Moonlight Sonata

[soliloquy]

Anna Trawler hustled to get everything ready for the auditions that were starting in twenty minutes. She looked at her watch. No, make that fifteen

"Charlene," she hollered for the assistant stage manager, "I'll need the headsets and have Sam bring the number eight dimmer up another notch. I don't want to have to strain to see what I'm writing. Who's taking care of collecting the headshots?"

She walked briskly towards the small office they had given her. Really a glamorized, walk-in closet, but this wasn't Broadway or Hollywood, and one had to take what she could get. She brushed a piece of lint off of her Anne Taylor dress, and kicked off her shoes for a moment of relief. Charlene trailed behind her. "Here are the headsets, Ms. Trawler, and Jason's taking care of the headshots. You want them stapled to the applications?"

Anna took a sip of her hot tea and spoke as she gathered up the needed paperwork. "Of course I want them stapled to the applications. And if Jason could manage not to write on them this time, I would love it."

She picked up her character list for the play she was auditioning. Dancing at Lughnasa was one of Brian Friel's newest masterpieces. She shook her head in frustration. Who could she get to play the boy? None of the younger actors she was accustomed to were able to pull off an Irish brogue very well, or lacked the ability to play such a dual character. The boy was written as a man remembering his aunts, and looking in from the outside. He had to be able to convincingly change from boy to man with no more than a beat between.

She gathered her papers and headed into the house of the theater. "Charlene, make sure no mics are on. I want actors who can project this time!" She set her things down on the makeshift desk near the center of the house. Suddenly, she remembered she had left her shoes in her office.

Two minutes and counting. She raced out the side exit to avoid the throngs of hopeful actors, and began to jog towards her office.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt Cramer

Kurt was waiting by the side door for his audition, when he saw her dashing out of the door. He did a double take, yes it was her, Anna Trawler he hadn't seen her for eight years. She had written once or twice from college. He had gone to acting school and flunked out. Not wanting to disappoint her he had not written back. They had been such good friends he shouldn't have let that get in the way but he did.

Was this his chance to make amends, to renew their acquaintances. And what was she doing here auditioning also? any way he had to talk to her at least maybe have tea somewhere find out what she'd been doing.

He looked at the line ahead of him by the looks of it the competition was stiff. Hell he'd pass on this one, catch her and forget the audition he turned and ran after her.

Anna he called, It's me Kurt.

 

[soliloquy]

As she was making her way to her office, she heard a voice.

Anna! It's me Kurt.

Anna turned as she was running, and spotted the young man just before her toe made contact with a pedestal she hadn't noticed.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" she whispered as she bent down to grab her stubbed toe.

When she finally let go, there was a pair of men's dress shoes just in front of her face. She raised her eyes up his body, yes attractive body. Finally her eyes settled on his face. It was a strong, handsome face. It took her a second to connect the name with the face.

"Kurt?" she asked increduously. "Kurt!" she grabbed him with a hug. "What are you doing here? You're not here to audition, are you?" She could only hope. He was good in high school, for high school, at least. But she had heard from someone who heard from someone that he had flunked out of college.

"Walk with me, talk with me Kurt," she said, as she headed back to her office and slipped on her shoes.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

Annas hug transported Kurt into the past as it seemed like only yesterday, that, after the applause they stood behind the curtain sharing the joy of their performance with a friendly hug.

he hugged her back with the same enthusiam and then somewhat embarrassed by his exuberance pulled back only to find himself looking into her sparkling brown eyes.

Blushing he replied well.... I thought I'd give it a try... Are you auditioning too we'd better get back or we'll miss our shot at fame and glory.

She hadn't changed much he thought as they walked back together, still wore her brown hair long like he liked and maybe she'd gained a pound or two but her face had that same bright optimistic smile and her eyes held that drive to have it all. He began to wonder why she was here in this small town instead of New York or L.A.

He thought of all the questions he wanted to ask her, like was she married and if she lived here and did she still have those dreams she had in high school, but it all seemed trivial at least for now and so he simply smiled and said.

I missed you Anna. I miss our friendship.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

Anna smiled eagerly. "Good! Can you still do that Irish dialect you were so good at? Because I'm not auditioning for a role, I am casting! Yep! I'm director"

She began heading back to the theater, with Kurt in tow. They were almost there when she heard him say:

I missed you Anna. I miss our friendship

She smiled tenderly. "I missed you too Kurt. And now we don't have to miss the friendship anymore. Listen, I have to get to these auditions, but they're over at five. Why don't we go have dinner?"

He agreed. She pulled the door to the theater, and then looked back. He was walking away, towards the throng of auditionees. "Hey Kurt!" He looked towards her. "If you chicken out, I'll break your knees" she said in a mob-boss voice.

He laughed and she entered the theater. Charlene had been looking for her. "Sorry, Char, let's get started." She thought she was really going to enjoy auditions, this time.

She saw the typical montage of actors: very accomplished actors, actors who lacked some depth but showed promise, and then the actors who shouldn't be called actors at all. She was beginning to get tense about some of the roles, namely the boy. Then Kurt stepped up to bat. His reading was endearing, and subtle. He transformed into another person. He would, in one second, transform from a 25 year old man remembering his aunts, to a 6 year old boy playing with his mother with touching validity. She smiled. She had wondered what it might be like had she not been able to cast him, but she wouldn't have to worry about that. He just got himself a job.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

he was thinking about chickening out until Anna challenged him with,

I'll break your knees!

Instead he decided to break a leg! He gave the performance of his life and although the competition was stiff, he left the stage knowing he had done the best he could even if he didn't get the part.

He chose a quiet restaurant with a smooth Jazz band and French decor. He had thought about the pizza place they used to frequent but wanted to bring them to the present not cling to the past.


Not that he didn't want to remeniss and from time to time, they would no doubt share memories.
Right now he just wanted to reconnect to bring into the present the wonderfull close friendship they had shared before.

He held her chair and bowed as she sat down

Well now, lass it's not O'malleys pub, now is it, but I'm afaid it'll have to do.

He grined happy with himself and happy being here with her.

Well...

They both said at the same time

They laughed and started again

Well...you go first

Again at the same time

they then were gigling like children.

Kurt dug a coin from hs pocket.

heads or tails.

They laughed again as the coin spun in the air.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

Anna watched the coin glimmer as it spun in the dim lights of the restaraunt. It was the perfect atmosphere for post-audition chit-chat. She was always so tense after auditions, always feeling that egos hung in the balance due to her. But she had learned long ago that an audition means accepting few and rejecting many. She always hid out the day that she posted the list and Charlene called the fortunate ones.


"Forget the coin, Kurt. It may not be O'Malley's pub, or Joey's Pizzaria, but it's lovely."

He sat. She couldn't believe how he had grown into such a strong looking man. "Let's catch up! What have you been doing? You know, I did try and stay in contact, but I'm not sure if my letters ever got to you."

She looked at him expectantly. She wanted him to say he had never gotten the letters. She didn't want to hear that he had so trivialized their friendship. He didn't say anything, and that was answer enough.

The waiter stopped by in their silence and took their orders. "I'll have the filet mingon, well done, please. And instead of the baked potato could I get some grilled vegetables, no butter?" The waiter nodded. "And I would like the salad with italian dressing on the side." Kurt laughed. "Hey, that wasn't too bad. You know my orders can get more complicated than that. And a midori sour, please."

"So tell me," she said, after the waiter had left, "what have you been up to that you weren't able to write me back?" She tried to make a joke out of it. After all, years had gone by, and there wasn't much use in being angry about it. They were kids then.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

Let's catch up

The words caught him off guard, he had hoped that they didn't need to catch up, that they could just continue, like it was only just yesterday, that they had been together.

He realized of course it had been eight years and he owed her an explaination. It might as well be now he thought but was troubled by the thought that he really couldn't explain it to himself much less her.

The waiter saved him, for the moment anyway. He listened to her order smiling at her competance and control.

the waiter looked at him

Fish, he said slowly, The broiled walleye, the house salad and a glass of chardonay, please.

The waiter left and he looked in Annas eyes. They were sparkling with couriosity and he knew she wasn't angry with him. His face brightened too and he reached across the table and put his hand on hers knowing that the physical contact would help him better show her his feelings.

well.. I sort of messed up at college maybe I was just too independant anyway I just didn't seem to fit in. I jumped in and out of a couple of relationships that didn't seem to be working out.

I inherited a rather primitive cottage down by Lake Jonhna just outside of town,no electricity no telephone. Spent some time just digging around in the garden, walking in the woods. read a lot and tried my hand at writing.

Then one day I decided to see what the rest of the world was doing and picked up a newspaper. I was drawn to the add for auditions and thats where I found you. he smiled and squeezed her hand.

Though I guess it was me that was lost, right. and... maybe you found me. He grinned and as the waiter brought their drinks, raised his glass and made the toast.

To being lost and found, whoever that may be.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

She smiled at him tenderly as their glasses made the soft clink. He was so afraid to tell her all of this, and yet it seemed he had led a very quiet, peaceful life. She sipped her drink.

"Well, I'll forgive you for neglecting me. And if you got too used to that quiet life, you better be ready for it to get really hectic." She left the statement vague, but he knew what she was getting at.

His face lit up like a little boy at Christmas time. Whether it was the drink, or this renewal of friendship, something was making her feel warm and content inside.

They ate their meal slowly as they were to busy talking to eat quickly. She told him of how she had acted for this company for two years while she got her masters in Theater Arts with an emphasis in directing. She told him of the year from hell when she played Assistant Director to the drunken man they hired for a director. Then, last year, they invited her to direct The Taming of the Shrew and had promoted her soon after.

"You know, Kurt, everyone wants to be on Broadway or in LA, but Deerfield holds a special place in my heart. We do good theater here. And we are well recieved in the newspapers. However, I want us to be great. And I think you just might be the key to that greatness."

They reminisced about old times. "Do you remember the time during Little Shop that Aaron fell into the plant and couldn't get out?" They laughed. The waiter cleared their dishes and asked if they wanted dessert. "What do you think Kurt?" They ordered cheesecake to share. Anna pulled a cigarette out of her purse. "Do you mind? Nasty habit, I know. My ex used to smoke like a chimney and I started smoking with him. First sign I should have seen, huh?"

Something in her told her this was going to be the new beginning of a beautiful friendship.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

kurt Enjoyed their antimated conversation getting a word in edgewise every now and then, happy to share with her the vision she had and know her aspirations. He realized when she talked about his life getting hectic that he had a role in all of this. He just hoped that he could do her theater company justice.

He grinned over the cheese cake and traded bites with her as they fed each other.

Remember how we used to drink those tall malts together you know one malt.. two straws.. we'd get ice cream headaches racing to the bottom to where the fruit was.

We had some good times didn't we. He grew serious and added I hope there's more to come good times I mean.

She asked about the smoking and he replied

well, yes I do but ....

he was going to tell her it was ok but couldn't lie.

You're right it is a nasty habit but I never strted so I have no idea how it is for you, I don't mind the smoke I only care enough about you to want you not to do it.

He didn't know why he was lecturing her but realized he did care. she was a special friend and now that they were back in each others lives he wanted the best for her.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

"I can smoke any time," she replied, throwing her cigarette back into her purse.

She tried to pay for the meal and he refused her offer, paying with his credit card. They walked out together and once on the street, she looped her arm in his. "Kurt, I am so glad you came back into my life. You know, so many years of hard work has left me with few true friends."

They strolled aimlessly down the street, away from his car. She looked up at the full moon and the clear stars. She sighed and stopped where she was. "You know, you can't get this in New York. Your own moonlight sonata. The polution, the lights. Here, the sky plays a symphony for us. Right now it is singing a song for us. Kurt and Anna, back in the swing. We're gonna take this town by force and leave it wondering what it ever did without us." Her voice never rose above a whisper.

She turned back towards the car. "It's getting late, and tomorrow I am going to have to meet with the set designer. Drop me at home? I'll pick up my car tomorrow." She was too tired to drive, to tired to move another step, almost.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

Listening to her voice whispering, her hopes and dreams about her.. about them.... lifted Kurts spirits. Maybe this was what he needed to put his lif on track, to get involved with people again, to throw himself completely into his character. Hhe knew he'd love to do her play.

He helped her into the car and they rode in silence to her place. It was like it used to be, neither one of them having to say much, just being together was enough. At her place he asked her about tommorow, would they have time to go over the script, would she come to the cottage he wanted to show it to her it was only a ten minute drive she love it there he said his voice excited to show her.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

"I would love to, Kurt" she said, standing in the doorway. "I have to meet with the designer at ten, but I could come at noon. Do you still make a mean omelette?" He grinned. "Take care, Kurt, and I will bring the script with me tomorrow." She pecked him on the cheek and closed the door behind him.

She went to her answering machine:

"Hey Anna, it's Franklin. I hope you aren't still angry with me. I am truly sorry, baby. Can we have a do-over?"

She picked up the phone and called him. "Franklin?"

"Hey baby!"

"Franklin, you have to stop calling me. There is no do over." She didn't wait for a reply, she just set the handset back in the cradle and began to get ready for bed.

She crawled into bed, her brown curls cascading over the pillows. She smiled. Nothing could stop her now.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

"I'll pick you up then".

he had almost saidIt's a date

They never really had a date, they always just sort of hung out, planing their meeting and then just kind of bumping into one another sometimes, there usually were lots of their friends around and they were seldom alone together and when they were they were usually going or coming from somewhere.

Some how this mornig brunch, he was already planing with enthusiasm, was a bit different. He shrugged his shoulders and thought about all the neat things he wanted to show Anna at the cottage.

"Here it is m'lady"

He swung the door open and bowed as she stepped over the threshold. it was a tiny but spacious cottage overlooking a crystal clear lake. flower gardens were every where. Tall trees made a shady canopy above them and the sun peeked through, sending shafts of light earthward. Inside a tiny kitchen opened into a windowed dining area. A fireplace stood at one end of this room and soft cussiony chairs surounded it. One wall was covered with a book case filled with books and the other a window gave a view of the lake. a porch outside had a suspended swing and a couple of rocking chairs. Off to the left there was a bedroom and the bath, tiny but adequate, next to it. he had started a fire before he left to pick Anna up so it burned brightly now, taking the nights chill off the house.

He beconed toward the fire place.

"make yourslf at home I'll make some omelets started as I remember corectly, you like mushrooms right".

It was interesting he thought that he could remember so many details about her.

 

[soliloquy]

Anna

Anna stepped over the threshold and contained a gasp as she eyed his cottage. It was straight out of an Anthony Hopkin's movie. The bookcases were made of cherry and walnut. The hard wood floors were accentuated by area rugs. Though it had a very masculine feel to it, she couldn't help but think that Kurt was not the kind to decorate. Perhaps he had the help of a woman. The feeling that hit her as she thought of a woman helping him decorate was foreign to her. Couldn't be jealousy.

"Um, what? Oh, yes...always have to have mushrooms." She laid the script down on a walnut table beside a raw sienna-colored leather chair. Her fingertips grazed over the lacquered finish. What in the world did he do to get this place? Sell his soul?

"Your place takes my breath away." She looked out the window to the lake. It was like something out of a movie. She could imagine being wrapped up in a blanket on the porch, sipping coffee, and reading William Blake or Shakespeare. It had that romantic feel to it.

"How'd the meeting with the designer go?" he asked loudly to compensate for the sound of the sizzling vegetables.

"It went very well. Dana and I never seem to see eye to eye, but this time I think we only disagreed on the colors. We'll work that out with the costume designer in a couple of days. Rehearsal starts Monday, by the way, 8:00. Christ, Kurt! What does a man do to have a place like this?" She sunk into the leather chair and pulled an afghan over her legs. She closed her eyes as Kurt answered her, explaining that he had inherited it.

He set the omelettes on the table and she went to join him. He pulled out her chair. She giggled. "You can dispense with the formality, Kurt. Remember me, Anna-never-crosses-her-legs-Trawler? Ok, so I do now that I wear dresses, but I'm still one of the guys!"

They ate and she explained some things about the script to him. "You have three huge monologues as the adult. Most of your other acting will be as the boy, but there will be times that you will have to change rapidly. You'll never really interact with the women, you will remain on the outside as they act with the invisible boy. Not a physically demanding role, but definitely a challenge." The director in her seemed to have taken over, and she took a deep breath to return to friend mode. "Sorry...tiger lady strikes."

He was smiling at her...no, his eyes were smiling at her. Eyes so deep you could lose yourself in them...

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

As he listened to her, he began to feel something he hadn't felt in years.The desire to get caught up in acting again the sense of wanting to express to the world, his feelings, his soul and spirit. It was the same feeling he had felt when they had been together in high school and he realized she was the catylist that ignited his ardor, she was his muse. But there was a new dimemsion that he felt had been added. Whether it was because he had matured or because of her coming back into his life, he didn't know, but his zest for the theater seemed to be spilling over into his real self, more than his character on the stage, but what his own spirit and soul were about. He felt an awareness that he had never felt before an excitement he'd never known before. He knew his excitement showed in his eyes as he looked at Anna as if for the first time. He thought was this ... no it couldn't be he didn't even dare think of the word ...love... he thought he'd been in love before only to have it disappear What he felt for Anna he didn't want to disappear so he told himself it wasn't love and perhaps he was right but did it really matter what they had was great that was what was important.

He grinned, Taking a strand of hair that had fallen across her forehead and placing it behind her ear.

The smell of coffee interupted his reverie. He motioned to the porch door. "

"Try that swing, he said grinning, remember how we used to push each other on the swings in the town park, daring each other to go higher and higher untill we were laughing uncontrolably.

" I'll bring the coffee."

 

[soliloquy]

Anna sat in the porch swing and looked over the grounds. It truly was beautiful. Kurt sat next to her and handed her her cup of coffee. Sugar, no cream, just as she had always liked it. She set her coffee on the ground and curled up to him. In a way, it was more natural than it had been with Franklin, curling up like this.

"Kurt, I'm really glad we reconnected. I was missing a good friend." She wrapped an arm around him, hoping he wasn't getting uncomfortable from this. She just needed to feel comfort. When he didn't move, and didn't say anything, she suddenly felt foolish and sat up.

"I'm sorry. I just..." She didn't know how to finish the sentence. She stood up and leaned over the railing. What was she doing?

She didn't even notice him behind her, and she turned around just to bump into him. They laughed. "Kurt, I really should go..."

She walked into the house, half hoping he would let her, half hoping he would stop her. Where was all this coming from?

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

They sat in silence for a while sipping there cofee nad then Anna set hers on the ground. then she curled up next to him her body fitting naturally into the curve of his.
"Reconected"

He heard and to be sure that was what he was feeling so much so that he didn't answer just enjoyed the feeling then as her arm came up around him he felt another feeling a tension of sorts and he thought she must have felt it to as she pulled away

"I'm sorry"

She said and got up sorry for what Kurt wondered sorry for what? Feeling what he was feeling too.

"I'ts ok he whispered as he stood behind her and put his arms around her "I understand and he did too, he knew they were heading somewhere special, that their friend relationship was evolving into something more. And he knew it was Ok. She turned looking up into his eyes, seeing a spark of something that hadn't been there before.

 

[soliloquy]

And that spark scared her. How could he understand when she couldn't understand, herself. She turned her head and went to pick up her purse.

"Anna.." Kurt looked at her pleadingly.

"Kurt, I don't know what this is. I mean, I just broke it off with my last boyfriend, and...what if I am just looking to you for companionship? What if it ruins our friendship? I couldn't bear that." She looked into his eyes. She couldn't stay. She couldn't go. She was frozen in place, her purse hanging limply from her arm.

"I lost your friendship once..." She felt she was being overly dramatic, but all these feelings were developing so quickly. "And we have a play to think about..." She was spitting out fragments in a desperate attempt to straighten it all out. He was just letting her work through it. "And I have so little time these days..." Still, no response from Kurt. "But..."

"But..." he finally responded and took a step towards her. Her purse slipped from her arm, making the decision for her.

"But, maybe..." she stepped closer. "Maybe we could finish our coffee on the swing." She took his hand and led him to the swing. She once again curled up naturally into him and wrapped her arm around him. "But what if this is all wrong, Kurt? What if..."

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

As she curled up in his lap Kurts hand went naturally to her hair, his fingers weaving their way throuh her dark curls just brushing gently at her neck and shoulders.

A pair of oreoles in the maple tree above them were building a swinging nest their melodious harmony cascaded down to them bright cheerfull full of optomistic joy. each one in turn added their voice to the concert, each one complimenting the other, building their concert as they built their nest . "

"Listen," Kurt said softly looking up into the trees and seeing specks of orange and black moving amongst the green leaves. "It's like a sonota, Anna". he exclaimed. "Last week when I was here they had just reunited after coming back from the south. Their song was slow and carefully orcastrated. Now today the've come to the second movement. Today their sharing some new feeling and celebrating it with the second movement"

His hand found her chin and turned her face to his "Maybe this new feeling is our second movement built on the foundation of our friendship perhaps we can find joy and celebration in it as it progresses."

Kurt smiled not so much at Anna as at himself, Where did he find those words he just uttered. He didn't know. He only knew he felt very close to this very special woman and he was ready to build on the foundation that they shared.

His foot went out and down pushing against the floor swinging them backwards and then forwards again. Another push and they were moving freely silently, back and forth.

 

[soliloquy]

That night, while lying in bed, Anna could still feel his warmth surrounding her. She smiled timidly, as if he were there with him. She didn't know where these feelings were leading, but she knew that she wouldn't let anything happen to destroy this relationship. His words floated over her as she thought of their sonata. She sighed like a schoolgirl in love. She shook it from her mind. She reached down and grabbed her notes for rehearsal the next day and scanned over them.

Anna arrived at the auditorium at six. She arranged a large, round table on the stage for a roundtable reading. She went over her cast list and smiled as she placed a check next to Kurt's name.

The next thing she knew, she looked out into the house to see Kurt standing in the first row of seats, just looking at her. "Kurt, you goof. You are almost an hour early! It's only seven fifteen."

"Thought I could help you, if you need it."

"Thank you, but I think I have everything ready. Oh, the scripts. Can you run to my office and grab them?"

The read through went well and they went straight into blocking. Mamie Carpenter was playing the role of Maggie, and definitely showed some inexperience. Charlene had mapped out the set in spike tape on the floor, and everyone seemed to get it, but Mamie.

"Mamie, you're standing on the garden wall, love...and you can't look at Kurt when you are talking to Michael. You have to imagine he is a little boy standing right in front of you."

The rehearsal droned on until lunch.

"Well, Kurt, you want to have lunch? We have two hours."

"Sure. Where would you like to go?"

"Why don't we go to my apartment. I cook a mean frozen pizza. I want to talk to you about Mamie. I was thinking you could help her."

They walked out to the car, and it wasn't until she went to get her keys that she realized they had been holding hands. Just so natural.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

Kurt was up with the sun, the oreoles were too, and he watched them put the finishing touches on their swing nest as they warbled. He thought about yesterday. he began to warble back at them but they payed no attention to his amature attempts and went on singing to each other.

Kurt smiled to himself Thinking about who he should be singing to and with that in mind jumped in his car and headed for town. Hhe knew he was early but he just wanted so bad to be there to began this new adventure with Anna.

He moved easily into the little boy role for the reading and even after rehearsal was over and Anna and he were heading for the car he took her hand and playfully held it. He wanted to skip but he saw the parking lot attendant already eyeing them suspiciously. He purposfully said a cheerfull good morning to him.

While they waited for the pizza to cook, Anna showed him around the apartment.

 

[soliloquy]

"Well, that's the tour. It ain't much, but it's mine," she laughed. "Oh, I almost forgot. Cost me a fortune, but it's worth more than five times what I paid for it."

She opened the lockbox and pulled out an autographed copy of Lanford Wilson's Hot L Baltimore. "It is one of my favorite posessions.

He skimmed through the pages and the timer dinged from the kitchen. Anna cut the pizza and served them each up a slice. "This is nice, Kurt." And she meant every word.

 

[afternooner]

Kurt

Kurt watched her eat her pizza nad nibbled on his own.

" youve got more sausage than me,"

well she didn't really but he just felt mischevious so he grabbed at hers she tugged back and soon they were eating the same piece no longer trying to keep it away from each other but feeding each other willingly. They continued with his piece and another until they were gigling hysterically. Kurt reached for her coke and she caught him out.

"Oh no you dont"

She pulled it out of his reach.

Looking in her eyes he saw a shine he never saw before and then he thought of something else.

Did you quit smoking? I haven't seen you light up since... well I guess not at all... since after you asked in the resturant... when we found each other again."

 

[soliloquy]

"Well, I really don't smoke that often," she replied a bit defensively, "and to tell you the truth, I just haven't smoked around you."

He smiled at her. She supposed it was a compliment of sorts. She set the pizza down and crossed over to him. She took his hand and guided him to his feet.

"Care to dance?" she asked.

"Would love to." Their bodies molded against each other as they danced to the music of silence. Her head rested on his chest, just below his shoulder. Her hand, encapsulated in his own was pressed against him, her other arm around his waist.

They dreamily swayed and Anna closed her eyes. Reveling in the feel of his body, his presence. "I wish we didn't have to go back to rehearsal later." She whispered this.

She looked up at him expectantly...