Romance in Italy

Romance in Italy - 16

Sixteen.

"Very good! Good work!” The director applauded and the audiences followed his lead. I swished off the stage and headed for the dressing area, anxious to get rid of the soft white gown Juliet died in. Wearing the dress sent a shiver of dread through me; it felt as if I was actually the one in the tomb. I turned at the last minute and saw Ashton picking himself off the ground. Eddie sidled up next to me and slung an arm over my shoulders.

“So, if you were in Juliet's position, who would you pick?” Eddie asked, grinning mischievously, as if he knew my answer.

I snorted and shrugged. “As if you don't know.”

Eddie sighed and responded heavily, “I was hoping you would choose me.”

“But I do.” I pointed out.

“In the play, yes. But if given the choice in reality, you'd pick him in a heartbeat.” I opened my mouth to protest in vain but Eddie shot me a look that clearly said that I can't lie to him and nodded sheepishly. “I knew it. Anyway, do you want to hang out after this?”

“I'm seriously convinced you have no life.” I laughed. “What happened to the manwhore? You're always asking me to hang with you. Call up one of your girlfriends.”

He made a face and parted ways, veering off to the men's changing room while I turned to the left. Ashton's caught my eye and winked, giving me a small grin. A smile was plastered on my face as I slid off the dress and put my clothes back on. I smoothed down my hair and swept it up in a ponytail. I placed the dress on the hanger and hung it on the rod on the way out. I grabbed my bag and slung it on my shoulder as Ashton fell into steps beside me. “Where's Judith?” I asked conversationally.

“You know, you're not very subtle.” Ashton joked, knocking his shoulder against mine playfully.

“I wasn't trying to be.” I responded, looking up at him through my lashes. “I'm serious.”

“They didn't need her today and she told me she had some errands to run.”

Since Rosaline didn't make an appearance in the original play and they wanted everyone to have a role, the directors incorporated a flashback of Romeo's first glimpse of Rosaline in our production when Benvolio and Romeo were discussing Romeo's love for Rosaline. And for most of the rehearsals, Judith would be in the audience, watching us. She didn't have a speaking role so whenever she was included in the rehearsals, she would only be a quick flash of in-and-out.

“Hm.” I said vaguely. I threw a quick smile up at Ashton and held up one finger, signaling him to give me a minute.

“I'll be in the car.” He announced, ruffling my hair despite my protests. One night, I'd complained to him that I was tired of walking places and suggested that instead of paying a cab, he should just rent a car. He'd taken up the initiative a few days ago and had finally rented a car.

I nodded and jogged over to Eddie and Max. “Coffee later?”

“Sure.” Max gave me a one-armed hug and squeezed my shoulders. “But, you want alone time with him first, is that correct?” Eddie grinned wickedly and puckered his lips.

I surged toward him, a scowl on my face. Max pulled me back and kept both his hands on my shoulders. “Hey now. No violence. It's, what? Three-thirty now. I'll give you guys an hour. Meet us at that cafe at four-thirty.”

I nodded and gave an affirmative answer. I directed a mumbled threat in Eddie's direction and turned on my heels, walking swiftly out the door and out into the warm autumn air. The sky was overcast and humid due to the previous rain shower. A cacophony of honks and yells traveled to my ears and I winced at its volume. Back home, the noise volume was at its minimum. Here, it was at its full blast. Sometimes the sounds would be overwhelming and I would have to duck back inside and prepare myself before facing the music again. I spotted the black rental car with Ashton in the driver's seat and walked over to it. I opened the passenger's seat door and slid inside. The cool blast of the air conditioner blew back my hair and cooled my heated face.