Falling Fast - L.S

23

The first night of the play was a big success. I was so nervous I was nearly sick, but once I was on stage, actually speaking my lines, I stared to relax and enjoy it.

Harry and Taylor were both brilliant, and everyone did better than in the rehearsals. Even Niall managed to make himself heard halfway down the hall.

Niall as Mercutio and Luke as Tybalt drew their swords. Harry was on stage too. I was only a metre or so away, backstage, but he had no idea I was standing there - all his focus was on his friends. On his lines.

I watched him turning from one to the other, desperate to stop their fight.

"Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!"

The language was so old-fashioned- so ludicrous really - coming out of Harry's mouth. And yet he somehow managed to make it sound like what it meant: 'Stop it, guys. You're out of order.'

Luke stabbed Niall and rushed off to the other side of the stage, where Taylor was standing, her lips moving as she went over her long speech that started the next scene.

Then Niall staggered offstage.

Harry faced the audience alone. Guilty. Desperate. Angry. In love. Each emotion was there, flowing in and out of his face and his voice. He was totally commanding. Utterly convincing. I'd never seen him act so well.

I looked across stage to the wings, opposite.

Taylor was watching Harry too. Our eyes met. Up until that moment I hadn't really thought I'd go through with our plan. But seeing Harry's performance here - as subtle and intense as his face - I knew that I had to do it. That I would never be sure of him, otherwise. He was just too good of an actor for me to trust anything he said.

Taylor raised her eyes. "Tonight?" she mouthed.

I shook my head. Mum and Dad were watching tonight - and would expect me to go home with them afterwards.

"Friday," I mouthed back.

We talked through the details later, during the start of Act 5, where Harry was on stage and we weren't.

Niall Horan was having a party after Friday night's final performance. Gigi knew his house and said that there was a perfect place for us to carry out the plan - two adjoining office areas, all quiet and secluded.

The plan itself was simple. Taylor was going to make out that she fancied Harry, while I watched. If he tried to get off with her, I would know that being with me was just about sex. If he said no, I would know I'd been worrying about nothing.

I would know that he loved me.

~

The second night was as big a success as the first. Both audiences were full and appreciative - well, it was a big school and I guess parents always like watching their kids perform.

I hated it, though. I watched Harry and Taylor kiss seven times - jealousy twisting in my heart - and each time I counted it off on my fingers. Taylor had sworn that there was nothing in the kisses. Soon I would know for sure.

Mr Nichols got tipsy on champagne in the second half and hugged me and Taylor as we trooped offstage after our curtain call.

"You were brilliant," he rasped - his voice still hadn't come back completely after all his shouting last week.

Taylor went off to get changed and Mr Nichols offered me a rueful smile.

"Don't tell anyone, but I'm sorry I didn't make you Juliet," he whispered. "She was good, but you'd have been better."