“Okay, tonight we are blocking the Kennedy re-enactment. Marty, Jackie, Lesly, and Mrs. Pascal we need you down here,” Stacie ordered from the front row. Thomas and I turned our heads towards each other. He gave me a reassuring smile and I forced one in response. This was the scene I had been dreading. Gabby, who was playing Lesly was in the row ahead of us. She jumped up excitedly and hurried down.
“You ready?” Thomas asked as he stood up.
“I don’t think we have a choice,” I replied and followed him down to the stage. The set was built but only half painted and decorated. We had built a second story, where a bedroom sat. Underneath the bedroom was the living room, where most of the play would be performed. Gabby hurried up the stairs to the bedroom with Joyce, who played our mother. Stacie ordered Thomas to take a few steps onto the stairs and freeze.
“Okay now Renee, the box is under the couch. Go ahead and grab it, open it and pull out the pillbox hat.”
I did as told, eyeing the hat in fake wonder. “Now you put it on your head and turn to face him. All the while, you start back down the stairs to her.”
As we did so we said our lines. I had them memorized already, as did he. “Okay, then you step out of your dress and put it on. Not today though. Jackie needs help. Marty walk over and shakily help her zip it up.”
Thomas came up behind me. I knew I was nervous, but I discovered he was too. His mouth was only inches away from my neck. His hot breath came ragged. I nearly jumped when his fingers started on my lower back and slowly danced upward. When they reached my neck, he pulled his entire body away from mine.
“Finish putting on the coat and at the bottom of the box is the gun. Reach for it and pull it out.”
Since the outfit was still in the box I pretended to do so, pointing my fingers like a gun. I glanced at the director and she nodded approvingly.
“Thomas take the gun and begin walking around the room. Okay, say your lines.” Thomas stayed looking at the gun and asked me, Jackie-O, if I remembered the day we did this years ago. I took a few steps towards him and began describing it to him. In her mind, it had been only yesterday.
“Give her back the gun.”
I take it and suggest we pretend again, like we did that day the Pascal’s father left. Thomas sat down on the couch and began that slow, presidential wave. The room was completely silent. Even Stacie didn’t dare speak. I lifted my hand and aimed my gun at him and shot. My hand jumping up like it would with a real weapon. Thomas fell forward and I hurried over to him, putting my body over his. This was it. My heart was racing. We really had to do this.
Thomas sat up and I pulled away a few inches. We looked into each other's eyes. He was just as nervous as I was. He gulped. Neither of us dared move any closer. Suddenly he closed his eyes and moved forward. I did the same and instead of our lips touching his lips went to my ear and he whispered into it. “I like wearing women’s underwear.”
Immediately I bust out laughing and slap his chest. He starts laughing too and suddenly the tension of the scene was gone. The other ten people in the room chuckled.
“You know you will have to kiss eventually right?” Stacie said annoyed.
“Yeah, yeah. We will. Don’t start freaking out on us. We’ve got this,” Thomas played it off. I was thankful to him so much for this.
“Your first kiss cannot be on opening night. I’m serious Thomas. You too Renee,” she scolded. The two of us held up our hands.
“Fine. How about we take some private time and rehearse this stuff tonight when everyone goes. I think that could help make it a little less uncomfortable,” Thomas suggested, turning to me. I thought about it for a minute. He was right. All these people staring wasn’t making it any easier. I nodded and Stacie returned to barking direction at us.
“Okay, after the kiss you two start making out. Thomas your hands will be all over her, Renee start unbuttoning his shirt.” We return to the couch but do none of those things. Stacie glared but said nothing.
“As you guys start furiously removing clothing and kissing the lights will dim and then shut off completely. Now, Gabby. While the lights are off you come down the stairs and stand at the foot of the couch. Look shocked when the spotlight turns on you and you are looking at them in the throws.”
Gabby hurried down and did as she was told. She was a nice girl. New to the theatre, but eager to learn and friendly.
“Okay, now back away and the lights will shut back off. Thomas and Renee, lay on the couch, embraced in each other's arms. Like you fell asleep afterwards.” I did that. The couch was small, so Thomas put his upper body on top of mine, making sure to position just right to not put his weight on me.
“Gabby you will be sobbing softly this entire time and then when you are cued you run up the stairs, face in your hands.”
I started to tune out the rest of the direction. The rest of this scene was just Lesly and Mrs. Pascal on the top floor. Mrs. Pascal confronted Lesly about sleeping with our brother Anthony and was shipping her off. I had heard them go through this several times already and was bored with it. Thomas shifted his body over mine and I instantly stiffened.
“Sorry,” he whispered. “I can’t hold myself for that long like that.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered back. His head rested on mine. I heard him inhale deeply and a tiny sigh. Did he just smell my hair? We stayed quiet for the rest of the scene and finally when it ended, he leapt off me as if I were on fire. I glanced at him, but he wouldn’t look at me. There was a pause, then Stacie told us good job and to run the scene again.
We did the scene two more times before she called it quits. I was so ready to go home. I hoped that Thomas was tired too and didn’t want to do some more rehearsing. I stepped off the stage and chatted with Stacie and Erin while everyone packed up.
“You and Thomas are gonna stay here and practice? Or are you guys going somewhere else?” Thomas walked up to the group and asked what we were talking about. She repeated herself and he looked at me, raising an eyebrow and pursing his lips.
“Uh, I guess that’s up to you Renee,” he said. I smirked. What were my options? Stay here or go to one of our houses. I really didn’t think Mark would like to see me making out with someone on our couch.
“We’ll stay here. That way we can practice blocking too.” Stacie nodded and handed me the keys.
