Read A Step In Time for Free Online

Gatsby-style beaded shift dress appraisingly. ‘Don’t forget you’re not earning at the moment.’
    ‘Shh,’ I said, not wanting to hear his words of wisdom right at that second. ‘It’s starting.’
    Phil was right. It was a gorgeous, gorgeous show and it did make me want to get up and dance. Though I wasn’t sure I could pull it off with quite as much style as the leading lady. It was glitzy and sparkly and wonderful and as the curtain went down I clapped until my hands stung.
    ‘Sooooo,’ Phil said, hopefully. ‘Did you love it?’
    I nodded.
    ‘Yes, I loved it.’
    ‘And is Phil always right?’
    I made a face.
    ‘About this,’ I admitted. ‘But I wouldn’t say always.’
    ‘What about this?’ Phil said. He produced two tickets to the opening night party and I groaned.
    ‘A party?’ I said. ‘Really?’
    ‘Really,’ he said, grabbing my hand. ‘It’s fine. You need to get back out there and this is a good place to start. It’s going to be quiet, classy, and there’s absolutely no chance Matty will be there.’
    ‘Okay,’ I said, letting him lead me up the stairs to the bar at the very top of the theatre where the party was. ‘Let’s go and party.’
    Phil was right. It was indeed a quiet party. But it was kind of nice, and knowing it was Matty’s idea of a nightmare made it easier for me to relax. There was a barbershop quartet in the corner, singing songs from musicals, and groups of people stood together chatting and drinking glasses of champagne.
    ‘It’s very sophisticated,’ I said to Phil. ‘Not sure I belong here.’ Phil took two glasses from a passing waiter and stuck his tongue out at me.
    ‘Of course you do,’ he said. ‘We both do.’
    I shook my head at the glass he offered and swapped it for an orange juice when the waiter passed us again.
    ‘I’m off booze,’ I said. ‘It just gets me into trouble.’
    We stayed for a while, chatting about mutual friends and eating as many canapés as we could get our hands on. But it wasn’t the most exciting party in the world and, eventually, Phil looked at his phone.
    ‘Do you mind if we call it a night?’ he said. ‘Bertie’s round the corner with his parents and I said I’d go and meet them. Do you want to come?’
    I shuddered.
    ‘God no,’ I said. ‘I’ll head home.’
    ‘Do you want me to find you a cab?’ Phil said.
    ‘Nah,’ I said, picking up my bag. ‘I’ll pop to the loo first and then head out. Call me tomorrow?’
    Phil gave me a quick squeeze.
    ‘Will do,’ he said. ‘Stay safe.’
    I blew him a kiss as he headed for the stairs, then I went to find the loo.
    I was still in the cubicle when I heard two women come in, chatting in that slightly too loud way that told me they’d had rather a lot of champagne.
    ‘I just hope this is it,’ one was saying. ‘I’ve fucking had enough of being in the chorus line. If this isn’t my big break, then I don’t know what else I can do.’
    ‘You could get your boobs done,’ the other one said. ‘Everyone does it.’
    ‘How would that help?’
    ‘Dunno,’ the second one said, giggling. ‘I have no idea.’
    I went to flush the toilet, then stopped as I heard them say my name.
    ‘… like Amy Lavender,’ the first one said. ‘She was here earlier, did you see her?’
    Great. I couldn’t burst out of the cubicle now, could I? Surprise! Quietly I put the seat down and sat on it.
    ‘Do you know what I heard about Amy Lavender?’ the other one said, lowering her voice to a quiet shriek.
    Oh, this would be good.
    ‘Her name’s not even Amy Lavender. It’s Amy Brown.’
    ‘Nooooo,’ said the first one.
    Sitting on the loo, I rolled my eyes. That was hardly a state secret. My real name was, in fact, Amy Lavender Brown, so I’d simply dropped the boring Brown when I started acting. It had been my mum’s idea, actually – in fact, it was the reason behind my unusual middle name. She’d hoped I’d be a star one day, even before I could talk.