CHAPTER THREE

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It was a beautiful morning, a beautiful morning indeed, especially for Amanda.

Resting her back on her locker, smiling down on the piece of paper she was holding. Unknowingly to her, she had maintained that position for thirty minutes.

She took a break from her reading and glanced at her used to be mum's brown leather watch, which she inherited. Returning her gaze again to the love letter which she held, she immediately realized as she quickly looked at her watch again.

"Oh shit, Mr. Quinn will be so pissed," she said.

She quickly kept the paper inside her back, locked her locker and dashed to the theater.

♪"Full fathom five thy father lies;

Of his bones are coral made;

Those are pearls that were his eyes;

Nothing of him that doth fade;

But doth suffer a sea change;

Into something rich and strange.

Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell...."♪

"Wow, who in sultan high have such a glorious voice?" Amanda said as she entered the theater, walking towards the stage.

"Our dear Miranda finally found her way thirty five minutes earlier than everyone here," Mr. Quinn said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry Mr. Quinn, I had a little holdup." Amanda said apologetically

"Yeah right."

Mr. Quinn shifted his attention from her and yelled "Prospero!Caliban! Go over your lines again. Act one scene two."

"Hold-up huh?"

"Hey Bridget, I didn't see you there."

"What kept you? And you missed the Ariel song. I know you have a predilection for music, you would have love this one." Bridget said leading her backstage

"Oh, I fell in love with part of the music I heard. It was like I was listening to an Opera."

Both laughing, Amanda raised the red curtain backstage and she saw Elena directing the technicians on where to place their equipment.

"Is Elena the director?" Amanda asked Bridget not noticing Elena approaching.

"Assistant director," Elena said when she was close enough to be heard

"Hmm,"

"Not everybody is lucky enough to play Miranda, Amanda. There are no many roles for females in the book TEMPEST. Why don't you ask who Bridget is playing." She continued.

Amanda turned to Bridget "I'm playing the NYMPHS called NAIADS. I'm certain I spoke only once in the book."

"I'm sorry, Brid." She said holding her friend's hands. "I didn't know." she said facing Elena, sad.

"Of cause you didn't, what else matter when you've got Miranda, right?"

There it was again, Elena's mood swing.

"Elena!!" Bridget called aloud.

"What?" she said as she left both of them standing there.

"She's not all wrong you know, I would have paid more attention on you guys. I'm sorry."

Sighing, "Let's go get some air," Bridget suggested.

On their way out, Amanda bumped into Mark accidentally.

"S-s-so so-sorry," Mark stuttered as he bent to pick up his copy of THE TEMPEST.

"No, I'm sorry." Amanda apologized instead. "I should have looked."

Mark stood in front of Amanda, staring at her with a lot of effort to control his shaky legs.

Bridget felt the awkwardness and was tempted to ask "Are you OK?"

"Emm" he cleared his throat and said "Y-yes."

"OK," Amanda said, flashing him a smile "Let go." she hurriedly told her friend.

They took a few step away from where Mark stood, then he called, "Amanda!"

She turned and looked at him but his outstretched arm, holding out a lunch pass, filled the gap between them.

"You dropped this," he said.

She moved closer and took her lunch pass from him.

"Thank you," she said smiling.

Not giving her time to turn away from him, he swiftly said.

"I was hoping you and I could go over our lines together." he paused, catching the confused look on her face, he quickly add "I mean, when you are free of course."

"Why would we---"

"I thought since you are acting Miranda, and I, Ferdinand."

"Oh!" She exclaimed.

"What do you think?" he ask, anticipating a positive response.

"I think, emm, I think it's not a bad idea."

It felt like the world was in his favor today, or Amanda was in a lighter mood, so he thought.

He smiled "Thank you." he said. "Catch you up later."

Amanda watched as he hurried off to the stage then turned her gaze to Bridget who has been standing behind her and observing their conversation.

"Really?!" Bridget exclaimed in a low tone.

"What?" Amanda raised her shoulder "he is naive and in desperate need of some guidance."

"I see, and you think you could guide him?" Bridget asked surprised.

"Well.... "

"Well......"