༄✫ᵗʰᵉ 𝐀𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚕✫༄ // Billy Andrews

Twelve

Billy had never been so nervous about anything in his life. It wasn't necessarily the play in itself since had memorized the lines weeks ago and he was sure it wasn't the size of the crowd watching him either since he loved being the center of attention as his sister always said to him. So what was it? Why had his leg been bouncing up and down all afternoon and why had he been biting his lips all day? He was starting to go mad but then the answer came from the most unexpected place. 

"Children, you are to take a break and go get dresses while the ballet class uses the stage to rehearse" Mrs. Lynde announced

"Oh, Mrs. Lynde but can we please stay and watch our dear friend Beatrice perform? Please, please, please. We have never seen her dance before and we most desperately need to" Anne pleaded.

Could it be that? Could it be her that was making him nervous, the thought of her being there watching him? Usually, Billy couldn't make sense of anything that came out of the redhead's mouth but this time it was like Anne's words lit a light in his brain that made him see everything more clearly. Of course it was her. It was always her. As much as it was strange to admit he missed her. He did not always enjoy the way she made him feel, some days he even resented her for making him act so soft around her when he should be acting like a real man. But he couldn't deny it to himself anymore that he missed her voice. And the attention she never minded giving him. And her. So when Mrs. Lynde said that they could stay as long as they behaved and were silent he stayed behind with Anne and her friends. He stayed away from them leaning against a pillar in the back of the room with his arms crossed but he also found himself not minding what they thought about him being there. 

Billy had never seen anyone dance anything other than what they danced at parties and he could not understand how someone could be so graceful. It felt like God himself had attached strings to her arms and legs and was guiding her movements, expressing all his divinity and light in her dance. All the girls looked beautiful with their hair pulled back and dressed in white but she definitely shined the brightest. 

"They are just magnific are they not?" Dina whispered only for him to listen. When had she moved close to him he did not know. "Uhm, yes. Yes, very much." "You know, Billy. I might not be as smart as Anne or Gilbert in matters of mathematics or spelling. But I do know a great deal about feelings and behavior and I am not blind" His heart skipped a beat but he kept quiet "I do not necessarily like you but I believe that sometimes people just need to meet the right person to become the best version of themselves. My person was Anne. And I believe yours might be Beatrice" "Uhm. And?" he mumbled, his voice failing him. "And that I think that she hasn't been herself this past weeks and I know exactly why. What I also know is that if you keep on hiding your feelings you are going to end up losing her. Next year we will be of age and every boy will start throwing around marriage proposals. Some of them have already started." The music stopped on cue with Diana and silence was the only thing in the air for a few moments. "So, as a friend, I advise you to make your feelings known before she accepts something she will regret later" She added before turning around to leave.

He stood without reaction for a second before realization hit him. "Wait Diana" He jogged after her and stopped her by the door that led to the dressing rooms "Are you saying that someone has already proposed? B-but she is not eighteen yet. How- " " Billy her birthday is in January. Does it really make a difference if he proposes now or in two weeks?" she offered the boy a comprehensive smile. "Who?" "Billy, please." "Who?! Diana after everything you told me you can't expect me not to ask!" he half-shouted half-whispered. The girl looked around pondering her options and signed in defeat. " Alright. Look I do not know his name. Only that he is the brother of one of the other ballerinas and that he lives in England. Apparently, they were friends growing up but they lost contact when he left." She paused to organize her information "I saw her before rehearsals speaking to a man I did not recognize outside. They spoke for a while and she looked really surprised by something so when she came inside I asked her. I don't think she was going to tell anyone but she probably needed to tell someone to calm her nerves so she told me." "What exactly did he say, Diana?!" "Diana, come on we need to do your make-up" Anne's voice echoed through the hallway. The girl sighed again " Look I don't know it word for word but something along the lines of him needing to get married and thinking that she would be a good fit to be his wife since they had always gone along fine. And... that he needed an answer until her birthday so he could book the boat passages back to England." She looked at him. And Billy looked at her, And it was like the world fell apart around him. 

Note: This panto in question is not the one we see in the show for the sake of the story cause I need them to be older