‘It was primal,’ Jeffrey said. ‘You said we were terrified, and the terror rose up in my throat and burst out.’
‘You are tumbleweed blowing in the hurricane that is life,’ Ms DeForest continued, obviously deciding not to respond to Jeffrey. ‘You ask yourselves, why do certain things happen to certain people? Today, I have the answer for you. Today, we will explore the mystical force that controls all events — fate!’
Suddenly light flooded the room. I blinked, feeling slightly stunned.
‘Two lines of fifteen people,’ called Ms DeForest.
Everyone formed two lines facing each other, then linked hands with the person opposite at Ms DeForest’s command. Jelena and I made sure we were a pair.
‘Okay. As you may have noticed, we have an extra person.’ Ms DeForest pointed at Kelly Ryce. ‘Your hands are forming a platform that will propel Kelly from the start of the line to the finish.’ Ms DeForest pointed at the end closest to me.
‘Propel?’ Kelly looked at the line, then back at Ms DeForest. ‘I don’t know about this.’
‘The Chain of Destiny will support you,’ Ms DeForest said, gesturing at the line of our linked hands. ‘Now, run and leap!’
Kelly closed her eyes and dived onto our linked hands, which sank suddenly under the weight.
‘Propel her! Propel her!’ Ms DeForest shrieked.
‘This is ridiculously hard work,’ Jelena said, rolling her eyes.
‘Next!’ Ms DeForest pointed at Tom Meyer, who was at the head of the line. That side had to move along one person, which meant I was now holding hands with Shane Davis.
‘Feel the Chain of Destiny throwing you this way and that!’ Ms DeForest called to Tom.
‘Like a theme-park ride!’ he said.
Ms DeForest frowned. ‘Fate is not a friendly theme-park ride! It is out of control, throwing the possibility of destruction constantly in your way. You have no power to alter its effects.’
As ridiculous as this exercise was, I couldn’t help wondering about Ms DeForest’s claim. Was fate real? Was there actually something controlling my life? Was that why my secret admirer hadn’t turned up? Because he was destined not to?
Oh my god. Surely it couldn’t be destined that Hayden Paris should be my first kiss?
The idea seemed ridiculous, but it also seemed to fit in a weird way. Ever since I’d heard about this onstage kiss, I’d done everything in my power to put a stop to it. I’d fingerprinted fifty people, confronted Jeffrey Clark, started a school-wide rumour and racked my brain to try to discover my Potential Prince’s identity. But none of it had changed anything.
‘The Chain of Destiny is locked in, controlled by forces set in place millennia ago!’ Ms DeForest said as Amber Jenkins rode the Chain of Destiny with an unimpressed look on her face.
Millennia ago? What had happened way back then that had made the Aurora–Hayden kiss a locked-in outcome?
I closed my eyes with a groan. Once again, I needed a time machine. If I could just stop Hayden from moving to Jefferson; or, more simply, stop myself from auditioning for Much Ado About Nothing, much as I loved being a part of it now, then the kiss would never happen.
Or would it? Was it locked in, just like Ms DeForest was saying? Even if Hayden hadn’t moved to Jefferson, would I still have crossed paths with him somehow and ended up being forced to kiss him?
Fate was too cruel. The whole of my life I’d been living under the happy misapprehension that my first kiss was mine to give away. Meanwhile, destiny had been laughing to itself over the truth. Hayden Paris was going to have the pleasure of kissing my virgin lips.
‘Let yourselves go with the flow!’ Ms DeForest stretched her arms out. ‘Say, “Fate, I accept you and your whims. I give my assent!”’
No-one spoke.
Ms DeForest looked at us. ‘Anyone not repeating the mantras will receive a fail grade for participation.’
‘Fate, I accept you,’ we all droned.
My thoughts whirred. Could I accept fate? Could I assent to its whims? Could I give Hayden my first kiss?
I made myself consider the idea non-emotionally. Hayden was an academic achiever and a Student Council member. He wrote poetry and participated in the dramatic arts. He cared about animals and he had charisma and confidence. He was also honest (too honest sometimes) and, I had to admit it, honourable. Based on this description, he sounded right for the part. But all of this was based on logic. Logic could only apply so far when it came to a kiss. Kissing was wrapped up in emotions and attraction and other scary, sticky things.
I pictured Hayden’s twinkling hazel eyes looking into mine, and imagined him lowering his dark head. I waited for his lips to make contact … then felt them touch mine. My heart thudded. For a moment, I wasn’t in Ms DeForest’s class. I was in Hayden Paris’s arms.
Oh my god, I could kiss him. I could see it as clear as crystal in my head — and it seemed almost … My breath caught. Appealing?
The memory of us standing so close together on Valentine’s Day floated into my mind like the helium balloon he’d given me.
Then I saw him reading my poem. Refusing to help me with TylerandLindsay or Cassie and Scott. Observing all my horrendous dates.
The helium balloon of good thoughts popped.
Could I consent to giving my carefully preserved, all-important first kiss to the bane of my life? Was I the type of person to let the wind of fate blow me around without protest? No, I was not. I was Aurora Skye, and I believed that one person could make a difference. While there was still time and opportunity and breath in my body, I was going to fight fate.
‘Ms Skye!’ Ms DeForest’s exasperated call broke into my personal triumph. ‘Please ride the Chain of Destiny.’
I looked at the line of linked hands that would throw me out of control.
I sprinted towards it, dived underneath the line of hands and slid out untouched. I let out a whoop as I exited.
‘What is the meaning of this?’ Ms DeForest demanded.
‘I’m making my own destiny,’ I said.
‘No-one makes their own destiny,’ Ms DeForest shrilled. ‘That is the nature of fate.’
‘I don’t believe in fate,’ I said with all the resolve in my soul.
Everyone in the Chain of Destiny stared at me.
‘OUT!’ Ms DeForest boomed. ‘Your energy is disruptive and destructive!’
‘Are you ever going to come up with a reason other than invisible forces for kicking me out?’ I asked, getting to my feet.
Ms DeForest glared at me. ‘Get to the office, before I decide to suspend you for two days.’
‘Technically, only the principal can suspend people,’ Jeffrey chirped. ‘I should know.’
‘Both of you, OUT!’ Ms DeForest pointed to the door.
‘But I wanted to see you ride the Chain of Destiny!’ Jeffrey complained.
I raced out the door before Ms DeForest could explode.
I couldn’t believe that I’d got detention again. My academic record was a shambles.
To make it worse, Jeffrey spent the time composing stanzas in my honour, obviously believing that poetry would improve his chances of a hook-up. I never thought I’d be anti-poetry, but phrases such as ‘luscious lips’ and ‘oh, the fantasies I have’ and ‘curves, curves that stir my soul’ were mortifying.
I blocked him out and focused on constructing my battle plan against fate. It was time to take Operation Stop Kiss to a whole new level.
CHAPTER 22
Fighting Fate
The next morning I woke in an upbeat mood. Life was a sweet prospect now that I knew I was in control of this afternoon’s event. I was dancing down the hall towards the door when the NAD stopped me in my tracks.
‘Aurora, can we talk?’ His brow was crinkled.
‘About?’ I pulled my handbag over my shoulder and reached for the door.
‘Dana called yesterday and told me you’d been disrupting her class.’
Ms DeForest ha
d told on me? Some spiritually advanced soul she was. She must have gone directly from her class to phone Dad.
‘Not only that, but she told me that this has occurred before — both in her class and Mr Blacklock’s.’
Ms DeForest was keeping tabs on my classes?
The NAD let out a sigh. ‘I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never known you to be in trouble before.’
‘Dad,’ I protested, ‘it was completely unfair!’
His face softened. ‘I know that you’re probably going through a lot with falling in love for the first time. That’s natural.’
‘What?’ I gaped at him.
‘But even if your romance with Hayden is playing with your emotions, I still want you to give Dana the respect she deserves, both in class and here at our home.’
‘When have I not given her respect?’
‘Well, she seems to feel that you’re a little stand-offish —’
‘That’s only because she called me —’ I stopped.
‘She called you what?’ Dad looked closely at me.
There was no point getting into how she’d accused me of having a black aura. The NAD was infatuated with Ms DeForest and wouldn’t hear a word against her. Love truly was blind.
‘Never mind,’ I said. ‘I’ll be polite.’
‘That’s my girl.’
The NAD gave me a squeeze but I pulled away, annoyed that he was so willing to believe that I’d behaved badly.
Rehearsal was even more crowded than usual that afternoon. It seemed like half the school had volunteered their assistance for the day, not wanting to miss the much-talked-about liplock between Beatrice and Benedick.
‘Alright!’ Mr Peterman rubbed his hands together. ‘The time has come for the big moment! Yes, everyone knows what I’m talking about!’
Jeffrey feigned ignorance. ‘Could you remind us, Mr Peterman?’
I groaned from my place backstage.
‘The rehearsal of the kiss between Benedick and Beatrice!’ Mr Peterman cried. ‘So, Hayden and Aurora, please come on down!’
Mr Peterman sounded like the host of The Price is Right. I watched Hayden make his way onstage, waving good-naturedly at the catcalls and ribbing. I slowly slid off the stool, afraid that my shaking legs wouldn’t support me. Maybe I could just run out the backstage door.
‘Aurora?’ Mr Peterman called. ‘Kissing takes two. Please make your way to the stage.’
I took a deep breath and turned to the girls, checking that Tyler, who was embroidering Hero’s nightgown, couldn’t overhear. ‘Is everyone clear on their roles?’
‘There’s no way we couldn’t be,’ Jelena said. ‘You’ve been reminding us all day.’
Cassie elbowed her. ‘Don’t worry, Aurora. Everything’s going to go exactly to plan.’
Her words bolstered my spirit.
‘Ms Skye?’ Mr Peterman was now on the megaphone. ‘Hayden is waiting for you.’
I dashed onto the stage as fast as my shaking legs would let me. There was no turning back now.
‘Okay! We’re ready to go!’ Mr Peterman said, taking his place on the director’s chair.
I looked at Hayden, who was wearing a deep blue shirt and a slightly nervous smile, and my legs became even more jelly-like. To try to calm myself, I glanced at Cassie and Scott’s amazing set, which suggested the inside of a church. A stained-glass window stood behind an altar, with a font of holy water next to it. In front of Hayden and me was a long aisle. And an audience of at least fifty cast and crew, all wearing smug expressions.
‘Mr Peterman?’ My voice came out slightly tremulous. ‘Are all these people necessary? They’re heightening my performance anxiety.’
Mr Peterman swallowed a sip of guava juice. ‘My dear, if this is causing you performance anxiety, you’re really going to be in trouble on Friday when the house is packed. Don’t worry about today. It’s going to be very stop and start, as I’ll be directing you with the megaphone in order to build the most effective mood.’
Megaphone? Mr Peterman was going to be booming instructions like ‘Run your fingers through his hair!’ across the whole auditorium? This had to be the most embarrassing moment of my life.
‘Now,’ Mr Peterman said through the megaphone, ‘Aurora, you are praying in front of the altar.’
Thank god I was on my knees in this scene. If I’d had to stand, I would have collapsed. I suddenly found myself praying for real. Oh, please let me go unkissed …
‘Excellent, Aurora!’ Mr Peterman boomed. ‘Now, Hayden, Benedick is halfway up the aisle, looking with affection upon the beautiful Beatrice but not sure whether to approach her. Begin scene!’
‘Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while?’ Hayden’s voice was gentle.
‘Now, Aurora, turn to him with desperate eyes.’
I turned my head slightly and looked up to where Hayden stood by the pews. My clasped hands shook slightly.
‘Yea,’ I answered bitterly, ‘and I will weep a while longer.’
‘Can’t we just get to the kiss?’ Jeffrey called out.
Part of me agreed. It was torture waiting for the moment when the plan would fall into place.
‘No interruptions.’ Mr Peterman’s voice was firm.
‘Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.’ Hayden took another step forward.
I turned my back to him. ‘Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!’
‘Passionately, Aurora!’ Mr Peterman said. ‘Beatrice is giving Benedick a clue here. This is how she wants him to prove his regard.’
Hayden dropped to his knees beside me and grasped my hand, which suddenly stopped trembling. For a moment I forgot about the fifty pairs of eyes in the audience. I was Beatrice in a church, with Benedick’s knee brushing mine.
‘I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?’
Hayden’s voice was a mix of nervousness, resolve and a sprinkling of joy. I had to admit that he was a talented actor. A wide smile spread over his face as if he was relieved that he’d finally confessed, and I felt my own lips turning upwards in response. For a moment we were six years old again, grinning at each other in the sandbox.
‘Aurora?’ Mr Peterman’s megaphone brought me back to reality. ‘Your reply?’
‘As strange as the thing I know not,’ I stammered, looking down at Hayden’s hand in mine. ‘It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you; but believe me not, and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing —’
‘What’s she going on about?’ Jeffrey yelled.
Beatrice was muddled up with feelings. Just like I was at that moment, minutes away from the start of Operation Stop Kiss.
‘Okay, Hayden,’ Mr Peterman boomed. ‘Place your hand on her cheek.’
Hayden slowly lifted his palm to my cheek, which was now burning. This was all too familiar.
I had to stay focused on the script. Three lines until the plan went into effect.
‘You have stayed me in a happy hour: I was about to protest I loved you.’ My voice shook slightly.
‘And do it with all thy heart.’ Hayden moved in closer and an odd expression crossed his face.
‘I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest,’ I said.
Hayden’s eyes flickered slightly. What was wrong with him?
‘Okay, Hayden, I want you to gather Aurora in your arms —’
The auditorium was plunged into darkness.
Screams echoed round the auditorium, but all I was aware of was the warmth of Hayden’s body as he held me in his arms and the funny feeling in my stomach.
‘Fire! Fire!’
‘Where’s the exit?’
Crashing sounds came from the seating area. I was glad I wasn’t down there.
‘I can’t smell any smoke, can you?’ Hayden’s voice was very close to my left ear. ‘It’s probably just a blackout.’
I restrained a giggle. I knew it wasn’t a blackout. It
was Lindsay, flicking the switch at the fuse box while Sara kept watch for any teachers. Operation Stop Kiss was a success!
The idea had come to me in detention. If Ms DeForest had caused so much chaos by simply turning the light switch off in our interpretive dance class, then it would probably work just as well during the kiss scene. I felt terrible about sabotaging the rehearsal, but this was a dire situation.
‘Everybody freeze!’ Mr Peterman’s voice cut through the blackness. ‘I will not have anyone trampled to death during my rehearsal!’
Silence fell.
‘Jelena?’ Mr Peterman called. ‘Find the emergency flashlights!’
‘I don’t know where they’ve gone,’ Jelena wailed.
I knew she was lying, as I’d instructed her and Cassie to hide the flashlights right at the back of the storage cupboard. I was giddy with relief. There’d be no time now to rehearse our ‘big moment’, and the rest of the week’s rehearsal schedule was already squashed tight with other scenes. By the time opening night arrived, my admirer would have turned up or I’d have come up with another plan. I was safe! ‘Silence!’ Mr Peterman boomed. ‘We’ll light the candles.’
‘Candles?’ I repeated.
‘There are dozens of them set up for the church scene,’ Mr Peterman answered.
I hadn’t realised I’d voiced the question out loud. Why hadn’t Jelena briefed me on the props?
‘Mr Peterman …’ Jelena’s voice was strangled. ‘Do you know how many candles we’ll need to light this place up?’
‘Think of the waste of materials!’ I called in the direction where Mr Peterman’s voice seemed to be coming from.
‘There’ll be an even worse waste of materials if we don’t rehearse this scene,’ he called back. ‘Jelena, start lighting them now.’
‘With what?’ I could tell Jelena was stalling.
‘A lighter?’ Mr Peterman sounded like he was talking to an idiot. Poor Jelena.
Please don’t let anyone have a lighter, I prayed. If we didn’t have a lighter, there’d be no light. If there was no light, there’d be no rehearsal. If there was no rehearsal, there would be no kiss.
How to Keep a Boy from Kissing You Page 23