Weeks passed and time was coming for the day of our production of the play. I had studied really hard, especially on the songs, trying to hit the notes just right. The movie of course was over two hours and Mr. Foster's version was little over an hour. He had to take out a lot of the parts, mainly the fighting scenes. But in the end it seemed like it was going to pull off rather well. I was paired up with Landon. Landon was playing the part of Tony, the American. He was tall and built from where he lifted weights and worked out for the football team. His cute plastic girlfriend, Julie, was not impressed one bit. She ended up with the part of Velma, a cute little blonde American who dates one of the 'Jets'. However, I play Maria, the Latino girl. My brother, in the play, is one of the main 'Sharks'. Jaden played my brother.

Jaden is cool; however he is not on the football team or any team for that matter. Shocker! But he seemed to get along with everyone. He was one of those guys who could talk to anyone and still get along with them regardless of the clique that they were in. Jaden has lived in the United States for about six years. He grew up in Guatemala with a big family. His parents moved here to find work and make a new life in the states. He has three younger siblings living with him and two older ones that stayed in Guatemala refusing to move. Jaden spoke fluent in English as well as Spanish. There were many days that he helped me out with some of my lines.

Mr. Foster kept Landon and I after school at least twice a week to go over our parts, and today just happened to be one of those days. I made my way to the theater and hopped up on stage. I stretched out a little and waited for Landon to show up. Mr. Foster came in a few minutes later.

"Good afternoon Shayla. I see Landon is running late." He proceeded to walk down towards the stage.

"Apparently." I rotated my head in a circular motion, then took a few deep breaths.

"Why don't you work on one of the songs while we wait? How about, I Feel Pretty."

"Alright." I started to sing the song and danced around on the stage and then stopped half way through it. An awkward feeling came over me.

"Did you forget the words, Mrs. Farris?" he asked.

"No! I just don't feel like singing it right now." I had noticed the way he was watching me, like a stalker. He sat back in the seat and his eyes gleamed as he watched me prance around the stage. I got this sick turning sensation in the bottom of my stomach. "Sorry Mr. Foster; I just don't feel pretty at the moment."

He got up from his chair and walked up onto the stage. He walked over towards me and his hand felt so warm against my cheek. "Why Shayla, you're a very pretty girl. There is no reason for you to think that you're not." He smiled and looked at me incongruously.

A part of me went numb. I have heard about teachers falling in love with their students, but I had never imaged for this to happen to me. I just saw something on the news about this and the teacher was sentenced to several years in prison. I stepped back from him. "Please don't."

I believe he knew what I was thinking and he turned around, bending over to pick up the script off the floor. "Would you like for me to fill in for Landon." He reached out for my hand.

"No. He should be here in a minute." My skin started to crawl. I looked around the stage wondering if someone like Jaden or Kylie would be back stage somewhere. However no one was around at the moment.

Just then Landon was up on the stage. Neither one of us heard him come into the theater. "What's going on?" He looked puzzled. Something in his eye told me that he knew what was going on here.

I jumped back slightly. "Nothing, glad you could make it." I noticed the expression on his face that look as if he caught someone doing something that they shouldn't have been doing in the first place.

"Yes." Mr. Foster continued. "Thank you with your presence. So glad that you could fit us into your busy schedule," he said rather loudly and offensively.

He took off his ball cap and continued to walk up to the stage. "Sorry, coach kept me over."

Mr. Foster went back to sit down as we worked on our parts. In the following weeks strange things started to happen even more with him. There was a time or two that he would push Landon off to the side and show him how to touch my hand, or look into my eyes. I got where I felt so uncomfortable around him. Did the others notice the way that he looked at me.

Two weeks before the play, we all had to get on the stage and do the whole thing. In the scene we were at the dance. The Jets were dancing and then the Sharks come in. Everyone is dancing and then on one side Landon stands and stares at me. I stop and stare at him and then as we get closer together the lights dim and everyone around us stops dancing. He holds my hands in his and then I reach up to touch his cheek and then he touches mine.

Then out in the middle of nowhere he yells. "STOP!" Mr. Foster stood abruptly and got up on the stage. "If we want the audience to feel the connection you have got to do it right." Everyone watched as he grabbed my hands into his and he looked at me, glaring into my eyes. I tried to break free, but he held onto me. "Feel the connection just by looking at each other." He had to take my hand and pull it up to his cheek and then he touched mine. "Close your eyes for a second, feel it Shayla. Feel the connection, take a deep breath then open your eyes and look at me like you're lost in my soul." I did as I was told but when I opened my eyes and saw him I got an uneasy feeling over me. I pulled away from him. A part of me felt like I was going to hurl right there on the stage. I wonder what the rest of the cast was thinking. I think he knew what I was thinking because he came back with, "We are two characters playing a part. We are not teacher and student right now. All of you are characters; remember that. That's all for the day, go home. See you tomorrow." He yelled angrily.

I went to gather my things together and as I did Julie walked by me with some of the other girls. "Well at least we know why you got the main part now; you teacher lover you," she blabbed.

I just bit my bottom lip and walked out shoving right between all of them. Kylie ran up behind me.

"Why do you let them talk about you that way? I know it's not true."

"No it's not, but why should I argue about it with them. It's hard to get through plastic you know." I smirked.

She laughed. "I've noticed the way he has been with you lately. I think Mr. Foster has a thing for you."

I snarled up my nose. "And he can keep that thing to himself. He's old enough to be my father."

"Not really, he just graduated not so long ago; I heard that he is twenty-four. I think he's cute. What I would do to kiss him." She dazed off in dreamland for a second.

"Gross. Even if he is twenty-something he is not kissing these lips." I shook my head at her pointing a finger towards my lips. "He's all yours."

The night of the play was exciting. Every seat was filled. My Grandparents came out and sat close to the stage. I peeked through the curtain to see where Isaiah was sitting. That's when I noticed Dr. Givens in the back row. She was still keeping tabs on me. I still had appointments with her but now it was only twice a month. I was doing better now and tonight she would see a difference in me as well.

As the curtain went up the lights went dim and the stage was set up like the streets of New York. The Jets and the Sharks were snapping their fingers and doing a dance routine that ended in a little rumble. The play went smoothly and we had a fifteen minute break right after I sung, I Feel Pretty and we acted out our wedding day.

I found my Grandparents in the hallway and they hugged me. "You are doing so good up there. You are a star. Your mom and dad would be so proud of you."

Then Grandpa added, "Break a leg sweetie."

That saying is so old, I thought to myself.

Isaiah watched me as I was talking with my Grandparents. I motioned for him to come over but he turned and walked back into the theater. I wondered what was up with him. Maybe he was just speechless for the moment. Either that or I did something again to make him upset.

The cue was heard over the intercom and everyone made their way back to the theater. I found my place up in the balcony of the stage. Landon was in the store window. And the gangs were in the middle of the streets. All of us singing, Tonight.

When the scene finally came to where I found out that my brother was killed, something inside of me snapped. I suddenly got over emotional and as I ran to the bedroom, kneeling on the floor, I cried, "Don't make it true.....Make me die..." and then as I turned and went to Tony, (Landon) I slammed my fist hard into his chest. His eyes glared upon me for I have not hit him this hard in all the rehearsals that we had. He felt me. He felt the pain. I cried, "Stay with me...don't leave me...."

In the next scene, Anita, (Kylie) goes to the Jets and tries to talk with them but gets upset and tells them that I am dead. Tony finds out and goes to look for the guy who killed me but just as he is yelling he sees me. Both of us run to each other. Just as we reach each other Tony is shot and falls into my arms. As I held Tony in my arms, I cried. Not pretend, but true tears shed and fell along his cheek. The lights went out and the curtain dropped. We all went to get up so that we could bow to the audience. Landon reached out to me and with his right hand he wiped the tears away from my face. "You're good; you're a pro at this."

I finished wiping off the rest of my tears under my eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get so emotional."

"No. You did an awesome job." With that he held my hand and as the curtains went up we all took our bows. We had a standing ovation. Then Mr. Foster got on the stage and made his way between Landon and I, grabbing our hands and taking another bow. Then the curtain closed again.

"Marvelously job. You guys actually pulled it off. Congratulations," Mr. Foster said and he went around shaking everyone's hands and then he turned to me and hugged me. "Job well done Ms. Farris." And then he went on about his way.

I stood there frozen for half a second, looking around to see if anyone else had noticed the hug he had given me. But everyone was in their own little world.

"Shayla we were all going to the café do you want to come along?" Landon had asked.

"I'll have to ask my Grandparents first. I'll be right back." As I was walking off the stage to find my Grandparents a few of the plastics were whispering with each other. I walked past them, ignoring them. Comes to find out they had noticed the hug between Mr. Foster and I. Oh how the rumors will spread by Monday.

I found my Grandparents in the hallway talking with Isaiah.

"Hi."

He didn't answer back. OK so it was a fact, I did something for sure.

I turned to my Grandparents and asked them, "A few of the cast from the play are going to the café is it alright if I go with them?"

They looked at Isaiah and then nodded, "Sure just make sure your home by ten." They turned and walked out, leaving me with Isaiah, assuming that I would be hanging out with him.

"What's the matter with you?" I nudged him with my elbow.

"I thought we were a thing Shayla."

A thing? What is a thing? Was he talking like boyfriend girlfriend thing or something else? I didn't know where he was going with this conversation so I said, "We are friends Isaiah. Are you going to the café with me or not?"

"I seen the way the two of you look at each other. I have noticed it for a while now. When were you going to tell me that you are in love with him?"

I was not for sure who he was talking about. Was he talking about Landon, because we have been very busy working with each other the past few weeks. Or did he notice how Mr. Foster had hugged me, so tight. Had he noticed the way he had looked at me in the past few weeks. "In love with who?" I had to ask him.

"Landon!" He paused. "Every freakin' girl in this school has a thing for him and now you do too."

At least he didn't think about Mr. Foster, thank goodness. "Excuse me Isaiah, but you have it all wrong. We are just characters in a play nothing more. Now are you going or not?" I asked him again.

"Not. You go on with your new friends. Have fun. Enjoy yourself. I'm going home." He pulled his keys out of his pocket.

"Fine then if that's how you want to be. Go home Isaiah." I turned around and headed back inside the theater. I went backstage to find the guys but they had left without me. As I started to walk out, Mr. Foster called out my name, "Shayla, wait up." He ran over towards me. Why does this guy creep me out?

"I heard the cast was going to the café, would you like for me to drop you off?"

I looked around the dim lighted theater. It was quiet with just the two of us in there. "I'm sure they are just waiting for me in the parking lot." I turned away from him to walk out the door. He reached out and grabbed my hand.

"Maria your hands are so cold yet so soft." He continued to hold them. Then he raised them both up to his lips and kissed them gently. My skin started to crawl, like a thousand maggots, slimy and gross.

"Mr. Foster?" I whispered.

His finger swept across my lips. "Shh...I have thought of you many nights; I just want to smell you, to feel my fingers play in your hair, to kiss your sweet lips...." He crooned.

"Mr. Foster, I would appreciate it if you took your hands off of me." I started to back up, finding myself against the warm metal door. His lips now on mine, his fingers grabbing handfuls of my hair and just as he was about to go up my shirt, I shoved him away with full force. "Mr. Foster control yourself. I am Shayla not Maria. I am your student remember. We are not acting here." I yelled, looking around hoping that someone was still around. Surely someone would have heard me. However no one was there the theater was empty.

He glared at me for a few seconds and then glowered at me. He pushed me back against the door. One hand slammed hard against the door while the other was around my neck. "Tell no one of this; this never happened do you understand?" His lips were so close to mine but he didn't attempt to kiss me, but he was so close. He then released me.

"Never happened!" I mumbled under my breath escaping from under his arm. I pushed the door open to feel the night air against my skin. The parking lot was practically empty except for his car, the Dodge Charger Convertible. It was dark maroon with all the right curves, not one scratch, like he just drove it off the show room floor. What a car; it must be nice to have money like that. Landon got out. "What was taking you so long?"

"I forgot something, thanks for waiting. Let's go," I said hurriedly as I got into the passenger side. I could feel my insides trembling. As we took off down the road I did not see Mr. Foster watching or Isaiah for that matter. I just wanted to escape.

We all sat in the middle of the café and talked about the night. Everyone was hooting and hollering; it's a wonder if they didn't ask us to leave. I sat at the same table with Landon, but not beside him. Julie sat practically in his lap and whispered half of the time in his ear. I'm sure it was all that lovey dovey stuff that she likes to do so much. She made it clear that he was not to take me home, so I got a ride with Kylie. She sat off to the side like she was one of those on the outside still trying to come into the clique but no one invited her to sit at the same table. It was getting late and she needed to get home so I left while everyone else was still laughing and having fun.

As soon as I got in the bedroom, I called Andrea on the cell.

"The play was a hit; I wish you could have been there."

"Sorry I had to miss it." She sounded disappointed.

"I just got home. Landon had asked me to go to the café afterwards."

"Landon!" she asked, surprised.

"The lead guy; I told you about him."

"Oh! Yeah! Mr. Quarterback. Where was his Juliet?"

"Julie. She was there too." I paused for a minute.

"O.K. What's the problem Shay. I know you too well and something is bothering you. Tell."

"He's obsessed with me. I don't know what to do. He told me not to tell; that it never happened. It happened so fast Andrea, his hands, his lips, the way he looked at me. It is really getting to me. What if next time he goes even farther and I can't get him to stop."

"Wait! Slow down who are you talking about, Landon?"

But I didn't answer her.

"Then you and Isaiah are getting closer?" she guessed wrongly again.

"No!" I tried to calm myself down.

"Who is obsessed with you Shayla?" She demanded to know.

"Mr. Foster." I blurted out.

"Your Drama teacher? Are you for real girl? You have got to say something about this. Teachers are role models, someone to look up to, not someone to mess around with."

"Who would believe me Andrea? Everyone would think that I just wanted attention. They already think that is how I got the lead in the play to begin with."

"Oh Shayla. What happened?"

"I was going to the café after the play. Isaiah refused to take me and when I went back into the theater to get Landon he was already gone as well. I was fixing to leave when Mr. Foster grabbed my hand. He wanted to smell my hair, to touch me Andrea. He kissed me. I feel gross, maybe I need to jump in the shower."

"You got to be kidding, Shay you have to tell someone. What are you going to do?"

"Stay away from him as much as possible. That's the only thing that I can do right now. I also need to find away to make ends with Isaiah. He thinks that I'm in love with Landon."

"Are you?"

"I don't know. A part of me likes him a lot and another part of me likes Isaiah, but honestly I still have feelings for Jake."

"Shayla get on with your life; you and Jake are over. He's moved on Shayla and it's time for you to do the same." Her voice started to trail off as if she had let out a secret.

I wasn't supposed to know apparently. "He is dating someone isn't he?" I had to ask. I just had to know even though I knew that this was going to happen after all I did give him permission to start seeing other girls.

"What do you expect from the guy? He loves you Shay, but he has needs as well."

The words hurt so much, even though I knew she was right; I just needed her to confirm it. "So you're saying I need to move on with my life?"

"Just your love life Shay. Find the right guy for you. I know he is there somewhere."

"Yeah, if only it was that easy." And that's how we ended the conversation for the night. I feel asleep holding his picture in my hand.

***

I found myself in the field covered in mud up to my ankles. My hair was drenched from the rain that poured down. I continued to walk making my way to the old house. All the lights were out. I went from room to room, but no one was there. As I looked out the window, I could see our house in the distance. I walked back in the direction that I came and there in the brick house was my parents holding a young child about the age of three. They tucked her into bed and then went to their bedroom to talk.

'They know where she is. They will come back for her.'

'No they won't; I have made arrangements and we leave out in the morning.' He held her in his arms, while she cried.

'Don't let them have my little girl.'

'I won't; I promise.' As they held each other something walked up behind me and grabbed my hand. As I turned around, my eyes met with hers. She looked so fragile and vulnerable looking. 'Come home Aislinn; they have left you now. Come home to me.'

'Where are you? How do I find you?'

'Look for the signs.....Look and you will find me.'

When I woke up I found myself on the opposite end of the bed. Sweat rolled down my face into my hair. 'Look for signs' is what she had said. Find the signs and you will find me. Where would I start? After all I had no idea what I was even looking for.