Sugar - Charlie Dalton

19

Upon entering the theatre, noise flooded Clara's ears.

"It's packed." She said to Charlie who nodded, busy leading them to their seats.

They had arrived just in time, as the stage curtains opened to reveal a forest with Neil hiding behind a tree.

"Hey, there he is! Hey, hey." Charlie smiled, jumping out of his seat.

"Charlie!" Clara hissed as Cameron shoved the boy back into his seat.

"Shh, boys." Mr. Keating said as Neil snuck up on the fairy.

"Either I mistake your shape and making quite. Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Call'd Robin Goodfellow."

"Thou speak'st aright; I am that merry wanderer of the night. I jest to Oberon and make him smile. When I a fat and bean-fed horse beguile." He stopped to neigh making the audience laugh loudly. "Neighing in likeness of a filly foal: And sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl. In very likeness of a roasted crab. And when she drinks, against her lips I bob and on her wither'd dewlap pour the ale. The wisest aunt, telling the saddest
tale."

Quietly, Charlie whispered to Clara. "He's good. He's really good."

The girl nodded profusely, turning her attention back to her brother on stage.

"Sometime for three-foot stool mistaketh me; Then slip I from her bum, down topples she. And 'tailor' cries, and falls into a cough; And then the whole quire hold their hips and laugh. And waxen in their mirth and neeze and swear.
A merrier hour was never wasted there. But, room, Fairy! here comes Oberon."

"And here my mistress. Would that he were gone!" Another fairy said.

Throughout the show, Clara was amazed by how talented her brother was. Sure, she knew he was a genius since primary school. But never had she seen him so in his element. So confident.

"Then by your side no bed-room me deny; For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie."

"Lysander riddles very prettily: Now much beshrew my manners and my pride. If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy. Lie further off; in human modesty. Such separation as may well be said. Becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid, and, good night, sweet friend: Thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end!

The younger Perry had been so wrapped up in the play, she didn't even notice her father walk into the theatre.

"Amen, amen, to that fair prayer, say I;"

Neil soon came back on stage, fairies dancing all around him.

Suddenly, Clara felt her hand being to touched and looked down to see Charlie's fingers intertwined with hers.

She gave him a smile as he lightly kissed her hand.

As the play came to an end, the curtains reopened to reveal Neil facing the backdrop.

Turning around slowly, he began to recite his final monologue. "If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended. That you have but slumber'd here while these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, no more yielding but a dream, gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, if we have unearned luck now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, we will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends."

The actors all came out for their final bow and immediately everyone began to cheer, Clara's isle being the loudest.

"That's my brother!"
"Yawp!"
"Yeah, Neil!"

The curtains closed for good, as Clara turned around, making her face drain color.

Her father had someone managed to get someone to allow him backstage to see Neil.

"I have to go." Clare said suddenly, squeezing her way through the isle.

She heard calls after her but kept running until she got backstage.

"Hey you can't-"

"-Don't care!"

The girl ran around until she saw her brother, smiling brightly among the others. "Neil! Neil!"

"Clare, what are you?"

"Neil, Your father. He's-" A teacher said, delivering the news before Clara could.

The twins shared the same look of despair, fearing for what their father would say.

The boy just nodded and emerged from the curtains walking towards their father.

"Don't let him ruin what you just did. You were amazing Neil." Clara whispered to him, walking up to Mr. Perry with a solemn face.

"Let's go you two." Was all the man said as he pushed his way through the large crowd outside. "Excuse me. Excuse me. Excuse me."

The girl caught eyes of the guys, trying to signal to them to leave now.

"Neil, Neil, you were great!" Charlie smiled, moving towards the siblings.

Obviously her signals needed work.

"I can't, guys." Neil sighed as they continued through the crowd.

From behind them, Clara heard a familiar voice, louder than ever. "Neil! Neil!"

"Neil. Neil. You have the gift. What a performance You left even me speechless. You have to stay with-"

"-Get in the car. Keating, you stay away from my son and daughter." Their father snapped.

"Neil! Clara! Mr. Perry, come on." Charlie smiled, trying to make the two show a sign of happiness.

"Don't make it any worse than it is." Mr. Keating frowned, watching the twins.

It was like all of Clara's confidence had been drained when with her father.

Before getting into the car, the girl felt a hand tug hers. Before she could tell Charlie to stop, her lips crashed into his.

He dipped her, keeping his hand on her lower back and she ran fingers through his hair. Never had a kiss felt so much like sugar before.

The kiss must've lasted longer than expected because when she came up for air, her father's head was almsot boiling red.

Immediately her mood dropped. "I-I'm so sorry, Father. Goodbye, Charlie."

"Goodbye, Sugar. I couldn't let you leave without a kiss." They hugged, and she felt him slip something into her pocket.

Luckily, her father hadn't noticed.

"Get in, Clara. Now."

She obeyed, looking out the window and making eye contact with Mr. Keating.

He stared, and stared, and stared until the car drove from the theatre all the way back to the Perry's household.