AN: I am so sorry for the delay in updating. No excuses. Just so caught up in life and trying to deal with my own little "love" life as well. Sorry the chapter is rather short. I promise a longer chapter next update, which is, hopefully, going to be quite soon. I hope you guys enjoy it. Thank you so much to my wonderful readers. I love you all more than a vase loves a bookshelf.
Chapter 35. Loving Gregory
It was sickening what I planned to do.
The one friend I did have I planned to kill off this evening because of my selfishness.
As sickening as it was to think about, it was worse that I almost wanted it to occur.
With Isabel gone, I would be free to win Gregory. I would comfort him over the loss of his fiancé and eventually he would realize that it was me he loved. It was me who remained loyal to him. While Isabel was off on her affair with Christian, I was staying true to him, loving him all the more for everything he did.
Although I had not been on stage for months now, I still knew my way around. Giselle's room remained in the farthest corner from the stage, where the only other creatures to keep her company were the spiders.
Giselle opened her door with a bottle of ale in her hand and her rumpled dress half falling off her, revealing a yellowed corset. She leaned against the door, her legs buckling from her weight, and I reached out to stabilize her body to prevent her from crashing to the floor.
"I don't.. neeed your help." Giselle slurred her words as I helped her into her room and set her on her bed, where she fell back and let out a loud belch. "I… I am quite fiiine sitting heeere in…my room…"
"Come on now," I pulled her up and grabbed the bottle from her hands. "You're a complete mess, Giselle. More than usual. Get some sense into your mind for a moment."
"Yooou think you're so peeeerfect." Giselle sneered, her head lowering as she went in and out of consciousness. "You and yoooour rich fiancé."
"How do you think the rehearsal went today?" I asked her, trying to ignore the fact that she did not possess the comprehension right now to make imperative decisions. "Did you think Isabel would act like that today? That was very uncalled for, if I might remark."
"I haaaate her," Giselle was about to fall back again, but I held her up. "Her and her duuuuke. Traaash."
"Do you think it's fair that she is the star tomorrow?" I coaxed. "That all of those people will be admiring her when they should be admiring you?"
"What… what kiiind of question iiiis that?" Giselle snorted during her laughter. "Of course thaat wretch doesn't deeeeserve it."
"What would you do if I could offer you the spotlight?" I suggested. "Give you the notice that you deserve?"
"Liiiiar," Giselle shook her head, pulling away so that she was against the wallwith herback restingagainst it, laughing. "What could yooooou do for meee? Noooothing."
"Everything you could ever want… any fame that you wished you had… this box offers you." I shoved the box into her hands. "It's all there."
"Whooo do you taaake me for?" Giselle sneered when she peeked into the box. "It will neeeever work."
"If you do not want to partake in the matter," I reached out for the box. "There are many others who are willing."
"Wait," Giselle pulled the box out of my grasp and stared into it. "I guess you want me tooo…"
"It's self-explanatory," I nodded.
"Everyone will notice me," Giselle said to herself as she began to laugh. "Everyone who paid to seeee Isabel will see me. I will be the staaar."
"Of course," I agreed while leaving Giselle with her drunken talk and the plans soon to come.
I opened my eyes and smiled when a pair of eyes gazed back at me lovingly. Sitting up, I closed my eyes and kissed him.
"Good morning C…" I stopped myself when I realized the silk I felt beneath my hands was certainly not that of the man I thought of. "Gregory?"
"I thought I would surprise you with a bit of a gift before the play," Gregory handed me a small case. "I know it was a bit delayed, but I thought you might want to wear it during the production. You know, a sign of my affections to allow everyone in the audience to know that the angel on stage is already taken."
Inside the case, resting on a velvet cushion, was a golden band. Diamonds clustered together, gleaming like starlight as light caught upon its surface. As Gregory slipped the ring upon my finger, I realized this was the first piece of jewelry ever given to me.
"No one has ever given me something like this before," I looked up at him, although my mind was still enthralled over his present. "It's gorgeous."
"You're gorgeous," Gregory tucked some of my hair behind my ear and kissed me lightly. "No one has ever given me such love. It is worth all of the diamonds I could buy you."
"I must practice," I drew away from his gaze, shame replacing the joy that was there only moments ago. "I am probably already late. Cecille shall be quite flustered with me again."
"Take a break."
Gregory followed me to my bureau, where I, so lost in my thoughts of not being late, had began to take off my nightgown. When I reached for my costume clad only in my corset, I stopped and looked over my shoulder at Gregory. His eyes had looked over me from head to toe, and he suddenly blushed. Turning his back to me, I continued dressing until I grabbed his shoulder when I had finished.
"You act as if you have never seen a woman in her corset before," I teased him.
"I haven't."
"You…haven't?"
"I don't see why you're so surprised," Gregory chuckled. "I've been waiting all my life for someone to be faithful to, and then I found you."
"Well that certainly puts me in a predicament," I laughed jokingly. "Not really… I suppose."
"You… suppose?" Gregory raised his eyebrows in question.
"I suppose…" I turned my head to gather my thoughts and gave him a smile to deter his thoughts. "I truly am a good girl, Gregory."
"I believe you," Gregory kissed me briefly and held my chin in his hands. "You are gorgeous, ma belle."
"A bit redundant, don't you think?" I stepped away and headed to the door. "Rehearsals all day, you know."
"Might you take a day off?"
"During the day of the production?" I questioned innocently. "I could not abandon my fellow cast members now, Gregory. It would be horrid of me."
"So much dedication," Gregory stepped forward. "I have something… there is something I need to…"
"There's no time!" I rushed off, more late than usual. "I'll just talk to you later!"
"Gregory?" I gasped at his reflection in my vanity and turned around with a smile on. "I was not expecting you today. What brings you at this part of the theatre?"
"Am I not allowed to visit a good friend?" Gregory entered my room, ducking at the many bouquets scattered throughout my room. "Is there an admirer I should be aware of?"
"Goodness no," I laughed and shook my head. "Just the usual fans of mine who are sending good luck flowers, not realizing that I don't have the lead in this production."
"Quite the popular one, Cecille."
"If you would like to refer to it as that," I shrugged and pulled back my hair into a chignon. "Those people don't know me. They only know what they want to believe is true about myself."
"If they did know you, you would be popular still." Gregory complimented. "I cannot see how anyone that gets to know you cannot fall in love with you."
"It's possible," I remarked offhandedly, trying my best not to sound bitter. "How come you are not with Isabel? I am sure she is in need of your blessings of luck more than I. She's the one carrying the show this time."
"I already bid her good morning," Gregory sat down on my bed and allowed one leg to drape off of the side. "But she was in a rush to get to rehearsals."
"Rehearsals?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Yes," Gregory answered. "Isabel told me there were rehearsals today."
Even now she was lying to him.
I closed my eyes in an attempt to compose myself from revealing my candid thoughts that rested upon the tip of my tongue.
"I just thought I would stop by and give you a gift." Gregory told me as he handed me a small box. "You have always been there for me, Cecille, and I can trust you to help me through thick and thin."
Reaching for the box, I let my hand rest atop the box, my fingers brushing his. Holding back my breath, I looked up at him in the eyes, and no amount of self-control could contain the feelings I felt looking into his eyes.
"There are no rehearsals today, Gregory. We never rehearse during the day of performances."
"No rehearsals?" Gregory withdrew his hand so that I was left staring only at my hand that grasped the small black box. "But, Isabel said…"
"Isabel was lying," I turned around in my seat so I now faced my vanity. "If anything, she is probably with Christian. Perhaps you should take it up with her. She is, no doubt, over at Christian's house right now."
"I think I shall."
Even after Gregory had left me in pursuit of Isabel, I sat staring down at the box in my hands. How great it was that Gregory still thought of me, even when his thoughts were filled with only Isabel, but I knew nothing within this box would give me what I wanted… what, it seemed, I needed.
Removing the lid, I stared down at the silver chain and the bright gem that sparkled at the center. On the back of the chain, inscribed were the words:
The Sun That Shines Behind The Rain
As I finished clasping on the necklace, I looked up to see my reflection.
Despite the tears that blinded my eyes, the gem was still seen sparkling back at me.
He still remembered…
"Gregory!" I hollered throughout the garden, willing to risk the scolding I would receive for being out at this hour for the chance to find him. "Gregory, you best be coming out of hiding right now!"
"Ah, Cecille." Gregory sat around the grand water fountain, his legs propped up against his chest. "You don't want to see me like this."
Thirteen years of existence had not made Gregory's face become devoid of his baby fat quite yet. His cheeks still remained on the chubby side and were red with tears. His longer locks clung to the sides of his face, wet with the tears that were still falling. When he looked up at me, his mortification and misery welcoming me to accompany him, I sat down right beside him, mimicking his position.
"You going to tell me what happened now?"
"It was that musician," Gregory wiped his nose. "She was so pretty, Cecille. I could tell from the first time she hit the wrong note that I was in love. I couldn't help it that, when I went to congratulate her after her performance, I stole a kiss."
"You kissed her?" I tossed back my head and laughed. "But she's so much older than you, Gregory! What a goose you are!" when Gregory only groaned and lowered his head, I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. "Don't worry. She's more of a goose for not liking you back. She wasn't even that great of a musician, if you ask me."
"Don't say that!" Gregory defended. "She might not have been playing like everyone else, but that's what makes her great, Cecille. She wasn't afraid to stand out. It's beautiful."
"If you had told anyone else, they might think you were crazy." I remarked. "But I understand."
"Do you think someday someone might like me?" Gregory sniffled. "I sure hope every girl I kiss doesn't treat me like she did."
"As long as I'm around, they shan't." I affirmed firmly. "If they do, they have me to speak to."
"Oh, don't do anything horrible, Cecille." Gregory begged. "I know what you're capable of, and I don't want anyone to suffer on account of me."
"You soft-hearted fellow," I tease. "Denying me some fun."
"There's other ways to have funinsteadofpoking people provokingly."
"I've only done it a few times."
We both laughed at that lie.
"Please, promise me you won't ever use your cleverness to hurt anyone. Especially someone that means something to me."
"Like that's hard to keep. I would never want to hurt you Gregory. I promise."
"Really?"
"Of course. Do you not believe me?"
"Do you think I don't?"
"We could go on about this all night," I laughed boisterously.
"I love how you can make me so happy, Cecille." Gregory grinned at me. "I felt so bad right before you came, but now I'm not angry at all."
"I'm glad I could be of service to you, Monsieur Gregory." I got up and bowed before him. "It is my pleasure."
"No," Gregory reached for my hand and kissed it. "It is mine."
"Are you ready to go back now, Monsieur Goose?"
"You're the true goose, Cecille."
"You're probably true," I admitted. "But don't let anyone else know."
"Ah, Cecille, how I love you!" Gregory hugged me and kissed my cheek. "I can always count on you. You're the sun that shines behind the rain, for me."
"Really?" I batted my eyelashes innocently. "You think?"
"Of course," Gregory hit my lightly in a jest. "No matter how bad the storm, you seem to be able to bring the light back into my life. My sun, Mademoiselle Cecille."
"How flattering," I giggled.
"I'm being serious now," Gregory held out his hand. "I think I'm ready to go back now."
"I'm glad," I grabbed his hand and was all smiles when he wrapped his arm around me as he escorted me back in.
During those few minutes walking back indoors, something occurred between Gregory and myself. Something that I could not describe at the time, but had me grinning like a fool and had my stomach turning in the first stomachache that was pleasant.
That night was the first time I realized I was in love with him.
And now I was going to break my promise...