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"Alright sound check for act 2, actors on stage, beginning with your cue Cassandra."
You adjust your headphones in the sound booth, flicking on the mics and swelling the music before bringing it down for the scene. There's an outline of the play in front of you which you use as guide, following along for when there's a sound cue, and when you need to play it. The microphones are all synced and working properly, the theater teacher Mrs. Prune follows along as the actors on stage perform. She calls for a pause, giving notes on performers when the mic cuts on one of the actresses. You're called down to fix it, and of course it's the main actress Cassandra Dimitrescu. The other techs tease you relentlessly because it's so obvious you have a crush on her, but she's Cassandra Dimitrescu! She's the headliner in every show since she was a freshman, of course many thought it was because her mom is the principle but she's actually just that good. Damn. Even defending her in your mind sounds bad and you can hear the techs snickering about it already.
You come down the stairs and walk through the aisle until you're up on stage, tinkering with Cassandra's mic which sits right at her hip. She smells really good, not like the cheap vanilla perfume that lots of the other girls wear, she smells like a field of fresh flowers with a hint of rain. You want to drown yourself in it but right now is the time to be professional, and definitely not taking your time on purpose so you can be near her. The mic is an easy fix, the cord is coming loose and you tape it up quickly, well, not too quickly then rush back up to your box. The other tech with you snickers, they don't even have to say anything before you start blushing.
Everything goes smoothly for the sound check, this next week is set building which you are also apart of. Painting, building, sanding, even a little electrical work to make sure everything is up and running for the play. You use one of your empty class slots to come into the theater and work on the sets, Mrs. Prune trusts you enough to give you a key so you pop some music on your phone and work away. Your music is so loud that you don't hear the door opening to the main auditorium nor the footsteps approaching as you're on a ladder reaching up to fix some scaffolding.
"Hey what are you doing?"
The voice startles you so much that the ladder rocks and you curse trying to catch yourself, whomever scared you runs up on the ladder, steadying it before you fall to your death. You pant heavily as you clutch to the ladder for life, looking down to see Cassandra holding the ladder for you.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you" she apologizes quickly.
"No worries" you pant out, descending the stairs and turning off your music.
"I didn't know it was you and thought it was some, rando messing with the set. I'm sorry."
"It's fine, really. I'm okay."
"What are you doing here anyway?" She asks.
"I come here during my free period, I don't have anything to do until rehearsal. What are you doing here?"
"Same thing, kind of. My class got let out early so I asked Mrs. Prune if I could come in here and rehearse. Hey, maybe you could help me?"
You swallow thickly, "uh sure. I'd be happy to."
Cassandra beams and runs over to her bag she dropped pulling out her script and handing it to you.
"I need help with the last scene. She keeps giving me all these notes for the final act but Markus is so...flat. I honestly don't know how he got the lead in the first place."
You chuckle and hand the script back, "I've read this thing probably as much as you have. I know the lines pretty well."
"Great, lets get started then."
Cassandra starts with her lines, it's the final act when the main protagonist, you, are reunited with your love, Cassandra, after being forced apart. You remember the stage cues and look for the tape on the stage where you'll be before rushing onto the stage, grasping Cassandra by the hands. She hesitates for a moment before a light flicks in her head and she resumes, fully enveloped in the scene. She plays it so naturally, as if she really has been without her love and you can't help but blush brightly as she locks eyes with you. Proclaiming her undying love, how she'll fall in love with you no matter what, her monologue. Of course then there's a kiss, and the play ends with them running off together for their happily ever after.
Cassandra takes a step back, clearing her throat as she releases your hands and you blush harder upon seeing how red her hands are from how hard you were gripping them. She pushes some hair behind her ear, catching a soft blush on her cheeks as well.
"That was way better than Markus" she compliments.
"Thanks" you say shyly as you rub the back of your neck.
* * *
"Where is Markus?" Mrs. Prune yells.
"He's at the senior boys auction" someone says.
"What about his back up? Leon?"
"Also at the auction" another answers.
"Well, who's going to step in for him? We're less than a month away from opening. We need everything perfect."
"Y/N can" Cassandra answers.
Your head shoots up from the opera pit looking up to see everyone looking down at you making you break out into goosebumps.
Mrs. Prune sighs heavily, "do you know the lines?"
"Um-ye-"
"Yes she does. We practiced once before" Cassandra defends.
"Very well. Y/N, get up here."
The other techs in the opera pit start teasing you, making "ooh' sounds which you curse at as you climb up onto the stage. Mrs. Prune orders the play from the start and to get into starting positions. It takes you a minute, but you get into the groove of the play only missing a line or two which Mrs. Prune reminds you. You lowkey hate her when she's close to an opening, she becomes stressed, and snappy. Cassandra and the rest of the cast are in full costume which makes you stick out but somehow it still flows nicely and you cruise through the show. The ending comes and you and Cassandra have built up so much that when the ending kiss comes in, she goes full send. It's a theater kiss, she places her thumbs onto your lips and kisses you, but it still sends your head reeling. When she drags you backstage she's giggling at your flustered state.
"That was amazing! I wish Mrs. Prune would put women in male positions because you did such a better job than Markus."
"Um yeah you-you did great too" you stutter out.
* * *
Opening weekend comes and goes, the play finishes out with a full house and you switch the mic off because the audience erupts in thunderous applause. You high five the other techs for a job well done as you pack up while the actors and actresses meet with Mrs. Prune for the final debriefing. You cart the sound equipment back to the storage which is in a small hallway littered in clothing because many of the ensemble use it for their quick changes. Cassandra stomps out of the room with Markus in tow.
"I can't believe you just rejected me in front of everyone!" Markus yells.
"That's your fault for asking in front of everyone. I don't even like you like that." Cassandra snaps.
"What about out on stage?" Markus asks.
"It's called acting for a reason dipshit."
"Oh please, you're gonna tell me that after all we've been through you don't even have the slightest bit of feelings for me?"
"Does disgust count?" Cassandra scoffs.
"Whatever" Markus scoffs back, leaving the hallway.
Cassandra rubs her face before looking around and seeing you, but you kept pretending to put equipment away, mindlessly moving things back and forth as to try to act like you're not listening. Cassandra comes up behind you and shoves you into the tech storage room, shutting the door behind the two of you.
"What are you doing?" You whisper scream.
"How much of that did you hear?" She asks.
"All of it....are you okay?" You ask quietly.
There's a long pause and you're about to ask again when Cassandra's hands roam around in the dark to find your face, cupping your cheeks softly.
"Y/N, I've been doing theater since I could walk and talk, and I've never felt anything like I did with you on stage. All I could think about was you when Markus was talking, even kissing him I imagined you. This is gonna sound so stupid....but I don't want to let these feelings go to waste. I know you like me, and I think I like you too. Would you be willing to give me a chance?"
"Yes" you spurt out.
You clear your throat to curb your enthusiasm, "yes" you say more calmly.
There's a shuffle in the room, you're thankful for how dark it is because otherwise she would see your face is burning. She can probably feel it as she tugs on your cheeks to pull your head down then you feel something soft on your lips. She's kissing you. You close the space and kiss her back, fumbling in the dark as your hands find her waist and pull her into you.