The Girl Next Door

11. Acting The Part

Drama class was always a bit of a blur for me. I wasn't exactly what you'd call a "natural actor." In fact, I had no clue how to get into character, especially when it came to Pride and Prejudice. The lines were fancy, the tone was serious, and I could barely keep up with all the old-fashioned language. To be honest, I wasn't sure how I'd manage. But that was the point of drama class, right? To step out of your comfort zone.

I sat down across from Astrid, trying to shake off the nervous tension that started creeping up my neck. She didn't look nervous at all. In fact, she looked like she was in her element. She was already holding the script in her hands, scanning the lines like she had done it a thousand times before.

"You alright?" I asked, unsure of what else to say, still fumbling with my own script.

She glanced up, her expression calm, not a hint of the usual sarcasm or indifference. "I'm fine," she replied, as though she was about to perform some grand monologue, not just practice a scene from a book that was centuries old.

And then, when we started acting, I realized she wasn't just fine. She was amazing.

Astrid transformed. The moment she started reading her lines, she slipped into the character with such ease, that it was like watching a completely different person. Her voice softened, her posture changed, and there was this raw intensity behind her eyes.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." She said the line with such conviction, her tone so perfect, I almost forgot where I was.

I, on the other hand, fumbled with my lines, tripping over words I didn't understand, barely able to get a sentence out without sounding like I was reading a grocery list.

"You're supposed to be Mr. Darcy, remember?" Astrid said with a quiet chuckle when I struggled with a particularly hard line. She didn't sound annoyed—just amused. "Here, let me show you."

She got up, moving effortlessly through the scene, her movements graceful as she took on a new persona. I couldn't help but watch her, completely caught up in how she became Elizabeth Bennet in an instant. It wasn't just about reading the lines—it was about becoming the character.

And suddenly, I felt completely out of place. How was I supposed to match that level of performance? My usual laid-back persona didn't exactly fit into the serious, brooding nature of Mr. Darcy.

But Astrid didn't make me feel bad. She wasn't acting like she was better than me, she just did her thing, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And for the first time, since I'd met her, I felt like I was seeing the real her, not just the girl with the headphones and the hoodie, or the one who laughed off everyone else's drama.

"You're doing fine," she said, her voice low but reassuring, as she motioned for me to continue. "Just follow the rhythm of the words. It's all about the delivery."

It was strange. For once, I wasn't trying to be cool or impress anyone. I was just... trying. And in a way, that felt like a small victory.

"Alright, Mr. Darcy," she teased with a smirk. "Let's see if you can get through this scene without tripping over your own feet."

I couldn't help but smile at her. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to enjoy the idea of acting.

Or maybe I was just enjoying the idea of spending more time with Astrid.

Drama class was dragging on, and I still couldn't wrap my head around how to properly deliver my lines. The character of Mr. Darcy was so stiff and formal, while I was... well, me. I tried to focus, but the words felt too heavy in my mouth like I was trying to speak a language I didn't fully understand.