Flipped » m.e

fifteen

chapter fifteen: A Tale of Juliet and ... that guy Romeo

***

"What part do you want to try and get?" Claudia asked, walking alongside Eloise.

"I don't want any part."

"Well, since you can't choose, what do you aim for?"

"An extra."

"Wow," says Wesley, enthusiastically from the other side of Eloise. "Reach for the stars." This was obvious sarcasm and Eloise glared at Wesley after, earning a laugh. "I'm kidding."

Eloise scoffed.

"I wonder who'll get chosen for Juliet," Clarey wondered, a day dreamy tone in her voice. Clarey was always one for daydreaming and her dreams mostly included acting. Clarey could have been the perfect Juliet with her soft, flawless features, and pale skin. The only thing stopping her was her stage fright and blonde hair.

"Probably you," Claudia said, as if it was obvious.

"But my blonde."

"There's wigs," Eloise shrugged. Wesley and Claudia agreed with her. The thought crossed Clarey's mind and she smiled, thinking that maybe, just maybe, she could be the star of the junior play and this could be her great beginning of a life long dream.

"Hah, who knows, maybe Eloise will get the part and Matthew will be Romeo," Claudia cackled, making the rest of them uncomfortable.

Eloise, Juliet? Matthew, Romeo?

But most importantly;

Clarey, an extra?

To have that would be even more woe than the tale of Juliet and her Romeo.

***

"Today we're going to begin reading Romeo and Juliet, and by the last week of school before winter break, you all should be ready to audition for your roles," the teacher explained from the front of the classroom. He stood with a flopping book sat in his hands, the pages moving everywhere, making him lose his page. The room was filled with sighs as no junior was looking forward to the play - let alone having to audition for it.

"Why can't we have like people who wanna act, act and people who don't, just do backgrounds or something?" One of the boys asked.

"Yeah," the class agreed in unison. The teacher rolled his eyes.

"There's nothing you can do to change it. It'll be over before you know it so stop complaining," he ordered before flipping back to the correct page. "Alright let's begin with the reading. . ."

As the teacher read, many students sat there, tired. Some followed along while others took the time and advantage of the teacher's eyes being glued to a book to take a nap. Eloise attempted to follow along, but the thought of being given a role that was associated with someone she didn't want. What if she had to work with Mickey? Or maybe even Rosie? What if Eloise is Juliet and Danny is Romeo? Or better yet-

What if Matthew was Romeo and she had to practice all those scenes with him?

Months ago that would've been a dream come true to young, stupid Eloise. But, now, the thought of this made Eloise shudder.

On the other hand, Matthew sat a few seats away, trying to nap but his thoughts raced in his mind, doing everything to keep him from falling asleep. His first thought was the idea of being chosen as Romeo.

Who would be his Juliet?

It seemed as if any girl would wish to be Matthew's Juliet.

All except one.

Eloise Rosewood would personally drop out of school or even 'accidentally' trip off the stage to avoid being Matthew's Juliet.

"Don't you just love that?" The teacher questioned. The heads of students popped up one by one once the teacher had finished reading the section. He had taken up a majority of the class just to read what was the beginning.

"What was your favorite part about it?" He asked the class. They all stared at him because none of them had been paying attention.

"Danny?"

"Uhh I like the beginning."

"The beginning? Would you like to extend on that?"

"I like how they introduced it..."

"Okay." The teacher paused, awkwardly. "Eloise."

Eloise sat up straight, adjusting her position on the chair.

"Well I liked the scene where they met," she replied, shrugging her shoulders. "It's beautiful and shows the existence of love at first sight, even if not all of us believe in it."

Matthew thought about her response.

***

"Damn I feel for the girl whoever plays Juliet."

"There's a lot of smooching in that story," Wesley chuckled, making gestures. Eloise punched him in the arm and he laughed at his stupid jokes.

Time was ticking and the juniors were now halfway through the play. They were approaching the end of the first week out of three.

Two more the go from here.

And then auditions.