I promised another chapter this week, so here it is. Chapter 6 will take a while, still didn't finish that one.
There's some more talking and touching in this chapter... please let me know what you think of it ;-)
Teasing faery
Anna didn't know what to think of it. Did he mean what he said, or was it just about the play? Teasing man! Now I'm sure I won't be able to concentrate the rest of the day!
He must have noticed he had confused Anna, as he was grinning the whole time. Anna couldn't think of a suitable reply, so, she decided to say nothing at all.
They performed the scene again and now Bates did a wonderful job. Anna was really impressed. It didn't happen again.
The whole morning, they wrestled themselves through most of the scenes. Robert gave some tips and directions on their performances and it worked out very well. Anna and John had a lot of fun when they weren't acting. They discussed some topics and after a while, Anna was bold enough to bring up the 'no touching rule'. They both agreed it was harder to act. With little touches, someone can show interest, but certainly with meeting a faery; you want to know something is real.
"Only if you can touch something, it can be real", Bates said to Anna.
"I don't know", Anna replied. "I think I'm able to love something, without touching. Sometimes only a thought about it can be enough to fall in love. "For example…" she added, "you can't feel rainbows, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. They're kind of magical as well. Just like falling in love."
"The way you talk about love and rainbows make you sound so young and sweet. But that's not real life Anna", Bates told her.
"Well, I believe it. Still, I think I would have loved it when we would be allowed to touch in this play," she blushed a little. She had just said it loud enough for Robert to hear.
"Then, we will proceed to the scene where you will finally be allowed to touch each other, Anna.
He said it as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Probably for him it is, Anna thought.
"Let's do the last act. Fay lies on the forest ground. Thomas finally finds her, scared he's too late. He is desperate! He wants to show her his love and can finally feel her, now he thinks he can't kill her with his touch. He confesses his love. So John, you kneel as close to Anna as you can. You can caress her shoulder or face,… whatever you like,… and softly turn her so you're able to give her a small kiss on her lips. Think 'sleeping beauty style'."
"You mean only a soft peck on the mouth?" John wonders out loud. "I expected a passionate kiss, but the audience will have to do with a fairytale kiss?" he adds.
Just what Anna thought to herself. Not again! I thought this was an adult play, but all of a sudden it's a fairytale again! Anna and John looked at each other in understanding. Anna sighed.
"Well, let's do this Anna. I told you to do what Robert says, so I hope I was right…", he winked.
It was an unexpected and unwelcome change for Anna, but it didn't make her less nervous. She didn't have any more lines to say in the last scene, so it was easy. She could focus on staying calm. Anna lay down on the floor, closing her eyes, waiting for Bates to start. Robert nodded he could begin.
Anna could feel his footsteps on the floor. He was coming closer. Her heartbeat rose until she thought it would come right through her chest. Her hands where feeling cold, but sweaty. She barely could lay still. She could hear him say his lines, but she didn't understand them. She tried to focus on her breathing. He was lowering himself next to her, she could feel their clothes touch. A shiver ran through her and she felt like she was back on earth. After what felt like minutes, Bates touched her cheek. Softly he caressed her skin, moving his hand up to brush a few strands of hair out of her face. Anna trembled under his touch and took a deep breath. With his strong arms he raised her a bit from the floor and took her in his arms. Anna was still pretending to be asleep, but felt more alive then ever. She wondered if he could feel her blood pulsing under her skin. Now he lowered his forehead against hers. She was sure he looked desperate, because he was breathing heavy and it felt warm against her face. She didn't mind at all. Again, she smelt his scent. It was a strong men's fragrance, a nice perfume. It reminded her of the first kiss on her cheek. Without showing, she took a deep breath just before their lips met. Anna thought she was floating. Her body was tingling. She could feel his lips, soft and moist; his stubble chafing against her skin. She knew she had to open her eyes, wake up to be Fay again, but it was just too soon. Bates lips parted with hers. Anna slightly opened them to start breathing, but let out an unheard sigh she apparently had kept in. Unexpectedly, John softly caressed her lips with his thumb. Anna's eyes slightly opened and she gazed deeply into his eyes when he pronounced one of his last lines of the script: "Like the Kiss of a Muse... there's Magic in a Faery's Kiss!"
They smiled at each other and Robert clapped his hands. "Well done, well done! I quite believed it you guys! Really lovely! If you do exactly the same on stage, the audience will love it! I'm glad it's not a thing you have to practice often. We can focus on other scenes and get back with this only just before the premiere. That way it stays natural."
I can't believe that man, Anna thought, but also had to smile because of it. Their kissing wasn't meant to be.
Robert continued,"So, then we have Mrs. Hughes finding the two of you together in the woods. She always hoped for Thomas to become happy, so she hugs and kisses you happily on the cheek while you're still holding Anna at her waist. Everyone speaks their last lines,.. and then the ending music. I can see everything happening."
Both Anna and Bates just stood there, listening while Robert kept on talking. Neither of the men knew what was going through Anna's mind at that moment. Can you love someone so soon? - I'm afraid he lit a fire within me, that can't be controlled. - I don't want to give in to it just yet! - It will make it so hard to be rejected by him. She didn't know what to do or how to act. Thank god it was time for a break and she could get some time for herself.
The rest of the day went on in a slow pass. Nothing exciting happened really. They worked on some difficult scenes with other actors and rewrote some lines to make it sound better. When grabbing some coffee later in the afternoon, Anna walked into Bates, alone. She took advantage of the moment to invite him for the evening at her place. It wasn't a thing she would normally do. She just thought of it to get to know him better and have a nice conversation over some home made dinner. She already had in mind what she would cook for him. Unfortunately, she didn't get the response she hoped for.
"I'm sorry Anna; I already have other plans for tonight… some things I have to take care of." He had a hard look on his face. He didn't explain anything about it any further. She nodded. Anna was never much insecure, but there started to form a dint somewhere in her body.
"Alright…. See you later", Anna responded in a most self-confident way. Thankfully I'm a good actress, she thought. She walked away to find some distraction.
Soon she was talking to Mary. Mary noticed something was on Anna's mind. "What's bothering you Anna? You look a bit fidgety and,... annoyed."
"Oh nothing really, just a long day after a short night." She lied to Mary. But Mary was on to her.
"No, there's something else. Tell me", she raised her eyebrows in a most encouraging way. Anna couldn't keep it for herself any longer. If she wanted to sleep tonight, she had to talk to someone to get her mind at peace.
"I thought it was nice to invite John this evening,… to my house. Just make him some dinner, chat a bit. Really I didn't have anything more in mind – she only said that because she knew what Mary was thinking. – …and it was only to get to know each other better. We do have to work a lot together the next couple of months… right?" Anna blurted out.
"So he said yes and now you're nervous?" Mary thought out loud.
"No… he did not." She was silent for a few seconds. "It was not like he rejected me completely… he said he had other plans."
"That doesn't mean anything Anna. He has other plans - everyone makes plans… having dinner; visiting one's mother; filling in you tax return; watching your favorite movie… it can be anything. Nothing to worry about."
"He didn't offer another night. Sometimes I don't get his point. He drops hints he likes me and now… I really have no clue what's on his mind."
"Probably some chick that's waiting at is place", Ethel said when she suddenly walked into the room.
"Ethel! Have you been listening to our private conversation?!" said Anna in a harsh way.
"There was no private sign anywhere, was there? How could I know it was private, I just couldn't help but overhear. I knew you were into John, but he probably has too many women on his mind to even consider you Anna. I'm truly sorry to tell you this. Get over it." With that, Ethel walked away.
"Ohhhh I can't stand that girl", Mary exclaimed. "Another remark and I will punch her!"
"I'm sure Mrs. Hughes agrees", Anna tried to joke, but she knew it was just to conceal her true feelings.
"Anna, don't listen to her! I know John better then her. He might not be the dream guy you have in mind, but if he's dating, he would have told you instead of keeping you in the dark. He's just struggling."
"Struggling with what?" Anna wondered out loud.
"I don't know, personal things… we never have really deep conversations…. but he struggles with himself lately. Never tell him I mentioned it!" Mary added.
Anna only nodded. Her mind was trying to think of all the possibilities.
"Dearest Anna… go home… make yourself something easy to eat, put on your pajamas and watch a movie. But promise me, nothing with John Bates in it!"
Anna laughed, "That's a great idea Mary, thanks for your support! It's nice to be able to talk to somebody about this. What are your plans this evening?"
Mary smiled like a teenager. "Matthew will pick me up in about an hour. Don't tell anyone, no one else knows. So now I really have to go home and change… I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Have a wonderful evening Mary!" Anna sincerely said to her new friend.
Without saying goodbye to anyone, Anna went on her way home, alone.