I'm making up for being dodgy with my uploading by doing two in a row.
ENJOY!
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Theo's P.O.V
It was Friday afternoon and we were at rehearsals. Odd, because it was Friday and not Thursday, but our director had double booked herself yesterday with a doctor's appointment and moved rehearsals to today. So after rehearsals us three were going back to Matty's; Sebastian was going to pick us up and take us there.
"What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?" I asked Wayne the servant, as our group for the scene stood on stage.
"I know not, sir," he replied. He was one of the only ones without a script like myself, but that was because he had only one line.
"Oh, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear. Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady over her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I never saw true beauty till this night," I said to the audience, then turned to Hazel. "If I profane with my un-worthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this; my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." I grabbed Hazel's hand and kissed it. I felt sick just looking at her, but it's called acting.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss," Hazel said bashfully. I had to hand it to her, the girl could act.
"Have not saints' lips, and holy palmer's too?" I asked, leaning in to kiss her. She pulled away.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." I doubted Hazel's lips were as clean as sweet Juliet's.
"Oh, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; they pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." We lent in towards each other.
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take," I said. That was where we were supposed to kiss, but we did not. The director had advised no real kissing until at maximum two weeks before opening. I was so thankful for that. "Thus, from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Sin from thy lips? Oh trespass sweetly urge! Give me my sin again." We lent in once more, but did not kiss.
"You kiss by the book," Hazel sighed.
"Madam, your mother craves a word with you," the nurse interrupted us. I turned to the nurse as Juliet was whisked away from me.
"What is her mother?" I asked the nurse.
"Marry, bachelor, her mother is the lady of the house, and a good lady, and a wise and virtuous. I nursed her daughter, that you talked withal; I tell you, he that can lay hold of her shall have the chinks," the nurse told me.
"Is she a Capulet?" I anguished. "Oh dear account! My life is my foe's debt." Ronan stepped forward.
"Away, begone; the sport is at the best," he told me, beckoning me away from Juliet's sight.
"Ay, so I fear," I sighed, letting him pull me. "The more is my unrest."
"Scene!" Our director called, and we all relaxed out of character. Ronan and I moved to the side, laughing as we stepped down the stairs into the audience. Matilda was coming over to greet us.
"Theo, a word," the director added to me, beckoning me over to her. I went, while Ronan and Matilda waited to the side for me. Dread filled me as I walked towards our director.
"You need to work on your emotions. I don't yet believe your love. I know you and Hazel don't get along, but when you're up on that stage you're not Theo and Hazel, you are Romeo and Juliet, and right now I don't believe their love," she advised me. I pouted.
Fine, fair enough, but why was she only telling me this and not Hazel? Miss Director, your favouritism is showing again.
"Okay," was all I said, and then we were all dismissed.
Ronan, Matilda and I went out to the front of the theatre to wait by the road for Sebastian, and I was fuming.
"Me? She doesn't believe me?" I growled. Matilda hugged my arm soothingly. Other theatre folk were filing away in their own little worlds, heading home for the day. The night air was crisp and fresh, and it made me feel slightly better being out here. I loved the outdoors.
"We all know she's in love with Hazel. Don't let it get to you," Matty comforted, rubbing her cheek into my shoulder while her fingers traced over my wrist.
"Yeah. Everyone will see when we perform live who's the better actor," Ronan encouraged. I grinned to him. That was very true. I put my arms around the both of them.
"I love you guys," I told them. Matilda hugged me back while Ronan slipped out of my reach.
Sebastian pulled up then and we all piled in. Matilda called shot-gun and clambered into the front, while Ronan and I shimmied across the back-seat.
"Sebastian, tell Theo he's a good actor and his love is believable," Matilda ordered Sebastian from her seat in the front.
"Why? What happened?" Sebastian asked as he drove away from the theatre.
"Joan thinks my Romeo isn't in love with Hazel's Juliet. Yeah, I wonder why, when I have to stare into her pig face all day. Imagine having to pretend to be in love with that!" I snapped. Ronan hi-fived me.
"And Theo's acting is better than Hazel's, anyway. But Joan didn't critique her, only Theo," Matilda added in my defence.
"It's favouritism, that's what it is!" Ronan shouted.
"Right!" Matilda and I agreed together.
"We'll go over a scene tonight, Theo, and I'll give you tips on how to appear more expressive," Sebastian said from the front.
"Yeah, thanks," I smiled. And the rest of the ride home was void of that subject. Music was blasted throughout the vehicle, and we all sung along to the songs we knew, or just shouted in general to the ones we didn't.
We got to the Edgerton home and rolled inside, tearing through the house like a hurricane. We dumped our stuff in the back room, wrestled in the hallway, raided the pantry and fridge, and saw who could shout penis the loudest in the back yard. Sebastian took refuge in his bedroom, and Matilda's dad stayed in the quiet of his office.
After dusk Mrs Edgerton got home and started getting everything out for dinner. It was do-it-yourself mini pizzas. Do-it-yourself pizza was always the best.
After eating, Ronan and I handed over our monthly donations. We each gave the Edgerton's something once a month in thanks for letting us stay over every weekend and eat all of their food. This month I brought over 2 bags of oranges from our tree at home, and Ronan had two dozen fresh eggs from the chickens his aunt raised.
Matilda went off to have a quick shower and Ronan began setting up some sort of software program on Mr Edgerton's computer – because Ronan was a wizz with computers and despite being a writer, Mr Edgerton wasn't – when Sebastian came to get me. He tapped me on the shoulder, standing behind me from where I sat on the couch.
"Ready?" he grinned. I nodded and got up, following him to his room.
This time I entered first and sat down on the floor, leaning against Sebastian's bed. He closed his door and sat down beside me, one arm resting on top of his bed as he turned to face me.
The room was dim again, with only the desk lamp to light the room. Sebastian grabbed a drink bottle from behind him and tossed it to me with a grin. I glared a little and placed it on the floor by my knee. He had Matilda's script and began flicking through the pages, looking for a specific scene.
"Which part are we doing?" I asked when Sebastian settled on a spot. He hid the script from me so I couldn't see the words with a playful smirk on his lips. His white hair glowed like a halo above his head, but his smile was all but innocent.
"Act 2, scene 2," he informed me. My eyes went a little wide.
The balcony scene! There was just no way we were doing that. I couldn't! I wouldn't!
Sebastian laughed at my expression.
"Oh, relax. Don't you want to prove to Joan you know how to act out true love?" he asked me. I gritted my teeth. It was true, I did. I sighed, defeated, and began.
"He jests at scars that never felt a wound. But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief, that thou her maid art far more fair than she. Be not her maid, since she is envious; her vestal livery is but sick and green and none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, Oh, it is my love!
"Oh, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks. Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
"The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" I versed. Sebastian adjusted his position so that he faced me squarely and was a little closer than before, leaning his ribs against the side of his bed and propping his elbow up on the bed. His left knee was almost touching mine.
"Don't say it to me, or Juliet," he advised me. "Think about the person you love. Imagine saying it to Gale, or whoever, and picture them in your mind when you speak. Do what feels natural, a stroke of the hand, a caress of the cheek. Say it to the person you love." I nodded. I had to prove to myself that I could, and would, do this.
"Ay me," Sebastian sighed. It was breathy but husky. I almost laughed thinking about him as Juliet, then remembered I was supposed to be serious. Though Sebastian had to glance back and forth at the script, I kept my eyes to his and imagined all that pent up love for the unknown inside of me rushing out.
"She speaks," I breathed lovingly. "Oh, speak again, bright angel, for thou art as glorious to this night, being over my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of mortals that fall back to gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds, and sails upon the bosom of the air." Sebastian paused, looking into my eyes as I spoke to him. Then quickly checked his lines.
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wil't not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet," he said in anguish. I turned my head to the side.
"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" I questioned myself out loud, raising a knee to rest my elbow on and touching a finger to my lips.
"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy. Thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. Oh, be some other name!" Sebastian spoke to me, looking me directly in the eyes. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee, take all myself."
"I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptised; henceforth I never will be Romeo," I told him.
"What man art thou that thus be-screened in night, so stumblest on my counsel?"
"By a name, I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to thee; had I it written, I would tear the word." My brow furrowed.
"My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound: art thou not Romeo and a Montague?" Sebastian frowned back.
"Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike," I breathed softly – forgetting how to breathe properly.
"How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death, considering who thou art, if any of my kinsmen find thee here."
"With love's light wings did I over-perch these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do that dares love attempt; therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me."
"If they do see thee, they will murder thee," he warned me desperately. I was lost in his eyes, and the sound of his voice.
"I don't care," I gushed. Then laughed and shook my head. "Ah, sorry. Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their enmity." I hadn't realised it until now, but I'd been creeping slowly closer to Sebastian on the floor. We were barely a ruler length apart. It seemed he hadn't noticed either. Sebastian just smiled at my slip up and continued.
"This scene's long, can we skip forward?" I inquired, scratching the side of my nose. Sebastian nodded and flicked over a page.
"Where from?" he asked me. I knew the part I wanted already. I slipped back into character.
"Oh, will thou leave me so unsatisfied?" I groaned. Sebastian smirked and found the spot. He looked up into my eyes. I hadn't noticed before tonight, but his eyes had speckles of silver in them. I always just assumed they were a very pale grey-blue.
"What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?" he asked me innocently. I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again and took a moment of thought.
"The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine," I seemed to decide upon.
"I gave thee mine before thou didst request it. And yet I would it were to give again," he told me. I couldn't help but watch his lips as he spoke to me.
He played Juliet well. My heart began to flutter as he looked at me with such love in his eyes. My mouth had become a little thick, but I refused to give in and take a sip of water.
"Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?" Sebastian's eyes flickered for a moment when I called him love, and then it was gone as he checked the script once more.
"But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite. I hear some noise within. Dear love, adieu! - Anon, good nurse! - Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again."
My whole body felt tense, and I tried to hide it. We had grown so close now that our legs were touching. His body felt so warm. My right hand was out in front of me between his knees to hold me up, and Sebastian's left hand was in his lap, his fingers just a feather's touch from mine.
"Oh blessed, blessed night! I am afraid. Being in night, all this is but a dream, too flattering—sweet to be substantial." There was a pang in my voice as I channelled Romeo not wishing this encounter to end and say goodbye to his love.
"Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy propose marriage. Send me word tomorrow, by one that I'll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite. And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world. - I come, anon. - But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee. By and by, I come; to cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief. Tomorrow will I send." Sebastian spoke to me in a soft but husky voice. My eyes were on his lips as he spoke. I could feel the heat from his body.
"So thrive my soul!" I begged him in a gush. I felt completely breathless and desperate. I didn't want this to end.
"A thousand times goodnight," Sebastian said to me, no longer looking at the script in his hands. Only at me.
"A thousand times the worse, to want thy light. Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from
their books, but love from love, toward school with heavy looks." I waited, staring at Sebastian as he stared at me, but he didn't read his next part, so I continued. He was looking at me so intently.
"It is my soul that calls upon my name. How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, like softest music to attending ears!" I said.
"Theo..." Sebastian began, but trailed away. He was frowning slightly, but his eyes were on my lips, and I couldn't stop leaning in. I was shaking, but I couldn't stop from spewing out the verses. It was the only thing I could do to stop myself from screaming.
"My dear? At the hour of nine. Let me stand here until thou remember it. And I'll still stay, to have thee still forget; forgetting any other home but this. Sleep, dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest! Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell,
his help to crave, and my dear hap to tell." I thought for a moment we were going to bang heads, we were so close, but it was our lips that collided.
I lifted my hand to Sebastian's cheek and tilted my head, parting my lips. Sebastian kissed me back, grabbing at my shirt by my hip and desperately pulling me closer to him.
I felt so dizzy and light-headed, I was drowning in his lips. His lip piercings brushed against my lip, and it felt so good, I couldn't help but play with them. I saw now why he did so himself all the time.
Then reality smashed back into me like a tonne of bricks and I pulled apart, frantic for oxygen. My hand dropped from his cheek and Sebastian moved his from my waist.
I have a boyfriend! This isn't okay! So many emotions stabbed me in the chest over and over. Guilt. Betrayal. Joy. Lust. Greed. Hunger. It all made me feel sick.
"I have to go," I gushed and then clambered to my feet and ran from the room, slamming the door behind me and leaving Sebastian behind.
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Mouki out~