For XiaolinPrincess

I'm being told to write again, so I will. SamanthaxFred is what XiaolinPrincess wanted me to write, so this was all I could really think of that I liked. I don't own these characters, but the story line is mine in all its idiocy. NOTE: Little to none of this is historically accurate, so don't expect to learn. : D

Star Crossed

"For never was a story of more woe

Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

-William Shakespeare

"Ew! You're lying, that never happened." Fred stared at Samantha in a mix of disgust and disbelief. "They never did that."

"Yes, they did. Actors weren't the respected people that they are now. They were scum in the eyes of everyone else; women were treated very well and viewed as almost holy. So, there were no women in productions; all roles were played by men."

"Wait a minute," Joe said, flipping through the pages of his English book. Their class was reading Romeo and Juliet and since nobody spoke in old English anymore, the boys didn't have a clue as to what was being said.

Sam refused to help them since he now attended a boarding school for those with "gifted intelligence" in upstate New York. Joe and Fred were stranded. Well, not really, Samantha had warped back to wish Anna a happy thirteenth birthday, as over the years they had become close friends. When Samantha had walked past Joe's room and heard Fred ask what a princox was, she couldn't help but stop and answer. After that question, there came another, and another, and still more, until she decided to stay.

"Wait, wait, wait." Joe flipped forward a couple more pages to where a picture interrupted the written text. The illustration in question was of two people kissing, a girl and a boy, Romeo and Juliet. "If all the roles were filled by guys, then that would mean-"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Fred shouted covering his ears.

"Yes Joe, boys would have to kiss other-"

"La la la la la la la la la I can't hear you la la la la la la" Samantha and Joe sat quietly until Fred's episode was done.

"As I was saying,"

"No, I'm no gonna listen to you lie any more." Fred said melodramatically, "Gimme the Book."

"What? No!"

"I wanna show you you're lying." He reached for the Book in her hand. He caught only the back corner but held tight. This became a harsh tug of war. Samantha's foot pushed against Fred's chest trying to pry him off the Book, but he wouldn't let go. Joe frantically tried to be a peacemaker by taken the Book from the two of them, but Fred elbowed him hard in the face so he backed down and anxiously watched.

"Let go!" Samantha muttered through gritted teeth, pulling the Book back to her.

"Never!" Fred grunted. He tugged hard as he could which was hard enough to fall backwards off Joe's bed. Samantha, unwilling to let the Book go, was pulled forward. They both disappeared from Joe's sight. There was a flash and a puff of green mist.

"Guys?" Joe asked the empty room.

x+

"Ow," Fred sat up rubbing his head. "Where are we?" he looked at Samantha, who was already standing and looking over the edge of the balcony they were on.

"The Globe Theatre, I guess between 1600 and 1613." Fred got up and walked over to the edge. The whole place was about 100 feet across. 70 of those feet made a wide open area for people to stand in. The rest was a stage. Samantha and Fred stood in one of the highest balconies, but they could clearly hear what was going on below.

"Cut!" Shouted a man with a mustache and receding hairline. "I oft think I might have made more success had I trained wild animals to read my play rather than you poor excuse for a cast."

"Excuse me, sir." One of the young men on stage cut in.

"What is so important, Adrian, that you must interrupt your director?"

"Well, sir, there are two people up in the balcony." The director turned around and saw Samantha and Fred.

"What is this? What meanest thou by intruding upon a closed rehearsal?"

"What?" Fred whispered to Samantha.

"He wants to know what we're doing here."

"Make haste to me!" the director shouted. Samantha dragged Fred down the stairs to the stage. "What meanest thou upon thine intrusion, explain thineselves!"

"I'm very sorry." Samantha began her explanation that they had gotten lost looking for their cousin's house and meant no offence. The story was the stupidest lie ever thought up, ever. But he bought it.

"Very well." He said wringing his hands. "No harm done." He turned to address the actors who stood in assorted impatient positions, "From the top!" he shouted.

"Of the scene?" asked one boy with a mask over his face.

"Of the show!" the director snapped back. Numerous groans were uttered as some slinked back stage muttering.

"No!" one of the performers with black hair wearing a large billowy red and black dress spoke up.

"Pardon me?" the director cocked an eyebrow.

"We've done this twenty times!" Ripping the wig off his head, the performer was indeed a boy. A boy in a dress. "I'm not doing this again. We have worked since before the sun rose. My will has reached its end, sir." He threw the wig down, picked up the end of the dress and began walking off. "Find another Juliet!" He shouted over his shoulder.

"You weren't kidding…" Fred whispered to Samantha. She had a sly, self-contented look on her face.

"Well, if he's out, then I'm out too." The actor with the mask threw it to the ground and followed in the other's wake.

"Wait!" the director called, but it was too late. "Oh fie! Fie! Where shaltst I find two more younglings to fill head roles?"

"We'll do it." Samantha raised her hand.

"Are you crazy?" Fred turned to her aghast.

"Oh, come on, it'll be fun. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"Is that even possible with The Book?" Samantha shrugged in response. The director continued his lamenting episode.

"Shame has brought its presence upon the theatre and the production. Doom hangs in the air like the mists of the high lakes!"

"We'll do it." Samantha said again, a little louder and more forcefully.

"What sayst thou?"

"I sayst that you have a new Romeo and Juliet." She gestured to Fred, who gave a nervous wave.

"I shall accept the fair haired one." He nodded to Fred, "But you, fair lady," he took Samantha's hand, "Art far too frail and elegant to join the thespian ranks."

"Oh, that is shame." She turned away and put on a bit of acting. "For where shalt you find another Juliet at such late hour?" The director looked up at the actors still on the stage; they shrugged at him. He looked at Fred, the same reaction. "For years hence the people shall tell tale of the director whose production was end for he would not accept the help of a lady when it was offered to his hand." She turned back halfway and saw the director almost at the point of breaking. "I suppose," she turned to leave.

"Wait!" the director shouted. Samantha stopped and looked over her shoulder. "In the darkest hour, the beggars may not become those who choose."

"What's he saying?" Fred whispered to Samantha.

"Beggars can't be choosers." She muttered back.

"If thou truthfully willst to tread our boards, I shall accept thine offer."

"Yes," Samantha whispered, "We're in."

"Great…" Fred muttered.

This took me forever….I don't know why. Going to Florida, won't be back for a week, no updates till I get back. Until then, read and review and remember,

McMuffinDragon is watching you!