Disclaimer: I wish I owned Twilight. Then Edward would be all mine! MINE! HEAR THAT, BELLA? MIIIINE! ;)
A/N-So, as not to leave you guys hanging for too long, here's chapter 8. Or, more appropriately, chapter 1 in Edward's point of veiw.
Romeo and Juliet: EPOV
"Dude! You have GOT to try this!" hollered one of my buddies on the football team. I rolled my eyes and chuckled at his idiotic-but still amusing-antics.
I sat down on one of the desks in Ms. Murphy's room as by friends threw a football back and forth. I eagerly joined the game, carelessly tossing the ball around with little regard to what-or whom-it hit.
I suddenly heard a loud thump and someone squeaked behind me. I turned around to see a brown haired clutching the side of her head, with the football on the ground by her feet. She looked up and stared at me like a brain-dead incompetent.
"Uh, can you throw the ball, please?" I snapped. Why should I waste any form of politeness on a loser?
"S-sure," she stuttered. Geez, for a nerd, she sure was stupid. She tossed the ball back to me and I turned my back on her, hoping she'd get the hint and not try and pursue conversation with me any longer.
Thankfully, she didn't. My friends and I tossed the ball back and forth some more, hitting a few freshmen in the process, until the bell rang. Ms. Murphy then pranced in, beaming at everyone like we all brightened her day just by showing up. Insert mental snort here.
"Hello, everyone!" she sang, "Today we are going to begin Romeo and Juliet!"
I suppressed a groan as I thought of the issues this was going to complicate. Guys just don't look cool on stage.
"Hey! You never said anything about this!" a guy shouted from somewhere behind me.
"I didn't?" she asked, puzzled. Everyone shook their heads vehemently. "Well, I'm telling you now!"
She walked past her desk and said, "Now, we will have quick auditions today. I will simply have you read from the script, so no need to worry about memorizing lines!"
"No need to worry about memorizing lines," my girlfriend Lauren mimicked beside me. I had to smother my laughter so that Ms. Murphy wouldn't catch us. Emboldened by my laughter, she announced, "It's obvious I'm going to be Juliet."
"Sure thing, babe," I said. "You're the prettiest girl in this room."
"Awww," Lauren cooed, "That's soo sweet." She pulled my face down to hers and we enjoyed a few-minute make-out session.
Ms. Murphy then procceeded to start the auditions. Lauren and I could hardly stop laughing, with her making fun of every person who auditioned. It was hilarious.
There were, of course, a few good people. Most of them included the Hales and Cullens, with a few other random people. Lauren was the best, though. Of course.
Finally, it was my turn. Ms. Murphy said to me, "Okay, please read Romeo's soliloquy from Act 2, Scene 2."
I inwardly sighed and opened my mouth to read the lines:
"He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!"
Many pathetic girls sighed in wht they probably thought was a breathy way, but I noticed the brown-haired girl from earlier simply had a soft blush on her cheeks. Wait. Why was I looking at her, a dork?
Ms. Murphy then handed that girl the script and said, "Just do your best, dear."
Despite myself, I leaned forward. I admit it, I was curious.
The brown-haired girl took a deep breath, and in a soft, lilting voice, began to read:
"Thou know'st the mask of night is on my face,
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek
For that which thou hast heard me speak to-night
Fain would I dwell on form, fain, fain deny
What I have spoke: but farewell compliment!
Dost thou love me? I know thou wilt say 'Ay,'
And I will take thy word: yet if thou swear'st,
Thou mayst prove false; at lovers' perjuries
Then say, Jove laughs. O gentle Romeo,
If thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown and be perverse an say thee nay,
So thou wilt woo; but else, not for the world."
Her voice slowly grew stronger and more confident as I watched, entranced.
"In truth, fair Montague, I am too fond,
And therefore thou mayst think my 'havior light:
But trust me, gentleman, I'll prove more true
Than those that have more cunning to be strange.
I should have been more strange, I must confess,
But that thou overheard'st, ere I was ware,
My true love's passion: therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,
Which the dark night hath so discovered."
After she finished, there was only silence. The girl caught me looking at her and, blushing, hid her face in her script.
"Well done, well done!" exclaimed Ms. Murphy in delight. "That was wonderful!"
She took the script from the girl's hands and said, just as the bell rang, "Now, the parts will be posted tomorrow. Also, tomorrow we will begin reading Romeo and Juliet for the first time, so be sure to bring your scripts which I gave you!" As soon as she was done talking, everyone rushed to get out the door.
I heard Emmet Cullen exclaim, "That was AWESOME, Bella!" as he crushed the brown-haired girl into a hug. So her name was Bella.
I left the room soon after, following Lauren as she prattled on about something or other. For some reason, the face of the brown-haired girl (Bella, I corrected myself) lingered at the back of my mind for the rest of the day.
A/N-So, what do you think? Yeah, I know Edward's a jerk, but it's necessary. Please Review! :)
