A Poem By Walt Whitman

𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 𝑉:𝛬𝑟𝑡 𝑇𝒉𝑜𝑢 𝑇𝒉𝑒𝑟𝑒?

Nicole's room was dark, only a dim light illuminated the room. Nicole, sitting on the radiator as usual, was practicing her lines for the play.

Looking out the window, her smile narrowed as she remembered a scene she had with Taylor.

-"I will be with thee straight" -Taylor read the script of her friend's play, and practiced with her in the little woods of Welton.

-"Follow me then to plainer ground!" -Said Nicole, putting effort and passion into her line.

Both girls walked towards the small and frozen lake, while they laughed and commented on the play.

-Ah, I love this stuff! -Nicole shouted, happily.

-What? -Taylor answered.

-Oh, acting's gotta be one of the most wonderful things in the world! -Nicole's blue eyes shined. -Think about it. Most people, if they're lucky, get to live half an exciting life, right?

Taylor just listened.

-If I get the parts, I could live dozens of great lives. -Nicole continued talking. Taylor laughed.

Nicole picked up a long stick from the ground and attacked Taylor, making her stick into a fencing sword.

-"To be or not to be, that is the question!" -Nicole shouted, pointing at Taylor. The blonde girl just ran as she saw her best friend yelling and being the happiest girl ever. -For the first time in my life I feel completely alive! -

Taylor just looked at her friend who was enjoying herself and laughing, and their blue eyes met and Nicole took her blonde friend by the shoulders.

-You-You should come to the rehearsals. -Nicole asked nervously.

-Oh, I should? -Taylor asked her back, smiling.

-Yes! -Nicole shouted and jumped. -It 's the best!

-I don't think...

-Oh, come on, Tay! I know they need people to run the lights and stuff.

Both girls headed to the edge of the river, in the port, while the brunette tried to convince the blonde to go.

-I don't know how....

-Come on. There 's boys. The boy who plays Hermia's incredible.

-Oh yeah? What's he look like? -Taylor sounded curious.

-What? -Nicole found out that Taylor only wanted to come because of that boy. -You're not coming, forget it.

-No, no! -Taylor laughed as she begged.

-Forget it! -Nicole shouted with passion. -Let's go back, back, back!

As Nicole was saying "back, back, back", her feet clicked at the same time.

-Oh, um, um... Follow me to the plainer ground. -The blond girl followed Nicole as she got close to the water. Taylor said something but she didn't understand.

-What? -Nicole asked.

-Uh, yeah, "Art thou there?" -Taylor was still practicing Nicole's lines. But Nicole got it the first time. She just wanted her to say it with more force.

-Put more into it! -Nicole shouted.

-Yeah, "Art thou there?" -Taylor shouted.

As the blonde said the phrase, she circled on the shoreline and yelled loud enough to be heard. Her skirt twirled in time with her.

-That 's it! -Nicole greeted her.

-That 's it. Whooo!

-Follow my voice! -Nicole shouted back.

-AAAH! -Taylor laughed out loud.

The doorbell rang, but both girls were lost in that battle of sticks, shouts, papers, and phrases, and they were happier than ever. Finally Taylor is no longer what she was. And all thanks to her. To Nicole.