Hello my darling reviewers,
I am back! Alive, well… stressed no longer, and with more chapters! YAY! Hehee… ok… I'm going to be updating this as much as possible over winter break… so here we go!
Chapter four
Shit, shit, shit! Why the hell did I have to pick the one where Mina and I were doing accents? Oh god! If I'd been smart I would have just chosen something else, and not be stuck up here in this silly costume! Usagi thought as her group waited its turn to perform their short collaboration of funny moments. She was beyond embarrassed, as she sat in her large traditional Bavarian style dress with a wig of red hair pinned up in buns covering her hair.
"Okay, Mamoru, your group is next" Ms. Beaufleur proclaimed, causing Usagi to grimace.
"Why the hell did I let you guys talk me into wearing this thing" she muttered as she reluctantly followed her partners out. The instant she stepped out onto the stage, she froze where she stood waiting patiently behind the stage door as Brandon walked out to where centre stage was and froze in a position that was reminiscent of driving a car. Meanwhile Mamoru strode out to the right side of the stage, and gave a quick introduction.
"In our skit, a lone individual has car trouble and pulls into a restaurant parking lot…" before moving off to take his position.
Thankfully the embarrassment of dressing up like a Bavarian fruit cake was short lived, and fortunately it had the desired effect of making everyone laugh like crazy, although she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to live it down.
For the days following the incident she was greeted by a chorus of "wine and strudel" whenever a member of the drama department happened to see her, and as for her admirers, their advances became twice as intense. After all, she had been prancing around in a fluffy short skirt showing off the full length of her beautifully tanned legs.
Usagi was about ready to die of embarrassment.
Fortunately for her, it was possible to escape from their taunting with the need to study lines for the upcoming auditions. Usagi was determined to play Juliet if it was the last thing she did. Play Juliet, and show these jerks how good of an actress she really was.
When Monday finally came around, Usagi was excited. She had managed to memorize the famous balcony scene, and was longing to prove herself in front of all these "high society" boys, but she couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
As the other actors went up on stage, she felt her heart sink. They were all so good, and she was seriously beginning to doubt her ability to out-perform them, and so with a butterflies fluttering in her stomach she stood as Ms. Beaufleur called her name.
"Brandon, you're next." '
'I can do this,' Usagi thought. 'I gotta do this...' Walking up the stage, the other performer paused. "Good luck Strudel, if you need a skirt, I'm pretty sure we can find one for you."
"Nah, I'm good." Usagi said, keeping her anger on the inside. 'Don't say anything you'll regret. Just use the anger for more creative things like beating all their asses. Make them beg for forgiveness. That's right. I can do this.'
"Are you ready Brandon?"
She nodded as her eyes scanned the crowd for something that would give her the courage she needed to begin.
Taking another deep breath she released it, and began. Her words a soft sigh as they drifted in the silence of the auditorium.
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"
Then louder as she proclaimed,
"Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet."
Her voice taking on a slightly puzzled tone she continued,
'This but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's a Montague? It is nor hand nor foot,
Nor arm nor face, (nor any other part)
Belonging to a man. O be some other name!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other would smell as sweet;"
The class at in rapt attention as she concluded her Juliet's contemplations, her voice filled with wistfulness,
So Romeo would be not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself."
The auditorium was silent, so silent that if a mouse had crept from its whole they would have been able to hear it.
Usagi looked out at her classmates where they stood with faces full of wonder, and smiled.
She had done it; her best ever audition, and had left them all speechless.
Slowly they came back to themselves, and the applause began, louder and louder as more students were shook free from their daze, and Ms. Beaufleur in the front row, her face was one big smile as she stood.
"Brandon! That was MAGNIFICENT! I was enthralled, absolutely totally enthralled. You are our new Juliet!" she proclaimed. The students cheered, all that is except for one, and he was too busy gazing in awe at his co-stars undeniable talent.
Yes, Jason was playing Romeo, and as he looked at Brandon his heart swelled in glee. Then coming back to himself he leaped up on stage to congratulate "Juliet".
"Brandon! Congratulations" Jason proclaimed as he approached.
Usagi smiled, "thank you" she replied
"I guess you and I will be seeing quite a bit of each other, extra rehearsals, kissing practice?" he added with a wink.
Usagi groaned, oh god… it would just be my luck, him as Romeo!
"…. I doubt that will be necessary" she stated calmly. "Seeing as we are both experienced I'm sure we'll be able to perfect everything in the scheduled practices"
Jason just smiled, whispering near her ear, "playing hard to get are we? Mmm I like that"
Usagi shuddered, and pulled away, just a Greg's voice cut in, "Jason, why don't you leave off him"
"Yea, I thought you and Michael were a thing anyways" Justin commented causing Jason to flush red, and move off.
Usagi turned to them, gratitude written in her every feature, "thank you!" she breathed,
"No problem… it's obvious that he was making you uncomfortable."
"Understatement of the year" she muttered as she slipped into a seat.
Ms. Beaufleur stood then, her smile still in place,
"Thank you everyone for coming out. Tomorrow are the Capulet auditions, and Wednesday the Montague's. Class dismissed"
Usagi and Mamoru left the class together.
"Brandon…" Mamoru began
"Yea?" she replied
"I just wanted to tell you, you were very good today"
Usagi smiled brightly "thanks!"
"you're welcome…" he replied as they continued down the hall.
As they continued on together Usagi suddenly was hit with what she believed to be the greatest idea since sliced bread,
"Mamoru… could you do me a huge favour?" she questioned
"Depends what it is" he replied, eyeing his room-mate with a cautious expression.
"Do you, do you think that you could practice my lines with me? I know I should do it with Jason... but… well"
Mamoru grinned, causing Usagi's breath to hitch in her throat as he replied "yea, no problem. I wouldn't' want to be around him anymore than necessary either"
By that time they had reached their next class, and there was no more time for them to talk.
Instead Usagi just smiled to herself, thinking, I'm a sucker for torture aren't I… practicing the most romantic lines ever written, with the hottest guy ever, and he thinks I'm a boy.
~*~
Please review to let me know if ur still interested
Thank you!
~Galene