1. He's perfect for the part
2. You're my obsession
3. A question of morality
4. Could I really love a man who could do something like this?
5. A problem and a solution
6. A favor for a friend
7. The grace period
8. Trying to make things right again
9. The sort of spiritual experience eternal companions should share

• (character chart)
• (caution/disclaimer)

1. Young Women's
2. Youth Conference
3. Saturday's Warrior
4. Brigham Young University
• Gratuitous Love Scene
5. Polygamist
6. Temple Wedding
7. Orem High
8. Bordeaux Mission
9. Exmo Conference

I watched their number from backstage. In some ways it was painful to see it, but I couldn't look away. Jake did his best to perform his comic scene, but he almost seemed to be doing it through clenched teeth. His every smile for his missionary companion seemed painfully forced. Walter was oblivious. He reveled in his own charm, in his gorgeous face and smile, his light and witty manner, and his beautiful singing voice. He performed his song about spreading the gospel with joyous abandon.

Of course there was no audience, but when they finished their number I clapped enthusiastically from the sidelines. Walter turned to me with a big satisfied smile and winked. Jake looked shocked by my reaction and seemed genuinely upset to see me so quick to go back to showering affection on Walter. He seemed to hate him all the more watching his innocent pleasure after what we had been through.

Still, I felt like Walter could hardly be blamed for not taking care of a problem he hadn't known about. I wanted him to stay the way he was -- happy and light-hearted -- and not see him hurt and broken by this whole thing.

During the scene with the number He's Just a Friend that Jake and I were both in with Walter and the girls, Jake seemed to do a better job of putting his feelings aside and having fun with it.

Between my scenes I went out to sit by Jake's mom, who was sitting as the lone person in the audience.

"How are you doing, honey?" she asked.

"Okay," I said.

"Jake says the trip went smoothly," she said.

"Yeah."

"And after?" she asked.

"It wasn't too bad."

"That's good," she said. "I'm glad." We sat and watched together silently until my next scene.

<- previous page

Throughout the rehearsal I didn't get much chance to talk to Walter since the other girls were monopolizing his attention. I didn't go out of my way to seek him out because I didn't really feel like talking to him again just yet. We exchanged a few smiles though.

The dress rehearsal on Thursday night was exciting right from the beginning. This time we had a real audience in a sense because they'd brought in a bunch of old people from various retirement communities to come watch it.

There was a big room in the basement that had been set up as the dressing room with a long table in the center with chairs and mirrors where all the make-up was to be applied. We had to wear a lot of stage make-up so as not to look too pale under the strong lights. The dressing room had two separate annexes that were curtained off for the men and the women to change costumes separately.

Walter and Jake had both gotten their hair cut in the super-short missionary style. It wasn't becoming on either one of them, but as far as I could tell the standard missionary haircut was never becoming on anyone. Of course Walter was still drop-dead gorgeous. Not even a missionary haircut could put a stop to that.

While we were all downstairs changing from our spirit robes of the pre-existence to our normal Earth clothing, I saw Walter alone off to the side of the dressing room holding a single rose. He beckoned me to come over to him.

"I would like to try to make things right between us if possible," he said. "I've brought you this small token which I hope that you will accept." He handed me the rose.

"Thank you," I said, taking the rose. I was happy to see that he was finally willing to address what had happened and was interested in trying to work it out.

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