Page 137 of Christmas off Script
Of course Lila would assume he’d jump back into her arms if she asked, just like he’d always done. Lila was the love of his life, and the fact he’d never had a relationship with anyone else since she left for the States proved that.
The house lights went down, and Zach began. ‘In a land where hope’s the only thing worthwhile, a girl with humble roots and just a smile, will dance through hardships with kindness and grace, in search of love, in this enchanted place. Will she find it? Will she win? If you’re sitting comfortably, let’s begin!’
Ella squeezed her eyes tightly shut.Do not cry!
Watching from the wings, she tried to feel the same joy as the audience as they clapped along to the opening number.
Just fake it for the next two hours. Don’t let anyone down. You can do it.
As the song finished, Libby, as Buttons, interacted with the audience, whipping them into an excited frenzy. She was a born performer, and her confidence only seemed to highlight how unconfident Ella felt.
‘Cinderella! That’s who I love,’ Libby proclaimed. ‘But I think she only sees me as a friend. She lives at Hardup Hall with her two ugly sisters, and she’s as perfect as perfect can be!’
Ella mouthed Libby’s words in an attempt to centre herself as her hands twisted in the fabric of her dress and her heartbeat marked the seconds until her entrance.
‘Do you think I have a chance with her, boys and girls?’ Libby asked.
The children in the audience gave her an enthusiastic ‘Yes,’ while the adults roared ‘No!’
Libby stuck a hand on her hip. ‘Oh, yes, I do!’
‘Oh, no, you don’t!’ the audience countered.
This was it. Just a few short moments and Ella would be on stage.
‘Oh, yes, I do!’ Libby cried.
‘Oh, no, you don’t!’
Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye, Ella turned.
Leo.
He rushed to her side, out of breath, his costume unbuttoned and his hair sticking up in all directions. ‘I need to talk to you,’ he whispered urgently.
‘Oh, yes, Idohave a chance with Cinderella,’ Libby told the audience. ‘With knobs on. Pinch, punch, first of the month and no returns!’
‘Now?’ Ella whispered back to him, every part of her tightening with pain. She wanted to scream. Cry. Rage against a world where happiness was being snatched from her grasp, over and over again.
Leo’s gaze flicked to the stage.
‘I love Cinderella more than anything!’ Libby was saying. ‘Even more than cheese.’
‘I’ve got to go on!’ Ella said to him, her voice trembling. ‘Please. Don’t do this now.’
Leo cursed under his breath and reached out to take her hand. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Will you help me win her heart, mums and dads, grannies and grandads, nanas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and boys and girls?’ Libby cried.
‘Can we talk at the interval?’ Leo asked.
‘I think Cinderella is just about to appear!’ Libby said, eyeballing Ella.
She tugged her hand from Leo’s, fixed a bright smile in place, and ran onto the stage. ‘Hello, Buttons! Hello, boys and girls!’
‘Hello, Cinderella!’ the audience chorused.
‘Isn’t it a beautiful day!’ Ella continued, even as her heart shattered into pieces. ‘The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I’m with my bestest friend!’
