Chapter 3

Later that week, Kenny and Sarah sat in the half-full school hall during the auditions for Romeo and Juliet.

"Who do you think will get in?" Sarah whispered. This year's choice of play had all of Norbridge High buzzing like never before and despite a heavy workload on the paper as well as studies, most of the Junior Gazette were trying their hands at auditioning.

"I dunno," Kenny whispered back, "There's some pretty good contenders."

"So what part are you trying out for?" Sarah asked.

"Just Juliet's father, Lord Capulet. Dunno why, really. I just got caught up in the fever!"

"So who's going for the part of . . ."

"Never fear, Romeo is here!" Spike plunked himself in the row of seats behind Sarah and Kenny.

"You're really trying out for the part of Romeo?" Sarah said excitedly, poising pen to paper.

"Yup, and if I'm not mistaken, here comes my leading lady!" said Spike as Lynda came in meekly through the doors and glanced fleetingly through the hall. Sarah waved her over.

"Shut up, Kenny," Lynda said at once as she slipped into a seat next to Sarah, and hiccupped loudly. Spike laughed.

"Juliet, Juliet, here for art me, Romeo!" he said and attempted to kiss her hand. She pulled away.

"I don't know why I'm doing this," she muttered.

"I do," said Spike, cheekily. "I heard what you did to sales of last year's play! I reckon Winters has told you that you need to double sales of tickets this year or you won't get your A Levels. And what better way to do it than play opposite me?"

"For your information, that play was nothing short of unstructured, self-indulgent rubbish," she snapped. "A lot like your attempts at reporting. And furthermore . . ."

"Can we have all those interested in auditioning for the role of Juliet come forward please?" called Mr Sullivan, who had found himself volunteered for the role of director. Lynda remained in her seat.

"Well, go on, Boss!" said Spike nudging her. Lynda hiccupped in reply.

"Come on, Lynda, I'm going to audition too," said Sarah, getting up. Lynda reluctantly followed her to Mr Sullivan and hastily wrote her name on his clipboard in a way which was not like her customary bold, decisive print. Sullivan told the group of girls they had to wait around until the last two Romeos were through, which happened to be Spike and former forced Junior Gazette worker, Godfrey Hunter.

As they made their way back to their seats, Spike's name was called and he passed Lynda and Sarah in the aisle.

"Wish me luck, Boss!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah. Break a leg," she muttered and sat down next to Kenny.

Much as she hated to admit it, Spike was very good. He had obviously put a lot of effort into learning the play and even used a very convincing English accent which wasn't strictly necessary. When he had finished his monologue, there was a smattering of applause from the small audience that the other hopefuls did not recieve. Mr Sullivan looked very impressed.

"Well done, Spike. However, I believe it's the first time I've ever heard of sunglasses in fair Verona."

"Hey, these are bright lights!" answered Spike jovially and leapt off the stage.

"Quite!" replied Mr Sullivan in his usual manner and smiled. "Next, Godfrey Hunter. Last one."

Godfrey made his way onto the stage and quivered gormlessly throughout his audition. Spike returned to his fellow Gazetters.

"So, what did you think?" he asked in his English accent.

"Brilliant!" replied Sarah at once. Kenny nodded in agreement.

"Who'd you steal the accent from?" asked Lynda sarcastically, determined not to stroke Spike's already healthy ego.

"I've got secret tape recordings of you in every possible situation, Boss" replied Spike. "Have I got it down pat or what?"

"What? How dare you!" fumed Lynda. "What did - "

"Relax, Lynda, he's having you on," said Kenny calmingly. "I've been acting as his dialogue coach."

"Well, that's alright then," admitted Lynda grudgingly. "I suppose it could have been worse, Danny for example." At that point, Sarah was called up to audition. They wished her luck.

"'Ow would tha' o' made any diff'rence to the accen'?" Spike asked at once in an exact mimicry of Danny McColl's accent " 'e's one of me china plates, Lynda, if ya don' min'."

"Dick Van Dyke did better in Mary Poppins," said Lynda, caustically.

"Now do Lynda," said Kenny. Spike grinned mischeiviously.

"Spike Thompson, you are the most handsome person in the universe and I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said in a breathless falsetto. Lynda glared at him and tried to look interested in Sarah's audition which was not very inspiring.

"Thank you, Sarah. Next, Lynda Day," called Sullivan. Lynda hiccupped at once.

"Bye, Boss!" said Kenny. Lynda hicupped again.

"I can't," she replied. "I feel ill."

"Stage fright," said Spike, loftily. "Nothing to be embarrassed about, even if notoriously shy people like Kenny and Sarah are brave enough to get up and have a shot . . ." Lynda set her jaw determinedly as he continued. "I guess she hasn't considered that if I get in as Romeo, I'll be kissing another woman!"

"Oh, yeah? Watch this," said Lynda and strode down the aisle towards the stage.

"Good work, Spike!" said Kenny, holding his hand up. Spike slapped it, pleased with himself. Lynda got up on stage and launched herself into the speech she had chosen to perform.

"Excellent, Lynda!" said Mr Sullivan. Feeling quite proud of herself, Lynda sat down next to Spike.

"So, what'd ya think of that?" she asked in Valley Girl American. Spike looked horrified.

"You sounded just like this girl I knew back home then," he said, quickly surpressing the guilty feeling he occasionally got when thinking about Zoe.