YA311: The Play - banner by Nicky

Additional disclaimer: With the exception of Faye, Josh and quite a few minor characters in this episode, I own nothing from the show nor any of the songs used. Amnesia is mine; the play is (obviously) not. Some ideas and techniques inspired by Zeffirelli, Taymor, and in particular Luhrmann, but most of the stage direction is my own work.
Author's note: Okay, I know this episode is very long, highly strange, and I'm blurring the lines between fiction and fiction-within-fiction. I had a lot of fun writing this, but it was a challenge that almost killed my brain off entirely, so don't expect anything more to come from me along these lines. This was intended to be crazy, and although continuity events happen, it is still pretty much stand-alone. I've tried to the best of my abilities to make all the Shakespearean dialogue comprehensible and enjoyable, but it would definitely be a plus if you have seen/read 'Romeo and Juliet' before.
Acknowledgements: Firstly Leah, the idea fairy who sparked this whole crazy episode - I can�t believe it�s actually finished, after so much talk! Also my acknowledgements to the Christchurch Boys' High/Girls' High 2001 production of R&J, for pissing me off so powerfully that I had to write this. :P And of course lots of love to Human Circus, especially Tak Motokawa - who was so nice and helpful with the lyrics; and Tane Upjohn-Beatson - who wrote those beautiful(albeit narcotic!) lyrics in the first place. Thank you SO much! Lastly but definitely not least, my heartfelt gratitude to Mae, who actually had the patience and presence of mind to beta-read this tedious piece of overwrought teenage angst. Schnoogles to all!
Romeo & Juliet's theme song for this particular production, is the lovely 'Asbestos Indus', by local band Human Circus. A downloadable version is available, just right click and choose 'Save Target As'. I strongly urge you to download and listen while reading relevant scenes - helps set the mood immensely.

Asbestos Indus by Human Circus ('performed' by Amnesia)
Solo Con Te performed by Sarah Brightman

You can find a layout diagram of the auditorium and backstage HERE.


Prologue

Rawley Academy: auditorium

Bella Banks shifted in the comfortable seat and looked around her. People were milling about the spacious auditorium, trying to find their places. Sean McGrail sat next to her, craning his head to get a better view of the stage - which was concealed by heavy red drapes - and the orchestra pit, where no orchestra resided, but an odd assortment of musicians and instruments.

This assortment included Amnesia, a relatively local rock band that was fronted by Josh Sutherland but obviously missing him in action, seeing that he was playing one-half of the play's namesake; on one side there were also keyboards and synthesisers operated by a couple of the sound system crew. And all of that wouldn't have been all that weird if not for the string quartet and a few woodwind players scattered amongst the electronica.

Bella looked down to the programme in her lap and skimmed over the contents.

The Rawley Boys' and Girls' Academies are proud to jointly present:

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Adaptation and interpretation by: Josh Sutherland, Jake Pratt and
Hamilton Fleming on behalf of REACH, Faye Archer and Will Krudski.

Director: C. H. Finn
Student director: Will Krudski


Cast list:

Chorus: Will Krudski

Lord Montague: Gareth Rickard
Lady Montague: Caroline Busse
Romeo Montague, their son: Josh Sutherland
Benvolio Montague, his cousin: Jake Pratt

Mercutio, Romeo's friend: Hamilton Fleming
The County Paris, his kinsman: Marcus Wright

Lord Capulet: Scout Calhoun
Lady Capulet: Lena Fletcher
Juliet Capulet, their daughter: Faye Archer
Tybalt Capulet, her cousin (the Prince of Cats): Graham Bennington

Juliet's Nurse: Leah Rickard

Friar Lawrence: Ryder Forrest
Friar John: Paul Young

The Prince: Chris Hansen

***


The lights dimmed, and Bella looked up from her programme, unable to finish reading in the darkness. Around her, the excited chattering of the audience quietened almost immediately as the curtains began to part.

Will Krudski stood centre stage, the backdrop of which was a stunning painting of a tall Gothic cathedral, its forbidding grey walls offset by a similarly grey sky that seemed to shift behind the cathedral in swirls of austere dark clouds.

A spotlight shone down on Will, dressed in sombre, contemporary-style black, and he waited until the auditorium was entirely silent before speaking.

" Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene." He began, his light eyes scanning the audience in front of him, not seeing much since they were immersed in darkness and he was awash with light. But he knew that it was a full house tonight, and this performance, being the last of four on consecutive evenings, was to be their finest yet. He was sure of it.

His voice rang out loud and clear across the room, " From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life."

He paused at that point, and a quiet flute melody seeped from the orchestra pit, gentle and sorrowful in its delivery. Taking a breath, Will continued, " Whose misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death, bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-marked love, and the continuance of their parents' rage, which - but their children's end, nought could remove� is now the two hours' traffic of our stage.� Again he halted briefly, standing immobile as the delicate volume of the flute raised nearly indiscernibly.

Then he spoke again, � The which, if you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

He bowed low, and the spotlight faded on him, bringing the stage once more to darkness. All was quiet in the pitch black save for the haunting tune, which soon ceased altogether, leaving an eerie silence to fill the entire auditorium.

Act One

*Theme song and opening credits - altered so that the actors are shown as their roles in the play*

Just as the audience was starting to shift uncomfortably in their seats, straining to see past the dark, wondering if something had gone wrong, UV lights flared onstage in a succession of rapid bursts. The sudden change sent most of the audience falling back against their chairs in shock, Bella and Sean included.

In between the jagged flashes of blinding white light, they could see hordes of young men and women streaming from the wings. The pulsating quality of the strobe lighting made their movements jerky and unnatural, their features misshapen under the ever-changing flares, forming an altogether surreal start to the play.

Faye Archer, having been the co-ordinator of settings, had decided to set the play in a time that was highly contemporary, but maybe not 'the now' as everyone knew it. The majority of the costumes that the background actors wore were of a dark, gothic quality, and that, coupled with the stark backdrop, meant that Verona was portrayed as a melancholic city, desolate and tinged with bitterness between the two feuding houses of Montague and Capulet.

Amnesia - sans Josh - struck up a tune that was centred around the hollow, thudding beats of the tom drums, sounding almost warlike in its intensity. The bassline followed the drums� lead, and high notes picked on the electric guitar echoed the agitation on stage as the crowds milled around, strangely and unsettlingly silent. It was Verona as the stage committee saw it, and those actors painted an abstract picture of everyday life on those streets.

Within minutes the swarm onstage dispersed back into the wings, the music quietening to nothing. Two figures broke through the last of the lingering crowd, walking into the centre of the stage. They wore what looked like tailored business suits, whose muted colours blended well with the ominous backdrop. They were servants to the Capulets, Sampson and Gregory, and the bearers of the first dialogues of the play.

" I strike quickly, being moved," Sampson told Gregory, a hand straying to his waist, where a dagger lay sheathed but visible, even to the audience.

After much debate, the Stage Committee had decided against the all-too modern adaptation of swords to guns for the Rawley version of the play. As Faye and Jake had adamantly pointed out, it was just too overdone for a modern Shakespearean adaptation to have guns being slung at every possible opportunity. Ergo, the production stuck with stage daggers and swords, which meant that fencing lessons became mandatory for most of the cast, having been trained in the past few months to swordfight realistically onstage. The elaborate choreography had fast become one of the production�s major drawcards, in the days following its successful opening.

" But thou art not quickly moved to strike." Gregory retorted, walking ahead of Sampson. Taking a few strides to catch up, Sampson called, " A dog of the house of Montague moves me!"

Gregory turned, guffawing, " To move is to stir; and to be valiant is to stand: therefore, if thou art moved, thou runn'st away."

* * *

Backstage, preparation room

Finn stood in front of the television monitor that was wired up to transmit directly what was happening onstage, and he contemplated, with narrowed eyes, Sampson and Gregory's exchange. He wore a headset that allowed him to communicate with the crew backstage and in the control booth, but it was not presently switched on. Behind him, actors milled everywhere, changing in and out of costumes, practising lines softly to themselves, and generally trying to keep the noise down backstage.

The preparation room was large and windowless, being situated almost directly behind the stage, allowing the actors easy access to run back and forth between scenes, through stage doors that connected the two via a short hallway.

However, it also meant that they had to be quiet when in the room, for fear that voices behind the scenes might carry onto the stage itself. Glaring white fluorescent lights shone down on everyone, entirely unflattering, but at least it made fixing make-up easy.

Faye Archer, wrapping herself in a long black satin robe - her costume for her first appearance onstage - walked up and stood next to Finn. " They look good," she commented.

" It was a good start," he told her, not taking his eyes off the monitor.

Gregory had just seen Abraham and Balthazar, servants to the Montagues, appear onstage. " Draw thy tool! Here comes two of the house of the Montagues," he hissed, putting his hand on his dagger as the two leather-coated figures broke away from the wings, swaggering towards him and Sampson.

Finn smiled at Faye, " The costuming is great. I like how you assigned specific dress codes to each house."

She shrugged, " Well, it was a total rip-off from Baz Luhrmann, but thanks anyway."

He chuckled softly, turning back to watch the monitor.

" Also," she continued, " I never got to thank you properly for letting us take charge of this project."

" What do you mean?" He asked, rubbing a hand over his unshaven chin.

" I mean," she grinned, " It would've been so easy for us to abridge and interpret this play into an absolute freak show, so I want to thank you and Ms Braden for putting this much faith in us, you know? For just believing that us, high school kids, we could actually do a good job with this whole adaptation business."

He laughed, " Since it's closing night, I won't hold back from telling you that I had a lot of reservations when Josh first told me that they planned to play Mercutio and Benvolio gay."

She laughed, " That was REACH behind them. Those guys really want to put a message through to the audience�� She raised a meaningful eyebrow, �� and seeing that you've cast Jake and Hamilton in those roles, it only seemed logical. I love the scene where they play-fight with each other,� she continued enthusiastically, � what with their relationship, they added this whole new dimension to it, it's so incredibly�"

" Faye!" Ryder Forrest called from the side of the room, struggling to button up a thick black cloak, " Come 'ere for a sec!"

" Keep it down a little," Finn chided, " These walls are thin. If you're not careful, your voices could travel straight onto the stage."

" Sorry." Ryder didn't sound the least bit sorry, and motioned for his sister to go over and help him; Faye rolled her eyes and obliged. Finn turned his attention back to the TV monitor, where the servants were already descending into the start of a brawl. " Pity they're not doing 'Twelfth Night'," He muttered to himself, thinking of Jake and Hamilton, � that would�ve been quite a show.�

* * *

" Do you quarrel, sir?" Gregory asked the Montagues, crossing his arms over his chest.

" Quarrel, sir?" Abraham took a deep breath, " No, sir."

Sampson would not give up as he continued to taunt, " If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as good a man as you."

" No better?" Abraham challenged.

" Well�" Sampson faltered, and Gregory nudged him, " Say 'better', here comes one of my master's kinsmen."

Sampson grinned, turning back to Abraham, " Yes, better, sir."

" You lie!" Abraham cried.

"Draw, if you be men!" Sampson taunted, unsheathing his dagger, the light glinting dangerously off the blade. Amnesia suddenly struck up again forcefully with reverb full-blast, the echoing guitars and increasingly unruly drumbeats full of urgency, underlining the angry shouts onstage as the Montagues and Capulets charged at each other.

" Part, fools! Put up thy swords!" Jake Pratt, resident girl-playing-boy-playing-Benvolio Montague, dashed out of the wings, the tail of her black coat flying. Hauling her own sword out of its sheath at her waist, she pushed in between Abraham and Sampson. " You know not what you do!"

The music stopped all of a sudden, giving way to one high violin note hanging precariously in the air, whose quavering resonance continued as the fighting figures on stage suddenly came to a standstill and stood frozen in an aggressive tableau.

A spotlight flared downstage left, outlining the lone figure of Tybalt Capulet, played by Graham Bennington, a senior at Rawley Boys�.

" What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?" He pondered, fixing a steely gaze upon Jake, " Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death."

A small tremor ran through the drawn-out violin note, tense with anticipation. The tableau moved, the servants parting uncertainly as Graham stepped onto the main stage, taking slow and measured footsteps until he came face to face with Jake.

Jake drew a shaky breath and she tried to gain her composure, " I do but keep the peace." She demonstrated her relative lack of harm by starting to return her sword to its scabbard, her movement slow and lacking in provocation, " Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me."

" What, drawn, and talk of peace?" Graham sneered, " I hate the word."

Jake bit the inside of her lip at the tone of his voice.

" As I hate hell," he continued, a slow smile spreading over his features and seething with cruelty, " all Montagues, and thee."

Jake swallowed, taking a step back.

" Have at thee, coward!" Graham was lightning fast as he drew his sword and held it level to Jake's throat, before she even had time to react. The Montagues roared in fury and charged, Jake stepping back gracefully and drawing her own sword.

* * *

Control booth

At the back of the auditorium, tucked away in the darkened control booth, Malcolm Harding fiddled with knobs and keys on the switchboard, keeping an intent eye on the stage through a soundproofed glass window. The first swordfight of the play had swerved into action, Jake and Graham weaving themselves in intricate patterns of attack and defence, blades flashing in their hands. The audience gasped and sighed at all the right places, and Malcolm couldn�t help grinning as he pulled a lever, casting a sinister red filter over one of the stage lights.

� You always look so sadistic when you pull that lever.� Josh Sutherland commented from his seat beside Malcolm.

Malcolm placed a well-aimed kick at Josh�s chair, though he did not take his eyes off the stage, � Don�t you have a scene to go to?�

� But I�d rather stay here with you.� Josh replied coquettishly, batting his eyelashes with comic innocence.

� As much as the offer appeals,� Malcolm retorted, darting a quick smile his way, � We�d be lacking in a certain Romeo if I took you up on it.�

Josh chuckled, stood up and made his way to the door, � You�re going to the cast party after this, right?�

� Wouldn�t miss it for the world.� Malcolm grinned back.

Josh let himself out and Malcolm turned back to the stage, where crowds of actors have dashed back, adding themselves to the brawl. On the left were the Montagues, recognisable by their dark coats. On the right, the Capulets, their crisp business-style attire accentuated by Lady Capulet's - played by Lena Fletcher - flaming red hair. Through his headphones he could hear Scout Calhoun - a.k.a. Lord Capulet - yelling over the din, " What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!"

* * *

Bella was feeling slightly disoriented by the all-too-sudden action, the blazing lights and ferocious music providing a surreal spin on a standard gang-bash scene. Glancing at Sean, she noticed that he was leaning forward in his seat, staring at the stage with avid interest.

* * *

Prep room

" THREE civil brawls, bred of an airy word, by thee, old Capulet�" The voice of Chris Hansen - the Prince of Verona to the audience - boomed out of the TV monitor and Finn turned the volume down quickly. Watching Chris point an accusing finger at Scout, and Gareth - Lord Montague - trying to conceal a smirk, Finn grinned when Chris was quick to turn the finger to him, " and Montague, have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets!"

The acting ability of his cast never failed to amaze him, though he had been rehearsing with them continually for over two months. There wasn't an ounce of 'high school kids' left in them as they sank into character, bringing passion and fire to each and every role. He couldn�t wait until Josh and Faye made their appearances - their on-stage chemistry always took his breath away.

Will wandered over and Finn smiled at him, " They are doing an amazing job so far. The audience is riveted."

" Good." Will grinned, " Do you need help anywhere?"

" Nope." Finn shook his head, " You don't have lines until the end of the play, why don't you slip in the back of the auditorium and watch it?"

Will shrugged, smiling, " It's a full house tonight, remember? Also I've seen it for three nights in a row, I don't think I could stand much more of Romeo and Juliet, I�m beginning to recite it in my sleep."

Finn laughed, " I know what you mean."

" Anyway," Will continued, " I have a message for you. Ms Braden called, she's having some car trouble, that's why she's not here yet. She said not to worry but it's going to take a while for her to get here."

Finn nodded. Kathy Braden was an English teacher over at the Girls� Academy, who had taken on the role of production organiser there, and she too had been putting an unbelievable amount of time and effort into the play. " I hope she makes it." He said, " She deserves the applause on final night."

" As do you, Finn." Will grinned.

" And continuing with the self-congratulations," Finn chuckled, " so do you, Will, so do you."

* * *

�If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.� Chris warned, motioning for Scout to follow him offstage, and the other boy obliged, their followers trailing behind them. Graham skulked off behind Scout and threw evil looks at Jake over his shoulder.

Only the Montagues now occupied the stage. Gareth shook his head at Balthasar and Abraham, waving them away. Putting a hand on Jake's shoulder, he asked quietly, " Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach? Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?"

Jake sighed, " Here were the servants of your adversary, and yours, close fighting ere I did approach: I drew to part them�"

� O, where is Romeo?� Caroline Busse - Lady Montague - interrupted worriedly, " Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray."

" Madam," Jake turned to her and nodded in greeting, " An hour before the worshipped sun peered forth the golden window of the east, underneath the grove of sycamore that westward rooteth from the city's side, so early walking did I see your son."

Gareth sighed, exchanging a look with Caroline, " Many a morning hath he there been seen, with tears augmenting the fresh morning dew."

Caroline nodded, her expression weary, " Away from the light steals home my heavy son, and private in his chamber pens himself, shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out, and makes himself�" the words following rested on a sigh, " an artificial night."

� Black and portentous must this humour prove,� Gareth turned to Jake, a plea in his eyes, " unless good counsel may the cause remove."

" My noble uncle, do you know the cause?" Jake asked, walking purposefully towards the apron. Gareth followed her, " I neither know it nor can learn of him."

As they spoke, soft light began to gather upstage, where Josh sat perched on a stool, aimlessly strumming a guitar and humming softly to himself.

* * *

Bella smiled as she saw that Josh was decked out in entirely black, a trench coat and army boots giving the basics of his intended interpretation of Romeo, resident Goth. He had dyed his longish dark hair jet black, which hung straight and stringy, making him look grungier than usual. Copious amounts of black eyeliner completed the look, emphasising his effeminate features.

* * *

Prep room

Faye contemplated the TV screen, chewing on the inside of her lip thoughtfully, " Do you think the lighting worked?"

Finn glanced at her, " You mean, the way you tried to use it to divide the stage into�"

" Different settings, yeah." She finished for him, her brow furrowing as she watched Jake farewell Gareth and Caroline, who walked offstage. " I actually meant for Josh to be sitting in a coffee shop or something. It's pretty unclear though."

" Sometimes vagueness can be a good thing." Finn reminded her, " It gives the audience space to play with their own wants and preferences. It should be clear to you, of all people, that Shakespeare is not confined to time or place."

She nodded, " It's the themes that are important, I know."

" And I think you have handled those themes beautifully," he told her, and she grinned.

* * *

Jake started towards Josh, walking past the imaginary boundaries of the coffee shop. She raised a hand in greeting, " Good morrow, cousin."

Josh looked up, turquoise eyes glinting in the soft light. " Is the day so young?" He asked wearily.

" But new struck nine," she told him, sitting down on a stool next to him.

" Ay me, sad hours seem long." He sighed, looking over her shoulder, " Was that my father that went hence so fast?"

" It was." She nodded, watching him put the guitar away under the stool, " What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?"

" Not having that which, having, makes them short." He told her, straightening up again. She nudged the guitar with her toe, " In love?"

" Out�" He replied, and she interrupted, " Of love?"

" Out of her favour where I am in love." He clarified, pushing his hair out of his eyes. She grinned, " Alas, that love, so gentle in his view, should be so tyrannous and rough in proof!"

" Alas, that love,� he answered quickly, � whose view is muffled still, should without eyes see pathways to his will!" Standing up, he lent her a hand, " Where shall we dine?"

* * *

A girl sitting in front of Bella poked her friend on the arm and whispered, " He's so pretty!"

" Which one?" Her friend asked.

" Romeo. But the other one is really cute too," the first girl replied.

" You know they're both gay, right?" The other girl told her, and the first one gasped, " Really?"

" See, it's right here on the programme," the second girl raised the piece of paper so that their noses were almost touching it in the darkness, trying to make out what it said, " They act on behalf of REACH."

" Reach? What's reach?" The first girl asked.

" Jesus, how do you not know what REACH is?" The second girl exclaimed, " They're the gay society�"

" Could you please be quiet?" Sean hissed at them, and the people around them murmured various agreements. The girls shut up.

* * *

" Tell me in sadness, who is that you love?" Jake prompted, taking the guitar out from under the stool.

" In sadness, coz, I do love a woman." Josh said solemnly, looking as though he was clarifying something important and provoking quiet knowing laughs from a few of the audience.

" I aimed so near, when I supposed you loved." She smiled. He nodded, sitting back down again and rested his head wearily on the table, "A right good mark-man. And she's fair I love."

" A right fair mark, fair coz, is soonest hit." She plucked the strings on the guitar experimentally.

" Well, in that hit, you miss." He told her, running his hand through his hair," She'll not be hit with Cupid's arrow, she will not stay the siege of loving terms, nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes, nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold." He sighed pitifully, " O, she is rich in beauty, only poor, that when she dies with beauty dies her store."

" Then she hath sworn that she will still live chaste?" She asked, strumming a quiet chord.

" She hath," he confirmed, standing up, " And in that sparing makes huge waste, for beauty starved with her severity cuts beauty off from all posterity. She is too fair, too wise�"

Jake held up her hand, trying to get him to stop going into these flights of adjective overuse, " Be ruled by me, forget to think of her."

He narrowed his eyes, " Teach me how I should forget to think!"

She punched him lightly on the arm, " By giving liberty unto thine eyes, examine other beauties."

He grabbed the guitar from her angrily, " Farewell: thou canst not teach me to forget."

She grinned, undaunted, " I'll pay that doctrine, or else die in debt."

They walked offstage, and the curtain was drawn. On one side of the apron, in front of the curtains, Scout emerged as Lord Capulet, walking with Marcus Wright, who played the County Paris, suitor to Juliet. " But Montague is bound as well as I," Scout started, rubbing his fingers over his temples, " In penalty alike; and 'tis not hard, I think, for men so old as we to keep the peace."

" Of honourable reckoning are you both, and pity 'tis you lived at odds so long." Marcus acknowledged politely, but quickly changed the subject to his matter at hand, " But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?"

* * *

Prep room

" Shouldn't you be in the wings now?" Finn asked Faye, who was still watching the TV. She grinned at him, " I'll be gone in a sec, I just love this part, here, watch Scout carefully."

On the screen, Scout told Marcus, " But saying o'er what I have said before: my child is yet a stranger in the world�"

Faye burst out laughing.

" What?" Finn demanded, confused.

" Didn't you see the expression on his face when he said 'my child'?" She asked, " He does that every time, it's so funny. It�s been months, but he just can't swallow the fact that he's playing my father."

Finn grinned, " Come on, you're on in a minute."

" Aye aye, Cap'n." She mock-saluted and ran off, holding up the hem of her robe as she ran.

* * *

Stage left

" Go, sirrah, trudge about through fair Verona; find those persons out whose names are written there, and to them say, my house and welcome on their pleasure stay." Scout instructed a servant before he walked off the apron, and once out of the audience�s sight, took a turn into the wings. Behind him, Jake and Josh walked back onstage, deep in conversation.

In the semi-darkness Scout could see Faye standing with her arms crossed, watching him with a smile. He grinned and mouthed silently, � Hi.�

� Hey, you.� She mouthed back.

He caught her hand in his own for a fleeting moment as he walked past her, knowing that Finn didn�t approve of actors loitering in the wings if they could help it. She squeezed his fingers gently before letting go, causing a warm tingle to spread through his skin.

* * *

Prep room

Hamilton Fleming checked himself in the mirror, muttering his lines to himself. Will came up beside him and remarked, " It's sad, isn't it? It'll all be over by the end of tonight."

Hamilton readjusted his scarlet cloak, nodding, " I'll be glad for the spare time, though. I haven't had any lately. Life had been so hectic with rehearsals and then these performances."

" Man, I know what you mean." Scout said, having just entered the room. Rifling through the costume rack and picking out a blazer that was labelled 'Lord Capulet - party', he started to pull it on, " I'll be glad when all this is over."

* * *

" Go thither; and, with unattainted eye, compare her face with some that I shall show,� Jake announced confidently, � and I will make thee think thy swan, a crow."

" I'll go along," Josh answered, the two making their way down the apron, " No such sight to be shown, but to rejoice in splendour of mine own."

Behind them, the drawn curtains parted once more. The backdrop of the cathedral was now replaced by an equally stunning painting of an ancient castle's interiors, and though the stone walls looked cold and uninviting, the settings were lavish - many draperies, painted in rich colours, hung from those walls, looking vivid and realistic. This was Capulet House.

" Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me!" Lena, as Lady Capulet, scurried onstage, followed by Leah Rickard, whose red dreadlocks were a strange contrast to the character she was supposed to play� that of the matronly nurse. " I bade her come!" Raising her voice, she hollered, " What, lamb! What, ladybird! God forbid! Where's this girl? What, Juliet!"

" How now! Who calls?" Juliet, played by the one and only Faye Archer, entered from the wings, tying the sash around her robe.

" Your mother." Leah replied matter-of-factly.

" Madam, I am here." Faye turned to Lena, " What is your will?"

* * *

Control booth

� Scene four, where are the directions to scene four?� Malcolm yelled, looking around frantically in the soundproof booth. Leafing through a stack of papers by the switchboard, he hollered, � Where the HELL is scene four?�

Onstage, Leah and Lena circled Faye, showering her with a torrent of words and notions about marriage. The audience laughed delightedly at Leah�s bumbling antics, but Malcolm was in no mood to enjoy the comedy, having misplaced his tech directions for the next scene.

� It's by your elbow, you idiot.� Anita Simons, fellow technical crew, drawled from her seat, not bothering to remove her headphones. Watching the girls leave the stage, she slid a switch all the way down, dimming the central lights.

Malcolm grappled for the sheet of paper and glanced at her sheepishly. She yawned.

Reading the instructions, he cued out loud, � Close the curtains, change the mains to blue and violet, but keep the spotlight on.�

� Received.� Anita yawned again, pulling a couple of levers.

* * *

Blue and violet shadows fell across Hamilton�s alter ego Mercutio�s face, as he tugged Josh by the arm, bounding up the stairs leading onto the apron, � Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance!� His scarlet cloak swirled around him in a dizzying circle, and his carefree laughter spilled into the auditorium.

� Not I, believe me.� Josh sighed dramatically as he trudged behind Hamilton, closely flanked by Jake, � you have dancing shoes with nimble soles: I have a soul of lead� So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.�

� You are a lover.� Hamilton grinned suggestively, placing a hand around Jake�s waist and spinning her around, � borrow Cupid's wings, and soar with them above a common bound!�

� I cannot bound a pitch above dull woe; under love's heavy burden do I sink.� Josh sat down by the edge of the stage, looking blankly out to the audience as though he was staring at the night sky.

� And, to sink in it, should you burden love,� Hamilton abandoned Jake and plopped himself down beside Josh, � too great oppression for a tender thing.�

� Is love a tender thing?� Josh blinked, his eyes huge and luminous in the quiet light. � It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn!�

Hamilton sighed impatiently, � If love be rough with you, be rough with love; Prick love for pricking, and you beat love down.�

Josh didn�t look convinced, and Hamilton jumped to his feet, � Give me a case to put my visage in:

A visor for a visor! What care I what curious eye doth quote deformities?� Glancing at Jake with a smile, he continued, � Here are the beetle brows shall blush for me.�

� Come, knock and enter;� She walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her chin on his shoulder, � and no sooner in, but every man betake him to his legs.�

* * *

� What�s he doing?� The girl in front of Bella hissed, aghast.

� Interpretation courtesy of REACH.� Her friend hissed back, � They�re playing Mercutio and Benvolio gay.�

Bella couldn�t help but smile. Glancing sideways, she noticed that Sean too wore a knowing grin.

* * *

Prep room

� Ooh, I can never get over how gay they are.� Leah commented in front of the TV monitor, staring at Jake and Hamilton.

� It�s quite nice.� Faye grinned, taking off her robe as she spoke and revealing a different outfit beneath it. � I love all those crazy guys in REACH, they really set out to make a difference.� Lowering her voice confidentially, she said, � Do you want to know what they have planned for Summer Session?�

Leah raised an eyebrow, � They plan ahead?�

� Evidently.� Faye shrugged, � Anyway, word from Josh is��

Something in Leah�s eyes changed, a light growing softer and harder at the same time, at the sound of that name. Faye, uncharacteristically - perhaps in her excitement over Final Night - failed to notice. �� the guys in REACH might all be wearing dresses to the Cotillion. To make a point about Gay Pride.�

Leah chuckled lightly, � Should prove entertaining.�

� Very.� Faye replied, thinking about Jake in particular. With a smirk, she focused her eyes on the brunette, now walking offstage with Josh and Hamilton. This should prove, in time, to be very�interesting indeed.

* * *

The party at Capulet House had begun. A revolving mirrorball had been set up above centre stage, and as it turned slowly, it cast shimmering light upon the partygoers. Amnesia was playing one of their more well-known songs as background music, and the party was noisy and vibrant.

Emerging from the wings, Josh, Hamilton and Jake allowed themselves into the crowds, getting caught up in the atmosphere. Josh smiled to himself as he heard his bandmates strike up the chorus, thinking how strange it was that he was not there, fronting the band like he normally would have done. He half-expected a guitar on hand, and was disoriented in knowing that he was here onstage for a different purpose� for acting, not singing.

Idly, he wondered if it was possible for him to have a career in musicals, then proceeded to beat himself up mentally for even entertaining such a notion.

As arranged by the directors, he soon found himself being swept along by the crowd, losing sight of Jake and Hamilton in the process. People milled around him, jostling and shoving each other, in the thick of the party.

A lull in the music came quite suddenly as Scout clapped his hands, standing on a platform to the side of the stage. The partygoers quietened down to hear what the Lord of the House had to say.

" Welcome, gentlemen!" He slurred drunkenly, already having seen more sober moments pass, " I have seen the day that I have worn a visor and could tell a whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone�" The guests tittered loudly as he tripped over his own feet and was deftly caught by Lena, ever the dutiful Lady of the House. Scout grinned sheepishly and raised his glass in a toast, " You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians, play!"

The listeners cheered, and Scout raised his hands, indicating that music was to begin again. This time, it was not Amnesia but the string ensemble that began playing. The song was slow and romantic, urging couples to come forth to the dance floor. Above the melody Scout warbled, " A hall, a hall! Give room! And foot it, girls!" With that he stumbled again, and was consequently escorted off the stage with servants in tow.

Paris looked around for Juliet, but it was Lena who finally found her, half obscured behind curtains, pulled her out, and handed her to him. Faye sighed resignedly when Lena gave her a meaningful look, then pushed her in Paris' direction. Plastering what she hoped was a pleasant smile onto her face, she took his hand and followed him to the dance floor.

For the party, she had worn knee-high black boots and a short black dress, dark eyeliner and lipstick making her look almost anaemic under the lights. As the lights dimmed ever so slightly, a soft spotlight fell on Josh, who had been lost in the crowd, but now stood to stage left and clear of the others' paths. Catching sight of Paris taking Faye into his arms, he drew an audible intake of breath.

Faye fought the urge to roll her eyes at Paris' overeager grin, playing the obedient daughter, letting him lead her into the dance with a twirl, the toes of her black boots nimble as they glided through the complicated steps, floating atop the trancelike music. Around them, all the dancers did the same, the mirrorball casting fragmented silver over the beautifully choreographed motions.

Josh grabbed a waiter who walked past, upsetting a tray of hors d'oeuvres in the process, " What lady is that, which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?"

" I know not, sir." The waiter replied huffily, rearranging the pastries on the tray and scurrying off.

* * *

Control booth

Anita leaned forward as she watched the scene progress, " Everybody's favourite scene coming up."

Malcolm did not comment, but he thought to himself that it was not the upcoming Romeo and Juliet scene that he loved the most, but Romeo's soliloquy, happening onstage this instant - for Josh was beautiful, standing alone. He was staring transfixed at Faye, a distant, dreamy smile decorating his lips.

" O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" came Josh�s voice through Malcolm's headphones, " It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!"

Standing in his designated circle of light, his eyes reminded Malcolm of seawater, whose gentle ripples gave off the reflections of a thousand stars overhead.

" So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows." Josh sighed, starting to make his way quietly towards Faye and Paris. " The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand."

" Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!" he breathed, mesmerised by the way she seemed to glow with unearthly incandescence, her eerie vampiric beauty an echo of his own, " For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

Malcolm didn't even notice that he was mouthing the lines along with Josh, staring intently at the slight dark-clad figure onstage, until Anita snorted none too politely beside him and he snapped back to attention, blushing a furious red.

* * *

Prep room

Every single person who wasn't onstage at that particular moment was crowded around the TV monitor, watching Josh and Faye's first meeting as Romeo and Juliet with undisguised delight. Even after months of rehearsals, the chemistry between those two still kept an audience riveted.

The party scene behind them froze as Josh drew Faye into his arms and kissed her, and the moment was as magical as ever - like the first time, months ago, where they enacted this scene for auditions and everyone knew then and there that the lead roles would be theirs. There was just no competition - and their intensity made it hard for people to believe that they weren�t a couple in real life.

As always, everyone sighed when Leah hurried onstage, pulling apart the stage lovers, wrapped in each other's arms.

" No matter what happens, I think we're always going to remember the Nurse as the idiot who interrupted one of the best make-out sessions of all time." Will commented with a smile as Leah demanded onscreen, " Madam, your mother craves a word with you."

The others laughed, including Finn, as they watched Faye disappear into the wings, looking longingly over her shoulder at Josh. Even Ryder, standing a little way away from the group in front of the monitor, managed a smile.

* * *

Josh seized Leah by the arm and demanded, " What is her mother?"

Leah turned and for a moment, her fa�ade dropped and she was just Leah, onstage with Josh. Gazing at him with a mixture of reverence and sadness, something passed between them in a split second, a communication of something that ran far deeper than words. But that moment lasted no longer than a single heartbeat, both of them slipping back into character before anyone else realised otherwise.

" Marry, bachelor," Leah said cheerily, regaining her composure, " Her mother is the lady of the house."

Josh took a step back, a thunderstruck expression descending upon his features.

" Is she a Capulet?" He whispered, stunned.

Try as he might, he could not, in one moment, come to grips with the fact that he had fallen in love with the daughter of his sworn enemy. He stumbled back yet another step, his eyes glazing over as he clenched his fists together so tightly that the knuckles were tipped with white.

" O dear account! My life is my foe's debt!" He murmured. Behind him, the drunken figures of Jake and Hamilton suddenly emerged from amidst the crowd, catching sight of him standing white-faced and staring at Leah in abject horror.

Jake giggled as she caught him by the arm, " Away, begone; the sport is at the best!" Hamilton voiced his garbled agreements as the two pulled Josh into the wings, laughing uproariously.

Josh allowed himself to be dragged along, too shocked to resist. " Ay, so I fear; the more is my unrest." He managed to whisper, just before Jake and Hamilton yanked him into the wings.

* * *

Sean did not notice that he had been holding his breath, but now he released it in one long sigh. In the darkness, he could sense Bella leaning over, her hair grazing his shoulder. " They're great, aren�t they?�

He nodded, unable to take his eyes off the stage. Faye was waiting impatiently for the Nurse to return to her with Romeo's name, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright with the intoxication of young love, unaware of the fact that the very knowledge was to be the beginning of her downfall.

" If he be married," she muttered to herself as she paced up and down anxiously, the spotlight following her path across the stage, " my grave is like to be my wedding bed."

Leah re-emerged from chasing after Josh into the wings, pale with agitation. Faye ran up but before she could utter a hopeful word, Leah murmured, " His name is Romeo, and a Montague; The only son of your great enemy."

Faye's body went suddenly rigid, all colour draining from her face.

" My only love, sprung from my only hate!" She whispered, her expression a mask of shock so intense that it could allow no other emotion save for absolute blankness.

" Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" She continued, her eyes staring at Leah but not seeing anything beyond the sudden, terrible knowledge.

Looking away and moving as though in slow motion, she wrung her hands together, " " Prodigious birth of love it is to me, that I must love a�� closing her eyes briefly, she whispered, �� a loathed enemy."

" What's this? What's this?" a worried Leah demanded.

Faye shook her head slowly as she made her way into the wings, her footsteps laboured. " A rhyme I learned even now, of one I danced withal."

With those last words, the curtains fell, signifying the end of Act One.

Act Two

Jake and Hamilton rushed onto the apron, before the drawn curtains. Hamilton had wrapped both of them in his gigantic scarlet cloak, making them look cozy, cute, and very gay indeed. Sitting in the audience, Jesse Thomas and Lance Brixton - the leaders of REACH, the Rawley Effort Against Conventional Heterosexuality - exchanged a silent smile.

" Romeo! My cousin Romeo!" Jake yelled, looking out into the audience as though she expected to find Josh in the darkness yonder.

" Romeo!" Hamilton jested loudly, " Humours! Madman! Passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh: Speak but one rhyme, and I am satisfied."

They waited, but silence was the only reply.

" I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes," Hamilton yelled, " by her high forehead and her scarlet lip, by her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh�"

Jake laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck, " And if he hear thee, thou wilt anger him."

" This cannot anger him." he shrugged; and beneath the cloak, his arm closed around her waist, " I conjure only but to raise up him."

" Come, he hath hid himself among these trees, to be consorted with the humorous night." She shook her head, " Blind is his love and best befits the dark."

Hamilton yawned as he raised his voice once more, calling out into the audience, "Romeo, good night: I'll to my truckle-bed! This field-bed is too cold for me to sleep." Turning back to Jake, he smiled sweetly, " Come, shall we go?"

" Go, then." She nodded in defeated agreement, the two of them walking offstage. " For 'tis in vain to seek him here that means not to be found."

* * *

Control booth

" Curtains." Malcolm commanded into his headset, watching Jake and Hamilton jump off the side of the stage. " Gotcha." Came the static-laced reply from backstage, and the heavy drapes parted to reveal a complete change of set.

The Balcony Scene was one of the hardest to arrange, settings-wise. It was neither practical nor aesthetically pleasing for a real �balcony� to be raised onstage for the duration of two scenes, and the Stage Committee had opted for a far more ambiguous approach.

The raised, moveable platform on one side of the stage during the party scene now doubled for Juliet�s balcony. Warm yellow light shone on it from the wings on one side, giving the appearance of a room within. The rest of the stage was awash in dim blue light, signifying night. The crew had managed to borrow a multitude of silver fairy lights from Rawley�s prom committee, and they now hung like vines across the backdrop, glittering in a surreal impression of stars� or maybe enchanted gardens.

And it was into this starry garden that Josh wandered, his eyes shining feverishly in the muted light. He had cast aside his trench coat and revealed a black long-sleeved shirt underneath, clinging to his painfully thin frame.

� He jests at scars that never felt a wound.� He murmured to himself, looking around furtively. This was, of course, the Capulets� garden; and being the son of their great enemy, it was a rash - not to mention mortally perilous - move for him to loiter here.

But neither love nor infatuation knew of bounds.

� But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?� He caught sight of the platform and moved toward it, his footsteps hushed. His voice was still projected well enough for the audience to make out clearly, though he was speaking in a murmur. � It is the east, and Juliet is the sun��

* * *

Backstage, prep room

� It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were!� On the TV monitor, Josh slinked onto the edge of the platform, lurking on the light�s boundary.

Scout, along with just about everyone who wasn�t in the scene, was sitting in front of the monitor, savouring - not without a hint of wistfulness - the Final Night of the production, into which countless hours of hard work was poured. Seeing that he wasn�t needed onstage for the next two acts, he now settled back comfortably in his chair, content to watch the play unfold from the monitor. Beside him, Jake was chuckling quietly as Hamilton said something in her ear.

Faye appeared from the wings, stepping out delicately onto the platform, wrapped in her black robe yet again. Scout turned his attention away from Jake and Hamilton, and instead concentrated on the screen.

His girlfriend settled down by the edge of the platform, tucking her legs up beneath her. The light behind shone on her ice-blonde hair, individual strands glimmering as she lowered her head and sighed, unaware that Josh now stood within arm�s reach, his features faintly outlined by deep blue shadows.

Josh�s words escaped him on an exhaled breath, � She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?� Watching the oblivious Faye for a moment, he muttered to himself, � Her eye discourses; I will answer it.�

She sighed again, burying her face in her hands. He made a move as though to step forward, then drew back at the last moment, � I am too bold,� he whispered, � 'tis not to me she speaks.�

Scout stared at the two figures onstage, one all alight and one doused in darkness. From the removed distance of the TV screen Faye looked so remote, an unbearable loneliness sliced with loveliness seeming to seep from her very pores.

Her stage persona was, in a way, so very different to the Faye in real life, and he was secretly glad for that. Despite her assurances that she and Josh were nothing but the best of friends - and he believed and trusted her, really he did - he could not help but see, like everyone else around him, how beautiful and natural those two seemed in each other�s arms. It was enough to drive any boyfriend insane; not to mention that he wasn�t exactly the placid, non-jealous type to begin with.

Josh leaned forward ever so slightly, his pale face touched with longing, � See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek�� he reached out, trembling fingers trailing through the air and pausing inches from Faye�s temple, but advancing no further.

She still did not notice him, lost in her own thoughts.

It was a magical moment, suspended both in time and motion. A delicate D-minor arpeggio, finger-picked on Ben�s guitar, emerged as though from nowhere, drawing more tension into the immobile scene as well as excruciating tenderness, to soothe and aggravate at the same time.

No one dared move at all.

Love, like so many fragile emotions, hung as though on the ends of invisible threads that ran from the tips of Josh�s fingers, binding him to Faye. But it wasn�t simply love, or desire, there were also darker feelings that ran parallel to the arduous ones - bitterness and regret, for a start. It was wrong to even start feeling this way for each other, they knew it� the feud between their two houses was an all-consuming black force that could not be reckoned with, they knew that too.

But we do not fall in or out of love at will. And we always want the things we are denied.

Thus are tragedies made.

� Ay me!� she whispered, closing her eyes.

� She speaks,� Josh said breathlessly, a release from the mounting tension, � O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven!�

She still did not hear him as she stared blankly into the audience, sweeping tendrils of hair away from her forehead. � Romeo.� She murmured, caressing the yet-unfamiliar name on her tongue, � O, Romeo��

He started, staring at her intently.

Try as she might, she could not hide the bitterness from her voice, � Wherefore art thou Romeo?�

* * *

Control booth

� 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.� Faye�s voice was tinged with melancholy, though cool and introspective. � What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,

Nor arm, nor face�� she smiled a little mischievously, looking up, � nor any other part, belonging to a man.�

The audience chuckled, but Malcolm rolled his eyes. He had heard this line too many times for it to even be remotely funny anymore - and the same could be said for most of the play. Fun as the experience was, he was all too glad that it was finally coming to an end. The production had consumed everybody�s days like they had never thought possible, and it was definitely a relief to know that the whole thing will be wrapped up soon, not to be undertaken again for another two years.

He turned his attention back to the stage, his finger hovering above a control button, waiting patiently for his cue. Faye had nearly completed her soliloquy. She was in fine form tonight, delivering her lines with sincerity and precision, shot through with just enough low comedy at times, in order to emphasise the tragic content.

� Romeo, doff thy name,� she was saying, her fingers tracing nondescript patterns on the platform, staring down but not seeing, � And for that name, which is no part of thee, take all myself��

A velveteen voice issued forth from the darkness, choked with emotion, � I take thee at thy word.�

Faye gasped and turned, only to be met by the fleeting sight of Josh�s dazed aquamarine eyes before his lips met hers in a kiss, exuding passion that transcended everything.

Malcolm pressed down on the button, dousing the couple instantly with a brilliant white spotlight; Anita slid the main lighting switch down at the same time, making all else fade to black.

Amnesia began to play again. It was a slow-burning, gothic whisper of a song, with shuddering bass notes and soft, metallic murmurs from the ride cymbal. The central melody, carried forth on single guitar notes, was stark, simple, but unspeakably lovely.

There was no warning for that kiss, it arrived from nowhere and carried a power with it so destructive yet so beautiful, that it was too hard not to completely give in. Under the suddenly scorching white light, Faye reached for Josh and he wrapped his arms around her, the two of them sinking into the intoxication of the moment, of utter perfection entrenched in so much bitterness.

After one single moment or all of infinity, Josh drew back, still grasping Faye in his fiercely possessive embrace. Under Malcolm and Anita�s deft fingers the floodlight dimmed quickly, fading back to the reality of the scene on the balcony. Though, the song played on, softly, softly, drifting on a melodic reverie.

� I know not how to tell thee who I am.� Josh said quietly, running a thumb across Faye�s cheekbone. She had not opened her eyes after the kiss, but rather simply leaned into his touch, as though she was afraid that she would wake up from a dream.

He looked as if he understood, because he smiled indulgently and continued, � My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself, because it is an enemy to thee�� With a wry grin, he added, � Had I it written, I would tear the word.�

� My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance,� she murmured, stubbornly keeping her eyes closed, � yet I know the sound: art thou not Romeo and a Montague?�

� Neither, fair saint,� he answered, � if either thee dislike.�

* * *

Prep room

� That was amazing.� Will said, gape-mouthed and staring at the screen.

� � Yeah.� Jake agreed.

� That was�� Hamilton struggled to find a word to express his admiration and felt he came up short, � brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.�

� The best kiss they�ve ever had.� Caroline breathed.

� The best kiss ever.� Lena said emphatically, � It�s unbelievable, I�ve got tears in my eyes.�

� Did anyone else forget to breathe?� Jake asked, � When that light came on, it was like getting punched in the stomach.�

� Definitely.� Will agreed, nodding.

� They�re perfect.� Caroline sighed, � Absolutely perfect.�

� When you guys have quite finished discussing Josh and MY GIRLFRIEND!� Scout suddenly bellowed without preamble, causing the others to fall off their chairs in shock.

� Mr Calhoun!� Finn hissed, gesturing so furiously that he accidentally dislodged his headset, � Can you keep it down!�

* * *

Control booth

A haze of static sprang up in Malcolm�s headphones and he jabbed frantically at the speaker button on his headset, � What�s going on? Finn?�

� What�s wrong?� Anita demanded, spinning around to face him. He motioned for her to be quiet and readjusted the mouthpiece, � Finn, speak to me.�

More static, then Finn�s voice crackled through the headset once more, � Sorry, minor disturbance here.�

� Sounded like someone shouting.� Malcolm said worriedly, � Is everything all right backstage?�

� Scout Calhoun,� the annoyance in Finn�s voice was thick as he replied dryly, � had evidently decided to remind everyone, offstage and on, audience and crew alike, once and for all that Miss Archer is indeed his girlfriend and not Mr Sutherland�s.�

Malcolm laughed out loud, � I don�t think it�s that bad. The soundproofing over the prep room must have been better than we thought, because I don�t think it carried over all that much.� He watched the stage as he spoke, � The two onstage don�t seem to be losing concentration, at any rate.�

� Or maybe they were just professional enough not to let it distract them.� Finn�s voice was decidedly pointed, probably because he was glaring at Scout at the same time. Malcolm laughed again and turned his attention back to the stage.

* * *

� Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face, else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek, for that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.� Faye lowered her head bashfully, turning away from Josh and standing up. Walking slowly toward the wings, deep in thought, the yellow light from the wings once again cast a golden glow over her. � Fain would I dwell I form.� She admitted, twisting her hands together, � Fain, fain deny what I have spoke.�

He clambered up the platform after her, sticking his hands awkwardly in his pockets and a worried look settling back onto his features as he lingered on the edge of the light and not daring to proceed any further. On the verge of speech, he gave a start when she turned abruptly, her cheeks flushed as she exclaimed, � But farewell compliment!�

He blinked, and she strode purposefully back to him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. � Dost thou love me?� She whispered, staring into his eyes.

He opened his mouth but again she turned away, muttering frantically as though arguing with herself, � I know thou wilt say 'ay,'� and I will take thy word� yet if thou swear'st, thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries then say, Jove laughs.�

He took a hesitant step forward, his eyes never once leaving her. Longing was unabashedly raw on his face, the whisper of a thousand words resting on the arch of his brow.

She turned around yet again, and froze as she saw him standing there, watching her with that unflinching gaze. She stared back, and as if drawn, took a couple of quick steps toward him, stopping just short of actually touching.

� O gentle Romeo, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.� She told him, her expression earnest. Almost immediately she looked down again, � Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won��

He stepped forward and closed the distance between them, laying a finger across her lips to stop her from saying anymore. She looked up in surprise, and saw his turquoise eyes lighten into a mellow green as he smiled gently.

� Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear,� he whispered, � that tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops��

She shook her head, � O, swear not by the moon!�

He raised his eyebrows and her gaze travelled over his face, � The inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb�� Her fingers found their way to his jaw and traced its outline as she spoke, � lest that thy love prove likewise variable.�

He grinned uncertainly, � What shall I swear by?�

� Do not swear at all.� She whispered with a sweet smile, � Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry�� She reached up to brush away a strand of raven black hair that had fallen across his eyes, �� And I'll believe thee.�

� If my heart's dear love�� he clasped her hand in his own. Realising that he could find no words that might eloquently describe what he was feeling, he closed his eyes and kissed her again.

The music in the background grew louder for a moment, and words were murmured along to it, the singer's voice quiet and haunting.

The audience were only starting to register that the voice was unmistakably Josh�s and that it was presumably pre-recorded and now played back through the sound system, when the lyrics trailed away altogether, leaving again only the melancholic instrumentals.

Faye pulled back from the kiss slowly, and stepped away again, shaking her head, � Well, do not swear.� Turning back to him, she said, not with a hint of imploration, � Although I joy in thee, I have no joy of this contract tonight: It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden!�

He only grinned sheepishly and drew her back into his arms again. She succumbed to the touch and laid her head against his shoulder, murmuring, � � Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be ere one can say 'It lightens.'�

* * *

Prep room

� That was embarrassing.� Scout moaned, burying his face in his hands.

� That was unbelievably funny.� Will tried to keep a straight face but failed miserably. Grinning, he asked, � Why the hell did you do it for?�

� Because of this.� Scout gestured toward the TV screen, without even bothering to look up. Will glanced at the monitor, catching a glimpse of yet another passionate kiss between Josh and Faye. Caught between sympathy and amusement, he tried to sigh and grin at the same time, � I don�t blame you. They really do look��

� I know what it looks like, thank you.� Scout groaned, � I�ve only been watching them getting it on for the past three months.�

Will smothered another laugh, � But there�s nothing wrong between you and Faye� is there?�

A flicker of a smile crossed Scout's face as he looked up, and said nothing.

* * *

" Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed." Faye said hurriedly, rushing back from the wings, where she was called to a moment earlier. Dashing up to him, she took hold of his hands, " If that thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage."

He nodded quietly, another shy smile lighting up his eyes. She beamed back, and continued quickly, " Send me word tomorrow, by one that I'll procure to come to thee, where and what time thou wilt perform the rite." Lowering her eyes, still somewhat bashful, she murmured, " And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay, and follow thee, my lord, throughout the world."

He gazed at her, then without a word drew her into his arms again.

She closed her eyes, expecting another heart-wrenching kiss, but it did not come. Instead she felt the warm touch of his lips upon her forehead, tender beyond words.

Holding back a sigh, she wrapped her arms around his waist and they simply stood there, holding each other.

Their theme song, which had faded away some time ago, now returned with a new swell of melody, stronger and sweeter than before. Josh's voice returned over the speakers, accompanied by the distinct, hollow beats of drumsticks tapping the edge of the snare drum. Bella tried to focus on making out the lyrics, but she could only hear snatches of mumbled words.

" Madam!" The voice of Leah called from within the wings, sounding impatient.

" I come, anon." Faye's eyes flew open and she called over her shoulder. Turning back to Josh, she said, " But if thou mean'st not well, I do beseech thee�"

" Madam!" Leah called again, annoyed.

" By and by, I come!" Faye declared, then continued urgently and quietly, "� To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief." She turned and ran towards the wings, but paused as she looked back upon him, " Tomorrow will I send."

He smiled, tucking his hair behind his ear, " So thrive my soul�"

She again ran forward, kissing him lightly before dashing back into the wings, her voice carrying onto the stage. " A thousand times good night!"

" A thousand times the worse, to want thy light." He murmured, staring dazedly at the empty spot where she stood a moment ago.

Turning, he walked toward the edge of the platform and smiled. " Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books;" Jumping off the platform's edge, he again turned, gazing dreamily at the 'balcony', " But love from love, toward school with heavy looks." With another longing look, he turned to go.

Faye suddenly appeared again on the platform, calling on a hurried whisper, " Romeo!"

He halted but did not turn around. " It is my soul that calls upon my name." He grinned to himself, " How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, like softest music to attending ears!"

" Romeo!" She called again, running to the edge of the platform, sinking to her knees and sitting down on her heels so that they were nearly eye-level.

He walked back towards her, lovingly taking the hand that she proffered, " My dear?"

She stared at him, unable to tear her gaze away, " At what o'clock to-morrow shall I send to thee?"

He smiled, " At the hour of nine."

She nodded, beaming as though her life had all changed in a heartbeat - and perhaps it had. " I will not fail: 'tis twenty years till then."

He grinned, reaching up to kiss her once more. She succumbed to the kiss, and it was only after they have pulled back when she admitted, sheepishly, " I have forgot why I did call thee back."

The audience laughed quietly, as did Josh, " Let me stand here till thou remember it."

* * *

Backstage, prep room

" Ryder!" Finn exclaimed frantically, " Where were you? You're on, for god's sake!"

The blond boy, who had just re-emerged from the side door after a cigarette break, glanced toward the monitor screen. Onstage, Josh and Faye have already exchanged their second farewell, and the curtains were drawing together. " Oh, bugger!" He exclaimed, breaking into a run toward the stage door, his black cloak billowing out behind him. Behind him, Finn sighed with both relief and exasperation, sinking into a nearby chair.

* * *

Control booth

Malcolm switched his headset on again to communicate with Finn, " Where the hell is Ryder?" He demanded, " He should be on now!"

" He's coming." Came the teacher's reply, " Give him five seconds."

Sure enough, at that moment Ryder burst onto the apron from the stairs on the right, and Malcolm shook his head with amusement as he watched the British boy try the best he could to deliver his lines without panting from his sudden sprint.

" The grey-eyed morn smiles on the frowning night," Ryder gasped out. Despite his flustered state, he nevertheless managed to shrug on the role of Friar Laurence at a moment's notice, looking around in wonderment. " Chequering the eastern clouds with streaks of light, and flecked darkness like a drunkard reels from forth day's path and Titan's fiery wheels."

* * *

Bella could not help an instinctive frown as Ryder took to the stage, clutching a basket. She never liked the guy much, and her loathing of him had only intensified over the past few weeks, having had a run-in with him over the issue of her sister. Still, she couldn't help musing, it would definitely be fun to see this nasty rich boy playing the priest, of all people. She laughed silently to herself: the sight of Ryder carrying a basket, looking bewildered and out of breath, was already a vision to treasure.

But glancing at Sean, her brows furrowed in bewilderment. The guy was looking distinctly uncomfortable, glancing first at Ryder furtively then looking away, then looking back with a small curl of the lip, then shifting his gaze again.

Those two had been good friends since the semester had started, despite the fact that they were nearly polar opposites in terms of circumstances and personality. But ever since a couple of weeks ago, Sean had suddenly withdrawn from Ryder's company and vice versa, the two of them seeming to go out of their ways to avoid each other.

Bella noticed this, but could find no explanation for it - except maybe that Sean finally figured out how much of a prick Ryder really was? That didn't seem too likely, from what she saw of their friendship earlier.

She turned her attention back to the stage with a mental shrug.

* * *

Onstage, Ryder had knelt down and plucked a small plant from the basket, holding it up to the light for closer scrutiny, " Virtue itself turns vice, being misapplied; and vice sometimes by action dignified. Within the infant rind of this�" He shook his head in amazement, " �small flower, poison hath residence." Carefully putting the flower back in his basket, he stood up, " �and medicine power. For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being tasted, slays all senses with the heart."

Slowly making his way offstage, he murmured to himself, " Two such opposed kings encamp them still, in man as well as herbs, grace and rude will; And where the worser is predominant, full soon the canker death eats up that plant."

Behind him, Josh dashed onto the apron, unable to help a huge grin, " Good morrow, father!"

Ryder turned, a smile lighting up his grey-blue eyes, " Benedicite! What early tongue so sweet saluteth me?"

Josh paused, just for a moment.

Ryder never smiled at him like that anymore. Hadn't, in fact, for nearly five years. Picking up what remained of their friendship, shattered all those years ago, brought memories that came flooding back on a torrent of underlying pain.

What had passed was in the past, he knew. But as he gazed at that smile, that expression of happiness that somehow never seemed to reach the blond boy's eyes, he also knew that some things would never change, regardless of time.

Like the fact that, no matter where he went, what he did or who he ended up with, Ryder would forever be the keeper of an intrinsic part of him, whether he liked it or not. Ryder was the one who took away everything he had ever known, once upon a time; but he was also the one who, through the hands of such a cruel and wondrous thing as fate, gave Josh all he had - and made him all he was - today.

Josh did not know whether he should love or despise the other boy for that, so he did both, and neither. Between them was an innocence that could never be returned; a childish love that may be kept for eternity.

In that moment onstage, all this - the utter complexity and inexplicable nature of their bond - passed through Josh's mind in the form not of tangible thoughts, but a singular emotion, the feeling of hot blood rushing through his veins, encompassing everything that they ever were to each other, and ever would be.

" Young son, it argues a distempered head, so soon to bid good morrow to thy bed." Ryder was advancing toward him, the smile still evident on his lips. But he too, held a gaze that was troubled and thoroughly unreadable. "�Or if not so, then here I hit it right," he grinned, raising an eyebrow, " our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight."

" That last is true; the sweeter rest was mine." Josh replied, snapping back into attention. He was, after all, still acting. Performance was ingrained in him, and although sharing a stage with Ryder often meant that he slipped into unhappy, mindless pondering, he was still fully aware of his responsibility onstage as Romeo Montague, and not as Josh Sutherland.

" God pardon sin!" Ryder exclaimed, wrinkling his brows and walking slowly across the apron, " Wast thou with Rosaline?"

" With Rosaline?" Josh exclaimed, taking a few quick steps to catch up, " My ghostly father, no! I have forgot that name, and that name's woe."

Ryder turned and again smiled at him, " That's my good son. But where hast thou been, then?"

Josh took a deep breath, and stopped walking. Ryder took a couple more steps forward and turned, raising an eyebrow at him.

" I'll tell thee, ere thou ask it me again." Josh said, running a hand through his hair and taking on an expression of great resolve and hope. " I have been feasting with mine enemy, where on a sudden one hath wounded me, that's by me wounded."

Ryder looked bewildered. Josh took one step toward him, his gaze intent, " Both our remedies within thy help and holy physic lies: I bear no hatred, blessed man, for my intercession likewise steads my foe."

" Be plain, good son, and homely in thy drift;" Ryder demanded, furrowing his brows, " Riddling confession finds but riddling shrift."

" Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set, on the fair daughter of rich �" Josh swallowed, cleared his throat, then said meekly, "� Capulet."

Ryder gave a violent start, grabbing Josh's shoulder as if on reflex, his eyes wide with shock. The dark-haired boy grimaced and hurried to elaborate, " As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine; And all combined, save what thou must combine by holy marriage."

Without a word, Ryder shook his head and turned away. Josh chased after him, " When and where and how we met, we wooed and made exchange of vow� I'll tell thee as we pass." Grasping Ryder by the shoulder, he forced the priest to turn around, turquoise eyes burning into grey ones, " But this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today."

Ryder opened his mouth as if to speak, but fell silent. Josh watched him intently, his fingers digging into the Ryder's shoulder.

" Holy Saint Francis!" Ryder finally managed to murmur, shaking loose Josh's grip. " What a change is here!" Looking suddenly accusatory, he demanded, " Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken?"

Josh sighed in exasperation, but Ryder would not let him speak as he chided. " Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their�" He paused, his gaze none too discreetly dropping down the length of Josh's body before flickering back up again, " �eyes."

The audience laughed, appreciative of the interpretative humour. Ryder fought the urge to smirk, and instead continued sternly, " Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!"

" Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline!" Josh whined.

" For doting, not for loving, pupil mine." Ryder corrected him, turning to go once more.

" And bad'st me bury love." Josh continued, sounding like a sulky child.

Ryder sighed patiently, " Not in a grave, to lay one in, another out to have."

" I pray thee, chide not." Josh suddenly turned sombre again, running ahead of Ryder and planting himself in front of him, forcing the blond boy to stop, " She whom I love now, doth grace for grace and love for love allow. The other�" he made a dismissive gesture, " did not so."

" O, she knew well thy love did read by rote and could not spell." Ryder said dryly. Turning, he stared into the darkened audience. Josh moved to speak, but Ryder silenced him with a wave of the hand, deep in thought.

* * *

Control booth

Anita carefully slid a switch up, watching the stage as a spotlight gradually dawned on Ryder, bathing him in a coppery glow. He looked up slowly, a dim hope shining in his eyes. Over the headset she could hear that the string quartet had begun to play again, the piece without doubt the most idyllic of all the arrangements in the production.

" Oh, the cheesiness of it all." Malcolm moaned, covering his eyes, " I can't bear to watch. Tell me when it's over."

" I think it's kinda cute." She drawled, " Our boy's having a revelation. Love and peace all the way, man."

* * *

Ryder turned resolutely, his eyes bright, " But come, young waverer, come, go with me." Josh stared at him quizzically and Ryder sighed, " In one respect I'll thy assistant be."

Josh widened his eyes, scarcely able to believe his good fortune. Ryder nodded quickly, " For this alliance may so happy prove, to turn your households' rancour�"

Josh held his breath.

Ryder couldn't help a smile, "� to pure love."

Josh whooped, grabbing Ryder by the sleeve, " O, let us hence; I stand on sudden haste!"

" Wisely and slow!" Ryder demanded as Josh dragged him offstage like an overzealous puppy, " They stumble that run fast!"

* * *

Stage right, wings

Hamilton and Jake stood in the darkened wings, waiting for their cue. Onstage, behind the closed curtain, crew members were busily changing the backdrop back to the Gothic cathedral of the first scene. Three people were trying to lug the balcony-platform backstage without making too much noise. From beyond the heavy drapes, snippets of Ryder and Josh's dialogue could be heard.

" Got your sword?" Jake whispered. She had changed out of her first outfit and was now wearing jeans and a loose black sweater, making her look rather more girly than usual. Hamilton hoped that it wasn't enough to give her away. Then again, he doubted that many people would be focusing on Jake, considering that he himself was wearing a bright purple shirt and tight leather pants. Faye and the wardrobe department seemed to delight in making him look as gay as possible.

" Of course." He answered, lightly fingering the sheath that was fastened at his waist, " You nervous?"

" Just a little." She admitted. " But I'm just� sad, mostly. This has been really fun and it's going to be all over."

" Yeah." He agreed, the two of them falling into silence as the last of the crew ran off the stage and the curtains began to part again.

" Ready when you are." She whispered, composing herself and settling back into character.

He nodded, and made his way onto the stage. The sudden lights made him squint a little, but he did not let it hinder him. " Where the devil should this Romeo be?" He demanded, " Came he not home tonight?"

" Not to his father's." Jake walked onstage behind him and replied, " I spoke with his man."

He sneered, " Ah, that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline." Shaking his head in disgust, he walked in the direction of the audience, placing himself firmly downstage centre, " Torments him so, that he will sure run mad."

Jake trailed behind him, folding her arms, " Tybalt, the kinsman of old Capulet, hath sent a letter to his father's house."

He grinned suddenly, turning to her, " A challenge, on my life."

" Romeo will answer it." She said with certainty, worry settling over her features.

He rolled his eyes, " Any man that can write may answer a letter."

" Nay," she rephrased grimly, " he will answer the letter's master how he dares, being dared."

" Alas poor Romeo, he is already dead!" Hamilton declared, a glint in his eye. Jake glanced at him in surprise, and he grinned. " Stabbed with a white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a love song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bow-boy's butt-shaft."

She laughed, and he grabbed her by the waist. Closing the distance between them, he murmured against her cheek, " And is he a man to encounter Tybalt?"

She pulled back slightly, looking him in the eye, " Why, what is Tybalt?"

" More than Prince of cats, I can tell you." He suddenly stepped back, resting his hand playfully on the handle of his rapier. She chuckled, and drew her own sword.

" O, he is the courageous captain of compliments." his words were heavily laced with sarcasm and scorn as he circled her slowly, looking lewd and dangerous at the same time. She followed him with her eyes, a tangible fire burning inside their gaze.

" He fights as you sing prick-song," he told her, taking measured steps around her. " Keeps time, distance, and proportion."

She smirked, readjusting her grip on the foil.

He continued to walk, footsteps silent and distinctly feline. " Rests me his minim rest, one, two, and

the third!" Quick as lightning he drew his rapier, and before Jake could blink, the bated point was level with her chest. Hamilton grinned, " In your bosom."

She inhaled cautiously, and with a swish, he withdrew his sword, tucking it under his arm. Stepping forward again, he wrapped an arm around her, laughing boisterously. " The very butcher of a silk

button!" He exclaimed, swirling out of her reach again, " A duellist!"

She stood en garde, raising a brow suggestively. He smiled broadly, " A duellist; a gentleman of the very first house, of the first and second cause."

She struck without warning, her sword flashing out like a bolt of lightning. He dodged the blow with a dancer's grace, and commented, " Ah, the immortal passado!" Swinging his own blade in a silver arc, he advanced with a counter-attack, " The punto reverso!"

She laughed and blocked the blow, but he slipped in between the rapiers, catching her off guard with a fast kiss to the forehead. " The hai!" He declared, discarding his foil and drawing her into his embrace.

" The what?" She laughed, throwing down her own sword and running her hands across the plane of his chest. He smiled at her, his perpetually teasing gaze suddenly very, very gentle.

Footsteps rang out from stage left, and the two parted, turning to see Josh walk onto the stage. " Here comes Romeo!" Jake declared happily.

* * *

Prep room

Faye emerged from behind the costume rack that served as a changing room for the girls, dressed in a long skirt and a pretty shirt with bell sleeves. Walking stealthily toward the group of actors crowding around the TV monitor - all of whom were having a good snigger at Josh, Jake and Hamilton's lively exchange onstage, she tugged on the back of Scout's collar, demanding his attention. He turned, and she motioned for him to follow her out the side door.

The night air was warm and slightly humid, and as they walked a little distance away from the prep room door, they noticed that a gentle smattering of rain was beginning to fall.

She was silent as she drew to a stop under an oak that was planted next to the building, taking hold of his hand. In the half-light he smiled at her uncertainly, " What are you doing?"

She smirked at him, " I could hear you all the way from the stage, you idiot."

He groaned, " Tell me you're kidding."

" Nope." She grinned, " Josh heard you too. We had to look away from each other to stop ourselves from cracking up. You know, a big grin wasn't the appropriate expression to use when I was trying to say 'If they do see thee, they will murder thee.'"

He chuckled, " Oops. Sorry."

" But you were sweet despite the embarrassment," she said, smiling as she wrapped her arms around his neck, " so I forgive you."

" Thank you?" He wondered aloud as she kissed him lightly.

* * *

The audience was having a great time watching the trio onstage. The play had thus far been quite a heart-wrenching affair, and the light-hearted jesting between Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio was a welcome change from the domineering sense of doom for the star-crossed lovers.

Bella laughed aloud as Hamilton exclaimed at Josh, " I will bite thee by the ear for that jest!" and actually made a move to do it. Josh yelped and hid behind Jake, " Nay, good goose, bite not!"

" I don't get it." Sean muttered to her, " Why is he biting him?"

" Actually, I don't get it either." She confessed with a grin, " But it's funny." Hamilton was now starting to chase Josh in circles around Jake, who was watching the two in amused confusion.

" I stretch it out for that word 'broad;'" Josh jeered good-naturedly, coming to a sudden stop and causing Hamilton to bump into him, " which added to the goose, proves thee far and wide a broad goose."

The audience tittered, and Jake tried hard to conceal a smirk at the expression on Hamilton's face. Josh watched his friend with a lopsided smile, which broadened into a grin when Hamilton hit him on the arm.

" Why, is not this better now than groaning for love?" Hamilton beamed at Josh, " Now art thou sociable, now art thou Romeo; now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature."

Josh chuckled softly, looking down.

" For this drivelling love is like a great natural," Hamilton continued, looking as though he was going to head off in the territory of Long And Silly Speeches, " that runs lolling up and down to hide his bauble in a hole�"

" Stop there, stop there." Jake interrupted, taking him by the hand.

" Thou desirest me to stop in my tale against the hair." Hamilton looked at her, lips curved in a smirk but his gaze tender.

She looked back with a small smile, " Thou wouldst else have made thy tale large."

" O, thou art deceived; I would have made it short�" he began to say, but was interrupted as Leah hurried onstage.

" Here's goodly gear!" Josh said coolly, causing the other two to chuckle.

Leah was in an awkward position as the nurse. She was young, she was pretty, and she had very un-nurse-like red hair, which had recently been put into dreadlocks. How then, was she supposed to look the comic part of a fat old woman, when she was neither fat nor old and hence not very comic at all?

Having refused padding outright, she was finally forced by wardrobe to don a bright pink outfit that clashed horribly with all the gothic surroundings, not to mention her hair; she also carried a large handbag and a lacy pink parasol. As the audience laughed, Josh et al gawked in amusement: they were still adolescent boys, after all, and the Nurse was designed to be a walking laughingstock.

" God ye good morrow, gentlemen." Leah sniffed with a slight air of disdain, playing the Nurse to all her matronly perfection.

" God ye good den, fair gentlewoman." Hamilton stepped cautiously up to her, imitating her tone whilst wriggling an eyebrow at his friends.

* * *

Prep room

" She's great." Finn laughed, watching Leah and Hamilton banter onscreen, " The audience adores her."

Will nodded his head in agreement, taking a sip from the glass of water he held in his hands. " It�s remarkable how she can switch from comic to serious in a heartbeat."

" Not in that outfit." Lena pointed out, chuckling softly.

The others laughed. " True." Finn admitted, " Who came up with the idea of dressing her in pink, anyway? Looks hideous. Effective," he hastened to add, " but hideous nevertheless."

" Faye. A.k.a. the same person who made Hamilton wear the purple shirt and the leather pants." Will pointed out.

" Could those pants be any tighter?" Caroline wondered, causing Will to choke on his water in a fit of laughter.

" Shh." Finn shushed them, though he was grinning himself, " Keep it down." Cocking his head, he wondered thoughtfully, " Does the lighting look different to you?"

* * *

Leah was fully aware of the fact that she and Hamilton looked like a seven-year-old girl's Barbie-Dream-Playset-thingy, what with the glaring pinks and the purples of their respective outfits. It didn't help that, up in the control booth, Malcolm was feeling particularly mischievous and cast over the stage, a rose-coloured filter that wasn't supposed to be there. Of course, that peculiar lighting only made she and Hamilton stand out more, their clothes now weird and altogether entertaining shades of fuchsia. Making a mental note to kick Malcolm's butt later, she continued with her lines. " Gentlemen, can any of you tell me where I may find the young Romeo?"

" I can tell you;" Josh said with an impish grin, stepping forward, " but young Romeo will be older when you have found him than he was when you sought him."

The other two sniggered at the confused look on Leah's face, and Josh smiled, " I am the youngest of that name, for fault of a worse."

Leah scrutinised him with a hint of suspicion, " You say well."

" Yea, is the worst well?" Hamilton jested, " Very well took, in faith; wisely, wisely!"

Leah ignored him and instead turned to Josh, swirling her pink parasol in her hands, " If you be he, sir, I desire some confidence with you."

The horrified looks on Jake and Hamilton's faces made the audience burst into laughter. Josh looked embarrassed to death as he nodded quickly, making his way to the side of the stage, Leah trotting to keep up with him.

" She will indite him to some supper." Jake deadpanned, her mouth hanging open. Hamilton merely guffawed, whistling loudly and rendering Josh quite red as he stood there awkwardly with the lady in the hideous pink outfit. " Romeo, will you come to your father's?" Hamilton called, " We'll to dinner, thither."

" I will follow you." Josh said quickly, waving the two of them on.

" Farewell, ancient lady!" Hamilton yelled in a singsong voice as he and Jake made their way offstage, making small suggestive gestures at Josh, " Farewell!"

" Marry, farewell!" Leah said indignantly when the couple have disappeared into the wings, " I pray you, sir, what saucy merchant was this, that was so full of his ropery?"

Josh smiled, " A gentleman, nurse, that loves to hear himself talk, and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month."

" Scurvy knave!" She muttered, sending an evil glare in the direction that Hamilton had disappeared off to. Turning back to the business at hand, she tugged on Josh's sleeve, " Pray you, sir, a word."

He nodded, suddenly solemn.

" As I told you, my young lady bade me inquire you out." She told him, watching his expression grow softer with a smile.

" What she bade me say, I will keep to myself." She continued, " But first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into a fool's paradise, as they say, it were a very gross kind of behaviour, as they say."

He opened his mouth, but she didn't let him speak as she hurried on, " For the gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you should deal double with her�" She shook her head in dismay, " truly, it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing."

" Nurse, commend me to thy lady and mistress," he exclaimed quickly, " I protest unto thee�"

" Good heart, and in faith, I will tell her as much." She suddenly smiled, " Lord, lord, she will be a joyful woman."

He widened his eyes, " What wilt thou tell her, nurse? Thou dost not mark me."

" I will tell her, sir," she said, looking over him in slow appraisal, " that you do protest. Which, as I take it," she smiled, " is a gentlemanlike offer."

He grinned shyly, sticking his hands in his pockets. She looked at him expectantly and he drew near, and in a confidential whisper said, " Bid her devise some means to come to shrift this afternoon; And there she shall at Friar Laurence's cell be shrived," he suddenly blushed, his eyes bright, "� and married."

* * *

Outside the prep room

" I've got to go," Faye murmured against Scout's lips, " I think my scene's coming up."

He mumbled something unintelligible and kissed her again. She giggled and pushed him away, " Come on."

" What are you doing after the play?" He asked as they walked back into the prep room, blinking against the sudden light.

" The cast party, of course." She raised an eyebrow at him, " Why? What do you have in mind?"

His innocent grin was no mask for the suggestion, " I was just thinking, Leah's going to be at the party, right? We could�"

" Go back to my room," she finished for him, laughing softly.

" What do you say?" He asked, linking his fingers through hers.

vShe glanced at him coyly, " I'll have to think about it."

" Faye�" he whined, gazing at her with large, puppy-dog eyes.

She chuckled and kissed him lightly on the nose. Catching sight of Josh and Leah parting ways on the TV monitor, she gasped and dashed away, " I've got to go!"

" But�" he called after her. She merely waved, disappearing behind the stage door.

* * *

Control booth

Anita and Malcolm were silent in the darkness as they watched the scene onstage. Faye was following Leah around, trying to coax information out of her; Leah was doing her best to string her mistress along, creating much hilarity on the way.

This scene, being out on the apron and in front of the closed curtains behind which another set change was taking place, required no special lighting nor specific technical instruction, so they merely watched, waiting for their next cue that would not come until the scene following.

" So." Anita suddenly began in a conversational tone, tossing her dark hair over her shoulder.

Malcolm glanced at her, " Yeah?"

" Are you and Josh, like, an item?" She wondered curiously.

He raised his eyebrows. " Um� we're just� good friends� right now."

" Uh huh." She said, " That's what Jake and Hamilton said before they came out."

He looked at her quizzically, " Anita, I am out."

" So there is something going on between you and Josh." She concluded.

He paused before answering, slowly, " Your logic makes no sense."

" Cos you know," she ignored his last comment, " I've been hearing things."

He bit back a sarcastic remark. Having been working with her for the past two-and-a-half months, he had grown to tolerate the prying brunette, even though she grated on his nerves to no end. " Such as?" He merely sighed.

" Oh, nothing." She said airily, " Except, you know, how Josh is� you know." she trailed off and glanced at him again.

" You do realise you're in fact saying very little, despite the large amount of words that you utter?" He said testily, turning back to watch the stage.

She giggled, " Oh, Malcolm. You silly boy."

" Anita, do you have anything relevant to say?" He demanded, " Otherwise, concentrate on your job."

She narrowed her eyes at him, " There's rumours, you know, about him getting up to�" she raised a carefully plucked eyebrow, " certain amounts of mischief."

" What are you talking about, Anita?" He said crossly, " Cryptic doesn't suit you well."

" You know he went to Andover, right?" She finally got to the point, " And I guess you know he was kicked out halfway through the semester, that's why he had to come to Rawley."

" Mmm." He murmured his affirmation.

" Well?" She smiled in a catlike fashion, " Haven't you ever wondered why?"

" Obviously, you have." He replied offhandedly, though his attention was now fully drawn to what she was saying - he tried not to show it.

" I might have heard some things, yeah." She grinned. " The people over at Andover are supposed to be keeping this all hush-hush, but I managed to pick some pieces up here and there."

" And why should I believe the things you hear?" He asked quietly, " When things are kept private, the weirdest rumours fly out. Believe me, I know."

" Malcolm, honey." She sighed patiently, " Josh isn't exactly low-profile, no matter where he goes. I have my sources, and they're highly reliable."

After a moment of contemplative silence, he glanced at her, " So do you plan on telling me what this big scandal was, or are you just gonna sit here smugly and continue being cryptic?"

" The latter, I believe." She smiled slowly. " I'm just saying, you might want to bring the subject up with him. Should make for some interesting conversation."

He turned in her direction, but she shrugged and looked back at the stage. " Oh, would you look at that." She drawled, " It's our cue."

He glanced at the stage, and sure enough, Faye and Leah were starting to make their way off the apron. Making a mental note to grill Josh sometime in the future about this altogether confusing topic, he commanded into his headset, turning the microphone on, " Curtains."

" Got it." Came the reply. Malcolm flicked a switch by his elbow and smiled with satisfaction as the curtains slowly drew apart, revealing a stunning tableau of characters and set.

At the same time, the string quartet began to play again, accompanied by Ben from Amnesia, on the piano. A soprano from the choir at Rawley Girls' had found her place next to the orchestra pit, and as the curtains parted her voice floated forth, carried on the swells of sweet melody. It was Sarah Brightman's adaptation of 'Solo Con Te'.

A large, luminous blue crucifix glowed against another dark painted backdrop, this time the interior of the gothic cathedral� impressionistic settings of an altar and candles glowing softly in the background. Thin shafts of light streamed from either side of the stage ceiling, alternating silver with violet and culminating into a shimmering circle in the middle of the stage.

Ryder stood on the edge of the circle, directly in front of the cross and facing the audience. Josh and Faye also stood on the edges of the circle, facing inwards. The three of them were absolutely motionless, their places on the circle cutting it into exact thirds.

Josh was wearing pretty much what he wore for the duration of the play thus far, again donning his black, calf-length coat. Faye had, in her few seconds between the two scenes, managed to slip on a white cloak that billowed down to her ankles. As for Ryder, a thick black robe covered him from shoulder to toe, a square silver clasp shining at his throat. All three had their heads bowed, the silver, violet and blue glints of light playing carelessly over Ryder's blond hair and Josh's jet black tresses, glowing atop the hood of Faye's cloak, which fell softly around her face.

* * *

Backstage, prep room

Scout stood behind the row of people seated around the monitor, watching the wedding scene take place. The beauty of that moment, in all its complete stillness, moved everyone more than they could ever express.

But for Scout, it meant something more. He could see more.

For there was, unseen by most, so much irony in it all.

Things that Faye had said, months ago, suddenly flared in his mind, her tone quietly nostalgic.

"� Our parents have always joked that I was going to grow up to marry Josh one day� but I always knew better."

" So smile the heavens upon this holy act," Ryder began onstage, his voice grave and hypnotic, " That after hours with sorrow chide us not."

His hands emerged from the heavy robe, palms facing upwards. In one hand he took Faye's small, pale one; and in the other he grasped Josh's long, slender fingers.

--'Gioia nel cuor trovero / Con te il ciel raggiungero / Pace ci sara�'

" � He was in love with Ryder� you don't ever forget about your first love."

" These violent delights," Ryder continued, raising his head slowly so that he stared first into Faye's eyes, then Josh's. " have violent ends; and in their triumph die, like fire and powder which as they kiss, consume."

Faye and Josh gazed back, and the air felt almost liquid as their collective history rushed forward to wrap around their still figures; and it didn't matter if it was Josh or Romeo or Ryder or Friar Laurence or Faye or Juliet onstage, there was just the three of them; three identities, three hearts, three lives.

--'Gioia nel cuor trovero / Con te il ciel raggiungero / Pace ci sara�'

" � We were all different people back then."

Ryder swallowed against the sudden lump that rose in his throat, and continued, " Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow."

He bowed his head once more, bringing his hands together. Under his guidance, his sister's cold hand touched Josh's trembling fingers, and he wondered idly why the other boy's hands were shaking so much, as his own were.

--'Gioia nel cuor trovero / Con te il ciel raggiungero / Un mondo nuovo con te vedro�'

The lights dimmed, and the curtains drew in front of their again motionless forms, bringing Act Two to an end.

I will find joy in my heart
With you I will reach heaven
There will be peace

I will find joy in my heart
With you I will reach heaven
There will be peace

I will find joy in my heart
With you I will reach heaven
With you I will see a new world

- Solo Con Te (Only With You)


Act Three

The auditorium was very, very silent. The quiet splendour of the wedding scene was breathtaking, but also exhausting to watch. In the utterance of very few words, Ryder had managed to fill the entire room with both a sense of unbearable beauty and foreboding doom; and the audience needed time to recuperate, despite the fact that the curtains had already been drawn upon the scene. Bella heaved a sigh and tried to concentrate as Hamilton leaped onto the apron from the stairs at the right, beginning to stride purposefully toward the other end. A moment later Jake emerged, chasing after him, " I pray thee, good Mercutio, let's retire!"

Hamilton turned, and Jake tried to catch her breath, " The day is hot, the Capulets abroad, and if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl." She panted and walked up to him, coaxing quietly, " For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring."

He watched her for a second or two before suddenly breaking into a smile, " Thou art like one of those fellows that, when he enters the confines of a tavern, claps me his sword upon the table and says 'God send me no need of thee!'"

She furrowed her brows, not sure where he was going with this. He continued as he turned and began to walk again, albeit a lot more slowly, " And by the operation of the second cup, draws it on the drawer, when indeed there is no need."

" Am I like such a fellow?" She asked with a small smile, matching her stride with his.

" Come, come," he grinned at her sideways, " thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and�"

" By my head, here come the Capulets." She suddenly interrupted, stopping dead in her tracks. He looked up, and saw Graham - Tybalt Capulet - ascending the stage, coming straight at them. Behind him, a couple of his cronies followed close.

" By my heel," Hamilton snorted, not removing his gaze from Graham's cold, calculating one, " I care not."

She bit her lip, looking at him inquisitively. He smirked and placed a hand on her shoulder as though to say 'don't worry', and the two of them stood their ground, waiting for the Capulets to approach.

" Gentlemen, good den." Graham sneered as he walked up, planting himself in front of the couple, " A word with one of you."

A mixture of mischief and hostility glinted in Hamilton�s eyes. With a half-smile, he replied, " And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and�" he suddenly winked at Jake, "� a blow."

The audience laughed, and Jake couldn't resist a chuckle at the risqu� humour. Graham however, was not amused, nor did he acknowledge the pun, " You shall find me apt enough to that, sir." He narrowed his eyes at Hamilton, who raised an eyebrow at that answer, and sniggered out loud.

Graham gritted his teeth, and continued, " And you will give me occasion."

Hamilton cocked his head, unable to resist another lewd comment, " Could you not take some occasion without giving?"

The audience laughed again, making Graham's face turn red with embarrassment and rage. " Mercutio!" He demanded hotly, " Thou consort'st with Romeo�"

" Consort!" Hamilton exclaimed, the smile suddenly disappearing from his face and he took a menacing step forward, " What, dost thou make us minstrels?"

* * *

Control booth

" Is the set up yet?" Malcolm demanded into the headset.

" Give us two seconds�" was the muffled reply, and Malcolm could hear grunts of exertion and the odd thumping sound backstage, as the crew worked quickly to change the backdrop yet again. A moment later he was given the all-clear, " We're ready to go."

" About time," he muttered, watching Hamilton face down Graham onstage, " Curtains, now."

" We talk here in the public haunt of men!" Jake tried to intervene into the increasingly heated exchange, " Either withdraw unto some private place and reason coldly of your grievances, or else depart!" She looked around fearfully, as though the audience had now turned into a street full of bystanders, " Here all eyes gaze on us!"

Behind her, the curtains rustled, then parted.

The ensuing swordfight meant that the main body of the stage was needed to give enough space for movement; but seeing that the wedding scene only took place moments ago, they first had to buy some time in front of the closed curtains in order to allow for the set change. This was by far the most hurried task for the crew in the entire play, and on a couple of nights they had either worked too slowly - which led to Josh improvising his entrance from within the curtains instead of the wings; Or had worked too noisily behind the curtains, making Jake, Hamilton and Graham raise their voices to a shout, trying to cover the sounds of the backdrop change.

However, tonight the scene change managed to be fast and silent, the crew having grown used to the pace that they needed to work with. The cathedral backdrop was back in place, and everything looked to be in order. Without ceremony, all the players onstage walked naturally and slowly back onto the main stage, continuing their discussion all the while. Their aim was to try and look as though they were standing before the cathedral - a public place - all the while.

" Men's eyes were made to look, and let them gaze." Hamilton declared, glaring at Graham, " I will not budge for no man's pleasure, I."

At that moment, Josh entered from the wings on stage left, still wearing what he wore to the wedding. Looking as though he was sleepwalking in a pleasant dream, his eyes had an unfocused, distant quality to them as he tugged on his coat, sticking his hands in his pockets.

Graham glanced over Hamilton's shoulder, and with a small sneer announced, " Well, peace be with you, sir: here comes my man."

Hamilton looked at him in confusion, the turned abruptly to see Josh who as of yet did not notice them, lost in his own little world.

" Romeo!" Graham yelled, causing the other boy to start violently, his gaze jerking up to see his friends facing off with the Capulets. The dreamy smile froze on his face as he took in the potentially disastrous scene.

" Romeo," repeated Graham, slowly and softly this time, as he sidestepped Hamilton and faced Josh squarely. Hamilton made a move as though to stop him from moving, but Jake grasped his arm and shot him a look of alarm.

Josh walked forward, his eyes focused on Graham, his expression giving away rapid turmoil as he tried to think of what to do. Having just married Juliet, he was aware that Tybalt was now a kinsman; and he had no desire to hurt the other boy, despite the family feud and never-ending hatred.

" The hate I bear thee can afford no better term than this." Graham hissed, " Thou, art, a villain."

Hamilton bristled and looked all set to dash forward, but Jake's grip on his arm tightened, and her other hand found its way to his shoulder, restraining him against fighting the Capulet. After all, the Prince of Verona did say that from now on, starting a brawl on the streets would be punishable by death. Benvolio Montague was no coward, but he was no fool, either.

Josh stared at Graham, whose look was so full of contempt that he seemed as though he would start spitting venom anytime.

Fighting was out of the question, he knew. There would be no future for him and Juliet if the bloodshed between the families continued, and so he must try to keep the peace, at no matter what cost.

" Tybalt." Josh said softly, his hands clenching in his coat pocket, " The reason that I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such a greeting."

Graham frowned, trying not to show his astonishment. Jake and Hamilton gaped at Josh, sure that he had lost his mind.

He did not look at them, but merely walked up to Graham, his eyes lowered and voice sincere. � Villain am I none.�

Graham stared at him, silent with shock.

Josh blinked, then looked up again, his dark lashes lifting to reveal eyes of serene turquoise. � Therefore farewell,� he said softly and in appeasement, � I see thou know'st me not.�

Lowering his head, he again buried his hands in his coat pockets and turned away. Surrounded by people that were taller than him, he looked even more diminutive than usual. Not small to the point of looking submissive, but definitely humble as he strode off, his footsteps light and unassuming.

Graham ignored this attempt at peace, � Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me!� He shouted as he ran after Josh, � Therefore turn and draw!�

Josh gasped as Graham took a provoking swing at him, a fist catching him on the shoulder and causing him to stumble forward. � I do protest, I never injured thee!� He shouted desperately, regaining his balance and swirling around. But Graham did not pause in his assault, catching him firmly in the stomach with a well-aimed punch. Josh shouted out in pain, and the audience gasped as Graham kicked out and Josh tumbled back, falling to the ground.

Malcolm winced as he saw Josh collide with the stage floor, his awkward landing looking a little more painful than the choreography had intended. Reaching out to one side, he quickly cast another red filter over the main light.

* * *

� But�� Josh rasped, keeling over as he tried to struggle to his hands and knees, �� love thee� better than� thou canst devise�� he stopped, gasping for breath. The red light overhead gave everyone a hellish glow, and even Graham took one uncertain step back as Josh reached for the sword at his side.

He drew out the long, thin blade, and with both hands, held it up so that the light washed across the metal, like bloodied water.

Hamilton stared, white-faced, at his friend on the ground. Jake�s grip had thus far stopped him from doing anything rash, but anger was quickly prevailing over what little reason he still retained.

� �Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.� Josh continued, drawing in ragged breaths, gazing at Graham with his arms still outstretched, offering up the sword, � And so, good Capulet - which name I tender as dearly as my own��

Graham glared at him, shaken by the other boy�s tenacity in keeping the peace.

� Be satisfied.� Josh pleaded, and with shaking hands set his sword at Graham�s feet. With an effort he struggled to his feet, staggering even as he held the other boy�s gaze.

� Be satisfied.� He said again, beseeching.

If only feuds were so easily averted.

Graham set his jaw. He did not understand what the other boy was doing, nor did he particularly want to. The houses of Montague and Capulet had battled for as long as he could remember, and many years before that; He enjoyed the bloodshed, and he loved the violence.

It gave him a sense of belonging; it gave him a place in the world.

* * *

Control booth

Anita, who had earlier slid a disc into the sound system, now pressed �play�. Tybalt�s voice suddenly appeared out of nowhere, its echoing and distinctly distorted quality startling the audience as they looked to see if the actor was voicing the lines. He wasn�t - again, as with Romeo and Juliet's theme song, the words were being played back through the speakers.

� Peace? I hate the word." The distortion placed on the voice lent it a sinister growling tone, the lines delivered with slow and much-relished hatred. " As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee."

* * *

As the last word rose and fell, Graham drew his sword with a flourish, the blade flashing in the dim red light. In the orchestra pit, Alex hit the crash cymbal as hard as he could and refrained from muting it, letting the ringing go on and on and on and on and on. Josh stumbled back, his wide-eyed gaze a mixture of innocence and fear.

� O calm, dishonourable, vile submission!� Hamilton exploded, finally breaking free of Jake�s grip. Without elaboration he drew his own sword, dashing forward and planting himself in front of Josh, who was now unarmed. � Tybalt, you rat-catcher!� He snarled, � Will you walk?�

� What wouldst thou have with me?� Graham growled, wielding his blade.

� Good King of Cats,� Hamilton sneered, blue eyes burning with anger, � nothing but one of your nine lives.�

� I am for you.� Graham answered, his voice quiet with underlying danger.

� Gentle Mercutio!� Josh pleaded, his gaze darting from one to the other, � Put thy rapier up!�

Hamilton ignored him and instead sneered at Graham, � Come, sir, your passado.�

Without further invitation Graham lunged at him, and Hamilton retaliated, their blades bursting in a bright shower of reflected red light. A shattering sonic explosion came from the orchestra pit, making the audience jump. The three members of Amnesia had managed to produce between them a very impressive amount of noise, reverb turned up as much as it could go. The shocking intro quickly faded into background music, but retained a dizzying violence that matched the brawl onstage, the guitars and drums weaving out great, free-flowing layers of sound.

" Draw, Benvolio; beat down their weapons!" Josh yelled, as Hamilton and Graham lunged past him, their swords flashing furiously as they engaged in a frenzied fight, sending up flares of metallic sparks as the rapiers clashed. Jake did as she was told, casting an anxious look over her shoulder at the fighting duo. Heavy distortion came from the synthesisers and the couple of sound crew in the orchestra pit manipulated the keyboards to fit in with Amnesia's vicious melody, creating a sonic world of anarchy.

" Gentlemen, for shame, forbear this outrage!" Josh shouted, forcing himself in between the two, " Tybalt, Mercutio, the prince expressly hath forbidden bandying in Verona streets!" In a last desperate attempt, he grabbed Hamilton's arm, compelling him to stop fighting. The other boy shot him a look of utter terror, and Josh screamed, " Hold, Tybalt! Good Mercutio!"

With a warlike cry Graham withdrew his sword, then ran it directly at Josh and Hamilton. Overhead, the red filter was suddenly replaced by blinding strobe lights, and the audience saw, as if in slow motion, the blade grazing Josh's arm as it ran clean through Hamilton's stomach.

Bella gasped in horror, as did most of the audience. She knew, of course, that it had to be a stage illusion of some sort - but it looked so real. Sean was leaning forward, gripping onto his seat. In the orchestra pit, the music abruptly stopped, save for a rhythmic pulsing of the bass guitar, which carried hints of the grim happenings yet to come.

Graham staggered back, still clutching his sword. Through the flashing white lights everyone could see that it was tipped with red. He stared down on it, then back up at Josh and Hamilton, eyes wild with shock.

" I�" Hamilton choked out, a mere whisper, " I am hurt."

At those words Graham seemed to spring back into consciousness. Horrified, he watched as Hamilton's legs give away. Josh sank to his knees, supporting his friend's weight. Jake dashed toward Hamilton, demanding hysterically, " What, art thou hurt?" Tybalt's two henchmen flew to his side, and without another word they dragged him into the wings, fleeing from the scene.

The UV lights had stopped flickering, and the main lights once again illuminated the stage. However, Malcolm had slipped a deep blue filter over the red one, casting unearthly shadows all around the stage in varying shades of purple.

The pulsating bass notes soon faded, only to be replaced by the lone weeping of a cello; celebrating, in its own morbid way, the loss of certain innocence and the loss of lives.

" Art thou hurt?" Jake asked again, kneeling by Hamilton's side, grabbing his hand.

She did not see Josh desperately trying to cover the bloodflow with his bare hands; nor did she see Josh's fingers come away from the wound, coated in viscous red liquid. But the audience did.

Josh stared at his bloody hands, his face draining of colour.

Hamilton gazed at Jake, his pupils black and dilated in the strange amethyst light. She trembled as she waited for his answer, and he forced a smile, " Ay, ay, a scratch."

She grinned with relief, throwing her arms around his neck with sudden force. Her face buried in his shoulder, she did not see the pain that contorted his face into a grotesque mask, or the dumbfounded look that Josh carried in his blank eyes.

" A scratch�" Hamilton choked out, his hand instinctively gripping hers. She yelped as another spasm of pain hit him and he unwittingly squeezed her fingers so hard that she feared her bones would break. Drawing back from her desperate embrace, she stifled a scream as she saw the expression on his face.

Josh closed his eyes then, because he did not want to witness the moment of realisation; When words were of no comfort and she realised that her lover was about to die.

Hamilton turned away from Jake's stunned face and managed a wry smile, " Marry, 'tis enough."

She did not answer. In fact, she did not move at all. She simply kept very, very still, watching him slip away.

" Courage, man." Josh blinked furiously, tilting his face up to the source of the bruise-purple light, "� The hurt� cannot be much."

He did not know whether he was trying to delude Benvolio, Mercutio, or himself.

"'Tis enough, 'twill serve." Hamilton gritted his teeth as another painful convulsion shook his body, " Ask for me� tomorrow, and you shall find me�" even when hovering on the brink of death, he nevertheless came up with a weak pun, accompanied by a wry smile, " a grave man�"

Jake still did not move, gazing at him with the most vacant of all stares, every emotion drained from her eyes as though it was too much task to keep feeling. He looked back desperately, his gaze sweeping over her features with intense fervour, as though he was trying to drink in all her features, imprint them onto his mind.

Love cannot transcend death, for death conquers all.

Finally Hamilton blinked, a tear slipped down his cheek and a sob escaped him, " Why the devil came you between us?" With agonising effort he pulled himself up on his elbows, demanding in Josh's direction, " I was hurt under your arm!"

Josh turned to him, tears flowing down his face. " I thought all for the best." He choked out, " I thought� all for the best�"

" A plague on both your houses." Hamilton rasped, glaring at Josh, white and shaking. " A plague on both your houses!"

Josh clamped a hand over his lips from sobbing out loud, as he bowed his head in front of Hamilton, who pointed a bloody finger at him, his voice hoarse, " They have made worms' meat of me!"

Josh's slight frame shook with silent sobs as Hamilton screamed, " A PLAGUE, ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!"

Everything fell silent.

Hamilton's body went limp in Jake's arms.

She stared at his face, now settled over with a pale mask of peace.

With agonising slowness, she bent down and pressed her lips to his forehead.

Josh, hunched over at Hamilton's feet, was nothing but a shuddering, black mass.

The lights dimmed on them briefly, but a spotlight flared just as the stage descended into darkness, and it shone only on Josh; Jake and Hamilton were already fading into shadow.

Josh raised his head, and found his own sword lying no more than a few feet away. It glittered on the edge of the spotlight, and he reached for it, bloodstained fingers closing around the engraved silver handle.

Slowly, he got to his feet, using the sword to support his weight.

For there was to be no more staggering.

The rapier bent from the pressure, but did not snap. Once he stood up, he held it out in front of him, and inspected.

The light bounced off the blade, like moonbeams cascading.

" My very friend," he murmured, his gaze gliding down the length of the shining foil, " hath got his mortal hurt in my behalf; my reputation stain'd with Tybalt's slander." Shaking his head, another tear fell without him really noticing. " Tybalt, that an hour hath been my kinsman!"

He ran his finger along the blade, not hard enough to cut, nor fast enough to draw blood; but it was enough to induce pain and foreboding, flesh upon metal in such a precarious act.

" O, sweet Juliet." He whispered to himself, the tears that stained his face not yet dry, " Juliet�"

He lurched out of the spotlight. The audience could hear his footsteps carry him into the wings.

The curtains rustled heavily, being drawn together once more. All of a sudden the main auditorium lights snapped on, causing everyone to blink and squint in surprise.

" Intermission." Bella announced to Sean, hastily wiping the back of her hand across her eyes.

He glanced at her with a smile, " You been crying?"

She laughed a little with embarrassment, which turned into a small hiccup. He grinned and stood up, " I don�t blame you. It's powerful stuff."

* * *

Control booth

Malcolm and Anita took off their headsets, grinning at each other. The first half of Final Night had gone off without so much as a minor hitch� if one didn't count Scout yelling his head off backstage. Opening the door to the control booth, the two of them slipped out and into the auditorium foyer, where most of the audience now congregated, eager to have a bit of a stretch and short break from the growing intensity of the production.

As Malcolm fought his way through the crowd, he noted with pleasure that many people were talking about the play in what was undoubtedly awed tones. He saw Will a small way off, conversing with a pretty blonde girl and a stocky guy in a red baseball shirt, whom he had not seen around Rawley before.

Having struggled past the throngs of people crowding around the refreshment stands, he ran down a narrow hallway that led to the backstage prep room. Excited chattering from within reached his ears long before the room came into view.

And as he walked into the prep room, he was met with a chaotic scene: Costumes flying everywhere as everyone tried to take photos with everyone else in all their different outfits from the play; Hamilton and Graham shouting at each other excitedly about how realistically they pulled the fight scene off; Cameras were flashing furiously; Scout and Faye making out in the corner; the backstage crew gulping water from their drink bottles like there was no tomorrow; Finn giving Jake and Chris last-minute instructions on the next scene�

A sheet of paper was suddenly shoved in Malcolm's face. " Hey!" He exclaimed in surprise, stepping backwards only to realise that it was Josh, who grinned, " Sorry." He held up the sheet, and Malcolm could see that it was a programme, scribbled all over with signatures and well wishes, even a lipstick print or two.

" Sign my programme?" Josh asked with a smile.

" Sure." He smiled back, " Have you got a pen?"

" Here." Josh pressed a ballpoint pen into his hand, their fingers touching briefly.

* * *

Auditorium foyer

Will stuck his hands awkwardly inside his pockets as he walked up to Bella, " Hey."

" Hey Will." She smiled at him, and he glanced at her hastily as she reached for him, looking a little hopeful. But all she did was give him a quick hug, and stepped back just as quickly. " Congratulations." She said, her voice soft, " You did a wonderful job."

He managed a small smile before Sean hit him on the arm, " That was great, man." He said with a big grin. " I don't know how you managed to pull all that off."

" Thanks." Will nodded, and with a smile added, " Honestly, I don't know either. God, I'm so glad it's nearly over."

" Then you can get back to your normal life again." Sean sympathised.

Will's eyes met Bella's for a split second. " Yeah," he said faintly, catching a glimmer in her eyes before she looked away.

* * *

Prep room

Finn clapped his hands together and said loudly, " Guys, can I have your attention please?"

The noise subsided somewhat, and he said again over the remaining chatters, " Guys!"

The room fell quiet, most of the cast and crew turning toward him expectantly. However, he just couldn�t resist a mischievous smile, and said pointedly, " If Juliet Capulet and her father would just pay attention�"

Everyone laughed, and turned to the couple in the corner, who were still making out, oblivious to the world. Malcolm exchanged a sly smile with Josh, as did most of the others; Scout and Faye�s complete inability to keep their hands off each other had been a long-running source of amusement since rehearsals began months ago.

" Ahem!" Finn cleared his throat - or rather, shouted.

When Scout and Faye finally realised that everyone's eyes were resting on them, they sprang apart, blushing beet-red and mumbling in unison, " Sorry, sorry�"

The others laughed good-naturedly and turned back to Finn, who chuckled and resumed talking, " As you all know, tonight is the Final Night of the production. And I want to remind you that the school had explicitly stated - many times - that it doesn't want to involve itself in any sort of 'cast party' situation after the show, especially where minors and alcohol might be involved."

A low murmur swept through the crowd, as the cast looked at each other guiltily.

" Um, we're not having a cast party, Finn." Jake spoke up.

Finn raised an eyebrow, " Per se, maybe. However, I am completely aware of a certain celebration that is taking place outside of school grounds after the finale, and its official excuse is 'somebody's birthday'."

This time, a nervous buzz rose from the crowd, many of the faces looked crestfallen.

"� And I hereby announce that neither I or Ms Braden have any idea that every single member of the cast and crew are invited to this 'birthday party'," Finn continued with a smile, " And for those of you who go, I wish you all a safe and happy time." As an afterthought, he added, " At the 'birthday party'."

The kids laughed in relief and began to chatter again, Chris managing to call over the din with his voice booming, " Finn, you rock!"

" Thank you for that comment, Mr Hansen." Finn laughed, checking his watch, " Oh, just one more thing before we get back to the second half, don't forget we have cast photos after the finale, so everyone remember not to change out of your last costume, okay?"

A jumble of 'okay's and 'yeah's ensued, and Finn clapped his hands again, " Ten minutes, guys, get yourselves prepared."

Jake turned to Hamilton, who was about to take off his purple shirt before Finn made his announcement, seeing that it was liberally stained with artificial blood. He grimaced and shrugged, " I guess I'm stuck with this."

* * *

Auditorium foyer

A bell rang in the foyer, signifying the end of intermission. The crowds shifted, and started to file back into the auditorium. Will turned in the direction of the prep room, " I guess I should head back."

" We should too." Sean agreed, turning to Bella. She nodded and he grinned at Will, " Good work, man. We'll see you soon, okay?"

" Yeah." Will smiled, watching his friends walk toward the doors of the auditorium, heading back inside.

Just as she was about to enter, Bella turned briefly and her eyes met his. He smiled tentatively, and she smiled back.

* * *

Prep room

" Good luck." Malcolm said quietly to Josh.

The other boy smiled back, and tentatively reached for his hand. " Thanks."

Malcolm lightly grasped his fingers, exchanging a small smile before turning to go, fighting his way back through the excited cluster of people around the costume racks.

The auditorium foyer was already nearly empty when he got there, his footsteps resounding off the smooth marble floor. Quickly he opened the back door and slipped into the control booth, where Anita was already residing. She glanced at him as he entered, " Two minutes."

He nodded, putting his headset back on.

* * *

Auditorium

Bella and Sean took their seats in silence. Around them the chatter of the audience seemed all the more noisy, as they glanced at each other warily.

" You know, I can't stand seeing you and Will like this." Sean started, raking a hand through his thick blond hair. " Why don't you just work things out already?"

" Been there, tried that," she answered flatly.

He sighed, " Yeah, but the production is finished now."

" Finals are coming up." She toyed absently with her hair, " He can't afford to be distracted now. Especially not by me." Turning to Sean suddenly, she asked, " Sean, do you think I'm high maintenance? Like, as in a girlfriend?" Pausing for a moment, she added, " Or, you know, just in general."

He smiled, a little amused, " No, you're one of the most laid-back people I know. Why?"

She shrugged, going back to staring at the curtains onstage, " I dunno. It just feels like�" she corrected herself, " Back before we're on a break, it felt like we were always trying to keep things together, like if we turned our backs on the relationship for one minute, it would just fall apart."

He studied her profile, " That was just cos Will was stressed out. Don't worry about it."

" Yeah, maybe," she murmured as the lights dimmed and the curtains began to part.

* * *

The backdrop had changed from the gothic cathedral to another setting, this time a wild and overgrown path just outside of the city, lined by looming black pillars. This setting was inspired by Stonehenge, but the settings crew had added their own touches to it by painting stone gargoyles perching atop the pillars in various horrific poses.

Unlike the overcast grey background on the cathedral backdrop, the pillars were backed by a seething red sky, dominated by bursts of angry black clouds. The lights overhead were also again cast with red filters, resulting in a scene so sinister that even before the actors� feet had touched the stage, a sense of complete doom was already heavy in everyone's hearts. It didn't help that Amnesia was, with the aid of shrieking synthesisers, playing a melody that stopped and started in bouts, the deliberate interlacing of sharp pauses versus thunderous slabs of guitar and bass drum pulling the audience's nerves as taut as they could go.

And into this hell stumbled Graham, sword still clutched tightly in his hand. Looking over his shoulder in a blind panic, he could hear Josh's voice snarl offstage, " Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"

The 'now' that punctuated the end of the sentence turned into a harsh growl, as Josh charged out of the wings.

It was strange to see his transformation. Gone was the meek boy who sought peace; the small dark figure that pleaded for both sides to cease fighting for the good of everyone. Now he exuded a sort of radiance that stemmed from unrepressed anger and pain, and it shone out of him like a ball of fire ablaze within. Black hair in complete disarray, eyeliner smudged and face ghost-pale, he was bent on vengeance, his rapier tinted a fiery red by the lights. Driven by his best friend's death, he had become something that was both beautiful and horrible to behold.

" Now, Tybalt!" He yelled, pointing his rapier at Graham, who stopped in the centre of the stage, looking as though he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay and fight or just run.

" Take the villain back again, that late thou gavest me!" Josh seethed, his hand shaking uncontrollably and causing the red light to bounce off his sword at haphazard angles. " For Mercutio's soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company!"

Graham took a step back, his gaze straying to the ceiling as though he half-believed what Josh was saying. Josh advanced on him, turquoise eyes also coloured violently red by the lights. His voice cut through the fierce tangle of music to proclaim, half-sobbing, half-screaming, " Either thou, or I, or both, MUST GO WITH HIM!"

" Thou, wretched boy," Graham spat out, his voice trembling, not knowing if it was from anger or mere terror, " that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence!"

" This shall determine that!" Josh yelled, his voice breaking as he and Graham lunged at each other, engaging in the wildest swordfight that the audience had yet seen. In fact, all that they could see was the rapid flashing of silver and red as the two advanced, sidestepped, parried, feinted, riposted, ducked and twisted; the actors gave every ounce of themselves into the fight, engaging each other in a horrifying dance of doom.

Fury consumed all.

* * *

Control booth

Malcolm watched the fight intently, his finger poised over a button on the side of the switchboard. Having seen the choreography a hundred times before, he knew what he was looking for - his cue. As Josh feinted then sidestepped, and Graham stumbled forward, Malcolm tensed. Graham put out his right foot to steady himself, then half-twisted to face Josh, only to be met by the rapidly descending point of the other�s flashing rapier.

Malcolm pressed the button, and the strobe lights again took over the stage.

The power of the UV lights was, first and foremost, that it had the ability to render any real-time action slightly slower through the gaps in visibility, making it the stage version of a slow-motion shot. And that was how the audience saw Tybalt as he fell heavily, thudding against the stage floor. Then, as rapidly as it had started, the lights stopped flickering, and the lone figure of Josh stood illuminated and bleached a sudden white, under the flare of a spotlight.

His expression was a sudden, disbelieving blank. Graham lay at his feet, his chest crimson with blood.

Jake rushed from the side of the stage, lingering on the edge of Josh's spotlight and realising with a jolt, that he did avenge Mercutio's death. " Romeo!" She called, her face slick with tears, " Away, be gone!"

He looked as though he didn't hear her. Or couldn't, maybe.

" The citizens are up," she pleaded, " and Tybalt slain�" Lunging into the spotlight, she shook him violently, her voice breaking, " Stand not amazed!"

He blinked, twice. Then his eyes met hers, and it looked like he was finally beginning to comprehend.

" The prince will doom thee death if thou art taken." She was nearly hysterical as she grasped him by the shoulders, " Hence, be gone, away!"

He shook her loose, and his rapier dropped to the floor with a clatter, next to Graham�s bloody form.

Faintly he could hear haunting strains of melody, that same theme song that he and Juliet shared. Sweet and wistful, it carried memories, hopes, dreams.

And above all, love.

" I am fortune's fool." He murmured, wiping the back of his hand hastily across his eyes, and repeating again, louder this time, a sob escaping with the words, " O, I am fortune's fool!"

" Why dost thou stay?" Jake exclaimed desperately, pushing him away. He looked at her once more, his eyes brimming with tears. She tried to smile at him in farewell, but turned away when her face started to crumple, pressing a trembling hand over her mouth to stop the sobs from escaping.

With a muffled cry Josh turned and fled.

* * *

Prep room

" I should go." Faye murmured, breaking the silence in the room. Everyone was transfixed by the TV monitor, watching the scene that they have all seen many times before, but never - and everyone agreed on that - to this height of emotion.

The viewers stirred, as if woken from a dream. Faye smiled lightly and walked out of the stage door, her soft-heeled boots barely making a sound on the wooden floor.

As she headed down the small hallway that led backstage, she crossed paths with Josh, who was making his way back to the prep room. They did not speak for fear of disturbing players onstage, but they managed to exchange a high five and a big grin.

* * *

" Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio," declared Chris Hansen, reprising his role as Prince of Verona. He looked sternly at Graham's still form on the floor, " Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?"

Gathered on either side of him were Scout, Lena, Gareth and Caroline, back in their respective roles of the lords and ladies of Capulet and Montague house. " Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's friend." Gareth pleaded, " His fault concludes but what the law should end, the life of Tybalt!"

" And for that offence immediately we do exile him hence." Chris answered grimly. Caroline uttered a distressed cry, but Chris silenced her with a look. " I will be deaf to pleading and excuses." He declared, " Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses, therefore use none!"

His deep voice, when raised, had incomparable authority. And it was with that voice that he exclaimed, facing the audience as though they were his witnesses, " Let Romeo hence in haste! Else, when he's found, that hour is his last!"

The lights faded on them, and the curtains drew together. Almost simultaneously a small yellow spotlight was snapped on in front of the curtains, where Faye now stood, walking slowly across the apron.

" Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds," she smiled as she gazed up, " towards Phoebus' lodging. Such a wagoner as Phaethon would whip you to the west, and bring in cloudy night immediately."

Such a brief respite from the pain and suffering that had descended like an impenetrable shroud� Juliet did not know that Tybalt was dead and Romeo banished. An acoustic guitar was being strummed softly in the background, and everything, as far as she could see, was so beautiful.

" Spread thy close curtain, love-performing night, that runaway's eyes may wink and Romeo leap to these arms, untalk'd of and unseen." she giggled to herself, a faint blush staining her cheeks and lending a sparkle to her eyes. " Lovers can see to do their amorous rites by their own beauties; or, if love be blind, it best agrees with night."

She twirled across the apron, her arms grazing the soft velvet of the curtains. The warm spotlight followed her passage, and highlighted her hair with pale gold.

" Come, civil night, thou sober-suited matron, all in black." She whispered blissfully, though not without a hint of girlish bashfulness, " And learn me how to lose a winning match, play'd for a pair of stainless maidenhoods. Hood my unmann'd blood, bating in my cheeks, with thy black mantle; till strange love, grown bold, think true love acted simple modesty."

She sighed impatiently as she walked, twisting the new ring on her left hand, " Come, night! Come, Romeo! Come, thou day in night; for thou wilt lie upon the wings of night, whiter than new snow on a raven's back." Grinning suddenly, she stopped in her path and gazed up once more.

" Come, gentle night." She cooed, " Come, loving, black-brow'd night, give me my Romeo� And, when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars." Glancing down for but a heartbeat, she looked up again as though Romeo was really there in the stars and that she might miss him if she so much as blinked. " And he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with night, and pay no worship to the garish sun."

" O, I have bought the mansion of a love, but not possess'd it." She sighed again, finding that she could not stop herself from smiling, " And, though I am sold, not yet enjoy'd. So tedious is this day!" She moaned as she made her way to the other side of apron, " As is the night before some festival to an impatient child that hath new robes and may not wear them."

Seeing Leah ascend the apron before her, she grinned, hurrying toward the nurse, " Now, nurse, what news?"

Leah looked up, an expression of shock and despair on her face. Faye's smile faltered, as she took one more step forward, then stopped.

* * *

Stage left, wings

Ryder watched with disinterest as the crew changed the set. From beyond the closed curtains he could hear Faye's stunned voice, hovering on the edge of a sob that she would not allow escape. " Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?" Her voice was muffled, as it was transmitted through the drapes.

Ryder checked his watch in the dim light. They were making good time. Looking again at the crew, who were hooking the painted backdrop panel onto the boarded wall behind it, he jumped slightly as he heard a familiar voice whisper, " Hey."

He turned to see Josh, standing behind him with his arms folded, half concealed by the black material of the wings. His eyes glittered in the dark as he tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.

" Hello." Ryder whispered back, and not knowing what else to say, turned back to face the stage. In silence they listened to Faye's laments. " My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain; And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort; wherefore weep I then?"

Watching the crew finish up their job and noiselessly depart, Ryder saw out of the corner of his eye, Josh struggling with a fake bandage that was supposed to go around his left forearm and fastened with Velcro straps. � Um�� he said, � do you want some help with that?�

It was Josh who jumped this time, " What?" He asked, his voice louder than it should have been and he clamped a hand over his mouth, his eyes widening as he craned his neck and tried to hear if he had disturbed Faye onstage. Her soliloquy was still going with no hint of interruption.

Ryder nodded at the bandage, and Josh looked back at him, his eyes wide, � Um, yeah, sure.� As an afterthought he added, � Thanks.�

Ryder moved toward him, and Josh held out is arm tentatively. His shirtsleeve was rolled up to the elbow, and Ryder gingerly wrapped the starchy white material around his forearm.

� I thought you were left-handed.� He said, in an effort to break the tense silence.

� I am left-handed.� Josh answered. � That�s why I have trouble tying this bandage.�

Ryder pressed the Velcro fastening and stepped back, just a little. Being that close to Josh was making him nervous, because it only made him remember too many things - most of it things he�d rather forget. � But you play your guitars the regular way.� He said quickly, hoping that hearing the sound of his own voice would help push the memories out of his head.

Josh�s gaze snapped up, and he caught Ryder�s gaze for a moment before hurriedly looking away. In the darkness his voice could barely be heard over Faye�s, though she was in front of the curtains and he was merely feet away.

� You noticed I was playing a right-handed guitar?� He asked.

Ryder looked down, taking another step back, � Yeah, guess I did.�

Josh didn't answer for a long time. When Ryder finally sneaked a look at him, the other boy's face was a careful blank as he stared down at his bandaged arm. Finally he stirred, and said quietly, " That�s our cue."

Sure enough, the curtains were parting even as he spoke. Ryder glanced at him again, quickly, surprised to see Josh with his familiar half-smile. Tentatively he felt his own face relaxing into the slightest grin, which faded as soon as he stepped out of the wings, raising a beckoning arm, � Romeo, come forth! Come forth, thou fearful man. Affliction is enamoured of thy parts, and thou art wedded to calamity.�

* * *

Prep room

Hamilton and Jake sat slightly away from the others, in a corner of the prep room where they could have a clear view of the TV monitor, but at the same time able to maintain a relatively private conversation.

� So, how�s it going with Dr Perkins?� Hamilton questioned quietly.

Jake took his hand, � Good. Really good.�

He looked down at their joined hands and smiled, � I�m glad.�

� Thank you for moving out.� She continued, glancing at him, � Dr Perkins said it was the best thing that you could�ve done, under the circumstances� and I never really thanked you for it.�

� Don�t.� He blushed, � It wasn�t� I mean, I�d do anything for you to get better, you know that.�

� I know.� She whispered, and on impulse, leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. � I know.�

� Banishment! Be merciful, say death!� Josh�s sudden exclamation onscreen made them look up. The tiny boy was staring at Ryder in horror, wringing his hands together, � For exile hath more terror in his look much more than death!�

Ryder sighed, � Hence from Verona art thou banished.� Seeing Josh distraught beyond belief, he placed an arm around his shoulder and cajoled, � Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.�

Will watched the monitor thoughtfully, then leaned to one side, where Faye was residing comfortably in Scout�s lap. Surprisingly, they weren�t attached at the lips. � Faye,� he whispered, � can I ask you something?�

She glanced at him, � Sure, shoot.�

� What exactly is going on with Josh and Ryder?� He furrowed his brows, � I swear, those two have the weirdest dynamics I�ve ever seen.�

She exchanged a hasty look with Scout. � I don�t think it�s really my place to tell, Will.� She said apologetically, � � they have a very complicated history, just leave it at that, okay?�

He raised an eyebrow, � You realise that just sounds shady.�

She smiled almost ruefully, � It�s not. Not really.�

He shrugged and settled back in his seat, � If you say so.�

* * *

� Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel!� Josh glared at Ryder, choking on his words, � Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love, an hour but married, Tybalt murdered�� he swallowed with difficulty, �� doting like me and like me banished, then mightst thou speak, then mightst thou tear thy hair, and fall upon the ground, as I do now, taking the measure of an unmade grave�� At that he broke down, burying his face in his hands, his frail shoulders shaking with irrepressible sobs.

Ryder closed his eyes briefly, sighing. But before he could say anything, the sound of frantic knocking came over the speakers, and he glanced sharply to the wings at stage right. � Arise, one knocks! Good Romeo, hide thyself!�

* * *

Bella glanced at Sean. He kept alternating from staring at Ryder, looking nonplussed; then looking away abruptly; then back to glaring at the blond onstage, with an expression of utmost concentration. The rapid changes in his facial cast were almost comic, if one kept an eye on him for long enough.

Bella raised an eyebrow in the dark and surmised to herself that she wasn�t going to let this subject slide.

* * *

Prep room

Out of the corner of his eye, Finn watched as Faye slid off Scout's lap and lent him a hand, pulling him to his feet. They exchanged a couple of whispered words before he smiled and left through the stage door, ready for his next scene.

Finn turned around as he heard the side door open quietly, grinning when he saw Ms Braden walk in. " Kathy,� he acknowledged her as she wandered up to the TV monitor, � glad to see you made it in the end."

" Sorry about that." She smiled back, " My car decided to die on me on my way back from Carson."

" Finn was worried you wouldn't make it for the final curtain calls," supplied Will from his seat beside the teachers.

" Still on Act Three, I see." She smiled as she assessed the scene onscreen, Josh, Ryder and Leah conversing urgently with each other. " Plenty of time to spare." Turning to Finn, she nodded, " Thanks for the concern, though."

He smiled but did not answer, turning back to watch the screen.

* * *

" But that a joy past joy calls out on me, it were a grief, so brief to part with thee." Josh said to Ryder, hugging him fiercely.

Ryder tensed under the touch, even though he knew it was just acting. Josh stepped back quickly, a glimmer of unease penetrating his Romeo persona as he tried hard not to avoid Ryder's troubled eyes. " Farewell." He whispered, turning to hurry into the wings.

Ryder and Leah stared after him as the curtains closed on them. Once they were shielded from the audience�s sight, they made their way into the wings in silence, hearing the footsteps of Scout, Lena and Marcus the County Paris ascend the apron on the other side of the curtains. A couple of crew started to lug the balcony-platform back onstage, as the rest frantically changed the cathedral interior backdrop to the one of the Capulet garden.

Josh was waiting in the wings, seeing that he was due to appear again in the following scene. Ryder walked past him without further acknowledgement, but Leah stopped. Josh glanced at her quickly, then looked away again, staring hard at the crew changing the backdrop.

Leah made sure that Ryder was out of earshot before muttering quietly, " Josh, we need to talk."

He plucked absently at his bandage and looked down at his feet, " Yeah, I know."

" Look, what happened�" she started to say, but he glanced at her imploringly and whispered, " Leah, this is not the time or the place, okay?"

She fell silent, and nodded. He stole another look at her and sighed heavily, " Later, I promise."

She looked as though she was going to say something, but was interrupted by Faye, who made her way into the wings. " Hey," she said softly.

Leah swallowed whatever it was that she wanted to say, smiling at her roommate and looking away.

Faye glanced at her, and raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Josh as if to ask, 'what's going on?'

He bit his lip and shook his head wordlessly.

* * *

Control booth

" Curtains." Anita commanded into her headset, watching Scout, Lena and Marcus leave the stage after their short scene.

Malcolm frowned in concentration as the curtains parted, his hands sliding a couple of switches up simultaneously. Onto the platform spilled the familiar yellow light, and the other side of the stage was now lit with a dull rosy glow, signifying dawn.

Josh emerged from the wings, walking out onto the platform and shrugging on his coat. Behind him trailed Faye, tying the sash on her robe as she spoke softly, " Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day."

He turned and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead. She closed her eyes and murmured hopefully, " It was the nightingale, and not the lark, that pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear. Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree. Believe me, love, it was the nightingale."

He sighed, " It was the lark, the herald of the morn, no nightingale." Gently brushing her hair out of her eyes, he pointed to the edge of the stage, " Look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east. Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops."

She also sighed, pressing her lips to the smooth skin of his cheek.

Losing himself in the moment, he closed his eyes briefly, then forced them open again, " I must be gone and live, or stay and die."

" Yon light is not daylight." She tangled her fingers in his hair, " It is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be to thee this night a torch-bearer, and light thee on thy way to Mantua." Turning his face to hers, she pleaded, " Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone."

He sighed again, and kissed her deeply. When he pulled away, he looked dazed, " Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death; I am content, so thou wilt have it so."

She moaned, burying her face in the hollow of his neck. He tightened his grip around her waist and said softly, " I have more care to stay than will to go." Blinking, he stared into the distance, raising his voice, " Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so!"

Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up and murmured, his forehead resting against hers, " How is't, my soul? Let's talk; it is not day."

She tried to smile, but found that she could not. " It is, it is." She said sadly, turning away, " Hie hence, be gone, away."

He caught her by the waist and gathered her back to him, kissing the tip of her ear. She leaned back into his embrace, closing her hands over his and said reluctantly, " O, now be gone; more light and light it grows."

" More light and light," he replied ruefully, " more dark and dark our woes."

Hasty footsteps interrupted this sorrowful moment, as Leah poked her head out of the wings and hissed, " Madam!"

Faye half-turned, " Nurse?"

" Your lady mother is coming to your chamber!" Leah exclaimed, " The day is broke; be wary, look about!" With that she disappeared again into the wings.

Faye swallowed, disentangling herself from Josh's grasp and dragging him over to the edge of the platform, " Then, window, let day in, and�� her voice dropped to a whisper as she stared at Josh, her lower lip trembling, � let life out."

" Farewell." He embraced her once more, trying hard not to cry, " Farewell! One kiss, and I'll descend."

Soundlessly she pressed her lips to his, a tear trailing down her cheek as she clung to him, desperation rendering the kiss heartbreaking and passionate. Offstage, Amnesia again struck up their theme tune, Josh's voice whispering from the speakers along with the liquid melody.

With tremendous effort they finally broke apart from the kiss, and he stepped off the platform, clinging onto her hand.

" Art thou gone so?" She whispered, leaning over the edge of the platform, " Love, lord, ay, husband, friend! Think'st thou we shall ever meet again?"

" I doubt it not." He told her earnestly, gripping her fingers tightly, " And all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our time to come."

" O God, I have an ill-divining soul!" She sobbed, " Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb." Reaching out, she touched his face with a shaking hand. " Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale."

He caught her hand again, and brushed his lips against it, his eyes burning fervently. " And trust me, love, in my eye so do you." He sighed, looking down for one moment, gaze flickering up to her face again, " Dry sorrow drinks our blood."

She held back a whimper.

Stepping back, one step, two steps, he let her hand fall, " Adieu."

She stared at him, her eyes shining with tears. On impulse he hurried forward again, caught her hand and pressed it to his heart, choking on his words, " Adieu!"

Then he turned - and forcing himself not to look back - ran into the wings, dragging the back of his hand across his eyes.

She collapsed on the edge of the platform, letting a choked-up sob escape on her words, " O fortune, fortune! Be fickle, fortune! For then, I hope, thou wilt not keep him long, but send him back�."

" Ho, daughter! Are you up?" Lena's cheery voice suddenly issued from the wings, and Faye looked back with a start, hurriedly drying her eyes and climbing back to her feet.

* * *

Prep room

Jake ignored the TV monitor, where Lady Capulet had just told a stunned Juliet that she was to be married to Paris next Thursday; and instead asked Hamilton quietly, " How's living at home?"

He turned his attention away from the screen and blinked, " All right, I guess." After a moment he confessed, " It's kinda hard, getting used to be around the parentals again."

" How are things with you and your mom?" She asked tentatively.

He shrugged, his expression clouding over, " We're being civil, if that's what you mean."

She sighed, " It's been a long time, Hamilton. Don't you think it's time�"

" No." He answered flatly, turning his gaze to Finn for a moment before glancing back at her, " I'm talking to her now, okay? I can't do much more than that, I�" he trailed off, and sighed.

She nodded quietly, knowing when not to push the issue - now, for example.

" Anyway," he said, " I'm thinking of moving back in the dorms for summer session. Not with you," he hastened to add when she looked up, " Just� into the boys' dorms somewhere." He grinned, " If I pull some strings with my dad, I think I can land a single room."

" Cool." She grinned, turning back to the screen, where Scout had just roared, " I'll not be forsworn!" and stormed off into the wings, leaving Lena, Leah and Faye on the platform. A moment later, he emerged in the prep room from the stage door.

Josh and Will smiled at him as he took a seat next to them, still shaking slightly. Josh leaned over and grinned, " You're very cute when you get all upset over hurting Faye onstage."

Scout glanced at him, groaning, " Is there anything she doesn't tell you about us?"

" Nope." Josh winked, settling back into his seat.

" Great." Scout muttered sarcastically, hoping that he wasn't blushing.

* * *

" Well, thou hast comforted me marvellous much." Faye said to Leah, her blank voice suggesting otherwise. " Go in: and tell my lady I am gone, having displeased my father, to Laurence's cell, to make confession and to be absolved."

" Marry, I will." Leah sighed in relief as she walked into the wings, " And this is wisely done."

Faye stared down at her hands.

In mere moments, her life had been turned upside down, made tumultuous, desperate, maybe even hopeless. No sooner than her secret husband departed when her mother had told her that she would be married to the County Paris next Thursday. In her refusal to do so, her father had threatened her with the most abominable damnations; her mother had turned her back upon her desperate pleas. And the Nurse� to whom she entrusted all her secrets, her one confidante and saviour, had dashed her hopes beyond imagining.

" I'll give you to my friend; and you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets!" Scout had yelled, upon her tearful refusal.

" Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word; Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee." Lena had said, shaking away her frantic grasp.

" I think you are happy in this second match, for it excels your first." Leah had murmured, urging her to abandon this forbidden love.

" Ancient damnation!" She exploded suddenly, her gaze jerking up as she clenched her fists, her nails biting into the tender flesh of her palm, " O, most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue which she hath praised him with above compare so many thousand times?" Impatiently blinking back tears, she scrambled to her feet, running quickly into the wings and almost immediately back again, clutching a dagger in her hand and a cloak thrown over her arm.

" Go, counsellor," she gritted her teeth as she returned the shining blade to its sheath, " Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain."

Slipping quickly into the cloak, she raised her voice resolutely, " I'll to the friar, to know his remedy." Staring down at the dagger again, she suddenly smiled.

It was a chilling smile, the cold sneer of a desperate woman.

" If all else fail," her voice was clipped and determined, " myself have power to die."

As she walked back into the wings, the curtains closed and the lights faded, ending Act Three.

Act Four

Prep room

" It's strange�" Jake muttered, watching the screen, Ryder and the actor who played Paris walking across the apron.

" What's strange?" Hamilton asked, peering at the screen and finding no fault that he could discern.

She was quiet for a moment, " �Ryder."

He raised an eyebrow, " Ryder?"

" He hasn't said anything about this whole playing-our-characters-gay business since�" she explained, then paused as she thought back, " God, it must have been even before dress rehearsals started. That was weeks ago. Nothing! No wisecracks, no insults� it's creepy."

" Well," Hamilton grinned, " You know what they say about gift horses."

She smiled uncertainly, " But it's just not like him, you know?"

He shrugged, " Maybe Finn told him to tone it down, I don't know. After all, the whole of REACH is behind this." He chuckled, " It's like, a whole firing squad of gay guys. Maybe he got scared away."

* * *

" Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous that she doth give her sorrow so much sway," Marcus said as he and Ryder sauntered across the apron, " and in his wisdom hastes our marriage, to stop the inundation of her tears."

Ryder nodded wisely, but his expression betrayed how unsettled he really felt. Sudden footsteps made them both look up in time to see Faye ascending the apron, her cloak gathered closely around her frail form. " Look, sir." Ryder said, his gloomy tone overlooked by the other boy, " Here comes the lady towards my cell."

Marcus grinned, " Happily met, my lady and my wife!"

Faye barely glanced at him, " That may be, sir, when I may be a wife."

" That may be must be, love," he smiled happily and moved forth, " on Thursday next."

She backed away, just a little. " What must be, shall be."

Ryder thought it a good time to intervene, and he stepped in between the two, " That's a certain text."

" Come you to make confession to this father?" Marcus asked politely.

" To answer that, I should confess to you." She said coldly, brushing past him.

He raised an eyebrow, " Do not deny to him that you love me."

She looked all set to shoot back some sharp remark, but Ryder caught her arm discreetly and she bit her tongue, only to say, " I will confess to you that I love him."

" So will ye, I am sure, that you love me." Marcus replied.

Faye ignored him, and asked Ryder, " Are you at leisure, holy father, now?" Glancing back at Marcus, she continued, " Or shall I come to you at evening mass?"

Ryder nodded, " My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now." Turning to Marcus, he said pointedly, " My lord, we must entreat the time alone."

" God shield I should disturb devotion!" Marcus exclaimed. Nodding courteously at Ryder, he turned back to Faye, " Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye. Till then, adieu�" he leaned in, and she had to refrain from leaping back as his lips brushed her cheek. He drew back, and smiled, " �and keep this holy kiss."

She was expressionless and motionless as he strolled away, and it was only after that he had descended the apron that she sprang to life. " O shut the door!" She demanded Ryder. As the words fell from her lips, the curtains behind her began to part, again revealing the interior of the cathedral. She walked backwards, Ryder following as though they had retreated back to a private room. Burying her face in her hands, she moaned, " Come weep with me; past hope, past cure, past help!"

" Ah, Juliet, I already know thy grief." Ryder sighed, pacing the stage in agitation. " It strains me past the compass of my wits! I hear thou must, and nothing may prorogue it, on Thursday next be married to this county."

" Tell me not, friar, that thou hear'st of this, unless thou tell me how I may prevent it!" She exclaimed, undoing her cloak and flinging it down at her feet. " If, in thy wisdom, thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise�" her hands shaking, she drew her dagger from the sheath that hung at her waist, and in a silver flash laid it across her bare throat, " And with this knife I'll help it presently!"

" Hold, daughter!" He shouted and reached out, eyes wide with shock.

She stepped back, just out of his reach. " Give me some present counsel, or, behold, 'twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife shall play the umpire," she said through gritted teeth, tears swimming in her eyes. The dagger was shaking so violently in her hand that it looked likely that she might slit her own throat by accident. " �arbitrating that, which the commission of thy years and art, could to no issue of true honour bring!"

He stared at her, his face pale and strained.

She stared back for as long as she could stand, and suddenly screamed at him, what's left of her composure shattered, " Be not SO LONG to speak!"

He took a frightened step back, and she raised her face to the ceiling, tears pouring down her face. " I long to die," she sobbed, " if what thou speak'st speak not of remedy."

" I�" he stammered, " I� do spy a kind of hope�"

She abruptly turned her gaze back upon him, violet eyes wild and questioning.

He swallowed, then continued, " �Which craves as desperate an execution as that is desperate which we would prevent." Taking a hesitant step toward her, he reached out. She flinched, but did not move.

" If, rather than to marry County Paris," he said quietly, " thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, then is it likely thou wilt undertake a thing like death to chide away this shame�"

His hand closed over her fingers, and she let him pry the dagger from her grasp, trembling as it was urged away from her hold.

Once the dagger was in his hands, he quickly moved a safe distance away and threw it on the ground. " And, if thou darest," he continued, " I'll give thee remedy."

* * *

Prep room

Jake and Hamilton slid into seats on either side of Josh, who watched the scene onscreen with avid interest. They, however, obviously had something else than Ryder administering poison to Faye holding their attention.

Josh tore his gaze away from the screen as he registered that two pairs of eyes were scrutinising him closely. " What?" He demanded, glancing first at Hamilton, then Jake, suspicious of the identical devious grins they wore.

" So�" Hamilton began.

"� what's going on�" Jake continued with a slight smirk.

"� with you�" Hamilton carried on without skipping a beat.

"� and Malcolm?" Jake finished for him, raising her eyebrows.

Josh looked back at them with laughter dancing in his eyes, " God, you guys really are a very, very old couple, aren't you?" He teased, " You've moved past finishing each other's sentences; you're finishing each other's words."

Hamilton glanced at Jake and blushed. She wasn't so easily diverted as she pointed a finger at Josh in mock threat, " Don't change the subject, Sutherland."

" Fine, fine." He chuckled. " Me and Malcolm? Right now? Nothing."

Hamilton raised an eyebrow, " Nothing? That's not what we heard."

" What did you hear?" Josh asked with a smile.

" That a certain someone 'deserted' his date at the prom to go dancing all night with a certain someone else." Jake fought the urge to wriggle her eyebrows.

Josh blushed, " It wasn't all night."

" Ah-ha." Jake grinned, sidling closer, " Tell us everything."

Josh groaned, " Jesse and Lance are very, very bad influences on you two. Since when were you this interested in other people's private lives?"

Hamilton shrugged, settling himself down comfortably, " Like you said�"

" Jesse and Lance are bad influences." Jake again finished for him, smirking.

" Keep it down, guys." Finn warned them from his seat, turning back to the TV screen.

Ryder now held up a small glass vial, in which a colourless liquid resided. " No warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest;" he explained, " The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade to paly ashes, thy eyes' windows fall, like death, when he shuts up the day of life."

Faye followed the vial with her eyes, huge and glazed with fright and longing.

" Each part, deprived of supple government," Ryder continued, " shall - stiff and stark and cold - appear like death." Enclosing the vial firmly in his hand, he looked at her, " And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death thou shalt continue two and forty hours, and then awake as from a pleasant sleep."

Will turned from the monitor to glance briefly at Jake, Josh and Hamilton, huddled over to the side. He nudged Scout, who sat by his side, " What do you think they're talking about?"

" I don't know," Scout replied, narrowing his eyes, " but Leah looks like she's eavesdropping."

" And looking not very pleased about whatever she's hearing." Will frowned as he craned his neck to catch a glimpse of the redhead. Shrugging, he turned back to Scout, " Hey�"

The other boy looked at him, " Yeah?"

" I'm your friend, right?" Will asked.

" Of course!" Scout answered, confused.

" You might even count me as your�" Will paused, peering at Scout, " Your best friend?"

" Definitely." Scout replied, looking at him weirdly. " What's this about, Will?"

" Then why do I get the feeling that you're not telling me about certain things?" Will asked, " I keep getting this weird vibe from Josh! Like�he knows something about you that I don't."

Scout opened his mouth, and blushed. Darting a quick look over at Josh, he stammered, " Uh�"

" Oh! Oh my god!" Will suddenly exclaimed quietly, his eyes wide as though he had just realised something.

" What?" Scout demanded in a hushed voice, blushing even more.

" You�" Will jabbed a finger at him excitedly, " � and Josh!"

Scout's jaw dropped, " What?"

" Well, it makes sense!" Will said quickly, " That's why people have been so secretive around me lately, and you keep blushing whenever he�"

" Will!" Scout interrupted, his eyes wide, " You have officially gone insane!"

Will paused, his finger still hovering in mid-air. Scout rolled his eyes, " That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Honestly! Me� and Josh?"

Will blinked, lowering his hand.

" What about me and Faye?" Scout stressed.

Will grinned sheepishly, " Sorry� my imagination� you know how it is. You and Faye. Of course."

Scout raised an eyebrow and stared at him, pointedly. Will stared back, furrowing his brows.

Scout sighed in exasperation, and glared at Will with a 'you're an idiot' expression.

Will stared back some more, then finally realised what Scout was 'saying'. " Oh!" He said in surprise, then again, louder, " Oh."

Scout shook his head and sighed, " Took you long enough." Turning back to the TV screen, he stood up as he saw Faye snatching the vial from Ryder, " Give me, give me!" She cried, " O, tell not me of fear!"

" I better go." Scout announced to Will, whose expression of shock was rapidly replaced by a suggestive smirk. He shook his head at his friend, and moved toward the stage door, " My scene's coming up."

* * *

Control booth

Anita yawned into her headset, " Draw the curtains."

Malcolm watched her and couldn't help a sarcastic remark, " You really look you're having fun here."

" With you?" She replied, watching Scout, Lena and a couple of servants walk onto the apron, " How could I not."

He sighed and half-heartedly watched Scout talk. " Act Four is kinda boring." He admitted.

She glanced at him, " You're only saying that because Josh doesn't appear for the entire Act."

" Why did I even bother saying anything?" He groaned and leaned back into his chair, staring up at the ceiling.

* * *

" How now, my headstrong!" Scout waved off his servants as Faye and Leah approached from the other side of the stage. " Where have you been gadding?"

" Where I have learn'd me to repent the sin of disobedient opposition to you and your behests." Faye replied humbly, staring down at the floor, " And am enjoin'd by holy Laurence to fall prostrate here, and beg your pardon."

Scout smiled, glancing at Lena. She nodded with motherly approval, appraising Faye's demure form.

" Pardon, I beseech you." Faye murmured, not meeting his eyes, " Henceforward I am ever ruled by you."

* * *

Prep room

" Like hell she is." Josh drawled at that line, and Hamilton couldn't keep himself from laughing. Jake tried to glare at them, but found herself breaking into chuckles.

" Would work if the line had been reversed. That boy is so whipped." Will agreed as he plopped down on a seat next to them, and Josh grinned in reply. " Agreed."

" You know Josh�you really proved me wrong." Will told him.

Josh glanced at him and sat up a little straighter, " What do you mean?"

" At first, I wasn't sure if you were going to pull all this off." Will confessed, " What you were describing, the whole guitars-with-a-string-quartet; synth-with-woodwind deal? I had a lot of reservations. But it turned out to be�" he shrugged, " wonderful. The music is riveting. I'm really glad you went ahead with your vision, Josh."

Josh blushed, ducking his head, " Thank you."

" Sorry, couldn't help overhearing." Finn suddenly said, scooting over into the little circle. " Like I said to Faye earlier, you guys have done an absolutely phenomenal job.�

The group murmured their thanks, glancing at each other with a mixture of light embarrassment and pride.

� I think I can honestly say that this is the best Shakespearean play I've helped direct,� Finn continued sincerely, � in all my years at Rawley." He grinned at them, " What can I say? It's an honour working with such talented people. All of you."

* * *

Control booth

Anita and Malcolm watched the stage in silence. Faye had now retired to her chamber, and was talking to Lena and Leah with false cheer. A soft yellow glow issued from the main lights, under which she looked extremely pale and tired. Nodding quietly at Lena's words, she sat down on the lightweight bed that the crew had brought onstage for this scene, tucking her legs up beneath her.

" Good night." Lena said softly, passing a hand over Faye's forehead, " Get thee to bed, and rest; for thou hast need." Leah nodded in agreement, and the two left through the wings. Faye watched as the two redheads walked offstage, musing idly to herself that it probably would've made more sense to cast those two as mother and daughter.

Malcolm slowly twisted a knob on the switchboard, and the yellow light gradually changed to a dim blue, bathing Faye in an eerie glow.

" Farewell!" She murmured, shivering slightly, " God knows when we shall meet again."

She paused for a moment, and shuddered again, " I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins, that almost freezes up the heat of life." Sliding to the side of the bed, she put her feet down on the floor, " I'll call them back again to comfort me. Nurse!"

The call came out no louder than a whisper, and she reprimanded herself immediately, " What should she do here? My dismal scene I needs must act alone."

Standing up, she rummaged under the pillow and extracted the vial that Ryder had given her. Holding it up to the faint light, she whispered to herself, " What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then tomorrow morning?"

� No.� She set her jaw at the prospect, " No." Unsheathing her dagger that she still carried at her side, she looked upon the sharp blade with determination, " This shall forbid it." She tucked it carefully under her pillow, " Lie thou there."

Staring at the vial again, her eyes widened with a sudden horrible thought, " What if it be a poison, which the friar subtly hath minister'd to have me dead, lest in this marriage he should be dishonour'd, because he married me before to Romeo? I fear it is!" She murmured. The vial fell from her hand, landing soundlessly in the folds of her bedspread. She gazed at the small glass tube, white-faced, for a few moments, before reaching out and picking it up again. " And yet methinks it should not, for he hath still been tried a holy man."

Clasping the vial in one hand, she bowed her head and made the sign of the cross; wondering if that was going to offer her comfort, any comfort at all.

She looked up again, glancing dubiously around the darkness. " How if, when I am laid into the tomb,

I wake before the time that Romeo come to redeem me?" She shuddered, " There's a fearful point! Shall I not, then, be stifled in the vault, to whose foul mouth no healthsome air breathes in, and there die strangled ere my Romeo comes?" Taking a frightened step back, she looked around her surroundings, suddenly imagining that she had already woken inside the vault, where no living soul resided.

" Or, if I live, is it not very like, the horrible conceit of death and night, together with the terror of the place�" her voice rose in pitch, frenetic desperation giving rise to fear." As in a vault, an ancient receptacle, where for these many hundred years, the bones of all my buried ancestors are packed!"

Clutching the vial close to her heart, she stumbled away from the bed and toward the edge of the stage, looking fearfully into the darkness, " Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth, lies festering in his shroud�" She clasped a hand over her mouth, in horror or in disgust - most likely both. "� Where, as they say," she murmured, " At some hours in the night, spirits resort!"

She hugged herself, trying to calm her own trembling. " Alack, alack," she whimpered, " is it not like that I, so early waking, what with�" she couldn't help shaking her head in terror, her quavering voice reaching a strangled exclamation, "� loathsome smells, and shrieks like mandrakes' torn out of the earth - that living mortals, hearing them, run mad� O, if I wake, shall I not be distraught, environed with all these hideous fears?" Staring down at her hands, she shook in the cold dark light as she counted the possibilities, " And madly play with my forefather's joints?" She paced the stage frantically, horrified tears brimming in her eyes, " And pluck the mangled Tybalt from his shroud?" Her gaze was unfocused and her demeanour feverish as she exclaimed manically, " And, in this rage, with some great kinsman's bone, as with a club, dash out my desperate brains?"

" O, look!" She suddenly screamed pitifully, pointing at the edge of the stage, the darkness stretching away from her in boundless forms, " Methinks I see my cousin's ghost seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body upon a rapier's point! Stay, Tybalt!" She cried, stumbling back to the bed in her hallucinogenic, waking nightmare, " Stay!" Fumbling with the stopper on the vial, she sobbed hysterically as she raised the glass tube to the light once more. " Romeo, I come!"

The blue light, filtered through the vial, fell upon her face in refracted wisps of pale azure. She blinked back panic-stricken tears, and whispered, mustering all her bravery that came hand in hand with love, " This, do I drink to thee!" Quickly, as though she feared rational thought itself, she tossed back the potion in one single gulp. Almost immediately the potion worked its medicinal magic, and she fell back unconscious upon her bed.

* * *

Prep room

" Wonderful." Ms Braden could not help applauding softly, standing in front of the TV monitor, " Absolutely wonderful."

" She has a gift for acting." Finn agreed, watching the curtains close upon Faye's motionless form and the Capulets ascend the apron again.

Ms Braden smiled at him, " It's a shame that she won't be here for the next play."

He nodded, " Yeah, it is. And neither will Josh."

" Still," she brightened, " don't forget we have some very promising young actors in the sophomore year. Hamilton. Jake. Those two will go far."

He nodded, smiling to himself as he thought about just how much acting talent Jake had, in order to have pulled off her fa�ade as a boy� and she was showing no sign of stopping. Every day he wondered uneasily when - and how - this screwed-up situation would come to an end, and how angry the School Board would be once they found out� With a start he realised that Ms Braden was still talking.

"� for a little celebration." She was saying, turning to look at him, " What do you say?"

" Sorry," he confessed with an embarrassed smile, " I kind of got lost somewhere back there."

She grinned, taking no offence, " I was saying, maybe you'd want to go have some drinks after this? There's this great little bar in town. I know the kids have their�" she made quote marks with her fingers, quirking her eyebrows, " 'birthday party' to go to, and I thought it'd be nice for us to celebrate a little ourselves. As much as I love the experience, I am glad this is nearly over for another two years."

" Yeah, me too." He nodded, " And the celebration sounds good. We certainly deserve it."

* * *

" Let me see her!" Scout exclaimed when Leah ran to him, crying frantically that her lady was dead.

The curtains parted behind them as he spoke, revealing again Juliet's chamber, the bed on which Faye lay, cold and still. He hurried to her bedside, grabbing a limp and lifeless arm, " Alas! She's cold!"

Lena gave a muffled scream, and buried her face in Leah's shoulder.

" Her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff." Scout murmured, his voice toneless with shock, " Life and these lips have long been separated." He leaned forward, and ran a disbelieving hand across Faye's cheek, " Death lies on her like an untimely frost, upon the�" he suddenly stepped back and turned away, his voice breaking, "� sweetest flower of all the field�"

" O, lamentable day!" Leah sobbed, wringing her hands.

Lena lurched to Scout's side, and clung to his arm with all her might, " O, woeful time!"

He looked at her, without really seeing. " Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail," he murmured, " ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak."

A faint strain of joyous music was heard from the orchestra pit, as Ryder and Marcus walked onto the stage, dressed formally - as for a wedding. " Come, is the bride ready to go to church?" Ryder called, knowing full well what the answer was going to be.

" Ready to go, but never to return." Scout answered numbly.

The stage committee had taken out all dialogue after this point, for they did not think it necessary to vocalise the aftermath of Juliet's 'death'. Motion and music alone would be enough.

The music swelled, and effortlessly metamorphosed into a single violin melody, as Ryder and Paris joined the others around Faye's bed. All else fell silent. In the soundlessness of the moment, Lena and Leah held each other and wept, while Scout and Paris laid heavy consoling hands on each other's shoulder, their heads bowed.

Ryder stood apart from them, placing himself at the head of Faye's bed. He stared down at her supine figure and without explanation, a cold chill ran through him, as though he saw something that he was not yet supposed to see.

The violin sang out with high-pitched vibrato as the curtains drew together, thus ending Act Four.

Act Five

" If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep," Josh said, ascending the apron with a quick, light step, " my dreams presage some joyful news at hand."

Dressed in a thin black sweater and black jeans, eyeliner reapplied and messy hair tidied up somewhat, he looked neat - or at least stylishly grungy and not bedraggled as he were in previous acts, following the numerous fight scenes. Walking across the apron as though he was strolling down a street in the distant town of Mantua, he continued his soliloquy with a rare smile, " My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne, and all this day an unaccustom'd spirit lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts."

" I dreamt my lady came and found me dead�" he trailed off, cocking his head to one side, " Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think!" Shrugging, he grinned to himself as he continued his recount, "� and breathed such life with kisses in my lips, that I revived, and was an emperor."

" Ah me!" He sighed - if not contentedly, then at least without misery, " How sweet is love itself possessed, when but love's shadows are so rich in joy!" Footsteps came from stage left, and he turned to see his long-time servant Balthasar ascend the apron. " News from Verona!" He exclaimed happily. Breaking into a grin, he took quick steps towards the other boy, " How now, Balthasar!"

The servant looked up, looking agitated and a little frightened. Josh, in his cheer at seeing a familiar face, did not notice as he grabbed the other boy by the arm, " Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar? How doth my lady?"

Balthasar gave an involuntary shudder, but Josh continued in his excitement, questions falling from his lips as rapidly as he could think of them, " Is my father well? How fares my Juliet?" He suddenly blushed with a smile, realising that he'd already asked that question, " That I ask again, for nothing can be ill, if she be well."

Balthasar stared at him, and tried to speak, licking his dry lips. " �Then she is well, and nothing can be ill."

Josh raised an eyebrow and Balthasar hurriedly lowered his head, voice issuing forth on a mumble, " Her body� sleeps in Capel's monument, and her immortal part� with angels lives."

Josh stared at him, eyes wide and uncomprehending.

From the orchestra pit, Emily tapped her forefinger gently on the bass E string, and the low notes rumbled. Beat-beat, beat-beat it sounded, steady as the throbbing of an unbroken heart.

" I saw her laid low�" Balthasar continued, avoiding Josh's eyes, "� in her kindred's vault, and presently took post to tell it you."

Josh stepped back from him. Expressionlessly he stared, then blinked and lowered his eyes, the slightest tinge of disbelief settling into the tip of his brow. The bass note changed to G, but still beat-beat, beat-beat it continued.

" O, pardon me for bringing these ill news." Balthasar murmured, reaching out, " Since� you did leave it for my office, sir."

Josh took another step back, vacantly brushing away the other boy's outreached hands.

" Is it even so?" His voice was an empty monotone.

Balthasar bit his lower lip, and nodded.

" Then�" Josh trailed off, half-turned and looked out into the audience, gazing at the darkness as though he could pierce it with his stare, and find something there.

Something, anything, that would help him elude the dawning of inevitable truth.

It was a desolate moment, made pale and beautiful by the way his mind hovered somewhere between utter disbelief and unspeakable pain.

He clenched his left fist, then released it. His vacant gaze flickered to the ceiling, then darted back into the darkness beyond the stage.

Beat-beat, beat-beat the bass hummed, now in the note of B. The sequence seemed oddly familiar to the audience, though they could not yet place thought as to why.

Onstage, Josh let his eyes flutter closed, agony seeping onto his ashen features. Bella fought the urge to turn away; it was almost impossible to watch him like that, pain beginning to blaze around him like an impermeable veil.

" I defy you, stars!" He whispered, and from beneath his lowered eyelids, a single tear fell. It trailed down his left cheek, a crystalline shimmer against the whiteness of his skin.

And for the third time, Amnesia began to play the theme song, slower and more woeful than ever before. The audience now realised why the bass sequence sounded so familiar - it was because the notes were plucked from the opening riff of the song itself. Dark and beautiful, it sang of the hopeless, perceived finality of death; and of the bitter irony yet to come.

The moment balanced, motionless, on the edge of self-destruction; allowing room for heartbreak - and the feeling of absolute claustrophobia in an endless void.

Josh opened his eyes again, and in them a new will shone, so desperate and final that it appeared like wildfire. He turned to Balthasar and demanded, " Thou know'st my lodging: get me ink and paper, and hire post-horses; I will hence tonight!"

" I do beseech you, sir, have patience!" Balthasar cried, frightened, " Your looks are pale and wild, and do import some misadventure!"

" Tush, thou art deceived!" Josh suddenly burst out shouting, a violent bout of shudders racking his delicate frame, " Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do!" Choking on his words, he clung at Balthasar's arm and demanded hysterically, " Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?"

Balthasar stared at him. Josh stared back, the last of his hopes dimming and fading as quickly as the intrusion of tears, and he impatiently blinked them away. But they kept coming� and coming� overwrought feelings demanded release, and tears could not be stopped.

Balthasar shook his head, his voice strangled with emotion, " No, my good lord."

Soundlessly Josh let his hands fall from their grip, and whispered, " No matter. Get thee gone, and hire those horses. I'll be with thee straight."

Balthasar threw another frightened look at him, and Josh waved him on, his gesture strangely listless. The servant paused for only a moment, then ran offstage as fast as he could go, unable to bear the weight of the anguish which filled the stage, dense and suffocating.

" Well, Juliet�" Josh murmured, brushing away another tear; and to the audience's intense discomfort, the ghost of a smile emerged on the corner of his lip.

It was the exact echo of the expression that Faye wore earlier: cold, bitter, devoid of hope.

"� I will lie with thee tonight." He murmured, " I will hence tonight."

* * *

Prep room

Faye turned away from the monitor and moaned, " I can't bear to watch."

" And yet you did." Jake pointed out with a grin.

" It's a sin not to watch that scene." Faye answered, walking away from the monitor, where Josh was now seeking out an apothecary and purchasing poison. Jake followed her and said quietly, " Faye, can I talk to you?"

The blonde nodded, " What's up?"

" I was hoping you could tell me." Jake answered, and lowered her voice, " What's going on with Ryder?"

Faye blinked, " What do you mean?"

" I mean, he doesn't seem much like himself lately." Jake frowned, " Don't get me wrong�it's good that he's not constantly teasing me and Hamilton about this whole gay thing�"

Faye cracked a smile, " I'd love to see the expression on his face when he finds out you're actually�"

" Shh." Jake flapped her hand, making a 'keep it down' motion and glancing around furtively.

Faye grinned, " Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone. Especially not Ryder."

" Thanks." Jake nodded, "You haven't noticed anything weird with him lately?"

Faye frowned, " He's a lot more withdrawn, I can give you that."

" Exactly." Jake bit the inside of her lip, " I just don't understand why." She sighed, " I don't trust him, Faye. What if he's planning something big against Hamilton and me, and is just trying to throw us off his trail? I wouldn't put it past him."

Faye tugged on her hair thoughtfully, " I'll keep an eye out for you, okay?"

" Thanks." Jake smiled with relief, " I'm so glad you're with us on this one, Faye."

" No problem." The blonde replied absently as Jake sauntered back to the TV and sat down next to Hamilton, who was picking flakes of dried stage blood off his shirt. Jake made a grossed-out expression at that, as did Faye. Turning away from those two, she narrowed her eyes at Ryder, who was at that moment walking through the stage door, getting ready for his upcoming scene.

Her gaze strayed, and flickered towards Josh onscreen, who now held up a glass vial not unlike the one she had used - in fact, it was the same prop - only his 'poison' was a sinister greenish colour.

" Come, cordial and not poison, go with me." He muttered, flinging his hair out of his eyes, " To Juliet's grave, for there must I use thee."

* * *

The actor who played Friar John hurried onto the apron, calling, " Holy Franciscan friar! Brother, ho!"

" This same should be the voice of Friar John!" Ryder replied, dashing out from between the curtains, " Welcome from Mantua! What says Romeo?" He held out a hand impatiently, " Or, if his mind be writ, give me his letter."

Friar John shook his head, " Going to find a bare-foot brother out one of our order to associate me, here in this city visiting the sick, and finding him, the searchers of the town, suspecting that we both were in a house where the infectious pestilence did reign, sealed up the doors, and would not let us forth. So that my speed to Mantua there was stayed!"

Ryder blinked, as did Sean in the audience. " What?" He muttered to Bella.

" He was quarantined." She whispered back, " Plague. He didn't get to Romeo with the letter."

Onstage, Ryder gripped Friar John by the arm and demanded desperately, " Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?"

" I could not send it, nor get a messenger to bring it thee." Friar John said, producing a wrinkled piece of paper from his robes, " Here it is again."

" Unhappy fortune!" Ryder exclaimed, snatching the letter from his hands, " By my brotherhood, the letter was not nice but full of charge of dear import, and the neglecting it may do much danger!"

* * *

Control booth

" You guys ready? Hurry!" Malcolm demanded into his headset, having not heard an all-clear from backstage for the scene change. Out there on the apron, Ryder was already launching into his last lines of the scene.

" We're having� trouble�" came the panted reply, " � with the stupid funeral bed thing�"

Malcolm grimaced as he heard a sharp scraping noise that could only mean that the fake marble slab - on which Faye's 'dead body' would reside - was being pushed into place with effort. " A second later he heard a grunt, " We're ready."

" Curtains." He demanded, and not a second too soon, as Ryder finished his lines and ran hurriedly off the apron.

* * *

Bella stifled a gasp as the curtains parted again. This was a backdrop that they had not yet seen� it was a family crypt. Not just a church chamber or even a morgue of sorts, but a dank and unlit sepulchre. The painted backdrop showed row upon row of bodies lined upon stone shelves, most of them age-old skeletons; but still others lay decaying in their place on the racks. Painted off to one side, a new body lay covered with a white sheet that was specked with blood - it could only be Tybalt.

No wonder Juliet had worked herself into hysterics, just by imagining herself alone in this place. Bella couldn�t help a disgusted shudder, and thanked whoever it was that designed those sets, that they seemed to lean more in the way of impressionism� the audience could see what the backdrop was supposed to show, but were mercifully spared the grislier details.

Alone, in the centre of the stage, a marble slab was set, elevated to waist-height. Faye - now dressed in a long black velvet dress, cuffed with lace - lay stiff and motionless atop the funeral bed, her face covered by a gauzy black veil. Her feet were bare.

One single spotlight fell from directly above, tinted a soft, gloomy blue.

In the silence, sudden footsteps sounded unduly loud as they reverberated from the wings, and Marcus entered the tomb. Solemnly he walked up to Faye, holding out his cupped hands. They were heaped with white rose petals, which he let flutter onto her stationary form.

" Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew." He murmured, holding back a sob, " O woe! Thy canopy is dust and stones, which with sweet water nightly I will dew, or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans."

He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead, lips pressing upon the veil, " The obsequies that I for thee will keep, nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep."

Another set of footsteps broke the silence once more, and he looked up in alarm, " Something doth approach! What cursed foot wanders this way tonight, to cross my obsequies and true love's rite?" Walking hastily backwards and concealing himself in the shadows, he whispered, " Muffle me, night, awhile."

No sooner had he hidden himself than Josh and Balthasar appeared, creeping onto the apron; the former handing the latter a piece of paper that shook as violently as the hand that held it, " Hold, take this letter." Josh whispered, " Early in the morning see thou deliver it to my lord and father."

Balthasar took the letter, and opened his mouth to speak. Josh interrupted him, his eyes glittering in the obscure blue light, " Upon thy life, I charge thee, whate'er thou hear'st or seest, stand all aloof, and do not interrupt me in my course."

Balthasar swallowed, and nodded, " I will be gone, sir, and not trouble you."

Josh gazed at him, and on impulse hugged the other boy, " Live, and be prosperous."

Balthasar nodded again, stepping away from him, his forehead lined with worry. Josh raised a hand and waved feebly, " Farewell, good fellow." Watching the other boy descend the steps to the apron, he waved again, his face now an anguished mask of intent.

" This is that banished haughty Montague, that murdered my love's cousin!" Marcus muttered from his hiding spot, indignant. Without further thought he stepped forward and shouted, " Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague! Can vengeance be pursued further than death?"

Josh whirled around with a gasp, his hand flying to the handle of his rapier, which lay sheathed at his waist.

" Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee!" Marcus pointed a finger at him, " Obey, and go with me; for thou must die."

" I must indeed." Josh said quietly, " And therefore came I hither." Taking a step forward, he pleaded, " Good gentle youth, tempt not a desperate man!"

Marcus furrowed his brows, and stepped back apprehensively.

" Fly hence, and leave me." Josh implored, " I beseech thee, youth, put not another sin upon my head by urging me to fury."

" I do defy thy conjurations." Marcus set his jaw, and drew his sword with a sharp metallic swish, " And apprehend thee for a felon here!"

" Wilt thou provoke me?" Josh gritted his teeth, his grip on his own sword tightening. Marcus did not answer, but sprang forward with a cry, " Have at thee, boy!"

Josh side-stepped, and drew his own rapier. He was reluctant to fight, and shouted even as Marcus turned and lashed out again, the blades a venomous blue in the light, " Stay not, be gone!" Marcus only answered with another plunge forward, intent on taking his life. Josh yelled out in frustration, and his sword zigzagged forth, blinding the other boy with the light that reflected off the blade from all angles.

The bass drum thudded without warning, and Amnesia suddenly broke into another tune - but this time, instead of the frenzied layers of sound upon sound that accompanied the fights with Tybalt, the music was grievous in its uniformity - because heavyhearted and distorted, it told of an end.

And how could it not? The driving force behind this fight was no longer mere anger or passion, but Romeo's overwhelming desire to die� though not before he saw Juliet one last time. It was an eerie premonition, but once Romeo threw himself into the fight, it became all too devastatingly clear that Paris was no match for him� not the least because of his fighting technique, but because Josh simply could not lose.

He was uncontrollable and wrathful and condemned and vacant and doused in a sadness that was beyond sorrow, beyond feeling; and all this somehow gushed out in this fight, glinting off his rapier, burning inside his eyes, and condensing into the stroke of death as his sword carved a clean silver flash across Marcus' throat, bringing a swift end to the battle. Marcus cried out and stumbled back, his hands flying to his neck, blood seeping from between his fingers.

Josh blinked, but could not see past a blur of hot tears, which had overtaken him somewhere along the way. He let his sword clatter to the floor at the same time as Marcus fell; and closed his eyes when he heard the other boy take one last gurgled gasp.

Then all was silent again; At Josh's feet now lay another, dead; and his hands were bloodied once more.

" What said my man, when my betossed soul did not attend him as we rode?" He murmured.

Lifting his tearstained face, he spied the Faye's lonesome figure on the funeral bed. Taking care not to tread on Paris' body, he stumbled to her side. " I think he told me Paris should have married Juliet�"

His ironic laugh dissolved into a dry sob as he looked upon her still body. " My love." He whispered, his trembling fingers touching the dark veil that concealed her countenance, " My wife!" Hands shaking uncontrollably, he brushed the veil aside, the filmy material slipping away from her serene features.

Muffling another sob, he choked out, " Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty�" Pressing his lips to her forehead, he whispered, as though in comforting assurance, " Thou art not conquer'd."

Pulling back and touching a finger to her lips, he shook his head in bleak wonder, " Beauty's ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death's pale flag is not advanced there."

" Dear Juliet, why art thou yet so fair?" He leaned forward and cradled her pliant body in his arms, kissing the top of her head. " Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is amorous, and that the lean abhorred monster keeps thee here in dark, to be his paramour?" Again he smiled grimly, setting her back down. " For fear of that, I still will stay with thee." Taking hold of her limp, cold hand, he promised with a tender smile that shone through his tears, "� And never from this palace of dim night, depart again."

" Here�" he whispered, looking around him, taking in the gruesome surroundings and the shifting darkness. Shivering, he turned back to Faye and studied her peaceful expression, his face suddenly crumpling. Kissing her fiercely on the lips, he sobbed out loud, " Here will I remain with worms that are thy chamber-maids! Here will I set up my everlasting rest and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this�" he buried his face in her cold hand, mumbling mournfully, "� world-wearied flesh�"

A moment of despondent silence, and their theme tune began again. Sweetly and melancholic it sang, conjuring memories of not long ago, the two of them entangled in each other's arms, drunk on young love.

He wiped away his tears and stared at her, his gaze lovingly caressing her features. A sigh escaped on a shuddering breath, as he gathered her once more into his arms. " Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace� And, lips, the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss�" his words trailed away as he kissed her once more, closing his eyes to bitter reality.

Bella found her eyes brimming with tears as she watched, finally recognising one line of lyrics repeated over and over, Josh's hypnotic murmur issuing from the speakers.

--'God in my hand� god in my hand� God in my hand� god in my hand�'

" A dateless bargain to engrossing death!" Josh sighed, setting Faye's limp body back on the platform again, smoothing her hair down - a pointlessly tender gesture. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew the small vial of sinister green liquid, and held it up to the light. " Come, bitter conduct,� he whispered, � come, unsavoury guide!"

The blue light, cast over the filter of emerald poison, fell upon his face in glimmers of shining aqua, almost the exact shade of his eyes. He stared at it for a long moment, then unscrewed the top. Turning and smiling once more at Faye, he raised the vial in her direction.

" Here's to my love!" It was a macabre toast - from death, to death.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he raised the vial to his lips.

The background rhythm quietened as a sombre guitar solo took over, the progression of ominous notes nevertheless magnificent in all its bleak glory.

Bella stifled a sob as Josh tilted his head back, and drank all in silence.

" O true apothecary!" He choked out, his eyes flying open in wild shock, " Thy drugs are quick!" Biting back a scream at the poison corroding its painful way through his body, he rasped as he fell to Faye's side and pressed his lips to hers, one last time, " Thus with a kiss I die�"

Before the word had even completely left his lips, he slid soundlessly down the side of the funeral bed, his hand holding onto hers for the briefest of moments before letting go, falling lifelessly by his side.

The song played on, the morose ringing of the cymbals continued without pause, almost like the tolling of bells.

Ryder suddenly burst from the wings, lunging toward Faye's funeral bed and gasping for breath. In his haste he tripped over Paris' body and stumbled back, eyes widening in fear as he took in the sight, " Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too? And steep'd in blood?"

" What an unkind hour is guilty of this lamentable chance!" He whispered, making the sign of the cross across his chest, bowing his head. The song faded away.

From the marble slab came the sound of a soft sigh, and Ryder's gaze snapped to it. " The lady stirs!" He exclaimed, scurrying to her side.

Faye sat up with a sudden gasp for air, the unexpected movement sending a ripple of shock through the dumbfounded audience. Her gaze darted around the vault in bewilderment before coming to rest on Ryder, and she smiled with relief. " O comfortable friar! Where is my lord?"

He stared at her, his parched lips moving soundlessly.

" I do remember well where I should be, and there I am." She told him, gazing down at her funeral dress with an amused expression. Looking up at her brother, she asked again, " Where is my Romeo?"

Footsteps resounded in the depths of the wings, and Ryder swirled around with a gasp, " I hear some noise!" He turned again and held out a hand to Faye, demanding desperately, " Lady, come from that nest of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep!"

She took his hand dubiously, swinging her legs over the edge of the funeral bed.

" A greater power than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents." He explained, tugging on her hand, " Come, come away!"

She slid off the marble slab and her bare feet touched the cold floor. Wincing, she looked down.

And screamed.

Josh lay at her feet in a graceless heap, a haunting sight of pale face and bloodless lips.

She stared at him.

Just� stared.

" Thy husband in thy bosom there lies� dead.� Ryder turned away, blinking furiously. � And Paris too." Pulling her hand, he ordered, " Come!"

She shook her head numbly, her fingers slipping from his grasp.

" I'll dispose of thee among a sisterhood of holy nuns�" He raked a hand through his hair and frantically planned what to do next. She didn't appear to have heard him, as she dropped to her knees by Josh's side, eyes glassy and vacant.

" Stay not to question, for the watch is coming!" Ryder shouted at her, grabbing her by the shoulder, " Come, go, good Juliet!" Footsteps came from the wings again, this time much louder than before. He gasped, " I dare no longer stay!"

" Go, get thee hence." Her voice was suddenly calm, expressionless. " For I will not away."

Ryder stared at her. She did not look up.

With a stifled cry, he fled into the wings. She didn�t watch him leave.

Blankly, she smiled as she reached for Josh's left hand and saw that a wedding band still glimmered on his ring finger. Bowing her head, she brought his hand up and pressed her lips to the ring, her eyes falling closed.

Something fell from his grasp, and she opened her eyes, " What's here, closed in my true love's hand?"

She picked the small vial off the stage floor, and gazed at it for a moment before nodding to herself.

" Poison, I see," She murmured, " hath been his timeless end."

Her eyes were dry. There were no tears, no expression of great agony, only a rigid calm of bitter acceptance. Shock numbed all senses for a little while, and for that she was glad. Without ceremony she tipped the vial to her lips.

It was totally empty, and she threw it down, the glass tinkling as it skittered across the floor. Brushing aside a strand of dark hair that had fallen across Josh�s eyes, she whispered as she leant over him, " O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?"

She smiled again, murmuring to him as though he was only asleep. " I will kiss thy lips; Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make die with a restorative."

Her lips had only brushed his before she pulled back abruptly, tears suddenly making their belated appearance. " Thy lips are warm!" She sobbed uncontrollably, turning away from him, " Thy lips are warm�"

" Lead, boy: which way?" Came a booming voice in the direction of the wings. It was the night-watchman. Faye swivelled in the direction of the wings, " Noise? Then I'll be brief!" Turning again, she grappled with the dagger fastened at Josh's waist. " O happy dagger!" She wept out loud, yanking it from its scabbard. The blue light, bouncing from the blade, only had time to send out one single reflected flare before she exclaimed, " This is thy sheath!" and plunged it deep into her chest.

"� There rust," she murmured, slumping over Josh's body, " and let me die."

And everything was still once more.

Somewhere in this tranquil and resolute silence, Romeo and Juliet's theme song began anew.

The cymbals resonated softly.

The bassline ebbed and flowed, like endless tide.

The now-familiar melody wept with crippled grace.

And the voice� that tender, emotion-laden voice, it started to sing again.



Pull the blinds down over my eyes
Shove their plugs in both ears
Hide the world that never lies
Bite the strap and hold on tight, hold on tight

Pulls me inside my hometown
Gravity it never lies
Bars the doors and locks the windows
Lets the cold air in�

God in my hand, god in my hand; God in my hand, god in my hand

Tell the doctors they don't know, they can't help
Show the preachers, no one feels the gravity
Taste the leather, see the stars, so many stars
Taste the leather and see the stars

God is my hand, god is my hand; God is my hand, god is my hand

- Asbestos Indus




* * *

Prep room

Hamilton turned away from the monitor, and couldn't help chuckling at Jake, who was hastily rubbing her eyes. " Jake," he said in amusement, " you've seen this scene, like, a million times. I can't believe you still cry." Lowering his voice a notch, he added, " And you're supposed to be a guy."

" I can't help it." She sniffled. He rolled his eyes in good humour and handed her a Kleenex.

" Get ready for curtain call, guys." Finn called quietly, standing up and stretching. Switching on his headset, he asked, " Everything all right, Malcolm? Anita?"

" Fine." Came Malcolm's muffled reply. Some more static, and Anita's voice drawled over the line, sounding gleeful, " He�s crying!�

" Shut up, Anita!" Malcolm hissed with embarrassment, and Finn laughed, switching off the headset.

* * *

The girls sitting in front of Sean and Bella sniffed loudly, and fumbled in their purses for tissues. Bella was doing the same. Onstage, the curtains had closed, and before it stood Chris, Gareth and Scout, their faces grim and shocked as they listened to Ryder recount the tale.

"� But when I came, some minute ere the time of her awaking," Ryder was finishing his story, his voice shocked into a monotone, " here untimely lay the noble Paris and true Romeo dead. She wakes; and I entreated her come forth, and bear this work of heaven with patience� but then a noise did scare me from the tomb; And she, too desperate, would not go with me, but - as it seems - did violence on herself." Making the sign of the cross again, he looked down at his feet, blinking.

" Capulet," Chris turned to Scout, then to Gareth, " Montague. See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love?"

The two avoided his eyes, their expressions empty and forlorn.

" And I, for winking at your discords, too have lost a brace of kinsmen." Chris continued, shaking his head sadly. He grimly stared out into the audience, raising his voice, " All are punish'd!"

The main lights faded on them, just as a spotlight flared off to one side of the apron, where a tall form stood - it was Will.

" A glooming peace this morning with it brings." He began, " The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head.�

His voice was clear and sombre. � Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished."

Faintly, very faintly, the sound of a flute could be heard from the orchestra pit, playing the same melody as it did, at the beginning of the play.

It seemed like a lifetime ago.

" For never was a story of more woe," Will continued over the haunting tune, his voice echoing around the darkened auditorium, " Than this of Juliet, and her Romeo."

The spotlight faded, and the auditorium was once again thrown into complete blackness.

Tentatively, someone started to clap. Others soon joined, and the applause built in volume, drawing cheers and whistles and building into an almost deafening roar as the lights snapped on once more, the curtains parted, and the cast began streaming onstage for their final curtain calls.

The End


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