Bright Lights

I had always known that Norah loved the stage. That was one of the few facts about our relationship that I knew without question. Acting was in her blood—she couldn’t help it. After all, her mother was the drama teacher at Stone Ridge High School, and her father was in practically every production at Stone Ridge Community Theatre. She had pretty much grown up under the bright lights of the stage.

To some extent, I wondered whether Norah’s love for the stage outshone her love for me, but I didn’t dare ask. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know the answer, to be perfectly honest. One thing I did know, however, was that it was a part of her life that I was essentially separated from. Sure, I went to all of the productions of whatever play she was in. And I helped her learn her lines. But acting was never something that I could get into. Every time I even stepped foot on a stage, I became petrified.

Although I always went to the shows—for moral support—I didn’t always like what it did to Norah. It was like she became a different person. Her actions weren’t her own, and neither was her speech. Sometimes it seemed as if she were possessed by whatever character she was pretending to be.

On the final night of Norah’s last production of her high school career, I was in my typical seat in the auditorium. I always sat in the first few rows. After all, I wasn’t there to see the play, just to be there for Norah. The theatre was packed—it seemed as if half the town of Stone Ridge had come out to see Norah perform for the last time.

As I watched, I became amazed that she was my girlfriend. She was so beautiful, as well as vivacious and popular. She could have had anyone in the school, and yet she chose me.

Two hours after the play began, it was over. The cast took their final bows to the music of loud applause. When it was Norah’s turn to smile and wave at the audience, the crowd went absolutely wild. The applause was deafening, and it was obvious how much their—our adoration meant to her. Norah had told me once that there was nothing like the high that came from the appreciation of such a large amount of people.

Once Norah’s co-star, Drew Meredith, took his bow, and the entire cast took yet another bow, it was time to congratulate the actors on a job well done. I never tried to be the first to get to Norah—I didn’t want to seem clingy, after all. I usually went to compliment her mother, the director, on another brilliant production.

As I reached Norah’s mother, I handed her a single red rose. “Wow, Mrs. Lucas. Tonight’s show was superb. And Norah was amazing, wasn’t she?”

Mrs. Lucas returned my smile. “All the actors were, Brent. But yes. I was very proud of Norah tonight.”

I then headed over to Norah, saying hello to people on the way. I greeted my girlfriend with a kiss and a bouquet of lilies—she didn’t like roses, she said they were too overpowering. “You were spectacular, Norah. Absolutely fantastic.”

There were tears in her eyes as she squeezed my hand—she always became emotional after a show. And tonight’s production was especially wrenching, since she would never perform on this stage again.

There was suddenly a large flurry of activity as a group of Norah’s friends reached the stage. They each hugged Norah in turn, complimenting her performance as they did so. They circled around her, almost separating me from Norah. I was never very comfortable around her friends, either. But they made Norah happy, so I tolerated them for her sake.

“We’re all going out for a quick bite to eat in a bit. You wanna come, Norah?” That was Jake Adams. He and Norah had had a…thing before she and I had started dating—their friendship made me especially nervous. He was everything I wasn’t—popular, handsome, rich… He had also had some small roles in a few of the plays, so he even had that over me.

“Well, Brent and I had already planned on going out for coffee…” she told them, gesturing towards me.

Amy Jackson smiled snidely. “Brent is more than welcome to come…” Norah sent a pleading glance my way. I could tell she wanted to go.

I sighed and nodded. “Okay. If Norah wants to go, we’ll go.” I knew I’d end up sitting in the corner of a booth next to Norah, while everyone else carried on loudly, but it would make Norah happy, which was all I really wanted anyway.

Norah jumped up and down a little. “Yippee.” She turned away for a moment to be hugged by other members of the audience.

As the last of the crowd left, she stretched. “Well, I’m going to go change out of my costume, and grab my stuff.”

“We’ll wait outside for you. We’ll be at my car,” Jake told her as she headed backstage.

After about ten minutes, one of the crew members asked me to wait outside instead. After another ten minutes passed, I decided to go see where she was. I figured I’d have one of the cast members go look down in the dressing rooms for her. But she was standing on the darkened stage, staring upwards into the rafters. There was a very sad smile on her face as she looked around.

“This stage has meant so much to me. I don’t know what I would’ve done without it, who I would’ve become,” her voice was shaky as I gathered her close.

“I know you’re going to miss it. But there’s always the theatre in college. They’ll be dying for you to perform.” As I said it, I could tell there was something… amiss in her expression. She wasn’t looking me in the eyes, and I became very nervous. “Norah?”

She shook her head. “Let’s go. I’ve kept everyone waiting long enough.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me out the doors and through the parking lot to my car. We honked at Jake, and followed them to wherever they had decided on previously. We ended up at Cindi’s Diner—Open Late!

As I had expected, I ended up in the corner of the table, next to Norah, and across from Amy. We were packed in tight—three people to each side, and one person on the end.

After we had placed our orders, and our drinks arrived, Norah tapped her glass with her knife. “I have an announcement.”

Everyone quickly quieted down, and looked intently at Norah. “I’ve decided that I’m not going to go to college. I’m going to New York, and pursue a career on Broadway.” The group burst into applause, although I was speechless. I couldn’t say a word, and when my burger arrived, I wasn’t able to touch it.

Jake, of course, offered to call some cousins of his up there, and see if he could make some arrangements for her, and maybe even hire an agent for her. Hannah offered up her father’s photography services for Norah’s headshots.

The ride home was quiet. I wasn’t sure what to say, and my silence was obviously affecting my normally chatty girlfriend. When we pulled up in her driveway, she placed a hand on my arm. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“What is there to say, really. I just wish…”

“Wish what, Brent?”

“I wish you had told me, before you announced it to everyone else. You could have at least warned me.” I refused to look at her. I hated it when I became emotional. Crying was for girls.

“I had only just made up my mind.’

“I mean, even when we were in the car on the way to the dinner. A little heads-up would’ve been nice.”

“I thought you would have been happy for me. I know you don’t like acting, but I’m going to pursue my dream! I’d hoped that even if you didn’t like it, you would still be supportive. Obviously I was wrong.” She got out of the car and slammed the door shut.

I quickly followed. “I am trying to be supportive. But you shocked me. I’m not sure how to react right now. You’re going to be in New York, Norah. That might as well be an ocean away with as much cash as I have. I love you dammit, but apparently, you don’t love me as much as I do you. “

“I do love you, Brent. But I’m sick of these little small-time plays. I want my name to be up in lights. I want the hustle and bustle of the big city. I want to be a part of something that’s larger than life. I want more than this.” She fell into my arms, crying softly. I leaned against my car, waiting for the tears to stop.

“I’ll always be here for you, Norah. But please, don’t forget me,” I told her, as I walked her to her door. She kissed me, then went inside.

The next two months whirled by. I spent as much time as possible with Norah, while also trying to maintain my grades so I wouldn’t have to take my exams. Graduation came entirely too soon. Then, a month after graduation, I helped Norah load her things into her car.

I placed her last suitcase into her trunk, and slammed the door closed. I pulled Norah close, and kissed her. “What if I fail, Brent? What if I can’t do it?”

“Just remember. You can always come home. No one will think less of you. You can always come back to me.” She nodded and buried her face in my neck for a few moments. Then she went over to hug her parents goodbye and got into her car. As I watched her pull away, I wanted her to stop. I wanted her to succeed, but I also wanted her to come home… to come home to me.

A/N: I wrote this story for a friend of mine, but she gave me permission to post it for you guys to read. Let me know what you guys think! And, as an added note, both the names "Norah" and "Lucas" mean light.