A/N

Thanks so much for the reviews, inquiete and foxface333ChocolateLabrador!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND NOW, THE SCENE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR…

Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own. Too lazy to do a decent disclaimer at the moment…

~Smiley

Act 1, Scene 5

(curtain)

Nisroc, Stark, Rephaim and the rest of their friends got through the huge wooden doors just as John Johnson was making his welcome speech.

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen! Please, dance, eat, drink, and have fun! Y'all are welcome in my home tonight, and I hope you have an amazing time! Play, musicians, play! Let the people dance!"

Rephaim's friends instantly joined the party. Stark grabbed a girl with long black hair by the waist and swept her to the dance floor. Nearby, Nisroc was talking to another girl with mocha skin in a fiery red dress. Rephaim gave a small smile for his brother's and best friend's happiness, and he leaned back against the wall to sit back and watch.

Eventually he saw Rosaline. He watched her dirty blonde head as she joined the group dance. As everyone joined hands and danced in a circle, Rephaim's eyes got dizzy, and they finally landed on an angel, who, even when dancing around and around, made the world stand still for him. He had been getting dizzy and lost, but she had caught him and found him and grounded him. At that moment, he wasn't in a room full of crowded people; it was just him and her and no one else in the world.

Her face, framed by beautiful blonde curls, was partially covered by a mask of golden sparkles. But, even from across the room, he could tell that the sparkles of the mask couldn't dare to compare with the sparkles of her bright blue eyes.

He watched as she took the hand of a man wearing a respectable outfit. A white button-down shirt was tucked into his black pants. He had on black shoes, a silver tie, and a silver mask. They started to dance by themselves, just as everyone else found their respective partners. As the silver-masked man twirled the girl around, she caught his gaze, and when she smiled, he couldn't help but smile back and take notice of how her eyes sparkled even more when she smiled.

Standing stiffly upright next to him was a caterer, looking not unlike a servant waiting to be told what to do. Rephaim jumped up from the wall, and, turning to the man, he asked, "Who is the girl dancing with the guy over there?"

"You mean the girl with the golden mask?" he asked. Rephaim nodded.

"I don't know, sir," he replied.

"Well, thank you anyway," Rephaim said, and he took a couple steps to try and get a better view of her.

"By all the gods," Rephaim sighed. "She could teach candles to burn bright! She stands out against the darkness of this world like a star on a moonless night. Her pure beauty is too good for this world, yet she's too beautiful to die and buried. She outshines the other women here like a white dove among a flock of crows. Look at her smile; listen to her laugh. Watch the way she dances; wonder how something so pure has made it through this corrupted thing called life. Oh, before the night is over, I have to at least talk to her. Did my heart ever love anyone else before this moment? If it is so, then my eyes were liars, for I have never seen true beauty until this moment."

Rephaim, quite frankly, didn't realize two highly important things: one, he had spoken aloud, and two, a very unpleasant someone had heard—and recognized—him.

Staring upon Rephaim with a disgusted sneer, Danny's anger spiked. To his friend, he said, "I can tell just by his voice that he's a Raven Mocker. I knew I shoulda brought my knife. What, does he come just to sneer and scorn under a mask at our celebration? By this amount of rudeness, I don't think it would be called a crime to kill him."

"What's wrong, son? Why do ya look so worked up?" John Johnson asked, putting the hand that wasn't holding a beer on his son's shoulder.

"Dad, he's a Raven Mocker—our enemy. The bastard bird has showed up out of spite to mock our party."

Not noticing that they were even glancing in his general direction, Rephaim absently pushed his mask up on top of his head, trying to get a better look at the angel.

"Why, is that young Rephaim?" John asked, and Ginny walked up to see what was the matter.

"That's him, the son of a bitch," Danny replied.

"Oh, calm down, son. Just leave the boy alone. He's carryin' himself like a gentleman, and, to tell you the truth, everyone says he is a pleasant, well-behaved young man. Besides, you should look nice and stop frowning because that's not the way you should behave a party," Ginny said, and John nodded. "Take your sister for example," Ginny continued, "she's smilin' and dancin' with Dallas!"

"Mama, it's the right way to behave when a bastard like him shows up. I won't tolerate him," Danny argued stubbornly.

"You will tolerate him. You will behave like a gentleman. You will obey me and your mama, and you will not start a fight among the guests!" John commanded.

"But, Dad, we're being disrespected," Danny insisted.

"If you're going to act like a little boy, then I'm going to send you to your room," Ginny warned. "Do not disobey me or your daddy. Go smile and join the fun, or leave until the party's over."

Danny was so mad that his body was entire body was trembling. "Okay, I understand, Mama, Dad," Danny said, and his parents, satisfied, smiled and then left to go talk to more guests. As Danny turned to leave, he mumbled under his breath, "I'll leave here now, but Rephaim will regret ever settin' foot in my home."

Meanwhile, Stevie Rae really had been dancing with Dallas, who had decided to take her father's advice about trying to woo her. He told her his entire life story, and she had listened. She had told him some funny stories, and he had laughed at the right places. But he didn't really seem that into what she was saying. But then he brought up the dreaded topic: marriage. He told her of his plan to marry her, and how he had spoken to her father about it.

Thankfully, the song had just ended, so Stevie Rae was able to slip away into the courtyard without giving him a reply. Dallas hadn't seen where she had been headed, and neither had Rephaim. However, the noise and heat and crowd of the party were enough to make Rephaim feel slightly claustrophobic, and he decided that it might help to step outside for a minute. Remembering he had pushed up the mask, he pulled the black thing pack over his face.

Rephaim finally found the doorway to the courtyard, but he didn't expect to find her. "I-I just—I just can't marry him! I only just met him maybe ten minutes ago, and he wants me to marry him! What's worse, he asked my daddy about it before we had even met!"

The girl in the shimmering white dress was pacing back and forth by the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. Although the courtyard was completely surrounded by the rest of the mansion, it was huge and bursting with tall, thick bushes and thousands of different flowers. Rephaim froze just inside the courtyard, and, because the tall, round hedge created a circle around the fountain with only one opening, he was at an angle where he could see the angel, but she couldn't see him.

"Am I even ready to be married?" she asked herself, her voice now much more quiet, but she wasn't quiet enough for Rephaim to not hear. "Should I be ready to be married? Ugh, I don't know, but I do know that he is moving way too fast." As if to try and stop how fast this man, whose name was unknown to Rephaim, was moving, she sat down heavily on the edge of the fountain.

She looked up at the stars, and it was to them the question was directed. "I should be in love before I'm married, right?" she asked to no one and everyone.

He knew the question wasn't directed towards him, but he couldn't help but answer anyway. "Of course. The entire point of marriage is to vow your never-ending love for someone, is it not?"

She gasped and jumped up, turning to face him as he walked through the opening in the hedge and towards the fountain. "Well, yes," she said, her eyes wide and her voice slightly shocked. "Why, yes!" she said, her voice filled with realization.

"And if you have to be in love before you're married, doesn't that mean you'll know when you're ready?"

"Of course! That's it!" The girl looked relieved under her golden mask, and her blue eyes sparkled as she bounded over to him. Her curls bounced as she grasped both his hands. "Thank you!" she said excitedly; then she repeated gratefully, "Thank you."

She didn't let go of his hands, and he didn't let go of hers. When she finally realized what she was doing and tried to jerk her hand away, he grabbed one and said, "Your hand is like a holy place that my hand is unworthy to visit. If you're offended by the touch of my hand, my two lips are standing here blushing like pilgrims, ready to make things better with a kiss." With the hand that wasn't holding hers, he pushed the mask on top of his head.

Ohmygoodness, she thought, he's hotter than a Verona blacktop in the middle of the summer.

Glad her mask covered enough of her face to hide her blush, she replied, slightly breathlessly, "Good pilgrim, you aren't givin' your hand enough credit. By holdin' my hand, you're showin' polite devotion. After all, pilgrims touch the statues of saints' hands. Holdin' one palm against another is like a kiss."

"But don't saints and pilgrims have lips as well?" Rephaim asked. He was completely and utterly memorized by her bright, blue, innocent eyes. In her shining white dress with blue eyes and blonde air, she looked just like Rephaim always pictured an angel would look like.

"Uh-huh," Stevie Rae answered breathlessly. She didn't even know his name, yet she was completely falling for him. He was charming and sweet and kind…and, best of all, it didn't seem like he was moving too fast. He was trying to charm her before he tried to talk about something as serious as marriage. She hadn't known him for more than ten minutes, but she knew he would be in her thoughts and in her dreams all night. Could it be love at first sight?

Finally realizing she hadn't really given a proper answer, she cleared her throat and said, "Yes, pilgrim. They have lips that they're supposed to use in prayer."

Slowly, oh so slowly, he intertwined his fingers with hers. Gently, oh so gently, he reached with his other hand and removed her mask. His eyes searched hers, and, in doing so, he searched her soul. As deep brown met bright blue, she did the same.

"Well then, saint, let lips do what hands do. My prayer, dear saint, is for you to kiss me. I beg of you, grant my prayer so my faith doesn't turn to despair."

Stevie Rae was finding it hard to breathe. Maybe he was playing her, maybe he wasn't. At the moment, she didn't care. At the moment, she didn't know anything except that he had completely captured her heart. Finally, she managed to say, "But saints don't move, even when they grant prayers."

"Then do not move, so much like a statue of the saint you are, while I take life into my own hands. Stay still while I make my own prayer come true."

As he had been speaking, his other arm had wrapped around her waist, gently pulling her closer to him. The last of his words had barely passed through his lips before he bent down and pressed them to hers.

Stevie Rae knew what was coming; she just didn't know what to expect from it. Honestly, she was shocked at how gentle but passionate he was. She melted into him, loving the feeling that had taken control of her entire body. The kiss was so sweet and kind and loving…and perfect.

When they finally broke apart, Rephaim was the first to speak. "And now my sin has been taken from my lips by yours."

Blushing furiously and sounding even more breathless than she had before, Stevie Rae asked, "Then do my lips now have the sin they took from yours?"

"Sin from my lips? Your sweetness encourages crime. Give me my sin back," he replied, and he bent down and pressed his lips to hers once again. This one lasted much longer, but it was no less gentle or passionate. It was just as perfect, if not more. The hand that held her golden mask reached up from her back to cup her face, tenderly caressing her with indescribable love and compassion. The other hand moved to her back, slowly trailing his fingers in a circle on the small of her back innocently, not trying to go too far or make her in the least bit uncomfortable. She felt completely relaxed and safe.

The second they broke apart was the second Zoey found them by the fountain. She was still just out of hearing range, so Stevie Rae quickly whispered, "Ohmygoodness, you kiss like you've studied how."

Rephaim didn't get the chance to reply before he saw Zoey. He scrambled to put his mask back on and give Stevie Rae, whose name he still did not know, hers back, but, without giving him a second thought, Zoey said, "Stevie Rae, you're mama's looking for you."

Stevie Rae? As in…Stevie Rae Johnson? Rephaim thought to himself.

Reluctantly, Stevie Rae moved away to go find her mother, all the while wishing Zoey could have taken a little more time trying to find her.

Rephaim swallowed and asked the black-haired girl, "Who is her mother?"

"Her mom's Mrs. Johnson, of course. She's really nice. I kind of moved in with them after my mom married my awful stepdad. I'm Zoey, the best friend of her daughter, whom you were just talking to. Let me tell you, the man who marries her will be very lucky."

"Thank you," Rephaim said, nodding politely at her. They shook hands, but Rephaim was staring over her shoulder distractedly, wishing he could have just one more glimpse of the angel he had spoken with.

Zoey turned and walked away, probably to go find her friend. When he was alone, Rephaim allowed himself to turn and look in the fountain and say to his reflection, "She's a Johnson?! Oh, gods, this is a heavy price to pay. My life, my heart, is in the hands of my enemy."

Nisroc hadn't heard what he had said, but he came up behind him almost immediately after the words had left his lips. "Come on, Rephaim. The best time to leave is when things are the most fun."

Rephaim turned to look at his brother. "Yes, but I'm afraid I'm in more trouble than ever."

They met up with Stark and the rest of their friends by the front door. However, John Johnson was there, ready to stop them. "No, gentlemen, don't get ready to go now. We still have dessert coming up!"

Stark, always the one with a quick excuse, whispered in John's ear. "Is that really true? Well, then, thank you for coming, boys. I hope you had fun. Good night!" Mr. Johnson said, stepping aside and rejoining his other guests.

Across the room, Stevie Rae spotted Rephaim leaving with his friends. Quite suddenly, she realized she didn't even know his name! "Zoey!" she squealed. "Over there," she pointed, "who is that man?"

"I believe that's your cousin, Tommy," she answered.

"No! I know him! I mean who's the one going out the door right now?" she asked.

"Oh! That's Stark. James Stark. He's so cute, Stevie Rae! We danced all night! I'll have to tell you all about it later."

"I definitely wanna hear 'bout that, Z, but who's the one following him, the one who wouldn't dance?"

"I don't know his name," Zoey replied.

"Please, go ask," she pleaded, and Zoey hurried over to catch him before he could get too far. To herself, Stevie Rae mumbled, "If he's married, I think I'd rather die than marry anyone else." She tapped her foot and picked at her nails as she waited anxiously for Zoey to return.

When she finally did, she looked worried. "His name is Rephaim. Stevie Rae, he's a Raven Mocker, and not just any Raven Mocker. He's the oldest and most beloved son of your most hated enemy."

Stevie Rae wanted to smack herself in the forehead. "My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a loathed enemy," she said under her breath.

"Huh?" Zoey asked.

"Oh, just a rhyme I learned from someone I danced with," Stevie Rae lied. Zoey could tell she was lying, but before she could make her tell her the truth, someone called Stevie Rae from another room.

"C'mon, let's go. Everyone is gone now, and someone's calling you," Zoey said, and the two went to go see who was calling.

(curtain)

A/N

YAY! They finally met! Honestly, I think this scene was my favorite one to write so far. Hope you all had as much fun reading it as I did writing it! Happy Holidays everyone! Please remember to review!

Oh, and pop quiz! What does the line, "Wherfore art thou Romeo?" mean? Virtual snowman cookie for anyone who gets this right!

~Smiley