I was grateful to slip into the familiar theater, at school, and clamored on the stage where I knew my place. Liam and Deon were already there, with the rest of the cast. They had started half an hour earlier, allowing me time for lunch. One of the stage assistants was reading my lines, and I tapped her on the shoulder. She smiled and nodded, and I turned my attention to the scene.
“The soup is delicious."
"Only the best for you." They said in unison, and I burst into laughter, the first time I had laughed all morning. With Liam doing only one show, and directing the rest, I knew he wasn't as strong on the lines yet. Clearly, they had decided to do a run through. Sitting on the stage, as they weren't going through formal blocking, I fed them lines and let them reply together; each one helping the other when they got stuck. They sounded like a two headed dragon, and the rest of the theater was soon giggling along with me.
"I love you ... Beasts," I said, with a grin on my face as I closed the scene. The rest of the cast burst into applause. Even Liam met my eyes and smiled. It was the nicest we had been to each other in weeks, but I couldn't help it. I felt so relieved to be here and not screamed at every four minutes.
"Thank you, Deon," Liam said. "That helped, a lot."
"It got a pretty good reaction. Let's do the shows like that." Deon replied as he wandered over to me. "Hey Amy, how would you like to be double-teamed?"
"Whaaa?" My jaw fell open and he grinned, offering me a hand up.
"How was rehearsal with the pros?"
"I don't really want to talk about it," I said, and Liam looked over. The concern in his eyes was prominent, and it was a look I hadn't seen in a long while.
"What happened?" he asked softly. I was tempted for a moment not to tell him, but it all came tumbling out.
"Everything I did was wrong. Shannon did a full run through and told us to do what 'feels right'. But apparently everything I did felt wrong to her. She called me out every second."
"Shannon has some strange ways," Liam said. "No one else I know has ever done that. Don't worry about it, Amy, doing something like that will come with time."
"But I..."
"She cast you and she doesn't even cast the Chorus unless they are amazing," he assured me.
"Thanks," I replied, quietly. We met each other's eyes for a moment and I couldn’t help but feel the urge to reach out and touch him again. Then the moment was broken by the flickering of the stage lights.
"So today is going to be a bit different," Liam said, as the rest of the cast gathered around. "We're running out of time, and I admit part of that is my fault. So we’re just going to do a run through, scene by scene, once with Deon and then once with me. It'll help all of you, because you get two chances to work on things. Now, I know Deon and I play very different Beasts. So I want you to react differently to each of us. Just do what feels right, and I'm positive it'll be just fine." His eyes met mine again and I smiled, softly.
"How late are we going to go tonight, with two run throughs?" Someone asked, and Liam answered without ever taking his eyes off mine.
"I guarantee you'll be done by sunset," he said, and I couldn't help but smirk. We met eyes, sharing a private secret, and just for a moment, I moved my mouth, baring fake fangs at him with a hiss. He struggled to contain his laughter.
"Alright, Deon, let's have you go first so that I can have a bit more time to frantically memorize." He said, and everyone laughed as he shooed us off stage to our respective places.
"I sure hope he's serious about finishing by sunset, I have an audition tonight,” Deon said, as he stood beside me in the wings.
"I'll bet you money we'll be done by sunset," I said, turning to him. "What's your audition for?"
"TV," he said. "It would conflict, but I'm not going to get it. One role, open call. Every actor in the area will be trying. I'm just going to practise auditioning for when we're out there in the real world and have no choice." He smiled at me. "Although apparently you needed no pro audition practice."
"There's some sort of stigma attached to winning a scholarship here," I replied. "And it could be good or bad."
"Looks like it's good in this case," Deon said, as the lights dimmed and the opening music started.
They were very different Beasts, as Liam had mentioned, but I felt like it gave me more freedom. I tried a few things, timidly at first, and then with more courage the second time as Liam nodded approvingly at me. This rehearsal felt so much better, my character flowing through me.
At the end of the last scene, Liam took my hand, turning me towards the nearly empty audience.
"The multi talented Amy, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, and they applauded. I blushed, taking a clumsy curtsy.
"Alright, that's it for today," he said, clapping his hands. "Everyone out and lock the door behind you. Amy, stay a bit longer to go over a few things?"
"Uh..." I glanced at the setting sun, raising an eyebrow. He held my gaze pleadingly, and so I shrugged. I guessed what was coming, but I was in too good of a mood to care.
I sat on the edge of the stage, dangling my legs and saying goodbye to the rest of the cast. When we were finally alone with the door locked, he spoke.
"You were spectacular today," he said softly, and I just shrugged, watching the sunset out of the window.
“Well, at least for half the day."
"Amy," he came to sit beside me. I could already see the beginning of the transformation in his face. “I wasn't there, although I'm sure I will hear it from Shannon later. But I will say this: your talent is beyond belief and everyone knows it. I have never seen anyone with such natural talent and ability. If your technical skills are a bit rusty, then that's fine. Most performers train for years before getting their first job. You know this industry is more than just talent."
"I just felt...like a fish out of water," I said, sighing. "Everything I did was wrong."
"Did she ever call you out on your acting ability? Or just your technical skills?"
"Just tech," I said, and he nodded.
"See."
A silence fell over us, and I turned to face him. I could already see his fangs starting to grow.
"Do you want to go?" I asked, and he sighed, shaking his head.
"No. If you're alright, I'd like to keep going. But only if you're alright, Amy. Because you being tired may help me, but not you."