Banshee: Hello everyone! I know it's been a LONG time since I updated, but there's been a lot going on right now. But here is Chapter 14~! I hope you enjoy it. Also, a little side note: The characters in the play will be referred by their regular names in the narration, but will be addressed by their character names in the play (or the text in italics). Any behavior they exhibit, and the descriptions of their emotions and actions, is purely part of their act. Just to clarify.
Disclaimer: I only own my OCs and the plot.
Chapter Fourteen: Romeo & Juliet
Part 2
Act I
Recap:
"Listen to this. 'Auditions for the annual winter play are being held after school, in the auditorium at 3pm.' Ooh~! Maybe we should audition for the play."
Nikki scoffed. "Pfft. Yeah right. You can audition by yourself."
Nikki turned to walk away, but Maggie grabbed her by her shoulder.
"Hey." She growled. "Either you come down to the auditorium willingly, or I'll drag you down there by your hair; either way, you're going."
The brunette sighed. "All right, fine." She - reluctantly - agreed. "If it means that much to you, I guess it wouldn't hurt to audition for the play."
"Eeeee~!" Maggie squealed excitedly. "This is going to be so much fun~! I have a feeling that this is going to be life changing!"
Nikki rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh.."
…
"Excellent." Axel smirked triumphantly when he saw his name, along with Nikki's, on the play list. "Everything is going according to plan."
"You have a plan?"
"I always have a plan, Roxas. Whenever I get a stubborn girl like Nikki, I always find a way to manipulate them so they'll do what I want. When all else fails, my famous kisses always win them over. I knew Nikki would never kiss me voluntarily, so I devised a plan that would make it so she doesn't have a choice. I call it… Operation: 'Kiss the Girl.'"
Zexion face palmed. "Oh Lord…"
"This play was the perfect opportunity. Romeo and Juliet share their first kiss in Act I. Just one kiss from these lips, and she'll be addicted to me like ants to sugar. By the end of the play, she'll be begging for a spot in my bed."
"Whatever you say, Axel…" Roxas sighed exasperatedly, shaking his head.
…
"Hey, how's everything going with that girl you told me about? You know, the cute brunette; with the baby blue eyes, nice ass, and beats you up all the time? Are you going out yet?"
"She's a tough nut to crack, bro." Axel said. "I haven't even gotten my foot in the door yet."
"All this work for one girl?" Reno asked with disbelief. "You never had to work that hard, especially not for that blonde that you dumped a few months ago. And how long have you been at this? Since September? And it's what, December now? Seems like a long time to be chasing a girl around just so you can date her and have sex with her for three weeks."
"You do the same thing with that Tifa chick you're always chasing around. How many times has she rejected you?"
"I lost count. But I'll get her eventually~." Reno declared cockily. "Besides, it's different with Tifa. And I'm sure it's different with that Nikki girl, right?"
"Well, it's 'different' in the sense that she's more of a challenge than all of my exes put together." Axel said. "Does that count?"
"Look bro, if you have to try for months to get a girl, you'd better hang on to her once you get her. A girl like that is definitely a keeper, yo. And I definitely plan on keeping Tifa." He said with no ounce of doubt in his voice whatsoever.
"You're really hung up on Tifa, aren't you?" Axel asked with a raised eyebrow.
He could picture the goofy grin on Reno's face. "Yup. Just like you're really hung up on Nikki."
"It doesn't mean anything." Axel said confidently. "Aside from being a challenge, Nikki's no different from any of the other girls I've dated. I'll break that defiant, stubborn spirit of hers, then I'll take everything I can from her, then I'll dump her in the gutter just like I did with all the others. I'm not a sentimental love-sick idiot like you. I'm out for me, and nobody else! Just me! And I'll step on whoever I need to to get what I want!"
"Oh, bro.." Reno sighed. "I went down your road once. It did nothing for me. It just made me a lot of enemies. That's why I'm not fooling around anymore. I got a job, only drink once a week, and I got my sights set on one girl, and one girl alone. Girls like Nikki and Tifa only come around once in a lifetime. Don't blow it, dude."
…
"So much for your plan, Monique." One of the cheerleaders remarked.
"This isn't working." Said the other cheerleader. "Everything we've tried so far has only made him more interested in her. Maybe we should stop before things get out of hand.."
Monique growled. "I'm not going to give up because my plan to exploit her fears has failed. We'll just have to try harder…"
…
…
You've stirred emotions I've never experienced before, never. Not until you.
- Unknown
…
…
Tuesday.
Damn it…
Damn it all…
Damn it all to Hell…
The first rehearsal started after school, and Nikki had no choice but to attend; lest she forfeit the role of Juliet to Monique and have the blonde rub it in her face every chance she got from that day forward. She may have been roped into this by her friends, but she'd be damned if she wasn't going to fight this every step of the way, especially since her male counterpart in the play was the man she hated with a passion. There was no way in hell that she was going to kiss him, play or no play. But if she refused to play the part, then the whole production would be ruined and Mr. Fisher would have an emotional breakdown.
Nikki felt like she was trapped between a rock and a hard place.
Perhaps she could pull the tape trick like Akane did to Ranma in Ranma ½…
…
…
No.. That would be too obvious.. And the thought of his dirty mouth being that close to her own, even with the tape acting as a barrier, made her sick to her stomach.
"Why did Maggie have to drag me into this…?"
Once the final bell rang, she grudgingly made her way to the auditorium, slowing down her strides as much as possible; which was only delaying the inevitable. When she reached said auditorium, she took a deep, shaky breath before walking in. She entered just in time to hear a loud shriek:
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!"
"Uh-oh…" Nikki said to herself, recognizing the voice immediately.
There was her nemesis, Monique, in the auditorium, screaming so loud that she feared that poor Mr. Fisher's eardrums would be blown out. Obviously, the blonde had seen the play list and was more than dissatisfied with the fact that she wasn't Juliet; and she was even more infuriated that someone she believed was a worthless nobody beat her for the part. Nikki kept her distance and made sure she didn't make her presence known, for if Monique saw her she'd direct her rage at the brunette - which was something she was not in the mood for. She listened to the conversation - it was hard not to - as she maneuvered her way around them, making sure she was out of the blonde's line of vision.
"Monique, we've been over this," Mr. Fisher sighed exasperatedly. "You and Nicole were the only girls that tried out for the part, and I had to go with the best choice, and unfortunately you didn't make the cut."
"I 'didn't make the cut?!' Are you serious?!" Monique exclaimed in a heated, shrill voice. She held up her pinkie. "I have more acting ability in my little finger!"
"My evaluations say otherwise. I'm sorry Monique, but I've made up my mind."
The blonde let out a loud, angry shriek before turning away from the teacher and kicking the closest chair as she stormed away.
"This is BULLSHIT!" She yelled. "Why does she get to be Juliet?"
"Because her acting is better than yours!" Sandy, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand the nonsense anymore and interjected. "She got the part and you didn't; plain and simple. Now stop throwing a temper tantrum like some spoiled little brat and just get over it!"
"What did you say, you loudmouthed little-"
Monique was about to charge the redhead when Nikki grabbed the enraged blonde by the arm, stopping her.
"Leave her alone, Monique!" Nikki ordered.
"Let go of me, you stupid bitch!" Monique snarled, yanking her arm out of the brunette's grip. "Great! Now I have to go home and wash your filth off me!"
"Yeah…" Nikki muttered dryly as her nemesis brushed past her with a 'humph!' and walked out the door. "You do that…"
"Thanks for that." Sandy said once she was gone. "But, for the record, I could handle that bitch myself."
"I know." Said Nikki. "I just didn't want you guys getting into a fight in front of Mr. Fisher. It probably would have cost you your job as the stage manager."
"You have a point there." The redhead changed the subject. "So, are you ready for your first rehearsal?"
"As I'll ever be…" The blue-eyed girl drawled.
"Terrific~!" Sandy chirped. "I'll go get you your script."
…
He held her close as he clasped her hands tightly in his own, one hand against the other like two hands folded in prayer. Green eyes stared intently into blue, the fire within both their eyes burning with intensity; though for different reasons.
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do," He whispered sweetly, lacing their fingers together."They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." She said.
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take."
His face drew closer to hers, and just as their lips were about to connect, she put her hand up and pushed his face back forcefully.
"Oh, for Pete's sake… Come on Nikki, this is the third time we've done this scene!" Sandy complained. "Just kiss him already so we can move on!"
"No way in hell." Nikki growled.
"You're going to have to kiss him eventually, Nikki." The stage manager said, reminding Nikki of the grim reality that she would be faced with on opening night.
"She's right, Nicole." Mr. Fisher agreed. "Romeo and Juliet are lovers. You must play the part, regardless of your personal feelings towards your costar."
"Then I'll save the 'love' for opening night. Until then, this is the best you're going to get out of me." The brunette declared stubbornly.
The theater teacher sighed. "All right, then. As long as you play your part to the fullest on opening night, I suppose I can allow it."
As everyone prepared to continue with the scene, Nikki turned to Axel, who was looking at her with that certain gleam in his eyes and that smirk on his face that he knew she hated.
"Your friend is right, you know." He said, his voice low so only she could hear him. "You'll have to kiss me eventually."
"Yeah, I know." Nikki snarled. "Don't remind me."
…
- One Week Later -
…
Tuesday.
Opening night.
Nikki peered out from behind the curtain and gulped nervously at the sight of the auditorium being filled. It was a full house, much to her displeasure. She spotted her family among the crowd, her father sitting calmly in his seat as her mother held the video camera with a bright smile on her face. Her sister Aubrey sat beside them, and Nana and Grampy were there too. Apparently, word spread out farther into the family, for her aunt Stacie and uncle Jacob were there as well. Also in the small cluster of family members was her cousin Jasper and his - secret - boyfriend Sean. She also spotted the rest of her friends in the audience.
"Are you nervous~…?"
The brunette nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard that familiar, cocky voice in her ear. She whirled around and glared at the redhead, and growled, "I really wish you'd stop doing that."
"Why?" Axel asked. "I love watching your body shiver~.."
Her face turned green. "Ugh.."
She noticed Axel wasn't looking her in the eye, his gaze downcast instead. The bastard was staring at her breasts. How could he not stare? She was wearing a dress with a very revealing neckline. They were nice, too.
"Hey." She snapped, snapping her fingers to get his attention. "Hey pervertido, my eyes are up here."
"Je vous prie de m'excuser, ma dame." Axel said cheekily, smirking as he looked her in the eye. "You have such lovely breasts, that I couldn't help but stare."
Nikki narrowed her eyes at him. "Burro."
"… Did you just call me a jackass?"
"Sí."
"That's mean." Axel pouted.
"You're right." Nikki said. She then said coldly, "Calling you a jackass would be an insult to donkeys everywhere."
The redhead winced. "Ouch."
"Curtain in five minutes." She heard Sandy call out.
As Nikki moved to walk away, she froze when she felt Axel smack her ass.
"Nice dress." He complimented, referring to her costume.
She was wearing a Shakespearean-era lace-up dress with the top being very form-fitting and flared out towards the bottom. It was embroidered with gold thread and lace, slashed bell sleeves, and the neckline was low cut… maybe a little too much. She wore heels, which she also hated. Nikki begged Maggie, the head of the wardrobe department, to revise it so it wasn't so revealing, but her friend declined because it was too short notice for her to fix; she wouldn't be able to get it done before she went on. So now she was stuck with a tight dress that made her feel like she couldn't breathe, and a neckline that showed off practically half of her breasts; her father wasn't going to be happy about that. Her long hair was pulled back and tied in an elegant braid, and she was also wearing a headpiece with a veil.
It wasn't like Axel was faring any better. He looked just as uncomfortable in his clothes as she was in hers. He wore a tunic with a ruffled collar over a white loose undershirt, a Renaissance muffin cap with a white plume, breeches, and the infamous hose; more commonly referred to as tights, with boots. His hair wasn't styled in its usual spikes, because that style didn't exist back in Shakespearean times, but instead it was left un-styled and messy and tied into a ponytail (which made him look almost exactly like his brother).
She glared at him for slapping her ass, but instead of threatening him with bodily harm she instead smirked at him and said "Nice tights."
He hated the tights. They made him look gay. He was so uncomfortable that he couldn't even come up with a retort when Nikki acknowledged them in that mocking tone.
All those times where she one-upped, rejected, and hit him wouldn't go unpunished.
"I'm going to break her…" He thought as he watched her retreating form. "Tonight."
…
The auditorium went silent as a student walked on stage. A spotlight centered on them, and they cleared their throat before they spoke.
"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."
There was applause when the student finished, and they retreated off stage as the curtain opened, revealing the set, which was a public place in Verona. As the students playing Sampson and Gregory made their way on stage, Nikki was doing some last minute cramming. She had already memorized her lines, but some last minute studying couldn't hurt. Besides, it would be a while before she made her first appearance.
"Are you all right?" Sandy asked. "You seem nervous."
"No, I'm not nervous." Nikki denied, ignoring the fact that the hands holding her script were shaking. "Just a little anxiety."
"Anxiety? About what?"
"What do you think?"
"You're still hung up on that?" Sandy said, knowing what Nikki was talking about. "Is kissing Axel really going to be that bad?"
"I feel like vomiting just thinking about it." Nikki grimaces.
"If you don't do it, then the play will be ruined. A lot of people put a lot of work into this thing, and there are a lot of people that are here to see the results of all that work. Your family is even here. They're really happy about you being part of the play. If anything, do it for them." The redhead encouraged.
Nikki thought about it for a minute. "Well…" She said. "If my family is here, then I guess I can do it. But you owe me a gallon of mouthwash, disinfectant, and a vaccination after this."
Sandy chuckled. "Deal."
Nikki looked over and saw Axel, who was talking to Roxas. The sounds going on backstage and the actual play going on drowned out their voices, which was perfectly fine because she didn't even want to know what they were talking about. So she just minded her own business and continued reading up on her lines.
"I'm really nervous, Axel." Roxas admitted to his redheaded friend. "This is the first time I've ever been in a play. What if I mess up?"
The redhead patted him on the back. "Don't worry, Rox. You'll do fine. You're just performing in front of a live audience watching your every move. It's a full house, too. I think there's about… maybe… three-hundred people out there?"
"Y-You're not helping!" Roxas exclaimed nervously.
Arguing could be heard on stage, followed by the clashing of swords.
Axel turned to Roxas and said, "Hey, they started fighting. That's your cue, 'Benvolio.'"
"Crap!" The younger boy exclaimed as he ran past his friend and rushed on stage.
"Go get 'em, Kiddo!" Axel called after him.
"Yell any louder and they'll be able to hear you in the cheap seats." Nikki, having heard him, chided.
"I could think of a thousand ways to make you yell, but I won't say anything about it because your redheaded friend over there is looking at me like she wants to murder me." He nodded towards Sandy, who was looking at him with daggers in her eyes. "I already pegged you as the ringleader of your little group, and I'm guessing she's the attack dog?"
"Go ahead." Nikki said. "Keep talking. I need an excuse to sick my 'attack dog' on you."
As if on cue, Sandy growled when the brunette said the words 'attack dog.'
"Two pretty girls want to attack me? Ooh~, I'm so scared~…"
…
"Monique, this is crazy." One of the cheerleaders said as she stood with Monique and two other cheerleaders outside the back entrance of the auditorium. "If we do this, we're going to be in big trouble."
"We might even get kicked off the squad!" Said another cheerleader.
"Let's just get out of here." A third cheerleader suggested. "It's not worth it."
"We're not going anywhere!" Monique hissed.
"But Monique-"
"Shut up! It will be worth it when Axel is mine and Nikki is in the gutter where she belongs. Now let's go. We have a play to ruin."
…
So far, the play went off without a hitch. Roxas, as Benvolio, had arrived in time to attempt to stop four men, each from one of the two houses, from fighting, but he had no such luck. It wasn't long before Riku, playing the part of Tybalt, came onto the scene, goading the younger boy into fighting him. Lord and Lady Capulet and Montague didn't do much to stop the fighting, and it took the Prince stepping in and threatening punishment for the group to disperse and go about their own business.
Lord and Lady Montague stayed a little while longer, while everyone else had left, to ask Roxas of the whereabouts of their son. When he said he didn't know, the two left.
"Axel," Sandy growled his name as Lord and Lady Montague walked off stage. "That's your cue."
"Looks like I'm up." He said as he walked past Nikki. "Wish me luck~."
"Break a leg." Nikki drawled, wishing his leg would snap in half like a twig right there.
"Thank you."
"No, really. Break a leg."
The redhead smirked at her and walked on stage, not long after Lord and Lady Montague exited the scene. Nikki watched him as he walked away, quietly chanting "Please God, break his leg.. Please, please, please, break his leg…"
"Careful, or that might turn around on you." Sandy warned, referring to the brunette's malicious prayer; that she couldn't help but overhear.
"It's worth a shot." Nikki retorted, resuming her chanting.
…
On stage, Roxas looked around for a little while, stopping when he noticed Axel walking over.
"Good-morrow, cousin." Roxas greeted, getting the redhead's attention.
"Is the day so young?" Axel asked.
"But new struck nine." Roxas said, pointing to the clock, which read nine in the morning.
"Ay me!" The redhead cursed. "Sad hours seem long. Was that my father that went hence so fast?"
The younger boy nodded. "It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?" He asked, with concern in his voice.
"Not having that, which, having, makes them short." Axel replied.
"In love?"
"Out-"
"Of love?"
"Out of her favour, where I am in love."
"Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!" Roxas sympathized.
"Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, should, without eyes, see pathways to his will!Where shall we dine?" Axel paused, and looked at the ground. "O me!" He exclaimed when he saw blood. "What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first create! O heavy lightness! serious vanity! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh?"
…
"Can you believe this guy?" Nikki remarked to Sandy as they watched the performance from backstage. "What a fucking ham."
"He's playing the part, Nikki." Sandy said. "Which, I hope, you're going to do during the ball scene."
The brunette gave her a look. "Yeah, yeah.."
"Yes."
"Whatever." Nikki growled.
…
"Tell me in sadness, who is that you love." Roxas said.
"What, shall I groan and tell thee?"
"Groan! Why, no. But sadly tell me who." The boy prodded.
"Bid a sick man in sadness make his will: Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill!" Axel sighed."In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman."
"I aim'd so near, when I supposed you loved."
"A right good mark-man!"The redhead agreed. "And she's fair I love."
"A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit." Roxas said.
"Well, in that hit you miss." Axel said, sighing as he leaned against the wall. "She'll not be hit with Cupid's arrow; she hath Dian's wit; and, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd, from love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd. She will not stay the siege of loving terms, nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold: O, she is rich in beauty, only poor, that when she dies with beauty dies her store."
…
"Oh brother." Nikki grumbled. "Gag me with a fucking spoon.."
"Shh!" Sandy shushed her.
…
"Be ruled by me, forget to think of her." Roxas advised.
"O, teach me how I should forget to think."
"By giving liberty unto thine eyes; Examine other beauties." The younger boy suggested.
"'Tis the way to call hers exquisite, in question more: These happy masks that kiss fair ladies' brows being black put us in mind they hide the fair; He that is strucken blind cannot forget the precious treasure of his eyesight lost: Show me a mistress that is passing fair, what doth her beauty serve, but as a note where I may read who pass'd that passing fair? Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget."
"I'll pay that doctrine," Roxas promised,"or else die in debt."
With that, the two exited the stage and the curtain closed as the audience applauded their performance, and the staff immediately started working to move the sets around for the next scene. After a few minutes of shuffling around, the stage for the next scene was set, and the curtains opened.
Roxas and Axel entered the stage alone, the redhead still putting on the façade of being love-struck and depressed. The younger boy tried in earnest to persuade his friend to forget about Rosaline and move on to someone else, that "one fire burns out another's burning," and "one pain is lessen'd by another's anguish." But the taller male would not listen, still depressed, claiming that the plantain leaf is excellent for cutting one's shin.
"Why, Romeo, at thou mad?" Roxas exclaimed, shocked by what he had said.
"Not mad," Was Axel's reply."but bound more than a mad-man is; shut up in prison, kept without my food, whipp'd and tormented and-"
He stopped when he saw a man, Peter, enter the stage, and greeted him, a greeting which the other returned. Peter was carrying papers with him, and, after telling him that he could read, Axel read the list of names on the paper - which turned out to be a letter.
"A fair assembly." Axel remarked when he was done reading off the names."Whither should they come?"
"Up." Said Peter.
"Whither? To supper?" Axel asked.
"To our house."
"Whose house?"
"My master's."
"Indeed, I should have ask'd you that before."
"Now I'll tell you without asking." Said Peter."My master is the great rich Capulet; and if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry!"
With that, Peter left, and Roxas took the letter from Axel, reading the names for himself.
"At this same ancient feast of Capulet's sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lovest, with all the admired beauties of Verona." He said."Go thither; and, with unattainted eye, compare her face with some that I shall show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow."
At the suggestion, Axel scoffed. "When the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood, then turn tears to fires; and these, who often drown'd could never die, transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!" He exclaimed dramatically."One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun ne'er saw her match since first the world begun."
Roxas rolled his eyes. "Tut, you saw her fair, none else being by, herself poised with herself in either eye: but in that crystal scales let there be weigh'd your lady's love against some other maid that I will show you shining at this feast, and she shall scant show well that now shows best."
"I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, but to rejoice in splendor of mine own."
The fifteen-year-old rolled his eyes again, and they exited the stage to get ready for the next scene.
"Be careful, or some people might think you're actually in love." Roxas remarked to the older boy as they walked off stage.
"When given a part, I must play it." Axel said. He added, "Even if the part I'm playing is of a lovesick idiot."
"I'd rather have him be a lovesick idiot than a womanizer who doesn't care how many hearts he breaks as long as he gets what he wants…" The younger boy thought somberly.
…
"Nikki, Kairi, you two are up next after the intermission." Sandy called out.
"Okay." Nikki called back. She turned around and looked at Kairi.
"How does my costume look?" Kairi asked, twirling around in her nurse's outfit, which was plain compared to Nikki's.
"Better than mine." Nikki said, chuckling a little. "The hem seems a little off, though. Let's go take it to Maggie so she can fix it real quick."
"Oh, is it?" The redhead asked, trying to find the fault in her dress. After going around in a circle trying to find it, she stopped and shrugged.
"Only a little. Maggie'll fix it in no time." Nikki said, and she and Kairi walked over to the dressing rooms to find the pink-loving fashionista.
Meanwhile, the extras were getting ready for the upcoming ball scene. Four of the girls had just arrived, having returned from a dance class, and were heading for the dressing room.
"You girls look thirsty," A female voice cooed as they approached the backstage door. "Would you like something to drink?"
The girls stopped in their tracks at the voice, and turned around to see a group of girls standing behind them with glasses of lemonade in their hands.
The strange girls were dressed in all black; black sweaters, black pants, gloves, and black boots with moderately-sized heels, along with sunglasses - which was odd since it was past sundown - and black scarves covering their hair. Despite the head covering, some strands of blonde hair were visible.
At first, the extras were skeptical…
"That lemonade isn't high in sugar, is it?" One of the girls asked.
… but not for the reason they should have been..
"Of course not." That mysterious female that spoke earlier assured, her voice sweet and tempting. "This lemonade is sugar-free."
"Sugar-free?" Another girl said. "In that case, I'll have some. I am so thirsty~!"
"I don't know…" A third girl said skeptically. " My dad told me never to take drinks from strangers…"
"I don't care. I'm thirsty." The girl who complained about being thirsty declared as she took a glass of lemonade from one of the black-clad girls. She took a sip of the drink and smacked her lips a couple times before letting out an 'mmm' sound.
"Is it okay?" The first girl asked.
"Yeah." Said the thirsty girl. "It's fine. And it's delicious!"
"Well… I am pretty thirsty…" The skeptic girl admitted, taking a glass.
The other two girls also took a glass of lemonade for themselves, and as they drank, the girl who offered them the liquid watched them as her lips curled into a devious smirk.
…
The next scene was Juliet's room in the Capulet house.
Lady Capulet storms in, asking the nurse, played by Kairi, where her daughter Juliet, played by Nikki, was. Nikki appeared after Kairi started calling her, and when she arrived, her mother started talking about her age. This led to talk of marriage.
"Tell me, daughter Juliet," Said Lady Capulet."how stands your disposition to be married?"
"Never in a million years." Nikki thought angrily. She would have said that out loud, but she had a part to play. Instead, she said, "It is an honour that I dream not of."
"An honour!" Kairi exclaimed."Were not I thine only nurse, I would say thou hadst suck'd wisdom from thy teat."
"Well, think of marriage now; younger than you, here in Verona, ladies of esteem, are made already mothers: by my count, I was your mother much upon these years that you are now a maid." Lady Capulet said."Thus then in brief: The valiant Paris seeks you for his love."
"A man, young lady! lady, such a man as all the world-why, he's a man of wax." Kairi mused, pretending to swoon.
"Verona's summer hath not such a flower." Lady Capulet mused as well.
"Nay, he's a flower; in faith, a very flower."
As Nikki listened to them, she fought the urge to roll her eyes, thinking, "A flower is an odd way to describe a man. Pfft. Like I'd marry a guy that women compare to a 'flower..'"
…
Four black-clad girls, after poisoning four of the female extras, made their way to the dressing rooms, where four dresses were waiting on a rack. One by one, they plucked the dresses off their hangers and retreated into open dressing rooms, which consisted of little rooms sealed off with curtains. The other extras were already dressed and were waiting backstage for their cues, leaving the dressing room empty.
"This plan is foolproof~!" Monique sang as she exited the dressing room in her new dress, the curtains flaring as she walked out. "The best way to sabotage a play is to do it from the inside."
"I don't know about this." Said one of the cheerleaders. "What if we get found out?"
"Yeah." Another cheerleader agreed. "What if those girls talk?"
"We don't have to worry about them." Monique assured. "The 'special ingredient' I put in their lemonade was very potent. They'll be too busy throwing up to tell anybody anything. They don't even know what we look like, anyway. We were wearing disguises, remember? Even if they did talk, no one will be able to figure out it was us. And if anybody does talk… well, you know what we do with snitches, right?"
The three other cheerleaders nodded as their leader cackled sadistically.
"Enough chit-chat." The blonde barked. "The ball scene is coming up, and we all know what will happen…"
"Romeo and Juliet kiss?"
"Exactly!" Monique said. "Axel is mine, and I'll be damned if he kisses anyone else but me! Even if we have to run the play into the ground, we have to stop that kiss at all costs! You got that? Axel and Nikki MUST NOT KISS!"
The other cheerleaders agreed with her again, frightened by the malicious gleam in her eyes.
But they weren't the only ones that were frightened.
Demyx had just gone to get something to drink, briefly leaving backstage to get some soda from a vending machine. When he returned, he walked past the dressing rooms and froze when he heard Axel's ex-girlfriend talking. He had caught them just in time for the girls to exit the dressing rooms, and stayed around the corner and out of sight as he listened in on their conversation. His eyes widened as he heard the words 'special ingredient' and 'sabotage.'
"Monique's gonna sabotage the play! I have to do something! I gotta tell somebody!" He moved to run away, but stopped when he heard her mention what happens to 'snitches' and started shivering, biting his nails. "Wait a minute… i-if the cheerleaders find out, they'll… they'll… I don't know what they'll do! But I can't let them get away with this! I can't let them sabotage the play just because Monique's obsessed with Axel! Still… Monique is scary…"
"Here's what we'll do. We'll attach these bars of wax to our shoes. These dresses are long enough to cover them up. We'll slide our feet along the floor, and cover as much of stage as possible. If we play our cards right, Nikki will fall and get a little 'injury,' and Mr. Fisher will have no choice but to make me Juliet! I am so brilliant~!"
Demyx took a peak around the corner to look at the cheerleaders, and then looked back towards the backstage door. He felt so conflicted. He was caught between doing the right thing and keeping his mouth shut out of fear of what the cheerleaders might do to him if he talked.
"Oh, man… What am I gonna do?"
…
"What say you?" Lady Capulet asked her daughter. "Can you love the gentleman? This night you shall behold him at our feast; Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face, and find delight writ there with beauty's pen; Examine every married lineament, and see how one another lends content and what obscured in this fair volume lies find written in the margent of his eyes. This precious book of love, this unbound lover, to beautify him, only lacks a cover: The fish lives in the sea, and 'tis much pride for fair without the fair within to hide: That book in many's eyes doth share the glory, that in gold clasps locks in the golden story; So shall you share all that he doth possess, by having him, making yourself no less."
" No less!" Kairi exclaimed. "nay, bigger; women grow by men."
"Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?" Asked her mother.
Nikki pretended to think about it, then sighed. "I'll look to like, if looking liking move: But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Lady Capulet seemed pleased with her response, for she did not press the subject further. It was then that a servant appeared, and said to the Lady, "Madam, the guests are come, supper served up, you called, my young lady asked for, the nurse cursed in the pantry, and every thing in extremity. I must hence to wait; I beseech you, follow straight."
Lady Capulet nodded. "We follow thee." She said, and the servant left. The Lady turned to Nikkki."Juliet, the county stays."
"Go, girl," Kairi urged her, pushing her out the door."seek happy nights to happy days."
"Ow! Easy, Kairi! You'll make me trip!" Nikki whispered harshly as she was being pushed off stage, covering her microphone with her hand so the audience wouldn't hear.
…
"Sandy, we have a problem." Ven said as he approached Sandy backstage.
"What's wrong, Ven?" She asked.
"Some of the girls got sick."
"What?" Sandy exclaimed. "What do you mean they got sick?"
Ven shrugged. "I don't know how it happened. They just… got sick."
"I would go see what's wrong, but I have to keep an eye on the play." She said, gesturing to the acting going on on the other side of the curtain. "Go talk to those girls and try and find out what happened."
"Right-o." Ven saluted her.
Following Sandy's order, Ven made his way out of the auditorium and to the bathroom. The door to the girl's bathroom was closed, and he could hear groaning and heaving sounds on the other side. Pushing the door aside, he entered the girl's bathroom. It was forbidden territory, since he was a boy, but the stage manager gave him a job to do.
Four girls were hunched on the bathroom floor, clutching their stomachs and groaning as if they were dying. There was one other girl in the bathroom with them, looking after the sick girls. As soon as she saw Ven, she yelled, "Hey! No boys in the girls' bathroom! Get out of here!"
"The stage manager sent me." Ven said.
"Couldn't she have sent somebody else?" The girl asked.
"Everyone else is busy." He said simply. He looked at the girls. "What's wrong with them?"
"I have no idea. They were perfectly fine a few minutes ago."
"Oooohh, my stomach…" One of the sick girls groaned, holding her stomach.
"I think I'm gonna…" The second girl began, but she was cut off as she made a wretching noise and she covered her mouth, getting up and running into a bathroom stall to vomit.
"I know you guys are feeling bad right now, but I need you to tell me what you remember doing before you got sick." Ven said.
"We didn't really do anything." Said the first girl. "We were just getting ready for the next scene."
"Yeah," Said a third girl. "and then these girls offered us some lemonade."
"Oh yeah. That too."
Ven raised an eyebrow. "Really?" He asked. "What did they look like?"
…
"How'd it go?" Sandy asked when Ven returned.
"They said that four girls dressed in black offered them lemonade while they were getting ready for the play. I think that's what made them sick." Ven said.
"They had no idea who those girls were, and yet they drank the lemonade." The redheaded female face-palmed. "God, doesn't anybody have common sense anymore? Whatever happened to 'don't take anything from strangers?'"
"Apparently they were too thirsty to care."
"Figures." Sandy grumbled. "Did they say what the girls looked like?"
Ven shook his head. "No. They couldn't see what they looked like because they were wearing all black."
"That helps a lot…" Sandy muttered sarcastically. Then she put a hand to her chin. "There's definitely something fishy going on…"
…
The stage was set up for an elaborate ball, with fancy decorations, lights, music, and the guests wearing their best clothes and masks on their faces. Axel, Roxas, Sora (playing the part of Mercutio), and several others had snuck into the Capulet house. They all wore masks as they snuck into the hall, where others had gathered. Lord Capulet soon entered the scene, along with other members of his house, including Nikki (or Juliet). He greeted his guests enthusiastically, and urged the musicians to play and the people to dance.
Monique and her small troupe of cheerleaders, in their disguises, also snuck onto the stage. In order to stop Axel and Nikki from being in contact with each other, she urged some of the male extras to dance with her. This led to the brunette being confused as hell at being asked to dance so many times, and if this was part of the play; since she had never even read it before the audition. Some she could decline, but others were so persistent that she had no choice.
In the meantime, they had carried out their plan of waxing the floors using their feet, covering nearly the entire stage in wax. Plenty of people fell, but none of them were the intended target. Monique's target was Nikki. If she were to fall badly enough, then the resulting injury would mean that she would no longer be able to play her part as Juliet; therefore, forfeiting the role to the blonde. Nikki had fallen over a few times, but someone always managed to serve as a cushion to soften her fall.
The audience didn't think anything was amiss when people started falling. In fact, they laughed a little when the actors fell, thinking it was all part of the play and they were pretending to have drunk too much wine.
The whole night, Axel had been looking for his 'love,' Rosaline, trying to get a glimpse of her. But to no avail; he could not find her. His friend had encouraged him to come to this get-together and judge his 'love's beauty against the other women of Verona, in hopes of finding a new 'love.' There were many beautiful women at the party, as Roxas said, but none of them could compare to the beauty of the fair Rosaline. He couldn't bring himself to 'love' another woman, not when his 'love' for Rosaline was so powerful.
But what's this?
He spotted a fair maid hanging on the arm of another gentleman, and felt his heart jump at the sight of her.
He approached a nearby serving man. "What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?" He asked, pointing to the girl.
"I know not, sir." The servant said, shaking his head.
"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" Axel exclaimed in awe."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 o'er 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 ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
At the sound of the familiar and hated voice, Riku, who was on the other side of the room, jumped at attention.
"This, by his voice, should be a Montague." He growled. He turned to his Page and ordered,"Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave come hither, cover'd with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin."
…
"Did you find anything out yet?" Sandy asked one of the stagehands. She was still trying to get to the bottom of what had happened. She had several people looking into it.
"We still haven't found the people responsible for poisoning those girls." Said the stagehand.
"But I took an inventory of all the costumes, and four of the dresses are gone." Maggie flailed her arms around frantically. "I worked on those dresses for a week, and now they're gone! Someone stole them!"
"Their dresses are gone?" Sandy said. "Where did they go? Who took them?"
"That's just it." Said Ven. "We don't know."
"It was probably the same people who gave the extras that poisoned lemonade.." Sandy rubbed her chin with her hand thoughtfully. "The question is… who would do something like that?"
"The only people I can think of is the cheerleaders." Ven said. "They're the only ones with a motive."
"The cheerleaders?" Sandy scoffed. "Yeah right. I can't speak for all cheerleaders, but the ones we got are all a bunch of empty-headed Barbie-doll-wannabes that are obsessed with looks, shopping, popularity, and being complete bitches to anyone that doesn't fit their standards. This seems too well planned out to have been done by the cheerleaders, of all people."
"But-"
"I don't know, hon. I agree with Sandy on this one." Maggie agreed with the redhead. "Even if it was the cheerleaders, we have no proof that they did anything."
"I'll find the proof myself, then!" The boy declared. He stormed away from the girls, determined to find the proof for himself. He headed for the dressing room and grabbed a spare costume.
"I have to find Roxas. Maybe he'll believe me."
…
With sword in hand, Riku stormed across the floor, looking for Axel so he could slay him and redeem the honor of the Capulet house, which that villain so blatantly disrespected by showing his face at their party. He paused briefly when he felt his feet slip along the floor, but paid no mind to it and moved on. He walked right by his uncle, Lord Capulet, who stopped him.
"Why, how now, kinsman! wherefore storm you so?" Capulet asked.
"Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night." Riku said, pointing his sword in the direction of the voice.
"Young Romeo is it?"
"'Tis he, that villain Romeo."
Lord Capulet tried to calm the youth down by patting him on the shoulder. "Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone; he bears him like a portly gentleman; and, to say truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth. I would not for the wealth of all the town here in my house do him disparagement. Therefore be patient, take no note of him. It is my will, the which if thou respect, show a fair presence and put off these frowns, and ill-beseeming semblance for a feast."
"It fits, when such a villain is a guest. I'll not endure him."
"He shall be endured." Capulet growled demandingly. "What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to; am I the master here, or you? go to. You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul! You'll make a mutiny among my guests! You will set cock-a-hoop! you'll be the man!"
"Why, uncle, 'tis a shame."
"Go to, go to; You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed? This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what. You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time." Capulet turned to the guests and cheered,"Well said, my hearts!" He turned back to Riku and shooed him away."You are a princox; go. Be quiet, or-" He turned to the guests again. "More light, more light! For shame!" He turned to Riku again, scolding him as if he was a child. "I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!"
As much as he disapproved of his uncle's decision, he had no choice but to submit to his wishes. "Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting. I will withdraw." Riku growled, sheathing his sword bitterly. "But this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall."
With that, he exited the room; before his boiling rage could get too out of control.
But on his way off stage, he slipped and fell, causing the audience to laugh.
…
"Riku!" Sandy exclaimed. "Are you okay?"
"What the hell?" Riku cursed as he was helped up by Sandy. He rubbed his sore butt. "Stupid floor…"
"What's wrong with the floor?"
"It's slippery as hell, that's what's wrong with it." Riku said. "Ever since we started this damn scene, people have been slipping and falling all over the place."
"I think that someone might be trying to sabotage the play." Sandy said. "I've been getting this funny feeling ever since those girls got sick."
"Really?" Riku asked. "Sabotage? But who would do that?"
"Ven thinks it might be the cheerleaders."
"The cheerleaders? But those girls are-"
"Idiots, I know. But he seemed really sure of himself.."
…
"Psst! … Psst! Hey, Roxas!"
Roxas paused at the voice whispering his name and looked around the stage. No one on stage was calling him, but he knew that he wasn't hearing things. He continued to look around, stopping when he saw his twin brother's face poking out from behind one of the background pieces. Ven waited for some people to pass by before he used them as a cover to slip onto the stage. Once on stage, he made his way to his brother. On the way, he slipped on the floor, and would have fallen if Roxas hadn't caught him.
"Ven?" Roxas exclaimed, covering his mic. "What are you doing here?"
"I think the cheerleaders are trying to sabotage the play. But no one will believe me!"
"The cheerleaders? Sabotaging the play?" Roxas asked disbelievingly. "You can't be serious, Ven. I've met those girls before. They're a bunch of morons."
"You sound just like Sandy and Maggie." Ven grumbled, scowling. "They don't believe me either."
"Why would the cheerleaders want to sabotage the play?" Roxas asked.
"I don't know!" Ven exclaimed. "That's what I'm trying to find out! And what's with the floor? It's so slippery.."
"No idea." Said Roxas. "But people have been slipping and falling down ever since the scene started. I almost fell a few times."
"Come on, Roxas." Ven said. "You told me yourself how badly Monique reacted when Axel dumped her. She's gone completely crazy! And she and Nikki have been going at it for years! Is the idea of Monique sabotaging the play so she can get Nikki out of the picture really that far-fetched?"
"Well…" Roxas said, a little unsure. "She did take it really hard…"
"So you believe me, then?" Ven asked eagerly.
"… I believe you, Ven." Roxas said, and his brother beamed. "But there's still no proof."
"We'll find proof. They may have covered their tracks pretty well this time, but they'll slip up sooner or later…"
…
Axel made his way across the stage to approach Nikki, nearly falling forward and onto his face when his foot suddenly hit a slippery spot on the floor. He managed to catch himself before he fell, and he examined the slightly shiny surface as his eyebrows furrowed.
"What the hell was that?" He thought. "Is that wax? But the floor was buffed hours ago…"
The redhead was suspicious, but he decided to let it go. He continued his walk over to Nikki, making sure to watch his step, and approached her, grabbing her hand and taking her by surprise.
"If I profane with my unworthiest 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." He whispered sweetly, taking his other hand, the one that wasn't holding hers, and caressing her hand slowly.
"Good pilgrim," She said kindly."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 palmers' kiss."
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" He asked.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do." He whispered, lacing their fingers together."They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." She said.
"Oh no…" Nikki thought somberly, knowing full well what was coming next. "Here it comes…"
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take." He said, pressing their lips together before she could react.
On the inside, Nikki was panicking. That dreaded moment had finally come. His lips were on hers; his filthy, disgusting lips were touching her, and there was nothing she could do about it. She hated it. There was nothing in this kiss; no love, no feeling; just empty and full of nothing but lust, like all the other kisses she had shared with other guys.
"This can't be happening…" She thought. "It has to be some kind of horrible nightmare… there's no way this can be real…"
She kept her lips and eyes tightly shut, shuddering in disgust when he put a hand on her cheek and attempted to deepen the kiss by running his tongue along her lips. Her hand was trembling as she was fighting the urge to slap him in the face as hard as she could.
The kiss seemed to last for an eternity; a horrible, painful eternity, but in reality it only lasted a few seconds.
…
On the other side of the stage, Monique stared at the scene with wide, horrified eyes as her ex was locking lips with the girl she hated with a passion. She and her cheerleaders had waxed nearly the entire stage, and everything seemed to work for a little while, but in the end it was all for nothing. The kiss still happened, despite their efforts. Horror turned to anger and she was ready to lunge at the brunette, but the other cheerleaders held her back and discreetly carried her off stage.
"Let me at her!" Monique shrieked. "Let me at her! I'll kill her!"
"Monique, there's nothing you can do!" One of the cheerleaders tried to calm her down. "The kiss is just part of the play. It's part of a major plot point! We couldn't stop it no matter how hard we tried!"
"Fine.." The blonde breathed, and she motioned for them to release her; which they did. "You're right. We can't do anything about it now. But mark my words, this isn't over! There are still five more acts, which means that there are five more opportunities for sabotage."
She stared at the two actors on stage, who had just kissed, with pure anger in her eyes. Those same eyes were calculating as she came up with a new plan.
"We're not through yet…"
…
"Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged." Axel said as he pulled away.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took." She said.
"Sin from thy lips?" He said."O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again."
He kissed her again, and Nikki experienced the same repulsion that she felt during the first kiss.
"You kiss by the book." Nikki pointed out, resisting the urge to wipe her mouth.
"Madam," Kairi suddenly appeared, looking and sounding out of breath; as if she had been looking for her all night."your mother craves a word with you."
Nikki took her chance and pushed herself away from Axel.
"What is her mother?" Axel asked.
"Marry, bachelor, her mother is the lady of the house, and a good lady, and a wise and virtuous." Kairi said, speaking fondly of her Lady."I nursed her daughter, that you talk'd withal; I tell you, he that can lay hold of her shall have the chinks."
The redheaded male gasped. "Is she a Capulet?" He whispered to himself."O dear account! my life is my foe's debt."
It was then that Roxas had snuck up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He whispered to his friend, "Away, begone; the sport is at the best."
For good measure, the young male tugged on the older one's tunic to urge him to leave.
"Ay," Axel agreed."so I fear; the more is my unrest."
The two turned to leave, and were heading towards the door when Lord Capulet stopped them and begged them not to leave. His attitude changed when they whispered who they were into his ear, and at that the older man let them leave without causing a fuss. Capulet then remarked on how late it was and headed off to retire, urging his guests to do the same.
Soon everyone was gone but Nikki and Kairi.
"Come hither, nurse." Nikki beckoned her over."What is yond gentleman?" She pointed to a man leaving.
"The son and heir of old Tiberio." Said Kairi.
Nikki pointed to another man. "What's he that now is going out of door?"
Kairi squinted to get a better look, and replied, "Marry, that, I think, be young Petrucio."
"What's he that follows there, that would not dance?" The brunette asked, pointing to one the two men heading for the door.
The redheaded female shrugged. "I know not."
"Go ask his name." Nikki ordered, and Kairi nodded before she left to go find out."If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed."
"His name is Romeo, and a Montague." The redheaded nurse said upon her return."The only son of your great enemy."
"My only love sprung from my only hate!" Nikki exclaimed."Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy."
"What's this? what's this?" Kairi asked, referring to what the brunette just said.
Nikki waved her hand dismissively. "A rhyme I learn'd even now of one I danced withal." She lied.
Suddenly they heard someone calling "Juliet!" off stage.
"Anon, anon!" Kairi called back."Come, let's away; the strangers all are gone."
The two females exited the stage, and the audience applauded as the curtain closed. Act I of the play was now over, and the audience was filing out of the auditorium as the actors were changing back into their normal clothes backstage.
"Sandy, can you get me a damp cloth, please?" Nikki requested. When Sandy gave her a confused look, she added, "Now, please. And put soap on it."
The redhead gave her a look, but did as she requested nonetheless. She returned shortly with a damp, soapy cloth, and Nikki took it and used it to wipe her mouth. Even though the kiss was very brief, and his tongue never entered her mouth - even though it tried to - she still scrubbed her tongue vigorously, not caring if the soap left a bad taste. She wiped her lips, and wrapped the cloth around her finger so she could scrub the inside of her mouth. Sandy offered her a drink of water, which she took, and she swished it around in her mouth before spitting it out in the nearest drinking fountain.
"Do you feel better now?" Sandy asked.
"I think so." Said Nikki. "That was awful. It wasn't even awkward! There was nothing in that kiss at all. It was just… I don't even know how to describe it."
"It was that bad?"
"…" Nikki nodded.
"It'll be alright." Her friend assured. "Once this play is done and over with, you'll never have to kiss him again. Now come on. It's been a long night. Let's get you out of that dress, okay?"
The brunette nodded again, and she went over to the dressing room to get changed.
In the meantime, the boys had already changed back into their normal clothes. Zexion's character had not yet appeared, so he was free to watch the show from the audience, and Demyx had his job backstage. They met up with Axel and Roxas after the play.
"I don't understand it." Axel said as he exited his dressing room, fixing his shirt. "That kiss should have worked.. What went wrong?"
"Maybe it's a sign that you can't make every girl fall for you." Roxas said. "You should just give up on Nikki and move on to some other girl before you do something stupid and get yourself killed."
"Roxas is right." Zexion agreed. "Maybe it's time to move on to someone else - or just give up on this whole 'player' thing altogether. That sounds better."
But Axel didn't seem to be listening. He just stood there, his hand on his chin as he was in deep thought. "Something's not right…" He muttered to himself.
Zexion's eye twitched. "Are you even listening?"
"Axel.." Roxas said, noticing that the redhead wasn't paying attention. "Are you okay?"
The question managed to snap him out of his thoughts, for he looked at the younger boy and said, "Yeah, Roxas. I'm fine."
"Oh. Okay. Well, wanna go downtown for some ice cream?"
"You guys go on ahead." Axel said. "I'll catch up with you."
Roxas frowned, sensing something was wrong. But he let it go and said, "Okay. Don't take too long, though."
"Alright."
Roxas nodded, and he, Zexion, and Demyx left, and soon Axel was alone as everyone else left as well. He walked over to a nearby mirror, leaning on the vanity so he could get a closer look at his face, and touched his lips with his hand.
"I don't understand it." He said to no one in particular. "The kiss should have worked. Why didn't it work?"
He thought about it for a second.
"Ah, I know. The kiss didn't work because I had to hold myself back for the sake of the play; I couldn't kiss her like I wanted to because there were a lot of people watching. I guess I didn't foresee that setback when I came up with this plan.. That's weird. Usually, I think of everything. But even a kiss like that," referring to the chaste kiss he shared with Nikki during the ball scene, "should have been enough.. She's got impressive will-power, I'll give her that."
"I can't shake this feeling, though." He thought. "It's weird. I can't stop thinking about how it felt. Her lips were so soft, and warm. And sweet. Just thinking about it makes me feel… weird…"
Axel sat there silently for a moment before he waved it off.
"Eh. It's probably nothing."
…
…
Pervertido: Pervert
Je vous prie de m'excuser, ma dame: I apologize, my lady
Burro: Jackass
Sí: Yes