Author's note - Thank you so much for all of the reviews so far!
Monday, 21 October, 14:45 GMT, Star Crossed, almost 16 years ago
"Alright, good job Act Two Scene One readers," Professor Conner Ingles said as he joined the rest of the class in clapping. He looked at his wristwatch. "We should have enough time for another set of readers to start Act Two Scene Two."
The thirty-something English professor took hold of the two boxes in which were slips of paper with names of students that had not read yet. He shook the box in which the boys' names were and pulled out a slip of paper.
"Our Romeo," the professor began, "Phillip Martinez."
The whole classed whooped as Phillip acknowledged their cheers, heading up to one of the front two tables facing each other at which the previous readers sat and vacated. Professor Ingles shook the second box and picked a name.
"And for our Juliet," he said canting his head and then looked at the shy grey-eyed brunette. "Drew Granger."
Drew blew out a slow breath as she stood up. She looked over at Dean and rolled her eyes as he wiggled his eyebrows. She took her time heading up to the front.
The pair of readers opened their own copies of the two lovers from Verona. She flipped open to Act Two Scene Two, averting the American's eye contact.
"Oh Romeo, start us off," Professor Ingles prompted.
Phillip chuckled along with the rest of the audience. The young American looked up at Drew and for a moment their eyes locked. The young man began to read from his book.
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" Phillip started softly, "It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon."
The whole room leaned forward in their seats as they listened to the young man continue. Drew even looked up as Phillip read.
"See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!" Phillip said, "O, that I were a glove upon that hand.
"That I might touch that cheek!" he said, again locking eyes with his Juliet.
There seemed to be a long silence. The English professor cleared his throat. "Uh, Juliet? Ms. Granger?"
"Right," Drew said as she looked over her scene two, desperately trying to find Juliet's line. She blew out a breath. "Ay me!"
Phillip smiled to himself. "She speaks. O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head. As is a winged messenger of heaven. Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes of mortals that gaze on him when he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds and sails upon the bosom of the air."
"O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" Drew asked as Phillip glanced up at her. "Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
Phillip whispered, "Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"
Drew looked up at him, "'Tis but thy name that is my enemy; thou art thyself, though not a Montague. What's Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, nor any other part belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose," she gulped as she could feel her ears start to get warm. She looked back down at her book. "By any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee take all myself."
It was Phil's turn to pause. He, himself looked down at his pages, "I take thee at thy word: call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; henceforth I never will be Romeo."
"What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?"
"By a name I know not how to tell thee who I am. My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself," Phillip said softly, looking her in the face. "Because it is an enemy to thee. Had I it written, I would tear the word."
"My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound. Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?"
Phil paused dramatically, "Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike."
Both readers breathed deeply. The whole room fell silent. And then the end of the day bell chimed. The audience applauded with such fervor. The popular kids surrounded Phillip congratulating him on his read through.
"Alright, kids," Professor Ingles nodded at Drew before he turned to the rest of the group. "We'll continue on tomorrow. Next set of readers where we left off. Class dismissed."
Drew stood up and took in a deep breath as she headed toward her desk to pick up her stuff. She nodded at Dean who smiled back at her.
"Hey," the tall black-haired boy nodded at the pair. "Good read, Drew."
"Thanks Aston," Drew said nodding at the boy before he headed towards the cool clique.
"Well, let's head over to Chess Club," Dean Thomas said as he picked up Drew's backpack for her. The pair headed out for the afternoon.