Day Eleven

Waking up, I felt refreshed after my conversation with Mark last night. He'd left my house with a smile on his face, reassuring me that we were fine and he'd try to stay sober for the next few days--if not for his sake--for mine.

I especially needed his support today, because, in just a couple hours, was the school assembly. It was the official preview of Juliet and Romeo, a chance for my peers to catch a glimpse of the play before it premiered Saturday night, and just thinking about it made my stomach churn. 

In addition to my everyday makeup of mascara and chap stick, I lathered a sparkly eyeshadow across my lid and made my best attempt to contour my cheeks. The entire school body of WBHS was going to scrutinize my every blemish--rather, Juliet's every blemish--as soon as I stepped on stage, so I tried my best not to look like a twelve year old boy.

I could really use Gwyn's makeup expertise. She'd point out what shades worked with my skin tone, where I needed to blend, and how to make my eyebrows more like sisters than second cousins, but I couldn't bring myself to text her.

Shoving my costume into my backpack, I shuffled downstairs to grab a bagel on my way out the door. My dad was already in the kitchen, fully suited up for a day at the firm, and my brother scribbling on the table, barely dressed enough to go to school.

"Morning, kiddo." he said as I slipped past him, popping my bagel in the toaster. "You look nice. Got a big day today?"

"Thanks, Dad. I'm running way behind schedule." I said, combing my hand through the back of my hair where I'd missed some tangles. "The assembly's today."

"That's right," he nodded, giving me a warm smile. "You got this, sweetheart. You'll smash it like you always do."

"I hope so." I smiled and grabbed my breakfast, popping the bagel in my mouth on my way out the door. "Bye, love you."

"Love you!" Emett called, whipping up to grin at me. I blew them a kiss and hopped in my car, chasing the few minutes left to get to school.

Due to the assembly, the cast had been excused from attending homeroom, so thankfully I didn't have to explain my full face of makeup to the beauty queen in English class.

With my costume in hand, like some reverse Cinderella I sprinted through the student lot and down the stairs to the gymnasium before the clock struck 8 a.m.

Everyone was already milling around, the girls fixing their wigs and the boys shrugging on tights that were a little too tight and laughing at each other's discomfort.

In the far left corner of the gym, Gorveau was with a tall, slender boy who looked an awful lot like Mark, but I couldn't make out his face until I walked closer, slinging my backpack off my shoulder onto the bleachers above them.

It was Mark, and his lips were spread into a wide smile as he shook hands with the teacher, nodding and laughing.

Hope rose in my chest as I hopped down the stairs, jogging over to where Mark was sorting through a costume rack.

"Hey, what're you doing here?" I said, unable to contain my smile as Mark looked up at me, licking his lips.

"You're not gonna believe this," he said, eyes and smile wide, "I'm back in this thing."

"Oh, my God." I threw my arms around him, a wave of relief washing over me that Damon had kept his end of the deal. "Mark, that's amazing."

He squeezed me tightly, lifting me off my feet. "I can't believe it."

"I'm so happy for you." I mumbled into his shoulder. "How did this happen?"

"I have no idea," he said, setting me down. "But I'm not gonna question it." He shook his head, running a hand through his chocolate hair. "It's a freakin' miracle."

"Maybe he's had a change of heart." I smiled, shrugging like I had absolutely no idea this was a premeditated decision. "I'm just glad you're back."

He let out a relieved laugh, nodding as he flipped through the costumes, grabbing his character's balloon shorts and vested shirt. "Time to suit up."

We headed to the locker rooms to change into our ridiculous Elizabethan attire. The long, navy satin gown hit just below my ankles, and combined with white skin tight sleeves, I was a walking hot box.

Seeing Mark in his balloon shorts and tights made up for it, though. As he walked out, giving me a spin, I doubled over in laughter.

"I'm a cupcake," he said, pulling at the rounded edges of his pants. "What are these?"

I shook my head, pointing at his white tights concealing two skinny legs, "No, you're a cake pop." I laughed, "It's like two little sticks."

He dropped his jaw in dramatic shock, gasping, "How dare thou." He flexed his legs, kicking them around in a jester-like manner. I leaned against the wall, laughing and soaking up the smile on his face.

In the short time we'd been gone, Damon had set up a large projector screen in the center of the gymnasium floor, and several of our peers were preparing set design and stage props around it. A short media clip was to be displayed introducing the general premise of Juliet and Romeo, followed by our scene in real time.

Gorveau was standing in the center of the screen, his hands on his hips and eyes squinted up at the projector.

"You're sure this thing works?" he looked up at Damon, who nodded.

"Positive."

We walked over to the bleachers where Zak was fiddling with the large white feather sticking out of his cap. He snapped up to face us, a large smile breaking through as he examined our costumes.

"Look at you guys." he said, his eyes skimming over my satin gown. "You look great."

"Why, thank you." I curtsied. "I fancy your hat, sir."

He laughed, pulling the feather away from his face. "I think I'm wearing it wrong, or something."

"It's on backwards, dude." Mark said, motioning to turn it. Zak frowned and spun the hat around so that the feather poked out on the right side, emitting a light chuckle.

"Oh," he drawled, "Yeah, that's way better. Thanks, man."

"Don't mention it." Mark snorted.

"So, does this mean you're in the play again?" Zak asked, folding his hands together behind his head. "Gorveau came to his senses?"

"Yup." Mark said, "Guess he couldn't find a better Mercutio than me."

"Damn straight." Zak smiled, "Well, it's good to have you back."

Mark's eyes fell to the floor. "Thanks."

I looked between the boys, smiling at their unexpectedly friendly interaction. Although Zak's warmth seemed to put him off guard, Mark wasn't meeting him with any hostility, which was a surprise. At the very least, it was a small step in the right direction.

The cast waited in the locker rooms as WBHS students filed into the gym, chattering excitedly and laughing amongst each other as they grouped with their friends on the bleachers.

Luckily, I wasn't feeling too nervous. If anything, there was a strange sense of calm washing over me as we waited for the gym to fill. For one last time, Zak and I ran through our lines to make sure we knew exactly what we were doing before walking onstage in front of the entire school.

"Are you nervous?" he whispered, his voice lower than usual.

"I feel good, actually." I shook my head, cocking a brow at him. "Are you?"

He licked his lips and looked down, his feather nearly grazing my cheek. "Not usually, but right now, a little bit."

Out of the two of us, I never would have thought Zak would be the nervous one. I gave him a reassuring smile and reached up to fix his cap. "Riley, you have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, I just," he looked between my eyes and sighed, "I want it to be perfect, you know?"

Tilting my head up at him, I placed my hand on his forearm and smiled. "Do you trust me?"

His teeth grazed his lower lip and he smirked. "Yeah, I do."

"Then it will be." I said, squeezing his arm.

All the way from the gym, Gorveau's voice echoed over the microphone as kids clapped and cheered awaiting our performance. My chest tightened with excitement and I smiled up at Zak, who blew out a long exhale, his cheeks puffed.

"All right, guys." Zak pasted on a confident smile and faced the rest of the cast, "It's show time."

We hooped and hollered, pumping ourselves up and left for the gym. Waiting just outside the doors, I took a peek at the hundreds of peers occupying the bleachers, and the proud smile on Gorveau's face as he introduced our play.

"I'm well aware most of you have read the classic Shakespearan screenplay, Romeo and Juliet in your freshman English courses," his voice boomed through the speakers, "But I can promise that you've never before seen these famous love birds quite like this."

From behind, a hand grabbed ahold of mine. I swallowed and looked over my shoulder at Zak, whose eyes flickered down to mine. Lacing my fingers with his, I gave him a reassuring smile and looked back toward the gym, suddenly hit with some nerves.

The lights in the gym dimmed as the projector screen lit up, but the familiar audio from our prerecorded media clip wasn't playing on the blank screen. Students broke out in gasps and frantic whispers, the entire gym filled with quiet chatter.

Because the speakers were filled with muffled voices, and the screen was illuminated with the vision of Gwyn Ryann Harris kissing Hunter Hollingsworth.