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Chapter 3: Break a Leg

Okay. So. Ms. Emily says I have to play... Romeo. HAVE to. Romeo.

I was sitting under a tree as I reviewed the script. I have to memorize everything within 3 hours. Which sucks– to a stupifying extent. I like plays, sure. But actually being in one? That's Angelo's thing. If they hadn't stolen the key from the pool guard and had a party... actually, if I weren't stuck in the library doing labor for an overdue book at the time, I would've been there too. Stupid books! But hey, atleast I still have my points. The guys got 25 points shredded from them.

See, we have this point system wherein we earn credit for every non-academic activity. This, along with our academic grades, determines our military position. For this play, I'm getting five. Yep, just five.

"Hey." I hear a shy voice. "The grass taken?" Spencer Carlin.

"Yah, I think Travis bought it yesterday." I say in jest. She takes a seat beside me on the grass and sighs.

"I'm sorry for dragging you into this. I know this isn't your thing." I wonder if she said this to all the replacement girls.

"Don't worry about it." I reassured her. "At least there's credit in this for me." She smiles at this and I couldn't help but notice how inbelievably blue her eyes are. My reverie was broken as she stood.

"Oh, uh, general rehearsal's at four thirty." I nod and she turns around and leaves.

I hear a whistle in the distance so I look around and find the guys coming my way.

"Ei, 'sup Romeo?!" Quame dramatically lay down beside me.

I give him an amused look then turn my attention to the other exhausted guys lying on the grass in front of me.

"Aww... Poow wittle babies." I know, childish.

"You know how many miles we ran?! It's like Brat Camp in China, man!" Jake said while dragging his head to my leg, using it as a pillow.

"And you know what's worse? Having to do 30 squats for sneezing!" Travis added.

"No, the worst is losing a part in a play to your sister!" Angelo exaggerated, sitting up, eyes wide and focused on me. There was a long pause then we both burst out laughing.

"Seriously, you two have a weird sense of humor." Quame said, shaking his head.

"Yah, like y-" I cut myself of as I notice my watch. "Shoot, rehearsals! I quickly jump up throwing Jake's head to the ground.

"Ow!! What's your hurry, excitement getting at you?!" he said, replacing my leg with his hand.

"Oh please! I just don't wanna make a fool of myself in the actual play." We all made faces at each other.

"Alright..." Jake teased.

--

The rehearsal took longer than anyone expected. It's now seven in the evening. 30 minutes left before the play starts. Everything's already set up, most know their lines like the back of their hands, some have it on paper taped to the floor of the stage, others have it on their palms. And holy shit in a jam jar, I'm freakin' out! I never have stage fright! What the hell?! This is ridiculous! I mean, who knew perfoming on stage could be so nerve-racking?! huh?!

I was trying to steady my breathing and calm myself when an all made up and ready Spencer approached me.

"Ashley? Are you okay?" She says cautiously.

"Yah!" I say, as if I was high. "Of course! I'm great! Perfect, even!" Again, HIGH.

"You look... Are you sure you're okay?" She persisted, coming closer.

"I might be just a little bit nervous." I give in. "But just a little bit!" I add quickly. "Tiny. Microscopic."

"Well don't be. You're gonna do great!" She assures me.

"You psychic or something?" I ask with a hint of sarcasm. "I mean look at me, I look like a boy!"

There was a moment of silence, like a "How dumb are you?" silence. She raises her eyebrows and finally speaks.

"Uh..." She began quietly. "Isn't that the point? You're supposed to be Romeo, remember?"

I search my brain for a rescue sentence but only manage to come up with, "Sure... But can't I be a pretty Romeo?"

She gives me a small but genuine laugh "Don't worry about it too much, you're gonna drive yourself crazy." She grabs my hand but realized what she just did and quickly let go. "Uh, come on, I think I hear Ms. Sundquist calling."

--

"I protest, I never injured thee, but love thee better... than thou knowest." Than thou knowest?! Knowest?! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! So much for "I'm gonna do great".

Casting out my scenes, the play was going pretty well.

When it was time for the kiss, she looks at me uncomfortably for a split second but soon faded as her smile took over. She gave me a look that I couldn't decipher, then... Her lips met mine.

Her lips were so freakin' soft. It was hard to pull away. As I opened my eyes, my lips still locked to hers, I see Ms. Emily's eyes bulging out of their sockets and her mouth making out a "Get on with the play!" At that moment, I realize that the supposed to be 3 second kiss became a 20 second make out scene so I pull away. I look at her with a smile and she looks down, looks at me in the eye for a few seconds then she too, smiled.