Chapter 23 #2
‘“Woe is me,”’ I whisper, making myself jump because my voice sounds so loud in the total silence.
Not like half an eternity ago when I practised the balcony scene with Charlie in the bakery.
‘“Oh, Romeo. Why are you my enemy, a Montague, a man I may not love? As though, once I’d seen you, my heart had any choice . . .”’ I lean on the edge and push myself up onto the stage.
Just to stand there for once and pretend I’d had the guts .
. . ‘“Romeo, refuse your name and then give it to me. I mean what I say. Let me be yours and I will no longer be a Capulet, let me be by your side.”’ I stand up.
When I shut my eyes, I’m Juliet, walking back and forth on her balcony.
Restless, desperate, because the man she loves is out of her reach.
‘“Your name is the only thing that makes it impossible for us to be together,”’ I continue.
‘“Love found me yet I must push it away for the sake of a name. But what’s in a name? Put your name aside and take me in its place, I beg you; O sweet heaven, give me this man.”’
I’ll take you at your word. In my head, I’m answered by Charlie, but in actual fact, there’s a round of applause that really startles me. My eyes fly open.
‘Such a shame, my dear Victoria.’
I see Mr Acevedo, stepping out of the darkness near the doors and coming down the steps. I freeze. My blood runs cold, then burning shame creeps across my cheeks.
‘I’m sorry, I – I thought I was alone.’ I hurry towards the steps at the edge of the stage, but Mr Acevedo is continuing.
‘I realized that. It’s probably why it was so good.’ He doesn’t take his eyes off me. ‘All the same, I think you’d have won over an audience at the auditions.’
I say nothing as I walk back to where I left my stuff.
‘Or do you really want to tell me you wouldn’t have enjoyed acting?’
I slowly shake my head. ‘No, you’re right, sir. I don’t know why I didn’t dare.’
‘That makes two of us.’
‘It was hard,’ I admit. ‘I’m afraid I’ve kind of lost myself over the last few months. Or that’s what it feels like. And the auditions . . . Maybe next year.’
‘That sounds like a plan.’ Mr Acevedo smiles at me. ‘I get the impression you’re rediscovering yourself. Am I right?’
I remember why he’s one of my favourite teachers. He takes a genuine interest in our concerns and picks up on way more than some of his colleagues.
‘Yes, I . . . It really does feel that way,’ I admit. ‘A few things have happened recently, and fallen into place.’
‘I’m very glad to hear that, Victoria.’ Mr Acevedo smiles conspiratorially. We turn simultaneously as the door opens above us. To my surprise, it’s Olive.
‘Am I early?’ she asks uncertainly, ducking back, but Mr Acevedo shakes his head.
‘No, not at all. I’m sure the others will start to trickle in soon. Come down, please.’
Olive does what he says, but only reluctantly. My nerves increase as she approaches. Luckily, the door flies open again. The tense silence is broken by voices as the rest of the cast arrives.
Charlie looks surprised to see Olive, who’s standing a little apart from the group, arms crossed. She joins Grace, who’s just walked in with Gideon.
‘Olive?’ he murmurs in amazement, as he comes to my side.
Before I can reply, Mr Acevedo claps his hands.
‘Good, let’s get started. First of all, I’d like to introduce our new team members.
From now on, we will have the help of Olive, Marian and Nathan when it comes to costumes and make-up.
I’ll be sending groups of you to join them in the storeroom while the others rehearse.
Victoria will go with you to make a note of the costumes.
OK?’ He looks from me to the others and I nod, although my stomach knots slightly.
With Olive, in the costume store . . . She looks like she can think of better ways to spend her time too.
I force myself to put my negative thoughts to the side as Mr Acevedo sends Olive, Marian, Nathan and me to the dressing rooms. We’re joined by Gideon, Grace and Terry, who aren’t needed on stage just yet.
I’ve never set foot in the backstage area before, where there are mountains of costumes and props.
It smells of mothballs and magic as we dig through the clothes.
Half an hour later, Benvolio, the Nurse and Tybalt are dressed to our satisfaction, and I snap photos of their outfits on my phone.
I’ve barely said two words to Olive, and she’s still trying not to meet my eyes, but I know she’s struggling.
She keeps staring into space, seeming out of focus and closed.
I don’t get a chance to speak to her, though, because now it’s Charlie and Eleanor’s turn.
Olive’s eyes flit over to us as Charlie takes my hand, and ducks behind the clothes rails to kiss me. I see a smile on her face.
‘Missed you,’ he murmurs into my ear, letting go of me again.
‘It was thirty minutes, Charlie . . .’
‘Exactly, and they were incredibly long minutes,’ he says, looking around. ‘OK, let’s go.’