House of Plays

"I can't believe you!" Alfie exclaimed rather loudly though Jerome was sitting right next to him. The still slightly chocolate covered boy enjoyed the wince that came to replace the smug look that was on Jerome's face. They had gotten to school early for once and there were only three other people around but they were all staring at the duo now.

"I assure you I am very real" The blonde smirked but rolled his eyes at Alfie's confused face

"Seriously dude" Alfie ploughed on "What did you put in that chocolate?! It's pretty much ruined one of my favourite shirts!"

"Don't worry it'll be out by the fifth wash" Jerome's smiled turned wicked and everything clicked for Alfie just as the Sibuna gang walked in

"Honey!" He cried loudly at Jerome though everyone heard and turned

"Yes, sugar?" Jerome responded looking altogether too smug for Alfie's liking

"You put honey in with the chocolate" Alfie slumped in his seat, embarrassed at his own out-burst. The rest of Anubis house and some other students had joined them and were snickering "You're too obsessed with irony for your own good"

Jerome was about to reply when Mrs Andrews* walked in briskly "Everyone take your seats" She ordered and cast a glance at her students "Class hasn't even started yet and you have them laughing, Clarke" she commented drily

"I'm an artist" Jerome responded

Mrs Andrews just hummed doubtfully "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" she started dramatically once everyone was seated; almost everyone looked baffled "Can anyone tell me who said this famous line?"

Alfie grinned wickedly and rose his hand high in the air "Yes, Mr Lewis?" Mrs Andrew tried to hide her shock. Of all people, Alfie was the last person she'd expect to know it

"I don't know" He said cheerfully "But I bet Jerome does!" he winced at the end as the boy in question kicked his shin.

They both knew what was happening. Revenge.

"Oh is that so?" Mrs Andrews rose a brow and Jerome was about to deny it when he saw Mara's hopeful face. Then he saw Fabian's disbelieving face and thought it was time to show off.

"It's from William Shakespeare's play Richard III. The line was said by the character Richard III. Of course the real Richard III had never said anything like that" Jerome stated as if it were obvious.

"And how do you know that Richard the third never said anything like that?" Mrs Andrews prodded. Hoping for more of the rare intelligent and relevant replies from young Clarke

"Because the play was set long before people started riding horses in the countryside" Jerome said primly taking great pleasure in the number of slack jaws all over the room

"Very good, Clarke. All true" Mrs Andrew remarked with a small smile "Any more insight? Something else wrong with the play?"

"Yes and no" He replied, he was on a roll now and though he knew he was revealing himself as a literary nerd he couldn't resist. Mara was really a science nerd apart from journalism so he hadn't had a proper conversation about Shakespeare since that time he met that strange man on the bus. "Historically the entire play is false. Richard III never murdered the duke of Somerset, in fact the duke had actually died when Richard was three, and he never had a limp or a hunch or a wonky arm. Shakespeare just made all that up and everyone believed him" Jeromes smirked "That, I think is best thing about it"

"Really?" Mrs Andrews intercepted, she couldn't see how any of that was good

"Yea, you know you're a good writer when you can write something completely fictional and everyone will believe you without question. And I like how he sticks to his own words "All the worlds a stage" He played his role; he wrote his plays for the benefit of those who were paying him. He was told to make Richard III a monster so he did. A true genius and very powerful, he could ruin reputations as easily as he could build them"

"Sounds like you really appreciate Shakespeare" Mrs Andrews remarked

"A liar after my own heart" He sighed theatrically

"And a drama queen after your own heart" Mara added cheekily and everyone was shocked once again

"Couples really do start acting like each other" Eddie said, looking just a tiny bit scared

"I'm not turning into you am I, yapper?" Eddie asked Patricia

"No way, slimeball" Patricia sneered back

Fabian and Nina laughed at the same time while Alfie and Amber shared conspiring looks.