Page 47 of The Wedding Pact
‘Shall I change first?’ She pulled her damp dress away from her skin.
Without looking up Flynn said, ‘No, don’t shower, it’ll make the scene more intense if you’re a bit disgusting.’
‘Ha, thanks.’
‘Got it,’ he said. ‘Let’s do the big fight scene between Tybalt and Mercutio.’
‘Juliet’s not even in that scene – even Romeo is barely in that scene.’
‘Doesn’t matter. You’re playing Tybalt.’
‘I am?’
Flynn handed the book back to her, open on Act Three, Scene One. ‘Here, you take this, I’ll find the script on my phone.’
‘That’s okay, I don’t need it. I know this play like the back of my hand.’
‘Whatever you say. You’re Tybalt, I’m Mercutio. And just so you know, I’m picturing the movie version. We’ll start from where Benvolio saysBy my head, here come the Capuletsand then I say,’ Flynn cleared his throat and stood proud. ‘By my heel, I care not!’
August laughed, involuntarily. It wasn’t that he’d done anything wrong, it was just funny to her, and endearing really, that he was willing to stop what he was doing on a Saturday to help her with some acting. And he seemed very into it.
She then realised she didn’t know the next line. ‘I need the book, sorry, I guess I’m a little rusty.’
They read the lines together, August reserved to begin with, doing no more than read what was on the page aloud, until Flynn said. ‘You’re supposed to be mad. Tybalt is mad here with Romeo and his cronies. Be mad with me.’
‘I can’t be mad with you.’
‘Of course you can, you’re an actress. If you can be married to me you can be mad at me.’
‘What do you know about this stuff?’
Flynn’s eyes narrowed and he folded his arms, a smirk appearing on his face. ‘I do know a little, you know. Just because you’re too afraid to go on an audition, even though that’s what you say you want more than anything to do, don’t take it out on me.’
August was shocked. ‘I’m sorry, I just—’
‘Don’t be sorry, just read the damned lines or let’s stop wasting time.’
The pink that had been fading in her face flared up again and August fumed, ‘Wastingtime? This was your idea, not mine, I didn’t even know if I wanted to do this stupid audition, and I really don’t think I need your help with it.’
‘Prove to me you aren’t a coward,’ he provoked, that smirk staying put though she wanted to wipe it clean off his face.
‘I don’t have to prove anything to you!’
Flynn shook his head and put down his phone. He turned and muttered, ‘Coward.’
August Anderson wasnota coward. Her eyes flickered to the book, but she was remembering now, she was remembering the words she’d learned and practised over and over again in her youth. ‘Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford no better term than this – thou art a villain.’
Flynn switched roles and read Romeo’s line, glaring at her every time he looked up.‘ … Villain am I none. Therefore, farewell. I see thou know’st me not.’
August was inside Tybalt now, full of rage, bitterness, she felt the character, she empathised. ‘Boy,’ she snarled, stepping close to Flynn, right up to his face. ‘This shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw.’
She was close to Flynn’s lips now and something unexpected happened.
August wanted to kiss him.
That was most certainly not part of the script, but the instinct was so overwhelming that she nearly toppled, sensing he wanted it too.
The adrenaline pumped through her, keeping her on a knife edge, until before her eyes Flynn’s face changed, and he stepped back, saying, ‘There she is! Brava, brava, and the Oscar goes to Ms August Anderson for playing Tybalt with such ferocity I was afraid for my own testicles for a moment there.’ Seeing August’s confused face as she came down from the sugar-high that was being fully in character, he stepped forward and gave her sweaty frame a hug.
