I am so sorry that it's taken so long for me to update this. I've been suffering major writer's block concerning this story, and I've had ideas for others, so, sadly, I've been very bad in neglecting this one. I promise I will keep posting, and I will finish it. I think there will be only one more chapter after this. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. I look forward to your comments. As always, I do not own Spring Awakening or Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet lines from Act III, scene v.
It was surreal.
Ernst's emotions were fused. He felt fear of making a mistake, while he felt an bizarre power as he made his practiced motions on stage. While on stage he concentrated firmly on his role, determined not to let himself make a mistake. However, during the short intermission after the second act, and in the brief periods when he stood in the wings, awaiting his entrance he drifted.
Hanschen had kissed him. He did not recite lines. He did not practice Romeo. He did not perform for anyone other than Ernst himself. Hanschen had just kissed him.
He still felt the urgency with which Romeo had always kissed Juliet, but Ernst felt a reality in this last one. He tried to argue against himself. He and Hanschen had been alone before, in his room, in the orchard, behind the schoolhouse, in a hallway, and yet, Ernst could not convince himself against the truth of the incident backstage. He felt comforted.
Romeo and Juliet's problems began to arise.
On a dark stage, Otto and Georg slid on a wooden platform that served as a bed. Once it was on, Ernst sat on it, "sleeping," and Hanschen lied down, resting his head on the boy's lap. As they held this familiar position, the lights came on.
Hanschen stirred.
"Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day,
It was the nightingale and not the lark
That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear,
Nightly she sings on yond pomegranate tree.
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."
The blond looked directly into his lover's eyes. He grasped the back of Ernst' neck and held his face a mere two inches from his own. "It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale." He abruptly looked toward the audience and moved away. "Look love, what envious streaks
Do lace the sev'ring clouds in yonder East ---
Night's candles are burnt and jocund Day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live or stay and die."
Ernst's former comfort disappeared. In the many rehearsals of this scene, Hanschen had never so closely stared so directly. He never did that when he played, as he always did, the Romeo role. The scene continued to anyone else, normally, but Ernst felt as if he were torn from his character by Hanschen trying to tell hims something.
"Farewell, farewell! one kiss, and I'll descend." Hanschen pressed his lips firmly to Ernst's, and he made his exit to the downstage steps that led off to the side.
"Art thou gone so, love? Lord, my husband, friend,
I must hear from thee every day i' th' hour,
For in a minute there are many days---
O by this count I shall be much in years
Ere I again, behold my Romeo."
Hanschen turned, facing Ernst and placing his hand on the small one's shoulders, gripping firmly for a moment then letting go. "Farewell.
I will omit no opportunity
That may convey my greetings, love, to thee."
"O God!" Ernst proclaimed as Hanschen reached the bottom step. "I have an ill-divining soul,
Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.
Either my eyesight fails or thou look'st pale."
Romeo spoke in comfort, "And trust me, love, in my eye so do you---
Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!"
Those in the audience had been impressed by all the boys for almost the entire play, but now at least those in the front row, who knew that it was not just a trick of the distance and light, were even more impressed, as they saw that the boys portraying the lovers were both, indeed, turning quite pale.
They thought these two were shockingly talented actors, playing the distraught lovers, who were absolutely terrified of never again having the chance to see one or hold or kiss one another.
They thought they were remarkably talented, but, they did not know how easily the sentiments came.