| ***The Next Day*** Marnie got her lunch and again avoided the usual tauntings as she went to the same table as yesterday. She ate her lunch earnestly, and was waiting for Alex to show up. She saw him approach the table. “Hey.” “Hey.” Marnie smiled. “I was late this morning cause I was trying to learn my lines for the audition tomorrow.” “Really? I practically know it by heart.” “You do huh? Hey listen, I know you don’t know me that well, but you think you might wanna come over and help me out?” “Come over?” Marnie choked. “To your house?” “You have other plans?” “No, it’s just no one’s ever asked me over before.” “Good, then let me be the first. Why don’t you meet me outside the entrance at 3 and we’ll walk over together OK?” Marnie looked hesitant. “OK.” “Great!” Alex looked at his watch. “Look, I gotta go to the library real quick. See you at 3 OK?” He got up and walked out of the cafeteria, leaving Marnie’s head spinning. ~*~ Marnie and Alex walked to an apartment complex not far from the high school. “This isn’t far from my complex,” Marnie said. Alex nodded and opened his door. “Mom! I’m home!” A woman came out of the kitchen. “Hi honey,” the woman gave Alex a hug. “I see you brought a friend.” Alex smiled. “Mom, this is Marnie. Marnie, this is my mother, Denise McLean.” Marnie shook her hand. “Nice to meet you Mrs. McLean.” “Please, Denise,” Denise smiled. “Marnie came over to help me run my lines for the audition tomorrow.” “OK, why don’t you guys get settled and I’ll bring you a snack.” Alex and Marnie went to the living room. Alex took out his script. “OK, the piece is Act 2 scene 2, the balcony scene.” Marnie swallowed hard. “OK, well, why don’t you start and I’ll just read them for you.” Alex took a deep breath looked at the script. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Marnie looked intently at him. “What? Did I miss a line?” “No, that’s not it… But, can I give you a tip?” “I’m all ears,” Alex sat down next to her on the couch. “OK, you’re saying it like it’s too rehearsed. Say it as if you were Romeo. He’s under a spell of Juliet’s beauty. He’s become completely entranced. You need to put that feeling into it.” “OK, how do I do that?” “Who do you think is the most gorgeous female on the planet?” “Um… I guess Cindy Crawford.” Marnie laughed. “OK, pretend this. You’re at a party, and you see Cindy Crawford standing there. She’s looking right at you and you have a little conversation. She gives you her address at the hotel she’s staying at. You go there, and see her standing on her terrace overlooking the sky.” Alex scratched his head. “OK, let’s try it.” Alex took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began again. But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek! Marnie gave him applause. “Now that’s Romeo.” Alex took a grand bow. “You should be a drama coach.” “Nah, I just love Shakespeare.” “You know, you should go see if you can join the Academy.” “Me? Nah, I hate going in front of people.” “Well, you don’t have to act. They need people as stagehands and stuff. Tell you what, why don’t you come with me tomorrow? You can check out the Academy, and I could use the support for the audition.” “I don’t know,” Marnie shook her head. “Please?” Alex put on a puppy-dog face. “OK, I’ll do it.” “Great! Now let’s see if we can’t finish these lines.” ~*~ Alex walked Marnie home. “I really want to thank you for helping me today.” “No problem.” “I really think you’ll like the Academy. The people there are some that I can relate to y’know? Not like the jerks at school.” “Yeah, not like them. They think just because you’re not a jock or a size 2, you don’t belong.” Marnie looked down at the street. “I know,” Alex sighed. They were walking down the street when they heard someone laughing across the street. “Hey look! It’s the fairy and the walrus! Looks like they found a common bond!” Marnie and Alex looked across the street at Jonathan Rolando and his friends. He was on the football team, and with no brains to boot. He prided himself at taunting the kids at school, and was Marnie’s biggest bully. “Hey Marnie, looks like your brains aren’t as big as the rest of you. He likes it the other way around!” Jonathan yelled as his friends laughed. “Oh, go blow it out your ass Rolando!” Alex yelled. “You blow more than your fair share McLean!” “Come on,” Alex grumbled at Marnie. “Let’s go.” They arrived at Marnie’s apartment. “I’m sorry you had to hear that Marnie.” “Oh, it’s OK,” Marnie said in a whisper. “I get it all the time.” “They think that they can say whatever they want to! I’ll show them though. One day, I’ll be famous and they won’t know what hit them!” “You will Alex. The way that you act, you’ll be sure to hit it big one day.” “And what about you Marnie? What’re your dreams?” Marnie looked at him. “I don’t know. I guess I haven’t found my niche yet.” Alex nodded. “Well, I better get home for dinner. Thanks for helping me with my lines. I really appreciated it.” “I enjoyed it.” Marnie smiled. Alex gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Bye.” “Bye.” Marnie watched as Alex walked away. Part III Contents Part I |