Summery: Meredith Grey, a less than popular slightly spiteful teenager, and Mark Sloan, a popular high school football star, are forced into doing a modern version of Romeo and Juliet at Edison High. While practically living in their own Romeo and Juliet story. MerMark. AU.

Disclaimer: I own Edison High, but I don't Grey's Anatomy. I don't own Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but I am writing the modern version of the play.

This story has been in my head for a while. I figured I'd give it a try.

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"Nice of you to join us, Miss. Grey. What's your excuse this time?" Mrs. Channel said without turning away from the board as Meredith slipped into the back of the room as quietly as possible.

"Sorry, I..." She responded trying to come up with an excuse for her tardiness once again as she made her way to her desk.

Mrs. Channel sighed throwing the chalk down. "I want to see you after class, Miss. Grey."

"Yes, Mrs. Channel." Meredith sighed as she fell into the chair beside Christina.

Christina gave her an amused smile earning a glare from Meredith.

Meredith Grey was the daughter of most famous surgeon Ellis Grey. She had grown up in Boston until her mother relocated her to New York in the middle of eight grade and quickly fell into a tight group of friends: Alex Kerev, Christina Yang, George O'Malley, and Izzie Stevens. They stuck together through graduation of middle school and their freshman and sophomore years of high school. Now they were juniors and looking forward to their senior year.

The class went by slowly as it usually did, and most of the time she spent thinking about what she would do over the weekend. The bell rang and everyone gathered their things and walked out while Meredith hung back. Christina told her she would wait for her outside and quickly left.

She gathered her things and waited for the teacher to say something. Mrs. Channel walked back and forth thinking about something to say.

"Meredith, you're a bright student. Very bright. You get straight 'A's' but… Meredith, you're constantly late. I've been putting off calling your mother because I know your potential. Today was the last straw."

"Mrs. Channel, please don't call her. She wouldn't understand."

"To tell you the truth, I don't understand. Everybody else can get here on time. Why can't you?"

"It won't happen again."

Mrs. Channel sighed and walked over to her desk. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a piece of paper setting in front of her. "We still need a Juliet for our modern-day Romeo and Juliet play. Rehearsals start tomorrow after noon. If you go and give it your all, I won't report your tardiness to the office."

Meredith stared at her for a second before picking up the flyer for the play. After a few minutes, silence hung in the air before nodding. "Fine, I'll do it." She sighed.

"Good. Here are the scripts. You should read over Shakespeare's original version, but we'll be performing the modern-day one." Mrs. Channel smiled handing her the scripts. "You may go, Mrs. Grey. Try not to be late next time for my class."

"Of course, Mrs. Channel." Meredith said standing up and scrambling out. Christina was waiting outside the door when she got out. "I'm in hell."

"What? Is she reporting you?" Christina asked falling into step with Meredith. Meredith passed her the scripted. After reading the title, she let out a loud laugh.

"You? Acting? She's bribing you?"

"Yeah." She sighed. "I don't have a choice."

"Why are there two?"

"I have to read the Shakespearean one too. Ugh, this sucks."

--

Mark Sloan was a jock in every sense of the word. He put most of his energy towards football almost year round. His education never suffered though. His mother and father made sure of it. He was born and raised in New York. He was smart, but slacked off during class, made jokes, and hung out with the most popular crowd in school. Every girl wanted or had gone out with him. That was the way it always had been.

"It's not so good to see you again, Mr. Sloan." The principal said standing in the doorway to his office.

"You know, you were missing me, Dr. McAlister." Mark chuckled standing up from the chair.

"What brings you by this time, Mark?" Dr. McAlister asked shutting the door to his office behind them. Mark settled into his normal chair on one side of the desk. "I doubt you stopped by just to say 'hello.'"

"It's nothing to worry about. You can wag your finger if it makes you feel better then you can write the pass back to class."

"Why were you sent here?"

"It's nothing. I snapped at Ms. Talley."

"You can't do that, Mark. You're a junior now. You need some self-control… Some dedication to something other than football."

"We are basically undefeated three years running thanks to me."

"I know, and we are all grateful, but you won't be a football star forever."

"My grades aren't suffering."

"No, but you've been in and out of here more times than anyone can count because of that mouth of yours. I'm going to have to start taking action. So…"

"Alright, have it your way, I'll watch what I say."

"I want proof that for once you'll be dedicated to something else other than football. I want proof that you will be too occupied to be here, Sloan." He sighed. "Mrs. Teller needs a Romeo for the play. Jimmy Walker broke his leg. If you do this, I'll lay off."

"And if I don't?"

"I'm going to have to give take disciplinary actions."

"Dr. McAlister, I would get kicked off the team!"

"I'm sorry, Mark. But football doesn't make you untouchable. I'm giving you a choice. Whether you take it or leave it is your decision."

Mark leaned forward on his knees and sighed letting out a short nod. "Yeah, sure."

"Good choice, rehearsals are tomorrow."