“I’m going to be up soon,” Harley said. “I-I was failing foreign language, so Ms. Mendez convincedMonsieurMontague to sing the opening song in French.”
“Montague? You’re fucking kidding me.”
“What are the chances, right? But, nope. That’s his name.”
“I present to you Shakespeare’sRomeo and Juliet,” Ms. Mendez said.“Enjoy your evening.”
“That’s me,” Harley said, hesitated a moment, then hugged him.
CJ wrapped his arms around her, enveloped by her coconut scent, hating to let her go, but he didn’t stop her when she pulled away and walked to the left wing. Wanting to see her grand entrance, he followed behind her, surprised when she began singing into a microphone from where she stood in the shadows.
The words were in French, the melody classically somber. To him, she sang in tune, but he didn’t understand what the fuck she was saying, so he didn’t know. She sounded perfect. Sweet.As if she’d been singing forever. She loved music as much as he did, so her melodious voice shouldn’t have surprised him.
They were bypassing the prologue of Romeo and Juliet entirely, which was fine with CJ. He’d had enough of Shakespeare to last a fucking lifetime. At least, Romeo and Juliet wasn’t half as boring as MacBeth.
Despite the no-show stagehands, it was a big affair with major grades at stake and several classes from the theatre department involved. Dozens of students were in pre-production and production, and even students as theater staff. But it was only CJ on this side, watching Harley in awe.
He was so fucking proud of her. She hadn’t made her grand entrance yet. If he moved his ass, he could watch her from the audience. Not wanting to disrupt anything, CJ hurried through the door in the back area and walked outside, intending to circle around and enter from the front. Instead, Nardo stopped in front of him and looked CJ up and down.
“She not all that.” Nardo was dressed in satin and velvet doublet, breeches, feathered hat, and cape. Knee-high white stockings covered his legs. On his feet were pointed toed shoes that had a stupid name. He smirked. “Jaleena’s a much better lay.”
“Why don’t you walk the fuck away while you can?” CJ suggested.
“I got a better idea. Why don’t I tell you how I made Harley beg me not to punch her again?”
Rebel’s words resonated in Diesel’s head, almost completely drowning out Harley’s beautiful singing voice. He barely heard anything–the low chatter around him, the movement of the audience.Nothing.Sitting between Jana and Rebel, listening to her talking to Kaia, her fucking date for the evening, filled Diesel with all types of emotions.
A set change allowed a short intermission. He could get up, stretch his legs and clear his head, but he didn’t want to leave Rebel’s side.
“You’re silly, Kaia,” she said, giggling.
Diesel stiffened and imagined dragging Kaia out by his hair and accidentally ripping his fucking head off.
Jana tugged on his arm.
“What?” he snapped, forcing himself to look at her.
She gave him a tremulous smile. “Are you enjoying the play?”
“Are you?”
She nodded. “The kids are putting everything into their roles.”
“Did you see something I didn’t? It was only Harley singing and some fucking ‘townspeople’ strolling around the set.”
“I know, but–”
“I’m not in the mood for small talk, Jana.”
Tears rushed to her eyes and her lower lip trembled. “Okay,” she whispered.
Rebel stood, then waited until emo boy got to his fucking feet before she turned and looked at Diesel so he could stand and let her pass.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going with him?” Diesel demanded.
“Move,” she ordered.
Kaia squeezed her shoulders. “Be nice, babe.”
