The Fairest Stars

Chapter Six: 'The mad blood stirring.'

Typical, thought Kael. Just when he’d remembered his name.

*

Isis hurried into the drama studio, wide eyed with excitement. Having left Freya at school that morning with the strictest instructions to be as well behaved as circumstances permitted, she let herself forget about the circumstances at home, and concentrate on enjoying herself. She couldn’t wait.

Mrs Robson was already there, handing out fresh copies of the script, and, as Isis sat down, she was greeted by enthusiastic smiles and waves from the rest of the main cast. All except Kael, that is. Isis liked to think she was no more observant of his behaviour than anyone else, but she couldn’t help but notice his absence. Where on earth was he? She’d been late enough, thanks to another late finishing class, but he was even later? She bit her lip, wondering if he’d decided not to come after all. It would be a shame; he was a brilliant actor, despite not trying.

‘Everyone here?’ Mrs Robson asked, scanning the room. ‘Ah. No Mercutio. I see.’ She looked around again, as if he might be hiding. ‘Well, er-’

The door opened, and Kael breezed, looking exceptionally unconcerned by his lateness, his hair ruffled as if he’d been off having adventures or doing something exciting. Nothing could be further from the truth. He’d been sat in his car, attempting to convince himself to just drive home and forget about plays, and rehearsals and forget about everything. Preferably via the use of alcohol.

One thing had stopped him. It was stupid, and he was still puzzled about it now, but for some reason, the image of Isis’s wide blue eyes filled with surprise, mingled with disappointment had kept his hand from ramming the keys into the ignition. Reluctantly, self loathingly, he’d gotten out of the car, locked it, and walked back, cursing himself for this. God, what was it with her? She was like his inner conscience or something, constantly reproving him.

But he walked in with his head held high; just because he wanted it to come across that his late entrance was entirely intentional. Which is kind of was. And kind of wasn’t. Kael, for some reason, found that his senses were suddenly rather befuddled, because, upon his arrival, his eyes had alighted upon a pair of wide blue eyes. A pair of wide blue eyes belonging to Isis. A pair of wide blue eyes belonging to Isis that had sparkled a little when they saw him; she was smiling at him.

Sitting down in the free seat next to her, he looked at her, quizzically.

‘I thought you weren’t coming!’ she whispered, a smile revealing a row of small, white teeth spreading across her face. Her cheeks were a little red, probably with excitement, and her hair was spread over her shoulders like a cape, reaching to her ribs. Although she was wearing another baggy hoodie, Kael couldn’t help but find the entire effect of it all rather attractive.

‘Of course I’m coming,’ he replied, rather harsher than he meant to. By saying something, anything in order to get the bizarre feelings out of his mind, he hadn’t really paid attention to what he was saying.

Her expression changed, back to that slightly disappointed, uncertain look that he’d seen that first time that they’d met. ‘Oh,’ she murmured. ‘I just, er, well. After what you said when you found you got Mercutio, I thought you might just not bother turning up.’