𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳 ~ [𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘹 𝘖𝘊]

⇒ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

"Shut it, all of you!" I shared an exasperated look with David, neither of us able to get the campers to settle down and watch whatever catastrophe Preston's latest play would be. By some miracle, he'd managed to get Nikki, Neil, Max and Dolf involved to perform, something I never thought capable, but what do you know. I'd also let myself get dragged along as a begrudging stage manager, making sure everything was fine back stage.

"Please, the theatre requires your utmost respect." The redhead implored, stepping forward on the stage slightly. No shift.

"Shut your yaps!" I flinched, covering my ears as Gwen popped her head round the curtain, screaming into a megaphone. Sure enough, those sitting on the benches that served as our audience quieted down.

"Thanks, Gwen." David beamed.

"Don't mention it!" She was still using the megaphone, cause him to squeak slightly in surprise, rubbing his ear. Our co-counsellor disappeared back behind the crimson hangings.

"Today's presentation is brought by Theatre Camp's very own Preston Goodplay!" My friend announced, retreating offstage. I followed dutifully. I sighed, doing a quick headcount to make sure we had all of our actors before things really kicked off.

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to tonight's production," Preston darted out from the curtain, voice carrying all the way backstage, "Written and of course directed by me. It is a classic tale of forbidden love, betrayal and friendship. So without further ado, I present Romeo and Juliet II, Love Resurrected." He bowed, exiting the stage. Basically just a shitty fanfiction-esque sequel to Romeo and Juliet that was in no way needed.

"This is absolutely humiliating!" Max complained loudly, tugging uncomfortably on the fake beard he'd been given as a costume. I stepped over to join the conversation.

"What a waste of time." Neil concurred in his outfit, a weird cyborg mish-mash as his role of Robo-Romeo. Personally I thought Robomeo was a better name, more concise, but the director didn't listen.

"Come in guys, just grit your teeth and do it, it'll be over soon." I tried to sound encouraging, but in all honesty, I didn't want to be here either. I'd failed drama class in school, gone into it thinking it might be fun, but I'd gotten stuck with an awful teacher that ruined the experience for me.

"I hate being Juliet!" Came Nikki's outburst. "I wanna be someone cool, like Xena or Rambo!" I adjusted the lopsided tiara on her head as she spoke, gesturing widely.

"I'll try and convince Preston to write a play with something like that for you." I assured her absentmindedly.

"You nervous about your big kiss scene?" Max teased his friend with a wicked grin.

"Don't remind me, I'm stressed enough as it is!" Neil responded, flapping his arms, panicking.

"You know, Juliet should have done karate instead of kissing boys. Maybe she wouldn't have died then." The teal haired girl contemplated, looking up at me for approval.

"I know kickboxing, might not be karate, but it is a better hobby than getting obsessed with a guy you met a few weeks ago and killing yourself over him." I shrugged, examining my nails.

"Not to mention Juliet was supposedly thirteen and Romeo nineteen." Max added. I snapped, pointing in his direction.

"Has anyone seen my phone?" I raised my head at the sound of David's voice.

"No?" I replied, a little confused.

"I must have dropped it earlier while doing my smile exercises..." He grumbled.