"I know Bella said this was a food-free set, but I snuck this in for you," Spencer whispered as Candice Wong dramatically offered Astrid the most ominous looking apple ever created.

"If I didn't know any better I'd think you were trying to get me thrown out," I smirked back, offering a hand when Spencer slipped me a saran wrap package through the gaps in our seats.

"Think of it as payment for those bike lessons," he said, chuckling when my face broke out in a blush.

"You'll never stop bringing that up will you?" I groaned, tucking the sandwich onto the seat beside me. Dropping his forearms onto its back, Spencer leaned over and shook his head.

"Nope," he stated simply before returning to his seat in the row behind me.

"Spencer! Shut up!" Bella hissed from the wings before motioning for Candice and Astrid to continue. So far it's been an entire week of practice without Spencer or I having stepped onto the stage. With that in mind, I turned in my seat.

"Would you want to run lines sometime after school?" I asked, annoyed by how hopeful my tone sounded.

"That's actually a good idea. I won't lie, I've been neglecting the script the past couple weeks. So many pop-quizzes," Spencer sighed, pulling his phone from under his seat. "Give me your number, we'll coordinate a time to meet up."

"Sounds good," I agreed, taking his phone and punching my number in. As I handed it over I caught his background before he turned his phone off.

"Is that Gillian?" I asked and Spencer broke into a warm grin, nodding.

"Yeah, she'd kill me if she knew I had this photo as my background," he chuckled, unlocking his phone to show me.

"She's beautiful," I said, because she was. Long hair, dark skin with warm eyes that were squinted under a furrowed brow as she glared at the camera, frosting smeared across the side of her face.

"Took it on her birthday," he smiled, thumbing the screen before switching his phone off. "She's really anal about photos so I had to act fast. Her brother caught the moment thankfully."

"You're close with her brother?"

"Eh, as close as a boyfriend can be," he shrugged. "The guy did wrestling in high school so I try my hardest not to piss him off-"

"Oh my GOD! Spencer, shut up!" Bella called again, sending us death glares before pointing towards the side doors. "Both of you are kicked off set for the day, Jesus."

"What did I do?"

"Hey, don't dump me with all the blame," Spencer scoffed, nudging my shoulder before standing. "Sorry Bells."

"Never call me that again," she responded, nose curled, before she resumed barking orders at the girls on stage. I remained where I was until Spencer ducked over and stole my sandwich.

"Hey! I earned that," I whispered. The guy just nodded, making his way to the doors. Holding in a groan I followed him, though secretly relieved I didn't have to watch as Astrid stuttered through her lines.

"You haven't earned it yet, I'm yet to sit on an actual bike," Spencer replied when we were outside and safe to speak freely. The side street was swept clean, the walls free of graffiti and with trashcans neatly placed every few feet, most filled to the brim with styrofoam peanuts. Weird.

"Just give me the sandwich," I mumbled, taking it from his hand quickly when he offered it my way. Reclining on a free space on the wall I unwrapped the sandwich, arching a brow when Spencer pulled out a carton of cigarettes.

"You smoke?"

"Yes, sir," he muttered around the filter, pulling out a matte green lighter.

"Those things will kill you,"

"God willing," he smirked before sobering, "That was a joke. Plus with your rebellious past, I'm not sure you have any room to judge me,"

"Who said I was judging you?" I replied, so fucking defensive that I took the pause as an excuse to take a large bite of my sandwich.

"That look on your face," he said, gesturing in my general area. "Your eyebrows are practically humping each other with how judgmental you look right now."

I forced myself to separate my brows, not realizing I was even making such a face.

Swallowing I wiped my mouth before responding.

"Any reason you were so disruptive today?" I asked, redirecting the conversation.

"Don't act like you weren't bored too. For being the male leads, we don't have a whole lot of screen time."

"Stage time."

"Right," he chuckled, nodding my way.

My phone vibrated in the waistband of my tights. Before I could pull it loose it vibrated three more times, causing Spencer to look my way.

"Somebody's popular."

"Apparently," I muttered, surprised to see a string of messages from Clark before his photo icon took over my screen.

The guy was calling me.

"I gotta take this, be back in a sec."

"I'll be here, dying," Spencer nodded back as I pushed off the wall. Answering the call I pressed the phone to my ear, trying not to let surprise color my tone.

"Phone's working again I see?"

"Turns out all they needed to do was throw it down on some rice and overcharge me two hundred dollars. I could've done that myself. Assholes," Clark responded, scoffing.

"What're you calling me for? I'm in the middle of rehearsal."

"I wouldn't call loitering outside rehearsing,"

I stopped in my pacing, craning my head around.

"Where are you?"

"Nothing gets past you does it, Bow-Bow," Clark chuckled before something hit me in the side of my head. I turned and looked down at a wadded up poster. When I looked upright again Clark stood a couple feet away.

Hanging up the phone I slugged his shoulder.

"Why're you here?" I asked, taking in his appearance and scolding myself at the way his mere presence had me bouncing on the tip of my toes. He looked the same as he always did, just a little more tanned, hair a touch longer. He was dressed for the weather in a worn t-shirt that was obviously once Mitchell's given the way Clark's shoulders stretched it out and loose jeans a shade lighter than I'd ever seen him wear before.

"Ugh, don't comment on the pants. They're all Jessica's idea. She said I need to own proper pants. If I knew being in a relationship meant dressing like the Brady bunch I wouldn't have agreed to one so quickly," he frowned, kicking a foot out. "And the reason I'm here, as you so rudely asked me, is to hang up some posters. Band a town over is coming to play, Mitchell hooked me up with the job. Hundred bucks to stick these up around town. Plus the bands actually good, mainly covers, but we're all going to see them. All of us."

"When is it?" I asked, huffing when Clark ducked behind himself to drag a box filled with the posters up and into my arms. I flexed my grip to keep from tipping them as Clark dug a roll of clear tape up, immediately pasting a poster to a lamppost.

"Friday night, no skipping out," he pointed a finger my way, a hardening look joining it when he caught the look on my face.

"Rehearsals are Friday," I said, shrugging when he let out a low groan before crossing his arms.

"Dude, this fucking play reeks. We never hang out now. You're always doing some shit for the play, or across town building fences."

"You mean completing my community service hours," I said dryly, earning an eye roll.

"Whatever-"

"Hey, Beau, time to head back in. Ban's been lifted and Bella actually wants us to rehearse our lines for once," Spencer's voice piped up.

Turning from Clark I placed the box back down on the ground, brushing down my costume.

"I'll let you know about Friday, but it's probably a No."

"Beau-"

"Come on already or Bella's gonna tear us a new one!" Spencer cut in, tone sharp as he cupped his hands around his mouth.

"Gotta run man, but I'll see you at lunch." I waved him off, jogging after Spencer as he ducked through the door and back inside.

"Don't worry, I won't tattle about you taking personal calls while on the job," Spencer smirked, all but vaulting onto the stage.

Taking the stairs I sent him a look. "How kind of you-"

"Boys, honestly," Bella sighed, stepping onto the stage and grabbing me by the arm to pull me onto one of many taped x's on the stage floor. An arm's length away sat Astrid on a fold-out table that acted as our temporary coffin. "Save the word foreplay for after rehearsal. We're going from Act Three. ACTION!"

Rubbing my ear as Bella strode off stage, I grabbed the script Astrid offered me before she laid back down, flicking to the required page.

"And who do you think you are?" I read out, blushing at the huff that came from Bella.

"Less monotony!" she called. Thankfully the rest of the cast members had left the room or were busy on their phones. The only people with eyes on Spencer and I were Candice, Kyle, and Bella.

"And who do you think you are?" I repeated, with enough conviction that Bella stayed silent. Her red hair glowed under the low lighting and I tried not to get distracted by the way she mouthed the lines alongside me. "Showing up here on your noble horse when it's obvious I'm in the middle of something."

As if making my point I moved to Astrid's side, taking her hand in mine. The skin was a lot colder than I expected, something she muttered an apology for. I just squeezed her hand back before turning to Spencer as he spoke.

"Who am I? I am the beloved Prince of Far Away, Prince Charmings. Man of noble steed and noble heart, here to place the kiss of life and true love upon sweet Snow White's lips."

Jesus Christ.

Pressing my lips together I fought back a laugh which Spencer had caught onto if his taunting brow raise was anything to go by.

"Impossible," I said, stuttering on a laugh that earned a scolding from Bella. "Impossible. For I am Prince Charming of Far Away, here to bless the young maiden Snow White with true loves kiss."

Snorting Spencer stepped forward, flicking the lapel of my shirt. "Nothing about you comes across princely. You wear your hair too long, own no horse, and you couldn't charm anyone but your own mother. Step aside and let a true prince make his mark. I have traveled long and far to meet my future queen, I will not let some boy in white come between us."

"You spin words well, but that means nothing. The sooner I kiss Snow White, the sooner I can prove myself to be the better man," I narrated, turning towards Astrid only to be stopped by something stabbing me in the shoulder. Turning around I barked out a laugh at the paper towel core in Spencer's hand.

"What the fuck is that supposed to be?"

"Oh my god, take this seriously, Beauregard! It's a goddamn sword," Bella groaned, marching onto the stage. In her hands were a cluster of pages, some stained by coffee, others aged by blots of food. Whatever it was, Bella sure spent a lot of time reading over them for the pages to be so damaged. "If you two can't take this seriously come opening night I will strangle you both, audience or not."

Raising my hands in surrender I glanced at the script. "It would be foolish of you to think killing me was the right course of action."

"Killing you would be barbaric. Instead, I offer another solution to our predicament," Spencer shrugged, not lowering the sword.

"And what might that be?"

"We are both strong-willed men, neither willing to back down at the chance to take the fair Snow White's hand. So instead I challenge you to a sparring match, the first to disarm their opponent gets Snow White's hand while the other must return home a loser."

"You seem-" before I could finish my line the lights abruptly cut out, throwing the stage into complete darkness.

"Kyle!" Bella screamed before her phone flashlight came on, instantly blinding me as she waved the thing around.

"It wasn't me, I haven't touched anything," Kyle called back. There was a thump in the wings before the curtain swung open as Kyle walked out with an industrial sized torch on his shoulder.

"Rehearsal canceled then?" Spencer asked, helping Astrid down from the table before pulling out his phone.

"I swear you planned this or something," Bella said, glaring at her cousin before swiveling my way. "I wanted to save this until after you guys finished your first run through but I guess we'll have to do it now, in the bloody dark."

"Can we at least talk outside, it's kind of creepy in here with the lights out. Especially with all the echoing?" I asked.

"Fine, whatever," Bella said, following her light out towards the side doors. Jumping down from the stage I followed her, holding the door open for Astrid whose hands were full holding up the end of her dress.

"Do we need to get everyone else out here?" Spencer asked, leaning against the same wall from earlier.

"Nope, they're already informed," Bella smirked, thumbing through the papers in her hand. I zeroed in on them as she moved forward. "This is just about the plays ending."

"The missing pages," I muttered, earning a confused look from Astrid.

"What missing pages? Is there more? Bella, I barely remember my lines as is," she said, slowly growing more panicked until Bella sent her a bored look.

"I forgot you were here. No, Astrid, this doesn't concern you. You can go home, nothing new for you to learn," she said, waving the other girl off before rounding on me and Spencer. Behind her, Kyle stood, torch off but still slung over his shoulder.

"Very threatening big guy, mind putting down your bludgeoning device," Spencer quipped, nodding at Kyle.

"Sorry," Kyle muttered, dropping the torch with a thud hard enough to crack the glass covering the light.

"Oh my god, pay attention to me!" Bella snapped, even going so far as to stamp her foot. "I've been waiting for this for months. Stop getting distracted."

Spencer rolled his eyes before motioning for Bella to continue.

"In my hands, I hold the final scenes of the play," Bella started, smirking to herself as she handed over a stapled set of pages to Spencer and I. "Of course the rest of the cast had the whole thing and were sworn to secrecy that they wouldn't tell you, Spencer."

I skimmed over the pages, taking note that it held the bulk of my lines. I was wondering why Bella called my part a leading role when I didn't have any lines until the end. It's when I got nearer to the end that I blanched.

"We have to kiss?" I frowned, rereading the line in confusion. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Spencer tense, furiously flipping through his own pages.

"Bella," he started, tone low in warning.

"I'll leave you boys to discuss. See you, promptly, on Friday so we can do a run-through of the new material." she backed out with a wave, shutting the doors behind herself and Kyle swiftly when Spencer made to follow her.

"Did you guys really not know about the kiss?" Astrid spoke, alerting both Spencer and myself that she was still here.

"Oh god, Halloween," Spencer groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead. "I thought she had forgotten."

"I'm gonna go," Astrid whispered, backing down the street before looping to the front of the hall. The dim lighting on the street did little to mask the annoyed frown set on Spencer's features.

"I'm not kissing you," Spencer said, expression hard as he pulled out his phone. After a few seconds of silence, he let out a groan.

"Answer your fucking phone, Bella," he muttered before giving up, shoving it back into the waistband of his tights.

"What happened on Halloween?" I asked, curious about what he did to piss off Bella and why a kiss could cause Spencer to explode in such a way.

I mean, I wasn't too keen to lock lips with Spencer either but I wasn't about to blow a gasket over it.

"I need to go," he replied, barely glancing at me as he threw the pages on the ground. Before he could storm off I grabbed him by the arm, pulling him to a stop.

"Hey man, chill out. It's not the end of the world. It's just a stupid play," I said. "Something we can laugh off after."

"I don't give a shit, I'm not kissing you, Beau. Fuck this play," he said, firmly. Removing my arm Spencer took off again. A couple of minutes rolled by before I made out his car speeding down the road.

"Okay, talk time is over– Where's Spency Boy?" Bella's voice called behind me.

"He stormed off. Threw the script out and left," I shrugged, turning towards Bella.

Rolling her eyes she cocked a hip, running the length of her nails across her phone's case before shrugging back.

"Whatever, he quits then I dump the both of you and just stick to the original script. I can get him back some other way. Bye Beauregard," she said, turning away.

"Wait what?" I stammered out, catching up to what she just said.

"What? Why would I need you if Spencer quits? Your whole purpose is defeated if Spencer acts like a little bitch," she scoffed, crossing her arms.

"What happened to leading man?"

"Did you even read the script?" she laughed before pouting, reaching out to squeeze my cheek. "Sad to see you go, Beauregard, I thought we'd have so much fun together."

"The deal though? With Han. I do the play and my hours get cut-"

"Well that still applies to what you've done so far, but with your role obsolete you'll need to inform Han of the change in plans," Bella shrugged, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she tapped away on her phone.

"Spencer's left me a rather long and angry voicemail. This should be fun," she smirked, placing her phone to her ear.

"If I can get him back on board you'll keep me on?" I asked, tone a little desperate.

"Sure, whatever. Either way, I'm unaffected. I have years to get Spencer back, play or no play." she said, pushing the door open. I followed her through, using my phone's torch to make my way to the dressing room where my stuff sat. When I got to my bike I paused, trying to figure out how in the hell I would rope Spencer back on board.