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Note: I'm so sorry, you guys. I've been seriously neglected Accidental. On the plus side, I've started sending chapters to my email from my phone and other such media so I won't have to use my computer, which I can't use for long periods of time now because one of the fans broke... Grr. Anyway, here you go^^

Accidental

Chapter 9

CeCe POV

It was finally time for the play's opening night. My stomach was doing backflips, same as it did every time Rocky and I were about to go on Shake It Up. I breathed in deeply to calm my nerves.

"You okay?" Gunther asked, coming up behind me.

"Never better. You?"

His eyes narrowed slightly, causing the brilliant blue of his irises to flash. "Don't lie to me. I don't like it," he said.

"Sorry," I replied. "I guess I'm a little nervous."

"What's the big deal? Nerves are natural. Look around. There's not a single person here who isn't nervous."

"Unlike you, I have a rep to protect. If people were to see me all fidgity... I don't even want to think about it."

"You know, you care way to much about what others think." He stalked away just as Rocky approached.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," I lied. "So what's up?"

"Mrs. Kobb is throwing a fit. Apparently Julie got sick and her understudy hasn't shown up yet."

"That can't be good."

"It isn't. If Joyce doesn't show up soon, then we're going to have to cancel the play."

"You know all the lines. Why don't you step in and offer?"

"Knowing the lines isn't everything. I'd have to know the foot work too, which I don't."

"That's bull. You're a dancer. Mimicking the way others move is part of the job."

"Then you do it." Rocky ordered, clearly not liking the idea of reciting lines in front of a crowd.

"But I don't know the lines," I protested.

Rocky pondered this for a moment. "I can't do it anyway. I'm one of the dancers."

"We can re-work the routines," Mrs. Kobb's voiced boomed across the stage. Behind her I saw Gunther, smiling brightly. For a moment I forgot about our predicament and thought about how good it was that he was able to genuinely smile again. Of course, that only lasted for a moment before Mrs. Kobb started talking again.

She had taken hold of Rocky's hands, and begged her to be Belle. She was promising that every one of the other actors would play along with any slip ups that Rocky would make. For her part Rocky was doing a magnificent job of hiding how awkward the contact with the teacher made her feel. Silently, I applauded her strength.

Eventually, Rocky agreed and was hustled off to the dressing room. I approached Gunther, hoping that the mood he was in before was a thing of the past. "So how'd you know?"

"Know what?" he asked, probably thinking that the answer was obvious.

"That Rocky knew Belle's lines?" I elaborated, if only to distract myself from the impending performance.

Gunther chuckled. "Why wouldn't she know the lines? The girl is a freaky genius who commits everything to memory."

I nodded, thinking that his train of thought was similar to my own on this subject. So what are we doing about the dance numbers?"

"Kobb did a head count earlier and one of the other dancers was a no show. The delinquent, Mackie I believe his name was, so his partner is going to dance with Rocky's partner. Kobb even managed to tell them were their positions would be during the numbers. That woman was a born director, even if she is a demon."

"So, basically, she all ready knew Rocky would say yes?"

"So it would seem. Come on, we still have to finish getting ready."

I looked down at my ragged converse, ripped jeans, and fashionably rumpled tee, then at his golden shoes, dark blue jeans; up my eyes traveled to his torso where he was wearing two layers , a black tee, and a sparkly, golden button up t-shirt. On his head sat a black fedora to tie it all together. I was glad that he was wearing brighter colors, but seriously, what was wrong with a plain sky blue shirt to brighten his spirits? I sighed, knowing that our costumes were less than flattering. First we were suppose to be villagers gossiping about Belle in the street, then dishes during the "Be Our Guest" number - I'm going to have to be a spoon! - those costumes we will have to remain in until the last scene where we will be dressed at servants from the Beast's castle, finally turned human again. "I guess we'd better get going then. Unlike you, I have to put on a long skirt, and still be able to dance."

"Wishing that we had spent more time practicing in the costumes?"

"Definitely."

Sorry about the astonishing lack of detail. I'm trying to gear them more toward their personalities, as I have noticed that I tend to make the characters majorly OOC. Anywho,

This chapter is dedicated to SIUbellathorne143 for his/her wonderful review. ^^

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-LeAcH