‘Hey, I’m not that much of a weakling.’
My best friend is way stronger than I’d thought. ‘I know, but he was drunk.’
Charles understands. I’m sure of that as the smile fades from his face. ‘I’m sorry for getting so hammered at the New Year Ball too,’ he adds.
I swallow hard. ‘Just never do that again.’
‘I don’t think I’ll have any reason to in future.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I was drinking because I couldn’t stand seeing you with him.’
‘Charlie . . .’
‘I know, that was really pointless.’
‘Pretty much.’
He looks at me, I want to ask what he’s thinking, but I can’t speak because he’s stroking my cheek.
‘You’re pale,’ he says quietly.
‘“It’s just the light, my darling.”’ It’s my first thought, and Charlie remembers. I can see it in his face. His line. Romeo to Juliet, the scene we rehearsed together.
‘Maybe I haven’t made the smartest decisions lately.’
I nod. ‘I can think of another example.’
He immediately understands what I mean, I’m sure of that, even before he heaves this big sigh. ‘Tori . . .’
‘No, listen to me. You can’t give up the part. Eleanor and you were amazing together.’ It hurts a bit to admit that, but it’s the truth. I want to get this right. And if it starts with Charliegiving up something he loves for my sake, then we’re pretty star-crossed too.
I realize this is in danger of turning into an argument as he sits up slightly. ‘Tori, I can’t do it any more. I saw how much I was hurting you.’
‘And I saw how much you were enjoying being on stage.’
‘I didn’t even want to,’ he retorts. ‘Don’t you get it? I only did it for you. I thought you’d audition, so I made myself try. I hoped we’d be able to spend more time together if we were both in the drama club. I didn’t want the lead role. I thought Mr Acevedo would let me be a tree or have some walk-on part or something, but not Romeo.’
‘That was before we all knew that you could do it,’ I say sharply. ‘Or are you really not enjoying it? Look at me and tell me you’re not absolutely in your element when you’re standing on that stage, and I’ll never breathe another word about it.’
He hesitates.
‘You see?’
‘No, stop it. It’s done. Mr Acevedo will have recast Romeo ages ago. I can’t just go to him and ask him to take me back.’
‘But you’d like to?’
‘No, Tori . . .’
‘I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem.’
‘Tori,’ he repeats, more insistently. ‘I’ve made my decision. It’s better this way. For everyone.’
‘I don’t want you to stop doing things you enjoy for my sake.’
‘And I don’t want the things I enjoy to make you unhappy.’ I open my mouth, but he won’t let me speak. ‘And I don’t want to talk any more about it.’
