Part 5: The Devil's "Read-Through" Hell (P&P parody series) - Guess What's Next & Win Free Steem!

(Read this story & correctly answer the questions about the next chapter in your reply to win.)

[If you're new to this series, please read these first to catch up quick:]
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

(Knowing the past is the key to guessing the future, hint hint.)

Part 5

Linda barely had time to recount what had happened at the epic-disaster party to her new friend Cherise as she walked into that first script readthrough … when the main object of her hatred showed up not more than a minute after them. Worse still, he chose to sit directly behind them.

The director, Mr. Codsworth, was happy to see their early arrival and came over to introduce himself to them as if welcoming VIP guests of honor, to the great surprise of Linda and Cherise.

Dan appeared unaffected by the grand introduction, but then again, nothing had affected him at all in a long time … except when Linda had emptied his martini on top of his head at the party.

Satisfied with himself, Mr. Codsworth went back to his desk and continued poring over his notes in the back corner of the stage. It was rare to see students arrive half an hour early to a rehearsal, so he made an immediate mental note that these would perhaps be his best performers, and he ought to know since he prided himself on being an excellent judge of the true nature of people, of course.

However, Mr. Codsworth was a man of many words and very little sound common sense when it came to perceiving peoples’ true intentions. It was also no small coincidence that whomever he discovered had deep pockets and profitable connections must be a “good person” most worthy of his attention. He was thus utterly blind to the facts that Linda and Cherise were just early because they wanted to catch up about what had happened at the party. He also didn’t suspect that rather than showing up early to admire his riveting directing style, Dan was simply there early because he had overheard (via Brad) that Linda was going in early.

Linda started out a light conversation with Cherise, trying desperately to ignore the fact that the biggest douchebag she'd ever met was sitting right behind her and likely listening to every word she said.

Cherise, a smart and practical girl who reminded Linda of the comedian Margaret Cho with less tattoos, bit her tongue to contain her laughter every time she noticed “Devil Dan’s” smoldering glances at Linda — which was often.

Dan fought to convince himself that Linda was not nearly so alluring anymore now that she was in normal, non-party-mode clothing. But every time he looked back again for a confirmation of her “boring appearance” — which is how he’d described her to Brad after the party — he was forced to admit that she had a charming smile that caught him off guard. Actually, it was just the kind of slightly wicked smile he’d imagined she would have after tying him to a bedpost and … he fidgeted in his seat and quickly looked away to try and turn off the fantasy before it was too late.

Source: Giphy.com

Before long, Linda could no longer stand to give Dan the pleasure of eavesdropping. She resorted to texting Cherise instead, despite the fact that they were sitting right next to each other.

Linda texted, “OMG, WTF is the guy who called me a no-talent slut who cannot understand my part properly doing sitting behind us? There's enough chairs for him to sit anywhere else! What is his problem?”

Cherise texted, “IDK. But it is a shame that the hottest guys are so full of themselves. What happened to Janice & Brad BTW?”

“They’re probably too busy gazing into each other’s eyes to notice that they’re about to be late. I’d better text her.”

Linda was so busy texting Janice that she didn’t see that she’d become the object of a true heartthrob’s attention until she heard a gallant voice saying to her:

“I’m dying to know who's my Lizzie Bennet. Is it you?"

Looking up into playful gray eyes that beamed back at her from a face that she could only describe as “perfect in every way,” Linda was speechless, for once. Could this be her Darcy? She prayed the director would let them do a “wet-shirt” scene with him just to be able to watch him take off his shirt…

Source: Giphy.com

"Well, hello beautiful. ‘Fine eyes’ doesn't even begin to describe you."

“How did you know I was playing Lizzie?”

“I see things, like-“

“Really?!” Dan impatiently snapped at the new Greek god from behind Linda. “It’s incredible how you’re already misquoting it when you’ve just started.”

Dan turned to Linda, saying, “You see, he was about to tell you that he ‘sees dead people’ just to break the ice, which he always does, and then he’ll follow it up with—”

“I do not always say that!” the handsome newcomer protested.

“Who asked for your opinion? It’s his desperate way of trying to be original when he hits on women, stupid as he is,” Dan remarked with a scowl.

Linda grinned back at her newfound piece of eye candy to spite Dan, replying, “Well, can you see dead people?”

Dan rolled his eyes up in the air and sighed in frustration.

“I’m Dustin, by the way. Don’t let him fool you. No matter what he tells you, I’m far from stupid.”

“Really? And however did you come up with that idea?” Dan exclaimed.

“Well, all that matters is that the director felt I deserved the leading role of Mr. Darcy opposite this lovely lady. Sorry, understudy. Better luck next time around.”

“I’m Linda,” she piped up, more than happy to indulge any enemy of Dan’s.

Dan clenched his fists to stop himself from shouting, but he had enough time to catch Dustin’s eye and flip him off when neither Cherise nor Linda was looking. And the gesture was instantly reciprocated when Dustin flipped off Dan the second when Linda turned away to wave at Ben as he strolled in.

Source: Giphy.com

By this time, almost the whole cast had poured in, so Mr. Codsworth took center stage and began with:

“On behalf of all of this year’s Austen festival sponsors, especially the generosity of our board chair Mrs. Deverow, I’d like to thank you all for coming. In future, tardiness won’t be permitted by anyone, so please come earlier —” he paused, eyeing Brad and Janice with contempt as they just crept in the door.

He continued, “Ok everyone, take your seats! Let’s start this read through. We’ll go through the whole play in one sitting to give everyone a feeling for the pacing and character development. Use this opportunity to make notes and connect with the story, hmm? Now, pull out your scripts!”

Dustin fumbled through his messenger bag, then mumbled to Linda, “Oh, I forgot my script. Can I look over your shoulder?”

“Leading man is script-less. What a surprise,” Dan jabbed.

“Can’t you shut your trap for one minute?” Dustin griped back.

“Only if you shut yours first. Every time you speak, you’re killing more of my brain cells with your overwhleming stupidity.”

“Linda — or should I say, my darling Lizzie — why don’t we make ourselves more comfortable sitting over there?” Dustin suggested, pointing to the opposite end of the stage.

“Perfect,” chimed Linda. “And you can have my script. I’ve already memorized the whole play, and I have an extra copy at home.”

The jaws of everyone who heard this bold statement dropped instantly, including Mr. Codsworth’s. But no one was more surprised than Dan, who suddenly had the sinking feeling that Linda may be far more dangerous than he realized. He resolved to ignore her from now on.

For Linda, the read through of the script was a delight because she was sitting next to probably the only other person who could hate Dan as much as she did. Maybe it was also due to Dustin’s irresistible charm when he smiled at her, but regardless of the reasons, Linda soon found herself becoming smitten.

When the readthrough reached the scene where Darcy first confesses his feelings for Lizzie in the original proposal, Dustin dropped the script for a moment and lost his place.

Linda instantly helped him find his place again and starting feeding him the line where he’d left off from her memory (because it was her favorite part of “Pride & Prejudice,” naturally) by whispering to him:

“"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you —”

“… how ardently I admire and love you,” Dustin replied, finishing his line with a sincerity that was almost too warm for Darcy’s generally icy character.

Linda shivered upon hearing those perfect words delivered by equally perfect lips.

Across the stage, Dan stood up and mumbled something about how he had to go to the restroom before exiting.

Soon As the readthrough was over, Cherise came up to Linda and whispered into her ear, “Oooh keep it up, girl! Your grumpy admirer looks so pissed.”

Linda chuckled and whispered back, “Oh, I hadn't noticed. I'm too busy with a guy who deserves my attention.”

Ben, Janice and Brad approached Linda next because they had already planned on moving all their stuff into the dorms together where they would stay during the summer. Before they could steal Linda always though, Dustin pulled Linda aside and said:

“You’ve got to come over tonight. I’m having some of my friends over at my place, and Dan won’t be there, so we’ll actually have a good time. Let me get your number, and I can text you my address. And bring your friends.”

Linda bit her lip to contain her excitement and gave him her number an instant.

“You're not staying in the dorms like everybody else?”

“No, I have a better arrangement,” he winked back at her before walking out.

---

Alright, here are the basic rules of the contest:

Think of it as a cross between Poker and the Lottery.

*First, resteem this post on your feed and upvote it to "buy in" to the pot.

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*If no one guesses all of the questions right on this round, then the pot will grow for the next one next week. And whoever was the closest to getting them all right will receive:

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May the odds be ever in your favor!

This week's questions are:

1. In Chapter 6, which character will say, "You'd be surprised how many voices you can hear when you're high enough," ?

2. Who gets singled out by a supernaturally powered game to receive a message from beyond the grave?

3. T or F: Ben hooks up with someone in the cast in the next chapter.