It's one of the first lessons you learn. There's a difference between performing and acting. Actors are intellectuals; they're poets with their expression and the way their voices hit the air. Performers, by comparison, are children, ignorant and too bright for their own good. No one wants to admit to being only a performer. If you're anyone worth anything, you want to be an actor. And Joel is not an actor, but Christopher is. Or, the one where Joel hates Chris but has to pretend to be in love with him for five months for his acting final except for the fact that maybe he isn't pretending anymore. *ADAPTATION* The original story is called "Scene 14" by cornflowerblue (daydadahlias) on ao3. All credit goes to said author.