Bookish London

Chapter One - Liz

“Elizabeth Leigh Cuthbert!” Kayla yells from across the hall. Of course, she can’t walk on her own two feet to talk to me directly…she needs to brag to the whole school that she knows me, and that she is on “speaking” terms with me.
Well, was, because I am honestly regretting befriending her in kindergarten.
I’m seriously doubting my ability to judge someone else’s character…now that’s a good one for someone who wants to be a lawyer in the future. Ha.
Anyways, I walk the two feet of distance between us with an exasperated look on my face…I really can’t stand her being so annoying this early in the day.
“What’s up, Kayla?” I ask her, trying both not to be rude but also to show that I need this conversation over with soon, very soon. You could say I am not a romantic. And it would be true, I guess.
“What’s up, you ask? Kyle’s party is what’s up! Why haven’t you said yes to the invite yet?!” of course this is about Kyle. It always is. My sworn academic enemy since primary school, Kyle has been nothing but a dreadful weight on my back.
Every time we both get invited somewhere, I always refuse. Because I can’t stand his stupid grin…he always wears it in school and I can barely bear to see it there, could you imagine outside school? Ugh, it’s so annoying, really.
At least I have Kayla to annoy me even more with her social life full of appointments and all. I don’t get to have that. And I sincerely do not desire it in any way…partying, drinking, and having fun? Nah, not my thing.
Books are, though. And they excite me the same way humans get with these pagan actions…look at me, taking the high ground because I get good grades and I look like an old school student, always going around with a book in hand’s reach. Pathetic.
“Hello, Liz? You alive in there?” Kayla asks, waving a hand in front of my face. Daydreaming again. Lol.
“Yes, yes, Kayla, I am alive here. If I wasn’t, you wouldn’t be able to feel my pulse, right?” I say, while removing the unexpected and quite sickening cold hand she had put on my neck…eww.
“Well, how would I know…you always daydream…it seems like you’re dead sometimes…” she’s worried I might combust alive here and now or that my blood might freeze spontaneously…wow. She really is my crazy best friend…my only friend, really…never mind.
“Why would I-? Never mind, I don’t need to hear your nervous blabbing right now. What were you saying, while I daydreamed, I mean?” I say, silently urging her to change the subject.  
“I was wondering why you haven’t accepted Kyle’s invitation to his party, one month from this Saturday.”
Phew, subject changed- no ok she can’t have asked me that thing…AGAIN. Oh my- how is she my best friend, seriously.
“Why do you think, Kay? I cannot stand him. Period.” And that’s how you win an argument-.
“Oh, come on! It’s been ten years! Get over it!”. Did she just say what I think she did?!
“Me?! Get over it?! I simply cannot see him more than I am supposed to.
Meaning: I don’t need to see him outside of school. Clear?” I tell her.
“Clear…” she snorts, annoyed.
“Now, can we please get to Lit before I lose half of the lesson because of YOUR gossiping? Yes? Thank you”. I say, while subtly pushing her towards our class, right at the other end of the hallway. Finally.
“Good morning class!” we hear our Literature Teacher say while walking towards our seats.
“Nice to see all of you are here on time!” she says, slightly reproaching us for our tardiness, as she would call it. She’s a weird woman, our Miss Carey.
“We’re sorry, Miss! Right, Kayla?” I say, after I sat down in my seat in the third row of desks, right in the middle of everything. Kayla nods sheepishly and sits down beside me.
“Well then, if this issue is sorted, we can get back to Shakespeare, right class?” she asks ironically, of course we can’t go against her class program…it’s the same national-wise, it would cost me a D for nothing.
Rather study Shakespeare than fail class, that’s what I always resolve to.
“No objections! Perfect! Now, who can tell me which of Shakespeare’s works this quote is taken from?” she says, while standing up and walking up to the front of her desk.
“There is no world for me outside the walls of Verona, except purgatory, torture, and hell itself. So, to be banished from Verona is like being banished from the world and being banished from the world is death.” Miss Carey says, with her usual exultant grin painted on the corner of her mouth, ready to show this class just how ignorant it is.
But she has never competed against me...and Kyle.
Yes, he does know some Shakespeare, but I doubt he would know this.
“It’s Romeo’s answer to Friar Lawrence telling him he is ban-” I start saying, but… “He is banished from Verona, by the prince’s orders. He does not believe that there is a place for him to be besides where his loved one lives, where Juliet is, Verona.” Of course. HIM. Oh my, how did he- Why am I to be burdened with someone like Kyle James Carter. He even has a second name like me! Get a life, Ky-
“Did you say something, Miss Cuthbert?” Miss Carey asks me. Oh no, did I say that out loud?
“No, nothing, Miss.” I mumble, feeling overwhelmed with embarrassment.
“Good. Then, Mr Carter, would you explain to me why you had your phone on the internet search engine before answering my question? Hm?” She says, startling me. Kyle cheated?! Since when!? He never does such a thing…the only thing we have in common is staying clear off shortcuts to good grades…and now this? And for what? To best me in my main field of knowledge…
Ha-ha, very funny, but no.
Miss Carey never said such a thing. Instead, she said: “Good. Then I see you all think you are better than this class, am I right? Well, besides Miss Cuthbert and Mr Carter, naturally.”
Did she just compliment us? She never does that. She must be in a medium-good mood today then. I like that.
“If those two are the only students taking this class thoughtfully, then I guess it’s time for a test, huh? I bet it would make you realize this isn’t an Easy A class like most older students might have told you. You need to be extremely focused to at least pass MY class. Wake up, class! This isn’t sleeping time at your old kindergarten! You look like zombies! Test on Shakespeare next Friday. It’s a week from today, I am trustful you will use your time well. Now read pages 30 to 50 from your textbooks. They’re an introduction to Shakespeare’s most important plays and sonnets, you must study these 20 pages for the test, plus the whole anthology of his works attached to your textbook. I hope you will fare well next week. Now read and be silent.”
And then she sat back on her chair, behind the big light brown desk of the Literature Class Level B1 of London Grove High School, on a dreamy windy morning of late October.