~A Once and Again series~
Life is what you make of it
Chapter Five// You were amazing
Grace was nervous. She had no reason to be nervous; she had been in plays before. But, a tangle of butterflies was slowly growing larger in her stomach as they counted down the minutes. She felt very much like she had before her very first play in junior high. Grace had thought she had gotten over stage fright, but obviously not. But, then again, she hadn't had a man like Augustus watching from the shadows. This play was Augustus' baby and Grace did not want to be the one to frig things up. 'Calm down' Grace told herself. She knew all her lines and movements. She should be fine. She would be fine.
"Five minutes everybody!"
Grace's eyes widened and she took a small sip of her water. Her throat felt parched, but she knew if she drank too much, she'd have to go to the bathroom by act three, and her schedule didn't allow for such luxuries. She had so many costume changes and hair and quick make-up touch ups that she was lucky to get a free second to herself to breathe.
Jessie smiled at her across the room. Grace smiled an encouraging smile. Jessie was the one who should be nervous, not her. Jessie had never acted before, and yet she was laughing and chatting with Tad across the way. Grace was the one hunched up in her chair, rehearsing lines in her head. 'Stop it, you'll be fine. Augustus will love it.' Grace thought as the minutes ticked away.
"Places people!"
Grace took a quick glance in the mirror to make sure she still had her head on straight and hurried to the left wing of the stage.
"And five, four, three--"
Grace finished the count silently and then she strode out on the stage. There was a half second of panic before her line came to her and then the words flowed freely.
* * *
The play went pretty good, except for a few flubbed lines and minor incidents. Afterwards they huddle around backstage, proud of their performance. Everyone was in a fantastic mood, Grace included. When Augustus appeared, they all cheered.
"Yes, yes, you have right to cheer yourselves. We put on a good performance tonight, and since we have three more shows it can only get better. Some of you need to remember your lines a bit better-I'm sure those people know who they are. Tad and Elaine, your entrance was a few lines too early. You enter on 'If not my father at the door, then who could it be?' Okay? Good. Christina, try not to run into the props. And Travis, I know you only have two lines, but please, no gum chewing. Otherwise, you all did fantastic. You did me proud out there."
Another happy cheer rose from the cast. Augustus waited till they quieted down. "Just keep up the good work, maybe look over your scripts tonight, and lets make tomorrow performance even better. I'm sure your parents and fans out there are getting restless, so I bid you goodnight. Go home, get some sleep and I'll see you back here at 4:30 on the dot tomorrow night!"
The small crowd dispersed as people went their separate ways. Grace looked over at Augustus with masked disappointment. She hadn't been able to get any alone time with him since their small kiss in the auditorium two days ago. And now he had a group of five people all wanting to talk with him. And the actor's parents would soon be coming in to meet the Mr. Dmitri who had worked their kids so hard for the past few weeks. Tonight wasn't her chance. And tomorrow, Saturday and Monday would all be the same, since they were play performance nights. After that the play would be done and surely they could sneak away someplace where they could be alone. But until then, Grace sighed.
"Grace, ready to go?" Jessie asked.
Grace nodded and followed her stepsister out through the crowd. Their parents were waiting, and Zoe. "You were great, both of you!" Lily cried as soon as she saw them. Grace smiled through their praise, but she wasn't really listening. She was thinking about Augustus. Why did it have to be so hard?
"Where's Eli?" Jessie was asking. Grace turned her attention back to them. She hadn't even known Eli would come to the play. But, she supposed he had to, being that he was Jessie's brother-and your stepbrother, a little voice added.
"Oh, he said he couldn't come tonight," Rick answered, "But he said he'd definitely show up another night."
"Good, cause I want him to see the horrible poodle skirt they are making me wear!" Jessie cried and this launched a discussion about the costumes. Grace felt eyes on her and turned back towards the stage. Augustus had escaped his crowd briefly and his face poked out from behind the curtains. He gave Grace a wink and motioned for her to come to him.
"Uh, I think I forgot something. I'll meet you out in the car," Grace said quickly to her family.
"Ok, sweetie," Her mom called after her-Grace was already halfway up the stage steps.
She got backstage, but didn't see Augustus, and felt a wave of disappointment come over her. One of the actors must have found him and dragged him away. But then a hand grabbed her from out of the dark. She was pulled into a small room. She guessed it was a closet but there was no light, so she couldn't be sure.
"You were amazing," Her captor said.
"Really?" Grace whispered and felt for Augustus. Her hands brushed against his solid form and they moved together. A small slow kiss got Grace's body warmed. "Is this safe? Could someone catch us?"
"Someone could easily catch us."
They kissed again. Longer and harder this time. "Then why are we risking it?" Grace asked.
"Because I couldn't bare another day without a kiss from you." Augustus' words sent a nice chill down her spine.
"What are you doing Sunday?" Grace blurted out between kisses.
"Sunday?"
"Yeah, we don't have a performance that night. I was thinking we could get together."
"Get together?" Augustus' words came out mumbled as he said them as he kissed Grace's neck. Grace sighed with pleasure and held him closer.
"Yeah, get together. We could have apple juice and cookies and make out on my mother's couch. Or we could go to your place?"
"My place?"
They kissed again, and when they broke, Grace stirred her brain to remember what she had been saying. "So, you want me to come over to your place on Sunday?"
"Yeah, of course I want that. But, we can't let people know."
"I won't tell anyone. I'll tell my mother I'm going to the library and then to a friend's or something. My house is so frantic that nobody will even notice I'm gone probably," Grace gave him one last kiss and stepped back, "I should get going or they'll send a search party for me."
"Oh, alright. I live at 532 West Moreno Street. It's by--"
Grace tugged at his hand, "I'll find it. Now, I'll leave here first and then you go." Grace opened the door a nudge and looked out. The coast was clear. "Until Sunday, my sweet," Grace whispered. She quickly made her exit.
* * *
"Grace, we were beginning to wonder where you took off to," Lily cried as she entered the nice warm van.
"Sorry, there was too many people there, and I couldn't really look that well."
"What where you looking for, dear? Was it important, cause we can wait till the crowd clears."
"Mom, no-it was just this notebook, but it might be at home. It probably is at home, or in my locker. I don't need it." Grace sat back in her seat and Rick began the drive home. She noticed Jessie looking at her strangely. "What?"
"Oh," Jessie smiled, "I just-your makeup is smeared."
Grace's hand fluttered up to her face. Her stage makeup had still been on when she and Augustus had had their little meeting. And now, some of it was probably on Augustus' face. Grace hoped he had noticed before anyone else did. Oh, god, she hoped no one had saw. Oh, no, this could give them away! Grace forced a little laugh, "That's what I get for itching my face with the makeup still on."
Jessie gave her a weird look but didn't question it.
* * *
Life is what you make of it
Chapter Five// You were amazing
Grace was nervous. She had no reason to be nervous; she had been in plays before. But, a tangle of butterflies was slowly growing larger in her stomach as they counted down the minutes. She felt very much like she had before her very first play in junior high. Grace had thought she had gotten over stage fright, but obviously not. But, then again, she hadn't had a man like Augustus watching from the shadows. This play was Augustus' baby and Grace did not want to be the one to frig things up. 'Calm down' Grace told herself. She knew all her lines and movements. She should be fine. She would be fine.
"Five minutes everybody!"
Grace's eyes widened and she took a small sip of her water. Her throat felt parched, but she knew if she drank too much, she'd have to go to the bathroom by act three, and her schedule didn't allow for such luxuries. She had so many costume changes and hair and quick make-up touch ups that she was lucky to get a free second to herself to breathe.
Jessie smiled at her across the room. Grace smiled an encouraging smile. Jessie was the one who should be nervous, not her. Jessie had never acted before, and yet she was laughing and chatting with Tad across the way. Grace was the one hunched up in her chair, rehearsing lines in her head. 'Stop it, you'll be fine. Augustus will love it.' Grace thought as the minutes ticked away.
"Places people!"
Grace took a quick glance in the mirror to make sure she still had her head on straight and hurried to the left wing of the stage.
"And five, four, three--"
Grace finished the count silently and then she strode out on the stage. There was a half second of panic before her line came to her and then the words flowed freely.
* * *
The play went pretty good, except for a few flubbed lines and minor incidents. Afterwards they huddle around backstage, proud of their performance. Everyone was in a fantastic mood, Grace included. When Augustus appeared, they all cheered.
"Yes, yes, you have right to cheer yourselves. We put on a good performance tonight, and since we have three more shows it can only get better. Some of you need to remember your lines a bit better-I'm sure those people know who they are. Tad and Elaine, your entrance was a few lines too early. You enter on 'If not my father at the door, then who could it be?' Okay? Good. Christina, try not to run into the props. And Travis, I know you only have two lines, but please, no gum chewing. Otherwise, you all did fantastic. You did me proud out there."
Another happy cheer rose from the cast. Augustus waited till they quieted down. "Just keep up the good work, maybe look over your scripts tonight, and lets make tomorrow performance even better. I'm sure your parents and fans out there are getting restless, so I bid you goodnight. Go home, get some sleep and I'll see you back here at 4:30 on the dot tomorrow night!"
The small crowd dispersed as people went their separate ways. Grace looked over at Augustus with masked disappointment. She hadn't been able to get any alone time with him since their small kiss in the auditorium two days ago. And now he had a group of five people all wanting to talk with him. And the actor's parents would soon be coming in to meet the Mr. Dmitri who had worked their kids so hard for the past few weeks. Tonight wasn't her chance. And tomorrow, Saturday and Monday would all be the same, since they were play performance nights. After that the play would be done and surely they could sneak away someplace where they could be alone. But until then, Grace sighed.
"Grace, ready to go?" Jessie asked.
Grace nodded and followed her stepsister out through the crowd. Their parents were waiting, and Zoe. "You were great, both of you!" Lily cried as soon as she saw them. Grace smiled through their praise, but she wasn't really listening. She was thinking about Augustus. Why did it have to be so hard?
"Where's Eli?" Jessie was asking. Grace turned her attention back to them. She hadn't even known Eli would come to the play. But, she supposed he had to, being that he was Jessie's brother-and your stepbrother, a little voice added.
"Oh, he said he couldn't come tonight," Rick answered, "But he said he'd definitely show up another night."
"Good, cause I want him to see the horrible poodle skirt they are making me wear!" Jessie cried and this launched a discussion about the costumes. Grace felt eyes on her and turned back towards the stage. Augustus had escaped his crowd briefly and his face poked out from behind the curtains. He gave Grace a wink and motioned for her to come to him.
"Uh, I think I forgot something. I'll meet you out in the car," Grace said quickly to her family.
"Ok, sweetie," Her mom called after her-Grace was already halfway up the stage steps.
She got backstage, but didn't see Augustus, and felt a wave of disappointment come over her. One of the actors must have found him and dragged him away. But then a hand grabbed her from out of the dark. She was pulled into a small room. She guessed it was a closet but there was no light, so she couldn't be sure.
"You were amazing," Her captor said.
"Really?" Grace whispered and felt for Augustus. Her hands brushed against his solid form and they moved together. A small slow kiss got Grace's body warmed. "Is this safe? Could someone catch us?"
"Someone could easily catch us."
They kissed again. Longer and harder this time. "Then why are we risking it?" Grace asked.
"Because I couldn't bare another day without a kiss from you." Augustus' words sent a nice chill down her spine.
"What are you doing Sunday?" Grace blurted out between kisses.
"Sunday?"
"Yeah, we don't have a performance that night. I was thinking we could get together."
"Get together?" Augustus' words came out mumbled as he said them as he kissed Grace's neck. Grace sighed with pleasure and held him closer.
"Yeah, get together. We could have apple juice and cookies and make out on my mother's couch. Or we could go to your place?"
"My place?"
They kissed again, and when they broke, Grace stirred her brain to remember what she had been saying. "So, you want me to come over to your place on Sunday?"
"Yeah, of course I want that. But, we can't let people know."
"I won't tell anyone. I'll tell my mother I'm going to the library and then to a friend's or something. My house is so frantic that nobody will even notice I'm gone probably," Grace gave him one last kiss and stepped back, "I should get going or they'll send a search party for me."
"Oh, alright. I live at 532 West Moreno Street. It's by--"
Grace tugged at his hand, "I'll find it. Now, I'll leave here first and then you go." Grace opened the door a nudge and looked out. The coast was clear. "Until Sunday, my sweet," Grace whispered. She quickly made her exit.
* * *
"Grace, we were beginning to wonder where you took off to," Lily cried as she entered the nice warm van.
"Sorry, there was too many people there, and I couldn't really look that well."
"What where you looking for, dear? Was it important, cause we can wait till the crowd clears."
"Mom, no-it was just this notebook, but it might be at home. It probably is at home, or in my locker. I don't need it." Grace sat back in her seat and Rick began the drive home. She noticed Jessie looking at her strangely. "What?"
"Oh," Jessie smiled, "I just-your makeup is smeared."
Grace's hand fluttered up to her face. Her stage makeup had still been on when she and Augustus had had their little meeting. And now, some of it was probably on Augustus' face. Grace hoped he had noticed before anyone else did. Oh, god, she hoped no one had saw. Oh, no, this could give them away! Grace forced a little laugh, "That's what I get for itching my face with the makeup still on."
Jessie gave her a weird look but didn't question it.
* * *