Name
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.
