The nightly lessons continued.
On nights when Cassandra had done exceedingly well, she'd often be given the next night off.
One day she returned from classes to find Ann packing her few belongings and preparing to load them on a trolley.
"What the Hell…"
"Don't swear Cassandra; it's not proper."
"Ann, what are you doing?"
"Getting out of here Cassandra, there's too much weird stuff going on."
"Like what? If it's something I've done---"
"That nutty new professor. You leaving at all hours of the night and returning later….I can't take it anymore. He creeps me out, so I petitioned for a new room."
"Why do people keep saying that…he's really very nice. And you didn't even say anything about it bugging you."
"Well, you were never around." Ann said looking up. "Think what you like, I can't take it anymore. Have fun with the play." Ann pushed the trolley out of the room and left a very confused Cassandra standing alone in her room.
The sets were finally up, the costumes nearly done. They were beginning to work on dress rehearsals. The actors knew the play front to back and, as a joke one afternoon, had performed parts of it almost completely backwards.
"If we don't win that competition, we're hosed." Matt said one day as he, Mia, Ryan and Cassie were lying out under a tree at St. Marks. Mia's head was on Matt's leg and she was picking apart a blade of grass slowly.
"I wonder who else is in this competition…" Ryan said absently looking off at the large gothic dormitories.
"There's a whole list on-line." Mia said absently as she stripped a blade of grass in half.
"What?" Matt sat leaned up to look Mia in the face. "There's a list?"
"Oh, yeah….I saw it one day while Giles and Villefort were working on something in the office. Giles was showing it to Villefort."
"Come on…." Matt grasped Mia under her arms and lifted her off the ground in front of him. "We've got to see this list." Cassie and Ryan were slow to follow as Matt hoisted Mia over his shoulder and carried her towards the building. He put her down and they walked quickly to the computer lab.
"Your tie, Mr. Andrews." Matt re-tied the tie. He'd un-done it while they were under the tree. The lab monitor glared as Matt fixed the offending article.
"Oops." Mia sat at the computer and quickly logged in. It took her three attempts to get the address right, but finally a large theater curtain appeared on the screen and they watched as it revealed a stage, the famous mask and rose on it. The tool bar buttons appeared slowly down the side and Mia scrolled down, finally finding one that said "Schools."
"These are all over the country…." Ryan said looking at the dozens of schools on the list.
"Organize by State." Mia hit the button and the scrolled down to Connecticut.
"That's us." Cassie said as the name St. Isabel and St. Mark School's the only other school performing it was four hours away; Graceview Public. Mia clicked on the hyperlink and waited while the information uploaded to the computer.
"They perform in a few days."
"A few days?" Matt looked at the dates closer and then lowered his voice in a conspiratorial way. "We could totally go."
"What?" Mia said turning around.
"Yeah, let's go see what our competition can give us." The loud speakers called all performers to the theater and they had to shut down the computer, ready to make a road trip to Graceview.
"You'll be at our tutoring session tomorrow night, is that right Cassandra?" Mr. Villefort asked on Friday.
"Umm…actually I was going to go visit my Aunt in Bridgeport, Mr. Villefort. She hasn't been feeling at all well." One thing Cassandra could say about the acting skills was that she was becoming a much better liar.
"Oh, well…I hope she feels better."
"Yes…I'm sure she will." Mia and Cassandra met Matt and Ryan in the hall before the end of practice and made their final plans for the weekend.
"We'll come pick you ladies up tonight and head to Stanton. My parents' lake house is there. We can spend tonight, tomorrow night and be back Sunday. It's cheaper than a hotel would be." Matt said. "We've already got food in the back."
"OK, we'll see you tonight then." Mia and Cassie raced off to the bus and waved goodbye.
Cassandra ran to her room and changed out of the uniform and into normal clothes. Then she grabbed her overnight bag which was already packed and headed to Mia's room. They waited until seven-thirty and then headed for the bus stop where Matt and Ryan were to pick them up.
"Hey, good lookin'…where you headed to?" Matt asked leaning out of the passenger window as Mia and Cassie approached.
"Same way as you sailor…how bout you give a poor girl a ride."
"You know it!" Matt leapt from the car and into the back seat with Mia. Cassie took shotgun. She was asleep before they even hit city limits.
"Are you nervous?" Cassie looked into the mirror of her dressing room at the reflection of Ryan striding towards her.
"Yes."
"You look fantastic. You'll do fine." He kissed the top of her head and gave her a white rose. She turned and watched him leave the room and when she turned back to the mirror Villefort was staring back at her.
"I am your Angel of Music. Do not fear me, Cassandra." Villefort held his hand out, a blood red rose in full bloom in his hand. "Wake up Cassandra and come to your Angel of Music."
"Cassandra?" Cassie opened her eyes and peeled her face from the window of the car. "Dude, you were dreaming." Matt said.
"Oh, sorry."
"That's cool…we're here." Cassandra opened the door and bailed out of the car, Mia and Matt right behind. "I'll go open the house up, you guys bring the stuff in." Mia and Cassie grabbed the over night bags while Ryan pulled out a small cooler. When they entered the lake house they were stunned. It was rustic and beautiful. The walls were a beautiful honey gold natural wood. There was a giant fireplace in the middle and high rafters. A loft was visible above as well as a bedroom down the one hall from the main room. They dropped their bags in the den and then went directly to the kitchen and prepared snacks.
"Anyone want a beer?" Matt said opening the cooler.
"Beer?" Mia asked.
"Well, yeah." Matt shrugged as he handed one to Ryan.
"And how did you manage to get beer?" Cassie said reaching for one that Matt offered her.
"Friends in the right places." Cassie opened the bottle and took a swig. She'd had beer several times on her trips overseas and when her father was home, Mia had only had beer once at the family Fourth of July party the summer before.
After they'd eaten they sat down at the big TV and began watching movies that Ryan and Matt had brought. Ryan and Cassie curled up on the big couch to watch the movie while Matt and Mia sat in the overstuffed chair. Mia was sitting in Matt's lap and he was gently stroking her hair and neck. Ryan and Cassie were engrossed with the movie and trying not to pay attention to the others. It became increasingly difficult when in the light from the TV they could see the other couple kissing. Ryan tried not to laugh but found it difficult. In the next flash of light Matt was flipping him the bird, but still very much paying attention to Mia. Cassie looked up to see Ryan smirking. Sitting up slightly taller she caught his attention.
"Stop staring." She whispered close to his ear; his breath feeling wonderfully hot against her neck. She turned her head slightly and gently brushed her lips against his. He brought one hand up to her neck and gently massaged the back of it while the other hand went to her side. He deepened the kiss and felt Cassie press closer to him, her tongue slipping slowly across his lip and into his mouth. He leaned slowly against her and lay her back upon the couch and hovered above her. He glanced up slowly to see how engrossed Mia and Matt were and found them to be thoroughly occupied with each other…considering Matt's hand was quite obviously down Mia's shirt. Ryan went back to kissing Cassie and caressed her side where the bottom of her shirt and the top of her jeans didn't quite meet. Cassie inhaled sharply at the skin to skin contact; the feeling was like electricity running up her spine. Ryan kissed slowly across her jaw line and down her throat while still gently stroking her side and slowly moving his hand higher. Cassie opened her eyes and looked up into Ryan's as he stared down at her. She bit her bottom lip as his fingertips traced across the bottom of her bra, his touch feather light. She heard Mia moan behind her and wondered what Matt was doing to her friend and where it would all stop.
"Not here." She whispered as she grasped Ryan's wandering hand. "Not now." She could hear Mia and Matt whispering in the big chair.
"Umm…I'm sort of tired Ryan. I'm gonna go to bed." Matt said suddenly. He and Mia got up and moved rather quickly down the hall towards the bed room. "You guys can sleep up in the loft. Make yourselves at home." Ryan smiled as they heard the bed room door click shut. He and Cassie burst out laughing.
"Not like we were acting much better." Cassie said laughing. She pushed up against Ryan and maneuvered him into a seated position on the couch. She straddled his legs and sat in his lap facing him. She cupped his face in her hands and leaned down slowly to kiss him, her tongue invading his mouth. She bit his bottom lip teasingly and then went back to dueling with his tongue. She felt his hands work around and slip into the back pockets of her jeans. "Ryan…"
"Let's go to bed…." He whispered. "We don't have to do anything…but let's get off this couch." He kissed her lightly again and the two of them climbed the stairs to the bedroom.
Cassie went to the bathroom and changed into her pajamas and brushed her teeth. When she came back into the loft room, Ryan was already in his pajamas. She brushed her hair out and tied it back while he went in to brush his teeth. When he came out she was looking out the window at the dark world outside the lake house. He wrapped his arms slowly around her slender waist and kissed her shoulder.
"Come on….let's go to bed." Ryan pulled her gently to the large queen size bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him leisurely. "What was that for?"
"That's for being so wonderful to me." Cassie said slowly. Ryan and Cassie fell into the bed and pulled the covers up over them. Ryan kissed her and then slowly moved down her throat and across her chest. The low cut tank top left his path clear and he kissed slowly across the tops of her breasts. Cassie moaned as his tongue danced across the top of one of her breasts. His hand was working its way higher and higher beneath the tank top and stopped when he reached the bottom of her bra again.
"Cassie, you are so beautiful….." He kissed her passionately again as he cupped her breast in his hand and slowly squeezed it. She moaned into his mouth as he continued his ministrations. He worked his knee between her legs and began to work his hand down towards the waist band of her pajama bottoms. His fingertips brushed beneath the band momentarily before she stopped him.
"We can't do this Ryan….not yet." Cassie was still a virgin and intended on keeping it that way for as long as possible. Ryan smiled and kissed her slowly.
"I know babe. I'll stop." He made to move away from her but she grabbed his hand and moved it back to her rib cage.
"Don't stop that though." Ryan smiled and kissed her harder while he continued to caress her.
Cassie woke the next morning with Ryan's arms wound tightly around her. She didn't know how long they'd made out for, but it had been quite a bit of time. The sun slanted in the window and she could see the blue sky shining brightly through it. Ryan's hand slowly began to massage her hip.
"It's morning." Cassie whispered.
"Mmmph…five more minutes." Ryan replied. Cassie rolled over in his arms so she could face him. She gently pushed him onto his back and straddled his hips.
"Now…."
"Mmmph…" Ryan groaned momentarily before Cassie began placing butterfly kisses on his lips. He was slow to respond at first. "You are such a tease."
"I know…but wouldn't you rather wake up like this?"
"Hmm…"
"Or….I could just." Cassie gently brushed her fingers across Ryan's sides and reveled in the way he flinched beneath her.
"Hey!"
"Oh…so you ARE ticklish!" Cassandra continued to try to tickle Ryan until he caught her hands in his and brought them up over their heads. "You think you've won?"
"I know I have…"
"And what gives you that idea?" Ryan leaned up and kissed her. "You're such a goof."
"Hey! Quit playing tonsil hockey and get down here…Breakfast is almost on!" Mia shouted from downstairs. Ryan and Cassie laughed and then went downstairs.
"Nice shirt Mia…." Ryan said as he looked at the black 'St. Mark Wrestling' T-shirt she wore. Mia looked down briefly and shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah….I liked it to."
"Good morning." Matt came in and kissed Mia on the cheek before reaching in the fridge to retrieve the Orange Juice.
"Yeah…Good morning." Ryan reached for a piece of toast and bit into it, grinning at Mia and Matt.
"Shut it Ryan." Matt warned. The four of them ate breakfast and then went out to walk beside the lake. Matt and Ryan were skipping rocks across the glassy surface while Mia and Cassie sat on the rocky beach and let the wind play with their hair.
"So what happened between you and Ryan last night?" Mia asked, the very shadow of a grin passing across her lips.
"Oh no…I get to know what happened between you and Matt first."
"Nuh-uh…I asked first."
"Second base."
"Really?" Mia looked at Cassie over the tops of her sunglasses. "Jeeze."
"What about you?"
"Ummm…"
"You did not lose your…."
"No I didn't." Mia cut in quickly. "I'm not totally stupid."
"Did you go to third?"
"No---but almost….."
"Mia!"
"Hey…he's talented….."
"Oh my god…" The two girls burst into laughter. Further down the beach Ryan and Matt were still skipping stones.
"So what did you and Cassie do last night?" Matt said throwing his stone.
"Whatever do you mean? I was the perfect gentleman and slept on the floor all night long."
"Horse Shit. You've been dating that girl for months now."
"OK, you called my bluff."
"Yeah, so did you two do the nasty last night?" Ryan threw his stone, a devilish grin crossing his face.
"Nope. Got to second…then we stopped." Ryan picked up another stone and threw it into the lightly disturbed lake. "I mean, we're high school kids Matt…"
"I see."
"And you and Mia?" Matt looked over his shoulder to where the two girls were laughing."
"Rounded second….didn't quite make it to third."
"Dude!" Ryan and Matt high-fived each other. "So…is her body as fine as we thought?"
"You have no clue…and you won't either." Matt said throwing his large rock. "Cuz I'll kick your ass if you touch her."
"Dude, I've got Cassie…." Ryan said smiling up the beach to where the girls sat. "She's all a guy could EVER need."
"OK." Matt said laughing. "So what's she like?"
"Hey, you even try to go after her and I swear you'll never be able to reproduce."
"Fair is fair man….I just figured you'd throw a guy a bone here." Matt glanced back up to where Cassie and Mia were talking animatedly. "I mean from what I can see….she's FINE!" Ryan shook his head at his overly horny friend.
After lunch they got ready to drive the remaining way to Graceview for the performance.
They sat in the back row of the auditorium and waited as everyone else filed in. Mia and Cassie were talking quietly to one another about movies coming out in the next few weeks when Matt suddenly elbowed Mia hard in the ribs.
"Ouch!"
"Get down."
"What?"
"Just do it!" Matt slouched low in his seat and pulled the program up to block his face. Mia followed suit and pulled Cassie down with her.
"Why are we…" Cassie asked.
"It's Villefort and the Giles'." Matt interrupted her.
"Shit!" Cassie pulled Ryan down and the four of them cowered in the back row. "What are they doing here?" Mia whispered as she caught sight of Mr. and Mrs. Giles and Mr. Villefort.
"Obviously the same thing we are." Cassie replied. Matt kept an eye on the trio who sat front and center.
"Well, we're OK for now." Matt said.
"Alright, we know where they are, we just have to get out before they see us." Ryan replied as he sat back up and tried to look nonchalant.
"Sounds like a plan."
The play started fifteen minutes later. Though it was good, the vocal ranges on the performers were not as good as those in the St. Mark's/St. Isabel performance. The props on the stage looked flat and lifeless and the costumes cheap.
"That's it?" Ryan asked at intermission as the group cowered behind people to stay out of view of their teachers. "Wow…I hope they do something big for the second half."
"Ryan, they're a public school. What do you expect? It's not like they have the money we do." Mia said indignantly.
"True."
"They're doing really well though."
The second act started and continued. Twice their leads missed key notes, and once, the girl playing Carlotta knocked a prop over.
"I hope they clean it up before it gets judged." Matt said clapping as an Act changed.
By the end of the performance most of the people in the audience were stunned. For a High School theater performance, it was remarkably good, but none of them knew what was in store at St. Marks. During the final curtain Matt, Mia, Ryan and Cassie made a mad dash to get out of the theater before anyone else. Though they drew evil glares from some of the parents, they didn't care. Getting seen by their teachers would be far worse.
"Oh my God…as long as Davette doesn't fuck anything up, we'll be fine." Mia said sliding into the back seat of the car.
"Our vocals are so much better than that. Cassie can sing a hell of a lot higher than Miss Twinkle toes back there."
"Seriously." Ryan said. They went back to the lake house and continued their discussion of the performance before retiring for the evening.
The next morning everyone packed their things and prepared to go back to school. They couldn't wait for their performance to start in two weeks and be judged.
A/N: I'd really appreciate it if someone would be kind enough to review...All comments are welcome...just so I know whether or not this is worth continuing.