Amour Doux (Nathan Prescott)

6

It was nearly time for the play. The seats were all still empty, and the sun was nearly set. I walked back stage to see a few of the actors, and the drama teacher, but no Nathan. I looked around some, eventually walking into the dressing room, where I finally found Nathan. He had just finished getting his makeup on, but he wasn't dressed.

"Don't you think you should've put your costume on before the makeup?" My accent giving me away before he even turned around to see me.

"Fuck, you're right.. fuck, fuck. What if I smear my makeup? Jesus I'm gonna have to do it over again."

"Woah, Nathan, calm down. It's okay, I can help."

Nathan looked to me and sighed nodding his head. He untied his robe. It dropped, revealing his mostly nude body, only boxer shorts covering him. He was pale, skinny, and he had bruises on his shoulder and ribs. I never noticed how bad his posture was until now.

I looked over and scanned the clothing rack until I found his costume, then walking back to him.
"Arms up." I commanded like he was a child. He complied, but he was too tall, even hunched over like he was. I curled my lip then looked over to the chair. I stepped on it, then slowly lowered the shirt around his arms, then stretching the neck out so it didn't touch his face. I handed him the pants and he put them on himself. He looked up to me with worry on his face.

"Hey, you'll do great." I noticed the script with his lines highlighted. I picked it up and handed it to him. "Just go over them, and don't stress.

Nathan looked at the paper, then to me. "Thanks." Then, as he began reading, his name was called. We both walked outside to see a well dressed man with grey hair and glasses.
"Nathan, son, I need to talk to you." He glanced to me. "In private."

"Uh-Uhm... yessir." Nathan looked back to me and shrugged his shoulders, then followed his dad behind the changing room tent. I snuck up and peeped into their conversation.

"I'm so nervous, dad. I don't think I can do this..."

"Nathan, please."

"I can't do it! I'm sorry... you don't understand. They all hate me. They're just gonna laugh at me." He began tearing up. It was obvious his father towered over him as some... dark overlord. He was intimidating.

"Why do you suppose that is?"

Nathan kept his eyes from contact with his fathers, looking down to the ground or at his dads tie. "I don't know..."

"Because you show weakness. Just like you're doing right now."

"But dad..."

"When will you learn that it isn't about you and your problems? This is about the Prescott name. My name." He shook his finger in Nathan's face. "You will not embarrass me." He scolded Nathan, but Nathan didn't look at him. "Nathan!"

"Yes..." Nathan finally replied.

"Good... now. Break a leg!" He placed his hand on his shoulder. "I'll see you after the show." He began to walk away, but saw me and stopped. He then looked at someone else, and I noticed Chloe standing behind me. I turned back to Mr. Prescott.

"Don't you think you're being a bit hard on him? Especially before the show... intimidation is definitely not the key to giving confidence."

"I don't know who you are, but mind your own business."

"I'd love to, but when you make it a constant to strike him down by just being plain rude, I feel the need say something."

He scrunched his face at me and started to walk away, but just couldn't leave without the last word.
"Go back to your country, immigrant."