Rewrite the Stars ~ A Park Chanyeol Imagine
AnonymousĀ asked:
An imagine with EXOās Chanyeol as Romeo and Y/N as Juliette, except itās set in the present and it doesnāt end as a tragedy (so it ends happily, lmao) ā please and thank you (:
First big writing since coming back, hope you guys enjoy it! I had a lot of fun writing this one.
-Admin Lionheart
~~~~
"Oh shit, the cast lists are up!" I heard someone yell enthusiastically from down the hall. This was the final casting for the university's yearly play -- this year, Romeo and Juliet.
Everyone was hoping to be cast as Juliet because they all knew who was inevitably going to be picked as Romeo. I mean, he always gets picked for the main leads if there is a male part; I've even heard Ms. Lee debating on if it would be okay to give him a female part last year when they performed Heathers.
Ever since I transferred here at the beginning of the year, I never understood his appeal. You'd think that the "popular boy" shit would have been left in high school. Apparently not. A fact that is made entirely clear, especially within the drama club, but also in whatever various sports he plays.
All that being said, of course I tried out for the play, but not because of Chanyeol -- because I would die to play Juliet in any rendition of the play. I have loved Shakespeare since the first time I read his works and this is one of the only times I would be willing to work with him so closely.
Suddenly, I heard a deep, grating voice behind me: "Congrats on being my Juliet, Y/N. Hope you have what it takes." Chanyeol said as he flashed that infuriating grin that seemed to work on everyone except me. The people around him laughed as he walked away.
I didn't even give him the time of day. He wasn't worth a response, which is all he was hoping for. It's always been like this. For some reason, he finds some sort of joy out of annoying me and making my life worse. On any other day, he might have gotten what he wanted, but he actually managed to give me some good news.
I got the part!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I went through the rest of my classes that day with childish joy. I was so excited.
Too bad that didn't last.
This was literally the first rehearsal and he was already trying to ruin this play.
"Would you just stick to the script?" I huffed out.
"I am."
"No, you're improvising."
"I'm trying different deliveries." He replied, quickly, smirk in place, like always.
"By changing the lines."
"Ms. Lee told us to make the characters feel like our own."
"You're changing lines from one of the greatest playwrights in history."
"And?"
"Andā¦that's like repainting the Mona Lisa because you don't like the colors."
"Enough." interrupted Ms. Lee.
Both of us turned toward her, watching as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I cast the two of you because your chemistry during auditions was incredible."
Chanyeol and I continued to stare at her.
"We were arguing." I said in disbelief.
"Exactly."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After that first rehearsal, things didn't change, but I couldn't say they got worse. We argued -- a lot -- and he improvised his lines, but it did seem to be slightly less.
We both ended up getting picked to work on the sets after rehearsal and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't starting to understand the charm he has to others.
Sometimes, he was actually kind of funny and would have me laughing until my sides hurt.
The comradery between us made it a bit easier during rehearsal, too. We were able to get further through the script without arguing and --according to everyone else -- the chemistry we had was undeniable.
I guess we both underestimated each other.
After all of that, today was the balcony scene. It's a scene that relies heavily on the placement of the actors and I could almost sense the arguments that were inevitable.
"Chanyeol, please. You have to be standing here during this scene." I said, positioning him slightly closer to the edge of the balcony.
"Y/N, I've told you that I think it would be better if I were standing here." He said, stepping diagonally to the side and a little farther from the balcony.
"UGH! Ms. Lee, can't you tell him that he can improvise the lines, but he needs to be in the correct place for the scene." I yelled off the side of the balcony only to be ignored by everyone who were pretending to be very engaged in conversations that didn't involve the two arguing actors.
"How about, I stand here?" He said in a voice that was almost a whisper as he stepped very into my bubble. All at once, it felt like the auditorium grew silent and that every single eye was on us. I could feel the heat rising onto my face as I looked up at him, our faces only inches apart. "Is this acceptable placement?"
I could feel his breath against my lips as he leaned down to speak, once again.
What is going on? Why is there suddenly so much tension between us? I mean, there had always been tension, but not like this.
"I... um... uh... can you please back off, I can't breathe with you in my space like that." I said, snapping back to my senses and pressing my hands against his chest to push him away from me.
Only, my arms wouldn't listen to me. So, there I was, with my hands pressed to his chest finding myself focusing on the way he felt beneath my touch. Thankfully, for once, Chanyeol found himself in a mood to be helpful as he took one step back and into the spot I had been trying to put him this entire time.
"Oh my gosh, an you two just kiss already?" One of the other cast members yelled from the audience, which caused a wide, teasing smile to spread across Chanyeol's full lips.
"I'd prefer to save the kiss for the actual performance. I assure you it'll be some of my best work." He said with a wink as he found his way off the balcony prop.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The auditorium was packed.
Every seat was filled with students, professors, family members, and friends, their excited chatter echoing through the wings as we waited for the curtain to rise.
Backstage was somehow quieter.
The usual joking and last-minute panic had settled into nervous anticipation. Everyone was focused, running through lines one last time or checking costumes.
I found myself doing the same.
"You'll wear a hole through the floor if you keep pacing."
I looked up to find Chanyeol leaning against the wall beside me, already dressed as Romeo. For once, there wasn't a trace of that cocky grin on his face. Instead, he lookedā¦ nervous.
"I don't pace." I said, breathlessly, which caused him to raise an eyebrow.
"You're literally pacing."
"ā¦I'm thinking aggressively." That finally earned a laugh out of him.
"You'll be fine, Juliet." His voice was softer than usual.
"We both will."
Before I could respond, Ms. Lee clapped her hands together.
"Places, everyone!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The performance flew by in a blur.
Every scene seemed to melt into the next. The audience laughed when they were supposed to laugh, gasped when they were supposed to gasp, and applauded after every major scene.
For the first time all semester, Chanyeol didn't improvise a single line.
Not one.
When we reached the balcony scene, my heart was beating so loudly I was convinced the audience could hear it.
Whether it was because of opening night or because I knew what scene came after, I couldn't tell. Everything felt strangely familiar as he stepped beneath the balcony. Except this time, he stood exactly where I had always insisted he should. I couldn't stop the tiny smile that tugged at my lips.
He noticed. Of course he did.
The scene continued effortlessly, every word flowing between us like we'd rehearsed it a thousand times. Because we had. Then came the moment. He climbed onto the balcony, gently taking both of my hands in his. Our fingers intertwined. Neither of us looked away.
"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standā¦" His voice was steady. Warm.
The audience had disappeared. The stage had disappeared. It was just him.
Just us.
I whispered my next line, unable to tear my eyes away.
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." A smile flickered across his face. One I had never seen before.
Small.
Real.
Almostā¦ affectionate.
Then, for the first time all semester, he didn't change a single word.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take." He leaned in slowly. Giving me every chance to pull away.
I didn't.
Our lips met gently. Softly. For a brief moment, it was simply Romeo kissing Juliet. Then something changed.
The kiss lingered.
Longer than rehearsed.
Longer than staged.
Long enough that I forgot there were hundreds of people watching.
Long enough that my fingers tightened around the fabric of his costume.
Long enough that I heard it.
"ā¦Are they still kissing?" A quiet ripple of laughter spread through the audience.
Another whisper followed.
"I don't think that's part of the script."
Reality crashed back into us all at once.
My eyes flew open just as his did. We stared at each other for a split second before quickly pulling apart. His cheeks were just as red as mine.
Someone backstage coughed loudly. Another actor snorted. I bit back an embarrassed smile as we somehow managed to continue the scene as if nothing had happened.
The rest of the performance passed without incident. Although every time our eyes met, neither of us could stop smiling.
Eventually, the final curtain fell to a standing ovation. The cast lined up hand in hand, bowing together as applause thundered throughout the auditorium.
Flowers were tossed onto the stage. People cheered our names. It was everything I'd imagined opening night would be. Maybe even more.
After greeting friends and accepting hugs backstage, I slipped outside the theater for a moment of quiet. The cool evening air felt refreshing after the warmth of the stage lights.
"You disappeared." A voice said from behind me. I smiled without turning around.
"I needed a minute."
Footsteps stopped beside me and, for a while, neither of us spoke.
"So..." he finally said.
"So?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I should probably apologize." He said, causing me to look over at him.
"For what?"
"For proving you wrong."
I blinked.
"You didn't improvise."
"I know." He laughed quietly. "I figured if I was finally going to kiss you..." His ears turned pink. "...I wanted Shakespeare to introduce me properly."
I couldn't stop laughing.
"You planned that?"
"For weeks." I shook my head.
"You are unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
Silence settled between us again. Comfortable this time. He glanced toward the theater before looking back at me.
"Good thing we're not actually Romeo and Juliet."
"Why?" I asked with a laugh, which caused a bright smile to spread across his swollen lips as he stepped just a little closer.
"Because this is where our story starts."
Before I could think of a clever response, he leaned down and kissed me again.
This one wasn't for an audience.
It wasn't for Shakespeare.
It wasn't for Romeo or Juliet.
It was just for us.
