Disclaimer: Just borrowing. Enjoy.
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Fortunes Fools
Chapter Two
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Sighing, I pulled my school jumper over my head and flattened it against my body. Then, I opened the bathroom cabinet and pulled out a bottle of moisturizer, foundation, some eyeliner and golden eye shadow, before beginning my notoriously daily routine of applying make-up.
It helps hide the bags… and the pale skin, I thought, as I yawned, tired simply from the energy needed to live. There were several knocks at the door before a pause, and then Mum ducked her head in.
"Hey honey." She said, before noticing my tired appearance "You alright?" she finished, coming in and putting a concerned hand to my forehead, feeling for any kind of temperature.
I nodded mutely for a minute, but realised quickly that Mum would never be convinced without words.
"I'm fine Mum. I've just been working hard on memorising Romeo and Juliet. I want to be prepared for whatever role the Demon has in mind." I replied quietly.
"Mr. Ashton." Mum reprimanded me, before grinning slightly. "You already know the play by heart sweetie. You've known it since your Dad bought you that used copy in year 5. I remember I had to keep coming in at midnight and taking it off you so you'd actually get some sleep." She smiled, lost in memories that seemed to be light years ago.
I smiled to, at the memory of Dad bringing home the beloved copy of my play that I still had in my top drawer, with photo's that were insanely close to my heart. I'd been so happy that day. So alive, with excitement and nerves, in wonder of the ancient words of the Bard, and what he could make me feel.
Or maybe it had been the fact that Dad had come home and twirled me around, called me 'His Little Princess' then presented it to me. Maybe it had been the fact that Dad had cared enough to go out of his way and find it for me, knowing that I loved old, used books so much more than the new kind. Maybe it was simply because it was from dad.
I was lost in the past, as so was Mum. We'd all changed after he died. Right before Henry and I finished primary school. We'd all changed so drastically. Henry had become almost who he was today. Cold… closed off, and cruel. I'd become more withdrawn, and while Mum had fought to keep her babies smiling, she'd lost her own spark.
Cass and B, they knew everything. One day, I'd just, told them everything. And they'd held me and they'd cried with me, and they'd listened as I told them endless stories about how awesome my Dad really was.
"Sweets" I heard, as Mum gently rubbed my arm "You better get a move on, don't want to be late for school and miss the auditions."
"Yeah," I replied weakly "Wouldn't want to miss that."
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"M-Girl" Cass yelled from across the quad "What up hommie?"
I couldn't help but laugh at Cassie's upbeat manner. She wasn't afraid to be herself, and she wasn't afraid of making a fool of herself infront of anyone and everyone. When I finally reached her and Belle, Cassie did that handshake thing with me that the guys generally did, and followed that with a slumping pose.
"Planning on auditioning forthe next Fifty Cent movie?" I smirked at her.
"Now there's the Matilda Hunter wit we all know and love." B replied, as Cassie looked momentarily hurt… only for a second though, before her eyes brightened as she remembered what today was.
"Auditions today" she said gleefully, clapping her hands together in joy. "You ready girls?"
"Are you kidding, M-Girl over here knows the script by heart" Belle answered for me "She's so going to score Juliet."
"Thank you B" I said sarcastically.
"What? I'm more of a Lady Capulet, you know? She married the rich guy and now she has too much time on her hand, so she sleeps with Paris." Belle replied smirking.
"She doesn't sleep with Paris." I replied, scandalised.
"It's so implied" Belle replied as she shoved me a bit.
"How bout you Cass?" I asked, turning to face her.
She made a face at me. "You really think I'm cut out for Shakespeare? I'm more of a crappy teen comedy kinda girl. But I'm so betting on costuming. I've got all your costumes in mind M-Girl… your going to look stunning."
"I'm glad dressing me up is your main concern today Cass. I'm more worried about who I'll be paired with. Greg is by far the best actor, but James, he has this thing… about him, which makes me think he could play Romeo. With my luck, Christine and Julie will be paired with them though." I cried, throwing my hands up in the air.
"Calm down M-Girl." Cass replied, "This is your time to shine. Trust us on this one, would you?"
Huffing, I crossed my arms across my chest and pouted.
"Have we ever failed you?" Belle said, hugging me close.
"Well…" I began "There was that one time…"
"Which we swore would never happen again." Cassie laughed, as we shared a group hug.
"Everything is going to be fine M-Girl, everything is going to be fine."
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Henry, Luke and Ric were scowling in a corner when Cass, Belle and I arrived for drama after a dreadful math's double.
Immediately there was tension, as Henry snarled "Who let you out before dark?"
"The same people that let you out of the insane asylum." Belle retorted before the Demonic Ashton walked in.
"That's enough." He yelled, announcing his entrance, before taking a drink from his water.
"We weren't…" Belle started
"But they…" Henry began at the same time.
"I said ENOUGH" the inner demon roared.
Stunned into a silence, the entire drama class sat mutely, awaiting further instructions from our teacher, who, with a face blushed red from yelling, looked more and more like the demon he was second by second.
He stood, drinking a fair amount of water before he was calm enough to address the class again.
"Romeo and Juliet pairings. There are three scenes you will trial. The balcony scene, the morning after Romeo shoots Tybalt, and the death scene. These pairings are final," He said, glaring at each and every one of us "I will not tolerate any discussion about swapping. None at all, is that clear?"
We could only nod; none were brave enough to disagree. Not even Cassie or Henry, the outspoken ones in the class.
Ashton started calling out names and I unconsciously held my breath, waiting for ours to be called. Eventually, there were only six names left. Smirking evilly at us, Ashton read the pairs out in an almost manic manner.
"Hunter and Turner, Holden and Taylor, and Dalby and Hunter. Remember, no discussions, nothing. Hunter and Turner, you have the death scene, Holden and Taylor, the balcony scene… Dalby and Hunter, the middle scene. Play nice kids." He said, his smirk growing wider, an evil gleam becoming evident in the corner of his eyes, as he walked away, taking a swig from his water bottle.
Cass groaned beside me, and B put her face down in his hands. I simply stared at the empty space that had, only moments before, had Ashton standing in it. He'd ruined any chance I had of playing Juliet… of actually getting a decent role in the play.
Resigned to my fate, I turned, smirking at Cassie.
"At least you'll get to plan costumes for someone."
She laughed at me, and Belle joined in eventually.
"That's the spirit kid. Now, let's go show these boys what we're made of. Even if it kills us…" B said, grabbing our hands and pulling us into a standing position.
"Which, it will…" Cass said bluntly.
"No faith." I replied quickly.
Cass looked quickly to where the boys were sitting, the scowls appearing only to have become more uninviting.
"With them, M-Girl, you'd need more than god on your side…"
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Fifty minutes later and nothing had progressed. Dalby had stood facing away from me as he mumbled through his lines, and I was beginning to get a neck ache from straining to see his face.
I finished my line, and waited for Ric to continue with his. Tapping my foot patiently, I eventually threw my hands up in the air in frustration, as he appeared to be engrossed in something the black wall had to offer, that I didn't.
Groaning, I gave up completely and abruptly sat down crossed legged on the floor. Ric turned, as looked as if he were about to speak to me, but Ashton thankfully saved me from that certain idiotic discussion that was about to take place.
"On my word, you shall perform as a pair. I will tell you when and where to stop. Parts will be posted on Monday, after carefully consideration on my behalf."
Cassie scoffed from her position several feet away from Henry, and this brought a smile to my face. Ashton, however, was very much annoyed.
"Something you'd like to share Cassandra?"
"God no." Cass replied "Let's just get on with it then." She said, smirking.
"Since you're obviously so excited about this, why don't you and Mr. Hunter go first?" the demon finished, matching Cassie's smirk.
She groaned inwardly, the swatted Henry to make sure he stood up.
"Now," Mr. Ashton said happily as he sat into his seat "The scene you two are doing is the…?"
"Death scene." Cassie informed him, flashing his a mocking smile.
"Why doesn't Mr. Hunter begin a third of the way through his part, so we can see the… uh, talent… you two may have to offer." Ashton said, motioning for Cassie to lay down on the table that was obviously her death bed.
"Fine" Cass replied through gritted teeth as she lay down, waiting for Henry to start.
"For fear of that, I still will stay with thee And never from this palace of dim night Depart again." Henry began, his bored tone evident as his words became all jumbled, mixed together.
"Here, here will I remain With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest, And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh." He continued, smirking as he saw Cassie's face grow redder as he continued to ruin the words of Shakespeare.
"Eyes, look your last!" He cried, making many of the people in our class begin to laugh. "Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips," He continued as he leant down to Cassie, daring to be closer to her lips than anyone imagined.
"O you The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss A dateless bargain to engrossing death! Here's to my love!" He said, drawing the final words out, rubbing Cassie's cheek.
"Would you just drink the poison already?" Cassie yelled from her lying position "I'm waiting patiently for you to die so I can be free from your stupid love."
"That's not her line," Someone pointed out rather obviously from the side of the room.
"Maybe I could pour the damn potion down your throat and then run off with your wench cousin, who we all know actually puts…"
"Enough!" Ashton cried, rubbing his head. "You two," he said, pointing at Henry and Cassie, "Will not be partaking in roles in my play. Next." He screamed, as another pair scrambled up to take their turn, while Cassie turned and stalked away from Henry, who was smiling broadly, knowing he'd ruined her shot.
After half the pairs had gone, Ashton called on Belle and Luke to do their Balcony scene. Glaring at one another, Belle went and stood on top of the table, and looked boredly down at Luke, who was still glaring up at her.
"Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops…" Luke began, a hint of emotion showing in his voice.
"O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, That monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable." Belle replied, glaring down at him… but some could say she was in character, as Juliet is a bit annoyed at Romeo now.
"What shall I swear by?" Luke replied, irritation filling his voice.
They may actually pull this off, I thought as I watched them begin to look at one another. "Do not swear at all; Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, Which is the god of my idolatry, And I'll believe thee." Belle replied, leaning down towards him, a sly smile forming on her face.
Uh oh. I knew that look. This wasn't good. In any way, shape or form. "If my heart's dear love…" Luke said, leaning up to Belle….
Then, she shoved him onto the ground roughly.
"And Romeo tragically falls to his death from the balcony. Applause everywhere, no one ever thought of Juliet actually growing a backbone to this kid."
"Yeah, and psychotically pushing the love of her life off a balcony is one way of proving that." Luke growled at her from his position on the floor.
"Clearly" Ashton said from his seat "Neither of you particularly wanted a role in this production either. Next." He barked, pointing at another unsuspecting pair.
I was beginning to get nervous. Everyone else, aside from Belle and Cassie, had pulled off a fairly good Juliet. Now, as the auditions drew to an end, I knew that with Ric by my side, I really had no help in hell for this role.
"Hunter and Dalby. Lucky last." Ashton said snidely, as I stood up, and walked to stand on top of the table.
"Art thou gone so? love, lord, ay, husband, friend! I must hear from thee every day in the hour," I said sadly, looking down into Ric's eyes, and imagining them to hold every feeling and emotion… the very key to my heart. "For in a minute there are many days: O, by this count I shall be much in years Ere I again behold my Romeo!" I continued, reaching a hand down, as if to stroke his face. But to my surprise, Ric grasped it tightly and placed a lingering kiss on the top."Farewell!" Ric said quietly, looking into my eyes. "I will omit no opportunity That may convey my greetings, love, to thee." He sighed against my hand.
"O think'st thou we shall ever meet again?" I said softly, my instinctively reaching for his neck, pulling him closer to me.
"I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve For sweet discourses in our time to come." Ric replied with as much conviction as any Romeo would have.
"O God," I cried softly "I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks I see thee, now thou art below, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb: Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale." I finished, as Ric pulled me into him, his strong arms wrapping themselves around me.
He pulled away slightly, his hand cupping my chin and pulling my face up to look at him. "And trust me, love, in my eye so do you: Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!"
I felt him pull away and bound down from the table, shivering from the lack of body heat around me. I shook my head, and looked up to see the class stunned, sitting in silence. Even Ashton didn't have a smart remark for the scene that he had just witnessed.
Pulling myself together as I saw Ric stalk over to a confused Henry and Luke, I walked slowly back to Cass and B, who were sitting there, tears in their eyes.
They too eventually got themselves together, and as we walked out the door to lunch, Cass punched me in the shoulder.
"Ow," I replied, slapping her back "What was that for?"
"For not believing us that you were perfect for Juliet." She replied, before she pinched me.
"That was for slapping me back." she said, sticking out her tongue.
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From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
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AN: Thank you to Tess for being a wonderful proof reader. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. This story seems to want to write itself. And thank you to those who reviewed, you are seriously brilliant.
