A/N: I didn't read that small bit about them NOT knowing each other. Damn,
I shouldn't skim. so I am going to work that part out as much as I can. Not
the strongest chapter I think, just. yeah. A few lines from William
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, which is italicized
Mrs. Kerr was on the middle of the stage, wildly gesturing with her hands as she spoke. She was a light framed woman, with brown hair and too much make-up, and wrinkles from old age.
"I am overjoyed to be directing this amazing cast that I have personally hand-picked. As you all know, we will be doing the classic play of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare himself."
Peyton and Haley looked on from the back of the room.
"Hey Peyton, which one was Nathan?"
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I'm serious. Is he the blonde one or the brunette?"
"He is the overbearing brunette. How can you forget?"
"We just always criticized them as a whole. Plus I don't even have either of the Scott's in any of my classes."
"That's because Nathan isn't the brightest bulb in the box. I think Lucas was a little smarter, but only in English."
"What, do you keep tabs on them or something?"
"It's just hard not to know 'Nathan Scott' you know?"
"How do you tell them apart? It's like they're conjoined at the hips."
"Easy. One has blonde hair, the other is a brunette."
"Pointing out the obvious."
Someone LOUDLY clearing their throat immediately interrupted them. They both looked up to see an irritated drama teacher and an amazingly cocky jock with his letterman's jacket on.
"As important as that little conversation you two are having is so much more important, and dare I say it, interesting, I would like to introduce my two stars. Now I can't seem to do that without Ms. James."
Haley blushed silently as she quickly went up on the stage.
"Now, finally, I would like to introduce to you our Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet."
Haley awkwardly stood on stage as she stared at the back of the room, where the clock read three. Nathan was an entirely different story, as he smiled and waved at everyone, as everyone in the crowd praised him. Well except Haley and Peyton.
"Well look at the time. Ok, rehearsal starts promptly at 2:30, I would like it if you would memorize your lines tomorrow."
Haley finally spoke up.
"Mrs. Kerr, I'm not in the first scene."
"Yes, but you should come to support your cast members. You do know, this is a group effort."
She sighed as everyone started to leave. Peyton slung her arm over Haley.
"It's ok, we can sleep or something. Or we can bring all this food and eat while they rehearse. If they do bad, we can start to throw Milkduds at them."
"I like that."
The first rehearsal was one in which was expected. All of the seven came, except for Samantha and Lucas, who weren't in the first scene. Obviously, exceptions were made. Peyton and Haley silently snuck out within the first five minutes of rehearsal. They would have to come back tomorrow though, for Peyton had her two lines to deliver.
It wasn't until Act one, scene five where the two main characters would be act together. Haley was nervous, and Peyton was laughing at her misfortune. Great friend.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged."
"Wait, I don't have to kiss him until the actually thing right?"
Obviously Mrs. Kerr became extremely irritated.
"Is there a problem Ms. James?"
"I just didn't see the point in kissing him unless it was completely necessary."
"Ms. James, eventually you will have to practice this, but until it is crucial, just continue with the lines."
As they walked out, Nathan just gave her a strange look before leaving. Like he was somewhat amused by her. And that's the start of the turn of events.
For five weeks, they worked on their old English accents and memorization of lines. They practiced the scenes as best they could, but it just wasn't enough. If they were to truly let this production happen, they had to practice outside the time Mrs. Kerr had set up for them. Also during this time, both Haley and Peyton's locker were safe, not being sprayed with soda. Neither got any trouble from the seven, which was strange. Haley was called at the end of fifth period, right before lunch, to the drama room. As she entered, she saw that Mrs. Kerr and Nathan were there.
"Hello Ms. James. I have asked both of you on the account of this little play. I find it a bit weird that even though you have both spent five weeks working on these lines, there is an air of discomfort between the both of you. This production needs to run smoothly, and I am counting on the both of you to 'clean house'. I want the audience to actually believe what is going on, that the both of you have actually fallen in love with not more than a four-hour period. I don't even see the slightest case of this so I am asking. no, I am demanding that the both of you start to work on this right now. I know two of your 6th periods are study hall and gym. I can get you out for two weeks, so I want this to happen!"
Both stood shocked as Mrs. Kerr opened the door to the auditorium in which the play would take place. She turned back and sweetly smiled at Nathan, not Haley.
"Good luck."
They both walked into the silent auditorium. Haley just walked to the middle of the stage and turned to him.
"We should start."
They got to that same line in which would be their first kiss.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged."
He slightly leaned over. She moved away.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Haley, eventually we are going to have to kiss."
"You may not have the morals or a normal person, but I do. I don't kiss the people I despise."
"How can you hate me if you don't even know me?"
"I have a general idea of you."
"You know absolutely nothing about me if you hate me that much."
"Yes I do. You're the guy that spills coke into my locker, bumps me in the hallways, and spits spitballs at my best friend."
"Don't judge me for what my friends do!"
"How can't I?! You fucken control almost every movement they make."
"You know nothing about my friends and I."
"My friends and me."
"Look, we're not out here to correct each other's grammar."
"Sorry, it's a habit. God, this is going to be the worst play in the world. The damn teacher wants to feel like it's real? What's real? That we actually like each other, like we get along? The first conversation we strike up is a fight."
"Because you are so fucken unbearable."
"Ladies and gentlemen, Nathan Scott, school charmer."
"Look, if you did this play to just be a bitch, fine, leave, I don't give a damn."
Haley sighed. This was not working out at all.
"Ok, look, we can't keep doing this. Maybe this would just be a lot easier if we got to know each other."
"I thought you already 'knew' me."
"Nathan, can you stop being childish and just work with me here?"
"Fine."
"Hi, my name is Haley James. I live in Tree Hill with five older siblings, and am youngest of six. I lived here all my life and I my favorite movie is Monty Python and the search of the Holy Grail."
"Hi, my name is Nathan Scott, star basketball player. School 45 points in only one game, even though I was double teamed."
"Ummm, Nathan, I wasn't asking about basketball stats, I was asking about you."
"You didn't directly ask me."
"Just use the same guidelines as the one I used."
"I lived in Tree Hill all my life too, only child and my favorite movie is 'Gladiator'. Oh I had a question, whose Month Python."
"Blasphemy! Only the greatest British comedy group ever known to man!"
"British comedy? What?"
Haley opened her backpack and handed him over her DVD.
"Learn something."
"You carry this around?"
"I had to analyze it for AP English and to show the class, I had to bring it for visual effects. But don't you dare abuse it in anyway, it's my baby."
She looked up at the clock and quickly closed her backpack, walking away from him.
"I have to tutor someone today, and I completely lost track of time. See you tomorrow, bye."
And she left, and he followed.
Mrs. Kerr was on the middle of the stage, wildly gesturing with her hands as she spoke. She was a light framed woman, with brown hair and too much make-up, and wrinkles from old age.
"I am overjoyed to be directing this amazing cast that I have personally hand-picked. As you all know, we will be doing the classic play of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare himself."
Peyton and Haley looked on from the back of the room.
"Hey Peyton, which one was Nathan?"
"You have got to be kidding me."
"I'm serious. Is he the blonde one or the brunette?"
"He is the overbearing brunette. How can you forget?"
"We just always criticized them as a whole. Plus I don't even have either of the Scott's in any of my classes."
"That's because Nathan isn't the brightest bulb in the box. I think Lucas was a little smarter, but only in English."
"What, do you keep tabs on them or something?"
"It's just hard not to know 'Nathan Scott' you know?"
"How do you tell them apart? It's like they're conjoined at the hips."
"Easy. One has blonde hair, the other is a brunette."
"Pointing out the obvious."
Someone LOUDLY clearing their throat immediately interrupted them. They both looked up to see an irritated drama teacher and an amazingly cocky jock with his letterman's jacket on.
"As important as that little conversation you two are having is so much more important, and dare I say it, interesting, I would like to introduce my two stars. Now I can't seem to do that without Ms. James."
Haley blushed silently as she quickly went up on the stage.
"Now, finally, I would like to introduce to you our Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet."
Haley awkwardly stood on stage as she stared at the back of the room, where the clock read three. Nathan was an entirely different story, as he smiled and waved at everyone, as everyone in the crowd praised him. Well except Haley and Peyton.
"Well look at the time. Ok, rehearsal starts promptly at 2:30, I would like it if you would memorize your lines tomorrow."
Haley finally spoke up.
"Mrs. Kerr, I'm not in the first scene."
"Yes, but you should come to support your cast members. You do know, this is a group effort."
She sighed as everyone started to leave. Peyton slung her arm over Haley.
"It's ok, we can sleep or something. Or we can bring all this food and eat while they rehearse. If they do bad, we can start to throw Milkduds at them."
"I like that."
The first rehearsal was one in which was expected. All of the seven came, except for Samantha and Lucas, who weren't in the first scene. Obviously, exceptions were made. Peyton and Haley silently snuck out within the first five minutes of rehearsal. They would have to come back tomorrow though, for Peyton had her two lines to deliver.
It wasn't until Act one, scene five where the two main characters would be act together. Haley was nervous, and Peyton was laughing at her misfortune. Great friend.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged."
"Wait, I don't have to kiss him until the actually thing right?"
Obviously Mrs. Kerr became extremely irritated.
"Is there a problem Ms. James?"
"I just didn't see the point in kissing him unless it was completely necessary."
"Ms. James, eventually you will have to practice this, but until it is crucial, just continue with the lines."
As they walked out, Nathan just gave her a strange look before leaving. Like he was somewhat amused by her. And that's the start of the turn of events.
For five weeks, they worked on their old English accents and memorization of lines. They practiced the scenes as best they could, but it just wasn't enough. If they were to truly let this production happen, they had to practice outside the time Mrs. Kerr had set up for them. Also during this time, both Haley and Peyton's locker were safe, not being sprayed with soda. Neither got any trouble from the seven, which was strange. Haley was called at the end of fifth period, right before lunch, to the drama room. As she entered, she saw that Mrs. Kerr and Nathan were there.
"Hello Ms. James. I have asked both of you on the account of this little play. I find it a bit weird that even though you have both spent five weeks working on these lines, there is an air of discomfort between the both of you. This production needs to run smoothly, and I am counting on the both of you to 'clean house'. I want the audience to actually believe what is going on, that the both of you have actually fallen in love with not more than a four-hour period. I don't even see the slightest case of this so I am asking. no, I am demanding that the both of you start to work on this right now. I know two of your 6th periods are study hall and gym. I can get you out for two weeks, so I want this to happen!"
Both stood shocked as Mrs. Kerr opened the door to the auditorium in which the play would take place. She turned back and sweetly smiled at Nathan, not Haley.
"Good luck."
They both walked into the silent auditorium. Haley just walked to the middle of the stage and turned to him.
"We should start."
They got to that same line in which would be their first kiss.
"Then move not while my prayer's effect I take. Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged."
He slightly leaned over. She moved away.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Haley, eventually we are going to have to kiss."
"You may not have the morals or a normal person, but I do. I don't kiss the people I despise."
"How can you hate me if you don't even know me?"
"I have a general idea of you."
"You know absolutely nothing about me if you hate me that much."
"Yes I do. You're the guy that spills coke into my locker, bumps me in the hallways, and spits spitballs at my best friend."
"Don't judge me for what my friends do!"
"How can't I?! You fucken control almost every movement they make."
"You know nothing about my friends and I."
"My friends and me."
"Look, we're not out here to correct each other's grammar."
"Sorry, it's a habit. God, this is going to be the worst play in the world. The damn teacher wants to feel like it's real? What's real? That we actually like each other, like we get along? The first conversation we strike up is a fight."
"Because you are so fucken unbearable."
"Ladies and gentlemen, Nathan Scott, school charmer."
"Look, if you did this play to just be a bitch, fine, leave, I don't give a damn."
Haley sighed. This was not working out at all.
"Ok, look, we can't keep doing this. Maybe this would just be a lot easier if we got to know each other."
"I thought you already 'knew' me."
"Nathan, can you stop being childish and just work with me here?"
"Fine."
"Hi, my name is Haley James. I live in Tree Hill with five older siblings, and am youngest of six. I lived here all my life and I my favorite movie is Monty Python and the search of the Holy Grail."
"Hi, my name is Nathan Scott, star basketball player. School 45 points in only one game, even though I was double teamed."
"Ummm, Nathan, I wasn't asking about basketball stats, I was asking about you."
"You didn't directly ask me."
"Just use the same guidelines as the one I used."
"I lived in Tree Hill all my life too, only child and my favorite movie is 'Gladiator'. Oh I had a question, whose Month Python."
"Blasphemy! Only the greatest British comedy group ever known to man!"
"British comedy? What?"
Haley opened her backpack and handed him over her DVD.
"Learn something."
"You carry this around?"
"I had to analyze it for AP English and to show the class, I had to bring it for visual effects. But don't you dare abuse it in anyway, it's my baby."
She looked up at the clock and quickly closed her backpack, walking away from him.
"I have to tutor someone today, and I completely lost track of time. See you tomorrow, bye."
And she left, and he followed.