This is the eleventh part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, and Part X before continuing.
“Every character, in every scene, wants something,” said Professor Klein. “Everything they do, everything they say is about how they’re trying to get what they want. Today, we’re going to focus on that aspect of the craft, so I want you all to form two lines on either side of the room facing each other.”
They obeyed. They had an odd number, so Klein asked Blaine to line up as well. Then Klein called on Blaine and Sarah.
As they made their way towards the center of the room, Sarah untied the silk scarf she was wearing and let it fall just as she and Blaine were about to pass each other.
“My lady has blessed me with her favor!” Blaine said, snatching up the scarf before it hit the floor and holding it up triumphantly. Then he turned to face Sarah and said, “I thank you, fair lady,” and bowed dramatically.
This was not at all what Sarah had had in mind, but Blaine had taken control of the scene so completely, she wasn’t sure how to get her scarf back, so she curtsied in return, and they both continued crossing the room.
“Blaine, did you get what you wanted?”
“Yes,” Blaine said, once again holding up the scarf, this time to laughter and applause from the class.
“Sarah, did you get what you wanted?”
“Yes,” Sarah lied, and spent the rest of class wondering how Blaine had so effectively stolen that scene from her before she had even had a chance to say a word.
“Your favor, my lady,” Blaine said, handing Sarah her scarf as they were leaving class.
“Thank you, good sir.”
“I have to ask, did you really get what you wanted out of that scene?”
Sarah blushed and looked down at her scarf as she mumbled, “Not really.”
“I’m sorry, what was that?” Blaine said, cupping a hand around one ear and turning it towards Sarah, who punched him in the arm, making him laugh. “That’s what I thought. There’s always at least one person who tries the pick-up-my-scarf-and-return-it-to-me trick.”
“Are you calling me basic?”
“If the shoe fits,” he said with a shrug, and Sarah punched him again.
“Oh, this relationship turned violent real quick,” Britney said as she came up behind them. Putting a hand on Blaine’s shoulder, she said, “Just so you know, help is available for people in your situation.”
Blaine laid a hand over hers and said, “Thank you for understanding.”
“You both suck,” Sarah said with a laugh.
“Hey, it’s not our fault you’re abusive,” Britney said. “You need to get help, Sarah. Violence won’t heal the hole in your soul.”
Sarah shoved her playfully and Britney pretended to fall backwards and Blaine pretended to catch her, saying, “You, too?”
“It’s what happens when someone only knows how to lash out at the people they love the most,” Britney said, her eyes wide with fake sympathy.
Blaine nodded seriously. “All we can do is be there for her.”
Britney nodded, then her eyes lit up as she remembered something. “Actually, Blaine, you have to be there for her. I just remembered I have to go meet up with my biology group about our project, but we’re still on to study later, right?” She pointed at Sarah as she said this last part and Sarah nodded. “Excellent. TTYL.”
“So, where are you off to?” Sarah asked Blaine once Britney had vanished.
“My set design class, which is just around the corner, so I don’t have long to ask you this.”
“Better hurry then.”
“OK, well, I know Britney was joking when she called this a ‘relationship’, but-”
“You don’t have to take anything she says seriously. I mean, anything.”
“I know, but I was thinking it would be cool if we made this a relationship. And I was wondering if you might also think that would be cool?”
Sarah smiled. “What kind of relationship?”
“The dating kind?”
“Are you sure? Because you don’t sound sure.”
Blaine laughed. “Wow, you don’t make it easy for a guy, do you?”
“I just want to make sure we’re on the same page. I don’t want to start calling you my boyfriend, only to find out you meant you just wanted a platonic relationship, or a friends-with-benefits thing or something.”
“OK, OK, I get it,” Blaine said, laughing and holding his hands up in surrender. “Let me start over. Sarah, would you like to go out with me some time?”
Sarah made a show of pretending to consider it as she looked at the ceiling with one finger on her chin. After a moment she said, “OK.”
Blaine’s grin widened. “Great. I’ll text you the details later, K?”
“K.”
“Awesome.” He gave her a thumbs up as he disappeared into his set design class and Sarah had to stop herself from jumping up and down with excitement.
To be continued…