Ignite - A Mutant Academy Novel

Chapter 16

"Duncan, the line is 'My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye hath stayed upon some favour that it loves' - please don't mix up the personal pronouns." Professor Holiday sighed, making notes on her copy of the script for Twelfth Night.

"No offence Professor, but it would help if it was in English." This got quite a laugh from the room - Duncan was generally considered top boy amongst the drama geeks.

"No offence Mr Fletcher, but it would help if you spent more time learning your lines and less insulting the playwright." Professor Holiday smiled. This got even more laughs, even Duncan himself smiled a little, acknowledging his defeat.

He was a speedster - a mutant who can travel super fast - and a pretty handsome one at that. He clearly had a big crush on Amber, which was apt seeing as they were playing the sort of lead couple - even though Viola is actually dressed as a boy half the time and Duke Orsino is twice her age. It's a very confusing play...Amber, however, had very little time for anything other than her acting, and hadn't really shown any sign of affection back, other than that demanded of her character on-stage. It wouldn't have surprised me if she was completely blind to the whole situation.

As stage manager, most of my job at the moment was sitting back and watching the drama unfurl onstage - both scripted, and non-scripted.

Today though, it was dragging, and it was clear that everyone was impatiently waiting for the clock to strike four. Today was not only a Friday, it was Friday the 13th of December - Maria and Kara's birthday and dorm room party.

Kara, one of my stagehands, was sat next to me chattering on as usual. I listened with one ear, nodding every now and then as I noted down entrances, exits and scene changes.

"...felt no change yet, but sometimes they don't come out until just before midnight, I'm so excited to see what the change will bring, hopefully more control over our powers so that we actually have some control over them hahaha it would be nice to go to bed knowing what shape we'll wake up!" As chattery as she was, I did like Kara. She was sweet, and wouldn't dare hurt a fly - even if she gossiped like a swarm of them.

Finally, the rehearsal was over. Kara tapped me on the arm, beaming. "See you later Rainbow! And make sure Joe comes!" She winked, and waved cheerily at Amber, who was stepping down off stage. Amber didn't notice, she was too busy sulking. I breathed in, ready for the onslaught.

"Good job today A!" I said breezily. Amber breathed out heavily. "That boy may be the best actor here, but if he doesn't learn his lines I swear I will floor him." I chuckled silently to myself as she very angrily shoved her script carefully into it's plastic protector before aggressively placing it neatly into her bag pressed between two books so it's wouldn't get bent. No matter how angry she was, she could never take it out on the theatre.

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 "How can we not tell her?"

"We agreed to keep out of this Amber, Kat you'll back me up here right?" I turned to Kat who was doing her hair in Amber's wardrobe mirror.

"Yep. Totally." She called over distractedly. We were all getting ready in mine and Amber's room, and Amber was practically bursting to tell Holly about Maria fancying Joe. After she'd burst out with it to Joe himself yesterday, I knew my effort to keep the lid on this particular can of worms was futile - but I was still determined.

"I know Holly's your best friend, but..." I stopped, because Holly herself had walked out of our bathroom at this point. She was wearing a dress, grey and tight fitting. With her out-there-red shade of lipstick, smokey eyes and hair pulled to one side, she looked like a super model. She smiled.