Crossover

Chapter 3 Romeo and Juliet

Chapter 3
Romeo and Juliet
   
    Over the next few weeks Aria began to wonder if that first week of school had just been put on repeat. She was not sure what she felt more sick of hearing, Derek's teasing, or everyone discussing what how awesome Kendal's party was that weekend. It seemed as though she had one every Friday or Saturday. Aria could not imagine her parents allowing this, but then again, Kendal's parents always let her do pretty much whatever she wanted.
   
    "The Homecoming Dance is coming up soon, Derek," Aria heard Kendal saying as she, Derek and Ian strutted down the hallway. "You really need to start thinking about who you are planning to ask out."

    "What do you mean, soon? Homecoming's not till November," replied Derek, apathetically. "We haven't even had the Halloween Dance yet."
 
    "Yeah, Kendal," Ian chimed in. "We don't need to start worrying about the dance now. It's only September." He patted his best friend on the back. "Besides, Derek here, can get any girl he wanted."

    Kendal turned to face him, placing her hands on her hips. "I know that. But last year, Derek never asked anyone out. As one of the top football players in this school, that's just unacceptable." She then turned her head to Derek and demanded, "Is there a reason you never bothered to ask anyone out?"

    Derek sighed as he pondered this for a moment. "I guess there were just no girls I was interested in."

    Kendal raised her eyebrow. "Really? Of all the girls here, there is no one that you want to ask out?" When Derek only shrugged, she then suggested, "What about my friend, Karin? I could set you up with her."

    Unwilling to even consider, Derek just snorted at this. "Karin Wales! No way! I once asked her how her day was and she did not stop yapping for an hour."

    "Man, I hate it when girls do that," Ian commented with a grin.

    Kendal, shooting her boyfriend an exasperated look, snapped, "You're not helping!"

    Ian scratched his head, appearing to try to think quickly. "Okay, lets see here…hmm. What about your other friend, Lacey. She and Derek would go good together. Don't you think? She's not nearly as chatty as Karin."

    "Lacey's already going out with Matt," Kendal replied, rather impatiently. "Look Derek. It doesn't matter you who ask out so long as she's at least somewhat cool. You can't just ask anyone." She gave Aria, who quickly opened her locker door and pretended not to listen, a sideways glance before turning to Ian and adding, "And you. You better asked me to Homecoming soon before I decide to go with someone else."

    With that Kendal marched off, leaving Derek and Ian behind appearing slightly exhausted. Aria grabbed her History book, still listening.

    "Maybe I can solve both of our problems and just ask Kendal." Derek look over and winked at Ian to see his reaction.

    "Dude!"

    "Just joking!" Derek said quickly and then turned his head back to the direction Kendal stormed off in. "Man, she is unbelievable."

    "Yeah, she is, isn't she?" Ian agreed in an awed tone.

    Derek jestingly punched his arm. "I didn't mean that in a good way. I meant that she's been dating you for two years, and now she's starting to think she can boss me around."

    "She's just looking our for you man," Ian assured. "Just think of Kendal telling you what to do as her special way of showing that she cares."
   
    Derek's only response to this was a soft grunt.

    As Aria continued on to History, she briefly wondered why Derek had not asked anyone out.  Just as Kendal pointed out, he could probably get any girl he wanted. After all, he was pretty good looking with his thick wavy, dirty blonde hair, not to mention the fact that he's on the football team. Is he really waiting, in search of the right girl? Maybe, deep down, he actually is more sensitive than Aria ever gave him credit for.

    "Hey, Skin-as-white-as-snow, you're in my seat," Derek said looking down at her.

    And maybe not. Aria grabbed her books and moved over to another desk without saying a word.

    Vanessa's right, Aria thought in annoyance. I do need to learn to stand up to him.

xXx
   
    Later that day at lunch, Aria told Vanessa everything overheard from Derek not eager to ask anyone out, ending with his comment to her in History.

    "So let me get this straight," Vanessa analyzed with a raised brow as the two made their way to their usual table. "He called you skin-as-white-as-snow. That doesn't really sound like an insult to me."

    "What do you mean?" Aria demanded in dis-belief she set her lunch tray down next to Walter's. "He's making fun of my skin tone again."

    "It sounds like he's referencing Snow White," Vanessa observed as she took a bite of her sandwich.

    "Exactly! Snow White was the fairest in the land. He's definitely poking fun at me." Aria sighed as she put her hand on her head, glancing at Walter. "Don't you agree?"

    "Well, in the context of the story fairest means most beautiful," Walter pointed out.

    "He's right. It really sounds more like an unintentional compliment to me." Vanessa thought about this and then giggled. "It kind of seems as though he likes you. That could be the real reason he hasn't asked anyone to the dance yet."

    Aria gaped at her best friend, bewildered by her last comment. "Derek likes me? That's got to be the most ridiculous thing you've thought of, ever!"

    Vanessa shrugged, flipping her hair behind her shoulder, and added, "Well, you have to admit it is pretty weird that he has not asked anybody out, especially since he's the kind of guy that can get any girl he wants."

    Aria pondered as she gave a brief glance over to the popular table as a light bulb seemed to pop over her head. "Kendal! That's it. Derek likes Kendal and that's why he won't ask anyone else out. That makes sense."

    Vanessa snorted. "Are you serious? It doesn't even make sense that Ian likes Kendal."

    "Despite everything, she is the most popular girl at school," Aria reminded her. "I suppose that's all it takes for someone like Derek to be into her."

    Vanessa frowned. "I don't know. I doubt Derek would be able to put up with someone as bossy as Kendal. He's the kind of guy that does what he wants when he wants to do it, unlike Ian, who seems to be more of a pushover, which is perfect for someone like Kendal."

    "Yeah, she is pretty bossy," Aria agreed. "Also, Derek and Kendal dating would be just… well, scary."

    "Agreed. Talk about your unholy matrimony." Vanessa then turned her head to Walter. "You've been pretty quiet."

    Walter, finishing up his sandwich replied, "I guess I just don't have much to say on the matter, though based on what you said earlier, it does seem like Derek likes Aria."

    Aria's jaw dropped while Vanessa burst out laughing and declared, "You see, Walter agrees with me on this so it must be true."

    Aria put her hand on the table, eying both her friends, and stated firmly, "Okay, we are going to have to remember this day for all time as the first day Walter is actually wrong about something."

    Still in giggles, Vanessa shook her head. "Yeah right, I'll believe it once I see it." 

    Aria opened her mouth to debate further, but the lunch bell rang before she had the chance.

    After lunch Aria had Geometry, which the main downside for her was that it had Kendal. Luckily for Aria, she mostly just ignored her. When class let out, Aria then dreadfully made her way to gym, figuring she would likely make a fool of herself in some way. Back in middle school, Derek once joked that if Aria would shooting hoops with a blind man, he would be more likely to score than her. Aria supposed she should at least be grateful to be free of Derek this period.  Since he and Ian play football and Kendal is a cheerleader, none of them needed to take gym.

    Most people thought of Gym class at Sheerwood High as kind of a joke. The girls always purposely took a long time to get changed and by the time the coaches got everyone together and finished taking roll the class period was more than halfway over, though Aria did not mind this. Today, the girls played kickball for about ten minutes before it became time for them to change back into their school clothes and head to their next class.

    In English, Aria found that Mrs. Norbert was not kidding about being passionate about Romeo and Juliet. It has been three weeks and they still were not even halfway through discussing the play. Aria, growing tired of it, in recent lectures found herself daydreaming throughout the majority of the discussion. She sometimes imagined herself on the balcony wearing an elegant gown, back in a time where long hair and fair skin was socially acceptable. A handsome young man would come and declare her love for her and they would live happily together forever. Aria supposed at least her thoughts were somewhat related to the plot, only with a happier ending.

    "Good afternoon, class," Mrs. Norbert, who remained seated on her stool with one hand on her belly and the other holding the play, greeted warmly and once having everyone's attention, continued, "I believe you will better be able to picture this story if you see it acted out so today we will be acting out my favorite scene from Romeo and Juliet, the scene where Romeo declares his love for Juliet on the balcony. Now, do I have any volunteers for the parts of Romeo and Juliet?"

    No one raised their hand. Aria sunk lower in her seat. She noticed Ian look questionably to his girlfriend, but Kendal shook her head. Aria wished they would have just volunteered. Then she would not have anything to worry about.

    "Very well then. Its look like I will have to choose." Mrs. Norbert looked around the classroom. "Derek, why don't you be Romeo."

    Derek grunted and then walked up to the front of the classroom.

    "And for Juliet, let's see…"

    Aria stared down, intently, at her desk avoiding eye contact with her teacher. Oh God, please don't let her pick…

    "Aria, you will be Juliet." Mrs. Norbert beamed down at her. "Now come along. Don't be shy."

    Aria sighed while joining Derek at the front of the classroom. She could feel her hands becoming clammy with sweat as she anxiously held up her copy of the play. Nothing made her more nervous than speaking in front of everyone, or even just standing up in front of the class.

    Once Mrs. Norbert pointed to the starting line, Aria softly read aloud, "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

    "With more feeling, Aria," Mrs. Norbert insisted as she held her own copy up higher and placed her other hand on her heart, "as though you are speaking to your true love."

    Aria peered over her book at Derek. She could not think of anything more impossible to do right now.

    "Yeah," Derek added sarcastically. "Pretend you love me so much you are willing to stab a knife through your chest and die because of it."
   
     Mrs. Norbert looked startled at his remark. "Derek!"

    In realization that he went too far, Derek immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Norbert. It's just that I don't understand the point of this play. People killing themselves over love?"

    Aria looked up at her teacher, fearful of saying anything. If this were any other teacher, Derek would have got in trouble for that kind of comment. Mrs. Norbert, however, welcomed her student's opinion even if they went against her own. Aria had to admit, she agreed with Derek on this one, though she did not have the courage to point it out. Perhaps it was only because she could not imagine being that in love with someone.

    Mrs. Norbert raised her eyebrow, yet her expression remained soft. "Tell me, Derek. Have you ever been in love?"

    Derek shrugged. "No."

    Mrs. Norbert then looked to the rest of the class. "How about the rest of you? Has anyone here ever been in love?"

    Only a few of Aria's classmates actually raised their hand at this. Aria noticed Ian's quickly shoot up after Kendal gave him a sharp look.

    "Interesting. This gives me an idea for an assignment. Tonight for homework I want you to write me a short paragraph about whether or not you would be willing to die for your love, believing that if doing so you will forever be with them in the afterlife. If you did not raise your hand just try to imagine as best you can what it would be like to be in love with someone and write me your response. Remember, there is no right or wrong answer. All I ask is that you are honest."

    When class let out, Ian slapped his hand on Derek's shoulder. "Nice going, dude. You made her give us an extra assignment."

    "It's just a paragraph," Derek responded then asked with a smirk, "So would you die for Kendal?"

    Ian sighed, glancing at his uptight girlfriend. "I'm afraid if I let her die alone, I would never here the end of it from her."

    "Dude, you really are whipped," Derek laughed as the two of them exited the classroom.

    Aria thought about what she would write for her paragraph. Honestly, she could not imagine being so in love with someone that she would be willing to die for him, but then again, she could not picture herself being in love at all.

    For the rest of the day, Aria could not get her mind free of the assignment. As she sat down in Band and started putting together her flute, Aria turned around and asked Walter what he thought.

    "That is a difficult question," he pondered as he assembled his saxophone. "I'm not sure how I would answer that. Like you, I don't know what is feels like to be in love."

    "Mrs. Norbert said we had to imagine what it feels like if we've never been in love." Aria let out a frustrated sigh. "This is Derek's fault! If he had just kept his mouth shut, we wouldn't have this extra assignment." She paused for a moment and then added more softly, "I really can't picture myself ever wanting to die, for any reason at all. I just can't think of a way to say that without it sounding bad."

    "Well, you could write that you value your own life and are willing to be strong and move on without your loved one," Walter suggested.

    "Wow, you really do have an answer for everything, don't you?" Aria started to turn back around but added, "You're still wrong about Derek liking me, though."

    Walter appeared as though he wanted to say something but before he had the chance Mr. Spooner, the directer, stood up on the podium and everyone held up their instruments, ready to play. After the warm up, he announced this year, for the fall concert, they will be playing "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. Aria felt the urge to slump back in her chair. It seems like the theme this year at Sheerwood is going to be love. Still single, Aria just wished she could get away from it.