Chapter 14
Mitch has on a clean—but somewhat rumpled—suit that he said the drama class used to depict down-on-my-luck leads in the school plays.
His dark hair is brushed and gelled off his face, with a deep part on the side.
It fits the aesthetic of being a poor servant, trying to clean himself up to get his employer’s daughter’s attention.
Elle looks radiant in a beautiful red floral dress that hangs to her ankles, with delicate heels and cute gloves she picked up from a thrift store. I know that because she called me and raved about the find after she purchased them. I have to say, they look really good.
We’ve rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed some more, but the thing that Mitch and Elle have always been hesitant about is the kiss.
I let both of them know that it would be a part of the play, but they always stop right before it’s supposed to happen, probably too nervous to actually do it.
From what Elle told me, they’ve been texting back and forth, getting to know each other, but she doesn’t know if he wants her like that, and not just as a friend.
Any person with eyes can see how he looks at her; like she’s the only person in the room when she speaks. When she leaves the room, he searches for her and isn’t at ease until she comes back. Like the sound of her voice alone makes him happy.
Pretty much how I look at Ethan.
Since there has been a bit of a lull in sports, we’ve been able to be together more often.
Their football season ended the week before Halloween, and track season doesn’t start until the first week of December.
One more week before he has to go back to staying after school, and I have to go home when he’s at practice.
For the past four weeks, I’ve pretty much been staying at Ethan’s. I go home a few times a week, but for the most part, I’m at his house.
His parents don’t seem to mind. In fact, they seem happy that I’m there.
Always greeting me warmly, asking how my day was when they’re home, inviting me to different functions that me and Ethan always decline, since we don’t want to be around adulty adults.
They seem genuinely interested in what I have to say, and it’s always nice to feel like they want me around.
Pulling myself from my random thoughts, I look Mitch and Elle over once more. They both look great.
We’re in the auditorium for this portion of class, so we can use the stage.
We’re standing behind the curtain with our actors, and Mitch looks very relaxed and at ease.
He’s been in pretty much every play there’s been since he got to high school, so the stage is like his second home.
Elle looks like she’s going to throw up.
Gently, I take her arm and pull her to the side. “What’s wrong? Nervous?”
She looks behind her at Mitch and Ethan, her eyes landing on her co-star. “We should have practiced the kiss. What if I’m bad at it?”
An involuntary laugh bubbles up from my throat and she gives me a death glare.
I get myself under control, then throw my arm over her shoulder. “I’m sorry for laughing,” I apologize sincerely. “Look, if you want, we can skip that part. Or have him kiss your cheek?”
I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable. She volunteered to do this for us, so I’ll do whatever I can to make sure she’s accommodated.
“No.” She shakes her head quickly. “It’s not that. What if…he…” She twists her hands in front of her, worrying the lace of the gloves. Her voice drops and I have to lean in close to hear her. “What if he doesn’t like kissing me?”
I smile at her and grasp her hands. “I’m almost one hundred percent sure that won’t be an issue. We can practice now if it will help?” I’m not sure Mitch wants to try, but hell, it’s worth a shot.
Elle looks over at Mitch, who decides to look over at that moment, and the smile he sends her tells me all I need to know. She has nothing to worry about.
Taking her hand, we walk back over to Mitch and Ethan, and he throws an arm over my shoulder and pulls me close to him.
“Everything good?” he asks in a low voice. I nod and he smiles down at me, kissing my forehead lightly. I’ll never get tired of feeling his lips on me.
Mr. Redding gets comfortable in one of the chairs, our English class seated behind him and calls for attention. “Okay, today is the last day of your screenplay. Up next are Ethan and Jakoby with ‘Love at a Time of Despair’, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet .”
Ethan and I walk from backstage, and Ethan describes the play to the class, while I stand nervously at his side, trying not to fidget.
“Celine Hyland comes from a wealthy family that treats her like she’s property and they’re preparing to arrange a marriage that is financially beneficial to both families.
Antoine Greaves is the son of the longtime butler that resides in-house with the Hyland’s.
They’ve been friends since they were kids and fall in love over time.
Their parents find out and forbid them from being together.
Since their parents forbid it, they run away, faking their deaths to be together.
A bit morbid, but they’re in love, so...
” Ethan shrugs, looks at me and smirks, grabbing my hand.
“Creep…sorry,” he says when I glare at him, “ Jakoby was kind enough to make copies of the script for everyone to read along if you want to.”
“Show off!” Ryder shouts, making everyone laugh, and my face flames. Ethan laughs it off easily.
He counters with, “Ryder, you can barely read, so maybe just listen so you don’t miss anything.” There are few ‘oohs’ from some people and more laughter. Ryder shoots him the bird with a grin, since Mr. Redding has his back to him, making Ethan laugh more.
“Okay, okay, calm down,” Mr. Redding says, getting the students to quiet down. “We’re ready when you are.”
We hustle off stage, and Mitch and Elle take our places.
And they’re phenomenal. I know we’ve been watching them rehearse for weeks, but it’s so much different now.
I think, because Mitch is on an actual stage, he’s channeling his character more and it shows.
I can almost feel the love Antoine has for Celine.
It radiates from every word he utters to her, every gesture and every stolen moment.
And Elle. Sheesh, Elle is eating it up and giving it right back. Her shy demeanor when they reveal their love and her fierce objection to being without him almost has me tearing up.
When it’s time for the kiss, Mitch laces their fingers together and draws Elle into him. In the play, time has jumped fifty years, them faking their deaths a success, and they have been happily married and have kids and grandkids.
In a voice that sounds impossibly older, more gruff and full of emotion, he asks her, “Celine, do you regret leaving with me, my love?”
Elle gives him a shy smile, staring at him adoringly. “My only regret is not leaving sooner.”
Mitch places a hand behind her back and pulls her in, his lips meeting hers in a soft, gentle kiss that couldn’t have been more perfect than if they’d practiced it every day.
The way Elle leans into him and how he holds her close, they are Antoine and Celine.
They are a couple that ran away together, got married, had kids and a wonderful life, even when it was just them.
They are our Romeo and Juliet, if they had lived.
The applause from the class snaps them out of their kiss and Mitch and Elle separate, both of them slightly out of breath, and their cheeks have matching blushes.
Mitch hasn’t let Elle go from the embrace, even though the play is over.
And they haven’t taken their eyes off each other.
I almost hate to interrupt, but we have to get our critique from Mr. Redding.
Ethan and I walk onto the stage and stand beside our actors, who finally break apart and bow to the audience.
Once the clapping has stopped, Mr. Redding says, “That was amazing. Mitch and Elle really brought your play to life. I love the twist on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. True love does conquer all. Great job, all of you.”
My cheeks heat, of course, feeling hot all over from the attention and the praise. Ethan has an easy smile and rubs my shoulders in a comforting way. Mitch and Elle walk hand in hand off the stage, heading back to their classes, since they were only excused to participate in our play.
We sit down and watch the rest of the presentations, but none were as good as ours.
I’m not saying it to be cocky, but we put in a lot of work and got really good actors to bring it to life.
I think ours might be the best in the class.
Ethan obviously agrees. He leans over before we’re dismissed from class and says, “We easily got the highest grade. Ours was the best.”
I elbow him lightly. “Don’t say that,” even though I was thinking it.
“What?” he shrugs. “It’s true. Everyone knows it, creep.”
I roll my eyes and pack my things so we can head to my next class.
Walking down the hall is different now. People actually speak to me and call me by name when they say hello.
After two months of fake dating Ethan, I guess people are seeing it’s not a phase and are treating me how they would treat him.
It’s upsetting that it takes him being my boyfriend to get respect, but it’s high school.
I can’t expect maturity, I guess. I’ve been mature for far longer than I’ve wanted to be, so the whole high school vibe is tiring.
“Hey, creep,” one of the football players, Preston, says to me, jokingly. He’s standing at the door when Ethan and I walk up. It’s no secret that’s what Ethan calls me. He practically shouts it when he sees me from down the hall sometimes.
He’s always so extra.