Scene Partners Ch. 01

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During the eighth week of an acting class I was taking I was presented with a challenge which sent me into a tailspin.

That evening started like any other. My fellow acting class members and I warmed up, did vocal exercises and performed some improvised scene work.

Near the end of class, Mike, the acting coach, handed everyone a manila envelope. He told us we were not to open these ‘secret envelopes’ during the remaining time in class. He wanted our full attention.

When we pressed him about what was inside he said the most he would tell us was that each envelope contained a dramatic scene. Some of the scenes, he continued, were between two actors which meant some of us would be pairing up. Other scenes were monologues. The scenes, he explained, were designed to challenge us as actors but was confident we would rise to the occasion. It was all very cryptic and, needless to say, our collective curiosity was piqued.

Mike added we could not refuse the scripts we were given nor trade with classmates.

Then he told us we’d have two weeks to breakdown the scene and rehearse on our own time. The scene would then be performed in front of the class for evaluation.

We were then instructed to take the scripts home, read them and make arrangements with our scene partners, if needed. He’d answer any questions and address any concerns we might have during the first part of the next week’s class.

Then we were told to put our envelopes aways and we went back to work for the remaining thirty minutes. Longest thirty minutes of my life.

On the drive home, I stared at that envelope sitting next to me in the passenger seat. I couldn’t wait to get home and satisfy my curiosity.

When I got home I threw my stuff onto the couch and ripped open my envelope. I sat down and began to read.

The scene I was from a play called AUGUST NOCTURNE. It was a scene between two actors. Two men to be exact.

It was a good. I sped through the fifteen pages quickly. At one point I realized I hadn’t even taken my shoes off.

As I delved deeper into the story I became a little apprehensive.

Nocturne was about two gay men. The men were former lovers. The sudden death of their friend, August, brings them back together and they must deal with old and new feelings.

It was pretty heavy stuff.

It was actually a little heavier for me because I was a straight and had no idea how to play the character of Todd. At one point the two men kiss and hold each other. There was no sex but the kissing and holding had me a little more than freaked out.

I’d have to kiss another.

I’d have to kiss another man on stage!

When I say down with Mike during my allotted time next class, I told him of my concerns. He simply smiled and said he had faith I’d rise to the challenge and work though it.

“Dig deep,” he said, patting my shoulder, “Just the find the part in you.”

“But,” I said, “Todd is gay.”

Mike laughed.

“So, what you’re saying is, you don’t know how to play gay?” he asked.

I had no answer for him. I didn’t know how to play gay but knew it would make me sound incredibly stupid and shallow if I let those words pass my lips.

“You don’t have to play gay…whatever that means to you, Noah. Just play you.”

I was so confused.

“This is just like any other play,” he explained, “Any other character you’ve played up til now. What you did as Jack three weeks ago was some of the best work I’ve seen an actor do in in this class in years. This isn’t any different.”

Oh, yeah it was.

Mike studied the confusion on my face.

“Surely you’ve had a friend pass away.”

“In high school,” I said, remembering my best friend Eli.

“As hard, as painful as it may be,” he said, with his hand on my shoulder, “Go to those feelings. Bring those emotions to the scene…bring them to Todd.”

“But he’s gay,” I replied.

He laughed again and told me to figure it out.

Then it was time for me to meet with my scene partner and work out the ‘where’s’ and ‘when’s’ of when we would work on our scene.

His name was Dante but he liked to be called ‘D.’

D was my age. He was a good looking black guy who reminded me a lot of Michael B. Jordan. D wasn’t an athlete but he kept in good shape cycling and running. He was a smart and really gifted actor.

He’d performed a scene two weeks earlier which had blown everyone away. During his amazing performance, he’d taken off his shirt. I can still remember the reaction of some of the girls in class.

I wasn’t a fat slob. I worked out and kept in shape. Dante though had natural good looks and a million dollar, megawatt smile. He also had one of those bodies you’d see on models.

Good looks and talent.

Lucky son-of-a-bitch.

I was glad we’d been partnered up. D was so good. I was certain I’d learn a lot from him and possibly even bring my game up a little.

We had two weeks before the next class. D and I took Mike’s suggestion to get together and hammer things out. D said his place was quiet and we agreed to meet every night until we both Bycasino felt good about things.

I worked mornings at a coffee shop and he worked mornings at a gym. It was perfect. I wonder if that’s why Mike paired us together for this scene.

***************************

When I arrived at D’s place he answered the door wearing only a towel.

I had arrived a little too early and he’d just stepped out of the shower. He smiled and told me to get comfortable while he finished getting ready. I apologized about being early and he told me not to worry about it.

He turned towards what I assumed was his bedroom. His towel fell and I couldn’t help but stare at his ass which apparently had been carved from chocolate-colored marble.

D looked back over his shoulder and caught me smiling. He made no attempt to cover back up. He simply bent over, picked up his towel and wrapped it around his narrow waist. He then grinned and disappeared around the corner.

I sat on the couch and waited as he dressed.

D came back into the living room a few minutes later. He was wearing cut off sweatpants. They were loose and tight at the same time. Tight across his ass and a little loose in front. He was also wearing a tight yellow t-shirt which accentuated his athletic physique.

I know it’s strange for me to mention this but I couldn’t tell if he was wearing underwear or not. If he was they were the thinnest underwear ever because I swear I could make out the shape of his cock through his cotton shorts.

I tried to avert my eyes but couldn’t help but notice as his dick shifted side to side as he walked past. D, as they say, seemed to be loaded for bear.

D dried his hair as he walked towards the kitchen. He opened the fridge and stuck his head inside. I found myself looking at his ass again. He looked back over his shoulder and caught me once again. And once again he didn’t call me on it. He simply grinned and asked if I preferred a beer or a cider.

I told him whatever he chose would be good.

He closed the fridge and, with two bottles in his hand, came back into the living room.

Before sitting down he offered me a cold beer which I took gladly. He sat in a leather chair across from me. After a few minutes of chitchat, we decided to start work.

We talked about the scene and did a quick read through.

After a minute of us talking to one another across the living room, D decided on a new strategy. He told me he worked better when he was standing. I agreed. I took his lead.

He moved his coffee table out of the way and we stood facing one another, a few feet apart, on a carpet in front of the couch.

We read through the scene again. This time we got about half way through when D stopped.

He seemed bothered and stood there with this look on his face.

“What?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he said, looking at me strangely, “You seem really …I don’t know…tense.”

“I do?”

“Yeah, man,” he said smiling, “What gives?”

“I don’t know,” I said, taking a big sip of beer.

“Just read the words. You sound like…”

“What?”

“Like you’ve never read a script before and I know that’s not true. You absolutely crushed that scene a couple of weeks ago.”

“Thanks,” I said with a half smile, “I think.”

“This is a really good piece. We could absolutely blow everyone away but-“

“But I suck.”

“No!” he said, laughing, “You don’t suck. You just seem…I don’t know…disconnected from it.”

His eyes met mine and we just stood there looking at one another. He took a few steps towards me.

“Let’s take it from…’August wouldn’t have wanted this’,” he said a little closer to me now.

I began to read, “August wouldn’t have wanted this-“

The words tripped out of my mouth and fell to the floor with a clunk.

“Maybe we should warm up?” he said.

“You asking?”

“No.”

His place, his rules, I figured. I’d let him take the lead. He was the stronger actor after all.

He continued, “Let’s do some breathing exercises and stretch.”

For the next few minutes we breathed and stretched. I couldn’t help but notice his body as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the floor. The muscles in his arms tensed. Then he leaned back slowly as far he could. His shirt rose and I saw his six pack.

I dropped my gaze lower and noticed his package straining against the now taught material of his grey gym shorts.

I caught myself staring and tried to focus.

We stretched and breathed for about ten minutes. Finally D said he was going to grab us a couple of beers and then we’d get back to work. I said it sounded like a good plan.

D came back into the living room, handed me my beer and we went back to work. We were facing each other again in front of the couch.

Three pages into the scene we stopped again. D took my script from my hands and tossed it onto the coffee table with his.

“Dude. What is up with you?”

“What?”

“You sound like one of those announcements at the bus station.”

“Hey!” I snapped. Bycasino giriş

“Sorry but if you could hear yourself.”

He studied me for a second or two.

“Relax” he said.

He had this stern, frustrated expression on his face. Then he looked into my eyes and realized I was more frustrated than he was. His brow relaxed and he smiled at me.

“Put your arms at your side and just breathe normally.”

“What?”

“Really?” he repeated.

I dropped my hands to my side and breathed in deeply.

“Close your eyes. Center yourself.”

I tried. I took a deep breath and suddenly felt fingers on my stomach.

D was now standing right in front of me and he was pressing on my diaphragm.

“From,” he pressed again, “Here.”

His touch startled me and I tried to compose myself. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. It was then I realized D’s hand was still resting on my body.

I opened my eyes and he was right there. We were only inches apart. Our toes touched. I could hear his breathing. My heart was racing. He was looking right into my eyes, past them it seemed.

“Noah, breathe man,” he said, putting his hands on my shoulders.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. It came out as an exasperated sigh.

He breathed for me, slowly, deeply.

“I’m trying,” I said, “It’s just hard when someone is telling you to breathe.”

“You’re overthinking this,” he said. He reached out and began squeezing my shoulders. His touch startled me. I tried to focus and catch my breath. He gently massaged them.

“Jesus. You’re tense. Your shoulders are like concrete.”

“Sorry,” I said meekly.

“No need to-,” he stopped rubbing my shoulders, “You’re making this a lot harder than it has to be.”

He stepped behind me. I could feel hid breath on my neck. His hands were kneading the taut muscles in my shoulders and neck. I thought I could feel his body press into my back.

His voice remained calm and soothing. I began to relax and felt myself falling back into him. He caught me and steadied me. He laughed and said, “Whoah, Dude. We need you relaxed not asleep.”

He stepped around me and was once again directly in front of me. We looked into each other’s eyes. My breathing slowed and finally matched his. Deep breath for deep breath. We stood like that, silent and still.

Then he took a step forward. D put his right hand over my heart. I knew he could feel the speeding locomotive in my chest. It was unsettling having him so close. I don’t know why I was freaking out.

“Noah, man,” he said,” Just breeeeathe.”

I took another deep breath.

D leaned in until our faces were an inch away. We were almost nose to nose. I stared into his eyes. He stared into mine.

“Say the line again,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Say the line.”

“August wouldn’t have wanted this-”

Then I lost it, standing there, staring into D’s hazel eyes.

D stepped back, shaking his head.

“What is it? What is going on in-“

He suddenly tapped a finger against my forehead.

“In there?”

“I don’t know,” I said, sitting down onto the couch.

That was a lie. I knew exactly what was wrong with me. I grabbed my beer and emptied it.

D sat down next to me, too close this time. Our thighs touched and my body jerked away from him.

“Oh shit!” he said suddenly, sliding away from me. He turned his body on the couch, one leg under him, and was now facing me.

“Holy shit,” he said shaking his head.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re hung up on the gay thing.”

Yep. I was. Bingo!

“No I’m not. Don’t be-“

“Damn, man. You’re hung up on the fact this is a play about two gay men.”

Then he looked at me and a strange look came over his face.

“It’s the kiss. Damn, man. You’re freaked out because we have to kiss.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what the right reply was. Fuck yeah I was freaked out about having to kiss him but I couldn’t say it to his face.

So I lied.

“That’s such bullshit,” I said, averting my eyes from his intense stare. I fumbled with my empty beer bottle.

“So you don’t have a problem with having to kiss me?”

“No.”

“Bullshit.”

“You can’t even…you’re an actor man! C’mon. You’re an actor playing a-“

He slid away from me and turned his body towards me.

“Say it!”

“Say what?”

“Say my character is gay.”

“Your character is gay.”

“Asshole. Say your character…say Todd, is gay.”

“Todd is,” I choked.

D busted out laughing.

“Holy shit man! You got some issues. We need to break this shit down or we’re not going to be able to perform this.”

“I don’t have issues,” I stammered.

Liar, liar! Pants on fire!

“Todd’s gay. Harold’s gay. We’re playing gay men.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Say it,” he said.

“We’re playing,” I swallowed hard, “Gay…men.”

“Oh fuck,” he said, sipping his beer, “We’ve got some work to do.”

He got up and went into the kitchen. He came back with two more beers. Bycasino deneme bonusu Then he sat down on the couch and studied me. He didn’t say a word. I sat there nervously.

“Stand up,” he said suddenly, breaking the spell.

“What?”

This again?

“Stand up,” he said getting to his feet.

I stood. D took a step and was only inches from me. I looked into his hazel eyes. He smiled. Jesus that smile.

“Relax,” he said in a soft whisper.

Easier said than done, I said to myself.

He stepped an inch closer to me and looked into my eyes.

“Breathe man. You’re an actor, Noah. Breathe. Relax.”

I took several deep breaths.

“Center yourself,” he said calmly.

I steadied myself, my eyes closed.

“Breeeeeathe,” he said placing his hand over my heart again, “Just breathe.”

He took another step. I could smell him now. His scent was a mix of cologne and his natural musk. His belly brushed against mine.

“Just…relax…,” he whispered.

My hands were at my side and he took them in his own. He pulled my hands to his chest and placed them over his heart. I could feel it beating. I could feel how hard his chest was.

“I….I….can’t,” I said pulling away from him.

D pulled me back to him and our bodies pressed together. He held me there, with his powerful arms.

I froze.

D slowly lowered his arms.

Even though he had let me go I stood there, pressed against him. Our chests were touching. Our stomachs were touching. Our groins were touching.

He breathed in deep and exhaled slowly.

I breathed in deep and exhaled slowly.

“Just relax,” he said softly.

I felt myself falling into him again and had to step away. I took three steps back and then sat in the chair across from the couch.

He sat down on the couch, shaking his head.

“You’ve been in this class for seven weeks. This is just another scene. Another character. What is your deal, man?”

After several long minutes I said with a sigh, “He’s gay. Todd is gay.”

“Uh….duh,” he said shaking his head, “They’re both gay. And?”

“I’m…not.”

“Okaaay?” he asked.

“I’m not gay. I don’t know how….I don’t get him or how to-“

D interrupted me, “You know how many straight character’s I’ve played?”

“Yeah…but…”

And then it hit me.

I looked at him and he looked at me. D leaned back into the couch and drank his beer, allowing me the time to work it all out.

I finally did.

“Oh.”

“You didn’t know I was gay?”

He laughed.

“No.”

“Why? Because I wasn’t swishing around limp-wristed talking with a lisp?”

“I wasn’t saying-“

“I’m just fucking with you, Dude.”

“Oh.”

“Does knowing I’m gay change things between us? Have I suddenly become some alien you can’t relate to?”

“I never…I didn’t….fuck, fuck…fuck,” I stammered.

Then I said quite possibly the stupidest thing I’ve ever said.

“I mean, you don’t look gay.”

As soon as the words left my mouth I prayed the Earth would open up and swallow me.

“And what does gay look like?” D asked.

“I don’t know,” I said sinking down onto the couch.

He sat next to me. He was close and our thighs touched.

“I think I’m starting to understand why you can’t wrap your head around Todd,” he said.

D looked at me. He wasn’t angry at me. He wasn’t judging me. He was just trying to figure out his next move. I could tell he really want to help me. After a minute, he took a swig of beer and asked, “Noah, who is Todd?”

“He’s Harold’s ex-boyfriend.”

“How long had they been together?”

“Three years.”

“So it was serious then. They were a couple.”

“Yes.”

“They were in love. At one point, before we meet them in the play, they were in love.”

I looked into his hazel eyes.

“I assume so.”

“They were lovers. Right?”

“Probably.”

“They were together for three years. Trust me. They were lovers.”

“Okay,” I said.

“All I’m saying is they probably lived together. Which means they were a couple. Which means-“

“They…uh..they did things together.”

“Yes,” he said patting my leg, “Like?”

How the fuck was I supposed to know that?

“They were a couple. They probably shared a bed which means they were intimate with one another. Right?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Sex changes everything in a relationship. It changes the dynamics.”

“Okay.”

“Say it.”

“Sex changes everything.”

“Harold and Todd had been intimate with one another. They shared a bed.”

Where was he going with this?

“At some point they’d probably sucked each other’s cocks.”

Oh. So that’s where he was going.”

“Did I shock you?”

“No.”

“Would you agree? Three years together? They shared a bed?”

“I get it.”

“At the very least they jerked each other off.”

He took a sip of beer.

“Is all I’m saying.”

“Probably,” I said, nodding my head.

Probably? Jesus. I’m a fucking idiot.

D laughed.

“Dude. The look on your face.”

I felt my face redden.

“It’s okay. It’s the truth though. I can promise you if I was with someone for three years, I would have touched their cock. Shit. Three years? Trust me, somebody was going to be sucking somebody’s cock.”

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