Chapter 2-Stage fright doesn't just happen on stage! Nya…

Lunch, my favorite time of the day!

So, why is almost every girl, in the cafeteria, glaring at me?

"There she is… I heard Kisshu is sitting next to her in her first class!"

"Yeah, I also heard he's in the same gym class as her…"

I sigh deeply as I sit at my usual table, inside the cafeteria, while I wait for Mitsuki and Ami to get their food in the lunch line.

(It seems like almost every girl, in this school, hates me now because Kisshu is always around me…)

"Something wrong, kitten…?" A familiar voice asked with curiosity.

I turn my head and speak-of-the-devil, it's Kisshu!

"Um…hi, Kisshu. Nothing's wrong…really! Wait, did you just call me kitten?" I whispered with shock.

Kisshu smirks at me, before he sits down at my table and he replies casually, "So, I was wondering if you had any plans after school…"

"Um, actually I already tried to tell you that, before you walked away-" I started to say, but I'm cut off by Mitsuki.

"Nope, she doesn't have any plans… Why don't you just steal her away, Kisshu?" Mitsuki spoke as she walked over from her place in the line and she smiled brightly at us.

"Mitsuki, you can't go around deciding things on your own! You'll only cause trouble for Isabella…" Ami spoke firmly as she grabbed Mitsuki's arm and she pulled her back in line.

"Ami…" I spoke warmly as I stared teary-eyed at her and she winked back at me.

"Besides Kisshu, I'm working at my mother's café today, so I can't really hang out with you…" I whispered to him indifferently.

Kisshu sighs deeply and he whispers grimly, "Ah, that's too bad, kitten. Oh well, I'll see you later..."

I watch as he gets up from the table and he leaves the cafeteria.

When Ami and Mitsuki comes back to our table, with their food, I start to feel bad about what I said.

"Is it really wrong of me to go to work? My mom said she needed my help today, but Kisshu looked so hurt when I told him I had to work. What should I do, girls?" I whispered grimly.

"Well, isn't it obvious? Just invite him to come with you to work, silly!" Mitsuki spoke up enthusiastically.

"She can't do that, Mitsuki… Mike is walking her over to the café after school. If you think Kisshu is hurt now, inviting him along while Mike is there, will only make things worse!" Ami replied grimly.

I sigh deeply before I whisper solemnly, "If only Kisshu knew that Mike is just my friend…then things wouldn't be like this…"

We eat in silence until lunch is over.

XXX

I'm walking back to my classroom, after the lunch bell rang, when I see Kisshu arguing with Mike in the hallway.

"Listen, I don't care who you are, but I won't stop being friends with Isabella!" Mike argued heatedly.

"Well, if you won't leave her alone, then I'll…" Kisshu warned.

"Stop it, Kisshu!" I said hurriedly as I shoved him away from Mike, before I added heatedly, "Listen to me now, okay? Mike has been my friend since I moved here to Tokyo; and, we're just friends, so please just stop acting…so weird!"

Kisshu stares at me for a long time, before he questions seriously, "You're just friends then, kitten?"

I nod, taking slow and even breaths to calm down.

Kisshu smirks at me again, like he did in the cafeteria, as he speaks nonchalantly, "I'm okay with that, so I guess I'll be following you two to your mom's café. Right, Isabella?"

I sigh heavily. (I better agree to it now, before we cause an even bigger scene in the hallway…) "Sure, we can all go together!"

I watch Kisshu smirk one last time, before he turns to stride down the hallway.

I turn my attention back to Mike and I ask worriedly, "Are you alright? What was that all about, anyway?"

Mike sighs before he answers uneasily, "Well, I told him that I was walking with you to your mom's café; and, I guess he got jealous or something… Man, that guy is nuts! You're just my friend, Isabella."

I smile at him weakly.

"Yeah, today sure has been a crazy day… So, I'll see you after school then, okay?"

"Sure, see you later." Mike said seriously before he stalked away, in the opposite direction, from the hallway Kisshu went down.

XXX

I sigh deeply. (I've done a lot of sighing today…I hope it doesn't become a bad habit!)

Third period, probably the worst time of the day…

I have Algebra 2, yet I can't understand a single word the teacher is even saying! (I might as well find a tutor or something before I fail this class…)

"Isabella, do you need any help with your work?" Ami asked sweetly as she stood next to my desk.

I nod quickly; and, I completely ignore Kisshu, who is staring at me expectantly from his seat.

XXX

"Ah, I'm so glad that third period is finally over!" I said happily as Ami and I leave the classroom together.

"Yeah, me too." Ami replied with a sigh.

"What are you saying, Ami?! You're the smartest person in the class! It's too easy for you…" I whispered back with shock.

"Actually, because I'm smart, I get asked so many questions that I hardly even have time to do any of my work." Ami responded grimly.

We sigh, together, in unison; and, just then, I suddenly smile when I see Mitsuki approaching us.

"Look Ami, our sunshine is back! Where have you been, Mitsuki?" I questioned accusingly.

"Well, duh I've been looking for you two! I don't really care much for the start of the new semester, but I'm sure you two hate being late; especially, since Theater is our next class…" Mitsuki spoke with a grin.

"So, Theater's next, huh… I wonder what kind of play we'll be doing." Ami whispered curiously.

"We'll just have to go and see, won't we?" I spoke eagerly as I linked my arms with my two best friends as we headed to Theater.

XXX

"Alright class, our play for this entire semester…is Romeo and Juliet!" The teacher announced excitedly from center stage.

"Huh…?!" Mitsuki, Ami, and I said absently together.

A huge crowd of girls screams with joy, in front of the stage, while a group of boys sighs off to the right.

"I think I know why the girls screamed…" I whispered grimly, with an ominous feeling hanging over my head.

"Oh, why do you think they screamed, Isabella?" Ami asked, obviously oblivious to the other girls.

I point over at the boy's group and I can see Kisshu laughing-being the center of attention-; and, when Kisshu notices me staring at him, he smirks and he starts to walk over to where I'm standing.

"Kisshu, will make the perfect Romeo!" A random girl cried excitedly.

"Yeah, and I'll be his Juliet…" Another random girl spoke firmly.

"Here it comes…" I whispered anxiously while covering my ears.

The group of girls finally realize what two of them are fighting over; and, so now the entire group is fighting over Juliet's role, so they can obviously kiss Kisshu…

I sigh deeply. (Alright, so how many sighs was that today? I think I lost count around one…)

"Sorry girls, but if I do somehow become Romeo, then I won't do the part without Isabella being my Juliet." Kisshu finally said confidently.

Evil glares find their way over to where I stand and I sigh again. (Look girls, it's not like I asked him to pick me… Ugh, I can't stand this anymore…)

"Listen Kisshu, thanks for the offer, but just ask anyone here and they'll tell you all about my terrible stage fright. So, there is no way I'm being Juliet!" I replied as calmly as I could.

Kisshu smirks devilishly at me, before he jumps on the stage quickly and he turns to the teacher.

"If I become Romeo, will you force Isabella to become my Juliet?" He asked innocently.

"Of course…if you can put up a good audition for his role." The teacher replied casually.

"Oh, I know I'll have a fantastic performance…" Kisshu whispered over-confidently.

Kisshu looks out into the audience, while staring at me the entire time, and he begins his own version of a scene from Romeo and Juliet.

Once Kisshu finishes, everyone starts clapping: the group of girls, the teacher, the group of boys, and even my own friends clap!

"This isn't happening…! I won't play the role, I just won't!" I cried frantically.

I dash out of the auditorium as fast as I can, but unfortunately for me, I can't get far because Kisshu finds me in the hallway; and, he cuts me off from one of the exits to the outside.

"Isabella, it isn't as bad as you think… I can help you with that little stage fright of yours." Kisshu said sweetly.

"'Little stage fright…?' Are you insane?! I freeze up the moment I hit that stage and I see an audience! You don't know anything about me, Kisshu…" I whispered grimly.

Tears are forming in the corner of my eyes. (Great, they want me to play Juliet's role; and, now I'm going to cry right in front of Kisshu! This day just keeps getting worse and worse!)

(Not to mention all the times I've sighed today, either…)

I don't realize that I've been distracted too long, because suddenly Kisshu has already closed the space between us and he is hugging me now.

"K-Kisshu, w-what are you doing?" I stammered nervously.

"I'm here for you, Isabella. Let me help you." He whispered back softly.

I sigh deeply and then I let out a big laugh I was holding in.

"You know what, it doesn't seem like I have any other choice in the matter. One way or another, you'll just make me play as Juliet, so why not… I'll be your Juliet."

Kisshu pulls away from me suddenly and he has a big smirk on his face.

"I knew you would see things my way sooner or later, Isabella. Come on, let's go and tell everyone…after all, they're still waiting for your answer!"

Kisshu grabs my hand and he practically drags me all the way back to the auditorium; and, while I let him drag me, I stare at his hand.

I notice again that his skin is an unusual pale color, which is paler than my own…strange.

After we get back to the auditorium, and tell everyone that I will play the role of Juliet, we start going over every little detail of the play.

XXX

I sigh happily when the last bell, of the day, rings. (Okay, I really need to do something about this sighing thing… Soon people will start to think that I'm a depressing person!)

I walk slowly down the hallways until I end up at my locker and surprisingly enough, Ami and Mitsuki are already there.

"So…I heard you and Kisshu talked about the 'Juliet' thing! That's the only reason why you would ever agree to go on stage, right?" Mitsuki asked eagerly.

"You can tell us what happened, Isabella. We're here for you." Ami spoke firmly.

I sigh before I say grimly, "The only reason why I let Kisshu talk me into doing the part, is because I really want to get this whole 'stage fright thing' over with! I can't live my whole life in fear…"

We all sigh together and then we laugh at the same time. (You know you have best friends, when you do everything together!)

"Well, I need to get going…" I whispered finally.

"Are Kisshu and Mike waiting for you, Princess?" Mitsuki asked jokingly.

I smirk at her. (It's your fault I'm stuck with the both of them in the first place…)

"What will I do, they're both so crazy…" I said in a fake 'princess-like' voice.

"We'll see you tomorrow, or even later…okay, Isabella?" Ami asked warmly.

"Later sounds fine to me. After work, I'll tell you how it all went." I replied casually.

I hug my friends before, with my white messenger bag in hand, I turn and I head out the front doors of the school, while Kisshu and Mike comes to greet me.

"Ready to go, kitten?" Kisshu asked sweetly while holding out his hand.

Mike rolls his eyes and he starts walking ahead of us.

I nod to Kisshu and as I reach out to take his hand, I see yet again how unbelievably pale his skin is to mine.

(Maybe, I'm just being paranoid… Kisshu isn't from outer space or something like that…is he?)

XXX

~To Be Continued~