The Blackfryr pub crackles with a near palpable energy after our opening performance. I take a seat along the back wall squished between Alex and Cat where we will have a commanding view of the ruckus about to take place.

While yesterday's cast party was tainted by a good deal of nerves for the official opening, now there's just relief. My eye snags on the group of knights as they enter in a rowdy little group like a pack of high school football players arriving at the cafeteria. They whoop and holler and about half peel off and head to the bar to order drinks.

Gavin heads towards us and brings to of his fellow knights with him. One is a girl who can't be much older than me. She has bronze skin and dark brown hair that's plaited into a thick braid. She comes to the shoulder of the guy beside her. He's got his long blond hair tied into a man bun, but he's actually pulling it off — no offense to man buns. His skin is fair but it looks like he's spent a lot of time in the sun, and judging by his bulging muscles, a lot of time in the gym.

"Hey guys," Gavin says as they reach us where we've squeezed together on the long bench. "I wanted to introduce you all to my friends Ford and Iniya. Guys, this is Cat, Morwen, and Alex. I met Ford and Iniya when I was at stunt school last summer."

"Hi," I say and Alex and Cat echo my sentiments.

Gavin looks at the bench while Ford and Iniya size us up. "Want to see if we can find a table on the balcony?"

I look to Alex and Cat. Cat shrugs. "Sure," I say and we pick up our things and follow Gavin and his friends up the open wooden stairs that groan under our footsteps. There's an empty table along the railing that overlooks the more crowded first floor of tables.

It's cozier on the second floor and the open beams of the rafters feel a little too close. Ford subconsciously ducks his head even though I can tell he won't hit his head. If I was his size, I would duck my head too.

Iniya takes her seat first and Ford sits opposite her. Cat and Alex take spots along Ford's bench which leaves me to sidle next to Gavin who has claimed the spot beside Iniya. My back is to the balcony and it's hard to hear over the chatter of the entire cast. I have to turn and straddle the bench to see the stage so it's hard to miss when Iniya leans over and whispers something to Gavin. There's no way I can hear what she says, but Gavin grins from ear to ear and smiles at his lap.

I try to ignore it, but my pulse betrays me as a jealous rush thunders through my veins. Gavin may be tan, but I can definitely see a blush bloom beneath his angular cheekbones. When he lifts his head, he has to push his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.

My dad, Oswald Lovell, takes the stage below us and the crowd quiets. I sneak one last glance at Gavin only to find he's already looking at me. My heart leaps and I cut my gaze back to my dad as I hope Gavin didn't realize what I was doing.

Dad is a rather short man with a bald head, but he's got a smiling face that is as bright as always tonight. He wears frameless glasses in front of his green eyes, and if it weren't for the emerald jerkin and plum-colored tights he might have looked like a corporate lawyer.

He taps his microphone to make sure it's on then gives a little cough. "Thank you all for such a great show today." He shuffles the papers in his hands. "Patron feedback was excellent across the board. I myself caught several of the performances and as I walked around I saw great interactions happening with the public. Now, before we get on with tonight's celebration, we just have one matter of business to attend to. We're trying something new this year," he says and this is a surprise to me too. They haven't even hinted at anything new to me. "The final night of our run, the final Sunday in July, we will host a special gala event: The King and Queen's ball."

He pauses as the audience offers him a hearty "huzzah."

"Yes. Yes. This is to be a charity function as well as a final goodbye to our season. We thought it best to go out with a bang as we do with everything here, so we have decided to crown a faire King and Queen - two people who we feel have done an excellent job at exemplifying the values of fun, safety, and customer service that we strive to as a faire. The faire King and Queen will win an audition slot with our friends at the Laurel Highlands Pleasure Festival in Pennsylvania."

There are several sharp gasps around the room and cheers erupt. I look to my friends at the table and while Alex and Cat look intrigued, Gavin, Ford, and Iniya look stunned. Most people who have worked the circuit know Laurel is one of the top faires in the country. They don't host open auditions for anything but stall workers. Everyone from actors to traveling acts to booth artisans must be invited to even apply or audition.

"Wow," I say. "Last I heard the only to get in at Laurel was serving turkey legs."

Cat's eyes have glazed over as she looks into the distance. "I know. I can't work Laurel with school, but they're one of the top bookings in the circuit. Can you imagine the feedback they could give me on my stage act?"

I smile at her. "They would be the best people to ask."

Iniya leans forward. "I'm heading to California next, but you all should go for it. Especially you, Gavin." She places a hand on his arm. "You too Ford."

Alex looks between them and the shock on their faces. "Why them?"

"Their Fight Director and Casting Director is Ryuu Masuda. He is the best in the country — well one of," Iniya says. "I visited Laurel a few years ago and his choreography was amazing. It's kinda the reason why I decided to become a stunt performer."

"Yeah," Ford says. He has a deep growling voice that makes him seem even more like Thor than his long blonde hair does. "He works movies throughout the year too, but he always comes back to work at Laurel Highlands. It's a pet project I guess. I suppose I could go for it. I may even be able to get college credit for it if they don't pay me."

"What about you, Gavin?" I ask. "Pittsburgh is close to Laurel Highlands isn't it?"
Gavin nods. "Close enough that I could camp out on the weekends. What do you say, Alex? Should I shoot my shot?"

Alex extends his fist across the table and Gavin bumps it with his. "Go for it," Alex says. "Just make sure you're free spring semester. I'm student-directing Othello and I want you in it."

Gavin smiles. "Sounds good. I guess I have my work cut out for me over the coming weeks — I should keep working on improving with the crowd though, shouldn't I?"

Cat sits up and I catch the impish glint in her eye too late. "Morwen can help you with that. She loved improv'ing with you."

I start to shoot Cat a glare, but Gavin turns to me before I can catch her gaze.

"Really?" Gavin asks. "You'd play off me if I worked on some bits with me?"

I almost don't hear him over the sound of my throbbing pulse in my ears. I'm altogether not sure if it's stage fright or if he's going to ask to kiss my hand again one of these days. (I can do without the stage fright but a kiss on the hand...)

"Uh huh," I choke out and it sounds quite strangled.

Gavin's lips part into one of the most genuine smiles and his eyes crease at the corners. "You're the best," he says and he really means it.

He has so much sincerity and enthusiasm in his words that it makes my head go all sorts of fuzzy. "Of course I'll help," I say as I find my voice. "I'd help any of you guys. Whatever you need: costumes, pep talks, orange slices — I'm here to help." I mean it. Helping is what I like to do best. Gavin may think I should be center stage, but this is where I belong: in the wings helping my friends.