Lauren became furious. Emily was a natural in acting. And today, she was the lead in a classic school play and here she was sad and almost crying.

This had been the routine for some time now, well at least since she got her job in the school over two years ago. Emily's Dad was always absent from school events, especially her plays. And Lauren was a hundred percent sure that was the reason why her mood changed all of a sudden.

“It's okay Emily,” Lauren said. “I'm sure he'll make it this time, maybe he just has some work to finish. The play just started, okay. Let's keep our fingers crossed till the end,” Lauren added, stretching her right hand to her sad student. She squeezed Emily's shoulder as a sign of comfort.

Emily smiled at her. The smile was weak and forced. She was a strong girl. Was she? Or had she already been used to her Father not showing up for her plays?

The look of pity in Lauren's eyes made Emily uncomfortable.

“That's my cue,” Emily said with a smile on her face before walking away.

Lauren still wasn't satisfied with the whole situation. This was not the first nor was it the fifth time Mister Tyler Gray missed his daughters' play. She never wanted to interrogate him about it but this time it was going to be the opposite.

She needed to get it off her chest. It was obviously affecting Emily negatively and she had to talk to him about it. She had said she wouldn't get involved. Especially since Emily always covered up for her Dad, but this time she would. Teacher to Guardian.

***

The loud applause brought smiles to their faces backstage. It was time for the final bow and lights out. All the students rushed as both parents and teachers in the audience applauded them. Shortly Miss Lauren joined them on stage, smiling as bright as ever. They bowed graciously and the curtains were let down.

The play was a success. Everyone exchanged hugs and kisses. They all rallied around her. She couldn't be more proud.

It was already getting late and all the parents were leaving with their children. Lauren had grabbed her bag from her office and was also heading out of the building.

Just a few steps away from the door she heard someone walking closely behind her. She turned around to see who it was.

Emily was walking towards her. She had already changed from her costume and was holding her school bag, ready to leave.

“Emily, you're still here?” Lauren asked.

“Yes Miss Lauren. The driver isn't here yet. Or my dad,” Emily muttered under her breath.

“The school is already half empty. Don't worry Emily, I will wait with you till the driver comes,”.

“No Miss Lauren, you don't have to. I'm sure they will be here soon.”

“Yeah I know, and that's why I will wait. Besides, it's getting really late and I wouldn't want any student standing outside alone. Come on,” Lauren said as she gestured for Emily to catch up with her.

They both exited the building together and headed to the park, right outside the building.

“We could sit here while we wait,” Lauren said.

They both watched the remaining of the other students clear from the parking lot. Everyone was gone in about thirty minutes, including the teachers and other staff.

Now it was 5:00 pm and still no sign of Emily's Dad. It had been a whole hour since they were waiting. Lauren clearly didn't realize it would be this long.

Lauren looked down at her watch. Unlike the other staff, she didn't have a car and had to catch the bus to school and back every day.

Emily noticed that she was looking at the time anxiously.

“Miss Lauren, it's okay if you have to be somewhere. This isn't my first rodeo, I'll manage,” Emily said.

“I don't have anywhere to be,” Lauren defended. “And I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you here alone. What would that make me?”

At the end of her statement, Lauren spotted a convoy pulling up into the school premises. And judging by the way Emily grabbed her things and got up, that would be who they had been waiting for.

Lauren followed Emily closely behind as they drew closer to the parked SUVs.

A middle-aged man hopped out of the middle vehicle and waited by the door.

“Good evening, Miss Emily,” he said.

“Hey, Bruce,” Emily replied in a lower tone. He opened the door for her to enter the car.

She turned around and waved at Miss Lauren who in turn gave her a smile before she hopped into the car.

Lauren caught a glimpse of a man in the same car Emily had entered. His expression was rigid and tight. The door was shut immediately Emily entered.

'That must be her irresponsible father' Lauren thought. Without thinking twice, she rushed over to the other side of the car.

Hoping it was Mister Gray's window.

“Excuse me, sir! Excuse me!" Lauren kept calling out to the man at the other end of the tinted glass. She needed to have a word with him.

She noticed the driver had turned on the ignition. She didn't know how to grab his attention. Clearly, he was ignoring her on purpose.

Lauren dived her hand into her bag. She pulled out a pen and started drumming on the window continuously, intentionally causing an annoying sound.

Her little concert must have worked. The tinted windows rolling down showed that she had caught his attention…