Page 18 of Begrudgingly Yours
Before he can say what he wants, I say, “Mr. Chapman, thank you so much for this role. I sincerely mean that, but… I have to ask,whydid you choose me?”
I hate how insecure it sounds, but we’re here to learn. If he were a director of a film or play I was cast in outside of school, I would never dare, but I sincerely want to know what I didright.
“Well, firstly, your audition with Mr. Fitzgerald was incredible. You two had the best chemistry of the auditions last Friday. You did well in your audition with Mr. Gomez, but there wasn’t a spark between you. Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight, that needs to be apparent to the audience. It’s best to act across whoever makes you feel the most comfortable to portray those emotions.”
I swallow down a gulp, because my omega definitely wasn’t pretending.
“Second, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Juliet is an omega. She has the same wants, needs, and issues that arise with her designation. Seeing as you’re the only female omega in class, I thought you’d be the best at understanding her.”
Professor Chapman isn’t an expressive man, despite hisobsession with emotional plays, so his words don’t hit at first. My instinct is to laugh at his sarcasm, but the look on his face is serious. Something inside of me runs cold.
“What?” I ask, my confusion turning into something fuming in my gut.
“An omega can only be played by another omega. Biology like that can’t be faked by a beta. They might be able to push that kind of narrative in film, but on the stage?” He scoffs. “It’s obvious from a mile away. Trust me. You’ll do Juliet justice, I just know it.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded. “So, you called me up here so you could tell me that I got the role because of my designation?”
He waves me off, obviously annoyed by my statement. “No. I called you up here because I wanted to go ahead and give you a direction for when you practice lines. Juliet is a demure omega. A hopeless romantic. She has a fire, yes, but her designation shows where her edges are soft. I just wanted you to keep that in mind when you start memorizing.”
My jaw tenses at that, my mind going back to the conversation Nicole and I had in that hallway. Instead of saying something I think I’ll regret, I grit out, “Is that all, sir?”
My professor nods, not sparing me another glance as he studies something on his clipboard. I walk out a lot harsher than I intend to, my steps seeming more like stomps on the glossy floor. My confusion is no longer present, because now I know what happened. My professor is biased. Still, I hold onto the fact that I can still breathe life into this role despite his horrible direction. There’s nothing that can stop me from putting my mark on this iconic character.
I’m going to act the hell out of this role, one way or another.
After leaving the theater, I’m not expecting a certain long-haired alpha to be standing there waiting for me. His jaw istense, and the glint in his eye that is normally playful is replaced by an intensity I’ve only ever seen from him while he’s on stage.
I let out a sigh. “You heard that, didn’t you?” I ask, motioning my thumb over my shoulder.
Jett nods. “Yeah, and it’s bullshit. To saythat, to reduce your achievements or your god-given talent by evenimplyingthat, is absolutely pathetic. I’ve lost a lot of respect for him.”
My brows shoot upward. The ferocity I just read on him is forme. On my behalf. Something about that leaves me feeling both uneasy and delighted.
The latter is probably coming from the horny beast inside me, but nonetheless.
“Well,” I start, going for nonchalance. I’m not sure how to be vulnerable with him yet, even though the play will definitely force my hand on that. “It may be the first time, but it certainly won’t be the last. Occupational hazard and all, being an omega.”
Jett shakes his head at my faked indifference. “You are a wonder, Rory,” he says. My lips involuntarily part at the sentiment. “Any director or filmmaker would be lucky to have you. Don’t put too much stock in what Chapman has to say. Let’s just get through this semester as quickly as we can, and try to have fun.”
I observe him closely now. Normally, I’d keep my gaze off of him because any attention would result in his insistence to annoy me, but now I feel free to look. He’s only a few inches taller than me, and his hair is shiny as it sits atop his shoulders. His green eyes are searing, dark and moody with a shimmer of honeyed brown around the pupil. They’re as unnerving as they are beautiful, especially when they’re seeping into my soul.
“So,” he starts, cutting through my train of thought. “I thought, since we clearly won’t be spending enough timetogether during late-night rehearsals and weekly classes, that maybe you’d like to run lines together?”
Against my better judgment, I laugh. “Clearly.”
“And, you know, the more practice we do together—and the more comfortable we get with each other—the more you can stick it to him when you knock it out of the park.” He smiles at me and the mischievousness in it makes me almost gulp.
“Let’s do it.” I pull out my phone and hand it to him.
Jett quickly adds his number before texting himself. When he hands it back to me, the arrogant expression I’m used to seeing on him is back. “Well, twilight. I guess I’ll see you soon.” And then he walks off without another word, leaving me feeling much better than I originally did when walking through those classroom doors.
ELEVEN
Playing: Imprint by ZAYN
The last weekof September is always a tough one. Not only am I revisiting my grief, but the weight of everything else seems to be attaching itself to my—already—bad mood. It’s like my body is attracting all this negativity like a magnet and stress is piling up around me with no way through.
I’d normally escape into my favorite movies or whatever role I’m currently playing when I get like this, but my usual way of regulating feels like pulling teeth right now. I’ve tried to be positive since the cast announcement yesterday, but knowing Professor Chapman picked me to play Juliet because I was the only female omega in class leaves a bad taste in my mouth. A part of me feels like I don’t deserve to go through with it. I want a role because of merit,talent, not my designation that wasforcedupon me.
