Why do I feel like I'm going to throw up all over the stage right now? Emma thought to herself as she stood backstage at the premiere of the Les Misérables play on Friday. It was finally opening night for the play she'd been working on for weeks along with her fellow cast members.
She'd never been this nervous for a premiere before, but here she was, behind the curtain, nervously continually looking through the drapes into the crowd. Maybe it was because there were more people than usual in the audience, or, more likely, because she'd given Blake a ticket and he'd said "maybe" he would be here. Maybe? Maybe?! Maybe meant he would definitely be here tonight, or at least that's what Emma thought. Her eyes frantically scanned the crowd.
"Emma, are you as excited as I am?" Jason asked, standing beside her.
She jumped slightly, letting the curtain fall as she looked over at him, wondering when he'd gotten there. Ms. Prim had decided to put him in the play as well, saying it was a good opportunity for him and Emma to bond—more like another opportunity to force them together. Emma rolled her eyes at her own thoughts, looking over Jason's Marius costume. Of course, he would get the part of Marius.
"Yes, I'm excited, of course," she said, looking back out the curtain.
Jason let out a little fake laugh. He set his hand on her bare shoulder. "Are you sure you're excited, because it kinda looks like you're about to throw up."
She stepped back from him, making his hand fall back to his side. "Yes, I'm fine, totally fine. We go out in two minutes, right?"
He nodded, looking over at some other actors walking past. Emma took a moment to look around, watching everyone get into their positions. "That's right. I don't know about you, but I'm most excited for our kissing scene~" he said before walking over to his spot.
Emma smiled awkwardly, waving him away.
To be honest, she didn't want Jason Prim to be her first kiss. Somehow, she'd managed to avoid the kiss all through rehearsals by saying she wanted it to look real on opening night. But now, opening night was here, and she couldn't get out of it. Honestly, there was nothing wrong with Jason. She didn't really know him like that, but he seemed sweet, and he was pretty good-looking.
She just wanted her first kiss to be with someone special, or just someone she liked that way, and not in front of hundreds of people. Sighing, she rubbed her sweaty hands down the front of her dress "Places, people! Places!" the director yelled. Emma ran over to her spot, heels clicking on the floor, just as the curtain slowly began to raise.
Jason knelt, fake tears rolling down his cheeks, making it look very believable. He held a weak Emma in his arms, who held one hand weakly against his shirt. The crowd was silent as they came to the end of their song "And rain..." he whispered, looking into her eyes, one hand on the back of her head.
She looked back up at him. "Will make the flowers..." Her voice trailed off weakly, eyes fluttering closed softly.
"Will make the flowers..." he repeated, his voice breaking at the end as her eyes fully closed and her hand fell from his shirt. She made her body go limp in his arms.
"Grow..." he continued before slowly bringing his mouth down, covering her own in a soft kiss. She kept her mouth motionless. He slowly pushed his tongue into her mouth, holding one side of her face.
Good thing the curtain slowly fell, because her eyes instantly popped open. Putting his tongue down her throat was not part of the plan; it was supposed to be just a simple kiss. She stood up, pushing him off. He stood as they heard the crowd erupt with cheers on the other side of the curtain.
"What the hell, Jason? You didn't have to do all that!" Her voice was full of annoyance. He just grinned like an idiot, which only pissed her off more. She was a second from slapping him.
"I had to make it look real." Make it look real, my ass, she thought. He definitely didn't have to kiss her that way. She was literally on the verge of a meltdown as the director made his way over to them, patting him on the back. He smiled proudly.
"Good job, young man! You made it look so real! Go ahead and get in position for your next scene."
Jason winked at her before walking away. She just glared at his back while the director looked between them. "Are you two dating? Because I feel fireworks!" he grinned, clapping his hands.
She looked at him in disbelief, wanting to tell him to mind his own business and leave her alone, but she knew she couldn't say that. So she went with, "More like a raging wildfire... Would you please excuse me?" She whipped around, marching out the backstage door into the cold night air, pacing from side to side.
She didn't even want to be here anymore, but she had to stay until the end of the play. She huffed, wrapping her arms around herself. Her first kiss was just forced on her. She could just scream. Her eyes intently started to water. She quickly wiped them; after all, she didn't want her makeup ruined.
"That was some kiss." She turned her head, seeing Blake. He was in a simple white t-shirt, silver rings covering his fingers, a silver lock chain around his neck, black hair blowing softly, an unlit cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He walked towards her, arms behind his back.
She let out a fake laugh, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, it was." when he got closer, he saw that she was visibly upset. "Well, geez, was it really that bad?" he asked, laughing, watching as she leaned back against the wall, not answering. He copied her movement, leaning back against the cold bricks beside her. "He seemed to want to make a point about it."
She raised her eyebrow, looking over at him. "What do you mean?" he shrugged, playing with the rings on his fingers before meeting her eyes. "Well, he looked me right in the eyes as he did it, liiike..." Her eyes widened as he clicked his tongue, taking the cigarette from between his lips.
What the hell? Did Jason really kiss her that way because he saw Blake in the crowd? That was crazy. It's not like she ever showed interest in him, as if she liked him or something. She thought it was understood that both their parents were trying to force them together.
She looked at the cigarette between his fingers. "You know you shouldn't smoke." he laughed softly, looking at the cigarette before sliding it into his pocket. "Yeah, I know." she sighed softly, feeling like a nag at the moment. Scolding herself, she knew she couldn't just try to tell him what to do after she'd been treating him so badly.
It was none of her business if he smoked or not. She just shook her head. "Sorry for being a nag. I'm just ready to go home... I want to get out of here." Her voice slightly shook. He shrugged, standing fully again. "Well, let's go then." she laughed. Of course, he would try to save her from her worst day ever. "What about the show? Don't you wanna see the end?"
He raised his eyebrow, looking at her with a grin. "No offense or anything, but screw the show. I'm literally only here for you." He crossed his arms, grinning.
She stood fully, laughing. He was standing there looking like every girl's bad boy dream, but better, literally ready to whisk her away to God knows where.
"I came on my motorcycle~" he said, grinning, walking backward and waving his finger for her to follow. And of course, she followed, like a moth to a brightly lit flame. "Come on, Emma. Live a little." He walked out of the alleyway to the parking lot, walking up to a shiny dark red motorcycle. He lifted his leg, hopping on, looking at her with a smirk.
She walked closer. "Wait, you need help getting on, right? Don't wanna mess up your cute outfit." He got off for a moment, putting his hands on her waist, helping her onto the bike. Her heart was literally pounding in her chest as he slid in front of her "How did you know I was in the alley, by the way?" she asked.
He hummed softly, looking back at her. "Well... I snuck backstage and looked around for you after the kiss. When that blonde guy came up to me bragging about kissing you, like I would care or something. Then he started telling me I wasn't allowed back there. Honestly, I got tired of hearing his freaking voice, so I punched him in the face and was forced to leave. As I was leaving, about to have a smoke, when I saw you in the alley."
Her eyes widened, hoping to God Jason wouldn't tell her parents. He just laughed. "It was almost like destiny, huh? I would have never seen you out there if I hadn't punched that guy. Anyway, let's get the hell out of here. Hold on tight!" She wrapped her arms around his waist as the bike shot forward down the busy highway. She didn't know where they were going, and she honestly didn't ask. She was leaving with him, and for once, she was content and happy doing what she wanted to.
(Mia note- Who else would love to ride the motorcycle raise your hand 🖐🏾
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It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
