Always

19| Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

LUCA

Drama club. The geekiest, nerdiest of clubs. I looked around at the people surrounding me. There were those who loved drama, like me, those who were here for the extra credit, like Violet clearly, and those who didn't want to be here, namely Leo Palmer. 

Leo was in my math class. I know he was here because his grades weren't constant enough to join a sports team and all the other clubs were filled up. He had no option really, so here he was. I, on the contrary, was here because I like drama and as stated by my siblings was overly dramatic at times. So, I decided not to let my talents go to waste and instead divulged in the drama club. 

Today was the casting of our play. Our auditions had already been held and our drama teacher had decided the roles. Casting day meant that we would all practice some scenes as the character we're cast to see how well we're fitting in our roles. 

"Alright children, settle down now." We all took our seats as Mr. O'Connor started reading off the names of the minor characters first. He was an old man in his late forties who had a certain taste for Shakespeare's works. Hence why we have been doing Shakespeare's plays for the past three semesters. 

"For the final roles, Juliet is to be played by Leo Palmer." He called out as I stifled my laughter like most others there. Leo Palmer? Juliet. That was going to be a commercial sight alright. I looked at Leo who was looking positively horrified. 

"I can't play a girl's role. That's absurd." He shouted out. 

"Why? There is nothing remotely absurd about it. Men have been known to play women's roles in theatre history before, now come on up boy, we haven't all day." Leo sulked as I silently prayed for whoever was going to be Romeo. 

"Romeo, Luca Di Angelo." His booming voice reached my ears as I looked around frantically. "Me?" I asked, pointing to myself. "Yes, you boy, come on here." I walked pouting towards the stage. 

"Alright. You'll be doing Act 1 Scene 5. You can read from the script since it's Casting." He handed both of us two booklets as I flipped the pages until I reached the correct one. 

I cleared my throat and began. I took Leo's hand in mine and looked directly into his eyes. "If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand; To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." I could feel people staring at us intently, waiting for Leo. 

"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." His voice was smooth and gentle and rough. Like the seaside with the water clashing with the giant rocks. 

"Have not saints' lips, and holy palmers too?" My breath hitched as he moved forward ever so slightly. "Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." His face tilted in the most adorable fashion as his mouth parted slightly. He licked his lips. I cast my eyes downwards to look at the script. 

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair." I was aware of every single miniscule movement.

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." His eyes were fixated on mine. "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take." In a hazy blur of movements, I was leaning down to meet his soft lips, when Mr. O'Connor shouted from behind us.

"Bravo! This is the dedication and theatrical skills I was looking for." He wiped a fake tear away from his eyes. "Class dismissed early today." He told us. 

Leo grabbed his stuff and ran out of there like he was on fire. The room emptied as I was the only one left there. I traced my lips where I could feel the ghost of the kiss. I shuddered and made my way towards the football field to watch the after-school practice and wait for Liam.

"Hey baby bro." Liam said, running over to me. "How'd you know you were gay?" I blurted out before I could think twice. 

"Why?" 

I shrugged. "I don't know man; I just took one look at André, and I knew." 

He nudged his shoulder against mine. "Do you like boys?" He asked. 

I shrugged again. "Maybe. I'm not sure." 

"Alright. You'll figure it out. Don't worry about it." I smiled. "Thanks."