Helping Heart

Chapter 15: Halloween Rehearsal

It's been a month since John, Dawn, Christy and the former Dark Heart who is now renamed Derek Hart have been in school for seventh grade. 

Today is Halloween, but for Dawn and Derek meant that they had to go to play rehearsal after school but it was a good day to because it was also the day that they'll getting fitted for their costumes.

Derek check his cellphone to look at his email and saw that the costume designer is coming at three o' clock. It also says that they're also doing the kissing scene between Oliver "Daddy " Warbucks and his secretary, Grace Farrell which made Derek's heart beat faster than a drum in a rock and roll band.

"What's wrong Derek?" asked Dawn while she took out her cellphone.

"Today I'm suppose to kiss a girl at the end of the play. And the thought of it is making my heart beat fast and I'm sweating like a pig." said Derek while taking a sip of water from the fountain.

Dawn gaved her nervous brother a reassuring hug  telling him that it'll be ok.

"Remember this it's not really you giving Grace a kiss it's a character in the show that happens to look a lot like you." said Dawn while patting Derek's back.

"Thanks Dawn you always know what to say to make me feel better." said Derek.

The whole day went by very quickly and it was time for rehearsal. Derek and Dawn waved goodbye to John and Christy and then proceeded to walk to the auditorium.

They went inside and saw Mr. Baxter who was writing notes for rehearsal.

"Hi Mr. Baxter. Happy Halloween." said Dawn.

"Thank you Dawn and Happy Halloween to you to." said Mr. Baxter while putting his notepad down.

Ten minutes later, the doors opened and the rest of the cast started walking in the auditorium.

"Listen up everyone, we're having our costume designer, Mrs. Berman come today and she's gonna call your names in alphabetical order to get measured for your costumes." said Mr. Baxter.

Shortly after the announcement, a woman with brown hair, a blue t-shirt and black pants came in the auditorium and introduced herself to the cast and crew. Then she started calling the cast names one by one.

"Today we're rehearsing the last part of the show when Annie gets adopted by Daddy Warbucks and kisses Grace Farrell." said Mr. Baxter while drinking his coffee.

When Derek heard those words his heart started beating very quickly and he was starting to sweat.

"Dawn Hart!" called Mrs. Berman.

Dawn got up from the seat in the audience and followed Mrs. Berman into the hallway to get measured for her costume.

"Grace, when I talk about a new life for all of us. I do mean all of us. And if you'd still like to be Annie Bennett Warbucks ." said Derek when he read his lines.

"I'd like that more than anything."said Isabelle reading her lines as Annie.

"I love you very much Annie." said Derek. 

"And I love you Daddy Warbucks." said Isabelle.

The main characters started to sing the "Together at Last" reprise.

Rachel who's playing Mr. Warbucks' secretary, Grace Farrell starts to join in and gives Annie her brand new silver heart shaped locket that Daddy Warbucks gave Annie to welcome her into his family.

Then Derek gave Rachel a blue box that contained a engagement ring and slipped it on Rachel's ring finger.

Then it was time for Derek to kiss Rachel and Derek's heart started beating faster than normal.

Just as when Derek was about to bent down to kiss Rachel, Mrs. Berman came in the auditorium 

"Derek Hart." called Mrs. Berman.

"Saved by the bell" Derek thought to himself.

Derek walked down the steps of the stage and followed Mrs. Berman into the hallway where her measuring tape and notepad were.

Her husband, Mr. Berman was with her and wrote down the measurements for her on the notepad with the names of the cast members and their characters.

Derek introduced himself to Mrs. Berman and shook her hand.

"It's very nice to meet you Derek." said Mrs. Berman.

"Now then I'm gonna have you put your arms out so I can measure them." Mrs. Berman said while taking out her measuring tape.

Derek did as he was told and his arm measurements were 15".

Mr. Berman wrote the measurements down on the notepad

"And now I'm gonna measure your inseam. And I need you to stretch your legs out a little bit for me." said Mrs. Berman while bending down to Derek's legs.

Derek followed the instructions and then Mrs. Berman measured his inseam which was 20".

Mr. Berman wrote down the measurements.

"Now I'm measuring your height which is 5'7" and your waist which is 15".

"Alright honey, you can go now." said Mrs. Berman 

"Thank you it was nice to meet you." said Derek

"It was nice to meet you to sweetie. See you soon." said Mrs. Berman .

Derek walked back to the auditorium and went back on stage to kiss Rachel's character.

"Oh good Derek you're back. We only have a few more minutes before rehearsal is over for the day. So I want you and Rachel to do the kissing scene." said Mr. Baxter.

Rachel took off the ring and put it back in the little box so it would be there when Derek got back from getting fitted for his costume.

Derek picked up the little blue box with the ring, got down on one knee and slipped it on Rachel's ring finger.

Then it was really time for him to kiss Rachel on the lips.

He stood up and kissed her. After the kiss the characters embraced while the rest of the cast started singing the "Tomorrow " reprise.

"Great job everyone. I'll see you tomorrow for the dance rehearsal." said Mr. Baxter while picking up his belongings.

Dawn and Derek picked up their backpacks and walked out of the auditorium.

"So how did you feel now after you kissed Rachel?" asked Dawn.

"I'm not that scared anymore and I remembered what you said earlier. That it's not really me kissing her it's my character who happens to look a lot like me.

"That's awesome Derek." exclaimed Dawn.

"When I was kissing Rachel I imagined that she was Christy so my nerves weren't so bad" said Derek while he held the door open for his sister.

"That's nice Derek. We better get home before the trick or treaters come." said Dawn while she looked at the time on her cellphone.

The trick or treating started at six o'clock and it was four thirty which meant that Dawn and Derek had to be helping John with the candy giving while their parents were at a Halloween party across town.

Derek and Dawn got home just in time. John was in the living room putting the candy into a big bowl.

"There you two are. How was rehearsal?" asked John.

"It was good. We got fitted for our costumes today." said Derek.

"That's good. Mom and Dad left for the party five minutes ago." said John.

Dawn and Derek called their parents on the house phone and told them that they just got home from rehearsal.

"Ok now I want you two to help John with the candy and no sneaking candy until trick or treat time is over."

They agreed and hung up the phone. The siblings decided to watch tv while they waited for six o'clock to come.