After Practice - Madison Donnelly

“Ugh, stupid hair pins! I have no idea why Mr. Antoine
makes us put our hair up like this anyway. I would dance
better without five pounds of bobby pins shoved into my
scalp!” Fiona says, pulling out a hairpin with such force
that it flies across the room and clatters to the floor.

“I think it’s just so our hair doesn’t get in the way…” Rosie
says, picking up the hairpin and inspecting it for a moment before handing it back to Fiona.

“Rosie, no one cares.” Bridget says, before gingerly tugging at a few of her own hairpins.

Rosie shrinks back into her seat, suddenly very interested in her fingernails.

The girls are silent for a beat, nothing but the sound of another one of Fiona’s hairpins hitting the brick floor.

Bridget breaks the silence. “Did you see that new kid? The violinist in the pit. What’s his name, Greg?”

“Gerald, I think.” says Sofie.

“Whatever it is, he’s terrible. I’ve never seen someone miss that many notes in a row.” Bridget scoffs.

“I give him a week before Mr. Antione personally throws him out.” Fiona says, the girls mumble in agreement.

“Ha! Yeah, and he’s so ugly too.” Rosie adds.
The girls collectively give her a look.

“Well we know they just let anyone in these days.” Mona says, she gives Bridget a pointed look. Bridget feels her face get hot as she registers what Mona was implying.
After Practice

“I don’t think that’s true. I mean even the musicians have to audition to be here. And we know Mr. Antoine is pretty harsh,” Sofie says. She smiles at Bridget, but Bridget ignores her. She doesn’t need to be defended, least of all by the tag-along baby sister of her worst enemy.

“Whatever, you guys wanna head out?” Fiona says, running a hand through her long, red hair.

“Actually I’m staying after class, Mr. Antoine said he might give me a solo if I help teach the baby class.” Mona says, a hint of smugness in her voice. Bridget rolls her eyes. What a suck-up. She was just as good as Mona but somehow she always ended up getting sidelined in favor of one of the other girls. Even Sofie, the youngest and least experienced by far, had gotten
more solos than her. She tried not to let it get to her as the group walked out of the dressing room and into the foyer.

Rosie yells suddenly “Oh look! There’s the new guy!” The group follows her gaze as she points excitedly across the room.
“God, he looks even worse out of uniform.” Fiona says.The new guy, Gerald, is standing across the foyer, violin case in hand, seemingly waiting for someone.
Bridget notices his jeans are covered in patches, like a scarecrow, she thinks.
“I mean, I’m sure he’s a nice guy…” Rosie says, uncertain. The group turns and looks at Rosie. She shrinks behind them.
“No, I mean Rosie is right we don’t know this guy.” Sofie says, shooting Rosie a quick, almost imperceptible, look of pity.
The group gives Sofie a suspicious look.

“Well I’m not talking to him, I don’t associate with untalented freaks.” Bridget says what she knows the group is thinking, but looking at the skinny, patched-up, scarecrow of a guy standing across the room from her, she’s not even sure she means it.

“I’m with Bridget, this guy gives off terrible vibes. He’s probably a creep.” Fiona says, a wry smile spreading across her face.

“Ha! Yeah, you guys are probably right, I don’t know what I was thinking. Ha ha!” Rosie says. She nervously looks to Bridget and Fiona for validation.

“…Yeah, ok. Anyway, I better get going, I have other shit to get done.” Fiona says, hiking her bag further up her shoulder.

“Oh! Do you need any help? I can help!” Rosie says she follows Fiona out of the foyer, desperately trying to get her attention. Fiona either doesn’t notice or
doesn’t care. Sofie and Bridget are left alone in the foyer with
Gerald. Bridget can’t believe her luck, stuck in the foyer with the most annoying person she knows. She’d almost rather talk to Gerald. Almost.

“So what do you think about joining my book club? I know I mentioned it before but Fiona was just so excited about her new costume I didn’t want to interrupt again.” Sofie says.

Bridget would literally rather die than join that book club. But she also knew that Mona would join, Sofie was her sister after all, so it could be an opportunity to
prove once and for all that she was better than Mona. But was it worth it to be stuck hanging out with Sofie every week?
After a long pause Bridget answers, “I’ll think about it.”

“Ok, great! Our first book is going to be Sense and Sensibility, it’s one of my favorites. Oh I’m so excited I can’t wait to talk about it with everyone…” Sofie drones
on, and after a while Bridget stops listening to Sofie’s incessant rambling and looks back over at Gerald. He catches her staring and she looks away. Bridget then
hears the sound of the door closing and looks back. He’s gone.
“So anyway, what do you think?” Sofie asks, pulling Bridget back to reality.

“Hm?”

“About the snacks! Sandwiches or a charcuterie board, which sounds better?” Sofie looks expectantly at Bridget.
Bridget stares at Sofie and blinks.
“Actually I forgot, I have to get home. See you later.” Bridget doesn’t wait for a response. She hurries out
the front door and doesn’t look back. She knows that wasn’t a convincing excuse but she doesn’t care.
Anything to get away from Sofie.
Bridget finds a bench near a tree and throws her bag
onto it. She leans against the tree and looks up. The
sun is setting. A bee flies between some of the flowers
around her. Bridget watches it for a moment.
She catches herself thinking about Gerald, as much
as she hates to admit it, Sofie was right. They don’t
know this guy, what if he was secretly really cool?
Yeah right. Maybe this guy wouldn’t talk shit about
her behind her back like Mona and Fiona do. Like that
would ever happen. He’s probably just as bad. That’s
just what friends do…right?
Bridget is brought back to reality as she feels
something on her arm. The bee is working its way up
to her shoulder. She jumps and tries to shake it off. It
flies away.

She breathes a sigh of relief.
“Hey!” someone calls out, Bridget looks up to see
Gerald walking towards her. Why was he walking
towards her? Hadn’t any of the other musicians
warned him about talking to people like her?
Whatever, she was over today, she needed to find out
what this guy’s deal was.
“Hey! You’re the new kid right? My name’s Bridget.” She
calls back. She tries her best to sound friendly. She’s a
bit out of practice in trying to be nice.
“Oh yeah, I know. The whole section told me about
you and your friends. Said you were all a bunch of
crazy bitches.” he says. He laughs. So he did know.
“So why are you talking to me then? If they really did
tell you about me you should know better.” Bridget
says, trying her best to sound playful, but she’s a little
disappointed, she thought this could be a fresh start
for her, someone who wouldn’t think of her only in
connection with people like Mona and Fiona.
Gerald thinks for a moment. Bridget braces herself for
him to leave and never talk to her again.
After a long pause he answers “I dunno. Guess I’m
not that smart.” He smirks. Bridget can’t help but smile
back.