Bella found an empty dressing room at the end of the hallway. The door was slightly ajar, a thin strip of light spilling out onto the worn carpet. She pushed it open and stepped inside.
The room was small. A mirror ran along one wall, framed with bare bulbs that cast a warm, golden glow across the space. A single chair sat in front of it, the velvet cushion faded from years of use. A metal rack against the opposite wall held a few old costumes, their fabric dusty and forgotten. The floor was scuffed, and the paint on the walls was chipped.
It was not glamorous, but it was private, unlike most rooms that were full of students getting ready.
She locked the door behind her and pulled out her phone. Her fingers moved quickly across the screen, typing out a message to the makeup team Leo had arranged for her. They were already waiting outside, somewhere in the parking lot, ready to come whenever she called.
She sent the message: I am ready. Room 7, end of the hallway.
