Page 58 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
We finish the dance and the rest of the scene. I’m so…tense that I don’t think I’m doing a good job. But Miss Diaz cheers us on, so I push through. When it’s done, I’m so relieved I make a beeline for my seat.
“And I’d like to rehearse the kiss again.”
I freeze in my tracks and slowly turn around. The kiss scene?
My eyes immediately sprint to Eric. A look of unease passes over his face. I know he’s remembering how I freaked out the last time. I bet every single person in the room is. Miss Diaz gives me an encouraging nod and a smile. She’s right—I can do this. No more freaking out and taking a tumble down the stairs.
Raising my head, I walk to the center of the stage.You can do this. You can do this.
Eric steps next to me, his eyes searching mine. “You good?” he whispers.
I nod so fast I get dizzy for a second. “I’m good.”
He lies down on the floor and I, after taking a deep breath and telling myself for the millionth time that I can do this, lower myself over him.
Weeping and gripping his arm frantically, I say, “Please don’t leave me.” I bend my head close to his, my forehead brushing his chin. “I love you.”
With a jerk of his head, his eyes fly open and he straightens up from the floor, with me sliding off him. I gape at him like I have no idea what the heck is going on. He spins around and, per Miss Diaz’s instructions, holds his hands out to the audience, presenting the real man. Then he slowly turns to face the girl who’s blinking at him from the floor.
He sings the short song where he informs me that it’s him, the Beast, holding out his hand toward me.
I stare at him for a few long seconds before rising to my feet. “Itisyou,” I gasp.
He takes my hand and gives me a small twirl, then sweeps me into his arms and closes his lips over mine. I’m as still as a tree, so not prepared for that level of confidence. Especially because of how awkward we were the first time we did this. But then I remember I’m Belle and return the kiss, my eyes fluttering shut.
This kiss…it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in my life. Eric’s lips move over mine so softly and leisurely, like he’s taking his time to savor this moment. His hands gently grip the sides of my chin as my hands tangle in his long hair.
I feel as though I’ve floated up to heaven. His lips move over mine so sweetly, as though he, as Beast, is showing this woman—the woman who learned to accept him despite his appearance—how much he loves her. How much she means to him. How much he cherishes this moment. How he can’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her.
“Wonderful!”
Was that Miss Diaz? She sounds so far away.
“Eric, Katie?”
She sounds even further away.
“Aaaand scene!”
Did she say something again?
“Eric, Katie!”
Her sharp voice causes my eyes to snap open. I stare into Eric’s amazing blue eyes, getting lost in them. He stares into mine, seeming to get lost in mine, too.
A few chuckles echo off the walls. I stagger back and look around, my cheeks flushing when I realize exactly where I am and what’s going on. Eric and I break away from each other like we got electrocuted.
“Well that was…dedication,” Miss Diaz says, causing more chuckles.
My face is so hot I think I might melt.
“Maybe you guys should tone it down next time? Okay, now let’s have Gaston and LeFou on stage!”
I keep my head down as I follow Eric toward the steps. What was that? I’ve done kiss scenes before, but I never got so lost in them I couldn’t differentiate fiction from reality. It must be because Eric is a good kisser. Seriously, it’s like his lips are magic.
“Sorry,” he says as we climb down the stairs.
I look at him, my cheeks once again growing hot. “It’s okay. At least I didn’t freak out and tumble down the stairs.”
