What? What did he just say? He couldn't just leave like that! Especially without any explanation! There had to be a good reason.
"Erica! Go behind him! Ask him what's wrong!" I insisted.
Erica nodded and jogged out of the room with everyone murmuring about what Michael had just said. I stared at myself in the mirror again. God, why don't I have a professional make-up artist? Shouldn't I be having one?
Okay, probably worrying about my make-up is not the best thing right now.
"Why isn't Michael going to be acting as Romeo?" I heard someone say.
I looked up in the mirror to see Rachel behind me with a panicked look.
"I don't know!" I exclaimed, turning towards her.
"Um, no offense, but you look awful," she said, adjusting her glasses.
I groaned, "I know."
Rachel gave me a sympathetic look. "Wait, if Michael isn't Romeo, then that means Ethan is," she said, her eyes widened and brows raised.
Yes, Captain Obvious. I nodded.
"Rachel, Mr. Ambrose wants to see you," a girl with blond hair, Emily I suppose, interrupted.
Rachel nodded and looked at me, "I have to go."
I turned and faced the mirror. After fifteen minutes, I managed to look pretty with dark red lips that matched the shade of my dress, pink cheeks and a simple silver necklace. My eyeshadow was a simple mixture of red and pink with long, dark eyelashes. Honestly, if Abby was here, I would look so much more better
Why wasn't Erica back yet?
Mr. Ambrose was walking around, checking on everyone when he noticed me. He gasped and walked towards me.
"This is great!" Mr. Ambrose said, taking a deep breath. "Get ready to act! In five minutes."
Five minutes! Oh god. I wonder what Ethan was feeling right now. He didn't even know he was going to be acting today.
I gave him a tight smile as he walked away.
*
Walking back from my first scene, I let out a shaky breath. Trust me, I had never been so nervous. The lights. The silent audience with their electronic devices recording every single one of my moves. And you know what's worse? Rachel was acting instead of Abby! I saw Erica standing against a wall lazily.
"Why is Rachel acting instead of Abby!?" asked with a horrified look.
"Because Abby has been involved in an accident and that's where Michael is," she said, biting her lip.
"What?!" I asked, my eyes widening. "Why didn't Michael tell one of us? He shouldn't have just left like that! Someone else would have gone instead of him!"
"I know, I know," she said, nodding. "But apparently, Abby called him, so he left."
This is the stupidest thing ever! Michael didn't have to go. He could have at least told someone! Besides, I'm pretty sure Abby's parents are there. It's an accident! A freaking accident! I wasn't mad at him for not playing the role of Romeo, I was mad at him for not telling one of us!
"Is it serious?" I whispered, scared of what the answer might be.
She shook her head, no.
"We're going to the hospital. After the play gets over," I declared.
She nodded. "By the way, you were pretty good."
I gave her a small smile.
"Ashley!" Mr. Ambrose whispered, nearing me. "Go get ready for the next scene."
Sighing, I made my way to the side of the stage and saw Ethan standing on stage with Chris. Ethan was confidently saying his dialogues. No one would have guessed he was told that he was supposed to act about 30 minutes before the play started. Before I knew it, I was being pushed on stage along with a few actors.
As I stepped on the stage, Ethan's eyes met mine and it seemed like everything went into slow motion. Cheesy but yes. He stared at me passionately. The lights hit his face at an perfect angle, making his eyes the lightest shade of brown. He gave me a bright smile, making me blush a little. Shutting my eyes for a second, I looked away and carried on with the acting. After a few dialogues, I was standing in front of Ethan as Juliet.
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Ethan posed, giving me a smile and raising his eyebrows to tease me.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer," I replied with a smirk. Juliet was actually quite smart. After all, she was a book character, she had to be shown witty and smart.
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair," he replied, taking a step forward and facing the audience. Apparently, Romeo was smarter.
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake," I said, taking a step forward too and positioning myself in front of Ethan.
Oh god. No. No. No. One more dialogue and then I have to kiss him. No! Everything was fun so far. Now, I wanted to run off the stage. Especially since Erica was actually seeing the play. Okay, think about it. How weird would it be to kiss your best friend's brother? Even if it's just acting.
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take," Ethan said and stared at me for a moment.
Slowly, he cupped my right cheek. He gave me a small nod and I closed my eyes. Leaning in closer, his strong minty cologne washed over me and then, his soft lips were on mine. I felt like my stomach had dropped to my feet. The hollow feeling you get when you go down in full speed on a roller coaster? That's exactly what I was feeling at that very moment. I heard quite a few people say 'aw.' I could feel his heart beating hard against my chest. The kiss was gentle but captivating. As we pulled away, I felt dizzy. I felt his mouth form into a smile against my lips and I couldn't help but smile too.
*
"Michael! How is she?" I asked, walking towards him. He was leaning against the wall and his hair was a mess.
"She's alright, left arm is fractured. She had a panick attack," he said, sighing and running a hand over his face.
"What happened exactly?" Erica asked calmly.
"I'm not sure yet, her parents are talking to the doctor," he replied.
"Where is Abby?" Ethan asked. I looked at him and we had an eye account.
Biting my lip, I looked away. Urgh. Are things going to be this awkward between us? First, Jared. And now, Ethan? This is just so unfair. The car ride was extremely silent. Ethan, Erica and I didn't say a word. At one point, the song 'Kiss Me Slowly' came up and everything seemed weirder.
"There. You guys can go meet her. I was there all this while but then I came out so that she could rest but you know, she's Abby, she's always hyper," he said, pointing at a room and chuckling.
What was that? Did Michael just point out something cute about Abby and laugh? Oh my god!
Ethan and Erica started walking towards the room and I followed them. Knocking on the door, Ethan stepped in the door. Abby was sitting on a white bed with a huge annoying thing wrapped around her arm.
"Hey guys! Oh my god! How was the play? Ethan, did you play Romeo? How did you look, Ashley? Did the gown fit well? Who played my role?" Abby asked everything in a single breath.
I stared at her with amusement and started laughing along with Erica while Abby huffed.
"I'm, um, going to go out and talk to Michael," Ethan said."Take care, Abby."
We shared an eye contact and he gave a closed-mouth smile before leaving.
"Oh my god! You guys kissed!" Abby exclaimed as soon as Ethan left the room.
I bit my lip and tried to control the blush which was taking over my face.
"Look at her! She's blushing," Abby said with a grin. I looked at Erica, she was just studying me with a strange look.
"No! I'm not!" I protested, throwing my hands in the air.
"Yes, you are!" Abby exclaimed happily.
"Whatever, I'm going to the vending machine to get something, you guys want anything?" I asked in hopes that the topic would change.
"Nah," Abby replied while Erica shook her head.
Leaving the room, I sighed in relief. I got lucky. But why was I blushing so much! It was just a kiss. A kiss with no meaning behind it. It was just a kiss for a play. A kiss that Romeo and Juliet were meant to share. Not Ethan and Ashley.
I saw Michael sitting on a chair alone and walked towards him.
"Didn't Ethan come out here?" I asked.
He nodded. "He's gone to the cafeteria, he's hungry."
"Oh, Michael, can I ask you something?" I asked sweetly.
"Go ahead," he said, closing his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell anyone about the accident? You didn't have to leave like that. Anyone else could have gone," I said, shrugging.
"Yeah but when Abby called me, she seemed so scared. I just couldn't stop myself," he said, sighing.
"Why?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked, turning to face me.
"Why couldn't you stop yourself?"
He shrugged, "I don't really need a reason, do I?"
"Not really," I said, wanting a better answer. "You care about her."
"I guess I do," he said.
"You like her," I said with a genuine smile.
"I guess I do," he replied, staring at the floor and smiling too.
"You love her."
His lazy eyes stared at me for a moment and then he sighed.
"I guess I do."
A/N: Helloooo!! Yes, they finally did kiss! Heheheh. I find this chapter quite happening and with a lot of drama xD
Lawll, anyway, pleaseeeee leave some comments and votes! I really appreciate them!
Lovee all of you! <3