Ms. Dubois called them back to the stage, and the rehearsal resumed. The scene was the same: Hermia's heartbreak, Lysander's bewilderment. But the air was thicker, charged with the lingering tension of the off-stage drama. Kris, as Lysander, was still intensely focused, but Mia noticed a subtle shift. His eyes, when they met hers, held a flicker of something she couldn't quite decipher – perhaps a hint of regret from the argument, or a deeper, more complicated emotion.
During one moment, as Hermia was supposed to turn away from Lysander in despair, Mia stumbled slightly, her exhaustion catching up to her. Before she could fall, Kris, still in character, reached out, his hand gently but firmly steadying her arm. It was a quick, almost imperceptible touch, but it lingered for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. His eyes met hers, and for a fleeting moment, the intense, protective gaze of Lysander seemed to merge with something raw and unguarded in Kris Windsor's own eyes.
Later, as the rehearsal finally ended, Mia was packing up her script. Kris approached her desk. He didn't speak, just placed a small, insulated cup of herbal tea next to her script. Mia looked at it, then at him, surprised. "What's this?"
"For the exhaustion," he muttered, avoiding her gaze. "You pushed yourself today. And you were surprisingly efficient with those judge packets. The details were... precise." It was the closest to an admission of appreciation she'd heard from him, and the unexpected gesture, a small act of care amidst his usual demands, left Mia oddly disarmed. He didn't wait for a thanks, turning and walking away, leaving her with the warm cup and a whirlwind of confusing thoughts.
Mia walked back to her home and shut her room, utterly exhausted, but her mind was racing. The argument between Kris and Leo, Kris's blatant possessiveness, James's observations, and Kris's unexpected gesture of care – it all swirled together. The lines between their characters and their real selves were not just blurring; they were dissolving, creating a messy, complicated, and strangely compelling reality. Day six was over, and the bet had become far more than just a week of demands. It was forcing them to confront something new, something unsettling, and something undeniably powerful between them.