"Good morning, students of Roscoe High!" Ray had to cover his ears as a most annoying voice blared over the intercom just before first period. "I would just like you to know that we are helping to host a summer camp later this year. If anyone is interested in becoming a counselor, please see me."

Ray laughed, motioning to Travis, Robbie, and Lily, who sat somewhat near him. "Who would want to do that?!" He broke into a chain of laughter, but it faded as his eyes fell upon Lily's expression.

"Actually," she said quite cheerily, "I was thinking of applying."

That shut him up, and Travis, who sat just beside him, punched him playfully in the side. "Nice going, Pronto." Ray could only glare.

What if Travis got Lily after all? What if all of his goals had mounted to this – to... well, nothing? Oh, it bothered him. Well, at least class was starting. Maybe that would divert his mind a little.

"Today," their elderly teacher told them, her gray-white hair falling into her eyes. Mrs. Laverde was a substitute, but after their permanent teacher's skiing accident, it appeared that she would be there a long while. Not that she hadn't been there long enough already, in Ray's opinion. "We will be learning about the works of Willam Shakespeare. Now, I'm – ahem.. positive that you've heard of many of his writings."

Oh, had they. Their previous teacher, Mr. McGaughy, had given them numerous tests and written work for the ancient writer, and Ray had hated every bit. His worst fears had been confirmed, however, when Laverde proceeded with the following. "So, I've decided – ahem... to do a play. Not just any play. Why, it'll be an extravaganza!"

The whole class was silent as their substitute laughed, her white ringlet curls bouncing with her every step. "Ahem... Well," she started again, in a much more solemn and professional manner. "We will be performing the classic Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare's most well-known pieces. Practices will be starting tomorrow after school, and all of you are required to attend."

She smiled a cocky, two-tooth smile, and Ray couldn't help but smile anyway. Mrs. Laverde was funny in her own way.

But he watched in horror as she proceeded to pull out a long white piece of paper from her desk. The cast.

"Here is this year's cast. I will post it in the front of the classroom, and all of you may look at it for your viewing pleasure in a few moments."

Oh, but she just had to keep them waiting. Ray watched in eager anticipation as Laverde posted the sheet up on the wall. Thoughts raced through his head, strange mini-movies of the final kiss being shared between Ray and Lily, and Travis being completely out of the picture. Ah, heaven.

Finally, the woman stepped away and bowed. "Groups one to four," she called, and a groan shattered the silence from the other groups that hadn't been called. Ray watched as Lily and a few other girls walked up, as well as the group of jocks that he had so wanted to be a part of the previous year. Nah, they were too feminine for his liking now, with their fancy jackets and expensive cologne. It was just plain wrong.

But he could've cared less about the jocks. He was watching Lily's expression, and he felt his heart race as her lips curled into a soft smile, and she looked back at him with a delightful look on her face. Obviously she had gotten what she wanted.

"Groups five to ten," she called, and Ray, Travis, Robbie, and a few other groups stood up and rampaged their way to the front. This is what the paper looked like.

Romeo and Juliet

CAST

Lord Montegue: Robbie McGrath

Lady Montegue: Lauren Kuenzi

Tybalt: Jonathon Edwards

Balthasar: Michael Rands

Abram: Landon Cambridge

Juliet: Lily Randall

Everything relied on the last two parts. The only people missing were Travis and Ray.

Mercutio: Ray Brennan

That meant... that meant that Travis... he had to be Romeo. Was that what Lily had been so happy about? Oh God, he was such a pathetic idiot... to think he'd be Romeo...

Slowly, Ray returned to his seat, a grim look on his face. Lily grinned as he passed, and he felt as if he were going to throw up. "Isn't it great, Ray? We all got main characters!" Lily just seemed so happy, so enthusiastic. "And Travis and I have the lead!"

"Yeah, that's just... great..." Ray replied dully, opening his notebook to get the previous day's notes. Had she not noticed anything that had happened the last night?

((End! Anyway, this chapter kind of sucked, but oh well... Read and review please! There's going to be at least 4 or 5 more chapters. YAY!))