Manuscript Hell (closed, Abi)

MacKenzie wandered around the room. He held a script in one hand and his other gestured wildly as he recited various lines. With a shake of his head, he tossed the manuscript back onto the table he was working on. No, that wasn't going to work either. He ran long fingers through his hair for about the thirtieth time. Finding a simple, but challenging play was not easy. He didn't want anything too tough, his students might not be able to handle it. Yet, he wanted something that would actually make them work for their grades. So, why couldn't he find the perfect play? Maybe he'd been at this job for too many years...

That thought made him stop in the midst of his back and forth pacing. At this job too long? Could his brain possibly be toying with the idea of going back to the stage fulltime? Not that he couldn't make it, but still. Wasn't the reason he'd stopped working the stage so that he could forget her? Not to mention, he generally enjoyed teaching young minds, especially when said minds were open to what he had to teach. Those people who resisted him usually ended up quitting his classes and finding something else to focus on. MacKenzie could be nice, but he was a tough director. He wasn't going to let people come to his classes to get easy As.

Back to the point at hand. He didn't have a play. Damn...What should he do now? Return to looking, of course. MacKenzie returned to his worktable, scouring the plays he'd picked out for one that seemed the most suitable. He knew he wouldn't be settled unless it was perfect. He only had a couple of days left to pick the play, too.

Abi had been thinking about doing the musical this year, just like any other year of course, tradition was tradition. The only thing Abi had been thinking about was having the time to take part in the musical in her last year at Felicity's, it took alot of work and as it wasn't exactly the reason she was going to Felicity's, she had decided to go to the Theatre wing, into the Tech room. A little practice couldn't hurt, she had alot from the previous shows. Abi wondered if she was just being silly and trying to find a reason not to take part this year, it would mean more time spent talking to MacKenzie, even if it made things more difficult.

As she slowly walked down the Theatre corridor, walking right down to the end and turning right, into the large room called the 'Theatre Tech Room'. Abi looked down at the floor as she walked in, upon hearing someone else in the room she glanced up sharply. "Hi" She breathed, walking away from the door and closer to Mr. Butler. It was like magnetism, her eyes were pulled to him and Abi was trying so hard to keep away. It seemed Mr. Butler was looking for a play, he was the drama teacher. Instead of asking if he needed help, he was perfectly skilled enough to do so, without her musical skills butting in, moving her feet the slightest bit closer. Mere strides earlier on, were steps closer to him without seeming overly desperate. It was too impossible.

Abi sat down on the table, crossing her ankles, her arms reached out back behind her for something to lean on. It was strange seeing her favourite teacher of all time looking so rushed. The usually laid back teacher seemed to be searching for anything and everything, watching Mr. Butler curiously, Abi sighed. It was a shame she didn't take alot of drama classes, it wasn't really her passion, Abi loved watching it, seemingly attracted and unable to take her eyes off the stage. However, music was her calling, and she knew exactly how she felt about it.

Abi wondered why she thought about Mr. Butler as she did, he was purely and utterly gorgeous, it was surprising that he hadn't said anything to any of them, some of the girls were quite shocking sometimes. She smiled, it was so tempting sometimes, and she knew the consequences of even trying the slightest thing, that's what made it so tempting. Abi sighed, she didn't need to ask about the musical, she would most definitely be taking part in the musical this year! That was when she realised something, was he still taking part? Would he even be a part of the musical? Of course he would be. It wasn't as if he never had before. "You're still taking part in the musical aren't you?" Abi asked, slightly worried.

MacKenzie blinked when the door opened. Immediately, he paused and turned to greet whomever had joined him in the tech room. To his surprise, it was no one he would generally expect. Instead it was Abigail Applebottom. She'd been in several musicals of his in the past, but he had never had her in one of his classes. How interesting that it should be her to join him and not Jane or Deidre...In any case, he found himself intrigued. She obviously needed his help with something. She seemed to be unable to keep herself from stepping, ever so subtly closer and closer to him. It was somewhat amusing, though MacKenzie would never say that aloud, what if she was mortified by his comments? Instead, he smiled warmly. "Good afternoon, Miss Applebottom."

She settled onto a table, which indicated to MacKenzie that she didn't need him for any pressing matters. So, he returned to his musings. The plays he'd pulled out were good, but he'd wanted something more...perfect. That, he figured, was probably impossible at this point, although he could go into class on Monday and ask the students what they would like to do instead of deciding for them. Oh, that was a wondrous idea!! That way, it truly would be the class's effort rather than him forcing something upon them. If the students as a whole were forced to pick something, he could actually watch them, grade them. Oh what an ingenious idea! Mentally, MacKenzie clapped himself on the back.

A question interrupted his mental planning and he turned to Abi. "Still taking part in the..." He half-repeated what she said, so startled was he by her question. Actually, that was thought inspiring. What if he didn't take part? Not that MacKenzie Butler would be able to live with himself if he didn't take part. Yet, still...What if he handed the reigns over to Deidre and asked her to do it this year? She might laugh at him, that's what. And why would he not want to do the musical anyway? He smiled reassuringly at the teenager before him. "Yes, Abigail, I'm still taking part in the musical. I don't think I would have it any other way...Besides, I doubt anyone would appreciate it if I dumped my duties on someone else." He paused, gathering up the manuscripts that he no longer needed. "Did you need my help? Or are you just lonely this first weekend back?" He was not being sarcastic, he was genuinely curious. MacKenzie had had students come hang out with him in the past due to loneliness. It was not something he was unused to, in fact he quite enjoyed the company.