Belle turned the corner of the fence at the end of the drive straight into Vincenti's arms. She jumped at the surprise, and forgot herself. She wrapped her arms around him and heard his light laugh. “I take it you had a good day?” he said softly, and watched as she recoiled from him and took his arm so that they could walk along the street together and not be gawked at.
“Perfectly terrible day,” she remarked. He raised his brow in question. “First, I almost lost my breakfast because someone bumped into me this morning. I get to class and Maryanne pulls me up to read Shakespeare. I lost myself and apparently did too good of a job because the substitute who was teaching the class wants me to try out for Juliet in the upcoming play. Meanwhile God knows I can't get up in front of a large number of people and say anything!” He took her book bag from her so she wouldn't have to carry as she continued to speak. “I mean, can you really believe it? All I wanted to do was learn and now I'm being sucked into all of this...”
“I wouldn't say that, Belle,” Vincenti replied. “I, for one, think you should do it. I knew Shakespeare. He could pick no better person to play the part. Your beautiful, and your heart is as pure diamond. If it had been under the same circumstances, would you not have done exactly what Juliet did? With her words and her actions?” This struck Belle as strange. She blushed.
“Just rubbish,” she said in return as they headed to one of the local parks and sat down on the bench. It was getting dark out, but still light enough to be expectable. He took the book out of her bag and handed it to her. “Here...start with any line...I might be a little rusty. Start with a scene between Romeo and Juliet.”
Belle's face got hot and she frantically flipped the pages of the book in front of her. “If they do see thee, they will murder thee,” she said, picking a short line to challenge him.
Vinenti cleared his throat. “Let me think... Alack...Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye, than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet, And I am proof against their enmity.” He said, his voice floating through the air like air. Her expression softened.
“I would not for the world they saw thee here. “
“I have night's cloak to hide me from their sight; And but thou love me, let them find me here: My life were better ended by their hate, Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love.”
“By whose direction found'st thou out this place?”
“By love, who first did prompt me to inquire; He lent me counsel and I lent him eyes. I am no pilot; yet, wert thou as far As that vast shore wash'd with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise,” His starlit gray eyes were unnatural in the moonlight, as if they were lit themselves. She gazed into those eyes and wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head against his chest. He wrapped one arm around her and bent his head. “He's right Belle, you are very good. My old friend would have been proud. It something very profound to know, that when you say those words you speak not as if they were to the character, but as if they were to me. That means a lot Belle...” He said, and kissed her hair.
|