I Like Me Better When I'm With You | Ackley Bridge

49|'The Play'

"I dunno, love. He won't answer the phone." Me and mum share a sigh, and I get my phone out as well to text the missing boy before turning it off and getting ready to watch my sisters perform.

Mrs Paracha suddenly gasps from beside mum and points to the stage, "That's my daughter, that is! She got dyspraxia, you know." And then begins to excitedly wave at Razia, and I can't control my laughter at the over-excited woman.

"Come on, mum. Join in." Me and mum smirk and start waving just like Mrs Paracha fully embarrassing the girl on the drums.

The lights cut out, and we sit in darkness before a blinding spotlight falls upon Naveed, who sits in the crowd. "Through the forest have I gone. But Athenian have I found none. On whose eyes shall I approve this..."

"Huh? Is he speaking English?" Mrs Paracha asks, completely baffled, earning a shake of the head from mum who is equally as confused.

"I don't know." Mum's face creases in confusion.

"It's Shakespearean." I inform them with a smile on my face.

....

"Mine ear is much enamoured of thy note So is mine eye enthralled to thy shape." Missy recites her lines perfectly, gently stroking the donkey mask covering Cory's face but as she turns to get on her swing she stops in her tracks and I follow her gaze to see Aaron had just turned up.

As he takes his seat next to me, I elbow him and mutter, "It's about time."

"Sorry, I got held up." He smiles innocently, and I shake my head with a smile as Missy gets on the swing with an even bigger smile than before now that Aaron has arrived.

"And thy fair virtue's force, perforce doth move me. On first view to say, to swear, I love thee."

....

"Goodnight unto you all." Naveed begins the closing of the play, the whole cast standing beneath him with cheesy smiles on their faces, proud of what that have done. "Give me your hands if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends."

Everyone erupts into applauds and gratitude towards the cast for putting on such a brilliant show, and I smile, extremely proud of my sisters and my friends who took part in the play. My gaze drifts to my best friend who awaits the response to his question from yesterday, and I give him a cheeky wink. A single gesture. And that's all it took for his worried smile to turn into a great, big, genuine smile of excitement.

I can't help but laugh at his boyish antics as he grips Liam's shoulders and shakes him whilst cheering in his face, completely consumed by his happiness and pride.

♡♥︎♡

"My Missy!" Mum squeals as Missy exits the changing rooms, bringing her into a tight embrace before passing her over to me, who waited patiently to congratulate my sister.

"Well done, love." I whisper into her ear before leaning back and holding her at arms length, "I'm so proud of you."

"Really?" She smiles, hopefully.

"Always." I wink, "Now, go talk to your lover, it's about time, int it?" 

We share a small laugh and one last quick embrace before she scurries away to talk to Aaron, and I meet Haylee as she comes out of the changing room still in costume, "What ya doing, Hales?"

"What?" She asks, oblivious.

"Why you still in costume?" I question, with a slight chuckle.

"Cos I look well fit." She pouts confidently, with her head held high.