Page 74 of The Ruse
To anyone watching, they might assume she was simply nervous about kissing me for the first time…like she was a shy, seventeen-year-old girl about to have her first kiss on stage.
But I knew from personal experience that we had already put that initial kiss in the books and that she was in fact an excellent kisser and definitely had nothing to worry about in that arena. So I had to wonder if the reason for her sudden awkwardness was because her crush was watching our every move from behind the horse statue at the front corner of the stage.
“I don’t think there’s any weird tension between us,” I told my drama teacher. “We get along well enough outside of rehearsal.”
Sure, we’d been busy with classes and homework all week, so we hadn’t hung out in the way we had at the cabin. But I assumed we were still friends. She hadn’t told me otherwise, at least.
“Do you think Miss Cohen and Mr. Hastings’ budding relationship is making it difficult for her to play the part with you?” Miss Crawley asked, of course knowing what was going on in the personal lives of her students.
“That might be a part of it.” I sighed, glad she was the one to bring it up and not me. “As you know, Nash and I have, well…” I scratched my neck, not quite sure how to explain the dynamic between Nash and me. “Uh, I guess it’s no mystery that we haven’t always seen eye to eye.”
“I was going to say that you two have always been great at pushing each other to be your best,” Miss Crawley said with a sly smile. “But yes, your rivalry has never been a secret to me.”
“Yeah.” My cheeks warmed, and I was somewhat embarrassed by the childish nature of our feud. “Anyway, I think that Elyse might be uncomfortable fully getting into that particular scene with Nash watching us.”
The Phantom was supposed to watch Christine and Raoul from behind the statue as they declared their love for each other. He stood behind a horse statue for most of the scene, and Elyse’s back was to him through the majority of the song, so I doubted she even saw his face.
But knowing her crush was right there watching us had to be intimidating—especially when they had a date coming up tomorrow.
An over-the-top, fancy dinner and Broadway musical date that I could never afford to take a girl to in a million years.
“I worried that might be what’s happening.” Miss Crawley sighed. “This is why I always discourage dating within the cast. It always makes things so messy.”
“Yeah, I remember you telling Bailee and me last year that we better not let our relationship mess up the musical.”
“And you two did a fabulous job,” she said, patting my arm. “You were so good at keeping things professional. I don’t think you even batted an eye during the romantic scenes between Cosette and Marius.”
“The show must go on.” I shrugged.
Sure, it had helped that we hadn’t actually been in love with each other at the time—my feelings hadn’t come until later. But who was I to pass up the chance to show how much more professional I was than Nash?
Miss Crawley was quiet for a second, like she just realized something. “I’m sorry you two didn’t get the happy ending we hoped for.”
“Me too,” I replied. And since it was something I was expected to say, I added, “But hopefully, she’ll be found soon and we can get our second chance.”
My teacher gave me a gentle smile. “I hope that happens, too.”
She looked at me with her big green eyes for another long moment, like she was feeling the pain I was supposed to be feeling anytime Bailee was brought up in a conversation. “Is it difficult for you to perform that romantic scene with Elyse as well? I didn’t even think about how it might affect you when I gave you the part of Raoul.”
“No, it’s fine.” I cleared my throat. I definitely didn’t have any hang-ups in playing the lead’s love interest. “In fact, I think it’s good. I need to be able to do things like that again. Even if it’s only acting at this point.”
Mostly acting, anyway.
The weird bundle of nerves I got in the pit of my stomach each time I held Elyse in my arms was not something anyone needed to know about.
That was my own little problem to figure out.
“Okay, good.” She looked over my shoulder to where Elyse and Nash were currently rehearsing “The Music of the Night.” Then her face brightened, as if an idea had sparked in her brain.
“Do you think it would help if you two practiced that scene on your own?” she asked. “Perhaps arrange a time to get together this weekend, so you can work out all the kinks without the pressure of certain people watching?”
“That might help,” I said, considering her suggestion. We could practice the scene without Nash hovering over us, get it just right so we know what we’re doing, and then hopefully, it would become second nature when we got back on stage.
“Yes, I think that might be exactly what you two need.” Miss Crawley clapped her hands like she was excited. “Would you like me to tell Miss Cohen about the private rehearsal, or do you want to do it since you know your schedule this weekend better than I do?”
“I can handle it,” I said. Then as a second thought, I added, “But if Nash hears about it and thinks I’m trying to steal his girl, I’ll need you to tell him this was your idea and not mine.”
Miss Crawley laughed. “Just get that scene where it needs to be, and I’ll gladly be the bad guy.”