Patrick and I walked in silence together to English class. This carried on for a whole week, which got Sam really suspicious. Sam called me every night and asked how I was. I always answered indifferently as if there was nothing different about how things were. She didn't ask any questions, though. I just know she wanted a better answer than that.
By Friday morning, she couldn't contain herself. She wanted answers and she wanted them clear and now, and she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"What's going on with you and Stump?" She asked really suspiciously. "Are you two like, secretly dating or something?"
"What? What are you talking about?" I asked apathetically, pretending that I don't really know what she was talking about.
She laughed bitterly. "Funny. You act as if you don't know what I'm talking about." She said. "Claire, I know you, and I know that you're lying. So, quit the act, and tell me. I need to know."
She looked at me with puppy dog eyes. The one that makes me want to spill out everything to her.
"Well, I don't really know, actually." I told her. "He just asked if he could walk me to English class."
"Aaand?"
"And, I said yes." I looked at her. She giggled. "Mostly, we just walked in silence. It's kinda awkward, really" I said clutching my books.
"Awkward." She repeated looking over my shoulder. "Well, he is staring at you."
"What?" I said turning around and true enough, Patrick was standing there just a few lockers from me, staring. He was with his friends who were all goofing around. Well, instinctively, I blushed away from his stare.
"Don't look at him." I hissed at Sam. She was staring at him eyes narrowed. She took her eyes away from him to look at me.
"Are you sure you two are not secretly dating?" She asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"No." I snapped and I pulled her sleeve as we rushed down the hallway.
"Two households both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."
Patrick has been acting weird lately. I watch him as he uncomfortably sat on his chair in front of me. He does walk me to this class, but he never spoke a word, which is normal actually. But he kept glancing at me during the class itself, which really distracts me from listening.
"From forth the fatal lions of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life, whose misadventured piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents' strife."
I can hear Mrs. Johnson talk but I couldn't really make out of what she was saying. I think it was something about her vacation in Verona. I was busy thinking of something else.
This week, Patrick acted as if I could have a chance with him. Even for just a tiny bit. Why else would a boy walk me to class and carry my books with me, huh? I'm not thick; I know how guys are when they like a girl. But then again, maybe he just thought that I needed company going to English class, since Sam has a different class at the other side of the school. Maybe I just looked too much of a loner and he pitied me. Even so, it felt really good. Could I really have a chance with him?
"Miss Campbell, stand." I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my last name. "Were you even listening?" Everyone looked at me, even Patrick.
"Yes." I lied.
"Well, why don't you answer my question?" Mrs. Johnson looked at me thoughtfully, though I know deep inside that wasn't the case.
"Can you repeat the question?" I asked, cautiously.
Mrs. Johnson looked at me, frustrated and shook his head, and then he called on Patrick. "Mr. Stump, could you repeat the question for Ms. Campbell?"
He nodded. "From what Shakespearean play were the said lines taken?" He looked at me, pouting a bit. Oh no. I didn't even listen to the lines Mrs. Johnson said. Verona. What is it with Verona? Oh no there were at least a couple of plays Shakespeare wrote which were set in Verona.
"Well, Ms. Campbell, aren't you going to answer?" Mrs. Johnson raised an eyebrow.
I felt a nudge on my table and looked down to see Patrick mouthing me the answer. I'm not really good a lip reading. I raised my eyebrow at him, confused.
He mouthed the words a little slowly this time, mouthing every syllable.
Ro…me...o Oh! That's right! Romeo and Juliet!
I looked at Mrs. Johnson, "It is Romeo and Juliet." I said quite confidently.
"That's correct." She said writing it down on the board. "You may sit." She said not even looking at me.
That was a relief. Lucky, Patrick was there to save my butt. I realized I wasn't breathing, again. It happens a lot, you know, when Patrick's around.
"Your project for this semester is a class project." Mrs. Johnson started which got a lot of groans from her students. She ignored them and continued talking.
"It's a re-enactment of Shakespeare's tragic play, Romeo and Juliet." She said these as if it were the most exciting thing we're ever gonna have.
"Each of you is going to pick a card out of this small box," She held a small purple box, "which will reveal your role in this project."
"This is going cost you half of your grade, so you all had better to do it well." She continued giving us all a warning glare. "It will be presented in a month."
This should be quite easy, if I wasn't so ridiculously self-conscious in front of everyone's eyes. I hope I get a minor role, like Juliet's nanny or a behind the scene role, like a props man.
"Now, everyone, will you please form a straight line in front of me."
I lined up behind a girl named Jessica and waited for my turn praying I won't get a really big role. I was sure I'm gonna mess it up, if ever.
"I got Mercutio, Romeo's best friend." I heard someone say behind me. I look behind me and saw Patrick's friend talking to him. "This isn't gonna be fun." He continued frowning and shaking his head.
"Joe, projects are never fun." Patrick said shaking his head.
I didn't realize that it was my turn to pick a card that I almost knocked the box out of Mrs. Johnson's hand. She gave me a stern look and pushed the box towards me.
Please let it be something I want, I thought as I picked a card. I took a deep breath, opened it and almost fainted. Juliet.
"Looks like we have a Juliet." Mrs. Johnson said happily for everyone to hear. Everyone clapped their hands and I felt my heart sink.
I'm gonna be Juliet and there's nothing I can do about it. I know Mrs. Johnson. I know how she is with these things, and she'll never let me switch with others.
I walked back to my seat feeling really sick. I don't want to be Juliet. I don't even want to be part of this play. The next thing that happened made my heart stop, literally.
"We have our Romeo!" Mrs. Johnson announced. It happened in slow motion, people clearing away for everyone to see Romeo and me lifting my head up to look at Romeo in the eye.
Patrick Stump is Romeo. He's gonna be my Romeo.