A Wedding Tale

Chapter 4: Falling

March 20, 2020
I'll admit it. I care deeply for Jonatan. I guess it's not a bad thing, but I don't want anyone to know yet. I plan to just have fun with him at the wedding and nothing will happen. I bought a dress yesterday. It is a maroon, low cut, jumpsuit with a tie front. Jonatan's tie will match, and he will have a white button up and black pants. I hope I don't do anything dumb.

Xoxo,
Marilyn Danäe Minnelli

My warmup was interrupted by Madison squealing in excitement.

"Eeek! Erin, Marilyn, Luna, Callie Ann, Sophie, Mia, Everly! Everett just asked me to be his girlfriend!"

"Geez, I would have thought he proposed with that reaction," snarked Erin.

Ugh, love.

Her face beamed with joy all of class. Her and Everett stared at each other as much as they could. Everett stood beside her at barre. They were smitten. Eventually that would end and they would probably break up. It was the sad truth, but they would soon learn that there is no way you will marry the boy or girl you started dating when you were fourteen. But we weren't going to ruin their moment.

After class, I put on my pregnancy costume, and began rehearsal for the scene where Hermione is spending time with Mamillius before she is sent to prison when she has done nothing wrong. This was my most difficult acting scene. Hermione had to stay calm and gentle even though she was scared for her life. She didn't know if Leontes was going to have her arrested or maybe even killed, but she couldn't show any of her emotions to Mamillius.

We started with Callie Ann and Everly having a small duet. Slowly Cassie, Emma, McKenna, Kenzie, and Madison joined them. Skylar was on stage right playing with his rocking horse. I entered by a grand staircase, which we did not have in the studio yet, so I marked it. When I reached the bottom, I mimed talking to Callie Ann as Paulina. The music changed to a playful tune. Skylar hid behind Callie Ann and I tried to see him as if it where a game. Eventually I got him and picked him up. We did a small dance together before he hugged me. When Callie Ann came over, I sent Skylar to dance with Everly, Emma, Cassie, McKenna, Kenzie, and Madison. Callie Ann and I mimed talking worriedly because of what Leontes might do. She led me over to the chair and helped me sit down. I was still getting used to the stomach. I sat back in the chair and rubbed my head as Callie Ann helped Skylar get a toy boat. The young boy sat in front of me a played with the toy. Callie Ann brought me a book to read to Skylar. I picked him up and sat him on my lap as best I could with the bump. The book's spine creaked as I opened it to a random page. Skylar called for the others, and they all came and sat around me. Just before our freeze, when Jonatan entered the room, Callie Ann laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Okay," my mother stopped the music. "You guys just stay there," she referred to me, Callie Ann, Skylar, and the others, "while I work with Jonatan."

I slumped over in the chair to stretch my back. The costume made my lower back ache, and having scoliosis did not help.

"Is your back hurting?" asked Callie Ann.

I nodded my head.

"Do you want to take the costume off?"

I shook my head. "I'm just going to have to put it back on," I mumbled.

"Well here," she took her knuckles and rubbed deep into my lower back.

"What's wrong?" I heard Skylar ask Everly in a voice so soft that even the angels would listen.

"The costume hurts her back."

"Why?"

"The weight from the stomach is bothering her scoliosis."