Sorry about missing last week gals. I wish I had a good reason for the absence, but honestly just lost track of time. Hopefully you like this one though! I got the GIF from Syd forever ago, but hadn't thought of anything for it until now. Anyway, sorry again, and I hope you enjoy!
“No, stop. I take it back, I’m not doing this,” I said as the crew strapped me into the flying rig for my first rehearsal. “Too bad, Jake,” Olivia said, rolling her eyes as she continued to work the straps on the harness. “You should’ve thought about that before you decided to hang around every rehearsal, leering at Kelsey.” I open my mouth to refute the point, but then think better of it. I probably wasn’t as smooth as I’d like to have been in my appreciation of Kelsey. But it was just something about her. I just can’t think straight when I see her. Which is how she convinced me into this costume after she broke her ankle. The logical side of me never would’ve agreed to this. But Kelsey looked at me with those big, pleading eyes, and the next thing I know, I’m at the salon, getting my hair dyed blonde and styled like a Fairy Princess.
Once Kelsey left the theater, I could finally think again and tried to back out. But Olivia, Kelsey’s best friend who hates my guts, cut that train of thought short. “Oh hell no!” Olivia practically yelled. “Kelsey has been putting in hours of rehearsal time into this play. In fact, all of us have.” She thrusts a finger into my makeup covered face. “So if you think your perverted ass is gunna ruin it for all of us, too bad.” She shoved me onto the stage, and the crew started strapping me in as I begged them to just let me leave. “You think we’re excited about this?” One of them asked. “Kelsey’s great to work with, and now we’re stuck with her perverted stalker.” “I am not a stalker!” I replied, but it fell on deaf ears. “Just think about how sad Kelsey will be if we have to cancel the entire play because of her injury,” another said in response to my continued complaints. “Plus, you’d be going back on your word. I don’t think she’d be too happy with you if you did that.” That finally got me to shut up and just go along with everything. Olivia smirked and snickered. “And look on the bright side, you’re finally in her pants,” she said. “Though, really, it’s the theater’s fairy costume. But it’s the closest you’re gunna get, perv.”
At the next rehearsal, I was sad to not see Kelsey around. Apparently she had a doctor’s appointment. Though, when I heard what scene we’d be rehearsing, I was almost glad she wasn’t there. “I don’t really have to kiss him, do I?” I asked Olivia while staring at the towering form of the Prince. She shrugs. “Technically, no. But it would be much more authentic if you did. And Kelsey would think it’s pretty cool- you willing to kiss a man for the sake of the theater.” I know she’s manipulating me. And I really don’t wanna kiss this onyx mountain of a man across the stage from me. But the thought of making Kesley happy overwhelms the logical side of me. So I step out onto the stage and begin the scene. It comes surprisingly easy. I guess that’s the benefit of watching almost every rehearsal with an intent focus, even if this wasn’t my initial reasoning. Then comes the kiss. The Prince, played by Dominic, places his large hand on the side of my face, covering the entire side. He leans down and places his lips on mine. Then the bastard slips his tongue into my mouth, causing me to squirm. “Cut!” Olivia calls before dragging me off to the side.
“What the hell was that!?” Olivia asked me furiously. “He slipped his tongue in my mouth! How did you think I was gunna react!?” I responded, equally furiously, though my voice was still in the practiced higher pitch of the Fairy Princess. Olivia rolled her eyes. “Oh my god, grow up, Jake. We’re all adults here. This isn’t some high school theater class, it’s a community theater that takes itself seriously. And it’s not like you’ve never been kissed before.” I shuffled uncomfortably at that last comment and Olivia’s fury immediately turns to humor. “Oh my god, really!? That was your first kiss?” She practically laughs. “Shhh!” I shush her. “It’s not funny.” “I mean, it kinda is,” she replies. I can feel my cheeks grow warm with embarrassment. “Listen,” I begin, “I’ve never kissed, so what. I mean, look at me, do I look like the kinda guy girls would wanna kiss? Even out of all of the makeup and the dress?” Olivia looks me over analytically and shrugs. “Maybe not, but clearly Dominic thinks you look like the kinda guy he wants to kiss.” The warmth in my cheeks grows. “He’s just acting,” I reply. “More than he’s done with Kelsey. They’ve never used tongue in rehearsal.” “R-really?” Olivia nods. “Oh. Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m not actually a girl.” “And he knows that, and still kissed you,” Olivia responds. “Just something to think about. But either way, I need you to get used to it, cuz we only have a few more rehearsals to get everything perfect. Now get out there.” She slaps me on the butt as I turn and make my way back to the stage.
A couple weeks later, it was show time. My nerves were through the roof as I looked out at the crowd. “Wow, it’s really a packed house out there,” I said nervously. Dominic walks over and places a comforting hand on my back and begins to rub in circles. “Don’t worry, you’ve worked hard, Jake,” he says, giving me that charming smile I’ve grown to hate loving over the last couple weeks. I smile up at him shyly. “Thanks, Dom.” I take a few deep breaths as I hear my cue to come out onto the stage. I surprise myself with how easily the performance comes. Something about embodying a fairy princess seems to come naturally to me. As I exit the stage until my next scene, Olivia gives me an approving, if annoyed, nod as she gets the next person ready to go out. Dom places his large hand on my shoulder. “You did great,” he reassures. “Thanks,” I reply, taking a seat, more to rest my nerves than my body.
The rest of the play went by without a hitch. The next scene was the kissing scene. “You ready?” Olivia asks. “You go out in 3 minutes.” “My heart is pounding, but yea, I should be fine,” I reply. “Good, cuz we’re almost done. Don’t ruin this now, perv.” She walks away before I can respond. I hear Dominic’s deep voice call out the line that is my cue. I make my way out. I say my lines, looking Dom in the eyes as he professes his love for me. I know it’s just acting, but it makes my knees weak. Especially knowing what’s coming. I turn to the crowd for my line and look around. Then I notice a few familiar faces in the front row. Kelsey, no cast or crutches, which is weird. She shouldn’t be healed for another couple of weeks. And the last thing I see before Dom pulls me into our first, but not last, kiss of the night, is my sister. She’s sitting right next to Kelsey, recording everything.








