difference in height my feet are small enough to fit into her sandals.
“I need them back during last period. And, we so need a girls’ night.” She gives me a half-hug before she jogs off to class, the buckles dangling as she goes.
Maybe we do need a girls’ night. Maybe I do. Some time away from any and all guys would probably be good.
~ 10 ~
After the way Luke looked at me when Mom noticed my bruised wrist, I’ve avoided him. There’s no avoiding him now. Laura, the college-age coach, sits on the stage with Luke and me. At least we’re not completely alone.
“Tell me about Romeo,” she asks him.
Luke laughs. “He’s a cocky bastard.”
“Good.” She’s smiling.
“He’s cocky, but he knows how to love. He sticks by his boys, he can get the girls, and now suddenly, a girl’s gotten him, too. For real this time.”
“Nice, okay.” Her eyes turn to me. “Tell me about Juliet.”
I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve focused so much on the language and the blocking and the memorization, I haven’t thought about it as much as I should have. This is one of those opportunities to sound cool and insightful, but I’m sure I’ll muck it up. “Juliet’s spoiled and is over-protected. Her parents have picked some guy for her that she doesn’t like. I think she’s as attracted to Romeo for his independent spirit as much as anything else.”
“Tell me more.”
More ? Think, think… “I think she’s confused, maybe a little scared and unsure as she begins to learn about what her family does. With the death of her family members things change, and she opens herself up to Romeo because she knows he’ll get it.”
“Right.” Laura nods. “Because he gets her in a way no one else does.”
I nod, and then Luke and I look at each other for a moment, but I force my eyes to the floor before he asks a question or before I feel something I shouldn’t.
“Let’s get started.” He stands and heads to stage right where he enters the party, and Romeo and Juliet first meet.
Laura steps next to me as Luke walks away. Her voice is low. “Your teacher said that you’re doing great, and that sometimes he’ll see you right on the edge of falling completely into the role and then you hold back.”
My cheeks start to get hot. I have done that. I pull back because I’m afraid of feeling something I shouldn’t. “This is my first play and—”
“Next time you find yourself on the edge of real feeling and then pulling back, don’t. Let yourself fall.” Her green eyes stare into mine.
I nod. Let myself fall. Let myself feel.
“And you rock those shoes.” She smiles and points at my wedge sandals.
I blush, suddenly glad Mindy and I had to change back.
Luke pretends to roll through his lines with his buddies and I stand pretending to hear the music and watch him. Suddenly I can hear the music, sort of, even though it’s not on. It’s just part of this scene. I watch Luke/Romeo move, his movements are familiar but new. He’s Romeo here, not Luke. I’m Juliet, not Ronnie. Feeling is okay. This is acting. This is what it’s supposed to be.
My breath catches when his eyes meet mine and this is the point when I look away or I pull back. Today I don’t. I hold his eyes. I soak in his eyes. The black curtains don’t matter. The stage doesn’t matter. Laura doesn’t matter. He moves closer and I move closer because I can’t help it. Because Ronnie/Juliet is just as drawn in as she should be. I’m pulled to him; his eyes make my stomach flutter.
His cocky smile is so full of wonder, and his warm voice and warm eyes touch me in really good places as I let his look and his words fill me. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” His fingers brush the skin near my lips. This is new. Shivers run through me and I swallow a lump of nervous anticipation, because
“I need them back during last period. And, we so need a girls’ night.” She gives me a half-hug before she jogs off to class, the buckles dangling as she goes.
Maybe we do need a girls’ night. Maybe I do. Some time away from any and all guys would probably be good.
~ 10 ~
After the way Luke looked at me when Mom noticed my bruised wrist, I’ve avoided him. There’s no avoiding him now. Laura, the college-age coach, sits on the stage with Luke and me. At least we’re not completely alone.
“Tell me about Romeo,” she asks him.
Luke laughs. “He’s a cocky bastard.”
“Good.” She’s smiling.
“He’s cocky, but he knows how to love. He sticks by his boys, he can get the girls, and now suddenly, a girl’s gotten him, too. For real this time.”
“Nice, okay.” Her eyes turn to me. “Tell me about Juliet.”
I’m not sure how to answer. I’ve focused so much on the language and the blocking and the memorization, I haven’t thought about it as much as I should have. This is one of those opportunities to sound cool and insightful, but I’m sure I’ll muck it up. “Juliet’s spoiled and is over-protected. Her parents have picked some guy for her that she doesn’t like. I think she’s as attracted to Romeo for his independent spirit as much as anything else.”
“Tell me more.”
More ? Think, think… “I think she’s confused, maybe a little scared and unsure as she begins to learn about what her family does. With the death of her family members things change, and she opens herself up to Romeo because she knows he’ll get it.”
“Right.” Laura nods. “Because he gets her in a way no one else does.”
I nod, and then Luke and I look at each other for a moment, but I force my eyes to the floor before he asks a question or before I feel something I shouldn’t.
“Let’s get started.” He stands and heads to stage right where he enters the party, and Romeo and Juliet first meet.
Laura steps next to me as Luke walks away. Her voice is low. “Your teacher said that you’re doing great, and that sometimes he’ll see you right on the edge of falling completely into the role and then you hold back.”
My cheeks start to get hot. I have done that. I pull back because I’m afraid of feeling something I shouldn’t. “This is my first play and—”
“Next time you find yourself on the edge of real feeling and then pulling back, don’t. Let yourself fall.” Her green eyes stare into mine.
I nod. Let myself fall. Let myself feel.
“And you rock those shoes.” She smiles and points at my wedge sandals.
I blush, suddenly glad Mindy and I had to change back.
Luke pretends to roll through his lines with his buddies and I stand pretending to hear the music and watch him. Suddenly I can hear the music, sort of, even though it’s not on. It’s just part of this scene. I watch Luke/Romeo move, his movements are familiar but new. He’s Romeo here, not Luke. I’m Juliet, not Ronnie. Feeling is okay. This is acting. This is what it’s supposed to be.
My breath catches when his eyes meet mine and this is the point when I look away or I pull back. Today I don’t. I hold his eyes. I soak in his eyes. The black curtains don’t matter. The stage doesn’t matter. Laura doesn’t matter. He moves closer and I move closer because I can’t help it. Because Ronnie/Juliet is just as drawn in as she should be. I’m pulled to him; his eyes make my stomach flutter.
His cocky smile is so full of wonder, and his warm voice and warm eyes touch me in really good places as I let his look and his words fill me. “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” His fingers brush the skin near my lips. This is new. Shivers run through me and I swallow a lump of nervous anticipation, because
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