Neither of us said anything on our walk back to the main house. Even if Aimee had tried to strike up a conversation, I probably wouldn't have been receptive, considering how wrapped up I was in my own thoughts.

As soon as the intensity of sadness had started wearing off me, another emotion had taken its place: curiosity. Because, although it hadn't been my main goal, it suddenly occurred to me that there might have been an added benefit to the closure I'd finally allowed myself to have.

So after we got into the house, as Aimee was hanging up her coat on the rack near the front door, I said, "Let's try it."

Looking back at me, she frowned. "Wh-"

"The play, let's try the play."

Aimee froze in the process of taking off her gloves, her eyes widening as they remained on me. For a few seconds, the only noticeable external sounds were that of Annie, Tim, and Max's shouts, and that of the game they were playing.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and smirked, "I think it should be obvious to even a child that I don't mean the whole play."

She blinked as soon as she heard that, shaking her head like a wet dog. "N-no, I know tha- I mean, I know that, dickhead!"

I snickered, but when she turned round to place her boots near the door, I let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness Aimee doesn't have super hearing, because I'm pretty sure my heart was thundering at that moment.

"Okay," Turning round, she clapped her hands, "So, how many chapters do you want to read now?"

"Wha- I'm not talking about reading, I'm talking bout acting!"

My cheeks grew warm as I saw Aimee's mouth drop open. I groaned, "We've already gone through the whole stunned silence routine!"

"Shut up! Also, that was for a different reason!"

"Once is more than enough!"

"Okay fine, but... wow." She took in a deep breath, then added, "So are you just gonna keep on standing there, or are you gonna get the play?"

"Depends. Do you have the play memorised or not? Because I certainly do."

"So do I! Matter of fact, I was asking for you!"

"Well, thanks for that unnecessary thoughtful-"

"Can we just start?"

I smirked. "As you wish. We'd just try a short scene though, so that we can go back to the others soon."

"Okay. Which one?"

I paused to think for a moment, then replied, "How about that balcony scene in Act II?"

She nodded. "Got it. Whenever you're ready."

I took another deep breath as I ran my mind's eye over the words engraved in my head, then nodded. "Alright, I'll start."

Closing my eyes, I tried my best to push all thoughts of my pounding heart out of my mind. Instead, I focused on my metamorphosis, imbuing myself with all the characteristics of the character that was all too familiar to me.

In that moment, I stopped being Angelo. Instead, Romeo took his place.

Opening his eyes, he looked upon his Juliet, the woman he was enamoured with. He traced his eyes over her features, his eyes attracted to the slight movement of her lips as she whispered words to herself.

"He jests at scars that have never felt a wound..."

The words flowed naturally of his lips, requiring little thought to propel them off. He watched as his love's hazel gems opened, sparking brightly as they fixed upon his face.

When he was done speaking, she said in a voice that tugged on his heartstrings, "Ay me!"

Delight rushed over him as he heard that, spurring him on to continue. And so they went on, trading words with so much ease that he was lost for a while when he heard her say, "Well, congratulations. We're done with the scene."

He blinked.

All of a sudden, I surfaced once again.

"I- well, of course I knew that!"

"Really?" Grinning, Aimee rose an eyebrow at me.  "Because you seemed to get really immersed in your character. Seriously, it's hard to believe that you're the same person who freaked out over the play in Miss Delane's class."

I was about to reply her, but the reality of the situation finally caught up with me. I had finished an entire  scene. No, I had acted an entire scene. And nothing had disturbed me. Not even so much as an out of place whisper.

Nothing.

With the realization came not only a sense of disbelief, but also an insane amount of joy. So much so that before I knew it, I had dashed forward and scooped Aimee in my arms, ignoring her shrieks as I picked her up and whirled her round.

In what sounded like a mix between a shriek and laughter, she exclaimed, "Ro- Romeo, stop!"

I set her back on the ground, but didn't let her go. I'm pretty sure I was grinning like a maniac as I replied, "What do you mean 'stop'? Don't you know what this means?"

"That you can finally act so we wouldn't both get a failing grade in Literature?"

"No-"

I paused when I saw the smile tugging at her lips, then I chuckled. "Well, that too."

She relaxed her face, letting the smile fully spread across it as she gave a short hum in response. We both didn't say anything for a while, but it didn't feel awkward at all. I don't know how to explain it exactly...It was kind of like I could read all she had to say in the depths of her hazel eyes, while she used them to strip me of my defenses as well and burrow her way into my mind.

At that moment, I wondered why I'd never before noticed how hypnotic her eyes are. Even though I felt like she was staring into the depths of my soul, I didn't look away.

Instead, I stared right back into hers.

Although she was right in front of me, it sounded so far away when she said hoarsely, "If our life were a story, this is usually the part where someone interrupts us."

"Uh- funny you should mention that-"

A shiver ran through me, breaking me out of the spell. My arms automatically unwound from Aimee's waist. Which also meant there was nothing to keep her on her feet.

"Aargh!"

Whirling round, I faced Tim, who was staring at us both with a confused look on his face.

"I- how long have you been standing- ow!"

A sharp pain went through my leg as I felt Aimee's foot connect with my ankle.  Looking down, I glared at her. "Damn, what'd you do that for?"

"For dropping me on the floor, you asshole!"

Getting up, she turned to Tim. "So, what do you want?"

"Sorry I interrupted your couple time-"

"For the last time, he is not my boyfriend!"

"You two sure looked pretty cosy earlier-"

Internally, I groaned. "Tim, I know it's Christmas and all, but believe me when I say that would not stop me from sticking your head into a toilet."

"And believe me when I say that your head would be following his soon after!"

I glared at Aimee. "Whose side are you on?"

"Well considering that I want to punch the lights out of both of you, I'll say I'm on the fence about this."

"Anyways, when you both are ready-"

I turned my glare to Tim. "I am ready!"

"-Annie wants you both to come over to the living room. She says it's important."

I begun marching there as soon as I heard that. "No problem!"

Unfortunately, it was only after I'd already walked into the living room that I remembered who exactly was calling for us.

When I did though, I knew that there was no way I was leaving the living room, despite my past experiences with Annie's 'important' callings. So even though Annie was focused on her match with Max at that moment, I still stayed and said, "Ann?"

Her head whirled round. "Wha-? Oh, Angelo. Wait, lemme just finish my-"

"Too late!" Max shouted.

She turned back to the screen, just in time to see Yoshi fly off the stage before the match ended. "Damn!"

Walking over to a couch, I dropped onto it. "Yes yes, that's unfortunate. Anyways, what did you want?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah!" She looked back at me again, but with shining eyes that time. "I'd say it's time for our traditional Christmas song!"

My brow furrowed, but hardly a moment later, my eyes widened. "You don't mean-"

She grinned. "I'm surprised you're even asking?"

Aimee asked, "What? Am I missing something?"

Rapidly, I shook my head at her. "No! Annie is just talking about this altered version of 'Close to you' she forces us to sing every Christmas-"

"Excuse me? You're the one who usually leads us into it!"

I turned back to Annie and shrugged. "Well then, I'm leading us out of it. I'm eighteen, I'm much too old for it now-"

"Annie and I are in our twenties!"

Annie shot Max a grateful smile. "Thank you!"

"Well that's on the both of you, not me. I'm not singing that corny song and that's that!"

To emphasize my point, I folded my arms and leaned back in my seat, shooting Annie a defiant look.

My eyes and Annie's clashed for a while, then she threw up her hands. "You know what? If you don't want to sing, that's fine. But I'm sure the rest of us wouldn't mind doing so."

I scoffed. "I highly doubt that."

"Actually, I wouldn't," Aimee piped in.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you wouldn't."

"And I'm glad to hear that." Annie shot Aimee a smile, then turned to Tim. "How about you, Timmy?"

"Uh, if it's alright with you, I think I'll rather stay here."

Judging by the way Tim's eyes had never eyes left the TV screen, leaving the room had never been an option for him.

Annie's month twitched, then suddenly, a huge smile came over her face. "You know what? You both can stay here. However-" She marched over to the TV and unhooked the cord connecting my game console to it, "-you can both sit here without video games!"

I shrugged. "No problem, we'd just play my Xbox instead."

"Then no TV!"

"What, are you going to carry that with you as well?"

Before Annie could reply, Aimee said, "Annie, please don't waste your time. I think it's clear to all of us that Angelo is just too scared to perform the song in front of me."

My cheeks grew warm as I whirled my head to her. "What?"

Her eyes moved over to mine as a smirk came over her face. "Why are you acting surpris-"

"Because that's utter bullshit!"

"Fine. Then prove it."

"I-" The rational part of my mind finally caught up with me, fortunately before I spoke another word.

A grin came over my face. "My my, you really must think I'm stupid."

Aimee rose an eyebrow at me. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, drop the act. I see what you're doing, and it's not going to work!"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Shrugging, she turned to Annie. "Are we doing it here?"

"No," Annie began to walk towards the door, "We're doing it in the smaller living room, because that's where the piano is."

"Ok."

Aimee looked back at me. "Well, see you."

"Not likely. But have fun though."

She gave me another smirk, then followed after Annie and Max.

I glared at all their backs until I could see them no more. When they had gone through the door, I looked at Tim and scoffed, "Can you believe them?"

Without looking up from the game of Subway Surfers he was playing on his phone, he replied, "Hmm. So, uh, when are you setting up the Xbox?"
.      .      .

Two minutes later, I was standing in the other living room, trying my best to avoid Aimee's smirking face as Annie began playing the opening tune of the song.

I'm not saying that I did it because I wanted to prove anything to Aimee, but...

Alright, I'll be honest.
.

.

.
That may have played a minor role in my decision.
.       .       .

So I've decided to split this book into two parts, because I kinda feel like I'm writing a pretty good ending. Thanks to tracisek for the idea. There's only about two of three chapters left of part one!

What did you think of this chapter? Let me know your thoughts in comments, and don't forget to drop a vote if you liked it!

Till next time!