It's Only Acting

By: Stephanie



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He looked over at her.  She seemed to take no notice of him at all.  These damned girls, they didn't talk to him. It was always those big jock guys.  No one went for him. Wait...did she just look at me?  he thought.  He stood up and moved to the isle.  She seemed to fidget with her script.  She had been looking at him.  He could tell by the way her eyes drifted to everyone, everyone except him.
"Mr. Proops and Ms. Jones.  You're reading next!"
Greg Proops ran his hand through his hair and made his way to the stage. 
"Read scene 3 Act 1!"  that voice boombed out from the abyss. The lights on stage prevented him from seeing anything and caused his forehead to break out in a sweat. 
"Ms. Jones, while we're young!"  shouted the voice.
It was her.  He was reading with...her.
He ran his hand over his hair again, something he did when he was nervous.  He smiled at her but she only looked terrified.  He nodded at her, she had the first line.
She looked to damned nervous.  He'd really wanted to do good on this audition.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She spoke, no she launched out into her monolouge.
Her voice was beautiful.  Her eyes...he could drown in.  They locked with his and practically dared him to look away.  He didn't need his script.  He knew his lines by heart and with her, he didn't even need to think about it.  Her voice wavered.  She was coming to the end.
The end where she had to cry.
"That's why I left.  Because I knew you didn't...well..."  When had she gotten so close to him?  "I knew.  I had to leave."
That was his cue.  "You're back now.  I didn't want you to go."
He grabbed her hand just like the script said.  "Never again.  Not if I can help it."
Her hand came up to trace his jaw, something that was not in the script.
"You can't help it.  Unless you-"
He cut her off "I love you."
That was definitely not in the script either.  He was supposed to let her say a few more words.  It felt right.  He had to go with it.  She smiled as if she'd always known that.  He kissed her.  Thank God that was in the script, because he would have done it anyway.
"Thank you that will be quite enough!"
He pulled back savoring the feel of her lips on his, the way her hand lingered on his neck.  He looked back into her eyes.  She was that same scared girl again. Not the bold and commanding like the woman she had been in the scene. She moved away and ran backstage.
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He had to find her.  No one had ever kissed him like that.  She was just acting. Maybe, maybe not.  He'd seen the look in her eyes once, and he needed to see it again.  He didn't even know her name.
He finally found her, in the stairwell backstage.  Her head shot up when she heard him.
"Hi."  he smiled.  "I'm Greg."
She didn't say anything so he continued.  "I'm glad I found you.  Mr. Michaels wants you for the part.  Me too, well both of us."
She looked confused.
"You got it.  You're in."  he smiled.
She seemed more at ease and smiled too.  It was beautiful.
"Thank you.  You're wonderful."  her voice was so soft it almost seemed as if she was whispering.  She stood up.  "I have to go."
"No wait...um...just wait."  He fidgeted with his hands.  "I don't know your name."
"Grace."
"Beautiful,"  he murmured.  "Will you come to dinner with me?"
"I can't.  I've got to get back to..."
"Then let me walk you home."
She glanced away from him.  "Okay."  She smiled and Greg knew all he wanted to do was make her smile again.
"That was amazing.  What you did back there, I mean."
She looked in his eyes.  "Thanks."
"It was just so...I mean your eyes were...so intense.  Like you really felt it.  Like you weren't even acting.  Her eyes glanced down at the floor then back up at him and he held his breath.
"Maybe I wasn't."
"Grace?"
"What?"
"Make me believe you weren't."
She traced his lips with her finger and then pressed her lips against his.
He believed her. 




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