Sorry for the extremely long wait, I think this chapter will be worth it though.
Chapter 28 I Think I Love You
December 2, 7:45 P.M.
Fabian's P.O.V.
The clapping had begun to calm down and the theater was now pitch black except for a sole spot light focused on the closed curtain. I looked around myself quickly to see that all my other housemates were as excited as I was to see Nina. She was amazing last year, and to be honest I kind of want to boast to people how great of an actor Nina was. Not many people saw our play last year, but after tonight everybody would know who Nina was. And for the right reasons too, not because of the lies that Joy spreads.
There was some coughing and the narrator's voice came on over the microphone system. "Good evening again play goers! Up next we have an excerpt from the American play 'The Glass Menagerie', originally written and directed by Tennessee Williams."
"They always have to give you the history. Nobody actually cares." I heard Jerome mutter to himself.
'T he Glass Menagerie' is set in St. Louis, Missouri in 1937. The narrator and main character, Tom Wingfield, is an aspiring poet who toils in a shoe warehouse to support his mother, Amanda, and sister, Laura. Mr. Wingfield, Tom and Laura's father, ran off years ago and, except for one postcard, has not been heard from since." The narrator explained.
"Nina is playing that girl Laura guys!" I said to everybody there.
"We know Fabian. Now shush!" Patricia said.
"Amanda, originally from a genteel Southern family, regales her children frequently with tales of her idyllic youth and the scores of suitors who once pursued her. She is disappointed that Laura, who wears a brace on her leg and is painfully shy, does not attract any gentlemen callers. Instead of socializing, she prefers to spend time alone reading or playing with her glass animal figures which she has been collecting since birth."
"That sounds like Nina." I heard Jerome say sarcastically. We all gave him a dirty look while he looked back at us innocently, opening up another bag of his popcorn.
"She enrolls Laura in a business college, hoping that she will make her own and the family's fortune through a business career. Weeks later, however, Amanda discovers that Laura's crippling shyness has led her to drop out of the class secretly and spend her days wandering the city alone. Amanda then decides that Laura's last hope must lie in marriage and begins selling magazine subscriptions to earn the extra money she believes will help to attract suitors for Laura. Meanwhile, Tom, who loathes his warehouse job, finds escape in liquor, movies, and literature, much to his mother's chagrin. During one of the frequent arguments between mother and son, Tom accidentally breaks several of the glass animal figurines that are Laura's most prized possessions."
"I get the feeling that most people were just leading miserable lives before the 1950s." Patricia said. "Nothing was happening except people getting drunk, dying, and fighting."
"That is wrong Patricia in so many ways." Mara whispered, shocked by Patricia's apparent lack of knowledge on history.
"I was just kidding. God." Patricia said. Somebody shushed us from behind and we all feel silent, though not before Patricia gave that person a dirty look.
"Amanda and Tom discuss Laura's prospects, and Amanda asks Tom to keep an eye out for potential suitors at the warehouse. Tom selects Jim O'Connor, a casual friend, and invites him to dinner."
"Nina told me that Jim is Michael." I said, nervousness coming back over me as I remembered what happened when we invited Michael over to Anubis in the real world. 'I hope it doesn't go as badly as that. Though I doubt things could have gotten any worse than they were then.' I thought to myself.
"So Michael is hitting on Nina? I'm not surprised by that either." Jerome said. We were shushed gain and I didn't have to respond as the narrator was already talking again.
"Amanda quizzes Tom about Jim and is delighted to learn that he is a driven young man with his mind set on career advancement. She prepares an elaborate dinner and insists that Laura wear a new dress." The Narrator said, finishing up the back story section of the plot. "Now ladies and gentlemen, we join the two Wingfield women on the night of the dinner, as they all sit around and prepare for Jim and Tom to arrive. Enjoy!"
There was some more clapping and the curtains in front us were drawn to the side, revealing a built stage with a painted backdrop. From the left of the stage there was a single cutaway door, next to a coat rack and a small light. Moving to the right there was a couch and a chair, both facing towards the audience though the chair was at a bit of a slanted angle so it was still directed somewhat to the right of the stage. In front of both items was a coffee table with a curious box underneath the table. A humble rug laid underneath the table, adding to mood of the scene that showed a poor family seemingly struggling to get by. Behind it is a window that shows a starry night with the outlines of skyscrapers. The scene looks beautiful compared to rest of the room, no doubt the effect Mr. Winkler was going for.
Further to the right was the end of the room with an open arch way that led to what look like a modest kitchen set, with a refrigerator and sink. A table was as featured prominently in the foreground of the stage with four chairs surrounding it. Outside the kitchen, another table was lined against the wall with some old record player on it. There were a variety of plants around the area, and they were the most colorful thing around the otherwise plain room. Though the creepy photo of Mr. Wingfield staring smugly from his resting place above a banister on the wall remained me a bit of Victor's smug look. I shudder slightly, not wanting to think about that man.
The lights were now fully on and there was a knocking coming from the left side of the stage. A light illuminated two figures outside the cutaway door who I recognized as Michael and some other junior boy who was from Horus house I think. Both are dressed in attire that can best be described as old, with stiff coats and somewhat stylish hats. From inside the house I saw Nina come limping out from the kitchen into the main room, her face morphed into a form of fear. There was another girl in the kitchen who must be Amanda, though I'm not sure what house she's from.
"Oh, Mother - you answer the door!" Nina said her voice shaky with fear. The girl who was Amanda looked up from the sink, rolling her eyes and turned her back to Nina form the kitchen.
"I'll be in the kitchen - busy!" she said to Nina.
"Oh, Mother, please answer the door, don't make me do it!" Nina begged, her body now shaking. She began to make her way back into the kitchen towards her mother, but Amanda turned sternly towards Nina.
"I've got to fix the dressing for the salmon. Fuss, fuss - silliness! And over a gentleman caller!"
Amanda turns her attention back to whatever meal she's preparing and the light for the kitchen goes out. All attention is focused on Nina and the two guys waiting outside. Nina begins to panic, wringing her hands together from fear. There is some more banging at the door and Nina jumps from being startled.
"Laura, the door!" Nina's mom calls from the darkness. Nina makes not move closer to the door, actually backing away from it like a demon was outside.
Meanwhile outside the door Tom looked nervous while Michael appeared calm and collected, if not arrogant about something. Something about his demeanor, even if it was just an act, got me mad. "I think we just beat the rain." Michael says.
"Uh-huh." Tom says, banging on the door again.
"Laura that is your brother and Mr. O'Connor! Will you let them in, darling?" Amanda's voice said, coming from the darkened kitchen. It sounded peaceful enough but an edge was definitely detectable. Nina runs, or more hobbles, back to the kitchen area, the lights coming back on there.
"Mother - you go to the door!" Nina begs one more time. "Please, please!" Her mother stepped out of the kitchen, walking over to her daughter who was backing up frantically. She grabbed Nina and whispered harshly to her.
"What is the matter with you, silly thing?" Amanda asked sternly, "I told you I wasn't going to humor you, Laura. Why have you chosen this moment to lose your mind?"
Nina continued to beg her mother to answer the door, moving farther and farther away from the door with every knock Tom is giving. Her mother is frantic, demanding that Nina go to the door and answer it while turning on the record player. So far I'm completely impressed by Nina's performance, I couldn't even recognize my Nina underneath her new character she was so good. Nina finally relented to her overbearing mother and moves to the door to open it to Tom and Michael.
Tom steps inside the main room, with Michael right behind him. "Laura, this is Jim. Jim, this is my sister, Laura."
"I didn't know that Shakespeare had a sister!" Michael said, smiling at Tom while taking of his coat along with him. He turns to Nina and I could momentarily see Michael break character as his face molded from confident to cautious. He quickly regained his character when Nina started to stammer.
"How... how do you do?" Nina said, barely making eye contact with Michael.
"Okay!" Michael said, probably reflecting his real emotions right now. He extends his hand out for Nina's, who holds her own hand out for Michael to shake.
"Your hand's cold, Laura!" Michael said.
"Yes, well- I've been playing the Victoria..." Nina stammers.
Michael begins to smile, though there are a few cracks in it as he seems to be uncomfortable with something. "Must have been playing classical music on it! You ought to play a little hot swing music to warm you up!"
Nina is barely able to give a weak smile before turning and leaving the room awkwardly towards the now darkened kitchen. Michael looked at Tom curiously, with a slight smile on his face. "What was the matter?"
"Oh... with Laura? Laura is - terribly shy." Tom admits reluctantly. Michael laughed lightly.
"Shy, huh? It's unusual to meet a shy girl nowadays. I don't believe you ever mentioned you had a sister." Michael said as Tom led them to the sitting area. Michael sat on the couch while Tom took the arm chair.
"Well, now you know. I have one. Here is the Post Dispatch. You want a piece of it?"
"Uh-huh." Michael says, accepting some of the newspaper from Tom.
Tom and Michael begin to talk about Tom's life for several minutes, a part that I didn't really care for. Nina wasn't involved so my interest left quickly, though I still paid attention to be respectful even if it was to Michael. He was actually doing ok. With Nina offstage he no longer had the nervous air around him, instead embracing the confident and strong man that his character Jim was suppose to be.
On stage Amanda had just called for Dinner and both guys moved from the main room to the kitchen, waiting for Nina to reappear. When she did it looked like somebody had put a lot of makeup on Nina to make her look paler, almost sickly.
"Laura!" Tom said, getting up from his seat to look at his sister Nina.
Nina's mother was right next to her shortly, stroking Nina's hair. "Why, Laura, you are sick, darling! Tom, help your sister into the living-room, dear!" Tom nodded and lifted Nina off her feet and carried her to the living room, "Sit in the living-room, Laura - rest on the sofa."
Tom laid Nina out on the couch, dropping a wash cloth over her head and stepping back. Nina's mother looked nervously around before returning to the kitchen. She started to tell Michael not to worry about Nina and called Tom over for Dinner. I looked over at Nina who was staring out into the crowd. Her eyes locked with mine and I gave her a smile with a wave. She seemed to be staring through me, as if I was some sort of stranger. After a few more seconds she gave a small, hardly existent smile to me and then turned away while moving in discomfort.
I knew my Nina and I could easily recognize that the discomfort she was showing was not slowly her 'in-character' acting. Something was bothering Nina and I tensed up when I thought about Charlotte. What had she said again? Something about Nina and Michael, something they would do I think.
My first thought was to the worst possible option which was that they both got naked and rolled around on the ground together. But I quickly crushed that one mental image in favor of a more realistic idea but equally as bad.
They had to kiss.
My face went red with the sudden revelation as I tried to calm myself. Surely Nina wouldn't let it go that far? She wouldn't kiss Michael, the guy she swore was only a friend, in front of me and most of the school! Would she?
No, no she wouldn't do that. Not to me and certain not to herself. I kept telling myself that as Tom, Amanda, and Michael talked in the kitchen while Nina laid on the couch, looking worse as each second past.
7:59 P.M.
Alfie's P.O.V.
"She's such a natural isn't she?" Amber asked me from the wings of the stage. We were both watching the play unfold from there, neither of us exactly happy at that moment. Amber, while happy and bubbly about her performance in her own play, was still angry about whatever happened earlier tonight. I had run through scenarios in my head to find the best way to approach the topic but after twenty or so minutes of thinking I had nothing. Well, nothing that wouldn't send Amber into a rage.
"She is." I said, "Though I personally think you were better."
"Don't lie Alfie Lewis, it's unbecoming." Amber said, giving a small smile. I raised my eyebrows in shock at Ambers vocab use.
"So are you underestimating your performance tonight? You looked super hot." I said while Amber turned to me. "Just saying." I added quickly.
"Oh I know." Amber said, "I could of looked better too if I wasn't so distracted by Nina."
"What's up with Nina?" I asked, realizing that this was my moment to find out what happened. It probably is better that Amber tells me herself instead of pressuring her into answering.
"It's just something that she did but something that she's going to do." Amber mumbled.
"You're not making any sense Ams." I said.
Amber sighed to herself, closing her eyes in order to try and focus her mind. After about five seconds of this her eyes open again and she looks at me directly.
"Have you ever been betrayed by a friend?" Amber asked.
I raised my eyebrows in curiosity, "Multiple times." I said, thinking about my relationship with Jerome.
"And have you ever betrayed a friend?" Amber asked.
I didn't respond automatically, thinking about Joy and her scheming. How I was practically a slave that witch. I decided to deflect the question with another, "What's going on Amber?"
Amber sighed and stepped closer to me. I felt a bit nervous as I haven't been this close to Amber in a while but she didn't seem to notice my caution. "Come with me, I have to tell you this in private."
I nod my head and Amber leads me away, far from Nina and Michael who has just reappeared next to Nina. I shudder involuntarily when I think about what's about to happen between those two, actually kind of happy that neither Amber or I has to witness what was about to happen on stage.
8:00 P.M.
Fabian's P.O.V.
My aggravation wasn't gone when Michael reappeared in the same room with Nina, and it certainly didn't go down when he was left in the room alone with her under a romantic pretense.
Both of them seemed to be nervous about something, though while Nina was suppose to be nervous Michael wasn't. It was barely detectable but from this angle you could tell.
"Hello, there, Laura." Michael said.
Nina looks at Michael nervous, "Hello." She barely manages to get out.
"How are you feeling now? Better?" Michael asks, walking slowly closer to Nina
"Yes. Yes, thank you." Nina said.
The room was so tense that you cut through air. Everybody was staring down Michael and Nina, muttering about something that hopefully didn't have anything to do with them kissing. I looked over at my fellow house mates and saw that they had probably come to the same conclusion that I had. My mind wasn't working properly, so all I could do was just sit back and watch the scene unfold.
"Where shall I set the candles?" Michael asks in a friendly voice.
"Oh! Oh… anywhere. . ." Nina said, not looking Michael in the eye.
"How about here on the floor? Any objections?"
"No." Nina said quickly.
Michael smiled, "I'll spread a newspaper under to catch the drippings. I like to sit on the floor. Mind if I do?"
"Oh no." Nina repeated, now slowly trying to look at Michael but stopped whenever his face turned towards hers.
"Give me a pillow?" Michael asked Nina.
"What?"
"A pillow." Michael repeated softly.
Nina quickly grabs a pillow off the couch and softly passed it down to Michael, shuddering when their hands brushed against each other. Michael nodded his head to Nina in appreciation and got settled, then looked at Nina again.
"How about you? Don't you like to sit on the floor?" Michael asked.
"Oh… yes." Nina said, grabbing a pillow and moving down to the floor slowly, she had distanced herself from Michael, her face turned away from him so he could only see the side of her face.
"I can hardly see you sitting way over there." Michael said.
"I can - see you." Nina said, though she still does not look at Michael.
Michael laughed softly and smiled again, "I know, but that's not fair, I'm in the limelight." Nina looked uncomfortable and after a few seconds picks up her own pillow and moves closer to Michael so their about arm's length apart. "Good! Now I can see you! Comfortable?"
"Yes, thank you." Nina said, her voice becoming more panicked from just being close to Michael.
This awkward exchange of words continued on for the next minute with Michael trying to warm up to Nina while Nina shyly pushed him away while also trying to get him to like him. Over time you could see that Michael had become more 'natural' in his role, with that awkward air gone and a confident persona radiating off of him.
Nina was already in control of her characters persona, though every second she seemed to be sinking farther and farther into the role. I couldn't even tell if she was acting or not it was so good. At least I hope she's still acting and not being awkward for something that's about to happen on stage.
"You say you've heard me sing?" Michael said, his voice breaking me out of my thoughts
"Oh, yes! Yes, very often." Nina replied, her shy smile becoming wider and more confident.
Michael smiled and then began to sing out a few tunes. I groaned to myself when I realized that even with his deep voice he wasn't a bad singer.
8:04 P.M.
Alfie's P.O.V.
Amber was starting to tear up half way through her story, but her face showed determination to finish it before she started bawling. "So before I could even ask her if she was being serious she pulled me outside the dressing room and started shouting at me!" Amber explained.
"Shouting at you?" I asked skeptically, "That doesn't sound like Nina."
"Does any of this sound like Nina?" Amber said frustrated, at whom I'm not sure. "I asked her if she told Fabian and she said she hadn't which I got really upset about because their suppose to be in a relationship! Don't they even know what that means? It means their suppose to tell each other everything and be completely honest with each other and not go behind the other person back to start snogging who ever they want!" Amber shouted. She gave a squeal of frustration and I was kind of content to just let Amber keep ranting.
"I'm sure this kiss won't be anything that major. It's still just a school production, not an adult film." I said trying to calm Amber down, but a voice in the back of my head which sounded a lot like Joy's told me otherwise. 'It's going to be bad,' it whispered, 'it's going to change everything.'
"But you know what the worst part is?" Amber said, now pacing back and forth across the room. "Nina actually wants to kiss him!"
That I was surprised by. "She wants to…. Actually?" I said shocked. Amber nodded and stared at her dumbfounded. I doubt Joy even knew that Nina wanted to kiss him, but if she did it would make her job of ruining Fabina so much easier.
"And after she told me that," Amber continued, "She said that she didn't care about us anymore! That's right, she doesn't! She says she has her own problems to deal with and she can't be bothered with us right now. She even specifically said she didn't care about me! Her best friend! My best friend doesn't…. does… doesn't care about me anymore!" Amber was barely able to get out the last part of the sentence; the tears were coming full on now. "She doesn't care about me! She doesn't like me! She called me… stupid! She's the only person at this school who didn't make me feel that way!"
"Amber…" I began moving closer to comfort her but to my surprise she ran at me and jumped into my arms, crying into my chest. I was stunned by after a few moments began patting her back. "Amber you're not stupid."
"Yes I am!" Amber said, muffled by my clothing, "Everybody knows it and even I know it!"
I didn't know what to say and I didn't have to say anything since Amber started to cry louder. I embraced her tighter, rocking her back and forth to comfort her while thinking about the damage that Joy had caused… that I had been party to.
8:06 P.M.
Fabian's P.O.V.
"And everybody was seated before I came in. I had to walk in front of all those people. My seat was in the back row. I had to go clumping all the way up the aisle with everyone watching!" Nina said, explaining an embarrassing situation to Michael.
"You shouldn't have been self-conscious." Michael said.
Nina sighed, flustered, "I know, but I was. It was always such a relief when the singing started."
Michael began to laugh and Nina even smiled more freely now. I groaned to myself, getting annoyed with how comfortable these two characters were becoming. Even if nothing bad happens between these two did Nina really think I could just sit here while Michael flirts at her? Maybe if it was only for like a minute but it's been about four now and I'm starting to get annoyed.
"Aw, yes, I've placed you now. I used to call you Blue Rom. How was it that I got started calling you that?" Michael asked.
Nina shifted uncomfortably in place, not looking Michael in the eye. "I was out of school a little while with pleurosis. When I came back you asked me what the matter was. I said I had pleurosis - you thought I said Blue Roses That's what you always called me after that."
"Oh," Michael said, looking chagrined, "I hope you didn't mind."
"Oh, no… I liked it." Nina said, saying the last part softly. "You see, I wasn't acquainted with many… people…"
"Yes, as I remember you sort of stuck by yourself."
"I… I… never have had much luck at making friends." Nina stammered, attempting to look at Michael now.
"Oh yes, this is definitely Nina." Jerome said again sarcastically. Mara, instead of shushing him, giggled softly.
"I don't see why you wouldn't." Michael said.
"Well, I started out badly." Nina said
"You were shy with people!" Michael exclaimed
"I tried not to be but never could-" Nina said, attempting to defend herself.
"Overcome it?" Michael finished for her.
Nina nodded and looked down, ashamed of herself. "No, I… I never could."
Michael nodded, as if understanding of Nina's troubles. "I guess being shy is something you have to work out of kind of gradually."
Nina looked fully ashamed of herself. "Yes - I guess it-"
"Takes time" Michael said calmly, he got up off the couch and moved forward towards the center of the stage, Nina now paying full attention to him. "People are not so dreadful when you know them. That's what you have to remember! And everybody has problems, not just you, but practically everybody has got some problems." Michael now turned away from Nina and was now facing the audience directly, "You think of yourself as having the only problems, as being the only one who is disappointed. But just look around you and you will see lots of people as disappointed as you are."
That statement actually got me thinking. Everybody has problems… that's just a fact of life. But then of course, there are some problems that are worse than others, some problems that can't be solved as easily or as quickly.
I thought about Joy, thinking about her problems. Is it her fault she's such a witch? Yes, she was like this before she was taken by that secret society. But was it her fault that I, her perspective love interest, had fallen for some other girl? That she had lost her chance because fate had dictated that she had to be imprisoned by her own father and taken from everything she loved so dearly? Could she, everyday, be disappointed in herself? In what she is or what she's become?
I didn't spend much more time thinking about it because Patricia hit me on the shoulder, offering me some popcorn. I took some and returned my attention to the stage, and to Nina.
8:09 P.M.
Alfie's P.O.V.
Amber's crying had subsided somewhat after a couple of minutes, but she was still gasping and wetting her face and my jacket with her tears. We had moved to the side of the room and had sat down against the wall.
Amber was still sniffling and trembling when she started to talk again, "I am stupid." She simply stated.
"Amber…" I began.
"Daddy sends me to an exclusive and costly private school and I can barely remember anything I'm suppose to!" Amber protested.
"That doesn't make you stupid." I said, "You're smart in other ways, like social ways."
Amber laughed, defeated. "I'm not smart there either Alfie. I couldn't even realize that Mick doesn't like me anymore."
I stiffened, 'This could be my chance!' I thought to myself. I could feel myself starting to sweat as I thought of what to say to turn this into a positive for me, and I decided to just let Amber say everything. "What do you mean?" I asked.
"Mick!" Amber said, throwing up her hands in frustration. "He's been messing around with that blonde girl from Odin, Sophia!"
"What?" I said, hoping I sounded shocked enough. Amber nodded solemnly and began crying into my chest again. Part of me wanted to shout out that I knew about this all along, that I had photographic proof of this. But that might lead to having to confess to Amber about Joy and I wasn't ready for that yet, even though half of mind was screaming at me to do so.
"But you what the worst part is!" Amber said, "Do you know what makes me the stupidest person alive?" Amber nearly shouted this time, tears still streaming down her face. I shook my head and Amber continued. "I let myself be manipulated by Joy!"
"WHAT?" I shouted, fully shocked now. Amber nodded her head and looked away in shame. I stared at Amber, unable to believe she would allow her to be manipulated. At the same time though I felt… better. 'This was something we can connect over!'
"I allowed Joy to use me!" Amber said, "She used me to get everybody to hate Michael the first time he came over to dinner, to get Fabian jealous and to get Nina pissed at her boyfriend. AND IT WORKED!"
"Amber… Amber its ok!" I said, trying to comfort her.
"How can it possibly be ok Alfie?" Amber demanded, pushing herself away from me. "How can any of this be ok? It is the farthest thing away from 'ok'!"
"Because," I said, "I was used by Joy also."
8:12 P.M.
Alan's P.O.V.
"A unicorn, huh?" Michael said, identifying the glass animal that was part of Nina's glass menagerie. Nina had let him hold it after she had offered to show him her favorite thing in the world. Nina no longer seemed afraid, but was instead smiling excitedly. "Aren't they extinct in the modern world?"
"I know!" Nina simply stated, then smiled slyly, "But he does he doesn't complain about it. He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and all of them seem to get along nicely together."
"How do you know?" Michael asked, curiously.
Nina smiled again, looking at Michael directly. "I haven't heard any arguments among them."
Michael began to laugh, as did Nina. "No arguments, huh? Well, that's a pretty good sign! Where shall I set him?"
"Put him on the table. They all like a change of scenery once in a while!" Nina said. Michael put the unicorn down on the table and turned towards Nina, smiling. Nina looked at him and smiled back.
"There not acting anymore," Charlotte said next to me, "They actually really like each other."
"Don't read too much into it yet Char." I said, still focused on Nina and Michael.
"How about cutting the rug a little, Miss Wingfield?" Michael asked, taking steps closer to Nina.
"Oh." Nina said, suddenly looking flustered again. I was at full attention now, turning towards Charlotte.
"What the heck does that mean?" I demanded.
Charlotte looked at me, her face still the same emotionless expression. "He just asked if she wanted to dance."
I calmed myself a little bit, but was still uncomfortable. 'As long as they aren't grinding on stage.' I thought to myself.
Michael had moved over to the record player on the side, flipping through several records that were next to it. He stopped at one and pulled it out of the case. "Ahhh, a waltz!" He put the record on, and turned to Nina smiling as the music began to play while moving closer to her.
Nina's mouth was open wide, struggling to get words out. "I… I can't dance!" Nina protested.
Michael smiled at her, not deterred from his path. "Come on, try!"
"Oh, but I'd step on you!" Nina said, still trying to wiggle her way out of it. I kind of hoped that she did so she didn't have to dance with Michael.
"I'm not made out of glass." Michael said, grabbing both of Nina's hands softly and raising them into a dancing position. For a moment Michael looked nearly as uncomfortable as Nina's character, but quickly regained his confident posture.
"How… how… how do we start?" Nina asked.
"Just leave it to me. You hold your arms out a little." Michael said.
"Like this?"
"A little bit higher, right! Now don't tighten up, that's the main thing about it… relax." Michael instructed Nina.
Michael continued to give instruction to Nina on how to waltz, all the while touching her all over her upper body. "I'm glad I'm not around Fabian right now." I whispered to Charlotte. She simply nodded back, her full attention on stage.
Michael was doing a pretty good job with his character, whose behavior was nothing like Michael's. The same could be said for Nina and her character; I wonder what Mr. Winkler was thinking when he cast the two of them in those roles?
"Loosen the' backbone!" Michael instructed, slowly moving them into a waltzing pace, "There now, that's a lot better."
"Am I?" Nina asked, looking more and more pleased with herself. Michael nodded and swung Nina around, who replicated the moves that Michael had just told her to do. "Oh, my!" Nina said, shocked by the sudden rush of the waltz.
Michael began to laugh and then Nina did too. They began dancing together, crossing most of the stage while doing it. It started off clumsily as Nina had to stay in character but after about thirty seconds of dancing they were really impressive. They moved and worked together like clockwork, never missing a beat and doing all the right things. The music had increased in volume and with the dimmed lights and the painted backdrop of the city at night the scene was almost… romantic.
Both of them stopped when there was a thunk on stage and both of them fell to floor, Nina on top of Michael. They both looked at each other in the eyes and for a second seemed to drag it out longer then it was suppose to. Michael grunted, "What did we hit?"
"Table." Nina said simply, still staring at Michael.
"Did something fall off it? I think something did, did something break?" Michael asked, moving to get off the ground. Nina sighed, looking directly at audience.
"Yes." she said sadly.
8:14 P.M.
Alfie's P.O.V.
After I finished explaining to Amber how Joy had used me she looked at me, stunned. She was silent for a bit, but when she spoke she only asked one thing. "Why?"
I looked at her, "Why did I do it?" She nodded at me. "Because…" I began, but then stopped. I was unsure on how to tell Amber the truth.
"Because why?" Amber asked again, her eyes looking directly into mine even though I could not make mine look into hers. She smiled at me, "Alfie, you can tell me."
"I did it for you Amber." I said, staring directly into Amber's eyes. "I did it because she promised me she could help me get with you. I want you so bad Amber that I was willing to believe that Joy could help me, so I sold myself to her practically. I did whatever she wanted; nothing was too dirty for me because I wanted to believe that she could truly help me be with you! And that's all I wanted, to be with you! To care for you! To love you!"
Amber, to my joy, did not act disgusted with me. Instead she looked me, like really looked at me, and must have been able to tell I was telling the truth. "You did Joy's dirty work, so that we could be together?" She asked softly.
"Yes!" I admitted, "I wanted you so much Amber. And I still want you! I was a fool to think Joy could ever help me or that I should keep lying for her. But I didn't want you to think badly about me. And I knew I had to come clean when you started to kill yourself over the fact that you got used by Joy. I couldn't let you suffer alone!"
Amber looked away, at nothing in particular either, just staring off into space. I was on the edge, 'Why isn't she saying something?' I thought angrily to myself.
I didn't have to wait long because at that moment Amber moved forward and kissed me. On the lips too! It was amazing! Everything I dreamed about, even though it only lasted for like three seconds!
Amber pulled away and I was too stunned to say anything. I actually spoke gibberish for a few seconds and Amber giggled softly at me. "Alfie, what you did is the sweetest and most romantic thing anyone has done for me."
"Really?" I said surprised. Amber nodded and kissed me on the cheek as I pulled her into another hug. We stayed like that for a few seconds. As we pulled away I saw that Amber's face was serious.
"We have to stop Joy." She said.
I nodded to Amber, "I agree, we can't let them kiss."
"We need a plan." Amber said, "Should we do it sneakily or should we just run on stage and stop it like in those cheesy romance movies?" An idea suddenly popped into my head and I smiled. "Alfie what is it?" Amber asked.
"I know what to do!" I said, jumping off the floor and running towards the door. Amber looked at me stunned.
"Wait, Alfie! What are you planning?" She asked.
"Amber stay here! I don't want you involved with this. That way, you can't get punished if they find out." I said.
"Find out what? And who is they? ALFIE!" Amber shouted after me, but I didn't stick around to listen as I was already running towards my goal. As I ran I smiled to myself.
'I think I just got a girlfriend!' I thought to myself happily.
8:14 P.M.
Fabian's P.O.V.
I was not doing well when Nina and Michael started dancing, and I was doing even worse when they lay on top of each other. Now… I don't know what to feel.
Mara and Patricia are at the edges of their seats along with me, giving Nina the most intense looks I've ever seen. Jerome even seems to be giving the play his full attention, not saying anymore sarcastic comments. I can visually see Joy a few rows up, laughing with her cronies at the discomfort I must be feeling.
"Still I'm awfully sorry that I was the cause." Michael said, trying to apologize for bumping into the table that held Nina's menagerie set. Nina's character's favorite piece, the unicorn, had managed to make it through ok, but the horn that made it unique was broken off much to Nina's dismay.
Nina smiled at Michael, still looking sad. "I'll just imagine he had an operation. The horn was removed to make him feel less… less freakish." Both of them looked at one another and began laughing. They both stopped and Nina continued; "Now he will feel more at home with the other horses, the ones that don't have horns."
Michael was still laughing slightly. "That actually funny Laura." Suddenly Michael got very serious, looking at Nina with… affection? "I'm glad to see that you have a sense of humor. You know… you're… well…very different! Surprisingly different from anyone else I know!"
Nina looked away from Michael, not even looking at the audience or off into the wings. I shuddered; I suddenly had a bad feeling about something. Nina's discomfort looked genuine as did Michael's, who was moving closer to Nina.
"Do you mind me telling you that?" Michael asked Nina. Nina rose off the ground and placed the broken unicorn on the table. She turned to Michael, looking really shy and still not meeting anybody's eye except the floors. "I mean it in a nice way..." Michael continued.
"Oh hell, he's not going to do anything is he?" Jerome whispered harshly. Mara shushed him and turned her attention back to the stage.
"You make me feel sort of… I don't know how to put it! I'm usually pretty good at expressing things, but this is something that I don't know how to say!" Michael continued, laughing nervously while Nina twiddled her thumbs nervously as well.
'Then don't say anything!' I wanted to shout. Patricia hit me in the arm.
"You have to do something!" She said.
I looked at her stunned, "And what should I do Patricia? They're in the middle of acting!"
"SO?" Patricia whispered harshly, several people shushed us but Patricia gave them all dirty stares, "Oh you people shut up! Fabian," She said, turning to me now, "grow a pair and get on stage and stop Michael."
"Do you realize how embarrassing that will be for Nina, Fabian and Michael?" Mara demanded.
"Well he can't just sit back and do nothing!" Patricia protested. Somebody else shushed Patricia and then I heard Michael say something on stage that stopped everything.
"I think I may love you." Michael said.
Nina actually gasped on stage and turned to Michael, staring at him shocked. He too looked shocked by what he just said, and his face turned really red.
Well, I think I want to kill Michael.
Alan's P.O.V.
"That isn't the line." Charlotte said.
My head spun around towards her. "What?" I whispered harshly.
Charlotte's was now filled with shock as she turned to face me. "That isn't the line he was suppose to say! Michael's character never admits that he loves her, or even that he might!"
I was stunned and turned quickly to look back to the stage. Now I could tell, Nina's reaction was not scripted or acted at all. It was legit shock.
And I bet Michael was looking for a real answer about now too.
Fabian's P.O.V.
My fury was at the highest I had ever known it to be; even last year when I learned how Joy had used me could not compare the rage I felt now.
This does not feel like acting anymore. Nina does not look like she's acting anymore and neither does Michael.
"Wh…what?" Nina finally managed to get out.
"Please don't make me say it again." Michael begged of Nina. Both of them just stared at each other as audience members turned to one another, questioning each other about what exactly was happening.
Is this for real?
Their just acting right? Nina's in a relationship!
What the hell is going on?
All those whispers cut through the silence that was on stage. Michael clear his throat, held his head high and began walking closer to Nina who stood as still as a statue.
"You… you are the most beautiful person I know." Michael said, now standing right next to Nina. "You are smart, funny, beautiful and unbelievably talented at everything that you do. You have no idea how amazing you are! You're so humble and caring even when you shouldn't be. You are pretty much the most amazing thing on this planet… and I love you for that."
Everybody in the auditorium gasped and I felt myself go numb. I think Patricia grabbed my arm and started telling me to do something but I wasn't paying attention, all my focus was on Nina and how she would react.
Nina wasn't even trying to look composed. She looked like a trapped animal trying to escape, yet knowing she can't. Her breathing had become so deep that it was causing the room to vibrate slightly thanks to the microphone on her cheek.
All eyes were on her and I couldn't help but wonder why somebody wasn't pulling them off stage. Maybe Mr. Winkler thought this was good drama. All I knew was that it was a nightmare. I stood up and moved out of my seat, moving towards the front of the auditorium to get on stage and protect Nina. To protect my girlfriend.
Michael, out of the corner of his eye, must have seen me coming because he grasped both of Nina's hands and pulled her close. "Somebody ought to… ought to kiss you." Michael said.
I was now racing to get out of my row, tripping over a few people as I did so. I finally made it out and began racing up the main aisle. I looked up and saw that both of their lips were literally centimeters apart. I thought it was over…
Then suddenly a loud siren went off and water began to pour from the ceiling.
This was a tough one to write. I want to apologize for how long it took me to upload. I kept getting distracted by things and whenever I started to work on this chapter I kept editing and changing the way things played out. I hope this is good enough for you guys.
As for the actual series I have to saw that overall I felt Season 2 was great, but could of been much better. The beginning was good, the middle part wasn't that good, and the ending was awesome. I've already given you my thoughts on the first half, and I have to say that my opinions changed slightly with the second half of the season. I actually started to root for Victor a little near the end and was happy with the way his story line finished up. I also thought that all the romances were a bit clique but whatever, they work and they were fun to watch. I also have to applaud the producers on their special effects team... wow is a major understatement but still. It was WOW! Great job!
I do however have to say that when Mick walked back into Anubis house I wanted to kill the producers. YOU GAVE US EDDIE TO REPLACE HIM! And while Eddie isn't the greatest character around, he's a lot better than Mick. Mick, go back to Australia, nobody wants you!
Anyways, season 2 was good (though some areas could of been improved) and I'm looking forward to next season already.
As for this story, there will probably only be about two or three more chapters (along with an Epilogue). With that in mind PLEASE REVIEW! Your reviews give me the will to continue writing!