A/N: No reviews? Awww…. I'll be leaving for a little vacation this week, so I thought I'd leave you with an update. As with last time I left, if I get at least 5 reviews, I'll update tomorrow! So, please review! Names in italics indicate a new point of view. (Ex: Seraphine: ) On with the story! Warning: If you cried during the end of Moulin Rouge, beware. I use that scene in here, so proceed with caution.
Chapter Two: Auditions and a Meeting
Seraphine:
Two days left until the audition date. I would do fine. I blocked out the noisy chatter in the Drama classroom and rolled onto my stomach.
"Hey, Stephen, will you read the Duke's part for me?" I called to the mousy haired freshman that was a seriously good actor; he'd made the club on the spot when he tried out. No debates or callbacks, just a snap decision we hadn't regretted.
"Sure." He answered, walking over and collapsing onto the soft blue carpet. "What scene are we doing?" He scanned the script as I replied.
"It's the scene in the Elephant… Right after Christian sings 'Your Song' to Satine and the Duke walks in. Seaking of Christian, we need someone to read him…" I glanced around the crowded room quickly, looking for anyone. My eyes alighted on a kid I vaguely remembered as being in my grade and who was named Christopher Something-Or-Other. He was good-looking, I noticed. Too bad he'd never get the part he was probably auditioning for. Christian was a popular character, and all of the guys were auditioning. "Hey, Christopher!" I waved, dorkishly, and he came over, a grin lighting up his dazzling green eyes. "Read Christian, please?"
"Sure," He stammered, fumbling with his script. "Stephen starts." He straightened his back, cleared his throat, and transformed. He wasn't nervous anymore. He was completely dedicated to his character. I shook myself and focused on becoming Satine, on leaving this classroom until it was only Christian, the Duke, and I having a conversation in the Elephant.
"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental-" Stephen began in a perfect imitation of the Duke's reedy voice.
"But diamonds are a girl's best friend." I chuckled, my voice deeper than normal.
"Oh. Well. After tonight's pretty exertions on the stage, you must surely be in need of refreshment, my dear." Stephen continued, getting up and walking around the room toward an imaginary table. I sensed Christopher get up and hide behind said imaginary table and I stood also.
"Don't!" I screamed hysterically. "You… Just… Love the view, hmm?" I grabbed Stephen and pointed out of the window, blocking his view of Christopher.
"Charming." The Duke reached for champagne.
"Oh! Oh. I feel like dancing! Yoo! Whoo-whoo!" I started dancing, anything to distract the Duke. The Duke chuckled nervously and I kept dancing. Christian poked his head above the table, a confused expression on his face.
"You see, I should like a glass of champagne." The Duke insisted. Christian ducked down again.
"No!" I said, blushing under the Duke's freaked out stare. "It's—It's a little bit funny." The Duke picked up the champagne bottle, still staring at me.
"What is?" He asked as Christian poked his head back up.
"This…" I started, trying to remember the words.
"Feeling." Christian whispered quietly.
"Feeling…" I repeated.
"Inside." Christian whispered while pointing to his stomach.
"Inside," I echoed.
"I'm not one of those--" Christian continued. I squinted unobtrusively, trying to make out what he was saying.
"I'm not one of those… who can easily… Hide! No!" Christian had ducked behind the table, knocking something over. I ran to the Duke and knelt before him. "I don't have much money, but if I did, oh, I'd buy a big house… where we both could live." I pointed to the door, making sure Christian saw so he knew he could leave. I stood up slowly, drawing a deep breath. Time to sing.
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is
Now you're in the world!
The script ended, and I blinked, half of me still Satine and seeing the Elephant around me, and the other half seeing the students that had gathered around to watch us perform. I smiled easily, breathing slowly and deeply as I became fully aware of my surroundings.
"You did a great job…" I said, looking at Christopher curiously.
"Christopher. Christopher Davis." He answered, nervous and blushing again.
"And I'm Seraphine. Seraphine Higdon. This is Stephen Samuels." I introduced. "You did great."
"I'm impressed." I turned, startled. Mrs. Adams stood there, clapping politely. "Let me see a scene that's just Christian and Satine. Here, do this one." She handed us a script and Stephen backed away slowly, melting into the crowd.
"But that's the very end! Where she's dying!" I protested.
"I need to see how realistically you die." She said pointedly. "Go until I say stop." I nodded and centered myself, losing myself to Satine's character. I knew Christopher was doing the same.
"This woman is yours now." Christian mimed throwing money down, a bitter expression on his face and distant, cold eyes that revealed a world of pain and hate. "I've paid my whore." He looked at me then, choking back sobs. "I owe you nothing. And you are nothing to me. Thank you for curing me with my ridiculous obsession with love." He walks away and I cry silently, heart-broken. I heard some kid whisper Toulouse's line, quietly and totally not in character. I hoped absently that the Zidler character would be better.
"I can't remember my line." The Toulouse kid muttered.
"This sitar player doesn't love you! See, he flees the kingdom!" Anthony was Harold Zidler! He was perfect. He knelt down next to me and whispered his next line. "Pumpkin, it's for the best. You know it is. The show must go on." I shook my head, feeling the tears come faster. "And now, my bride…" He stood up again, helping me to my feet with a single hand. "It is time for you to raise your voice to the heavens…" Christian is still walking down the aisle, taking off a sports jacket that I imagine to be the costume coat he stole from the Argentinean. "…And say your wedding vows." My head is bowed, trying unsuccessfully to stop the tears. I've never been this fully in character ever before. "Sing to our gods your--"
"I've got it. I've got it! Christian!" I almost sag in relief but manage to stay in character. Mrs. Adams has gotten a different, and better, Toulouse. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return!" I watch as Christian freezes. I realize suddenly that the only important person is Christian. I step forward and begin to sing. (A/N: Italics is Satine singing. Bold italics is Christian. Bold, underlined italics is both!)
Never knew I could feel like this.
Slowly, painfully, Christian begins walking toward the door again.
It's like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Christian stops.
Everyday I'm loving you more and more
Listen to my heart…
Christian turns at looks at me. I am walking along the stage, my eyes locked on his.
Can you hear it sing
Come back to me
And forgive everything!
I gasped, having sung the last part louder than I meant. The world sways and I pant for breath.
Seasons may change
Winter to Spring
Christian is smiling now, a slight smile, but it's there nonetheless.
"I love you." I whisper.
Till the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
I will love you
Until my dying
Dying
Day!
Come what may
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you
Until my dying
"Stop! Skip to the very end, after the show behind the red curtain." Mrs. Adams interrupted. I break character long enough to find the last page, then I collect myself and transform. I throw back my head and start gasping and coughing. I fall down and am caught by Christian, who cradles me in his arms.
"Satine? Satine. Are you alright?" I wheeze and gasp in his arms, feeling foolish. "Darling. Darling, what's the matter? Darling. Satine. What's the matter?" I cough again, imagining blood on the corner of my mouth. "God. Oh God." He puts his thumb on the corner of my mouth, wiping away the blood. "Somebody get help!"
"Hold the curtain! Fetch the doctor!" Zidler orders Marie."
"I'm sorry, Christian. I-- I-- I-- I'm dying." I wheeze, forcing the words out.
"Shh… Shh…Shh..." Christian rocks me, trying to soothe me but I whimper in realistic pain.
"I'm so sorry…" I whisper.
"You'll be all right…. You'll be all right…. You'll be all right…" Christian repeats, more to himself than to me.
"Cold. I'm co-cold." I look at him and watch him hold back tears. "Hold me. Hold me."
"You're okay." He sniffs and trembles. "I love you." I smile weakly.
"You've got to go on, Christian."
"Can't go on without you, though."
"You've got so much to give. Tell- Tell our story, Christian." He is sobbing freely now, pain, the worst kind of pain, etched onto the young lines of his face.
"No."
"Yes. Promise me. Promise me."
"Yes." He sobs, and then whispers. "Yes."
"That way I'll—I'll always be with you." I draw a last breath and go limp in Christian's warm arms. I struggle up as the classroom erupts in cheers.
"That was amazing. I've never seen so much talent! We have our Christian and Satine!" Mrs. Adams gushes to an even louder round of applause. I stand awkwardly next to Christopher, my hand in his. I flush and step away from him, noticing his wide-eyed look.
"You're a great singer." I tell him gently. "You'll be a great Christian."
A/N: Did you like it? I had fun writing it, except for when I had to copy from a script I found online. I didn't post a disclaimer, but I'll say it now: I own nothing! Just the characters I created! Please review!