Something of a Studio

Erin scrambled up the ladder like a monkey, because she’d done it before, therefore, she knew how. Erin didn’t know if Luke was taking a long time because he’d never done this before, or because of his constant stopping to make sure his polo shirt wasn’t wrinkled, but either way, when she got to the top, it took about five minutes for Luke to get up. While she was waiting for Luke, Erin thought about this, ‘Do I really trust him? Am I really about to show him my studio? My private studio?’ Erin didn’t know why, but she had a nagging feeling about Luke. Fate had made him come to the theatre today. ‘Fate. That’s what mom would say. She’d say that it was just fate,’ Erin’s thoughts were interrupted as Luke fell, huffing and puffing onto the catwalk that the ladder had led him to. Erin helped him up rather roughly and said, “C’mon Luke! You’ll just love this! I know you will!” Luke made a small groan, which Erin ignored. Luke had just gotten to his feet, when Erin pulled him along, her shoes and his, slapping against the catwalk floor.
“Is this safe?” Luke asked, running to try and keep up with Erin. Erin ignored this question, because she didn’t know the answer. She had just found the catwalk one day, and decided it would make a perfect mini studio for her easel and bigger artist equipment. Erin stopped suddenly, and Luke slammed into her back.
“Ta Da!” Announced Erin playfully, “My studio!” Erin stepped away to let Luke admire it. The studio was carefully placed at a dead end on the catwalk, supported by metal railings. Erin was awfully proud of the workshop. She had spent half of the day she found the catwalk painstakingly hauling all the equipment she needed up the ladder. But it was worth it. Erin, and now Lucas, had a great view of the whole theatre. The springy, tarnished seats, the vast, wooden stage, and, Erin’s favorite, the red, soft, velvet curtains that swayed around magically.
“Wow. This is amazing,” Lucas said.
“I just knew you’d like it!” Erin replied, grinning ear to ear and practically jumping up and down.
“Can we get down now?” Luke asked, and for the first time, Erin noticed how nervous he was, his eyes darting back and forth anxiously.
“Sure,” Erin replied, laughing inside. She jogged back the way she came, when she noticed Luke wasn’t behind her. She turned around. Luke was staring wide-eyed at the space of floor between them. Erin looked down and saw what Luke was staring at. She jumped back, startled.
“S-S-Sn-Snake,” he whispered.