Free Play Dirty #2 by Jessie K Page A

those stage lights hit her, all the fear melted away. All her training kicked in, the countless hours of rehearsal and the endless notes from Matthew, and she felt herself no longer as Lynn, but as Juliet. She believed in her words, believed in her truth, and instead of seeing a stage covered in gaff tape, saw Verona and its bloodshed.
    The death scene came entirely too soon, as though someone put the clock on double speed and suddenly threw it on stop. Curtain call felt impossible, there was no way they were already finished, already done telling this magnificent story of two horny teens whose absurd and melodramatic actions united two families, putting to rest a feud that had spanned generations. It was surreal.
    Aidan grasped her hand tightly backstage as they waited their turn to bow. “You were amazing.”
    “Thanks.” She blushed. “So were you!”
    “I’m surprised I didn’t forget any of my lines tonight.” He smiled shyly at her. “I was too busy watching you. That performance was just… wow.”
    Lynn flushed. She squeezed his hand and they walked out together for their turn. The applause was thunderous. She even spied her parents, near the front row, clapping. After putting on what felt like the performance of a lifetime, Lynn no longer had the energy to fight back tears of gratitude, relief, and the overwhelming sense of pride and joy.
    It stayed with her long past the time when the theater cleared out, and the cast met everyone in the lobby to sign programs for the younger kids and hug family members. Lynn was given so many bouquets of flowers should couldn’t hold them all. Her parents hugged her. Her friends told her how they died that she got to kiss Aidan and how she was going to destroy Broadway.
    It stayed with her as the stage itself cleared out, everyone changing back into their regular clothes and making plans for the celebratory dinner out. She felt it as she sat on the edge of the stage, and stared out at the darkened theater, eyes closed, savoring the feeling of total contentment.
    Matthew sat down by her side in the darkened quiet. She knew it was him because she could smell his cologne, and because her body could sense his presence without trying, without seeing. She always knew when he was there.
    “Everyone left. Why are you still here?” He nudged her slightly with his shoulder.
    She smiled at him, eyes still closed. “I just wanted to remember what this felt like for as long as I could.”
    “Ah.” His voice was warm with understanding. “And you should. You deserve to soak up every last second, Lynn. Incredible doesn’t even cover it. You blew your dress rehearsal performances out of the water. I don’t know what you tapped into tonight, but you were a force of pure talent. New York should be terrified of you.”
    She blushed. “I thought of you.”
    She heard him shake his head. “No. I can fuck you until you see the heavens open up, but I had no hand in what I saw on stage tonight, Lynn. That was all you.”
    “I couldn’t have done it without you, though. You are such an incredible director, and how strongly you believe in me really helped me… I don’t know, channel what I needed to. You gave me the confidence I needed to be confident in myself, I guess.”
    “I am honored, but you are mistaken. Since the day I met you, I knew you were a force to be reckoned with. And I am so, so proud of how you’ve grown.”
    Lynn looked over her shoulder. “Are we alone?”
    “Completely. We’re the last two left in Verona.” He covered her hand his. “You were fucking gorgeous up there tonight, Lynn. Like an Italian goddess.”
    She felt like exploding from happiness. It wasn’t the same sensation as when she and Matthew were pleasuring one another, the way he made her feel like bursting from arousal. But she felt just as fulfilled. She stood and lowered herself into Matthew’s lap, straddling him and hanging slightly off the stage. It made her almost feel like she was