It's Not A Dream, Is It? Part 7

Abby and Emma sat in the first row of the theater listening to Mrs. Erickson giving some tips on acting.

"So...tell me what happen?" Emma whispered.
"We just had dinner, Emma. What do you think happened?" Abby told her.
"I want details, girl. Like where did you go?" she asked.
"We went to a really fancy Italian restaurant and had dinner on the roof." she said.
"And? Come on Abby, I know there's something you're not telling me." Emma said.
"Well...after we returned to my apartment we were standing outside the door. I thanked him for taking me out and just before he left he kissed me on the cheek."
"Ohhh! Abby you lucky girl! Does that mean there will be more dates in your future?" she asked excitedly.
"I don't know. I least I hope so..." she said.

She looked over to her right, where only a few seats away sat Tom. He noticed her looking at him and turned and looked at her. He smiled at her and she smiled back, but then looked away.

"You guys are too cute." Emma said.
"Oh, shut up." she said.

Eventually when Mrs. Erickson was done everyone got back in their groups. Tom and her returned to their spot in theater.
"Hello. How are you?" he said.
"Hi. I'm doing pretty good." she said back.
"That's good. You did have fun last night?" he asked.
"Oh, yes! It was wonderful, thank you." she said.

Before he could say anything back Mrs. Erickson came up to them.
"Looks like it will just be you two today. Christine not feeling well, but don't worry she'll be better in no time." she told them.
"That's okay. Hope she feels better soon. Tell her we said hi." Abby said.
Tom nodded in agreement.
"Thanks guys. I'll be working more with the other groups today so you'll have to do without me. At least Tom is actor so he already knows what to do."
"Well even actors can improve. You can't be a great actor without working at it." he said.
Mrs. Erickson smiled and then left.

"So let's pick up where we left off." he said.
"Okay. What page was it?" she asked.
"I believe we were on page 47." he said.
She thumbed through her script until she found the page.
"I think you start." she said.
He nodded and began reading his line. They read through the scene and Abby felt her heart pound. This was the scene where Mr. Rochester declared his love for Jane. She dreaded this scene, but at the same time she love it. Despite only just meeting Tom, she already cared for him a great deal. Her heart began pounding even more as they read the last part of the scene.

"I am sorry. I love Thornfield: because in it I have lived a full and delightful life. I have know you, Mr. Rochester; and it strikes me with anguish to fell that I absolutely must be torn from you forever. I see the necessity of departure; and it is like looking on the necessity of death." she read.
"Where do you see the necessity?" Tom read.
"In the shape of Miss Ingram, your bride."
"I have no bride."
"But you will have."
"Yes, I will. I will."
"Then I must go."
"No, you will stay. I swear it!"
"I tell you I must go! Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you thing because I am poor, obscure and plain- that I am soulless and heartless as well? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart And if God had gifted me with some beauty and wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of conventionalities- it is my spirit that addresses your spirit, just as if both had passed through the grave and we stood at God's feet, equal- as we are!"
"As we are. So, Jane."
"Let me go! You are a married man, as good as one, and wed to one you do not truly love! I would scorn such a union, I am better than you- let me go!
"Jane, be still, don't struggle so. Like a bird in a net-"
"I am no bird, no net ensnares me! I am a free human being!"
"True. So you shall decide your destiny. Jane, I offer you my heart, my hand and a share of all my possessions."
She paused a moment before reading her line.
"You play farce and I laugh at it."
"I am asking you to pass through life at my side-"
"Your bride stands between us."
"My bride is here, because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me? Do you still doubt me?"
"Entirely."
"What love have I for Miss Ingram? None! What love has she for me? None! I would not- I could not marry Miss Ingram. Why do you look at me like that Jane? You torture me."
"I am trying to read your face!"
"God, you torture me! Jane, accept me quickly! Say Edward- give me my name- Edward, I will marry you!"
"Are you in earnest? Do you truly love me?"
"I swear it! Say the words! Say them!!"
"Edward, I will marry you." She read the line and then felt herself blush when she read the action line next to it. It read that they kiss. At least right now since they were only doing a reading, it wouldn't happened.
"It will atone. It will atone. Have I not found her friendless and cold and comfortless? Is there not love in my heart? I know my maker sanction what I do! As for man's opinion- I defy it!" Tom read the last line and breathed a sigh.
"Well that's the end of Act 1. Shall we take a break?" he asked.
She nodded. He stood and held his hand out to her. She took it and stood.
"So where's the vending machines? I need something to drink." Tom said.
"Come on, I'll show you."
She led him out of the theater and to the right. The vending machines were tucked into a little cubby next to the theater.
"Do you want anything?" he asked as he walked up to the drink machine.
"I'll just have a bottle of water." she told him.
He inserted his money and the machine vended two water bottles.
"Here." he said handing her one.
"Thanks." she said and opened it.
After taking a sip from his own bottle he turned and looked at her.
"So I was wondering if you'd like to come have dinner with me again. Nothing formal. Maybe just get some pizza?" he asked.
"That sounds great. There's this pizza place me and my friends always go to." she told him.
"Do you want me to pick you up again?" he asked.
"Yeah that would...oh, I almost forgot! My art professor asked me to do this project for him. He said he like that last one I did so much he wanted me to do another one."
"Oh, well how bought I'll get the pizza and bring it back here. So you can eat while you work." he suggested.
"Yeah, that would work." she said.
"Great! Just tell me the name of the place and I'll pick it up." he said.
"I will." she paused and took another sip from her water. "We should probably get back to work."
"Right, let's go." he said.
They returned to the theater and continued reading. As they did she could help watching him as he read his lines. Despite it only being dry reading, he still put so much emotion into the lines. She still couldn't believe that she was with him. It felt like a dream. He even wanted to spend time with her. If this was a dream she could only hope she wouldn't wake up for a long time.