The stupid play is ruining everything," Miri burst out. Sarashe looked up from her book, startled.

"What do you mean, everything?"

Miri began ticking the items off with her fingers. "I have five friends here-"

"Hello, how many do you think I have?" When Miri still looked upset, Sarashe added, "But that's not what you're really worried about, is it?"

Miri buried her face in her hands. "I have to kiss Legolas tomorrow," she said, her voice muffled.

"And?" Sarashe laughed. "Most girls would kill for that golden opportunity."

Miri shook her head. "We'll be awkward, and then we won't act normal around each other anymore and I'll lose him."

"He doesn't strike me as the type that's wierded out by kissing onstage. But if you act weird, that'll affect things," Sarashe said after a pause.

"OF course I'll act weird, I'm acting off now."

"You want to kiss him, don't you?" Sarashe realized. Miri nodded miserably. "Oh, dear," Sarashe said, rubbing her temples. "This is a challenge."

"I know, it's stupid, everyone likes him-"

"There's a reason everyone likes him, and there's a reason he doesn't like everyone. In case you hadn't notice, he likes you rather well. It's because you're worth his time."

"No I'm not, I'm just a stupid commoner," Miri said bitterly.

"Yes, you are worth it, you're just a stupid commoner," Sarashe said ironically. "That's why he enjoys your company."

"He still doesn't stay up nights wondering what it's like to kiss me."

"Miri," Sarashe said patiently, "It's no big secret, how to get men like Legolas to realize you're worth loving. It's called not flipping out when he kisses you. It's called laughing at yourself when you screw up. It's called relaxing. Take your time. Enjoy him."

"What if you're wrong?"

"What if I'm not?"

Despite Sarashe's comforting words the previous day, Miri couldn't remember half her lines during drama, distracted as she was. Legolas, too, didn't seem to be at his best. When the first kissing scene approached, the teacher pulled them both aside. "Listen, I can tell you two are nervous about having to do this, and that's okay during rehearsal, but we've got two months left and you need to overcome this as quickly as possible. I'm not a therapist, I can't help you. Just do what it takes to do the best acting job you can. You have five minutes, then we're trying the scene."

They looked at each other askance. "Sorry I'm being weird," they finally said simultaneously. They laughed, surprised.

Legolas said, "Listen, five minutes isn't enough to work this out. Let's just do the scene, enjoy ourselves, and sort this out after."

Miri nodded. "I don't want this to screw us both up."

"Neither do I," he said, walking over to his starting point for the scene. She moved offstage and waited for her cue.

For some reason, her nerves were gone, and she was acting much better.

"You cheated on me," Miri-as-Meaghan said.

Legolas-as-Brett's eyes flicked over her dismissively. "One who is paid for her services should hardly demand fidelity."

"You don't mean that," Meaghan pleaded.

Brett paused. "No, I don't."

She moved over to cup his cheek. "What are you so ashamed of? What's wrong with falling in love with a prostitute?"

He gesticulated uselessly. "I don't know," he said desperately.

"Then why are you still holding me at arm's length?" she demanded. "You won't let me get close, you don't tell me anything, but I can tell you want to and your hurting yourself and you're hurting me-"

He took her chin more gently than he made it appear and kissed her.

Miri, shocked, even though he was right on cue, let his lips move. They were soft and slightly chapped. Thankfully, he didn't force his tongue into her mouth – she wasn't sure how that was supposed to work and she didn't want to find out in front of everyone – and he stopped, smiled softly, let go of her chin.

"I'll be a good boy now, I promise," he said, eyes laughing. He turned and left her standing there, confused. She put her hand on her mouth, unsure that it had really happened. She turned slowly and walked offstage, euphoric, and was relieved when the bell finally rung.