Chapter 19

"So this is Broadway?" Kyera mused as they walked along the sidewalk to the theater.

"Yep, this is it." Dusty nodded, shrinking further into her coat against the sharpening cold.

"I always imagined it to be... grander," Kyera admitted, glancing round at the aged buildings and the small theaters dotted around the area. In her mind she had imagined opulence and grandeur. Theater but on an excessively large scale, but Broadway appeared demure and reserved. She'd expected the spectacle of a Las Vegas show and so was pleasantly surprised to find it all to be quite the opposite. "I like it," she confirmed, turning to smile at Dusty, who was walking beside her, rubbing her gloved hands together. "It's understated," she added approvingly.

"How about we reserve judgment until we've actually seen the show?" Dusty suggested as they arrived at the theater and gratefully hustled out of the cold into the small foyer area. As Dusty glanced around at her fellow theater-goers, she had to admit that she agreed with Kyera. She had expected something much larger in scale. The foyer area was surprisingly small, with worn carpets and faded walls. It seemed surreal to think that beyond the doors, there was a theater where one of the most famous shows in the world was being staged.

"I can't believe you talked me into seeing a musical." Kyera shook her head in disapproval as she scanned through the program she'd just bought from a vendor by the doorway.

"You'll like it, trust me."

"But there's music." Kyera moaned.

"And a strong story," Dusty countered. "You need to have faith in this one, Aroura. I predict that you are going to love Chicago."

Kyera wasn't so certain, but she smiled nonetheless. She was enjoying Dusty's company. She had feared that it would feel strange and awkward to spend time with an ex-girlfriend, but they had easily fallen into the friendly rhythm quite naturally. The previous night she had declined the bed Dusty had kindly offered her, instead sleeping on the hard wooden floor in a sleeping bag she'd had the foresight to bring with her. Though her back still ached in protest at the decision, she knew it was the right thing to do to respect the boundaries that now existed between them.

Bed sharing was for couples, not friends. Kyera thought too much of Dusty to risk blurring those lines when they were finally starting to warm to one another again. Doors creaked open at the end of the foyer, and the waiting audience began to filter into the modest auditorium.

"So have you seen it before?" Kyera asked as they began to walk through with the throng.

"I've seen the movie," Dusty admitted.

"Oh, great." Kyera sighed. "I caught glimpses of Mamma Mia when my mom was watching it. I swear, if this is anything like Mamma Mia..."

"Kyera, just relax and enjoy it." Dusty ceased moving momentarily to turn and face her, Dusty eyes locking on her with stern intensity.

"Okay, okay." She lifted her hands up in defeat and smiled. "Let's go watch this show named after a city."

"Stop moaning."

"I'm not moaning," Kyera countered.

"You are, and we haven't even sat down yet!" Dusty lamented, noticing how an older couple close by were studying them. Noticing they had an audience made her cheeks inflame.

"Sorry, you're just so like we used to be." The woman smiled, her tone friendly. "We used to banter back and forth all the time, didn't we, dear?" She turned to the man she was with.

"I've just been subdued into silence over time," the man joked. "It's a by-product of marriage."

Both Dusty and Kyera smiled politely, not wanting to reveal that they were actually a couple of the past, not the present. Finally seated, the lights in the theater dimmed, and the velvet curtain covering the stage began to slowly rise. "You better be right about this, Black," Kyera whispered in a mock threatening way.

"I'm always right," Dusty quipped, throwing her a mischievous smile.

****

Back in the cool night air, they walked back towards the subway station, the people around them thinning out as everyone went their separate ways. "So?" Dusty asked impatiently.

"So what?" Kyera replied, looking straight ahead, not turning to face her.

"So what did you think of the show?" Dusty continued, reaching for her arm and grabbing her to stop her walking any further ahead. Kyera refused to meet her eyes, glancing furtively around. She shifted awkwardly on the spot, which Dusty knew wasn't from the cold. "You liked it," she declared triumphantly, reading her body language.

"I didn't say that," Kyera objected.

"Well then, did you enjoy it?" Dusty asked, placing her hands on her hips in a defiant posture.

"Urgh." Kyera sighed and finally met her eyes. "You're such an annoying woman, you know that?"

"Answer the question." Dusty ordered, her voice cool and level.

"Fine, yes, I really enjoyed it," Kyera conceded.

"Ha! I knew it!" Dusty pivoted on the spot in glee.

"Don't gloat."

"I'm not gloating, well, maybe a little. I took your musical virginity, and you enjoyed it." Dusty giggled.

"Well, it was good," Kyera defended, her tone pitched.

"Did you have a favorite song?" Dusty asked teasingly. Kyera stopped walking once more and stood before her, swaying a little. Then, like a mime she held her hands before her and sang the lines of one of the songs from the show. Seeing her act it out made Dusty erupt in a fit of hearty laughter, causing her to double over and clutch at her chest.

"What, am I that bad?" Kyera laughed.

"You just look... funny doing... that." Dusty struggled to catch her breath and respond.

"Glad I amuse you so much." Kyera smiled.

"Oh dear." Dusty wiped tears from her eyes, still laughing in short bursts. As they continued walking, her laughter subside altogether, and she became more serious. "I'm having fun," she admitted. "I'm glad you came to visit."

"Me too," Kyera agreed, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close.