CLAUDE'S P.O.V
(When the first scene starts)
Joy kept her eyes locked on the stage behind the curtain, and she kept walking back to the technician to check if they had turned on the proper lights. I didn't want to disturb her focus on them. This is important for her. She didn't want to fuck it up. She needs this to be perfect.
"Claude," I heard someone call my name. I searched for the sound source, and I saw Lydia sitting on the couch with her head in her hand. I approached her and sat next to her, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Maggie is still your understudy," I spoke.
"No, I mean. I'm sorry to force her to choose me instead of Maggie. I know Joy has already prepared the perfect play for me, but I just had to drink a lot last night," Lydia forced a laugh.
Force her?
"What are you talking about, Lydia?" I asked her.
Lydia sighed while she drank her water bottle, "Back at the homecoming after-party. I took a picture of the guy that picked her up."
Is she talking about Martin? I knew he would be a trouble for coming to that party. He's a heartless piece of shit. I narrowed my eyes at Lydia as I continued, "what did you do with the photo, Lydia?"
"I blackmailed her. I know how she's keeping her life a secret, and I wanted her to choose me for the play. If she didn't choose me, I would send this to the journalists club and put it in the school newspaper."
I was stunned to hear what she said as I watched Joy stress herself. I shouldn't have pushed Joy to choose Maggie if this is why she chooses Lydia. She must be overthinking the blackmail a lot. She doesn't want anyone to know that she has a fiancee. I have to do something about this.
"Why?" I asked Lydia, "why did you have to blackmail her instead of showing her your talent?"
"I just thought she wouldn't choose me because I was your girlfriend," Lydia answered while fidgeting with her finger.
"That wouldn't be the reason for not choosing you, Lydia," I clenched my fist until my knuckles turned white. I felt rage flowing inside my body, "it's funny when you wanted to show me how crazy you are, yet you're looking so desperate right now."
I continued, "I told you to stay away from her. Including the guy you've used to blackmail her. You don't know what she's capable of. I'm suggesting you delete that photo immediately," I stood up and spoke for the last time before leaving, "seeing you this desperate only makes me grateful to myself for breaking up with you."
I walked around the audience seat as I found Martin in the last row and sat next to him. It's weird to see him wearing casual clothes when he always wears a suit, "Martin," I spoke to grab his attention.
He didn't turn his face towards me, but he knew who I was, "Claude, what brings you here?"
"I should be asking that question," I said to him.
Martin sighed, "I must say, Jocelyn has made an exciting story since the play is about her life. Aurora is her, Prince Leo is me, the king is her father, and I wonder who Philips is," he turned his head dramatically.
I ignored his remarks, "why are you here, Martin? Where is her father?"
"He's in front of me," he said as he pointed at the person in front of him. I didn't know it was Wayne because he wore casual clothes, he was sitting next to Dion and Emilia- I figured by his blonde hair, "and I'm here because her father wants to. I wouldn't suggest to come here while I have something better to do."
Her dad suggest them to be here. Why? Should I be suspicious of this unusual gesture, or does he decides to do the right thing for his daughter.
"I'm assuming you were going to screw up with another girl-"
"I'm in my third year of college, and I need to study if I want to graduate early," Martin cuts my sentence, "don't assume something nonsense where you don't even know me."
"But I do. I know everything about you and the Wright family."
Martin finally turned his face towards me, "what are you up to, Claude? How did you get so close to a person like her? How can you make her open up to you?"
I answered him, "she realized that someone cherishes her. She allowed me to enter her life just like that."
"What do you want? Money? Fame? Do you want to bring me down?"
"I want to help her since you've been a burden to her life. You don't know how your presence affects her life," I said, and I glared at him.
Martin rolled his eyes and paid attention to the stage again, "tell Jocelyn that after this, we'll be having dinner with Mr. Wayne, so make sure to come home fast," Martin glanced at me, "I'm assuming you're going to come to our dinner if I got in your way. Mr. Wayne won't mind a guest in his house."
***
THIRD P.O.V
* Scene 3: at the garden.
Aurora and Philips hang out in the garden secretly without anyone knowing. They have been hangout a lot for the past two weeks, and neither of them admits their feeling for each other. Yes, the princess wouldn't think about falling for her gardener, but she did. And the gardener wouldn't think about the princess liking him back.
"So, what's so good about this book?" Philips asked as he leaned to Aurora's book.
"It's Romeo and Juliet," Aurora deadpanned.
"Oh, it is?" Philipa took the book from Aurora and flipped it over, "Oh, it is Romeo and Juliet."
"Princess Aurora?" one of Aurora's servants called for her. Philips immediately stood up and acted like cutting the bushes next to them, "There you are, Princess Aurora. The King has been looking for you. The Axon's have come."
The news of Prince Leo's appearance has made Philips tense. Aurora eyed Philipa and mouthed, "I'll be right back," Aurora followed the butler and went inside the castle.
* Scene 4: The dining room and in the middle, there's a window
Philips went to window and secretly watched them. Philips looks at the king and the queen talking to Mr. and Mrs. Axon. Philipa saw Prince Leo stealing a glance at Aurora while busy eating her food.
Philips felt jealous. He clenched his fist, and he thought it should have been him. It should have been here, talking to the king and the queen about their future. What would they do after they married? How many kids do they want? But Philips realizes that he's just a gardener with no chance with the princess.
Philips accepts the fate of no chances of getting the princess's heart. He walked away from the window and continued trimming off bushes.
After a few hours of discussing princess Aurora and Prince Leo's wedding, they left the stage. The King and the queen were hesitant to go to Aurora while she was deep in her mind. But they gave her a personal space and left the dining room, leaving Aurora alone.
Aurora took a sharp breath and walked to the window. She looked up and was confused about why Philips kept showing inside her mind. She couldn't get Philips off her mind while eating earlier. She sighed before singing—you, Dear by Eloise.
"I've spent a lot of time
Looking out of hotel windows
I've seen the trees concave
When that Colorado wind blows
I know the metro system inside out
Paris never changes, I know my way about."
Aurora puts her hand on the window and puts her chin as support.
"If only I said "No"
When you asked me to dance
As I pulled away, you whispered "Stay"
I was in a trance
I happen to know that what I felt you felt, too
But that makes no difference to me
I know this love is doomed."
Then she puts both of her hands on the window as support.
"But you, dear, mm
I, I didn't think I'd find you here
Oh oh roaming in the corners of my mind
Well, in there you'll find
A note that I wrote the other day
Don't read it, just leave it
It might give me away
I never liked you much
You're always so complacent
And though I laugh along
I find you test my patience
Sure, I have less fun when you are not around
And when I come to think of it
My feet don't touch the ground
But you, dear, mm
I, I didn't think I'd find you here (hmm)
Roaming in the corners of my mind
Well, in there you'll find
A note I wrote the other day
Don't read it, just leave it
It might give me away"
Then the stage lights went dim.
* scene 4: In Aurora's bedroom
On the same day. Aurora might have sneaked Philips to her bedroom. Philips observed around the room, "So how important is what you're going to tell me?"
"I need you to sit next to me," Aurora said as she patted the bed next to her. Philips went around the bed and sat next to Aurora. Aurora looked hesitant to tell Philips the news, and Philipa looked impatient to hear the news even know he knew what was coming, "I- I'm going to marry Prince Leo soon."
"You agreed?" Philips hand tightened into fists. He can feel the jealousy poured all over his body.
"I had to," Aurora shoved her hair back away from her face in frustration.
There was silence between them until Philips voiced, "what kind of response do you want from me?"
Aurora looked at Philips in the eyes, "do you want me to be honest?"
"yes," Philips said.
Aurora took a deep breath and took Philips's hand, and caressed it, "I want you to be angry and willing to take me out of this hell."
Philips was stunned and looked at Aurora with wide eyes. His fantasy became real; the princess wanted her. But, she wants him to take her from the country, which is a risky move, "are you for real?" Philips asked, and Aurora nodded. Excited, Philips stood up and took Aurora in the air and swirled around, "finally, you've asked me! I've been waiting for this."
"Really?" Aurora asked in disbelief.
"Of course!" Philips took Aurora down, and his breathing became faster, "but are you sure, princess? It's a risky move. They'd search for you around the world, and they'd kill me for sure."
"No, Philips. They won't. I will promise you," Aurora said as she took Philips's face, "and if they searched for us, we'd just have to avoid them."
Philips sighed and chuckled, "oh, princes. I hope it's easy like how you describe it."
"Yeah..." Aurora took a sharp breath and let her head on Philips's chest. Then Aurora starts to sing. Lover, please stay by Nothing But Thieves.
"Lover, I know you're weary
Theres a time from the night
Lover, come to the kitchen floor
Towels are cold, so am I."
Aurora moves her hand around Philips's neck, and Philips puts his hand around Aurora's waist. He was grasping it with care.
"So take from me
What you want, what you need
Take from me
Whatever you want, whatever you need
But lover, please stay with me"
Philips grasped Aurora's cheeks and she continued the song.
"Lover, I feel your sorrow
Pourin' out of your skin
I don't wanna be alone
If I end tonight, I'll always be."
Philips took Aurora's hand and tangled it between his fingers.
"So take from me
What you want, what you need
Take from me
Whatever you want, whatever you need
But lover, please stay with me, oh."
Philips rotates Aurora around the stage. Both of them continued the song.
"I can see you, I can feel you
Slipping through my hands
Oh, I can taste you, oh I can taste you
Slipping through my hands
Take from me
What you want, what you need
Take from me, whatever you want
Whatever you need"
The two of them stopped moving and were intensely staring at each other until Aurora decided to make a move. Aurora leans closer to Philips's lips until there are no gaps between them. Their kiss is the promise of years and the sweetness of waiting for real love.
"My lover, please stay with me.
Oh, my lover, please stay with me."
***