6 months later
“I'm coming,” she called down from the staircase and bolted down the stairs wearing a new blue dress and the necklace he had given her half a year ago. She greeted Vincenti at the door and they headed off down the street. “Oh it's so nerve racking even though I'm not performing. It's opening next Friday---”
“Did you get me a ticket?” he inquired, and she slipped a piece of paper into his hand as a response. He smiled and put it into his pocket. It had become some what of a ritual; she would get up in the morning, go to school, walk home, and put her bags down. About a half an hour to finish school work and Vincenti would be waiting outside towards the late afternoon. They would walk either to the park or he would escort her to rehearsal and wait for her to finish. Maryanne had come to accept that fact that nothing was going to change Belle's mind, and had gotten used to the fact that Belle was often seen with Vincenti, now that Maryanne herself had someone of her own.
The experience with Arlene Houston was less than exhilarating. She didn't show up for every rehearsal, which left Belle filling in for her blocking, and her catching Miss Houston up on what she missed. The woman had to be at least thirty five. Belle had taken an extreme disliking to the way she presented Juliet, the way she presented herself, and Miss Houston in general. She had learned absolutely nothing in her time there, except her lines. Belle had made a few friends, and she didn't offend anyone as Arlene did. Belle wondered where the actress got such audacity from when she really wasn't that capable at all. Just the same, she bit her tongue and went along with it. As far as school was concerned, she was doing well. The work never seemed to challenge her, unlike Maryanne who was constantly falling behind.
Belle Anastacia watched the leaves fall from the trees as she breathed in the crisp fall air. “It's really lovely,” she remarked, and glanced up at Vincenti who was also consumed by the scenery. They reached the park and she sat down on the bench as Vincenti stood in front of her. He had been serving as her private tutor for Shakespeare, and acting. Her presence never changed, but she began to pay closer and closer attention to details and not just her emotions. Luckily, he had a good deal of patience to deal with getting the little things perfect. She, herself, however, was a natural. After an hour of speech practice, he took her hand and helped her up.
“What's this?” she asked as he placed one hand on her hip and clasped the other within his.
“You signed up for the competition, remember?” he laughed as she started to follow his leave.
“I completely forgot about that...” she remarked.
“No, you just planned on not going.” He smiled, and she blushed.
“Maybe...”
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