Free ... not in love with Kale Eddison by Joanne McClean Page A

are you? Congrats on your part; I’m sure the other girls
would’ve killed for it.” He flashed a smile at her and she visibly
warmed a little.
    “Oh thanks
Kale, yeah it’ll be great getting the chance to actually be on
stage, you know.” She simpered at him and ignored Izzie.
    “Yeah,” Kale
said, “well I guess we’ll see you in rehearsal then.” He moved away
and Izzie followed him but not before she noticed the jealous look
Maddie was now giving her. ‘Jeez’, Izzie thought, ‘she really needs
to grow up.’ She shook her head and managed to get within viewing
distance of the board since many others had left.
    She scanned her
eyes down the list and saw Kale’s name at the top beside
‘Benedick’; she smiled to herself; looked like she was getting a
free dinner. She followed the list down until she saw her own name;
she took a deep breath and then looked to the other side of the
list … ‘Beatrice’. She was stunned and didn’t stir until Kale gave
her a hug.
    “Wow buddy,”
she began, pulling out of his embrace, “what the hell you
doing?”
    Kale pulled
back also and shrugged, “It was just a celebratory hug, that’s
all.”
    “Oh,” said
Izzie, feeling a little bit stupid now, “Sorry, I’m not much of a
hugger, thanks anyway.”
    Kale eyed her
curiously, “You are a very unique girl; you know that?”
    Izzie threw her
head back and laughed, “Yep, I’m one of a kind. Anyway, I will
return the favour and give you a celebratory hug; I like to try new
things, you know.”
    Kale smiled
crookedly as she gave him a quick hug and they smiled at one
another.
    “Now,” began
Izzie, “let’s hope your acting doesn’t suck too badly in this. I
can’t afford for you to make me look bad too.”
    Kale chuckled,
“And there’s that honesty I’m so fond of; I knew it wasn’t far
behind – it never is.”
    They walked
down the corridor together discussing their roles and Izzie found
herself actually warming to the part of ‘Beatrice’; Kale made her
believe she could do it and that helped. They made it out the main
door and were met with flashing bulbs and microphones thrust into
their faces.
    “Oh no,” Kale
said despairingly, “I figured they wouldn’t leave me alone too long
after the conference.”
    Izzie felt
blinded by the flashes and noises that surrounded her and she felt
Kale put an arm around her protectively as he attempted to guide
her to her car.
    “Hey, everyone
back off, let her get to car and then you can ask me whatever you
want.” Kale sounded very annoyed but somehow managed to push
through far enough so that Izzie could make a break for her car.
She ran and once inside, she locked the doors and looked on at Kale
with pity.
    Kale grunted in
frustration as the reporters surrounded him again, “Look guys; a
bit of personal space wouldn’t go amiss … just make this quick, ok?
What are you looking?” He sighed and the reporter nearest to him
jumped in quickly.
    “Who’s the girl
Kale? Are she and you dating? What’s the story kid?”
    Kale shook his
head, “Look I’m not revealing the poor girl’s identity just so you
can all follow her like vultures; she is a friend and will remain
an unnamed friend. We are not dating, so there’s no juicy story for
you all to chase.”
    Another
reporter cut in, “Yeah right, cut the crap Kale. You may not wanna
talk but I’m sure she’d be willing to spill the dirt for the right
price.”
    Kale smiled
without amusement, “Try all you want but you don’t know her like I
do; she won’t give you a thing. Now are we going to change the
topic or should I just leave?”
    The reporters
were quick to protest and one piped up, “No, easy Kale, we just
want a story. I’m sure everyone is in the same boat as me in that
our bosses are all on at us to get another newsworthy story. Just
give us something kid; it doesn’t matter how small.”
    The rest of the
reporters nodded in agreement and Kale sighed reluctantly,