I don't know anything about stage plays, rehearsing or anything. I've never been into acting myself. I'm sure it takes a long time to rehearse before the premiere. I don't want to dwell so long on this story, so I will skip through some time (a few days/weeks)in the next chapters. Hope it sounds more real that way.

This chapter isn't much fun, but there will be good times again, I promise! (An Anna/Bates relationship will never be easy and plain sailing!) John will explain things later on!

To all: Have fun watching THE NEW EPISODE TONIGHT!

No fairytale

Anna took a quick, warm shower and put on her soft pajamas. She searched her fridge for some leftovers and heated them in the microwave. She ate them while she walked through her apartment and cleaned up a bit of the mess she and Mary had left from yesterday. After that, she found herself a comfy place on her sofa with a blanket and glass of wine.

Anna had chosen to watch the film version of Pride and prejudice. She really wanted to see something else, but because John was in it, she knew it wasn't a good idea.

Anna already had seen this film a dozen times, so it was easy for her to sink into her own thoughts without missing the story. She wondered what had occupied Bates' thoughts this morning when they rehearsed their scenes. First, she had thought it was her, because he told her she had bewitched him. Thinking of this made her feel warm inside, but then, she thought maybe it was just a joke and there was something else. He just needed an excuse so she wouldn't ask any further. He had such a hard look on his face this afternoon, like she was interrupting his thoughts. He wasn't interested in her at all. He would have explained it to her.

Guys aren't fairytales Anna, she had to remind herself. She again focused on the film.

Only fifteen minutes into the film, Anna heard her phone beep. She didn't want to leave her comfortable position and didn't feel like talking to someone. Only five minutes later, there was another beeping sound. Well, two messages can wait, she thought. But not ten minutes later, the third message interrupted her thoughts.

Annoyed, Anna paused the film and grabbed her phone out of her bag. She opened them:

- Hi Anna, did you already leave? Wondering where you are. John

- You're probably home already. Please let me know, else I'll worry. John

- John called me, he wondered if you left without saying goodbye. He told me he hadn't been nice to you. I told him you … (1/2)

The next message came while she was reading:

- (2/2) …went home to have a nice evening yourself. Dropped a hint about him being stupid. Hope you don't mind. X Mary

Anna typed a message back to Mary:

- Thanks :) watching a film in PJ's like you suggested. Enjoy your evening ;) Anna

She considered writing something to John as well,…. but he already knew she'd gone home….only, she didn't want to make him like her less for not responding. Finally, she decided to send him something.

- Yes I'm home. Thanks for your concern. Anna

She hoped with that everything would be all right.

Anna pushed play on her remote and settle back onto her sofa. Still, she couldn't get her mind off it. The message was a bit short and cold. She hoped he wouldn't be offended. The film went on without Anna. She again filled her glass with wine, dreaming away about love.

The next days they weren't rehearsing. Only until after the weekend, Anna had an appointment. She had to do her first fittings at Sybil's. It seemed Anna wasn't the only one, because Tom was just leaving when she came in. He had a grin on his face.

"Hi Anna, you're next?" Tom started the conversation.

"Yeah, I'm very curious about the result, I think my faery outfit will be the coolest thing I will ever wear on stage", Anna answered.

"You bet, if Sybil pulled her magic, she did a great job,… I'm sure!" he responded with enthusiasm.

Anna raised her eyebrows at Tom; he acted a bit… strange. Before she could ask him, he already walked out the door and waved goodbye to Anna.

Anna walked further into the building and found Sybil in deep thoughts with some of the costumes lying around her. Anna knocked on the door to let Sybil know she was there.

"Oh sorry Anna, I was distracted. Come on in," she said apologetically

"Wonder what's on your mind," Anna smirked at Sybil, laughing a bit. Sybil only blushed and picked up the costumes around her.

"This is yours Anna. I'm not done yet, but you'll see what I've in mind," she told while she handed Anna her costume.

The top was a corset. It was mainly green fabric of different shades; dark and light. Bits of brown embroidery and even some sparkles where attached to it. It was amazing. It was magical as well as enchanting.) It had to be laced in beautiful matching cording.

With that she could wear a trouser or long maxi skirt. The trousers where a dark green, muddy looking color so as to look tougher and be quick; The skirt more light green so as to show the more womanly part of the faery.

Anna fit into the pieces of clothing. Sybil adjusted some things and wrote something down. She tightened the corset on Anna's body even more, so it pushed her breast up even higher. She looked happy with her design.

"You did a wonderful job Sybil, I'm really,… speechless!" Anna uttered, to say at least something while she watched herself in the mirror. She was now transformed into a stunning faery.

"I spoke to Robert about the hairstyle you will get. Just letting your hair down loose, has my preference. Definitely a bit wilder than you have it now... It will look sexy," Sybil said while she pushed some of Anna's hair up and shook her hands through it.

Anna's cheeks glowed. She almost didn't recognize herself. She gazed at her reflection.

"I wonder what John thinks of it…", she wondered in a soft whisper. She had surprised herself by saying it out loud instead of in her head. She checked if Sybil heard anything.

Sybil was grinning and told her not to worry, "I'm sure he loves it! If you want you can ask him yourself. I expect him here in about half an hour."

The fact he would besoon there made Anna feel nervous instantly. She hadn't heard from him in days. She wasn't sure she was ready to face him. Mainly because she was scared to be disappointed… she never seemed to understand his mood. Anna felt her breathing getting heavy and her muscles tensed. She gazed at the floor while she thought about the best way to handle this situation. She wanted to see him, but she also wanted to avoid him. 'Being in love can feel so good and make you feel so scared at the same time', Anna thought. It didn't make the choice easier. She decided she at least had to get out of these clothes and into her own, before he entered the room. Sybil helped her out of the corset. Now Anna looked in the mirror again and saw something different- A tiny girl, insecure, confused, with messed up hair. This was the girl John saw, she realized. Anna never felt this way before. It made her sad and feeling down.

"Well, good luck with the adjustments you have to make on the clothes Sybil", Anna started and made herself ready to leave.

Sybil hadn't expected Anna would leave so soon. "Don't you want a cup of tea, I just boiled the water?" she questioned.

"No thanks, I'm meeting a friend in about half an hour, in town, so I'll best be off", Anna tried as an excuse.

"Oh,… OK,.. see you next week for the final fitting?" Sybil asked.

"Yes, I can't wait. Till then!" Anna replied and walked out. She had a strong feeling Bates would soon be there and she desperately wanted to be gone when he came in. Anna was avoiding him. It confused her when she realized she did this because she was in love. She was afraid, really scared, in fact. Spending the days without seeing him made her crave for him even more. She was afraid seeing him would make her fall head over heals, she couldn't think straight, let alone talk to him with any sense. Her knees felt week by the thought of him being probably only a few streets away from her.

In a hurry she left the building, she wasn't even taking in the world around her. She only watched her feet to know where she was going. 'Why are you so messed up when you're in love, Anna? Get him out of your head. Just focus on other things', she tried to convince herself.

She finally started breathing normally again, when suddenly someone grabbed one of her wrists. Anna jumped and turned immediately. She grabbed at her chest to take control of her breath again, before she looked up at her attacker. Anna's eyes grew wide and her blood rushed through her veins, when her brain had processed the image of the man in front of her.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you…", the man apologized, with a smile on his face. It was John.