Drama (And some acting, too)

“Shit.”

Ryan paused mid-eyelining, glancing behind him through the dressing room mirror.

“Can someone do my makeup, please?” The pleading voice was all too familiar to Ryan, whose heart still fluttered a little every time he heard it. Finn had the sort of voice that belonged on a sketch comedy show. Usually a tad wild and sarcastic, it was now twinged with a hint of (somehow alluring) pissed-offishness.

“I’ll do it, come here,” Ryan’s best friend Sarah sighed, rolling her eyes in a show of play-disappointment. “God, Finn. You’ve been in like 50 shows this year. You’d think you would have learned to do your own makeup by now!” She teased him.

“Ha. Funny. Keller’s gonna kill me. It’s lights up in 13 minutes and I’m not even dressed… here. Do my foundation first so I can change.”

Ryan tried to be subtle about lifting his eyes, feigning finishing up his already-applied eyeliner in order to get a better view. He watched Sarah impatiently trying to dab tan foundation onto a suddenly near-naked Finn, telling himself to stay cool and breathe evenly. God, I’m such a dork, he realized. Oh well. Finn’s body alone was enough to warrant a reaction. He was tall and lean, with the toned muscle of a swimmer put on display under tanned and flawless skin. He had abs to die for. Abs of steel, thought Ryan. Wait. It’s buns of steel. Well, he has those too. And he checked to make sure. Yep, definitely steel.

There were only two people who knew about Ryan’s feelings for Finn, and one of them was himself. He entrusted Sarah with this vital bit of knowledge only because she was his best friend, and because she was damn good at keeping secrets. Ryan was, after all, still in the closet. He had only really known about his true feelings for two years now… ever since he met Finn, in fact (Ryan was at a loss as to how one look at Finn didn’t turn the rest of the male population at the school gay).

But he would occasionally date girls to keep away the doubting eye. It didn’t help his case that he was going to be a musical theatre major next year. So it pleased his parents to have some activity with girls. He’d even dated Sarah once the year before. It seemed funny to him now, remembering the sickened feeling he got when Sarah had tried to take their relationship a little further. He felt bad about telling her then, but she completely understood. She was good like that. Ryan supposed this was probably why they were best friends now.

“So, do you like anyone?” She had asked him the next day at lunch, keeping her voice at a whisper. “Any guys, I mean.”

“Um… well, yeah, I guess,” he had looked away absently, eyes straying to a table on the far side of the cafeteria and averting quickly as they swept over Finn. Sarah had followed his gaze, and playfully hit his shoulder, looking at him with mouth wide in mock-surprise. Everyone loved Finn. “Is it... Finn?!” She gasped, hitting him repeatedly.

“Ow!” he shoved her lightly away. “Shut. Up. Yes,” Ryan hissed at her.

“Shocker!” Sarah had laughed, winking at him. He had been really relieved at how easily they had transitioned from boyfriend-girlfriend into girlfriends. Just like that. He liked it much better that way, and thankfully, Sarah did too. He was always thankful to have such an awesome best friend.

Except for now. Now, back in the dressing room, she was fixing Ryan with a wicked grin through the mirror as she shaped Finn’s perfect hair into a differently perfect position. Sarah made sure to run her hands sensually through the shining brown locks once, laughing silently at Ryan’s sour expression as he turned back to stare at his own reflection. So pale, he thought. Ugh. Zits. And my hair looks like crap.

His scrutiny was interrupted by a loud bang as the door to the dressing room flew open, and Mrs. Keller, the drama teacher, hustled in. “Finn, lights up in four minutes!” She barked.

“Done!” said Sarah, finishing Finn’s hair as he pulled on his pants.

“It’s ok, I’ll be ready in three seconds,” he reassured Keller, flashing her his confident winning smile. It softened her instantly.

“Ok, but don’t make me start this show late!” She slammed the door behind her.

“Man, is she uptight,” Finn sighed.

Ryan looked up again, startled to realize that Finn’s comment had been directed toward him. They made eye contact through the mirror, and Ryan inhaled sharply as he turned around to face the rest of the room.

“Oh, yeah,” he fumbled lamely. “She’s always this crazy on the last night…”
Finn grinned quickly, chuckling in agreement. “Alright, I’d better get my ass out there. Thank you, Sarah.” He hugged her.

“Good luck tonight!” Sarah wished him enthusiastically. Ryan would be jealous if he didn’t know any better. Sarah was one of probably three girls in, oh, the world, that didn’t have a crush on Finn.

“You too. And you,” he pointed at Ryan with an expression of mock concern, “Don’t have too much fun out there.” He winked, and vanished out the door. A few seconds later, Ryan remembered how to breathe again. Such a freaking dork, he chided himself. But he couldn’t remember Finn ever directly addressing him this much in… ever. He coughed a bit, and cleared his throat, packing away his makeup.
Sarah immediately turned on him, a knowing and evil glint in her eyes. “He is so gay,” she said, smiling.

“No, he’s not. He has a girlfriend.”

“Dude,” She retorted. “We both know that that doesn’t mean anything.” Ryan did know – from experience. But still…

“He’s not gay, Sarah. I know you’re right every other time, but you’re wrong about this one.” He grabbed his sailor hat, stuffed it roughly onto his head, and flounced out the door in a huff. In the back of his mind, he desperately wanted Sarah to be right. So much that it kept him up at night. But he wouldn’t allow himself to get his hopes up this time. He just couldn’t.