"So, who will play Juliet?" The teacher asked with a smug grin.

All of the boys shifted a stare at each other and Mello raised his hand, "I'll do it. I like a challenge, if I can play a convincing enough female, I can do anything. And, I would imagine being an all male cast playing the female role would be the hardest of all. Nonetheless, the fact that Juliet is a leading role. So what if I have to be a chick to get recognized."

Impressed the teacher smiled and wrote his name down on the casting try outs.


Mello busted in the room with a huge smile, "I got it!"

His sudden outburst startled Light out of his homework and Beyond into dropping his violin, "Got what?!"

He smirked and handed them the cast print out for the play, "I'm Juliet."

Light smirked, "Impressive. That's a hard role, good luck, I played Romeo in our junior high school play… Not a lot of fun…" He hung his head.

Nate chuckled, "I bet you were a cute little Romeo."

Light glared at him, "Shut it. I only did it because, the lead role dropped out a week before the show and the teacher was frantic… Not to mention, the girl who played Juliet was hot."

Beyond cackled, "No shit?" Light shook his head.

Mello sighed, "Well, I'm excited… Hey! Light? Since you've played Romeo in the past, will you help me rehearse?"

Light shrugged, "Sure, why not?"

L grinned, "This should be interesting to watch."

Light grinned, "Just don't get jealous."

L narrowed his eyes and scoffed turning around in his chair. "As if. Like I'd get jealous. Over what?"

Light winked at Mello making him laugh, "So. Will you do a read through with me? So, I can start getting ready?"

Matt looked up from his gameboy, "Already? Isn't it not for another two months?"

Light scolded, "How can you possibly convey the right practiced emotions if you don't know your lines down pat early on?"

Mello smirked, "At least someone gets it."

Beyond sighed, "I get it…" He pouted a little, "I'm a good actor… You could have asked me. Now I demand hugs!"

Mello laughed and hugged Beyond, "I'll keep you in mind as my next line reader!"

Beyond grinned, "Deal."


2 days before performance night:

The teacher came in with a solemn expression, "Sorry, kids, we might need to cancel the show."

The boys all widened their eyes, "What?!"

"Romeo has streep throat. He's in the infirmary. We have no leading man." The teacher looked down to the group.

Mello growled, "Your fucking kidding, right?! We all get screwed, because doofus couldn't stay healthy?"

The teacher scolded, "Language."

Mello narrowed his eyes, "Fine. Whatever, sorry. But I'm being serious, we all worked so…"

The teacher arched an eyebrow at his sudden trail.

"Give me a day! I bet I know someone who could fill in for him… If he's willing, he's been line rehearsing with me this whole time!" He smiled and gave a thumbs up.


Light pulled his book down and glared at Mello, "You've got to be kidding. No way."

Mello put forth his best puppy dog eyes, "Please! You know how much this means to me!"

Light's right eyebrow twitched in irritation, as L smirked, "Light Yagami, the destined Romeo of our generation."

Light growled, "Shut up, L."

Mello got down on his knees and slapped his hands together, "Plllleeeeeasse?!"

Light sighed and shook his head, "Fine."

Mello cheered and was up and out the door yelling back to the room, "I'm going to go tell our teacher!"


Mello led Light, who wore his junior varsity athletic coat and shivered in the snow, "Okay! Thank you so much for helping us out, Light." He opened the door and Light nodded and walked in with his hands in his pockets only to be met with a cluster of confused faces.

"You got the Quarterback of the JV?!" One boy shouted as another in the back fainted.

Light gave a pleasant smile and waved, "Hi everyone."

A small group of the club members surrounded Mello, "We knew he was your roommate, but is he actually your friend, too? Like, that's not for show?"

Mello laughed, "Of course he's my friend! Who lies about their friends, seems awfully trivial."

Light walked up on stage with Mello and the drama teacher cheered in excitement, "Wonderful! So, I take it you know the lines?" Light nodded. "Perfect! So we could have a full on rehearsal! Oh, this has turned into a wonderful day! Perfect timing, I might add!" Light smiled awkwardly and Mello laughed.


"Wait… You're going to skip the death scene? To avoid two guys from having to kiss? Does it matter that much. Seems like a crime against the play though…" Light stated as he read over the scene overtures for the actual play.

The teacher arched an eyebrow, "You wouldn't have a problem kissing him?"

Light looked up and blinked a couple of times, "It's not like I'd be making out with him… Sadly enough… I've done stranger things." The teacher leaned in with a smile that was soaked in curiosity. "Uh. No, I don't want to talk about it." A light blush painted his cheeks.

"So, we can do the death scene as the play originally plans?"

"Well, if you don't, you miss the whole dramatic point the couple was trying to make, that they chose love over life." Light sighed, "And, like half the play afterwards!"

The teacher smiled, "If only you'd joined the theater club. Right! Let's get to work!"


Opening night:

The crowd visibly moved by the play, as some of the boys and parents were in tears. Mello and Light recited the parts of Romeo and Juliet, flawlessly.

"What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.— O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop. To help me after? I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, To make me die with a restorative."

Mello leaned in close to Light, who whispered, "You owe me…" Mello snickered silently and gently pressed his lips against Light's.

"Thy lips are warm."

One of the cast members made noise off stage.

"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die!" Mello dramatically plunged the false dagger into his chest and collapsed lifelessly on to the stage.

Matt blinked several times while shoving popcorn into his mouth. Beyond sobbed onto Nate's shoulder who was smiling, "They're good." He glanced over to L who was misty eyed, "The great L has emotions?!"

L quickly wiped his eyes, "Shut up. I just had something in my eyes!"