Here you go guys! Only one more chapter after this, but I will have a sequel. I'm so sad that I only have one more chapter, but I'll make it good!

I stepped lightly onto the stage, book in hand. Around me, actors jostled around the town, but I kept my nose in the book, stopping only to avoid being run into or over.

I was humming to myself, but over the mike, I could hear it loud and clear.

"I just love this book!" I exclaimed to no one in particular.

Just then, the guy who played Gaston stepped cockily in front of me and started flirting – you know the story.

I laughed politely as he tried to lead me off to dinner with him, but I was persistent and said, "Actually, Gaston, I have to go! Father's machines will need cleaning, now won't they?"

The audience laughed at the effect my words had on Jerry, who played Gaston and he mumbled, "Oh, so she'd rather oil machine parts than spend time with me? Well I'll just have to change that."

The next couple of scenes went smoothly; no one forgot their lines or anything!

Finally, we got to the part where I met the Beast.

Ian stepped onstage in a cloud of fog, and I heard the crowd start to murmur. Who could blame them? The effect that the fog made on the stage as Ian stepped on was amazing.

"What do you think you're doing?" he roared, stepping into the light.

I cowered next to my father and pleaded. "Please, let my father go!"

Ian just surveyed me carefully.

"How dare you, jerk? My father is about to die! Let him go!" I shouted again.

I fell to the ground and gave Jarrod, who played Dad, a hug.

"Belle, go!" 'Dad' said.

"Please! I'll do anything! Let me trade places with him! PLEASE!" I cried again.

"Deal. Jason, take him away." I looked down at me, his eyes spiteful.

I started to sob as Jason dragged me through the halls of the castle that we had created in the small stage.

The curtain closed, and it was time for scene two.

Stage crew rushed about, taking away the hallway of the castle and replacing it with my bedroom, the wardrobe, and a set of stairs that was outside my doorframe, which would serve as a door.

The whole transformation lasted less than a minute, and in just seconds, I was back out onstage, sitting on my bed with my face in my hands.

"Would you like some tea, darling?" Genni called from the door.

She came in and gave me a wink, sitting down next to me.

"Why is he so cruel?" I asked, my despairing voice pitiful to even me.

"It's not your fault, love." Genni said, patting my back.

I sighed and looked down at the floor.

"Well, do come down for dinner in an hour, sweetheart," Genni said, with a sympathetic glance.

"I'm not hungry," I whispered.

Genni left the room, but a moment later, Ian showed up at the doorway, pounding on the edge of it.

"What do you mean you won't come to dinner? You're my prisoner and you'll do as I say!" he bellowed.

I gasped and yelled back to him, "No!"

Ian fumed and said, "Fine, maybe you should just starve!"

Then, he turned and jumped down the small flight of steps.

~lovelovelove~

"Where are you taking me?" I asked a few scenes later as Ian guided me, blindfolded, to the place he was showing me.

"Just calm down; it's a surprise," he said, his voice full of excitement.

"Alright, open them!"

I blinked my eyes opened and found myself staring at a room piled high with books, overstuffed couches and chairs, and full-size windows.

"Oh my goodness, it's gorgeous!" I exclaimed, running my hand along the props, and browsing through books.

Ian shrugged and said, "No one ever uses it, so it's yours."

I took his hand in mine and said, "Thank you."

I heard some people in the audience sigh at the scene, and I smiled.

A bit later, Ian and I were talking in his study, looking at the magic mirror the witch had given him to see the world. "Show me my father!" I said, still laughing at something that Ian had said.

But I fell silent as I pretended to watch what was on the mirror.

"My father is in trouble!" I gasped out.

Ian watched me with a sad look in his eyes and said, "Belle, you have to go to him.

I gaped. "But, I can't leave!"

He just shook his head. "No, Belle, go. I'm freeing you to save your father's life. Take my mirror, though," Ian said, handing me the silver mirror.

A tear fell from my eye as I threw my arms around him and said, "Thank you so much!"

Then, I rushed out of the stage.

The curtains closed one more time and the props were moved around. When the curtains reopened, I raced across the village shouting, "Where is my father?"

They all pointed towards the Insane Asylum where he was locked up. "Why are you locked up?" I asked.

"They thought I was crazy for telling them you had been taken by a beast!"

Everyone on stage was crowding around us now and I held up the mirror. "My father is not crazy! I can prove it! Show us the Beast!" I yelled, showing them the mirror, now supposedly filled with an image of the Beast. Of course, the audience couldn't see the empty mirror frame.

The villagers basically freaked out and went to storm the castle with Gaston, my jerk stalker, in the lead.

I followed, yelling for them to stop.

The last scene brought tears to my eyes as the Beast lay dying on the castle roof. The fog machine was going full blast, and I laid my head down on his chest.

"Please don't die," I choked out. "I-I love you."

Ian "transformed" and when the fog cleared, the crowd gasped. The Beast had turned back to a human.

"Belle?" Ian asked, coughing slightly.

"Beast? You're alive! And you're-you're human!" I exclaimed, wiping the tears out of my eyes.

"I love you," Ian whispered.

I threw my arms around him, let out a slight laugh, and yelled, "I love you too!"

The crowd ahhed as I put my lips to his. I had practiced with Ian before, but he had never really kissed me, not like now. The curtains closed as he deepened the kiss, and I heard the applause start.

"If you two are done," a voice said above me, sounding immensely amused.

I shot up, reeling back away from Ian.

"Oh, Genni!" I said, after I had turned my mike off.

Ian got up and dusted himself off, and said, "We should get ready for the curtain call."

I smiled and nodded. Then, I linked arms with Genni and Ian as everyone in the cast surrounded us. We all linked ourselves together as the curtains reopened, and we saw the standing ovation we were getting.

Mr. James stepped out and said, "Give it up for the wonderful cast and crew of our Beauty and the Beast!"

Everyone bowed, making it like a wave.

Then, Jacob, who had been playing a minor roll, stepped out and said, "Let's hear it for our amazing leads, Amy Cahill and Ian Kabra!"

Genni shoved both of us out into the middle of the stage, and the crowd's cheering got louder.

Ian put his arm around my waist and murmured, "Keep up the act."

I nodded and yelled, "Thanks everyone so much for coming! This Beast and I here appreciate it more than you know!" I elbowed Ian at the part where I said this beast, and the crowd laughed as Ian scowled at me.

The curtains closed for the last time, and Genni gave me a hug. "Amy, you were so amazing! Are you sure that you're not part Janus?"

I laughed and hugged her back. "No way! I'll leave the arts up to you!"

~lovelovelove~

The after cast party started as soon as everyone left, but Dan and Nellie stayed behind with us.

"Nice job, kissy face," Dan said, coming up from behind me.

I blushed scarlet as I looked at him and said, "Oh, be quiet. Or I'll set you up on a date with Natalie!"

Dan shook his head and said, "Blondes are more my style."

"Is that a hint?" Genni asked, walking next to him.

Dan whipped around to look at her and panicked. "No, I was just saying, that um, well, I like blondes," he finished lamely.

Genni laughed and said, "Cool it, Dan. I'm just messing with you."

Dan nodded bashfully and said, "Okay."

I cracked up and said, "Dan, stop flirting with my friend."

"I am not flirting!" he snapped, and then stalked off to go irritate Natalie.

Genni laughed lightly and then said, "Amy, I don't know why you rag about him. He's just cute and funny."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Whatever you say, crazy girl. You haven't seen him on a sugar rush."

Nellie surprised me with a hug and said, "Amy, you are an amazing actress, which is kind of hilarious, because you're so shy!"

I hugged her back and thanked her.

"Nellie? Gomez? Are you Amy's guardian?" Mr. James asked from behind her.

She turned around and smiled. "Yeah, I'm her big sister."

I smiled, feeling a warm feeling. I loved when Nellie referred to us as our sibling.

"I just wanted to say that she is one of the most brilliant actresses for her age I've seen."

"I was just thinking the same thing!" Nellie agreed, giving me a wink.

I smiled and rolled my eyes good-naturedly.

Genni dragged me off to the snack table to grab some soda with her.

"Oomph!" she exclaimed, running into someone.

They turned around as I snapped, "At least say you're sorry," not realizing who it was.

Ian grinned at me and said, "Sorry, Genni."

Genni groaned and said, "Ugh, I sense some major flirting about to commence."

Then, she walked away, leaving me at the mercy of Ian and my idiocy.

"So," I started lamely. "Um, good job with the play."

"You too. Amy, can I ask you something?" Ian asked.

"You just did," I pointed out.

Ian thought about this for a moment and then said, "I guess you're right. I'm going to ask you something anyway."

I nodded and let him continue.

"I just wanted to tell you that-" He stopped talking. "No, that won't be enough. I want to show you."

I raised a questioning eyebrow.

Then, guess what happened?

I bet you don't know what happened... What do you think happened? Review with what you think does or should happen.

~Dani :D