"Hi Belle." Ruby greeted her as she came in. Will was already standing by the piano.
"Hello. Am I late?"
"No, Will's just early. Sorry we can't be in the auditorium today. They need it for a meeting. But the choir room will be just fine." She handed Belle some sheet music. "Today we're doing the songs when your characters first meet. Have you listened to it?"
"Yes. It's really high." Belle said.
"Don't worry; we're bringing it down a little bit. Not too much, but it'll be easier." Will watched as Belle visibly relaxed. Ruby gestured to the elderly woman at the piano bench. "This is Granny. She plays piano for us."
"Ready when you are." Granny smiled.
"Okay." Belle replied. Will and Ruby pulled chairs over. Granny started playing, slowing down the song so Belle could learn it."Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird/ How is it you sing?..." She sang quietly. Granny gave her an encouraging nod. Belle got a little louder for the next few lines. Will and Ruby listened. Will was in awe. Belle sounded beautiful. He couldn't believe she hadn't been part of a show before. As the song progressed, Belle became more at ease. She sang through the song, exhaling in relief when it was over. Will and Ruby clapped.
"Good job girl. We'll fine tune it next time." Granny said. Belle nodded.
"Your turn, Will." Ruby smiled. He nodded and stepped closer to the piano. He leaned his arm on the side of the instrument. Unlike Belle, he'd done this plenty of times before. He wan't nervous.
Granny started playing. She counted, cueing him in. He fumbled with the first couple lines, but eventually got it. He glanced over at Belle, who had taken a seat. The sun was coming in through the window, reflecting off of her hair. When their eyes met, she gave him a small smile. He smiled back, almost missing his lines again. "Lady look at me look at me miss oh look at me please/ oh favor me favor me with your glance/ Ah, miss…"
Belle listened to Will as he sang. He was really good, she noted. He kept glancing over at her and Ruby. Belle was curious as to why, but she didn't think to much about it.
"Belle, could you come here? You sing this next part too," Granny got her attention. Belle came over, standing across from Will. Granny was explaining how their parts were going to overlap each other. Will was tapping out a rhythm on the piano. The two of them spoke out their parts, Granny clapping a rhythm for them. "Alright, I think you've got it. Let's try with music." She gave them a few measures of introduction, then cued them in. Will and Belle sang their respective parts. They made sure to listen to each other.
"That was great, guys." Ruby clapped her hands. "We've got another ten minutes before your time is over. Will, can you stick around? I want to go over 'Johanna' really fast." Will nodded. "Belle, you're free to go."
"Okay. Thank you." Belle said. She picked up her bag and smiled. "Bye Will."
"Bye." was all he could say in response. Belle left the room. Will shook his head and turned back to Granny. She eyed him suspiciously, but started playing the intro. "I feel you, Johanna, I feel you" As Will sang, he wasn't thinking about the show. He was thinking about his beautiful cast mate. "Get it together, Will." He told himself. But no matter what he did, Will couldn't seem to get Belle out of his head.