Chapter 6: NO WITNESSES
1431 Words
Chapter 6: No Witnesses
Theater rehearsals were in full swing. The air inside the theater room smelled of dust and old curtains, and the faint echoes of past performances seemed to linger in the space. Scripts rustled, feet shuffled against the wooden stage, and low murmurs filled the air as cast members recited their lines. The props team adjusted set pieces, while the lighting crew tested different angles, bathing the stage in warm glows and sharp contrasts.
At the center of it all, Mia sat stiffly on one of the wooden chairs, gripping her script like it was a lifeline.
Miss Aurora, their drama coach, clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention. “Alright, let’s go over the flow of the play one more time. I need everyone to be familiar with the structure, especially the leads.” Her eyes flickered toward Mia and Haze. “We can’t afford hesitation, people.”
Haze, standing lazily at the edge of the stage, smirked. “You heard her, princess. No hesitation.”
Mia shot him a glare. “Don’t call me that.”
.From the side, Kierra—the gorgeous, sharp-tongued campus queen—tossed her long, brown hair over her shoulder, her manicured nails gliding through the silky strands. Her deep brown eyes gleamed with thinly veiled irritation as she watched Mia hesitate on stage.
“If you can’t handle the pressure, Mia, maybe someone more fitting should take your place.” She tilted her chin, flashing a knowing smirk. “After all, a scene like this requires chemistry—not awkward silence.”
Her gaze flickered to Haze, softening just enough to be noticeable.
As if she should be the one standing opposite him instead.
Mia clenched her jaw but refused to give Kierra the satisfaction of a reaction.
“Jealous much, Kierra?” Raiven, one of the supporting male actors, chuckled. “Let Mia breathe. It’s her first time acting.”
Kierra smirked. “Exactly my point. First-timers tend to ruin good performances.”
Haze suddenly let out a low chuckle. “Relax, Kierra. No one’s taking your spotlight, yet.”
Mia ignored the interaction and tried to focus as Miss Aurora continued.
“We’ll run through the confession scene. From the top.”
Mia exhaled deeply and stepped forward. She knew what was coming. The confrontation. The confession. And then… the kiss.
Haze stood in front of her, his usual arrogance replaced with something unreadable.
“You don’t get it, do you?” Mia started, voice slightly shaky. “I was never just here to help you win. I—”
She hesitated.
Miss Aurora’s voice cut through the silence. “Mia. Again.”
Mia swallowed. “I—I—”
The words stuck in her throat.
From the side, Kindrew, who played the rival love interest, leaned against the stage with an amused smirk. “If she can’t say it, maybe I should take over. I wouldn’t mind being in the spotlight—and the kiss.”
Mia shot him a look. “Shut up, Kindrew.”
Haze’s jaw ticked. “Try it, and I’ll make sure you don’t have lips left to kiss with.”
Raiven snorted. “Oof. Didn’t realize this was a love triangle in real life too.”
Micah, another supporting cast member, grinned. “Well, if we’re replacing people, I vote for someone with fewer enemies.”
Miss Aurora sighed. “Alright, stop it. We’re focusing on the play, not your personal dramas.” She turned to Mia. “You need to take this seriously. You’re holding back too much.”
Mia clenched her jaw. “I’m trying.”
Miss Aurora softened slightly. “I know. But you need to find a way to be comfortable with this scene. Otherwise, it’s going to look forced.”
Mia nodded, though embarrassment burned inside her.
“We’ll revisit this in the next practice,” Miss Aurora decided. “For now, take a break.”
As the group dispersed, Kierra walked past Mia with a smug smile. “Better step up, Mia. The audience expects a real love story, not stage fright.”
Mia ignored her, feeling her frustration rise.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Raiven muttered, nudging her shoulder. “You’re doing fine.”
Kindrew smirked. “Yeah. Besides, if Haze gets too annoying, you could always switch to me.”
Haze, who was now sitting on one of the stage props, scoffed. “In your dreams.”
Mia groaned.
After rehearsal, Mia grabbed her bag, ready to bolt out of the theater room. But before she could escape, Haze appeared beside her.
“Rough day, huh?” he said casually.
She groaned. “Please don’t.”
Haze ignored her distress. “Listen, you know we’re gonna have to nail that scene sooner or later.”
Mia sighed. “I know.”
Haze stopped walking and turned to face her. “Then let’s fix it.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Fix what?”
“The awkwardness,” he said simply. “We can practice it. Just the two of us. No witnesses”
Mia blinked. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” Haze crossed his arms. “If we practice without everyone watching, maybe you won’t freak out when we actually have to do it.”
Her stomach twisted. The idea of being alone with Haze, rehearsing that scene, made her skin prickle with nerves. She wasn’t nervous about acting. She wasn’t! So why did her heart feel like it was about to explode just imagining it?
Mia bolted—straight out of the theater room, past the empty corridors, and into the school courtyard. But Haze, being the annoyingly persistent person he was, followed her.
And he didn’t stop.
For the past hour, he had trailed after her, throwing out reasons, arguments, and the occasional teasing remark, all in an attempt to get her to agree.
Mia had tried everything to escape—ducking behind doors, pretending to be busy with her phone, even hiding in the girls' restroom for a solid ten minutes. But each time she stepped out, there he was, leaning against a wall with that stupid smirk of his, waiting.
“Haze, for the last time, no!” Mia groaned, walking faster.
“You didn’t even let me finish my sentence,” Haze whined, easily keeping up with her.
“I already know what you’re going to say.”
“Oh yeah?” He raised an eyebrow. “Then tell me.”
Mia huffed. “‘Mia, if we practice now, you won’t embarrass yourself later.’” She deepened her voice in a poor impression of him. “‘Mia, it’s just acting, why are you freaking out? Mia, stop being dramatic
Her stomach twisted. “I don’t know…”
He grinned. “You’re kinda cute when you’re mad.”
Mia nearly tripped. “Excuse me?”
“Nothing.” He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Look, all I’m saying is—”
“I said no.”
“Mia—”
“No.”
“But—”
“No.”
A beat of silence.
Haze leaned in slightly, his voice dropping into a low, teasing tone. “Unless you’re scared.”
Mia’s breath caught. Her stomach flipped. Her pulse drummed against her skin.
“I’m not scared,” she muttered, taking a step back.
He smirked. “Then prove it.”
She hesitated, knowing this was a terrible idea.
Haze sighed heavily, dropping his playful tone. “Okay, fine. Let me ask you one thing.”
Mia glanced at him warily. “…What?”
“Are you planning to suck at this scene forever?”
She frowned. “What—”
“You wanna make Kierra look down on you even more?”
Her face twitched.
“You want the audience to cringe instead of swoon?”
Mia’s stomach twisted. “That’s not—”
“You want Kindrew to step in and take my role instead?”
Mia’s eyes snapped up in alarm. “What?! No!”
Haze smirked, sensing victory. “Then practice with me.”
She groaned, gripping her hair. “You are so annoying.”
“I know.”
Mia exhaled sharply, eyes darting anywhere but his face. “Fine. But only because I don’t want to humiliate myself.”
Haze grinned. “That’s my girl.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
This was just practice.
Nothing more.
Right?
- Writer
