Name

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Monday I waited anxiously for the bell to ring. The hour dragged and when it finally signaled that it was time to leave, I practically jumped out of my seat. Irvine had been sent on an errand, so I wasn't bothering to hide my enthusiasm. Squall picked up on it, of course.

"Irvine's excited, too." He grinned at me. I blushed and pretended I didn't know what he was talking about. "Give it up, Selphie. You like him, he likes you, you're both in denial so it's up to the rest of us to get you together."

That hadn't been a really bright move on Squall's part, Quistis informed me later. I was actually glad, now that it had been confirmed that Irvine liked me.

Squall and I couldn't discuss it anymore, because Irvine walked in the room then. Play rehearsal for the main characters was being held in the Drama room right now, because until next week the auditorium was closed for repairs and the other rooms we might have been able to use were all occupied as well. It was only the main characters rehearsing because not everyone would fit and we needed it the most. I was surprised to see Ellone, Rinoa, and Seifer walk in together. No one had told me anything other than Irvine was in the play. When I commented on this, Squall laughed.

"We decided the play was something we'd all do together. Turns out some of us are more dramatically inclined then we'd thought. Quistis, Fujin and Zell are some of the citizens, with one or no lines, and Seifer got the part of Mercutio, to no one's surprise. Ellone you'll be seeing a lot, she's playing your Nurse, and Rinoa is Lady Montague."

"Are you Lord Montague?" I asked teasingly.

"No." He rolled his eyes. "This jerk that has a crush on Rinoa is. His name is Calvin or something like that. He's not bad-looking, either." A line of worry crossed his face.

"I wouldn't worry about it," I said cheerfully. "Rinoa loves you. She could care less what some other guy looks like." My efforts were not in vain, I was paid with a small smile from Squall and I couldn't have been happier.

"So, who are you, then?"

"Benvolio. Fitting, because I'm one of Irvine's friends."

I nodded. Rinoa sat very close to Squall when the teacher called for order, and Ellone sat on the riser above me with the two of them. Seifer sat on the other side of Squall. When Irvine walked in, it was either sit by Ellone, Seifer or me. I was sure he'd go next to Seifer, but instead he seated himself next to me, just as close as Rinoa was to Squall. I looked behind me. Rinoa and Ellone were grinning like idiots. Squall mouthed, "I told you so." I stuck out my tongue and turned back around.

Mrs. Hall was talking about ways to memorize the script. I already knew most of it, and would have no trouble learning what I didn't already know. I decided to mess around with Irvine's mind a little, instead.

I moved around a little in my seat. I knew he was aware of it, but I didn't look at him. I also knew that he was looking at me. Keeping my eyes at the front of the room, I waited until he went to get something from his backpack, and then I reached down to my shoe to tie it. Accidentally-on-purpose I bumped my hand on his. I felt his fingers start to curl around mine, and then he pulled his hand back. I saw him turn his head out of the corner of my eye. When I looked up he was blushing.

Figures. Everyone says he's always flirting with the ladies but when it all comes down to it, he's a wuss. Well, not a wuss, maybe. Just sorta chicken. I heard smothered laughs from behind me and I knew that one of them, at least, had seen. I didn't care, really. It was all sort of funny.

I kept my hands to myself and paid attention after that.

*

When Mrs. Hall finished talking, she told us to find the scene we were having the most trouble with and work on it. Ellone came over to me.

"I've been having problems with Act 3, Scene 2. I doubt you have trouble with any of the scenes, if you were as great as Irvine and Squall said, but do you mind helping me?"

"Of course not. I'm not that great, though. I had to practice over and over with Michia, and I still need work. But enough about that, what are you having trouble with?"

"Just remembering my lines, mostly. I haven't had Juliet to work with, so I should have an easier time of it now that you're here."

"Well, let's give it a shot!" I said.

I took a breath and looked around the room. Irvine was standing in a corner with Seifer and Squall. Seifer was talking, and from his expressions I figured it was probably Mercutio's Queen Mab speech.

My first line was "Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, Toward Phoebus' lodging!", and I continued from there for a bit. Ellone was standing a ways off, and when I finished she entered as the scene directed.

"Ay, ay, the cords." She said, throwing them down.

"Ay me! what news? Why dost thou wring thy hands?" I asked frantically.

Ellone replied, every bit the flustered Nurse, "Ah, weraday! He's dead, he's dead, he's dead! We are undone, lady, we are undone! Alack the day! he's gone, he's killed, he's dead!" She became more hysterical with every sentence. I didn't see a thing wrong with her performance.

"Can heaven be so envious?" I asked.

"Romeo can, though heaven cannot. O Romeo, Romeo! Who ever would have thought it? Romeo!" Ellone replied.

I knew that right now, Juliet thought that Nurse was speaking of the death of Romeo, and not Tybalt like she actually was. We continued on steadily from that point. Ellone only forgot two lines, and when I prompted her she remembered right away. Irvine had finished with Squall and Seifer, but the latter two were still rehearsing Act 2, Scene 4.

"Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?" Ellone asked.

I didn't notice Irvine behind me as I retorted, "Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?" The rest of my little speech went smoothly and when it was over I noticed Irvine behind me. He was smiling.

"Wow. That was great. You're going to be an amazing Juliet, Sefie." He said. I smiled, deciding not to comment on what he had called me. I don't even know if he realized he had said it. Squall called his name, and he left.

Ellone went from Nurse to excited teenage girl in about a nanosecond. She squealed a little. "Did you hear? He gave you a nickname. That's so sweet!" We both giggled. It was cute. We talked for the rest of the hour, deciding to work some more on the scenes later. Irvine didn't come back over, but from time to time he'd glance over. As soon as I looked at him, he'd turn away. It was no use trying to figure him out, I decided, and concentrated on what Ellone was saying.

"A dance? What?"

She laughed. "If you weren't staring at Irvine you would have known what I was talking about. There's a dance Friday. Tickets went on sale today. Do you want to go?"

I opened my mouth. "Yes, Irvine's going, and yes, the rest of us are." She said before I could say anything.

This time I laughed. "Is it something that people ask people to?"

"Yeah. Rinoa and Squall are going together. Seifer's trying to get up his nerve to ask Quistis."

"I knew it!" I said, referring to the fact that he liked her. Ellone nodded.

"He's crazy for her. She has a crush on my brother, though. It's sad. . .If she thought about it, she'd realize that she likes Seifer and Squall just as a friend."

"I think if he asks her, she'll say yes." I said. I was pretty sure. Ellone's eyes widened.

"Really?" I nodded.

"I'm making him ask her, then. I'll tell him if he doesn't I'll show her the naked baby pictures of him that Fujin has." That caused another round of laughter. After we calmed down, Ellone brought up something else. "I bet Irvine will ask you."

"You think?"

"Most definitely. After rehearsal, we'll all leave right away so you can have some time alone. I'll tell Squall to tell Irvine to do it."

I was a little surprised. "Really?"

"Of course. You're my friend. I want to help you." She grinned.

"Thank you." I said. "It's really nice of you."

"Oh, it's nothing. Let me go talk to Squall." Rinoa had long since headed over there, and she and Squall were talking. Irvine was goofing off with Seifer. He wasn't looking at me, Rinoa, or Squall, or even Ellone, which was good. I saw them glance over at me a few times, and nod. Then Rinoa laughed, and Squall grinned. Ellone nodded and headed back over here.

"It's all set." She said, as Squall called Seifer and Irvine over. We pretended to be engrossed in our conversation and ignored the glances the other group shot our way. "He's talking to him now. Irvine'll ask you."

I smiled, a little nervous. Of course, that's when the bell rang. "Slowly." Ellone said as I gathered up my books. I made a face at her.

"Slow isn't my department." I told her. She laughed.

"Well, don't look now. Here he comes." She stood up and walked away. Sure enough, Irvine walked over to me as soon as the others left the room.

I tensed, and my heartbeat became so loud I was sure he'd be able to hear it.

-End chapter four

Author's Note: I'm sorry! Really I am. I promise I'll hurry up and write chapter five so you won't be left hanging. I hate cliffhanger endings, but this was getting long and the next part is going to be pretty long so I didn't want it to run all over into each other.