Chapter 5
After the ceremony of arbitrary selections of all the characters of Romeo and Juliet wrapped up, Hermione found herself walking out of the auditorium with her bag. Her mind was preoccupied with all the things that were about to unfold over which she had zero control. She did not hear a hurried pair of footsteps trailing closely behind her.
Hermione's path was blocked by the tall lean imposing figure of Draco Malfoy. She looked up into his grey silvery eyes which appeared like huge blocks of Antarctic ice to her at the moment.
"I am not in the mood for a fight, Malfoy," she murmured in a voice which got weakened by all the unexpected things that transpired.
"What makes you think I came here to fight with you, Granger?" he bit back; withdrawing his steps a bit further.
"I would like to go home right now."
"I am very tired, " she appraised; her brown eyes carrying clear exhaustion.
"Just because we got elected to play romantic leads in a Shakespearean play does not change anything between us, Granger, " he warned; raising his chin high.
"I know, Malfoy, " she replied, nodding.
"Is there anything that you would like to tell me that I don't know, " she asked him; lifting her hazel colored eyes.
"When we rehearse for the play, make sure you never bring your bodyguards Potterhead and Weaselbee with you, " he warned her for the umpteenth time.
"Okay, " she concurred.
"Anything else?" she questioned; looking at him with tired eyes.
"I am not going to give you any real kiss not even on stage, " he snarled; basically growling at her.
" Our kisses are going to be as fake as they can possibly get, " he reaffirmed; towering over Hermione.
"Like I am dying to get kisses from you, " Hermione retorted; rolling her eyes at him.
"We will not kiss each other on the lips, " he almost yelled; stomping his feet on the ground.
"On the chins and above the lips, " Hermione said; looking at him in a nonchalant manner.
"We will just pretend to come close to each other and brush our lips against other areas of our faces except our lips, " he said; somehow managing to keep a straight face.
"Yeah, " Hermione replied; suppressing a grin wanting to appear on her lips.
"Why are you smiling, Granger?" Draco inquired; narrowing his eyes to slits.
"No, I am not, " she responded; giving him one of the most innocent looks she could manage.
"You must be imagining things, " Hermione sneered; ignoring the angry creases etched in Draco's forehead.
"I am leaving, " Hermione declared; swinging her bag and whirling around to face the exit point of the foyer of the auditorium
She did not care about all the things Draco said to her. On the contrary, she was happy that Draco drew a very clear line between them and clarified where they stood. It was this line they would never cross. They had always disliked one another. They always would harbor intense feelings of abhorrence for each other. No epic Shakespearean play was going to change it.
