The road to nowhere

Chapter eight

Sitting in class listening to the history teacher go on about the horrible murders that took place in WWI. And I can't stop thinking about what Cole said to Thomas this morning. Does he like me? He might, I mean, it isn't exactly hard to understand... Or is it, am I just overthinking it? What if I am? Shit! This is seriously messing with my head big time. I can't help but wonder, what if he just said it so that Thomas leaves me alone? He probably did just that. Yeah, that sounds about right, why else would he say that? Don't get your hopes up Anna.

Mr. Florence starts to write something on the board. His handwriting is horrible and looks like perhaps he has lived back before Christ. Only twenty minutes left until we go for drama where I am paired up with no one other than Colby... Our teacher has told us that he will be giving us the scene he thinks would suit us best. I'm hoping and praying it isn't something serious because I like more cheery scenes. I'm certainly not ready to kiss him on stage either.

We have just walked into the classroom and I've already started to get anxious about what scene we will get purely because Mr. Willmore is rooting for Colby and I to be together, hence why he put us in the same group. And the scenes he has chosen... are probably off limits for most classes here but he doesn't care about what happens in the classroom, because as he says "What happens in the classroom, stays in the classroom." He asks us to sit in pairs and I smile at Colby and sit down.

"Here goes nothing." I whisper.

"Hello labels ad gentle spoons! Today we'll be starting to rehearse our scenes that I am about to distribute to pairs I've put you in yesterday. Now, don't be annoyed with the scenes I give you because if you become actors or actresses one day, you'll have to do ten times worse things. Alright?" he asks smiling at all of us.

He claps. "So let's get to it shall we?" he turns to the board producing a piece of paper. "Generally, there is three different scenes, considering we've got six pairs, we're going to have two pairs per scene. The scenes are; a horror, childish or comedic and a romance scene. With a kiss that is very important to the plot." he says looking at me. "So, I'll work my way from horror to romance to the comedy scenes." he then announces the horror pairs and as he does I hope and pray that he gives us the child scene. "So, the romance scene are doing Ross and Jenny and Colby and Annabelle. The child scene goes to the remaining pairs. You will be performing in an hour, off script. Have fun!"

I can feel my face go fully red as I turn to Cole just to realise that, he too, is red. As if planned, we both burst out laughing. "Well, that is something I definitely didn't expect." says Cole. "That man might as well be mad."

"Well, Colby... That 'madman' wants us together, he wants us to date." I say, my face turning serious.

"Hoooold up... What!?" he says loudly.

"Cole, Annabelle. Here are your scripts. Have fun with them and break a leg." says Mr. Willmore with a smug smirk on his face. I give him a knowing nod and turn to Cole. "Here goes nothing."

Turns out, this is an argument scene between lovers which assume that the other is somehow and for some reason cheating. The scene is very intense, something I didn't expect it to be. I bet you anything Ross and Jenny will do better than us considering they are a couple, they argue A LOT. We can try our best against them I guess.

It has been like what, forty-five minutes? So far we managed to finish our blocking and characterisation. We need a bit of work on our facial expressions and... well... the kiss. We haven't done it even once and I think that the first will, unfortunately, be on stage. I am scared that perhaps it doesn't go right. Mr. Willmore claps his hands and shouts "Alright, make an audience!" I sigh and look at Colby and give him a knowing smile as we all sit down.

"So, is there any volunteers or shall I pick?" he asks looking around scouring faces. That's a thing only he does, since he is an actor himself, he can read expressions. Even a tiny twitch of a face he notices. He always picks on those who look at him with those 'don't-pick-me' face so I always try to put on the 'I-don't-care' face and I've never failed. However, I have never seen Cole's face which might mean that we'll fail.

"Alright..." he begins looking at us. "Annabelle! Thank you, come on up!" he says pointing at the stage.

Colby and I share a look and sigh. Damn, I didn't expect to fail this miserably. Well, all I can do now is prove that we're indeed better and that we can do this. As we go behind the curtains, Cole gives my arm a squeeze and mouths "Good luck." before going on. I sigh and shake the nervousness off and get into character by generating my emotions. I walk on stage and suddenly nothing matters anymore apart from this role.

I sit on the chair that is placed downstage right and put my head in my hands acting frustrated. Cole is pacing, he goes to say something, rethinks and starts.

"How... how could you?"

I look up at the audience not responding.

"Look at me!" shouts Cole his voice breaking. I do so very slowly, as I do he stares me down.

"I didn't." I say quietly.

"What?" he says shocked.

"I didn't." I say getting up and taking three steps closer to him.

"But- but that's-"

"Insane I know. But I haven't, you are just assuming things. He's just a friend." I say to him taking his hands.

"How dare you!?" he snatches his hands away shaking.

"What?" I ask confused. He turns away shaking his head.

"Please, be honest with me Lilly... Please..." he says his back still to me.

"No, Brian. I didn't, I swear." I say my voice breaking.

"I love you, Brian." I say starting to cry. I fall to my knees. "I love you so so much." I sob.

He turns and looks at me with a tear forming in his eye. He hugs me pulling me up. "Oh, Lilly, I love you too." he says taking my face into his hands.

I can feel my heart race as he leans in and kisses me.

Just like that...

His lips are so soft and I don't want to stop but sadly it's all pretend and the last line comes around.

"I'm sorry." he says quietly.

I bury my head into his chest and we stand there for a few seconds. As we break apart everyone starts clapping and my eyes shift over to Izzy and Ace.

Their eyes are so wide it seems as if they will fall out any minute.

Everyone is clapping loud, so loud, I feel like their hands might as well start bleeding.

When they stop, I look at Mr. Willmore and his mouth is wide open, as if he perhaps has seen a ghost.

Silence.

Silence.

More silence.

Then...

"Wow..." he says. "I have never seen anything more brilliant than this... This, this is gold. You two are my favorite pair by far. You have officially left me speechless." he says to us and we, as if planned, share a very surprised look followed by a tight hug. We go on and sit down, our hands brushing one another. When we finally sit own he takes my hand and holds it. His heart is beating so fast and is hands are shaking.

Why?