Hi. This is my first fanfic story and i have to say that it is very loosely based on the film Alexander. I'm just going to do this for the moment and then see how you like it. Please read and review and then I'll write more if youlike it.

Guys and Girls

Sunday

It was classic! One of those moments where you either wish the floor could swallow you up, or you collapse laughing.

The whole scenario was hilarious. We were rehearsing Alexander, written by Steve and Sal and loosely based on the film. I was playing Alexander, which was unusual casting because I'm a girl. Sal had done as much research as possible to be as accurate as possible and then Ricky had held auditions. I didn't even audition. I just got asked to come along by Matt, a guy in my English lit class who belonged to the acting society. Once there, Ricky, the director, bullied me into getting up and improvising for Matt's audition for Hephaistion. Then he surprised everyone when he announced the parts by deciding that I should play Alexander. So there we were: I, Katie Ryan, was acting a gay guy from around 356 BC. Not really going to work, is it? Only it was. I was, if I say so myself, perfect for the part, if we could all just get into the right mindset.

But it was hilarious. We spent the whole rehearsal giggling. But then, that's how we spent every rehearsal, for this play and the next; collapsed in corners, shaking so hard we could not stand. And we were still alright on the night. Quite unbelievable really.

"You once told me, that I could search for eternity and still not find what it was that I was looking for, searching for with all my being. Well, I shall prove you wrong. I know what it is I search for and all my life I get a little closer to it. I have always known and when I have found it I shall always be remembered. Always be remembered. I knew that day-"

The door opening and closing in the kitchen interrupted my speech. We got it going again pretty well, we were getting used to people coming and going, what with rehearsing in the church hall. That was the one condition, we could make as much noise as we liked, but we shared the hall with others so we would be interrupted, and they may be listening.

Ricky continued directing us, unperturbed by the noise of the kettle and the coffee machine, men and women's voices.

"…and Philip comes on…" Silence. "…and Philip comes on…we're hoping…and yes, Philip is here, aren't you Will?"

Will raced on, blushing.

"Start again."

I groaned, this scene was horrific.

"Okay, Katie…"

I repeated my speech; …"I knew that day, the day it began…"

"And Will…" Ricky murmured.

Will joined me and we walked on to the area we called stage (the centre of the room!) and said:

"What are you doing? I go alone."

"A little expression please, Katie."

I attempted to twist my face into an expression that said I cared.

"Very nice Katie." I could hear the laughter behind his words.

Will, as Philip, continued; "You want to come so that people will see you as my son and heir. You are not. Have I not done enough for you? Promised you enough? Today I go alone."

I watched him for a moment and he makes an impatient gesture. I turned slowly and walked, without looking back, to the back of the stage, then the length of the room. I could feel him watching me. Then Will turned away himself and walked forwards until "the crowd" could "see" him. They applaud and shout. Mark approaches him…and…stabs him. I waited for the groans of "the crowd" as a cue, before running back in panic. "Remember there will be walls Katie!"

I wasn't really listening, but doubled back and fell to my knees next to Philip/ Will. "Father!" I gasped, glancing furtively at the crown that had rolled just a little too far away. Others began to join me and there were a few screams. I looked up and made eye contact with my "mother". Thank goodness Clare had a straight face.

And now- Matt, as Hephaistion came running up and grabbed my arm without stopping, almost wrenching it out of its socket. "Argh!" I tried to get to my feet, stumbling forwards as he tried to raise my arm and shouted; "the King lives!" I raised my other arm and then we both pitched forwards, laughing.

"Oh God!"-Ricky.

"What's going on back there?"-Kitchen.

"Aww sugar!"-Me.

"S-sorry!"-Matt

The screen went up between the hall and the kitchen and concerned yet curious faces peered out.

"Can we help you?" Ricky was all calm politeness now. With the three of us on the floor, he appeared to be the one most in control. Having satisfied them that everything really was all right, the screen went back down again, and we assessed the scene.

"That was sooo bad!"

"It would have helped if you paused before grabbed me."

"I can't. It's supposed to be simultaneous: I run up, I grab your hand."

"Well if I'm not looking at you, I'm not ready for it."

"Okay, okay." Ricky lifted his arms for attention. "Pause very slightly. And when you grab her, go up, not forwards. Lets try again."

So we did. And this time it worked. When Matt cried out: "The King lives!", something shattered in the kitchen; it was that good! So then we moved on after Ricky had yet another cup of coffee ("How many's that now? Seven?"), to the next scene.

"Okay, I'm not sure what I'm doing with this because I haven't talked to Jackie yet, but I don't think you can kiss because you are both playing men."

Andy looked up from his conversation with Clare. "Oh I meant to say-I talked to Jackie and she said it was okay because she is actually a girl. But you can't have the bit where Alexander kisses Roxanne because that would be a girl kissing a girl."

"Great. I was thinking of getting rid of that scene anyway: it just didn't fit. Okay so…" Ricky considered for a moment. "Do you know the lines?"

Matt and I nodded. "Okay the rest of you can split now if you want." No one moved. On Sunday afternoons there wasn't much else to do. They settled down to watch.

And so we began:

Alexander: It is you I love, Hephaistion. No other.

Hephaistion: You're everything I care for and by the sweet breath of Aphrodite I'm so jealous of losing you to this world you want so badly.

Alexander: You'll never lose me Hephaistion. I'll be with you always till the end.

He looked at me with sorrow at the lie and I truly felt guilty, but I leant forward and embraced him hard. "Never." Our eyes met as I took his face in my hands, and then I kissed him. He kissed me back. And…

"Stop! That was way too romantic!"

I opened my eyes, only just aware that I had closed them. I met his again and they were way more serious than usual and we pulled apart.

Ricky continued as though nothing had happened which I guess was true: nothing had happened for him. "You look like a girl Katie. It was too feminine. You are king, act like it."

"Well I thought it was really sweet, really said with feeling. Anyone want a drink?" Clare was on her way to the kitchen.

"Please. But that's the thing. It just isn't supposed to be sweet. Can we try again or do either of you have to go?"

We both shook our heads: we both had all day.

We tried again. We had a break. And tried again. And again. And had another break. As we sat there, tired and unusually serious, Ricky paced. We registered vaguely that the kitchen was silent and the people must have gone over to the church.

"Ricky." He paused as I said quietly, "Why didn't you just get a guy to play Alexander? It would be right now if you had."

Ricky laughed, "You are the only member with blonde hair. Well, short blonde hair." He looked pointedly at Steve, whose blond hair went to his shoulders. We all laughed, and then Matt said; "But really it's because you are the best actor out of all of us. Ricky doesn't say because he thinks it'll hurt our feelings-but we all know it."

I blushed and tried to protest, but Clare, Andy and Will were nodding, along with the rest of the cast. Ricky smiled, "Oh, don't be so modest Katie. Everyone's great, but you might go somewhere and for some reason you were particularly suited to this part. Perhaps you should be worried! Besides, we couldn't do this whole scene if you were a guy. Even if we were allowed to, it would just be too weird!"

"Thanks!" I laughed with them and swept a bow to somehow diffuse the situation, but inside I was really surprised and genuinely touched.

I was glad to start again really and was desperate to get it right.

I didn't.

"It's just you look like a girl", mused Ricky. "Here, I've got an idea." He pulled off his jumper. "Put this on and it might help."

I laughed, "Anything's worth a try!" I pulled it on over my blouse. It practically drowned me: it had been big on him and I was smaller. But it did the trick, it covered up any curves and I guess with my jeans and short hair I looked like a guy, at least from the back.

This time I knew it was going to work. We drifted through our lines word perfect. I was king this time and when we hugged it was a hug between men.

"Never," I said, meaning it. "Never!" We kissed. I was assertive and he followed. I knew it looked good, even before Ricky lost his cool.

"Wonderful! That was wonderful. Katie, Matt, awesome. I-I can't say enough. It was real, it looked good. It was-it was-believable!"

Matt and I broke apart and stood foolishly silent. Then laughing. I realised that he hadn't let go of my hand and felt myself going red.

Everyone was laughing and enthusing over the scene, but somewhere I heard a door bang and assumed it was Andy who didn't appear to be in the room.

Matt dropped my hand and raised his to me, saying in an obviously over the top way: "Yo Katie! That was awesome dude!"

I slapped his hand: "Totally awesome!" We laughed and then he did something completely unexpected, he kissed me. This time for real, I could feel the difference, a guy kissing a girl. Because he wanted to and not because it was in a script.

All other sounds faded out and it was just us for a few amazing moments.