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A/N- Chapter 22 wohooo!!! Happy with the progress m getting but could really use some more votes specially seeing that I've got so MANY reads :D Plz just VOTE for ALL the chapters that you genuinely LIKED :D xxx

Chapter 22

[Alex's POV]

I stared at the large crimson banner with medieval gold lettering saying 'The Beauty And The Beast'.

People were filing into the auditorium, there was excitement in the air. I could feel it. Not that I should. I mean I'm the back-up, I don't even have to show my face. But I felt sort of thrilled all the same. I made my way back-stage. I didn't bother with the costume. Why should I? Stacey is here and she looks absolutely okay. Nothing less then a heart-attack can force her to not play the part of beauty. And honestly, I'm fine with it. I really am. Because really, I don't want to kiss Dylan.

Yup! You heard it right. I don't want to kiss him. It's just I don't know how I'll be able to supress my emotions once we end up kissing.

When I remember the incident back from a couple of days...I just feel embarrased but more importantly grateful-to Dylan. He hadn't brought up that topic and he hadn't said shit like "Its gonna be okay" and stuff when we talked about my dad. He was simple and straight-forward and stated the truth-my dad's not returning, better appreciate the people I have in my life. And I'm glad I have him.

It's just...I've started seeing him in a new light. His eyes seem to be the most beautiful ever. And his smile lights-up my insides...sort of. Its not just atttraction I feel towards him...its compassion.

I'm falling for him. I'm so sure of it. I've never been more aware of my feelings. And I'm not going to deny it because I can lie to the whole world but to not myself. I'm falling in love with Dylan Kennedy. 

If anyone would have told me I'd be falling for none other than Mr.Player himself a few weeks back, I would have laughed, laughed till my stomach hurt. Because something like that happenign seemed impossiple. Well, it's not. Because it has happened.

"Alex! Come here and wear your costume" I heard my best friend's voice and turned to see Tia standing there. She was the costume incharge and had helped prepare the costumes. And trust me, the costumes were awesome!

"What costume? I'm the back-up remember?" I said.

"It doesnt matter. You need to be prepared. The stage may need you. What if there's an emergency?"

"Hah! Emergency, are you kidding me? There's going to be no emergency."

"Alex...there could be, okay? Like what if Stacey breaks her leg or something?"

"No chance!"

"Alex, wear it at least? I really worked hard on it, specially on your gown"

"My gown?"

"Yeha, I made it a lot more pretty. It's almsot identical's to Stacey's but I made it kinda more pretty. Wear it for me?"

I was going to refuse but then I nodded. This is the least I could do for my best friend.

 She smiled and I headed off to the changing room. When I entered it, I saw Stacey was busy curling her blonde locks. She looked really pretty dressed up in a red gown identical to the one I was holding. And honestly, she looked beautiful.

"More make-up!" she shouted to no one in particular.

Almost beautiful I mean. That non-existing brain and her witchy voice totally ruined it for her. Oh well, nobody's perfect.

I entered one of the changing compartments and started wearing the gown. It's soft golden material was beautiful. The dress hugged my curves beautifully.  It had a strapless corset with mirror work. The skirt flowed down gorgeously. A satin ribbon was fastened around the waist line. This dress was beautiful.

I stepped out of the compartment and saw Stacey turn to look at me. Thats when I noticed the difference in our dresses. Her gown was simple actually. It had no mirror work and no satin ribbon. Apparently, Stacey noticed it too.

She gasped. "What are you doing in that dress?!"

"What do you mean? It's mine!"

"It can't be! It's not! I am the lead, I am beauty I should be wearing that gorgeous gown not you! You thief! I bet you stole it!"

"I did not!" I protested. "Besides your dress wouldnt even fit me. You can try this dress if you want but it'll be shorter for you and tighter"

"Are you implying I'm fat?"

"No, I mean...your more...curvacious and have a fuller body. It wont fit you."

"It won't fit me my ass! Get out of that dress and hand it over to me!"

I rolled my eyes. Why was she being so difficult? Oh well, this is Stacey we're talking about. She's always difficult. I sighed and gave-up turnign to the changing room, when I heard Tia's fmailair voice.

"Sorry Stacey, honestly, that dress isn't for you. I made it for Alex okay? It's my...gift to her. She's not wearign it for the play..."

Stacey's mouth dropped open. "B-but--"

"Sorry Stacey! C'mon Alex, we need to get you ready!" 

"Get ready? Whta for? I'm not the one acting Tia, I'm the back-up I won't be even going on the stage. In fact you wasted this dress on me, Stacey would look ten times better in it"

Tia shook her head. "Alex, just get ready, okay? We could have an emergency"

"I dont understand why you're wastign my or fot that matter your time. There's going to be no emergency whatsoever!"

"Alex, stop being difficult. Sit!" I sighed and obeyed. But really, what was the point? Tia got down to doign my hair, it was naturally wavy. She slightly curled it and then tied my long hair, slightly braiding it. She let a couple of curls loose, so that they feel on my face. She applied some gold eye-shadow and   a light pink lip-stick. A little bit of mascara and a little bit of blush. A golden necklace went around my neck and I was done.

I stared at my reflection in awe. I looked really good. Too bad, I'm not beauty.

"Tia, what are you doing really? I mean you dont need to dress me up, okay? I am not going on the stage!"

"Alex..."

"Tia, is something going on? What are you upto?"

"Uh...nothing! Nothing at all!"

"Tia..." I said warningly.

"Alex--"

"HILLGROVE HIGH WELCOMES YOU ALL! THE JUNIORS ARE PERFORMING THE PLAY BASED ON THE BEAUTIFUL FAIRYTALE-BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"

I slightly jumped, I was honestly startled. Looks like the show has finally started.

The students taking part in the drama piled up back-stage, ready to go off on the stage when the drama finally started. I stayed glue to my seat, getting bored. I mean why was I even here? I wasn't supposed to be in this place.

I saw Stacey come up. Surprisingly, she wasn't wearign that gold dress, and was wearing a simple yellow dress for the first few scenes. I wonder why she was wearing that golden dress anyway...

And then, my heart did a double hundred an eighty degree flip. There stood Dylan Kennedy, the guy who had my heart at the moment. God! When did I suddenly get so cheesy? But whatever, the important thing is, Dylan. He looked really amazing, even though slightly comical. He was wearing knee breaches with stockings (can you imagine?!) with leather boots and a white shirt with navy blue jacket over it with embroidery. His slightly messy brown hair was falling on his face. His greenish-blue eyes still had the same impact on me. He truely looked like a prince right out of a fairy tale.

My eyes lingered on him, adament to not see anything but him. He looked so...good. I just wanted to run over to him and kiss him passionatly. But sadly, the only thing I'll be doing tonight is watching him kiss Stacey on the stage.

[Torey's POV]-- For the first time ever!

I stared at my best friend, a smirk plastered on my face. Ha! That girl says she's not in love. She has to be kidding me. The way she's looking at Dylan right now...if only Dylan wasn't dense enough to see the love in her eyes.

However much Alex deny it, I know she'll be heart-broken when she sees him kissing Stacey up on the stage. There's only one thing that can be done. I have to do something. Best friend to the rescue!

The play had started, Stacey and Beauty's 'family' were already on the stage. A couple of minutes later, Dylan put on a mask, he did really look like a beast now and walked towards the stage, vanishing. Alex was still looking in the direction he had gone.

I had to do something...but what?

Me and Alex walked over near the curtains, and peeked at the stage. The scene where beauty meets the Beast for the first time was going on. Stacey was actually good at acting. But no way in hell is she kissing Dylan.

What should I do about it? What can I do about it?

And then I got it. I got the perfect idea ever. It was like an invisible blub hovering over my head which suddenly lighted up. And suddenly I knew what I had to do.

And I knew it was going to be awesome.

Stacey sauntered back-stage and went over to change for the final scene-the scene where Dylan transforms into a prince and kisses her. Well, he isn’t going to do that if my plan works. Stacey clutched the soft golden fabric of the dress. She did look pretty in it, too bad no one will see her in it.

“uh…Stacey?” I prompted.

“Hmmm…what?” she said, turning to look at me.

“You don’t have to wear it”

“What? Why?!”

“Because there’s this other dress, I want you to wear it. It’s really gorgeous! Its ten times better than this and I want you wearing it for the final scene”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah of course. I want you to come with me to the closet to see it. I mean if you don’t like it then you can wear this dress, okay?” I said. I hoped she would fall for it and follow me. If she doesn’t, my plan is ruined.

Thankfully, Stacey is a sucker for gorgeous dresses and she silently agreed to come with me.

“Okay, I’m coming, but it better be worth it. And make it fast, the last scene is about to come”

I nodded. “Wouldn’t want you to miss the last scene for the world”

****

“Where is it?” Stacey whined.

“It should be here…you check in at the back, okay?”

“Um…okay, hey! Where are you going?” she said as she saw me leaving.

“Uh…I’ll ask the head costume in charge about that dress. She ahs to know about it. I made it just for you!”

“Okay, but be back soon, or I’m leaving! I have to be on the stage in a couple of minutes”

I nodded. “Look for it!”

I ran out of the closet, and smiled at myself. This was so easy.

Stacey sauntered back-stage and went over to change for the final scene-the scene where Dylan transforms into a prince and kisses her. Well, he isn’t going to do that if my plan works. Stacey clutched the soft golden fabric of the dress. She did look pretty in it, too bad no one will see her in it.

“uh…Stacey?” I prompted.

“Hmmm…what?” she said, turning to look at me.

“You don’t have to wear it”

“What? Why?!”

“Because there’s this other dress, I want you to wear it. It’s really gorgeous! Its ten times better than this and I want you wearing it for the final scene”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah of course. I want you to come with me to the closet to see it. I mean if you don’t like it then you can wear this dress, okay?” I said. I hoped she would fall for it and follow me. If she doesn’t, my plan is ruined.

Thankfully, Stacey is a sucker for gorgeous dresses and she silently agreed to come with me.

“Okay, I’m coming, but it better be worth it. And make it fast, the last scene is about to come”

I nodded. “Wouldn’t want you to miss the last scene for the world”

****

“Where is it?” Stacey whined.

“It should be here…you check in at the back, okay?”

“Um…okay, hey! Where are you going?” she said as she saw me leaving.

“Uh…I’ll ask the head costume in charge about that dress. She ahs to know about it. I made it just for you!”

“Okay, but be back soon, or I’m leaving! I have to be on the stage in a couple of minutes”

I nodded. “Look for it!”

I ran out of the closet, and smiled at myself. This was so easy. I turned around and locked the closet.

"Oh no!" I suddenly shouted.

"What--what happened? Tia where are you?!"

"The closet door...it's stuck!"

"What?! Tell me you're kidding!" he voice came from inside.

"I'm serious! It's stuck. Who knew this room was so old?!"

"Oh-em-gee what am I going to do? I need to be out of there! Open the damn door Tia!"

"I can't okay? It's stuck. Let me call someone for help, you wait here"

"Come fast!"

"I will!"

 I walked off, smiling in triumph. Sure I could land in trouble for doing this, but hey, thats what best friends are for! And besides, Alex so deserves that kiss. Now I only have to sit and watch the show. It's going to eb awesome tonight.

****

[Alex's POV]

God! Where is she?! Stacey was nowhere to be seen. She should have been here ages ago. The scene is almost there where she has to make an entry. The beast is about to die, but the beauty is nowhere to be seen. God! I so hate her right now.

“Where is Stacey!?” Mrs. Radley’s familiar voice came up from behind me, only it sounded angry.

“I don’t know! She was here and then she—“

“Alex, I don’t care. Someone has to be up on the stage now! I can’t see the show getting ruined after everyone worked so hard. We have no time to look for her. Go!”

“What? What do you mean by go?”

“Go on the stage!”

“What? No! I can’t, I—“

“Go!” she started dragging me towards the curtains, and then with one light shove, I was on the stage, and there was no backing out.

I slightly stumbled in my low heels. I was on the stage. The auditorium was entirely filled with people, all looking expectantly at me on the stage. I could see their confusing faces. They were probably wondering what I was doing here and where the real beauty was.

Oh well, the show must go on.

“Beast? Beast?? Oh god! Beast!” I rushed towards Dylan, lying on the floor. Only, he was wearing that crazy mask. I vigorously shook him.

“Beast! Wake-up! Wake-up! You have to wake-up! For me, if not for yourself! Because I love you! Wake-up and I’ll marry you just like you wanted me to. Wake-up beast! Please! I need you! Wake-up for me!”

I bent down and pressed my lips really close to his, but not really on them. I saw Dylan’s body tense up as he finally realized it was me who was here and not Stacey. Was he disappointed? Was he sad that he would have to kiss me instead of Stacey. I felt like crying just at the thought of it.

Shut up Alex! Stop thinking about it. Just get it over with. Okay...you can do it!

Dylan opened his eyes and they locked straight into mine. He stopped breathing, the surprise on his face was evident. We both kept staring at each other. It seemed like forever before Dylan got a grip over himself and started getting up.

"I love you--" my heart stopped beating "--beauty" and then I got disappointed. Of course. He wasn't going to say I love you Alex.

 "I--I love you too!" It felt weird saying it like this to him.

Then suddenly, the stage started getting foggy. I couldn't see properly. Then I noticed Dylan throwing off his mask. Oh, so this was supposed to be his 'transformation'.

I sucked up my breath. Up close, Dylan looked really amazing.

We both got up and the fog cleared, we could see the audience again. Dylan turned to me. "You've turned me to the man I am. You saw past the beast in me to the prince I am at heart, and for that, I really love you" and with that, before I could realise what was happening.

He wrapped hisa rms around my waist and pulled me towards him. He lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine, And we were kissing.

I'd forgotten how good it felt kissing Dylan. His taste, his soft lips, the feel of his arms around my waist...it all felt so perfect. I felt so perfect. I didn't want to ever stop. His kiss was making my knees tremble, my breathing was coming ragged, my heart was drumming against my chest. He hadn't had this effect on me before. And I'm so sure this because I finally am in love with him.

"...AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER"

I reluctantly parted form Dylan, surprisingly, I'd been kissing him back. The way Dylan was looking at me right now...

I turned away abruptly, as soon as the curtains fell and hurried away. I need to clear my head. We're not beauty and the beast--we don't have a happy ending. We haven't even started, then how can it end?

I need to tell him. I need him to know. I need to know. I need to know how he feels. 

I sighed.

I'm going to tell him.

I'm going to tell Dylan Kennedy I'm in love with him.

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A/N- Hit the the vote button and make me happy! Told ya something big's comign up. Alex is gonna confess. Are you excited? you better be! ;D VOTE AND COMMENT

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