Crazy Over Him

14: Personal Feelings Aside

Ryan sighed and hung his head from fatigue. Rosé has been making him practice lines with her for the entire lunch period. She didn't even let him eat lunch yet and there was only 20 minutes until class.

"Rosé, haven't we practiced enough? What good will re-reading lines do?" Ryan asked and Rosé crossed her arms.

"We have to be perfect. This is a play, Ryan. People don't want to see a sloppy show. I thought you're a nerd, aren't you also a perfectionist?"

"Fine. We'll keep practicing, but can we practice the scene you've been avoiding?"

Rosé's stubborn expression weakened for a moment. The scene she had been reluctant to run through was the kissing scene that came after Ryan's monologue. She was not at all interested in kissing him knowing that Jennie had put her lips on his before. It was also the most intimate scene of the play, and Rosé didn't want anyone to get the wrong impression if they were caught.

"We can try it but.... don't kiss me or anything."

Ryan nodded and turned the pages of his script. He stood in front of Rosé and together, they rehearsed the lines. Ryan instantly got into character and after a few minutes of his monologue, Rosé found herself engulfed in his speech. Then it was time for her dialogue with him.

"No other can compare to you, love," Ryan read.

"But what about your mother? She'd never see me as an equal."

"I don't care what she thinks." Ryan held Rosé's shoulders—which would've been her face—and looked into her eyes. She found her heart rate quickening from his touch and from the way he looked at her.

"What about Delilah? You're supposed to marry her."

"You're the one for me. No other woman can compare," he said and caressed her cheek lovingly this time, making Rosé blush a deep red.

Ryan gazed into her eyes and she glimpsed at his lips for a moment.

"I..." Rosé began to speak after a gulp. "You didn't finish the scene."

"This is where the speaking ends," Ryan said and took a step back from Rosé. "Did you want to go over it again?"

"No, Ryan..."

"Then...?" They stared at each other. Then she went closer to him.

Rosé gently pulled Ryan closer by his head and kissed him slowly. It was a soft and delicate kiss, which neither of them had ever thought would happen between them. He pulled away after a magical second but Rosé found herself wanting more.

"I thought you told me not to kiss you," Ryan said innocently.

"Yeah, I told you not to kiss me."

They stared at each other, with Rosé's still arms around Ryan's neck. She was looking at the bruise on his cheek and the cut on his lip—Shawn did not hold back that night.

"Let's not... do that again," he said hesitantly and Rosé let go of him. "The kiss wasn't bad or anything... we shouldn't let our personal feelings get in the way of our performance-"