Facade Read Online Free

tie and returned to the front of the stage. “Thank you.”
    Once more, he lifted his glass.
    “I know you’re somewhere.” Her eyes scanned the area.
    Though he knew she couldn’t see him, he still leaned back.
    “You know what’s weird?” She continued to look up.
    As if having a conversation with her, he shook his head.
    “I don’t even know you, but I feel safe with you.” Her face lit up with a smile.
    “I would never hurt you,” he whispered to himself, but hoped somehow she could feel his words.
    “I don’t know how I will ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me,” she continued.
    Wait. Was she leaving? No. He grabbed the railing tightening his grip until his nails bent from the unforgiving metal.
    “If I make it on this Stage of Stars I can actually pay you rent.” The smile still on her face, she shrugged. “I hope you don’t mind if I stay a little longer. Until then, I’ll try to earn my way, clean up, or anything. You can leave me a note what you need.”
    At her words, he exhaled. What she didn’t know was she could stay forever, because her singing and just being able to look at her was all he needed.
    “Of course, if you wanted, you could always ask me in person.” At her suggestion she bit her lip.
    He shook his head. She just asked of him the one thing he wasn’t sure if he could give her.
     

Chapter Four
    With care, Christine closed the door to the theatre and pressed her palm to the wood. Inside was her sanctuary, dare she say her home? She couldn’t remember the last time she actually used that word and meant it. Once her father died, home seemed a nebulous murky place that didn’t exist but for the lucky few. She only wished she could see the face of her benefactor. All she knew is she had to do something for him, but wasn’t sure what. Yes, she decided her friendly ghost was a him, since it matched the voice she only heard once.
    She hurried to the coffee shop where Ramon would pick her up for an early practice. Right as she went to pay for her Danish and cup of coffee, her ride entered.
    “I’ll be paying for this.” Ramon elbowed her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. “Maybe you can let me pay for dinner tonight as well.”
    “I can get it.” Though she protested, she did smile at the attention. Ramon was sort of cute in a silly rocker kind of way with blond hair that hung in his blue eyes and full lips. Though he tried to play it down by wearing weathered jeans and vintage concert shirts, she knew Ramon came from money. It wasn’t only the Italian import that gave him away, but the other things like his designer wallet and expensive shoes that betrayed him. Between those little inconsistencies and his kind, round baby face that never possessed a bit of scruff, she always felt as if he were trying too hard to fit into a role he wanted to have in the worst way.
    “So can I.” In a flash, Ramon whipped a fifty-dollar bill out of his pocket and tossed it toward the register.
    While she had tried to protest him doing this exact same thing many times, her efforts were futile. “Thank you.” She watched him collect his change, and then he guided her out to his little sports car.
    “Anytime and I mean that.” He opened the door for her. “I only wish back in high school we were better friends, who knows what would have happened?”
    Unsure what to say, she gave him the generic smile and shrug as she slipped into the car. He shut the door and went to his side. As the story went, he was in the cool clique in high school, she was in the arty one, and they only crossed paths a couple of times in school, but many years later he heard her singing at a small club on open mic night and convinced her to sing with them. At the time, she didn’t know they already had a lead singer. She had to wonder why she was needed, but Ramon seemed convinced a backup singer would set them apart when auditioning for the Stage of Stars .
    “Ready for practice?” He started