The Pitcher's Act

28

OLIVIA

My costume was a cream Renaissance silk gown with a green laced corset. I could hardly breathe because of how tight it was, but my waist had never looked so snatched. It looked fake.

I was nervous. I was more than nervous. I felt like I was seconds away from passing out. My classmates had already begun their performances, but Colby and I had decided to go in the middle, right after Bella.

I still haven't seen him. I somehow escaped him all day. Maybe he was giving me space. I didn't realize how much my world revolved around this man. I constantly think about him.

It's usually little things. Like Colby's usually at Finance at this time. Colby's at practice, then.

I used the excuse of being nervous not to have to talk to Bella and Sadie about my feelings. There's plenty of other time for that. Honestly, I felt fine about the play. It's just the getting on the stage and beginning to speak part that freaks me out. Once I get going, I'll be fine.

I just have to fake it for at least two more hours, and then I can go back to being grumpy and sad.

I combed my fingers through my curled hair, staring at myself in the dressing room mirror. I hardly recognized myself. I looked different. I never imagined myself playing dress-up as a character from the 1500s.

I brushed my thumb over the cover page of the script. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. This was really fucking tragic. Both endings of this play turned out horrible. I lost Romeo twice. In the play and in real life. Tragic.

There was a knock on the door. Huffing, I got up and opened the door, preparing it to be Sadie. She did a good job pretending to be Romeo. She also put in a lot of effort, making Romeo seem above and beyond.

It was not her.

It was Romeo. Juliet's knight in shining armor. Literally. He wore a knight costume that looked so... real. A sword was peeking through behind his head, strapped to his back. He looked hot. Like seriously so hot.

He looked just like Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie but with curly blonde hair.

He stared at me as I stared at him. We were both too stunned to speak.

He finally cleared his throat; his face was full of curiosity and desire. He was probably curious as to why I hadn't slammed the door in his face, and I must have looked as good as I thought he did.

"You look beautiful," he says, gripping onto the sides of the door frame.

My lips curve upward, "So do you." Damn it! I already fucking caved into him. He truly looked too damn good in the costume. He should think about becoming a knight. He should keep the costume after this.

He pushed a hand out towards me, and in it was a red rose. My eyes threatened to water as I plucked it from his fingers. "Thank you."

We say nothing for a moment as we continue to stare at each other. I'm glad he is keeping his distance because I want to do anything else to him right now.

To Romeo. Not Colby. Colby didn't exist right now. He wouldn't until later.

My anger and depression dissolved inside me, making room for the knight.

"You ready to get this shit done?"

I laugh, "Yeah. I'm so excited to dump that script in the garbage the second we're done."

One of our classmates walks down the hall, "Showtime, you two!" She chirps.

My stomach drops, and I suddenly am not ready to get this shit done. I swallow hard as we look at each other. I snatch the script off the table, "let's go."