"Tell me again how you hurt your arm." "It's just like I said; I fell in the shower. It's no big deal really." "You need to be more careful, Haru. What am I supposed to tell the commune if something ever happened to you?" "You worry too much, Lou," my head shook. Louis and I were on our way to class. Even since we began school, we worked our schedule where we had most classes together, save for some electives. It was time for English, not one of my better subjects. But at least the history test went well.

We always got looks whenever we walked anywhere on campus together; Louis looks of adoration from girls, and me glares of distain from those same girls. We pretended not to notice; it was easy after years of practice. We just walked and talked like it was the most normal thing in the world, which it was to us. We did grow up together and have the same family, after all.

"I don't worry too much. Don't forget- you're a dwarf rabbit, Haru." "Yeah, yeah; I know. It's not like that's a problem, though." "No, you're right; it's not. I'm just saying you have to be careful. The carnivores here aren't like the ones back home." "I know! I mean, why don't they at least eat bugs or fish? That would solve everything," I sighed. "I think they're going for a more inclusive vegetarian thing here." "Seems kind of pointless; they're naturally meat-eaters, after all. Why should they reject that part of themselves so strictly?" "Heh, that sounds so weird coming from a small bunny like you," Louis chuckled gently. "Don't you agree with me?" I asked him, gazing upwards. "I do, but everyone here was raised differently than you and me. The whole reason the commune separated from society is because they do practice entomophagy and pescetarianism. The rest of the world frowns on that lifestyle apparently." "I don't understand why. They're willing to use bug-killer but not eat them? What sense does that make? They're clearly not doing it because they're living beings." "I agree with you, Haru; but I think we're the only ones here of that persuasion. We shouldn't broadcast it too loudly, especially since it doesn't really affect us." Affect us? The memory of the carnivore tackling me the other night zoomed through my mind. My head turned forward and I gazed down at the floor in front of me. "Yeah, I guess it doesn't….."

"Well, enough of that. What are you doing after school? Got anything planned?" "Nothing yet. Why?" I blinked up at my commune brother. His eyes met mine. "I wanted to ask if you'd come by the drama club?" "The drama club?" My eyebrow raised confused. I went to see all Louis's plays but never actually been to the clubroom. He nodded. "Our Juliet for Romeo and Juliet twisted her ankle pretty bad on set last night. Her part is going to need a replacement and we're out of female actors." "Replacement? But Louis, I'm not even part of the drama club; I've never acted in anything before. Plus, wouldn't the club feel weird with an interloper just coming onto the year's biggest production?" "No? Why would they? We need another female actor." "But I have no experience." "That's ok. We'll rehearse extra hard and I'll be there to help. Please, Haru? I'm playing Romeo and I need someone I can count on to play my opposite."

I hesitated; acting wasn't really my thing. It's not that I had stage fright or anything; I just never saw myself as an actor before. Besides, Romeo and Juliet wasn't my favourite play; I much prefer the Pyramus and Thisbe version of the story. But I didn't want to disappoint Louis…. He kept burning a hole through me with his eyes when I finally sighed. I think he knew I'd relent sooner than later. "What time should I be there?"