What Lies Beneath the Mask Read online

  “What the hell happened Hayley?” Jack almost shouted.

  “I have no idea; I’m just as surprised as you are!” She shot back. I had no idea what had them so riled up at each other, maybe something went wrong at the theatre after I left.

  “How could he do that to her?”

  “He doesn’t know Jack, why would he?” She asked in a slightly gentler tone. “We’re the only two people she has ever told; did you know that?” Jack looked taken aback.

  “I just want to protect her.” He slumped back onto the sofa next to David who shuffled along to let Hayley in, the two of them still none the wiser that I was in the room.

  “I know you do. I do too.” She put her arm around him. Jack’s face was in his hands muffling his next words slightly.

  “I only found out when I heard her on the radio.” My mouth made an ‘o’ shape as it finally twigged what the two of them had been arguing about.

  “Me too. I don’t know why she didn’t tell me.” Hayley sounded sad and I knew that I needed to do something about it.

  “Did it occur to either of you that I didn’t actually know myself?” I cut in. They looked up simultaneously to see me standing there. David coughed slightly.

  “Oh yeah, Belle came home.” I smiled slightly and moved towards them. Hayley shuffled towards David, trying to make room for me on the already full sofa. Instead of taking the seat I surprised everyone, including myself, by sliding myself onto Jack’s knee and putting my arms around his neck. I leaned my forehead against his as his hands slipped around to support my back.

  “I’m sorry Jack, I should have text. John sprung it on me and I didn’t really think.” I told him softly.

  “Are you okay?” I nodded quickly.

  “It wasn’t so bad.” I acknowledged. “But I think he knows about us.”

  “How?”

  “I’m not sure, it was just an impression I got.” I pulled a confused face and he leaned in to peck my lips.

  “I thought you said Jack wasn’t in a secret relationship.” All three of us turned to glare at David.

  “Of course she said that. She was being interviewed by her ex-boyfriend.” Hayley’s voice was laced with scorn and I definitely wouldn’t want to be David right now, apparently up until now he’d been in the dark about mine and Jack’s relationship, probably because Hayley hadn’t been sure whether she could trust a member of the camera crew with the knowledge.

  “You kept it?” The soft wonder in Jack’s voice had me following his gaze to find out what he was on about. It landed on the wooden rose he gave me which I’d put in a small vase on the living room windowsill, opposite my bedroom door so I saw it every day.

  “Of course I kept it. Why wouldn’t I?” He shrugged.

  “So that’s where that came from!” Hayley exclaimed, “I had wondered.”

  “Jack made it for me,” I couldn’t stop the smile that was spreading across my face. While interview with Toby had drained me, it seemed that all I needed was a reminder of something sweet that Jack did for me to feel better again.

  “It’s beautiful Jack.” She told him.

  “You should see the angel he’s carving in the workshop.” I said proudly, before realising how strange it was for me to feel proud of something someone else had done.

  “That was you?” He nodded. “What are you a master craftsman?” He laughed at that.

  “Just an apprentice.” He was modest by nature and I knew he wasn’t likely to accept too much praise.

  “A very talented one,” I kissed his nose and jumped off his knee. “Who’s for dinner?” I got three yeses before grabbing the ingredients from the fridge and cupboards that I needed to make a curry; the act of cooking helping me to destress from my day.

  Chapter 30

  My stomach was in knots from watching the cast go through the motions in Masquerade. Merry and Jack had managed to crack the chemistry thing, though it pleased me to know that it had only happened since Jack told me he’d started pretending she was me. Whether he actually was, or he was just ridiculously smooth, I didn’t know, though Hayley thought it was the former. The dance ran smoothly; the product of hours of practice, but as Jack pulled Merry up for their kiss, my heart squeezed painfully. I knew that by refusing to take our relationship public, I lost the right to be jealous, and yet here I was. Thankfully it seemed safe to say that with three months to go until opening night we were definitely on track for a showstopper. The cast moved seamlessly into the next scene, with even Merry acting as part of the team, probably spurred on by the fact that not only were the TV crews here, but Toby had asked to interview her specifically. Admittedly the interview was alongside Henry and Jack, and I was still worried about it, but it was good publicity for the show.

  “Fenton, Ryman, Shaw!” John shouted. “Interview time. Understudies up.” Everyone moved quickly to follow his instructions.

  “Can I supervise the interviews?” I didn’t think before speaking and Hayley looked up quickly from where she was fixing Nina’s costume, the dark material of Madame Giry’s dress not quite falling right on our ballet coordinator.

  “Sure.” John said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Means I can sort out this mess.” He waved towards the stage where the understudies were struggling with what everyone else already had almost perfect. I was walking towards the room which had been put aside for the interviews when Hayley grabbed my arm.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” She hissed, careful not to let Nina hear. “Toby and Jack in the same room is bad enough.”

  “That’s why I need to be there.” I whispered back, “I can’t let Toby say anything to Jack.” She sighed.

  “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?” I shook my head and she sighed. “Alright then, good luck.” I was definitely nervous, but confidence was key and so with a deep breath, I walked into the room with my head held high. I smiled briefly at Jack, who looked surprised to see me, before sitting on the spare chair towards the back of the room.

  “I wasn’t expecting you Belle.” Toby said from his position near the recording equipment.

  “I’m just here to supervise.” I waved a dismissive hand, hoping that no one would notice my heart thumping in my chest, or that my hands were nervous and slick with sweat. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out to read the message.

  Jack: Are you okay being here?

  Me: I will be. I typed back quickly before putting my phone away and waiting for the interview to kick off.

  “How are you finding working on The Phantom of the Opera?” Toby addressed the three of them.

  “It’s one of our best productions so far.” Henry beamed. He’d been involved in the troupe for 5 years as far as I knew, which was far longer than the two I’d been involved.

  “You’re new to the troupe right Jack? How have you been finding it?” Toby’s smile was slightly malicious, but I don’t think anyone noticed but me.

  “I’m really enjoying myself, it’s like being a part of a family. Though slightly dysfunctional at times we all look out for each other.” He sounded very serious and I wasn’t unconvinced that he hadn’t meant it as a vague threat.

  “Who’s your favourite cast or crew member to work with?” Toby was still looking at Jack, as if trying to trick him into saying something that would reveal our relationship. Jack just laughed.

  “I can’t answer that! That’s the kind of question that gets people hurt.”

  “Do you like working with Belle?” Toby threw me a glance and I shivered.

  “Everybody likes working with Belle.” Jack said with a finality that was difficult to ignore. Merry huffed slightly, whether it was because she disagreed with him, or because the interview wasn’t focusing on her, I wasn’t sure.

  “Any gossip for us Merry?”

  “Depends what you mean by gossip Toby!” Her happy tone sounded fake to me, but even so I dreaded what she’d say next. “Lissy and George, they’re playing Meg and André just
got engaged, but that’s hardly gossip, more news!” Relief washed through me as I realised she didn’t have anything new on me and Jack. Toby pursed his lips, as if unhappy with the outcome of his question.

  “How does it feel to play the bad guy Henry?”

  “I don’t think the Phantom is necessarily a bad guy; he’s just misunderstood, and while he acts as the antagonist and does some pretty bad things, he does them because he loves Christine.” My jaw dropped, I hadn’t expected anything so thoughtful to have come from Henry, particularly such an insight his character.

  “Do you think Christine makes the right choice when she picks Raoul?” Toby’s smirk made me think that there was more to the question than any of us realised.

  “No.” Merry said at the same time that both the guys said “Yes.”

  “Interesting,” I could almost picture Toby tapping his fingers together in that over exaggerated way villains do in films when he said the word. “Want to elaborate?”

  “Raoul is just too clean cut. There’s nothing there other than the money.” She said.

  “I disagree Merry,” Jack cut in, “he’s protective of Christine and just wants her to be safe and happy.”

  “Plus, he does agree to use her as bait.” Henry added, “doesn’t really paint him as any better than the Phantom.”

  “Raoul still has her best interests in mind when he does that.” Jack argued back.

  “If he truly loved her he wouldn’t put her in harm’s way.” Merry bit out and I noticed Jack blanch. Something in what she had said had hit a nerve with him, and I wondered if it was something to do with me being in the room.

  “He loves her enough to let her make her own decisions. Hence Twisted Every Way.” Jack’s glance flitted to me, making it clear that there was something he was trying to tell me.

  “Is that experience you’re speaking from Jack?” Toby asked, still smirking and leaning back in his chair, making him seem even bigger than he already was. “Is there someone you love enough to let make her own decisions?” My eyes widened and turned to Jack as everyone else’s did. He looked decidedly uncomfortable as if unsure how to answer. My heartbeat kicked up a notch, unsure how I what I wanted him to say; neither of us had said the l-word and it was something we purposefully steered away from. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to hear it yet. On the other hand, I didn’t want to hear that he didn’t love me either. Jack gulped audibly before answering.

  “Yes.” He said quietly. “There is.” The world spun as it sunk in. Jack loved me. Okay maybe he hadn’t told me that to my face, but he’d admitted it all the same. I pulled out my phone needing to tell Hayley straight away. Toby’s question came as I clicked send.

  “Will you tell us about her?” He was smirking straight at me and any doubts I had about him knowing about us vanished. I couldn’t see any way out of this with our secret intact, either Jack would refuse to answer and raise suspicions or he would, and it’d be obvious who he was talking about.

  “She’s smart, beautiful, talented and far stronger than she thinks she is. I would do anything for her.” He met Toby’s eyes as he said that and joy welled up inside me; he was willing to face my past for me.

  “She’s a lucky woman then. Do we get a name?”

  “No,” Jack said, “she’ll probably kill me for revealing that much.” My phone was still in my hand and I typed him a message: Not going to kill you. That was the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said about me. I briefly worried that he was actually talking about someone else, but dismissed those thoughts before hit send anyway.

  “I’m very sorry Mr. Withers but I have things I need to do.” Jack stood and stalked out of the room without looking at anyone.

  “Thank you two for the interview, it was very enlightening.” Toby said as he began to pack up his things. Merry and Henry murmured their thanks and got up to leave. I made to follow them when Toby grabbed my arm. “Going to find your boyfriend?” He smirked.

  “Get off me.” I threw his arm off and turned my back to him to leave the room.

  “Don’t think I don’t know Belle.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I slammed the door behind me. Checking my phone, I saw that I had two unopened messages;

  Hayley: Squeeeeeee. I want to hear all about it later!

  Jack: I meant every word. Which made it official; even with my ex-boyfriend around, today was the best day of my life.

  Chapter 31

  I hadn’t seen Jack since the interview, so when he arrived at my door with a picnic basket in hand I’d invited him in without a second thought. Jack spread the picnic blanket out on my living room floor before filling it with the assortment of food he’d brought. He’d thought of everything; from chicken wings and carrot sticks to my favourite blueberry cheesecake. He smiled at me as we sat down.

  “So tell me, why are we having a picnic inside?” I asked while munching happily on a carrot stick.

  “It’s December we could hardly have one outside.” I laughed and whacked him playfully on the arm.

  “Alright smart arse, why are we having a picnic at all?”

  “Well I needed something romantic after yesterday.” He looked kind of sheepish and I hoped he’d actually tell me he loved me rather than me just over hearing it. “What’s your favourite colour?” He asked suddenly.

  “Lilac.” I answered. “Why?” Jack shrugged.

  “I just thought it was something I should know.”

  “What about yours?” I asked, turning towards him and propping myself up on my elbow.

  “Green. Like the colour of your eyes.” I blushed furiously and looked away.

  “You’re just saying that.” I mumbled. He laughed.

  “I’m really not. My favourite colour has always been green, which just happens to be the colour of your eyes.” He grinned and I instantly smiled back, there was something infectious about the look on his face.

  “It’s nice to be away from the show.”

  “Well the best part of the show is sat right here.” He laughed easily.

  “Your voice is good Fenton, but not that good!” I teased good naturedly.

  “Not me, silly. You!” I spun back to face him, a surprising feat given that I was laying down.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. Do you think any of it would have been possible without you?” He spoke quickly, almost passionately.

  “Of course it would be.” He shook his head.

  “It wouldn’t. Belle, you are so talented and you don’t even realise it. The actors do what you tell them, the set designers build what you want them to, John gives into you eventually. Hell, even Hayley listens to you. This is your show. No matter what Merry might think, you are the true star.” His eyes were alive and sparkling and I could almost believe what he was saying.

  “Merry’s the star.” I insisted.

  “No.” It was forceful, but not in the way that Toby would have been, but more in a way which made me feel like he was determined to make me see it was true. “Merry is the face. I’m the face. Henry is the face. But the true star is you. Don’t let anyone take that away from you Annabelle. You’re talented and beautiful and deserve to be recognised.” I stared straight at him as he spoke, despite everything I could actually feel myself starting to believe him. I closed the distance between us at the same time Jack did, our mouths touched and we kissed gently. A kiss that was saying the things I was too scared to, and that he’d admitted but hadn’t said to me yet. A kiss that was interrupted by the sound of Hayley’s ringtone blaring from my phone. I pulled my phone from my pocket, groaning in frustration as I answered.

  “This had better be good.” I said in a mock angry tone only to regret my, words moments later when I realised that Hayley was crying. “Hayls what’s wrong?”

  “There’s been a fire.”

  “What?!” I sat up suddenly and Jack followed.

  “A fire.” The strain in her voice had me on edge.

  “Are you okay
? Please tell me you’re okay.” I felt panicked, I don’t know what I would do without Hayley, even if it was only temporary.

  “I’m fine.” She murmured. “The studio isn’t.”

  “Our studio?” My heart sank. Both of us worked from that studio, there was so many of our sketches and plans there, not to mention the costumes that Hayley was currently working on.

  “Yes.” Her voice was small.

  “Where are you Hayley?” I asked urgently and mouthed “Thank you” to Jack who was already tidying bits of our half-eaten picnic into the fridge.

  “The theatre.”

  “Stay there, I’m coming to you.” I got to my feet, pulling the picnic blanket with me. “I love you Hayley.” Jack looked at me startles, making me feel guilty that he’d heard me say it to her when it was already hanging in the air between us. Taking the blanket from my hand he folded it and hung it over the arm of my sofa.

  “I love you too Belle.” My best friend said in a small voice that was nothing like her own. She disconnected my call and left me worrying over how unlike herself she’d sounded.

  “What’s happened?” Jack asked, taking my hand and pulling me towards the door, grabbing my house keys and his car keys from the bowl next to it as he did so.

  “A fire.” I replied following automatically, “at the studio.” There was a lump in my throat and I dreaded what we’d find when we returned to the theatre.

  Chapter 32

  A rehearsal must have been going on when the fire happened, as there were a lot of cast and crew members around when I jumped out of Jack’s car. “Well, look who arrived together.” Merry’s voice cut through the air.

  “Oh shut up Merry.” I snapped, shocking myself with my rudeness, though I could swear I heard people murmuring agreement in the background. Hayley was curled up on the ground with David next to her and I rushed over to her, “Hayls you okay?” Crouching down next to her, I pulled her into a hug. She didn’t have a coat on and I assumed that it had been in the studio when things happened. Luckily, Jack had thought to bring a spare one from the back of his car and draped it over her shoulders.