I let out a small laugh, “Your joking.” The director shakes his head, “Elena, it’s what the people will want. Your characters, Aria and Dae, people want them. It’ll make the show so much better.” Matt steps in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest, “You can’t expect me to work with, that,” he points to me, “Well at least not in that way.” The director sighs, “We’re doing it. End of discussion. Now go get ready, we’re starting the scene in a few.” He walks away leaving me alone with Matt. Matt turns to face me, “You better not try anything.” I roll my eyes as we walk down the hallway. “What could I do? Refuse to kiss you?” Matt grimaces at the word, “Don’t say that. Not until we have to. And I was meaning don’t try anything that would make this any weirder than it needs to be.” Matt looks back at me as he pushes the doors open. “I won’t,” I say as we enter the room, “Trust me I just want to get this done as fast as I can.”

It takes three hours for them to set the scene, put our makeup on and get ready to shoot. I’m standing in a room, my character Aria has a big front porch. And apparently that’s the best place for me and Matt’s kiss. I shutter at the thought. “Action!”

I sigh as I walk down the stairs, there was a knock on the door and I have to answer it. If only Aria knew who the stupid person on the other side was. She only knew him as, dangerous, powerful witch, Dae, who she’s been in love with for years. After realizing she didn’t like his older brother, but too afraid to break his heart. I open the door, Matt’s standing on the other side, a worried look on his face. His acting is honestly amazing. I’ve never told him but he could fool anyone. “Aria,” he says, pulling me out. “Dae!” I pull my arm away, “What is it?” Matt looks me in the eye, and I get lost, “Aria it’s Austin. He’s been taken.” Okay, got to get scared worried and of course angry. “What do you mean he was taken?” Matt lifts his arms in annoyance, “I mean he’s been taken, Aria. What more could that mean?” I lift my hands to my head, “We have to save him,” I start pacing across the big porch. “It’ll be fine. Right?” I stop and take my hands down, “Right?” I look into Matt’s eyes. He shakes his head, telling me no it won’t be. It’s too late. I conjure up tears, letting them roll down my cheeks, “He can’t be!” I cry. Matt comes over to me putting a hand around my shoulders. “I just came by to tell you,” he says, on the verge of tears. My head falls to his shoulder, “He can’t be gone!” I choke out. Matt pushes me away, “Aria! You can cut the crap!” He yells, “I know your not in love with him. I know you aren’t. So save me the drama. . .and just stop lying.” The tears are almost real now, acting has that effect on me. “I’m not lying,” I mumbled, but loud enough for Matt to hear. He nods, “Yeah, Aria you are. Your lying to me, to you, to Austin,” he adds extra emphasis when he says Austin. “Fine”, I say, “If I’m lying then what’s the truth. What do you need me to say.” Matt takes a deep breath, “I need you tell me the truth. I need you to tell me you love me.” I freeze in place, my face heating up. But it’s not Aria it’s all me. My heart races as a thought enters my mind. A thought that shouldn’t. “Okay,” I yell, “Fine you wanna hear it!” I raise my arms, “I love you Dae.” Matt’s eyes soften as he meets mine. I scoff, “Is that what you needed. To know that I lov-“ I’m cut off by a kiss. It’s better than it should be. Matt’s hands are at my cheeks, and mine are on his. We stay like it for a while. Part of me feels like we’ve stopped acting. Matt lifts his lips off of mine. “I want you to remember what you felt before Austin comes back,” He whispers. I watch as he walks down the porch steps and gets into his car.

“And scene!”

I’m frozen in place. My heart skipping beats as I realize I’m in love with Matt.

“Georgina! Why did they cast us together!? This is ridiculous!”

“Caitlyn, the director wanted some explosive chemistry happening between the two once they become each other’s love interests”

“Ugh, how annoying.”

“Caitlyn, you’ve been doing this for more than a couple of decades, I mean, you’ve been acting since you were like, what, three?”

“Yes and it annoys me when I’m put together with some wannabe idol with no decent career..!”

“Well excuuuuse, me.”

Caitlyn froze.

“Sean..”

“Y’know, jus cos you’ve been at this for long, duz’n mean you’re good at this.”

Caitlyn looked at Sean in disbelief.

“Wow.”

“Wow, what?”

“I’m amazed. Just a lil’ bit more rudeness and you might win an award. Your first ever award of any sort in your short career, if you can call it that.”

“And you’re not being rude, badmouthing a fellow actor like that, Miss I’m-so-much-better-than-you-jus-cos-I’ve-been-at-this-longer?”

“Oh, I’ve got a portfolio to prove my career, Sean. On the other hand, I didn’t even know you were an actor.”

Sean bit his lower lip.

“Caitlyn, as your manager, I think I should say that I think that’s enough.”

“What?! Oh c’mon Georgina, how am I supposed to work with him?! He is so obnoxious and rude!!”

“Well, treating each other like this is not going to make it better.”

“..I need some air.”

Caitlyn left the small meeting room of her agency.

She stepped outside and looked up. Her phone vibrating away in her pocket.

She was sick of the death threats she received from Sean’s fans on social media. And the messages of pleas from acquaintances for his autograph or photo.

She thought the rage from the army of fans of Sean, towards herself, for being casted as his love interest, were more likely to back off if she acted as if she didn’t like him. She also thought it would be easier for Sean to get into character if he thought she was a snobby bi*ch.

Not easy though when Caitlyn thought Sean was the cutest thing that ever walked on the planet since his debut as a teenage idol.

It was enough that he would have to be in the same play as her but less bearable the fact that she was also one of the main roles. He hated her. They used to know each other from childhood. She bullied him when he was a typically chubby and nerdy looking boy. He had lost that weight and gone to acting school.

This play was going to be the pinnacle turn point in his career. A step on the ladder. And yet, this bully was here. Quite possibly the worse thing that could happen. He watched her with eyes like daggers. If only he could replace one of those props for a real weapon and have her taken out by “accident”.

They’ve had a few rehearsals already and the chemistry between them was as lively as a log made from struck lightning. That’s how he felt. He imagined the lightning was his break, the line that life threw him to catch and yet he had been struck and left alone to suffer.

The next scene is about to start and it’s a bit intimate. Kissing is involved and he is dreading it. His palms are sweaty and his mind is racing. Not only does this experience involve his enemy but also this experience would be his first. Shocking, he knows. They read their lines off paper as this is still rehearsals and he feels the tension like ice, he is stiff. They look at each other and their eyes lock. Their heads move together and all eyes are on them. Pout lips make contact and he is melting. The ice is melting and he leans closer. He can feel she pushes back with her lips and then suction. He opens his eyes and she opens hers. A twinkle of hope glistens and he embraced her.

They receive a round of applause from their fellow cast members.

This was the one! This was John’s big break! After 11 years of taking any part no matter how small. Being an actor sucked when first starting out. 11 years! Finally here it was. Celebration tonight!

“Wonder who my leading lady will be?” John thought to himself.

Immediately his head popped up with his next thought. This was a very important question. There was only one person he absolutely did not want to work with.

Anaya Greene.

Seven years ago John had a bit part along with Anaya Greene. From the get-go they did not get along. There was no, nada, zip, chemistry with the two of them. She constantly corrected him and “coached” him, like she was some kind of Oscar winner. Totally into herself and not afraid to let everyone know it. John found it completely impossible to work with Anaya and ended up walking off the set. Because of that he was black-listed for a year.

“No way can that happen.” John unconvincingly thought to himself.

John made it to the set the next morning earlier than requested, wanting to make a good impression. He was ready for this. He was going to kill it!

His personal assistant showed him to the makeup trailer. Humming a tune just under his breath he stepped up into the trailer and froze. His heart sank. Disappointment caught in his throat sending out an unintentional guttural growling sound.

Sitting in the makeup chair next to his was Anaya Greene.

Author’s Side Note: This is told from both Mai’s perspective and Sakuta’s perspective as well. Also, I know that in the anime “Rascal Does Not Dream Of Bunny Girl Senpai” they are boyfriend and girlfriend, and that they get along perfectly, but I am just trying to be creative though. Okay?

Mai: “I cannot that Sakuta and I got cast as the roles of Bianca (me) and Lucentio (him) in our school’s production of “Taming Of The Shrew”. Sakuta is such a jerk! He is so full of himself all of the time and he is no fun to be around. The absolute worse part, is that he and I have to hold hands, hug, and kiss in the play. Ugh!”

Sakuta: “Mai and I are supposed to be love interests in our school play which is going to be very interesting, because we do not get along in real life and we argue all of the time. Mai is playing the role of Bianca and I am playing the role of Bianca’s lover Lucentio. We have to hold hands, hug, and also kiss in the play! This is going to be quite an interesting experience.”

“I love you.” I hate you. “Let me kiss you.” Or slap you. “I’ll hold you.” Or push you. I try not to care but It’s always you.

“Darling, don’t you feel a teensy bit mature to play Juliet? She was only thirteen after all.” “If I’m too ‘mature’, as you put it, you must be past the age where you could pull off a convincing Romeo’s Grandfather, Darling.” “A bit harsh Darling, if I may say so. Possibly just a little ‘pot calling the kettle black’ do you feel? One would have thought the Dowager Juliet might have mellowed, like a cave-aged cheese?” “Well, dear thing, perhaps you should look to your incontinence wear before treading the boards again”

“Love you Darling” “Love you too Darling”

“That man is going to be my what?” Freya screamed at her assistant; the assistant in question only just dodging a thrown vase.

“Well he’s been cast as the male lead and you’re the female lead.”

Freya raised her eyebrows and started tapping her manicured nails against her crossed arm.

Her assistant took a breath before continuing, “and since the play is a romance...,” the assistant trailed off when she saw the purse of Freya’s lips.

“I’m not an idiot, Mia,” she said, “I understand the intricacies but why did it have to be him?”

“Because it’s him,” a voice chimed in from the open doorway.

“Carol,” Freya called rushing to bring her friend into a light hug.

Carol let herself be manhandled and patted Freya on the back before pulling away. “And, just so you know, everyone heard what you were just ranting about.”

Freya closed her mouth and pressed her lips together tightly while her skin turned a dashing shade of red.

Meanwhile, out in the hallway Terrance sat atop a stack of old-timey suitcases reading through the script. He’d learned to block out Freya’s screaming a month after he’d joined the company. He did find it rather amusing that she was ranting and raving about him though; he didn’t even have to do anything special to tick her off.

In his peripheral he saw someone passing by; or, at least, he thought they were passing by until they came to stop right in front of him. He raised his head and was greeted by Mia, Freya’s assistant.

“Mia, what can I do for you?” he said giving her a broad smile.

Mia glanced back at the doorway from whence she’d came before squaring her shoulders and facing him fully. “If possible, I’d like you to be as unobtrusive as possible during rehearsals but, failing that, could you please try and make nice with Freya?”

Terrance grimaced but nodded his understanding. “I can’t make any promises but I’ll try talking to her and hopefully this production won’t be ruined by our lack of chemistry.”

The following week the group gathered to try a run through of all the scenes with the other cast members watching on as an audience. When Terrance and Freya step onto the stage for their first scene together everyone held their breath.

The moment the two start conversing though all the tension in the room fades away. Somehow, some way, the two of them were making this work and were making it work well.

Carol, their director, watched on filled with a sense of relief. She was the only one aside from the two up on stage who was aware of the accord they’d struck and all she could do was hope it would last past opening night.

Melanie glared at Robert, her hand balled into a tight fist, manicured nails digging into her palm, to prevent herself from reaching out and slapping him right across his smug face.

Robert glared at Melanie, biting the inside of his cheek until he thought it might bleed to keep himself from shouting what a stupid manipulative bitch she was.

Tom, the director, looked at the two of them, squared off like cowboys ready to shoot. He sighed and squeezed the bridge of his nose between his eyes, trying to alleviate the tension building in his head.

“Mel. Rob,” he said calmly. “I know you two have your differences...”

Melanie snorted and rolled her eyes, arms crossing over her chest.

“Screw it. Let me rephrase that,” Tom snapped. “I know you two fucking hate each other.”

Melanie and Robert started like a gun had gone off. Tom was one of the rare breed of directors who didn’t swear at their actors. Hearing him curse had both of them staring at their director with rapt attention.

“You fucking hate each other. So use that. You’re actors. Channel your hate into passion. Attack each other. Dive into each other like you’re trying to suck the life out of the other one. I want to see teeth and nails and blood. Just fucking tear each other apart. Got it?”

The actors stared at Tom with the wide eyed expression of children being yelled at by an adult for the first time. They stood, shocked, for a few seconds before finally nodding and took their marks on the stage.

“Great,” Tom said, sitting down in his director’s chair. “3. 2. 1. Action.”

Melinda grabbed my arm as I was throwing my stuff in my locker after gym. “Kelly! The cast list will be up on the bulletin board outside the choir room after school! I’ll meet you there. Good luck!”

The auditions had been going on every afternoon for a week for the annual musical. This year we were doing “Carousel” and I had tried out for the role of Julie Jordan along with what seemed like every girl in our Senior Class. I knew I had a pretty got shot at getting the part since I could sing, dance a bit, and had been in every musical since Junior High but I knew these things weren’t a given.

When the bell rang at 3:00 I gathered up my stuff and made a mad rush to the other end of the building. There was a pretty huge crowd gathered around the bulletin board, but I saw Melinda waving me up to the front. The crowd kind of split apart when I walked up and I had an inkling, but when I saw my name next to “Julie Jordan” I whooped. Melinda was hugging me and she whispered in my ear, “I got Carrie!”

We were pushed to the side as more kids tried to check the cast list. Some walked away dejectedly and others beamed and high fived their friends.

“Did you see who got Billy Bigelow?” I was assuming it would be Harry McCully since he was ALWAYS cast as the main male role. I was excited to actually be his love interest because I had a major crush on him like every girl in the school. He was a major hottie.

Melinda was quiet, which wasn’t like her at all. “Dickie Cunningham.”

Surely I must have misheard her. “Dickie Cunningham? No way! Can’t be true. Uh-uh.”

“True. Paul heard his audition and said he blew their socks off with his rendition of Billy’s solo from the musical. Apparently he has a really great voice. Who knew?”

“I can’t do this. Not with Dickie. I detest him. You know that. Why, he has practically stalked me since sixth grade and he drives me crazy. He’s like an annoying fly that is always buzzing around trying to get my attention with some stupid trick. How in the world am I supposed to work with him?”

Melinda just looked at me. “It’s called acting.”

So that’s the deal I made with the devil. I would take this as a kind of life lesson to figure out how to actually act like I cared about someone when in reality I abhorred them. And over the course of the weeks of rehearsal I acted my socks off. I was so good that the rumor was going around school that Dickie and I were an “item”.

Hah! Now that was the final test of how good I really was!