off Riz’s Hamlet, but it means I know the second his attention falters, pulled off the stage for a split

second. It makes me frown, my own eyes shifting out to the house as well, catching the figure standing

by the door. It’s a face I know, but the surprise of seeing it here makes me falter too, hearing Jeff sigh at

the two of us.

“Fine. You two are done for today, get the hell off my stage.” Jeff softens the blow with a quirk of a

smile, though, the way he almost always does. “The writer from the paper’s here for you anyway, Nick.

Come on over.”

The paper. James Foley. A familiar face at the door that puts that sort of expression on Rizzo’s face.

Well, fuck me.

Riz doesn’t even say anything to me as he packs up his shit at warp speed, and I watch as he heads

for the far doors. I realize how much I have no idea what the hell’s happening, but I can’t run after him

right now. Because I have an interview.

Jeff grins as I walk over, and I wonder if he knows what’s going on. I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Nick, this is James, our editor-in-chief.” I can’t help nodding at that, looking at the guy.

“I read the paper.” It sounds idiotic coming out of my mouth, but I honestly don’t know how I’m

supposed to be handling this.

“Congrats. That probably makes you 50% of our reader base.” I get caught by his smirk, staring for a

second.

Jeff laughs, breaking me out of my thoughts: “Hey, I read it too.”

“Must be my lucky day,” he replies dryly. He’s… damn, he’s actually funny. In a sarcastic sort of

way. I feel myself smiling, but I don’t want to like this asshole. I don’t know everything that’s going on,

but I know the way Riz practically ran out of the theater, and I do remember some of what happened last

semester. I feel Jeff watching me, though, so I force a sharp little smile onto my face.

“Must be. You get to interview me, after all.” Hell, that didn’t come out right, cocky in a way I’m

not ready to back up. Like the way I remember Rizzo being before I got to know him. I know that Jeff’s

staring at me now, and that I need to pull back the attitude before he calls me on it.

The guy gives me a look. “Right. Let’s get started then, big shot.” He nods to Jeff with a hint of an

amused smile, and leads me to the front row where it’s most comfortable to sit. Jeff gives me one last

look as he heads over to grab his own things, leaving me standing there with this guy and feeling like an

asshole.

We sit down and he takes some stuff out of his bag to set up for the interview. Pen and notebook,

plus a silver dictating machine. He tilts his head and looks at me. “You ready to start?” He looks at

some scribbling on his little book. “That’s Nick… Keller, right?” I nod as I try to settle myself in the

seat, looking for a way to be more comfortable sitting there.

“That’s me. Least last time I checked.” I can still feel the asshole tone sneaking through, and I try to

pull it back, knowing I’d never hear the end of it from Jeff if I screw up this interview. If this is part of

what I have to do now that he’s let me back on the cast, then I have to do it well.

I can tell that I’m not making the best impression so far, but he ignores my tone. “We need to cover

some basics first. How old are you, Nick?” It seems like a strange question. Nothing to do with the play,

but I just shrug and go with it.

“Twenty.” I watch as he makes a note in his book, and before he can ask another question, I push on.

“And I’m a Scorpio, blue is my favorite color, and I like rainy days and long walks on the beach.” The

humor’s a long-shot, and I wonder if I should just drop it, but it keeps slipping out on me.

He gives me a look that’s only mildly annoyed and mostly amused. “Shame. I’m not sure we’re

compatible then. I’m not a big beach person.” He writes more into his book, not letting me see what he

is writing. He continues as before, in the same professional tone, and I wonder if there’s any way to

crack this guy. “You’re a sophomore, is that correct?”

“That’s what they tell me. Though I think they’re probably being generous at this point.” It slips out,

and I try not to wince at myself. If he doesn’t realize who I am, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t, unless

that’s why he’s acting like this, I don’t want to be the one that clues him onto the fact that we’ve met

before. Sort of.

He arches an eyebrow and looks at me, and he seems to really notice me for the first time now, the

way he takes me in. I can see something that might be recognition in his eyes momentarily. But he

doesn’t seem sure. He opens his mouth to say something, shakes his head and closes it again. He takes

the dictating machine in his hand and starts to record.

“So tell me, how do you feel about being in the show?”

A little laugh slips out before I reply, because that’s probably the easiest question he could have

asked. “It’s amazing. I mean, the people. The show itself. And working with Jeff again is great.” I shift

in my seat, trying to face him more as we talk.

He actually smiles a little. “We’ve seen you in An Ideal Husband last year, as Sir Robert Chiltern.

You were the youngest cast member then. Does it feel different to be back this year?” I know they’re

normal interview questions, but I can’t keep the laugh in.

“You could say that. I, uh, I’m actually sort of coming to the cast late. Jeff asked me to fill in for

someone who left. So that makes things different right there.” I figure I’ll just leave out the whole

getting kicked off the cast thing. No one’s going to want to read that story, even if I wanted to tell it.

He nods. “So the rumors are true.” He sounds like this is off the record. But he continues the

interview right away. “It’s not a small part you’re taking on, either. You’re playing Horatio, Hamlet’s

confidant. Tell us how you see this character. What makes Horatio tick?”

“Loyalty.” The answer slips out before I even stop to think about it. “Friendship, too, but loyalty

first. I mean, here’s a guy that’s been in battles, is going to school at Wittenberg even though he’s most

likely a regular guy. And he gets pulled into all this crazy stuff because Hamlet wants him there.” I lean

in a little as I’m talking, getting more into it.

“Everyone else pretty much wants him to leave, but Hamlet trusts him and loves him, so he stays.

And he does whatever he can to help this poor guy that’s lost his dad, and had his mom marry his uncle,

and who’s pretty much losing his mind over everything. Oh, and who just happens to also be the prince

of Denmark.” I realize I’m rambling, but if there’s one thing Jeff pushes, it’s knowing your character, so

I’ve put a lot of thought into this, and it’s hard to stop talking.

“It’s a crazy thing to think about, really. He shows up, because he really cares about his friend and

wants to make sure that he’s dealing with things okay. He’s totally unprepared for what’s happening

with these insane people, so he tries to make it through with his common sense. And in return, he gets to

watch as this guy he loves gets pretty much mentally torn apart by his own thoughts, and everyone

around him ends up dead. And just when he’s thinking that he’s going to join everyone else and maybe

off himself, because y’know, screw that shit, Hamlet goes and asks him to stick around a little while

longer so he can tell everyone what happened. And he does, just because Hamlet asks.” I blink,

registering how much I’ve said, and how the guy - James - his mouth is quirked to the side in a little

smile. I give him a grin and shrug. “Loyalty.”