Chapter 9:Between the Lines of a Script
Ted jolted back in panic, his face scarlet.
Rachel blinked—then, as if a switch flipped, sat up gracefully and said in a regal voice, "Thank you, my prince, for breaking the curse."
The crowd burst into wild applause, thinking it was all part of the act.
But in the back row, Millie stayed frozen, hands trembling in her lap. Her heart thudded, her stomach twisted. They kissed. That wasn't fake. That was real. Did he want to kiss her? Are they… together?
Her thoughts spiralled.
Suddenly, it was too much.
She stood up and quickly slipped out of the auditorium, her chest tight with a strange ache. She didn't even know why she felt so betrayed. She didn't like Ted like that… right?
Alex noticed instantly.
His gaze followed her as she hurried away, confusion and emotion written all over her face.
Why does it bother me so much to see her like that?
The applause still echoed faintly as the curtains fell. Students cheered, and laughter rang out. But behind the curtain, the atmosphere had shifted.
Rachel stood motionless for a second, her fingers trembling slightly. Her lips still tingled, and her heart pounded in her chest. She looked at Ted, who was turning toward her, his face flushed, panic creeping into his eyes.
"Rachel, wait—I didn't mean—let me explain—"
But she didn't let him finish. She took a shaky breath, eyes darting away from him.
"There's nothing to explain," she said, voice clipped, almost too calm. "It was just the script, right?" And with that, she turned and walked away, her pace quickening as she exited the room, leaving Ted standing there speechless.
Out in the hallway, Rachel leaned against a wall, her breathing uneven. My first kiss. On stage. In front of everyone. With him. Was it even real? Did he mean it? Why does this feel like a mess?
Meanwhile, inside the auditorium, Ted was still frozen, running a hand through his hair, eyes on the floor.
That's when a voice came from the door.
"Well," Alex said dryly, arms crossed, leaning against the frame. "You did it."
Ted looked up, startled. "What do you want?"
Alex stepped inside. His tone was sharper now. "Millie saw everything."
Ted blinked. "Wait—what?"
"I told you," Alex continued coldly. "You keep being nice to her, smiling at her, laughing with her like you're the sun in her sky—and now look what happened. I told you you were going to make her cry one day. And you did."
Ted's eyes widened. "But I didn't mean to! She knows I don't like her like that. It wasn't even— It was an accident!"
"Doesn't matter," Alex pressed. "You were supposed to tell her. Talk to her. Not let her find out like this."
Ted stepped forward, frustration creeping in. "I haven't even told Rachel anything yet. I haven't— We're not even—this is bad."
Alex's eyes narrowed. " Don't play dumb. You knew she liked you."
Silence fell between them, heavy and bitter.
Cut to: Rooftop
Millie stood alone, the soft breeze tugging at her apron. She wasn't crying, but her heart was a mess. The sky above was painted with soft orange and purple streaks, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon.
She stared out quietly.
He kissed her. It was real. Everyone saw it. I saw it. I knew this. I saw it coming.
But still I thought… I don't even know what I thought.
Maybe I just thought I mattered a little more.
She exhaled softly. " Even if it was an accident, my small hope is gone now."
The rooftop door creaked open.
Millie turned slightly to see Ted step onto the rooftop, still in his prince costume, eyes hesitant.
He offered a small, shaky smile. "Hey… you disappeared."
Millie gave a light laugh—small, fake. "I just needed some air."
She turned back to the sky. Ted walked over, stopping a few feet away.
"I saw the play," she said, voice light and distant. "You were really good. Like… really good." A pause. " You can consider a path in this."
Ted didn't answer right away. His heart was pounding again.
"You two looked amazing together," Millie continued, forcing a smile. "You and Rachel. It was almost like watching a real fairytale."
She stood up, brushing off her apron. "Anyway, I should head back. Still a lot of cake to serve."
She took a few steps toward the door.
"Millie," Ted said suddenly, his voice strained. "I… I'm sorry."
She stopped.
"I didn't mean for that kiss to happen like that. It was an accident. But… I like Rachel."
Millie's back stiffened.
Her hand hovered near the door handle. For a second, her breath hitched.
She swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. "You don't have to tell me that. It's okay. Really."
Ted stared at her, guilt flooding his chest. "No, it's not okay. I should've told you sooner."
She turned to look at him. Her eyes were glassy—not with tears, but with something deeper. Disappointment. Maybe even heartbreak.
"You were always so nice to me," she said softly. "More than Rachel ever was. I knew it already. But hey, a girl can dream, right?"
And then she gave him a small, tired smile.
"It is all good."
She turned to leave again.
But what neither of them noticed was the silent figure leaning against the other side of the rooftop stairwell. Alex.
He'd been there the whole time, listening.
And for the first time, as he watched Millie walk away, shoulders squared, heart aching.
He felt something else rising in his chest. But what?
Millie returned to the cake booth, her footsteps mechanical. Her mind was still racing, heart aching with the realization that Ted wasn't for her. She tried to push those thoughts away, focusing on the task at hand.
But before she could settle back into the rhythm of serving slices of cake, Liz appeared, her face concerned. She crossed her arms, leaning against the table.
"Hey, Millie, what's going on?" Liz asked, her voice gentle but probing. "You're acting strange. What happened?"
Millie forced a smile, trying to hide her emotions. "Oh, no, nothing really. Just needed a break, some fresh air." She motioned toward the outside. "You know, the play was amazing, right? They were so relaxed. They could easily be real actors. It was so great."
Liz raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "I don't know… You're not fooling me. What's really going on? You've been acting kind of… different."
Millie didn't want to talk about it—not yet. She wasn't ready to admit how much it hurt, how confused she felt. "No, really, it's nothing," she replied, though the words sounded hollow even to her own ears. "Let's just focus on the cake. That table needs more. Let's get back to work."
Liz didn't push any further, but she flashed a smile that was more playful than reassuring. "Alright, alright. But you know I'll be here if you need me, right?"
Millie gave her a brief nod, thankful for the distraction of work. They moved quickly, serving cake to the guests, and the atmosphere felt lighter despite the weight on Millie's heart.
But just as they were getting into the swing of things, a voice called out from the doorway.
"Millie!" It was Eddie, one of the members of the music group, who was overseeing the performance. "We need you to check the song list and make sure everything's ready for the concert!"
Millie sighed with relief. She needed something to take her mind off everything, even if it was just for a little while.
"Alright," she said, her smile returning. "I'll be right there."
She made her way backstage, where the music group was getting ready. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, students running around making final preparations. Millie was content just to observe for now, checking in on the progress of the show. The excitement was infectious, and she couldn't help but smile as she watched the performers prepare.
Soon, the performance began, and the whole room was alive with music. The crowd cheered, and Millie found herself caught up in the energy, the joy in the air lifting her spirits just a little.
But there was a moment when everything else faded away. As the band played, Alex stepped forward. The room quieted. Millie's breath hitched when she realized he was about to sing. She stood in the corner, watching from the shadows.
Alex's voice filled the room, soft at first, then growing stronger with each note. The song was slow, heartfelt, and the lyrics… Millie had heard snippets of them before when she'd caught him working on them at home. But now, in the atmosphere of the festival, the full song unfolded before her.
The melody was calming, sweet, and just a little bit melancholic. His voice carried the weight of every word, every note, a reflection of his quiet strength and vulnerability. And as Millie stood there, listening, something inside her shifted. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting the music wash over her.
It was like nothing else mattered. Everything that had happened earlier—the confusion with Ted, the tension she felt—it all seemed to fall away. The pain was still there, but in that moment, the song felt like a gentle balm, soothing the raw edges of her heart.
Tears pricked at her eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of release. She could feel the weight of the day, the weight of her heart, slowly easing.
When the song ended, Millie's heart was a little lighter, her thoughts a little clearer. She took a slow breath, her gaze fixed on Alex, who was looking down at the floor, his expression soft. For the first time, she saw him in a new light—someone who could be both strong and gentle, someone who could express himself so beautifully with his music.
He's not just the guy who makes me uncomfortable or the one who always seems to be annoyed with me. He's…so cool.
She smiled softly, watching him as he walked off stage, his face a little flushed from the performance. Looking like someone different.
Right after the concert, the atmosphere was electric, but Millie felt a little dizzy as she stood backstage, the remnants of the performance still lingering in her mind. Alex had just finished singing, his song still echoing in her heart, but her head was spinning.
She hadn't eaten much today, too caught up in everything going on—helping with the cake, trying to keep up with the festival's frantic pace, and the emotional rollercoaster she was riding. On top of that, she had forgotten to take her medicine, something she struggled with when she got distracted.
As she leaned against the wall, her vision blurred, and the noise of the festival faded into a dull roar. Her heart raced, and she stumbled slightly, trying to steady herself. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and before she could even react, the world tilted, and she collapsed.