Chapter 3: Romeo and Juliet
The Globe stood tall and proud in the sun.
"Shakespeare's plays are so confusing!"
"Then why'd you go, Ilixo?"
"For the story, of course. As confusing as they are, they're so… moving… And plus, don't you think watching plays are fun? They're a rare treat. Mother took me to watch Father perform today. Hey, can you act out Romeo and Juliet with me?"
"What? Why?"
"Come on… It'll be fun! I want to be an actor when I grow up."
"… A-alright then! Let's go home. Your Father has the scripts, right?"
The first lesson of the afternoon was English. To my joy, and many others' horror, we would be doing plays and stuff about Shakespeare. Honestly, I would've thought they would be learning something easier. Turns out, my Mom went and paid the school into teaching something slightly above their level. What school would listen to my millionaire mother? Is that even allowed? No, scratch that. Is that even legal, to change the teaching material? Apparently so. The only two people in our class who were somewhat delighted to be doing this were me and Joshua, which ruined some of my happy thoughts. However, it did make me think I understood him some more and I cheered myself up by telling myself that we had something else in common and that might make him less annoying.
After school, Kayleigh invited me to go shopping with Eri and Shiki and I happily obledged. However, Joshua tagged along and Shiki dragged Neku into it. They said they had to wait for some other friends, too. I was kinda hoping this would be a Girl's Night Out sort of thing. Oh well. Soon, we were joined by two blondes. One seemed much younger, a girl only in Elementary school or something, the other was quite a buff guy and I wasn't sure if taking them all shopping would be a good idea or not. The moment they saw Joshua, the older guy freaked.
"Prissy kid! What you doing here?!" he asked. Well, he kind of shouted… but… It seemed as if they all knew Joshua. The guy seemed as if he didn't know if he should be mad or confused. Joshua just smirked, as I thought he would.
"Can't I join in with the fun?" he asked back, twirling his hair.
"Beat, calm down. So you're Joshua then," the little girl then addressed the boys, "Well, I think we should thank you."
"What!? But, Rhyme…" the boy called Beat complained, "He ki-" He was about to say something else but Shiki and Ryhme silenced him with a glare and a panicked look respectively. I raised an eyebrow at this but didn't question it. Neku frowned and looked over at me and Kayleigh while Joshua looked thoughtful and almost annoyed that Beat hadn't carried on talking. Everyone was silent for a moment before Eri broke the silence.
"Anyways, Beat, Rhyme, this is Kayleigh and Serena. Kayleigh, Serena, this is Beat and Rhyme," she said, introducing us. I heard Kayleigh let out the breath she'd been holding beside me. That moment of silence had unnerved her.
"S'up?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood while giving a friendly smile and wave.
"Nice to meet 'cha!" Kayleigh added, holding out a hand for them to shake.
"Nice meet you, too, Kayleigh, Serena," Rhyme shook Kayleigh's hand. Beat looked somewhat uncomfortable.
"Ain't those your first names, yo?" he asked. Aw… How cute. He was embarrassed. I grinned.
"Don't worry. We're used to the stuff overseas. There's no problem with calling us by our first names…" I explained helpfully.
Beat nodded and smiled. "Well, nice meetin' ya, Kayleigh and Serena," he said.
I frowned for a second. "Beat and Rhyme aren't your actual names, right? Cause they're a little unusual, especially for the Japanese…" Beat paled slightly.
"Oh. Raimu-chan and Daisukenojo-kun are just uncomfortable with their names is all…" Joshua explained, twirling his hair and giggling lightly.
"BWAAAA! D-DUN SAY DAT NAME, YO! That ain't cool, yo!" Beat burst out, looking horrified. I was slightly shocked and I knew Kayleigh was, too. She frowned and tilted her head to the side slightly.
"Daisu-"
"BWAAA! Didn't I say to not say dat name?!" Beat cut Kayleigh off before she could finish. Rhyme and Shiki gave giggles while Neku and Eri smiled. Joshua smirked, as always. Kayleigh smiled and couldn't help but laugh a little. I smiled, too, but the smile was gone as fast as it came. I felt a cold feeling, as if we were being watched. I looked back slightly, but there was no one there. Then I caught Joshua staring at me. No, staring past me. I glanced back once more and saw… a black and grey tattoo bear creature. I blinked, acting as if I hadn't seen anything, having the weird feeling that Joshua could see them, too, and wasn't very thrilled with their existence. I had never seen a creature in that color, but I wanted to go to it. It began going further away from us. Joshua took one step in the bear's direction before I suddenly screamed.
"Ah!" Everyone looked at me in surprise, "I-I suddenly remember! I have something to do! Sorry guys, I'll hang out with you all tomorrow!" And with that I took off, following the bear.
After chasing it to somewhere deserted, I lost sight and feeling of it and sighed. Then I looked at the sky.
"…" It was really early. I sighed, wondering why They had come so early in the day. Then, I went back home, half regretting my decision of following the bear.
"Now, I would like two students to read out the dialogue between Romeo and Juliet on page 23 as an example," the English teacher said.
English was the second class of the day today. I was quite delighted with what we were doing. I raised my hand.
"Alright, Ms. Clarks can be Juliet. Anyone want to be Romeo?"
I smiled and looked around, but my smile faltered quickly as I saw Joshua raise his hand.
"Mr. Kiryu will be Romeo, then. Please begin."
Joshua smirked and I rolled my eyes. Oh well. I'll have to deal with it.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss," Joshua read, adding emotion and emphasis into his voice. It was beautiful. As if he had become Romeo himself. His voice was filled with the love Romeo had for Juliet despite this being their first time meeting one another. His gaze had turned dreamy and the lines came to him as if he were born for it. My eyes widened a fraction before I said my line.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss," I then read aloud from my book, making my voice just as moving to match Joshua's. Neku stared at me with surprise and Eri's surprised expression turned into one of glee and happiness. Shiki's eyes were wide as she looked at me and Joshua. Even the teacher was surprised by us.
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?"
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." By now, I was determined to prove I was better than he.
"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."
"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took."
"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again." I couldn't help but feel my cheeks growing hot at this part. I ducked my head down slightly as I continued. This was the first time I had disliked acting and the fact that my heart was hammering did not help.
"You kiss by the book." My voice was steady, but my heart wasn't. Half-relieved and half-nervous, I couldn't believe my own reactions. Then again, I was a hard-to-believe person. I mean, my hobbies were, to say the least, odd. Buttercup-gazing and archery with a touch of drama and Shakespeare and a spoonful of tomboyish attitude topped with a dose of talking to monsters and making friends with them. Yup. I was weird.
Most of the class were gapping at us. The teacher shook herself out of her surprise.
"W-well done, you two. That was excellent work!" Then they clapped for us. I caught Joshua frowning at me. I was kind of surprised at this, for no smirk came to his face when I caught him staring. He seemed to be deep in thought. He often looked at me like this after I had run to the bear. I sighed and looked back at the teacher. Let us hope that things go no weirder.
AN: This chapter=weird.