The sounds of scuffling and commotion followed but Max didn't dare turn around. He climbed rung after rung, desperate, unsure if he should've stayed to help, until the catwalks came into view and a hand reached down to help him up. 

Nellie. 

Her eyes were wide, worried, but behind them Max saw a flame raging. With Max safe on the catwalk, she darted her gaze towards the end of the railing as her lead actress climbed up from the ladder.  

“Nellie!” Gabi jumped when she saw her, nearly falling back to the booth below, “What're you doin—”

“Really Gabi?” Nellie shook her head, fuming. “On today of all days… Where did you think this would get you?” 

“Screw you, Nellie.” Gabi placed a hand on her hips with an attitude that exuded defiance. “You don't even know what's going on.” 

“Dude, I heard you. The scholarship is yours right? No one else can go to their proposal because it’s your big chance, huh? Your big break?” She snorted. “Let me tell you something Gabi, the Omi STARS Scholarship? It doesn’t belong to you. You’re not entitled to it just because you’re the best at everything. Anyone can apply, and you can’t use Miguel to intimidate Max or stop others from taking it.”

“Are you done?” Gabi interjected, her high-pitched voice clear, cutting through the air. “That was a nice speech and all, but why don't you do us all a favor and save it for the play?” She dismissed them with a wave. “You act like I'm irredeemable, like I killed someone or something.” 

Max frowned, unwilling to let her talk her way out of this. “You stole my pitch!” 

"As if,” Gabi scoffed. “Don't resort to accusations, Max. It makes you look petty.” She straightened and pointed her chin high in the air. “Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a show to prepare for.”

 “No.” Nellie stood before her, adamant. “You're done. You don't deserve to be our lead tonight.” 

“Are you out of your mind?” Gabi spat back. “I’m fucking Armani Reem, you can’t fire me!” 

Nellie maintained a steady voice. “Okay, I won't–”

“What?” Max protested, “No, Nellie you have to!” 

She shot him a look, urging him to trust her. “I'll let you stay on tonight if, and only if, you can tell me about your proposal,” she said, turning back to face the warrior queen. In that same moment however, she saw Yuève – a silent rogue – lifting herself up onto the catwalk from behind Gabi. The two shared a nod, a quick once-over to make sure the other person was all right, before Nellie continued, “I know you were having trouble with the thesis earlier, but you just pitched it right? So you should have no problem explaining it to us.”

Gabi frowned, visibly frustrated with the challenge, but then her expression turned into one of superior pity as her eyes bore into Nellie. “This is why people don't listen to you,” she said. “You talk about fairness and who deserves what but watch, Mabel is going to crash and burn tonight. Everyone will see that all you do is play favorites, they'll see how much you rely on your friends and that you wouldn't be anywhere without them. No one will want to follow your lead. You need me!” 

“No, we don't,” said Nellie, her teeth gritted. “Mabel might be an understudy, but she knows her lines, she works hard, and she doesn’t bully the people in our crew. I believe in Mabel, which is a lot more than I can say for you.”

Out of words, Gabi shrieked and launched herself at Nellie. 

Max moved to block her path but Yuè was faster and grabbed hold of the warrior queen from behind. “Enough Gabi, it's over.”

“Let me go!” Gabi swung and cursed, flailing her arms like a feral beast, hoping that her words would do damage even if her limbs couldn't. “You're not even a good actor. Let me go!” 

“Chill dude.” Yuève kept her hold over the warrior queen. “You're not doing yourself any favors.”

 Nellie exhaled, releasing the tension in her body, calming her shaking hands. “Take her to the dressing rooms, Yuè. I'll talk to Raul and have him get Miguel out of costume.”

“You got it.” She started Gabi down the catwalk with a shove, bantering to drown out her cries and protests. “Okay, serious question: do you really think I’m that bad at acting?”

Nellie turned to check on Max, “You good?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” He was standing by the railing, staring down at the set. “Looks like they heard us.” The cast and crew were all on stage, eyes up toward the catwalk. They had gathered below to watch the encounter in dead silence. 

Nellie peered over the railing to a sudden cheer and applause from the costumed group of students below. She felt herself blush and gave them a wave but quickly returned her attention to Max whose eyes were still glum, down-turned as he adjusted his glasses. “Your proposal,” she began, “What’re you gonna do?”

“I– I don't know. I only have till four and there’s the play to–”

“Dude, forget the play! Let’s come up with another thesis, I can handle the lights.” She gave him a confident grin, patting the tablet on her waist.

Max however, remained skeptical. “Are you sure, Nellie? There’s not that much time. And it’s not like I have any other ideas, I put everything into the coral reef proposal to impress Dr. Omi–”

“Wait, Max that’s it! This is for Omi’s Scholarship right? What was that project he never finished?” 

“Project he never finished?” 

“His senior thesis from university.”

“Oh!” Max's brows rose in recollection. “His theory on pocket dimensions!” 

“Yeah,” Nellie said. “You know that paper better than anyone. Why don't you apply it to your pitch? There has to be something you can do with that.”

“Yeah…” An eager grin washed over the contemplating look on his face. “I think I could make that work.”

“Go. I want every detail the moment you get back. Find me in the light booth.”

“Sure thing.” Max didn't need a second urging. He left her with a quick hug and darted back into the light booth to grab his things. 

Nellie breathed a sigh of relief. She met with Raul and helped him escort Miguel to the dressing room before they made their way back on stage. The crew engulfed her the moment she stepped out; cheering and patting her back, saying things like:

“Nellie you’re a freaking hero!” 

“Layin’ down the law!” 

“You tell ‘em girl!”

Her face grew warm.  Nellie couldn’t stop herself from grinning or from taking in the praise. She bowed in celebration with them, but really, helping Max had been rewarding enough. The confrontation with Gabi had cost them valuable time for final rehearsals, which was crucial and all – the fact that people would be recording tonight's show seriously intimidated her – but she wouldn't have been able to live with herself if Max never got his chance at the Omi scholarship.   

The cheers and dancing settled as Nellie called for everyone's attention. “I’m glad you all liked our Catwalk Preshow! Now, I don’t know what you heard or saw, but long story short is: we’re a team, and I will not tolerate anyone who thinks they can hurt, threaten, or abuse a member of our team. Physically or verbally, I don’t care. That’s why Gabi and Miguel are out of the play.”

The students let out a loud gasp, followed by hushed murmurs. 

“Yes I know, they play two very important characters, but they crossed a line up there and I won’t have it. Instead we are going to have Jalen and Mabel play the parts of Anuris and Armani.”

“We’re the leads now?” Jalen squeaked. He was shorter than Miguel, and clearly nervous. 

“But Nel,” Mabel joined him, equally anxious, “We start in thirty minutes.”

“I know, but you're ready. Trust me.” She turned to the rest of them. “Who here has had to deal with Miguel and Gabi’s shit, on stage or off?”

Most of the crew raised their hands. Nellie nodded, “Exactly. They may have been good actors, but the fact is they were hurting this show, hurting us. Jalen, Mabel, I’ve had my eye on you two since we started production, and let me tell you, on stage you are just as good as those guys. You’re both hard workers, and you don’t put your teammates in danger. Gabi saw this play as her thing, you two see it as our thing. I have no doubt that you’re ready.”

Jalen and Mabel looked at one another, then back at Nellie with a smile. Nellie saw their rising confidence, placed a hand on both their shoulders and turned them so they could face the crew. “Jalen, you’re our new King Anuris of the Gate. And Mabel, you’re our Armani Reem, The Diamond Bolt, the pyramid princess! Everyone give a hand to your new leads!”

They clapped at the ‘promotion’ of the understudies, and she sent them off to the dressing rooms to don their costumes. Spirits were high among the crew, Nellie could sense it in the air. We can do this, it really is happening. She snuck a glance at the watch on her wrist. Shit. Doors open in twenty. 

“Alright guys, enough with the rehearsals, we're starting soon.”

Ozzy’s voice was first to respond, “Are you sure?”

“What? No,” Nellie said to him before returning her attention to the crew, “You guys have this, we’ve rehearsed it a thousand times, you’re ready. Let’s reset to Scene One, because the next time we do this thing, it’s for real!”

“Can’t we just do my scene one more time?”

“Ozzy you have two lines! Reset! It’s showtime people!”

The students cheered and hurried to revert the production back to Scene 1 while Ozzy slunk off backstage. House lights came back on, the curtains were drawn and doors opened. Steadily the auditorium began to fill with the chatter of students and their families. Some kids from the baseball game had stayed around to watch the play too, but not many. Nellie peered at them all through the curtains and was just about to return to her cast and crew, when Raul approached with Yuève in tow.

“They’re here,” he said, “Look towards the back.” She followed his eyeline to catch sight of Arashi and Tei sidling into the back row of seats.

“Hope that camera’s got good zoom,” said Yuè.

Nellie chuckled, but began to imagine Arashi at the back of the auditorium, little Tei next to her bored out of his mind. She felt nervous, but Raul placed a warm hand on her shoulder and together the three friends returned backstage where the cast had gathered outside the dressing rooms.

“Well guys, we made it. Opening night. And I just wanted to say some things here, between us, before I go out there, and get us started. I am so, so proud of all the work you guys put in, for the play and for me. Reem was something we all wanted to make, together, and without all of your help we could never have made this. Thank you for your dedication and your passion. It has been an honor to be your director and I wouldn’t trade you guys for anyone.”

Some awws were heard. Yuève put an arm around Nellie, while Raul stared with admiration for the director. Nellie looked over the faces around her. They were her team, her crew, her friends. The fire returned, roaring inside her with pride and satisfaction. 

“With that being said,” she continued, “I’d like to make one last announcement, one final promotion if you will.”

Ozzy’s eyes lit up with anticipation, but Nellie turned to her assistant director instead. 

“Heather, since Max isn’t here I’m going to be operating setups from the light booth tonight. I want you to take charge of things backstage after my introduction, but before we break, will you do the honors and lead our chant?”

Heather nodded, abashed as the crew around her clapped in ovation. Once settled, she turned to them all and spoke strong. “Now, it took us all year, but we’re finally here – it’s time to show the world what all this work was for. Tonight we are going to put on the best damn show anyone’s ever seen. Are you with me?!” 

The students cheered, Nellie with them. 

“Hands together!” Heather bellowed, “Reem battle cry! Reem! Reem! REEEEM!!!”

The crew raised their hands high in unison and laughed together. They then went to their post, prepared to carry out the premiere. Nellie stood behind the main curtain, waiting for the house lights to dim; her signal to introduce the play. Quiet muffled voices passed through the thick curtains. It sounded like a lot of people, but Nellie only felt anxious at the thought of one person in the crowd, seated stage right, towards the back. 

House lights fell to darkness and applause filled the still air. Nellie nodded to herself. It’s time. First this, then the meteors. She opened the curtain and stepped out into a bright spotlight; the ovation hit her like a truck. After her eyes adjusted to the light she saw a stand in front of her and grabbed the mic. 

“Hello everyone, my name is Nellie Quazililea and I’ve been put in charge of this year’s school play, Reem.” 

Applause and cheers were her reply. She beamed, scanning the crowd. 

Some attendants she knew from school, but her audience that night was mostly strangers… there she was! Standing up with a camera in her hands, Arashi. Nellie felt herself linger on the Tennkā woman and the young pewter haired boy beside her, bored out of his mind. I knew it. She kept searching the crowd as their applause died to a low rumble and the next words came to her: 

“Thank you all for coming this afternoon. I know that Meteora arrives tonight, so it means a lot to us to have you here. If you’ve never seen this play before, Reem is the epic true story of an ancient Sumadatran Princess whose kingdom is stolen from her. She must save her people while learning what it is to be a queen and a hero. Only by finding trustworthy allies will she be able to save her kingdom and return to her rightful place on the throne. It’s an exciting epic, one that’s resonated deeply with our cast and crew. We love this story, and it is an honor to share it with you tonight. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, Reem!” 

The auditorium erupted, once again with applause. The spotlight shut off, and Nellie disappeared behind the curtain. 

“Action!”