Okay I know that I'm already writing another story but this idea popped into my head and I couldn't help but giving it a whirl. Then again I am on Claritin D and Motrin Sinus which I discovered you shouldn't mix cause everything begins to spin, so my judgment isn't necessarily stable.
So here it is and if people don't respond I'm gonna assume they don't like it and I'll drop it. It's up to you guys.
Disclaimer: It's all Clamp, and technically Shakespeare but the dude has been dead so long its considered public knowledge or something.
A Romeo and Juliet Redo
By kimmikat
Chapter 1: Why him…why me?
"Oh jeez. I leave you two alone for just one second and already you're going at it. You're like rabbits or something. You know that's what motels are for, not the theater." An auburn haired teen teased. Sakura Kinomoto had just found her best friends Tomoyo Daidouji and Eriol Hiiragizawa locked in a 'passionate embrace'.
"S-Sakura?" Tomoyo exclaimed blushing slightly, "Back so soon? Normally you take a bit longer to change for class."
"Guess the clothes didn't attack her this time," Eriol commented, bring up her usual excuse for clumsy moments. Sakura had a tendency to have 'accidents' just about everywhere she went. Of course she liked to shift the blame with the usual excuses such as "the jacket attacked me" or "the floor doesn't like me," and the classic line always was "it wasn't me." But this was an adorable quality, never failing to bring a smile to her friends' faces.
In response to Eriol, Sakura merely stuck out her tongue and took a seat by Tomoyo, sighing, "I can't believe this is our final year. I'm going to miss this place."
The two nodded in agreement looking around the room taking in it's bare black walls, the lights hanging from the ceiling, the empty floor with the rows of chairs to one side. This had become a second home to Sakura, a place to be anyone, anywhere, at any time. Even the room represented that fluidity. It was called "The Black Box Theater" for a reason, because the room was just that, a black box with no permanent set ups. It was so malleable that way. You could build a new stage for each show, or even not have a stage at all, personalizing it for each production. This gave them the chance to perform to different audience set ups, from the basic one sided to being completely surrounded by the audience. The atmosphere was so freeing, compared to the rules and regulations of high school.
Slowly others students began to pour in, all rather oddly dressed like Sakura. Due to the possibility of strenuous movement, the students wore baggy clothes, usually mismatched sweats. They were the motley crew of theater weirdos.
A young girl with black hair and red eyes plopped down in the row ahead of them leaning over to say, "Feels great to be a senior. Top of the world. And we're shoe ins for leads in the play. Oh did you hear what Ms. Trinke has decided to produce for this year?"
"Yeah, can you believe it? A classic! I'm so excited Meiling!" Tomoyo cheered.
"I wonder who will get the principals?" Another classmate asked, Chris Vartin, his blue eyes questioning.
Sakura and Meiling practically rolled their eyes. How could he not guess? Sakura thought. "Eriol, with his charm, and Tomoyo, with her acting abilities, plus their mushy lovey dovey-ness makes them perfect for Romeo and Juliet." Others around them nodded in agreement.
"Well I think that you would make a dazzling Juliet, don't you think Sakura? You have the whole innocent virgin routine down pat."
Sakura looked behind her to see none other than Darron Fortuls, an asshole and a half, "king of the school" in his mind, whose looks may have won over many, but not her.
Sakura looked Darron straight in his black eyes, fighting back the instinct to say something along the lines of "Bite me." But Darron was not one to be messed with; he could be ruthless when provoked. So instead, she bit down her pride and icily replied, "Well thank you for the confidence, but I actually have my heart set on playing the role of Juliet's nurse. Comedy is more my forte."
It was true. Sakura, with her ability to provoke laughter, had always landed the quirky characters in shows. Maybe it was her lack of real romantic experience or just timing that kept her away from the love side of acting.
Meiling opened her mouth to say something when the theater went black. A few students shrieked. Newbies, Sakura thought. This introduction happened every year, and the returning members struggled to suppress their laughter as their whack job of a teacher tried to 'inspire' the class.
In the darkness a figure could be made out, a sprightly, aged lady whose face became outlined in a glow of a flashlight.
"Theater is in the heart of everyone," her voice boomed in a oscillating tone as she over exaggerated the syllables as if pressing each one into the students. "It is the root of the soul. In this class, acting will be a journey for you to embark upon. BUT a warning for thee faint of heart, the path is riddled with challenges and pitfalls, tested ye shall be! But as they say, it is not the destination that matters, but the road you take to get there." And with that she clicked off her flashlight, the room lights flickering back on.
The class clapped as the white haired teacher took a bow. Most still wondered how she was able to even walk much less be such an active acting coach at her age. But hey, life's a mystery.
Ms. Trinke cleared her throat, "Ahem. As I am sure many of you have heard, this year's production is going to be Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Ah, the romance, the adventure, the tragedy all coated in his poetic words. But before we can begin with the auditions I must take role…Now where is that blasted book of mine?"
The returning class members sighed. This was a regular occurrence. Ms. Trinke was always misplacing things, usually at the time they were needed most.
"Aha!" she screamed, spotting the green notebook lying on a chair in the front row. "Just where I left it. Okay let's see here:
"Aso, Patrick"
"Here." Hmmm, nice guy but a little quiet, Sakura mentally reviewed the students as they responded.
"Bartan, Melissa"
"Here." The genius of the class. Sure to go to Harvard or Yale or some such. She was currently reading her Physics textbook. "A bit of light reading," she had told Sakura.
"Blasse, Katana."
"Here." The loudmouth, she always keeps us on our toes.
"Daidouji, Tomoyo."
"Here." No need to comment.
"Fortuls, Darron."
"Here." Don't want to comment.
"Furguson, Matt."
"Here." Ah, return of the theater junkie. Still dressed all in black I see. They guy looked like a beatnik from the sixties.
"Green, Amanda."
"Here." Don't recognize her, but she seems a little full of herself. The girl had her nose stuck in a hand mirror. It probably will have to be surgically removed from her hand for her to let it go.
"Hiiragizawa, Eriol"
"Here." Once again no need to comment.
"Hearst, James"
"Here." Another newbie, a cute one, she thought eyeing the dark haired guy a few seats over.
"Johnson, Nate"
"Here." Ugh, not another jock just here for an art credit.
"Kinomoto, Sakura." Hey, that's me!
"Here."
"Li, Syaoran." Sakura's heart stopped. Oh god, not him. Of all the bad luck…
But no response came. Whew, maybe they just have the wrong name.
But just as Ms. Trinke was about to call the name out again, in walks Syaoran Li. Why is he here? Sakura groaned as the boy with the messy brown hair approached the teacher. Sakura could hear the excited chatter of girls, sighing over his presence. Oh grow up.
Syaoran was the real 'king of the school', he just never gave a damn so Darron claimed authority over all. But if anyone had to pick between the two for anything from looks to popularity, Syaoran would win, hands down. Syaoran was a mystery to all, his cool personality had sharp edges but who knew what really lay beneath the glaciers of his heart. (A/N: cheesy metaphor I know but I'm an adjective kind of gal.) And in truth most didn't really care, his good looks were enough for them.
Sakura noticed Ms. Trinke's flustered reaction, rolling her eyes. She'd seen him win people over without even lifting a finger. Looks truly do mean everything. Ugh. Maybe it was her distaste in people's obsession with physical appearance that caused Sakura to go on strike in a way. Sakura had stopped wearing the ever fluctuating latest fashions, sticking to the basics of comfy jeans and sweats. Makeup was thrown out the window. At the moment she'd even ditched the contacts for her black plastic framed glasses. Her hair was simply pulled up into a ponytail. Who is there to impress anyways? The only one who came to mind didn't even go to this school.
But the look in Ms. Trinke's eyes worried Sakura, it was that glazed over fish mouthed stare. Meaning it's epiphany time. A slow smile crept to the instructor's lips as she said, "So am I to assume you are Syaoran Li?"
"Yeah."
"Well take a seat please and let me continue with role." But throughout the rest of attendance, her gaze kept flickering back to Syaoran. "Trouble is a brewing." Sakura commented to Tomoyo. "Look at Trinke, she looks like she just won the Nobel Peace Prize." I wonder what she has planned?
Ms Trinke finished checking who was present and closing her book with a flourish she addressed the class. "It seems the fates have decided to throw a blessing my way in the form of you!" And with that she pointed to a slightly stunned looking Syaoran. "You will be the perfect Romeo, a cold hearted Montague waiting for the Capulet girl to melt his heart. Oh it's brilliant!"
"Look, I'm only here because I didn't want to be stuck in Home Ec. But let's get one thing straight, I don't act." Syaoran affirmed.
"Well if you feel like passing this class you are going to learn how to, and one of the ways to do so is learning to follow directions. So you are now our Romeo, end of discussion." Wow, Trinke can be quite forceful when necessary. But him as Romeo? This is pure suicide. Sure he is hot and all, but he doesn't give a shit and he probably doesn't have any emotions other than annoyance, anger, and amusement. There's no way he could portray being in love.
"Now before I let the rest of you audition let's warm up, so up, up, up!" As Ms. Trinke led them through some exercises Sakura couldn't help but think that this year is going to be very interesting.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Alright you two, take it from the top. Nice work Tomoyo but Syaoran could you at least try to put a little feeling into it?" Ms. Trinke directed the two standing in front of class reading the first meeting between Romeo and Juliet. So far no Juliet seemed to have appeared. They look so bored. Correction: Syaoran looks bored but Tomoyo doesn't seem that interested in him either. There is no connection or chemistry between them.
"Okay Tomoyo you can sit down," Ms. Trinke sighed, "Next is Amanda Green." (A/N: they are going alphabetically.)
Amanda was very forward and flirtatious, but once again no reaction came from Li. Maybe he's gay, Sakura giggled. He doesn't seem to even acknowledge the fact that attractive girls are throwing themselves at him.
"Okay Sakura you're up." Ms. Trinke said rubbing her temples. It was clear she didn't expect much from this oddball actress. Well that makes two of us. Me like him? A cold day in hell when that happens.
Sakura began to get out of her chair when she tripped and stumbled managing to catch herself on another chair.
"Still haven't learned to walk Kinomoto? ." A lazy voice questioned. Syaoran.
Ooooh how dare he, she glowered. Sakura composed herself, taking the script from Amanda glaring a hole in Syaoran's smirking face.
"I see some things never change. Still glaring at me like you used to."
"Well you would always pull on my hair or push me in the sand. I think I earned the right to glare at you Li." Sakura snapped back, remembering moments from her childhood.
The class was murmuring. "Wow he's teasing her!" "They knew each other before high school?" "She looks pissed."
Ms. Trinke was watching the two of them closely, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Well if you two could keep the banter down, and instead read from the scripts that would be quite helpful."
While Syaoran was reading, "If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: my lips two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Sakura was busy trying to determine the expression on his face. Why is he looking at me like that? Is he mocking me?!? Oh, the jerk. Fine two can play at this game.
Sakura took pleasure in rejecting Romeo/Syaoran's pass the sarcasm and challenge clear in her voice, "Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much which mannerly devotion shows in this; for saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss." Ha! Shot down by the one and only Sakura Kinomoto.
Syaoran than got all pretend pouty, "Have not saint lips, and holy palmers too?
Sakura shot back, "Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."
Their little battle of wills was interrupted by Ms. Trinke's cries, "Bravo! That was fantastic. The fire and spark. Your energies just radiate. It's a perfect match. Sakura you are our new Juliet." She just gulped, looking ready to faint. Looks like comedy is no longer my alley. Romance here I come.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~