Chapter 5:
The next morning, the school was loud with the usual chaos—lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking on tile, drama kids reciting lines like incantations. Elias moved through it all like a ghost.
He hadn't slept much. His dreams kept twisting into scenes that blurred theater and reality—Rowan whispering lines too close to his ear, Marco's voice booming with judgment, Camila sketching his shame in charcoal.
"Elias!" someone called.
He turned to see Theo Kingston jogging up, perfectly disheveled in his pressed uniform shirt and expensive sneakers.
"Mr. Kessler wants the leads to do a chemistry read after school," Theo said. "With blocking this time."
Elias swallowed. "It's only Tuesday."
"Yeah, and he's being a freak about making it perfect. Says 'The balcony is intimacy.'" Theo rolled his eyes. "Like, cool. I guess that means I have to play piano while you two make out."
Elias flushed. "It's not a make-out scene."
"Not physically," Theo said. "But emotionally? Total third base."
Elias stared at him.
"Relax." Theo grinned. "You're good. You'll figure it out."
After school, Elias didn't go straight to rehearsal. He found himself outside instead, near the chain-link fence behind the gym where no one ever lingered. He leaned against it, letting the cold metal press into his back.
He didn't hear Rowan approach until his shadow slid over the pavement.
"You okay?" Rowan asked.
Elias nodded too fast. "Yeah. Just—thinking."
"About Romeo?"
"About church," Elias answered honestly. Then, "And Romeo."
Rowan leaned beside him, quiet. "You know I was homeschooled for two years, right? When I came out."
Elias turned sharply. "I didn't know."
"My parents weren't thrilled. Mom cried a lot. Dad tried to convince me it was 'a phase' or a media thing. Said boys who wear eyeliner go to hell."
Elias laughed—too hard, too suddenly. "Sorry. I just—I didn't expect you to say that."
"It's fine," Rowan said. "You get used to being other people's lesson."
They stood there, the silence between them thick as fog.
"You don't talk much when we're not rehearsing," Rowan added.
"I talk," Elias replied, defensive.
"Sure. To teachers. To Marley and Camila. To God, probably. But not really to me."
Elias didn't know what to say. His heart was beating so loud it felt like it might break something.
Rowan stepped closer—not touching, just... closer. "You don't have to be afraid of me."
"I'm not," Elias said, but it sounded like a lie.
Rowan smiled softly. "I used to lie like that too."
In rehearsal, the balcony scene began again. This time, they were allowed to move.
Rowan climbed onto the platform easily, one hand grazing the fake ivy hanging from the set piece. Elias stood below, looking up—not just at Juliet, but at Rowan. Really looking.
"With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls," Elias said, voice steadier now, but quieter. "For stony limits cannot hold love out…"
Rowan didn't speak immediately when his line came. He just looked down at Elias like he saw all the things Elias worked so hard to bury.
Marley whispered, "Holy crap," from the wings.
Camila was furiously sketching again.
Even Mr. Kessler said nothing.
When the scene ended, Elias felt weightless and breathless—like falling upward.
That night, Elias sat at his desk under the glow of his desk lamp, trying to focus on chemistry homework. His Bible sat nearby, half-buried under notes and old cast lists. He'd highlighted Proverbs 4:23 a week ago:
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Elias used to think that meant shielding himself from temptation. Now he wasn't sure if it meant guarding his heart… or learning to listen to it.
His phone buzzed.
Rowan Chen:
> u were brilliant today. for what it's worth.
Elias stared at the message for a full minute before replying.
Elias Moreno:
> thanks. you were too.
He hesitated, then added:
> you make it hard to stay in character
Another buzz.
Rowan Chen:
> maybe you're just finally becoming yours
Elias didn't respond.
But he didn't turn off his phone either.