Black and White ✘ Black Butler

Chapter 38

"10 minutes 'til the curtains rise!" Darla calls out to us. Light shrieks and shaky sighs echoed throughout the backstage. It's an understatement to say that every one of us were nervous. As a matter of fact, it seemed like we were ready to head off into war. To make it worse, we in the front line. Just like Bell has been repeating in my ear for the past few days, tonight is a matter of life and death. (If only she knew...) It's taken everything inside of me not to super glue her mouth shut. I love her but she can be more annoying than a yapping Chihuahua, especially when a huge project is on the line.

I kneel down beside the curtains with Bell just hovering above me. I open the fabric just a crack and peek out into the audience; Bell did the same. From my view, which was slightly blinded by the stage light that was directly hitting us, bodies upon bodies were gathering in their appropriated seats. Teens sat with their groupies; other classmates try escorting the rumbling catastrophe; parents, who were only here to support their child, and other children tried to snag any available front row seats; a few old couples shuffle through the crowd in order to find a place to watch a Shakespeare classic; and I can distinctly find a few of my professors standing in the middle of the crowd. In other words, it was a full house. For once, Darla wasn't exaggerating.

"Geez, Darla wasn't kidding," I said. My voice was overpowered by the mumbles of students behind Bell and me as they help each other memorize their lines or calm one another. "It's completely packed."

"It's like everyone in London came to see us."

"I wouldn't be surprised if acting agencies came to watch us."

"Maybe I can get my big break!"

I chuckle. I shut the curtains before anyone in the audience could notice eyes peeking out. I push myself off the floor, almost stumbling back down due to my shaking legs. I place my hand on top of my stomach as I wheeze in a few deep breathes of air. My damn stage-fright was coming back to bite me. I'm just hoping that I don't repeat my 1st year school play when I puked on Bell's pink dress while reenacting 'The Wizard of Oz'. To this day, she has not let it go, but at least that's how our friendship truly blossomed.

"Shit, I think I'm going to be sick," I mumble. I grip onto the skin of my abdomen, trying to keep my dinner inside. I don't think anyone wants to see regurgitated pizza; I highly doubt it looks appetizing the second way around.

Her eyes widen. "Don't you worry, C.L.." She grips onto my shoulders. "You are going to be fine. We've rehearsed this a million times. I highly doubt you'll mess up."

"Thanks..."

"Just don't ruin it by puking all over my dress. We both know that the pizza we ate doesn't look great the second time around."

"You really couldn't let that go."

"I saw the opportunity and I took it."

I groan.

Bell turns her head and gasps. "Alois," she squeaks.

Now, I'm going to lose my dinner for a different reason.

"We could really use your words of wisdom."

"Not me," I whisper.

"C.L. has stage-fright and she could use all the help she can get."

Don't tell him everything about me!

Then, I feel another hand creep up behind my back. "Don't you worry C.L.; I just know you'll kill it out there."