A/N: Some vocab to know:
1) Wings: the area between the curtains (there are three rows of curtains in my school) that's off to the side where the audience can't see you
2) Stage Right: when facing the audience, the area to the right where actors wait to come on stage
3) Ensemble: the singing/dancing-only part of the cast (the extras)

Chapter 33: "I need to go take a cold shower."

We were lying on my bed, our legs entangled and Luke's arms around me while I rested my head on his broad chest.

"I don't ever want to move," I murmured, turning my head to look at him. Over the past couple of days, Luke's gang of friends had not left me alone, and now it was safe to say that along with Randy and Leo, those three were my best friends. Will was a little harder, but I still liked the idiot.

Luke turned onto his side so that we were facing each other. "It's only three months," he said.

"Call me every day. Skype me whenever you're free."

"Same goes for you," he said firmly.

I nodded and smiled at him. "Three months will pass quickly," I said.

"I love you," he said, and kissed my cheek.

"I love you, too."

A short pause. "I need to go take a cold shower."

I muffled a laugh. "Okay."

"Don't laugh at me," he said, while unentangling our limbs. "You're the one tempting me with those big, blue eyes and tiny little moans."

My mouth opened. "I do not moan!" I protested, hiding my face behind my hands.

"Luke," he mocked in a high-pitched, breathy voice.

My face burned and I moved my hands to scowl at him. "That's your fault. You're the one rubbing your little friend all over me."

His hazel eyes flashed with something, and suddenly I was on my back, pinned to the bed. My eyes widened at our position. "I want to hear it one more time before I have to shower," he said, in a voice that was huskier and more seductive than normal.

"Hear what?" I asked, my voice going up two octaves. Luke was going to put me into premature cardiac arrest if he didn't stop. "Luke," I tried to say, but it came out as a breath of air as he started to move up the swell of my breast.

His head shot up, and the way his eyes were hooded as he stared at me made me squirm. "Stop moving," he ordered in a strained voice. "Hearing you say my name like that is too much, but if you start rubbing against me, I am seriously going to have to show you what I mean by 'ravaging.'"

My eyes widened and I hid my face behind my hands. I went completely still and heard him chuckle, before he moved my hands.

"Don't worry," he said. "Not until you're ready. Never until you want it as much as I do."

And by the feel of it, he wanted it. But he was willing to wait for me, and that made me smile. "I like how you make me feel," I said softly, embarrassed. "But I'm not ready, not yet."

He shot off me and I blinked, confused. His face turned red, and he ran his hand through his hair roughly. "Y-you shouldn't casually say things like that," he said. "You like how I make you feel? God, now I need to go take three cold showers. Fuck. Okay. See you in a bit."

I laughed, even though I was so embarrassed that I wanted to sink into the bed and never be found again. "Love you, horn dog!" I called as he exited to go to the bathroom.

"Love you too, prude."

***

"Spencer, I need you to project!" Mr Devore bellowed, slamming the stage with the palm of his hand. "Let's redo the number, people!"

I gritted my teeth. We had one more rehearsal until performances, and nerves were at an all time high.

Around me, everyone shuffled into place. There were around fifty people on the cast, not including the dozen or so technical crew members who helped with sounds, lighting, costuming, etc.

We were doing the beginning scene where Belle is walking through the village and the villagers are following her. Luke wasn't in this part, and when I glanced at the wings(1), I noticed him staring at me with an amused grin.

I made a face at him and he chuckled, waving at me cheerfully. A small smile slipped on my lips and I backed away to Stage Right(2) where I had to hide until my appearance was needed.

Luke slung his arm around my shoulder as the music played. "Having fun?" he asked.

I pinched his arm lightly. "Heaps," I said sarcastically. "I love running through the same number seven times."

He laughed quietly, and the husky sound warmed my insides. "At least we didn't have to dress today," he told me.

I snorted. "Yeah. You're going to be spending an hour and a half with a furry Beast on your head."

He let out a groan. "Don't remind me."

I patted his arm. "Don't worry, you'll still be the best looking guy out there, even when you look like a dog."

Luke pressed a kiss to my temple, and I could feel his broad smile. "Don't I know it," he bragged. There was my conceited boyfriend.

God, I loved saying that. My boyfriend.

"And, Belle...enter!" I heard Mr Devore bellow, so I slid away from Luke and positioned my hands as though I was holding a book. They had lost mine, so I had to make do until they found another one for me.

I assumed a concentrated expression and waltzed out on stage, keeping Mr Devore's stage walking tactics in mind. Shoulders back, spine straight, movements fluid.

I had no idea now I got the lead role - I mean, sure, I was good at singing, but I couldn't act for shite. I wished I could be part of the ensemble(3) like Joey.

Lucky Joey. He got to be one of the villagers with no lines and only singing to do.

"Good, good!" Mr Devore said approvingly. "Better, Spencer, much better." Spencer, remember, was the Gaston of this musical. He was a bulky drama geek - not as tall as Luke, but much more muscular.

And one annoying son of a bitch.

Like, yesterday, I was so close to ripping his head off. He didn't understand the meaning of no.

**the day before**

Spencer turned around in his chair to look at me. "Yeah?" I asked politely.

"Can I borrow a pencil?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you have one?"

He shrugged. "Dunno."

"I only have one."

"Can I use it?"

I gave him a weird look and glanced at my hand that was in the process of writing down our assignment. "No...?" I asked, unsure of the answer.

"Please?"

"But I'm using it."

"I need it."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my jaw, starting to get annoyed at this guy. "Then borrow from someone who has more than one!"

"Then can I get something else from you?"

"Why do I owe you anything?"

"Would you go on a date with me?"

I jerked my thumb across the room to point at Luke. "I'm dating him, you idiot."

"Just one date?" he pressed.

"No," I replied shortly. I glanced at Luke for help, and he grinned at me, making a kissy face.

Spencer cleared his throat and I looked back at him. "C'mon, there is no way the two of you are actually dating."

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Are you serious?" I asked.

"Deadly."

I rolled my eyes. "Unfortunate for you," I told him, "we are definitely dating."

He smirked at me and then looked over at Luke. "Hey, Tarrone!" he called over the classroom. Luke quirked an eyebrow in interest. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

I let out a small groan as everyone's eyes found me. Luke grinned cheerily and winked. "I don't have a girlfriend," he said, causing my eyes to pop out and my heart to falter. "I have many," he continued jokingly.

I closed my eyes and let out a relieved giggle as the bell rang. Oh Christ, I thought he was being serious. I'm such an idiot.

Luke strode over to me and smiled before planting a sloppy kiss on my mouth. I pushed his face away and stood up, grabbing my stuff, a little bit annoyed at his joke. "Hey, beautiful," he greeted. When he noticed the stock-still Spencer, he nodded. "What's up, man?"

Spencer's eyes shifted from our clasped hands to the sparkle that had emerged in my eyes upon being closer to Luke. "So I guess the date's off then?" he asked.

I laughed in complete incredulity. "Yeah, if there was even one to begin with. See you at rehearsal, though."

He waved at us, not at all perturbed that he had just been proven wrong, which made me raise my eyebrows. "Did he really ask you out?" Luke asked, amused.

"Yup."

He paused and pulled me closer to his side as we walked. "Well, too bad. He'd have to go through me." I grinned at Luke and brought our clasped hands up so I could kiss his knuckles.

"Don't worry, babe. There's no competition."

"I know," he said cockily. "I mean, seriously, you can't keep your hands off me."

I punched his shoulder and moved out of his grasp. "Actually, it's the opposite, you horn dog."

"Can I help it if I want to do dirty things-"

I held up my hand and forced down the blush that was becoming almost constant in Luke's presence. "Oh, shut up!"

**end of memory**

By the end of rehearsal, I was exhausted. The technical crew had some issues with playing the music, so we spent forty-five minutes rehearsing the same scene over and over again.

It was ten o'clock by the time I had freshened up in the Girls' Dressing Room, so I grabbed my bag and searched for Luke.

He was standing in front of the Boys' Dressing Room, talking to a costume designer about his Beast head and how to swiftly take it off. I leant against the wall, waiting for them to finish, and when Luke was done, I walked over to him.

"Ready?" I asked, a tired smile on my face. This was our last rehearsal, so I should've been nervous. But to be honest, I was more anxious about Saturday, our last performance date.

Luke grinned fondly at me and nodded, extending his hand to me. "Let's go, beautiful."

I grasped his hand and walked with him over to his truck. The past few days had been tiring, what with all the rehearsals, and school work, and presidential duties. Even more tiring was the constant reminder my brain gave me that Luke and I had a limited amount of time together.

It was bad of me, I know. I should've been looking forward to seeing my family, but I just couldn't help the part of me that was desperate to stay with Luke. It figured that by the time I realised how I felt about him, I had to let him go.

"Are you thinking about that again?" Luke asked, squeezing my hand.

I cocked my head and looked at him. "How did you know?"

"Babe, I've known you since we were born. I know when you're thinking hard about something."

I shook my head. "God, I love you."

He grinned and let go of my hand so he could wrap his arm around my shoulders. "And I you. But don't try to distract me. I know you're thinking about leaving, but stop worrying! I told you we can make it."

I nodded, even as my stomach twisted into itself. "It's only three months," I said. That had become sort of a mantra for me. Only three months until I could come back. Just three months.

"Just promise me that you won't be bumping uglies with all the hot New Yorkers."

I stared at his amused face. "You're disgusting. That's disgusting. Why do I even need to promise something like that?"

Luke pouted. "So you are planning to bump-"

"No!" I exclaimed, whacking his arm. I felt him shake with laughter and rolled my eyes. "Christ. I promise I won't. God, you'd think you'd know better."

He guffawed loudly. "Of course I do. I'm much better looking than any guy in New York."

I snickered at him. "If you say so."

But of course, I knew he was right.