In Plain Sight, Part 5, by lch333
In Plain Sight
In Plain Sight
By lch333
Rating: PG (For now)
Paring: Idina/Kristin
Summary: 2 people meet and fall in love years before the play that made them famous.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I own nothing and stand to make nothing from this story. I do not own these characters nor do I know them.
A/N: Any resemblance to real locales is strictly accidental. Also, I’m not terribly familiar with some of the shows mentioned, so please don’t hold any discrepancies against me. Remember this is FICTION.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Here’s Part 5 - Finally a little time alone.
Part 5 - Hanging Around with You
The Next Day (March 1999, continued)
The crowd that always gathered for lunch at Columbia Cafe was just beginning to thin when Idina arrived. A popular neighborhood eatery, the Cafe offered a large selection of sandwiches and wraps, but the rich coffee and amazing deserts were what kept people coming back.
After a morning audition, Idina had returned to her apartment and tried to do some writing, but her concentration was off. Finally giving up, she decided to leave early for her meeting with Kristin, thinking it would be easier to wait at the restaurant than at home with just the cats for company. Walking the couple blocks from the subway, she arrived at the café with about half an hour to spare.
Noticing an open table by the window, she motioned to the waitress and moved to sit down. After checking the menu, she decided to wait on Kristin before ordering. When the waitress finally made it over, she requested a coffee and settle back to wait.
**********
Idina sat drumming her fingers nervously on the table while she peered out the window at the passing crowd. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten here so early.’ Pausing to take a sip of her coffee, she glanced at her watch.
1:56
‘That second cup of coffee, not such a great idea. What if I have to go the restroom and she shows up, doesn’t see me and thinks I’ve blown her off?’ She shifted in her seat and checked her watch again.
1:57
‘Why did I have to think about needing to pee?’ She crossed her legs and tried to put that thought out of her mind. Impatiently, she checked her watch once more.
1:58
The table tapping was joined by a bouncing leg. ‘Come on, come on.’ Suddenly she spotted a blonde head bobbing through the crowd. All movement stopped as she watched Kristin navigate her way through the throng outside.
**********
‘A sidewalk is for WALKING.’ Kristin mentally cursed yet another gaggle of tourists stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Excuse me,” she said as she hurried around them.
Kristin had left her apartment, she thought in plenty of time to make it to the restaurant by two, but apparently every tourist in New York was conspiring against her. She hadn’t been able to find a cab and the crowds on the street seemed to be in no hurry to get anywhere, except in her way.
As she looked for an opening to get around the group now in front of her, she realized she was just a few doors away from her destination. Finally clearing them, she looked up and saw Idina staring at her from the cafe’s window. She raised a hand in greeting and watched as a huge smile broke out on Idina’s face. Kristin smiled back and headed for the door feeling the frustration of her walk melt away.
Idina jumped up the second Kristin walked through the door and stood shifting from foot to foot as she waited for Kristin to join her. “Hey. I got us a table,” she said as Kristin got close. “I would have ordered you something, but I didn’t know what you wanted. Are you hungry? Why don’t you look over the menu and I’ll be right back.”
Before Kristin could process what she heard, Idina spun on her heel and rushed toward the restroom. Taking a seat, Kristin noticed the empty cups and giggled. ‘I guess she’s been waiting awhile.’
Kristin had her head buried in the menu when Idina returned. Looking up as Idina sat down, she smirked, “Feeling better?”
Blushing, Idina answered, “Sorry about that. Two cups of coffee and a case of nerves is not the best combination.” Idina smiled and nodded toward the menu, “So what are you having?”
Closing the menu, Kristin looked across the table at Idina. “They have the best desserts here. I can’t decide between the double chocolate fudge cake and the chocolate covered cheesecake.”
“Why not get both? We can share.” Idina knew all that sugar wasn’t the best choice after too much coffee, but she didn’t want to disappoint Kristin.
“Ooh, great idea. Will you be having more coffee?” Kristin motioned to the cups on the table.
Laughing, Idina shook her head. “Nope. I’ve reached my limit for today.”
“I think it’s cute.” Kristin noticed Idina’s smile grow larger and blushed. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” Kristin ducked her head in embarrassment.
“I think you’re cute.” Idina felt the blush creeping across her cheeks as Kristin looked up and offered a bashful smile.
They sat in silence, smiling at each other until the waitress interrupted.
“What’ll you two have?”
The spell broken, Kristin placed her order and waited for Idina to decide on her beverage. “Dee?” Kristin hoped the use of the shortened name wasn’t being too presumptuous.
Idina heard the nickname and grinned at Kristin, waiting for her to continue.
“That is what Anthony calls you, isn’t it?”
“All my friends do.”
“Oh. What should I call you?”
Idina gazed into Kristin’s eyes and answered, “I would be honored for you to call me Dee.” Idina waited a moment and added, “You were going to ask me something?”
“Huh?” Kristin gazed back at Idina.
A discrete cough interrupted. “What did you want to drink?” The waitress was looking at Idina impatiently.
Tearing her eyes from Kristin, Idina turned her attention to the waitress. “Sorry, water, I guess.”
The waitress just huffed and left to turn in their order.
“That was embarrassing.” Idina’s face flamed as she dropped her eyes to the table.
“It’s a feeling I’m becoming used to around you.”
Idina looked up to find Kristin blushing too. “You too?”
Kristin laughed. “I’ve blushed more in the last 24 hours than I have in the last year!”
Somehow, that broke the tension surrounding them and they were able to relax and talk like old friends. Over the next couple of hours, they shared deserts and their thoughts on a wide range of topics.
For Kristin, growing up in rural Oklahoma had shaped her in a way most people couldn’t understand. Her local church had been the center of her formative years and the faith instilled during that time had carried her through college and the rough patches an innocent Southern girl faced when trying to make it big in New York City. Blessed with an amazing four octave vocal range and perfect pitch, Kristin’s voice had been her ticket out of Oklahoma, and while she loved the city, she would always be a small town girl at heart.
The small town experience Kristin had grown up with was pretty foreign to a native New Yorker like Idina. A Long Islander by birth, Idina’s formative years had been shaped by her parents’ divorce, leaving her a strange combination of fearlessness and insecurity. Her voice had gotten her noticed at an early age and by sixteen, she was singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs with local bands. Those gigs, along with the occasional club date, had gotten her through college and supported her in the years before Rent.
“I had to learn every style of song imaginable. You wouldn’t believe what some people think is appropriate for weddings.” Idina laughed. “Do people not listen to all the words? I mean ‘Saving All My Love For You’ was the most requested first dance song and it’s about infidelity! Who the hell wants a song about a cheating husband played at their wedding? Oh well, it helped pay the bills.” Idina paused, remembering. “Those were some interesting times. Fighting with roommates, traveling in a van with 3 guys and all their instruments…I can’t say I miss. Especially since that’s pretty much how I spent last fall, just without the roommates.”
Perplexed, Kristin asked, “You were doing weddings last fall?”
“Oh god no!” Idina grimaced. “Me and the guys did a couple of dates with Lilith Fair and a mini east coast tour supporting my album. It was just me and the band driving from city to city, so it did have a whole bizarre wedding singer vibe.”
“You have an album?” Kristin squealed. “That’s so exciting! I’d like that chance someday. So what kind of album was it?”
Embarrassed she had even brought it up, Idina blushed and tried to brush off Kristin’s excitement. “It’s not that big a deal. It was just some of my songs the guys and I recorded for Warner last year. It hasn’t really gone anywhere.”
“It is a big deal!” Kristin exclaimed as she reached for Idina’s hands across the table. “You were blessed with the opportunity to sing and record your own songs. As long as you got something out of the process it doesn’t matter if it sold just 2 or 2 million copies.” Kristin smiled at Idina, “Remember Van Gogh only sold 1 painting while he was alive.”
Squeezing Kristin’s hands, Idina snarked, “Does that mean I have to die to be appreciated?”
“Don’t even joke about that!” Kristin scolded as she pulled hands free to slap at the top of Idina’s. “I just meant we should find joy in the process of creating, whether it’s for an album or the stage. That way we’ve gained something regardless of what the critics think of the final version.”
“How did you get so smart?” Idina asked.
“Years of flops!” Kristin laughed. “Unlike you, my first professional stage experience wasn’t in a history making musical.”
“That was pretty lucky, huh?” Idina offered Kristin a small smile then dipped her head and began nervously fiddling with her water glass. “It was an amazing experience. But it has probably skewed my expectations.”
Silence fell over the table as Idina and Kristin pondered the different paths their careers had taken. Idina stared at the condensation sliding from her glass to the table and allowed a feeling of almost guilt to surface. Over the last few years, Idina had realized a couple of lifelong dreams. And after spending only a few hours with Kristin, Idina wished the same for her.
“Your day is coming. I can feel it.” Idina raised her eyes to Kristin’s as she reached for the hands resting on the table and covered them with her own. “Sally Brown is going to be your breakout role.”
Looking down at their hands, Kristin smiled. “That’s what Denny says, too.” She glanced up at Idina and added, “I hope you’re both right.”
Nodding emphatically, Idina said, “Believe it.” Pausing, she then tried to steer the conversation to a more personal level. “So Denny...the two of you seem pretty close.”
“We are, but not in that way!” Kristin’s delighted laugh rang through the restaurant. “Denny is my oldest and dearest friend. He’s actually the reason I came to New York.” She paused, remembering the events that had led her here. “He was moving up here and I decided to come and stay for a few weeks before I went to the Vocal Arts Academy in Philly. One day on a lark, I decided to try out for a show that was auditioning near his place, and I got the job! The producers convinced me I had a place in the theatre so I gave up studying opera and stayed here.”
“We both got the first job we auditioned for?” Idina was amazed that careers had found them both so easily. “That almost sounds like a script from a movie!”
Kristin giggled, “I guess it does. But they would be vastly different movies.” Pausing, Kristin returned to the original subject, “Anyway, Denny’s been part of my life since high school. I don’t know how I would have handled any of this without him.”
“So why does he call you Kristi?”
“Noticed that, did you?” Kristin grimaced. “Kristi is actually my name; I added the ‘n’ to sound more grown up. Besides my family, he’s the only one who still calls me that. I let him because it helps me remember where I come from.”
“You added a letter and I dropped one! The ‘t’ in Mentzel caused so many pronunciation problems I had to drop it so I could recognize my own name!” Idina chortled.
They shared a brief laugh before Kristin returned to the topic at hand. “So do you have a Denny in your life, Dee?” she asked.
“Not exactly. But I do have a Taye.” Idina couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face at the mention of her best friend. “We met during Rent. He didn’t have many scenes and I didn’t come on until almost the end of the first act, so we spent a lot of time hanging out.”
Kristin suddenly felt a little queasy. “So love at first sight, huh?”
A laugh burst from Idina. “God, no! We’re not in love, but I do love him. He’s my best friend. I count on him to keep me grounded. Plus he’s got great taste; he’s practically my personal dresser!”
Kristin wasn’t sure what to think about Idina’s relationship with Taye but she had to know, “Did he help you last night?” she asked.
Thinking only about the mess she had made of her room, Idina answered, “I had to call him! I emptied my closet onto the floor of my bedroom looking for something to wear! So he comes in and just throws a few things together and voila instant outfit. He’s good that way.”
“Yes he is.” Kristin murmured, remembering those leather pants. She made a mental note to thank Taye if she ever met him. But she wondered if he knew he was dressing her up to impress someone else. “Did he know where you were going?”
“I told him I was going out with Anthony and a friend …” Idina hesitated, wondering how honest to be. Taking a deep breath, she smiled shyly at Kristin and added, “A friend I had a fierce crush on.”
Kristin sat stunned, unsure of how to process that information.
As Kristin’s silence grew, Idina began to fidget and wish she had kept her mouth shut. Unable to stand it anymore she finally cracked. Opening her purse, Idina pulled out enough money to cover their check and stood up to leave. “Soooo, I guess I’ll be going. I didn’t mean to upset you. Have a good show tonight. Maybe I’ll see you around some time.”
“Wait!” Kristin’s hand shot across the table and grabbed Idina’s arm, realizing her silence had given Idina the wrong idea. “I can’t believe you told Taye you had a crush on me.”
Idina looked down at Kristin curiously, “Why wouldn’t I? He’s my best friend.”
Looking up into Idina’s open expression, Kristin realized she had a lot to learn about Idina and Taye and that she would be better off not making assumptions. She finally smiled and let the hand gripping Idina’s arm slide down to catch her hand. “Of course he is.” Kristin smiled up at Idina and grabbed her purse with her free hand. “It’s getting late, walk with me to the theatre?” Kristin asked as she pulled Idina out of the cafe.
Idina followed Kristin out onto the sidewalk, trying to figure out what had just happened. ‘Is she upset I have a crush on her or that I told Taye I have a crush on her? And are we really walking down the street holding hands?’ Idina looked down at their still joined hands then at Kristin’s face. She looked serene and had a soft smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
“What?” Kristin suddenly turned to catch Idina looking at her. “Do I have chocolate on my face?” Her free hand wiped at her mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Idina just laughed and squeezed the hand she was holding. “You look amazing,” she said. Kristin just smiled up at Idina and squeezed back.
They spent the rest of the walk in silence, simply enjoying the unusually warm March day and each other’s company.
“Well, we’re here,” Kristin announced as they arrived at the stage door. “So…” she looked up at Idina, not wanting their time together to end.
“So…” Idina gazed down at Kristin, becoming lost in her eyes. Raising her free hand, Idina brushed a strand of blonde hair from Kristin’s face. “When can I see you again?”
Kristin stared up at Idina, suddenly uncomfortable with the speed things were progressing. “It’s so hard to find personal time during a show.”
“I know.”
“On my days off I have to rest my voice.”
“I know.”
“Eight shows a week can really…” Kristin was shushed by Idina’s index finger against her lips.
“I just want to spend some time getting to know you.” Idina offered Kristin a smile, “My schedule is pretty flexible right now, I’m sure we can work around yours.” Idina leaned in closer to Kristin, waiting for an answer.
Unable to resist Idina’s pull, Kristin finally agreed. “Monday’s my day off.”
Idina’s smile grew. “It’s a date then.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against Kristin’s. “I’ll call you tomorrow to work out the details.”
Kristin could only nod.
“Have a good show tonight,” Idina whispered as she brushed her lips against Kristin’s once more. Then she pulled away, squeezing Kristin’s hand before finally releasing it and turning to leave. A last look over her shoulder revealed Kristin still standing by the door staring after her. Idina grinned and waved.
Snapping to attention, Kristin felt her face flushing. She quickly waved back then spun around to enter the theatre. ‘Did I just agree to a DATE with Idina?’ she wondered.
To Be Continued…
In Plain Sight
By lch333
Rating: PG (For now)
Paring: Idina/Kristin
Summary: 2 people meet and fall in love years before the play that made them famous.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I own nothing and stand to make nothing from this story. I do not own these characters nor do I know them.
A/N: Any resemblance to real locales is strictly accidental. Also, I’m not terribly familiar with some of the shows mentioned, so please don’t hold any discrepancies against me. Remember this is FICTION.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Here’s Part 5 - Finally a little time alone.
Part 5 - Hanging Around with You
The Next Day (March 1999, continued)
The crowd that always gathered for lunch at Columbia Cafe was just beginning to thin when Idina arrived. A popular neighborhood eatery, the Cafe offered a large selection of sandwiches and wraps, but the rich coffee and amazing deserts were what kept people coming back.
After a morning audition, Idina had returned to her apartment and tried to do some writing, but her concentration was off. Finally giving up, she decided to leave early for her meeting with Kristin, thinking it would be easier to wait at the restaurant than at home with just the cats for company. Walking the couple blocks from the subway, she arrived at the café with about half an hour to spare.
Noticing an open table by the window, she motioned to the waitress and moved to sit down. After checking the menu, she decided to wait on Kristin before ordering. When the waitress finally made it over, she requested a coffee and settle back to wait.
**********
Idina sat drumming her fingers nervously on the table while she peered out the window at the passing crowd. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten here so early.’ Pausing to take a sip of her coffee, she glanced at her watch.
1:56
‘That second cup of coffee, not such a great idea. What if I have to go the restroom and she shows up, doesn’t see me and thinks I’ve blown her off?’ She shifted in her seat and checked her watch again.
1:57
‘Why did I have to think about needing to pee?’ She crossed her legs and tried to put that thought out of her mind. Impatiently, she checked her watch once more.
1:58
The table tapping was joined by a bouncing leg. ‘Come on, come on.’ Suddenly she spotted a blonde head bobbing through the crowd. All movement stopped as she watched Kristin navigate her way through the throng outside.
**********
‘A sidewalk is for WALKING.’ Kristin mentally cursed yet another gaggle of tourists stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. “Excuse me,” she said as she hurried around them.
Kristin had left her apartment, she thought in plenty of time to make it to the restaurant by two, but apparently every tourist in New York was conspiring against her. She hadn’t been able to find a cab and the crowds on the street seemed to be in no hurry to get anywhere, except in her way.
As she looked for an opening to get around the group now in front of her, she realized she was just a few doors away from her destination. Finally clearing them, she looked up and saw Idina staring at her from the cafe’s window. She raised a hand in greeting and watched as a huge smile broke out on Idina’s face. Kristin smiled back and headed for the door feeling the frustration of her walk melt away.
Idina jumped up the second Kristin walked through the door and stood shifting from foot to foot as she waited for Kristin to join her. “Hey. I got us a table,” she said as Kristin got close. “I would have ordered you something, but I didn’t know what you wanted. Are you hungry? Why don’t you look over the menu and I’ll be right back.”
Before Kristin could process what she heard, Idina spun on her heel and rushed toward the restroom. Taking a seat, Kristin noticed the empty cups and giggled. ‘I guess she’s been waiting awhile.’
Kristin had her head buried in the menu when Idina returned. Looking up as Idina sat down, she smirked, “Feeling better?”
Blushing, Idina answered, “Sorry about that. Two cups of coffee and a case of nerves is not the best combination.” Idina smiled and nodded toward the menu, “So what are you having?”
Closing the menu, Kristin looked across the table at Idina. “They have the best desserts here. I can’t decide between the double chocolate fudge cake and the chocolate covered cheesecake.”
“Why not get both? We can share.” Idina knew all that sugar wasn’t the best choice after too much coffee, but she didn’t want to disappoint Kristin.
“Ooh, great idea. Will you be having more coffee?” Kristin motioned to the cups on the table.
Laughing, Idina shook her head. “Nope. I’ve reached my limit for today.”
“I think it’s cute.” Kristin noticed Idina’s smile grow larger and blushed. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” Kristin ducked her head in embarrassment.
“I think you’re cute.” Idina felt the blush creeping across her cheeks as Kristin looked up and offered a bashful smile.
They sat in silence, smiling at each other until the waitress interrupted.
“What’ll you two have?”
The spell broken, Kristin placed her order and waited for Idina to decide on her beverage. “Dee?” Kristin hoped the use of the shortened name wasn’t being too presumptuous.
Idina heard the nickname and grinned at Kristin, waiting for her to continue.
“That is what Anthony calls you, isn’t it?”
“All my friends do.”
“Oh. What should I call you?”
Idina gazed into Kristin’s eyes and answered, “I would be honored for you to call me Dee.” Idina waited a moment and added, “You were going to ask me something?”
“Huh?” Kristin gazed back at Idina.
A discrete cough interrupted. “What did you want to drink?” The waitress was looking at Idina impatiently.
Tearing her eyes from Kristin, Idina turned her attention to the waitress. “Sorry, water, I guess.”
The waitress just huffed and left to turn in their order.
“That was embarrassing.” Idina’s face flamed as she dropped her eyes to the table.
“It’s a feeling I’m becoming used to around you.”
Idina looked up to find Kristin blushing too. “You too?”
Kristin laughed. “I’ve blushed more in the last 24 hours than I have in the last year!”
Somehow, that broke the tension surrounding them and they were able to relax and talk like old friends. Over the next couple of hours, they shared deserts and their thoughts on a wide range of topics.
For Kristin, growing up in rural Oklahoma had shaped her in a way most people couldn’t understand. Her local church had been the center of her formative years and the faith instilled during that time had carried her through college and the rough patches an innocent Southern girl faced when trying to make it big in New York City. Blessed with an amazing four octave vocal range and perfect pitch, Kristin’s voice had been her ticket out of Oklahoma, and while she loved the city, she would always be a small town girl at heart.
The small town experience Kristin had grown up with was pretty foreign to a native New Yorker like Idina. A Long Islander by birth, Idina’s formative years had been shaped by her parents’ divorce, leaving her a strange combination of fearlessness and insecurity. Her voice had gotten her noticed at an early age and by sixteen, she was singing at weddings and bar mitzvahs with local bands. Those gigs, along with the occasional club date, had gotten her through college and supported her in the years before Rent.
“I had to learn every style of song imaginable. You wouldn’t believe what some people think is appropriate for weddings.” Idina laughed. “Do people not listen to all the words? I mean ‘Saving All My Love For You’ was the most requested first dance song and it’s about infidelity! Who the hell wants a song about a cheating husband played at their wedding? Oh well, it helped pay the bills.” Idina paused, remembering. “Those were some interesting times. Fighting with roommates, traveling in a van with 3 guys and all their instruments…I can’t say I miss. Especially since that’s pretty much how I spent last fall, just without the roommates.”
Perplexed, Kristin asked, “You were doing weddings last fall?”
“Oh god no!” Idina grimaced. “Me and the guys did a couple of dates with Lilith Fair and a mini east coast tour supporting my album. It was just me and the band driving from city to city, so it did have a whole bizarre wedding singer vibe.”
“You have an album?” Kristin squealed. “That’s so exciting! I’d like that chance someday. So what kind of album was it?”
Embarrassed she had even brought it up, Idina blushed and tried to brush off Kristin’s excitement. “It’s not that big a deal. It was just some of my songs the guys and I recorded for Warner last year. It hasn’t really gone anywhere.”
“It is a big deal!” Kristin exclaimed as she reached for Idina’s hands across the table. “You were blessed with the opportunity to sing and record your own songs. As long as you got something out of the process it doesn’t matter if it sold just 2 or 2 million copies.” Kristin smiled at Idina, “Remember Van Gogh only sold 1 painting while he was alive.”
Squeezing Kristin’s hands, Idina snarked, “Does that mean I have to die to be appreciated?”
“Don’t even joke about that!” Kristin scolded as she pulled hands free to slap at the top of Idina’s. “I just meant we should find joy in the process of creating, whether it’s for an album or the stage. That way we’ve gained something regardless of what the critics think of the final version.”
“How did you get so smart?” Idina asked.
“Years of flops!” Kristin laughed. “Unlike you, my first professional stage experience wasn’t in a history making musical.”
“That was pretty lucky, huh?” Idina offered Kristin a small smile then dipped her head and began nervously fiddling with her water glass. “It was an amazing experience. But it has probably skewed my expectations.”
Silence fell over the table as Idina and Kristin pondered the different paths their careers had taken. Idina stared at the condensation sliding from her glass to the table and allowed a feeling of almost guilt to surface. Over the last few years, Idina had realized a couple of lifelong dreams. And after spending only a few hours with Kristin, Idina wished the same for her.
“Your day is coming. I can feel it.” Idina raised her eyes to Kristin’s as she reached for the hands resting on the table and covered them with her own. “Sally Brown is going to be your breakout role.”
Looking down at their hands, Kristin smiled. “That’s what Denny says, too.” She glanced up at Idina and added, “I hope you’re both right.”
Nodding emphatically, Idina said, “Believe it.” Pausing, she then tried to steer the conversation to a more personal level. “So Denny...the two of you seem pretty close.”
“We are, but not in that way!” Kristin’s delighted laugh rang through the restaurant. “Denny is my oldest and dearest friend. He’s actually the reason I came to New York.” She paused, remembering the events that had led her here. “He was moving up here and I decided to come and stay for a few weeks before I went to the Vocal Arts Academy in Philly. One day on a lark, I decided to try out for a show that was auditioning near his place, and I got the job! The producers convinced me I had a place in the theatre so I gave up studying opera and stayed here.”
“We both got the first job we auditioned for?” Idina was amazed that careers had found them both so easily. “That almost sounds like a script from a movie!”
Kristin giggled, “I guess it does. But they would be vastly different movies.” Pausing, Kristin returned to the original subject, “Anyway, Denny’s been part of my life since high school. I don’t know how I would have handled any of this without him.”
“So why does he call you Kristi?”
“Noticed that, did you?” Kristin grimaced. “Kristi is actually my name; I added the ‘n’ to sound more grown up. Besides my family, he’s the only one who still calls me that. I let him because it helps me remember where I come from.”
“You added a letter and I dropped one! The ‘t’ in Mentzel caused so many pronunciation problems I had to drop it so I could recognize my own name!” Idina chortled.
They shared a brief laugh before Kristin returned to the topic at hand. “So do you have a Denny in your life, Dee?” she asked.
“Not exactly. But I do have a Taye.” Idina couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face at the mention of her best friend. “We met during Rent. He didn’t have many scenes and I didn’t come on until almost the end of the first act, so we spent a lot of time hanging out.”
Kristin suddenly felt a little queasy. “So love at first sight, huh?”
A laugh burst from Idina. “God, no! We’re not in love, but I do love him. He’s my best friend. I count on him to keep me grounded. Plus he’s got great taste; he’s practically my personal dresser!”
Kristin wasn’t sure what to think about Idina’s relationship with Taye but she had to know, “Did he help you last night?” she asked.
Thinking only about the mess she had made of her room, Idina answered, “I had to call him! I emptied my closet onto the floor of my bedroom looking for something to wear! So he comes in and just throws a few things together and voila instant outfit. He’s good that way.”
“Yes he is.” Kristin murmured, remembering those leather pants. She made a mental note to thank Taye if she ever met him. But she wondered if he knew he was dressing her up to impress someone else. “Did he know where you were going?”
“I told him I was going out with Anthony and a friend …” Idina hesitated, wondering how honest to be. Taking a deep breath, she smiled shyly at Kristin and added, “A friend I had a fierce crush on.”
Kristin sat stunned, unsure of how to process that information.
As Kristin’s silence grew, Idina began to fidget and wish she had kept her mouth shut. Unable to stand it anymore she finally cracked. Opening her purse, Idina pulled out enough money to cover their check and stood up to leave. “Soooo, I guess I’ll be going. I didn’t mean to upset you. Have a good show tonight. Maybe I’ll see you around some time.”
“Wait!” Kristin’s hand shot across the table and grabbed Idina’s arm, realizing her silence had given Idina the wrong idea. “I can’t believe you told Taye you had a crush on me.”
Idina looked down at Kristin curiously, “Why wouldn’t I? He’s my best friend.”
Looking up into Idina’s open expression, Kristin realized she had a lot to learn about Idina and Taye and that she would be better off not making assumptions. She finally smiled and let the hand gripping Idina’s arm slide down to catch her hand. “Of course he is.” Kristin smiled up at Idina and grabbed her purse with her free hand. “It’s getting late, walk with me to the theatre?” Kristin asked as she pulled Idina out of the cafe.
Idina followed Kristin out onto the sidewalk, trying to figure out what had just happened. ‘Is she upset I have a crush on her or that I told Taye I have a crush on her? And are we really walking down the street holding hands?’ Idina looked down at their still joined hands then at Kristin’s face. She looked serene and had a soft smile teasing the corners of her mouth.
“What?” Kristin suddenly turned to catch Idina looking at her. “Do I have chocolate on my face?” Her free hand wiped at her mouth. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Idina just laughed and squeezed the hand she was holding. “You look amazing,” she said. Kristin just smiled up at Idina and squeezed back.
They spent the rest of the walk in silence, simply enjoying the unusually warm March day and each other’s company.
“Well, we’re here,” Kristin announced as they arrived at the stage door. “So…” she looked up at Idina, not wanting their time together to end.
“So…” Idina gazed down at Kristin, becoming lost in her eyes. Raising her free hand, Idina brushed a strand of blonde hair from Kristin’s face. “When can I see you again?”
Kristin stared up at Idina, suddenly uncomfortable with the speed things were progressing. “It’s so hard to find personal time during a show.”
“I know.”
“On my days off I have to rest my voice.”
“I know.”
“Eight shows a week can really…” Kristin was shushed by Idina’s index finger against her lips.
“I just want to spend some time getting to know you.” Idina offered Kristin a smile, “My schedule is pretty flexible right now, I’m sure we can work around yours.” Idina leaned in closer to Kristin, waiting for an answer.
Unable to resist Idina’s pull, Kristin finally agreed. “Monday’s my day off.”
Idina’s smile grew. “It’s a date then.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against Kristin’s. “I’ll call you tomorrow to work out the details.”
Kristin could only nod.
“Have a good show tonight,” Idina whispered as she brushed her lips against Kristin’s once more. Then she pulled away, squeezing Kristin’s hand before finally releasing it and turning to leave. A last look over her shoulder revealed Kristin still standing by the door staring after her. Idina grinned and waved.
Snapping to attention, Kristin felt her face flushing. She quickly waved back then spun around to enter the theatre. ‘Did I just agree to a DATE with Idina?’ she wondered.
To Be Continued…