A Tale of Two Centuries

government?”

A muscle in Austin’s jaw twitches. “Just working on a paper for school, Dad.”

“For school?” Mr. Michaels asks, his tone colored with amused incredulity. “My son is actually doing his homework. Never thought I’d see the day.” He shoots me a wink, attempting to include me in the joke he has made at his son’s expense, and every protective bone in my body hums in alert. “You know, you happen to be in the presence of a state senator, darling, and my son, well, he isn’t exactly well-versed in politics.” He strolls over and grabs the assignment Miss Edwards gave us. “Maybe I should help you with this paper.”

The overconfident note in his voice, the blatant barbs aimed at Austin, the snapping tension between father and son, and Austin’s palpable discomfort in the man’s presence prompts me to yank the paper from his hands.

“I appreciate your offer, sir, but as I’m sure you are aware, your son is incredibly intelligent. He has a brilliant plan in place,” I say, not at all sure what Austin’s plan for our paper is but not caring at the moment, “and I think we’re fine here.”

Austin stares at me, perhaps in shock, as I conclude my brief but—in my opinion—powerful speech. I smile with pride. Hello, world, meet Alessandra D’Angeli Forlani, the twenty-first-century version. I may not have to change everything about me, but standing up for my loved ones is one trait from this experience I’ll gladly keep.

Back home, I never could get away with speaking to an elder in such a manner but here, in Cat’s world, Austin’s father simply shrugs his shoulders and plasters an even bigger false smile on his face before walking out of the room.

“Whatever happened to my prim and proper princess?” Austin asks with that heart-stopping smile of his, stalking toward me with purposeful strides. He squats down in front of me and hands me a bright red can.

“She got herself an excellent tutor.”

Chapter Twenty-three

The next few days meld together in a series of Austin’s kisses, workshop rehearsals, and heartfelt conversations with Cat. Now that Lucas has breached the last line of her defenses, she is happier than I’ve ever seen her. Even happier, dare I say it, than she was in my time with Lorenzo. I still sense that she is worried and possibly even keeping something secret from me, but I trust that she will confide in me when she is ready. As for myself, I drift through the days in a blissful stupor, one that is not missed by my amused costars, nor one far- from-amused one.

“Oh, joy, it’s the happy couple again. Everyone grab your barf bags.”

Austin breaks away from our kiss, piercing his ex with a glare. To say Kendal is not pleased with the romance budding between us is putting it mildly. The accolades I received after my audition for Tiffany yesterday only added insult to my list of crimes in her eyes. But even the wicked witch’s sharp-tongued barbs cannot shatter my contentment. Leaning around Austin’s embrace, I look across the busy Roosevelt Academy hallway and offer my adversary a pleasant smile. “Good morning, Kendal.”

She rolls her eyes and walks away in a huff, which is not at all surprising.

“I’ll see you in drama,” Austin tells me, pressing one last kiss against my lips. “And with Kendal there, you can be sure it’ll be full of that.” He tugs a strand of my hair, then steps back into the chaotic stream of students, walking backward so he can keep his eyes trained on me until the crowd swallows him.

With a contented sigh, I grab my purse from inside my locker and close it, then head off to lunch.

Cat is already waiting inside the cafeteria, two books signaling the seats closest to her are reserved. I of course take one of them, and when Lucas appears moments later, he takes the other, the one just beside her, spinning the chair and straddling it. I shoot my cousin a grin.

Peeling the wrapper off a granola bar, Lucas slides his arm around Cat and says, “Looks like Angela is meeting with Jenna tonight about her sweet sixteen. I figured I’d tag along to help. I’ve been told my opinions on fabric and napkin samples are very useful.”

“How metrosexual of you,” Cat says with a laugh, poking him in the ribs with an elbow. “And dork, if you want to see me, all you have to do is say so. You don’t need a made-up excuse to come over.”

The look Lucas pins her with clearly says that up until this past weekend, he did need such an excuse, and my cousin has the decency to look guilty. “Well, at least not anymore,” she clarifies. Then she smiles at me. “Less, why don’t you invite Austin, too? We can all hang out, order pizza, and watch a movie or something.”

Just a modern-day double date, I think with amusement.

Sinking my teeth into a crisp carrot stick, I nod. “This afternoon I have a short rehearsal at the theater before our extended dress rehearsal tomorrow, but I’ll ask him if he can join us after.”

Lucas slides his elbows onto the table. “It’s about that time, huh? Cat told me opening night’s only two days away. Are you getting nervous?”

I shake my head and give him a smile that only comes from doing what I’ve always wanted but never dared to believe possible. “No,” I tell him. “I’m exhilarated, I’m eager, and perhaps a touch impatient—” I nudge Cat’s foot under the table, and she barks a laugh. “But I’m not nervous. For some reason, it feels as if I’ve been waiting my entire life for this role.”

…

Later that afternoon, I stand on my mark on the set of Juliet’s famous balcony, reciting the opening lines of the famous scene to my handsome costar…and continue seeing Austin’s face instead.

It’s been the same problem all day. Seeing blue eyes where there should be brown, tousled hair in lieu of styled, and the sound of Austin’s tempting whisper canceling out the screams, echoes, and questions of the crowded halls. In school I was not overly concerned, for I will unfortunately be gone long before any test scores are revealed. But here it is different. The theater is my forbidden dream come to life, one of the purposes for which Reyna sent me here, and I have to find a way to concentrate.

Sighing in frustration as I stumble over a line, I decide that this must be what falling in love feels like…

…and then my heart races, and I do an imaginary fist pump as I realize that if that is so, then this is exactly what Juliet felt every time she thought of her Romeo!

I ask to begin the scene again, and when I do, I bring the knowledge that I am in the middle of my own true-life love story to my performance. Utilizing the feelings stirring within me, I proclaim to Reid as Romeo the very words of forever love that I wish I could say to Austin. The new-to-me, yet centuries-old tale becomes real in a way it never has previously, and once again, I find in Juliet a kindred spirit.

Before I know it, Marilyn lifts a hand, signaling the end of the scene.

“Very well done, Alessandra,” she proclaims from her lamplit table—or the throne, as my fellow actors have grown to call it. “And Reid, you were fantastic as always. As the both of you know, our entire production builds to this final scene, and I could not be happier with how it’s coming together.”

Feeling the glow of praise shining in my warm cheeks, I watch Ms. Kent take a long pull from her ever- present water bottle. Then she points a finger and proclaims, “This scene is going to receive a lot of attention in the media this weekend. I hope you’re both ready for the accolades.”

I want to yell from the rooftops just how ready I am, but deciding that my exuberance may be a bit much, I instead issue my heartfelt gratitude and follow Reid into the curtained wings to wait for Austin. Jamie’s scene is coming up, and I know he won’t find a seat without first finding me. In fact, I’m counting on it.

The very moment we’re offstage, Reid takes me into his arms and twirls me around in a circle. “I told you that smile of yours is our secret weapon!” Setting me down but not letting go of my hands, he says, “Alessandra, I wish you could’ve seen yourself out there. I don’t know what happened; it seemed like you were a little lost in the beginning—it was probably just nerves. But after that, you totally owned it. You took an already spectacular performance and made it even better. I bow down to your talent.”

I laugh as he does just that, taking our joined hands and raising and lowering them in mock adoration. Knowing precisely what it was—or rather who it was—that bettered my performance