The Juliet Dilemma

Boyfriend?

English class was a mess. Romeo storming out. Lots of yelling. Julie's groaning. How did it get there exactly? It started with Troy.

Julie was running late to class. She had forgotten her notebook in her locker and had to go back to get it. Mr. Harvey excused her and so class started without her.

They got back into their groups. Troy tapped his pencil against the desk, bored. He remembered something he was going to ask Julie's friends.

"Hey... You guys are good friends with Julie, aren't you?" Troy asked.

Eric nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Does Julie have a boyfriend?" Troy wondered.

Silence fell over the class. Okay it didn't go completely quiet, but it felt like it.

Romeo turned to Troy at these words. He took a deep breath and glared at Troy defensively. His group mates looked around at each other knowing what was going on in his mind.

Eric didn't know how to respond. Lie and say that she did so Troy didn't try anything? Tell the truth and watch Julie reject the new kid as well as see Romeo get jealous?

"No she doesn't." It was Emily who responded. Eric and Alicia stared at her. "What? It's true!"

"What's true?" Julie wondered sitting down with her group. She raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Troy smirked, folded his arms over the desk, and leaned in closer to Julie. He had a sly looked on his face.

"That you're single." He told her.

"Yeah... So? I don't see how that's an important topic. Who told you that?" Julie wondered, rambling.

Her friends gave away the answer as the glanced at Emily. She shrugged.

"It is a very important topic." Troy smirked. "Why is a girl as fantastic as you single? I'd expect that you'd be the most sought after girl in the school."

Julie blushed and looked away awkwardly. He was being very forward about his intentions, to the point where even Julie understood what he was going to ask.

"So, our society, huh? What should we name it?" Eric's tone was not subtle. It was clear he just wanted to change the subject.

"Would you like to go out with me?" Troy asked. "What do you say? This Friday I've got two tickets to see the basketball game."

"She doesn't like basketball. She prefers hockey. And furthermore she's not really that into sports. Julie likes theater and other stuff. It doesn't sound like her kind of date if you ask me." Romeo mumbled. Julie's blushed deepened. He was right.

Troy had heard him. "I didn't ask you what you thought of it. I was talking to Julie. You can stay out of this." He glared.

"Well, it just seems like to me you should see what Julie wants to do rather than what you want to do." Romeo snapped.

"Well I don't see why that has anything to do with you. Nobody asked for your opinion, so unless you're her boyfriend I suggest you shut up and let me continue on my own conversation." Troy snapped right back.

"What about Hogsmeade? Should we name our fictional society Hogsmeade? What about Tatooine?" Eric wondered. He went ignored.

Romeo balled his fists at the rude way Troy had spoken to him. He took a deep breath. He calmly stormed out, stating that he needed a minute. Julie watched him leave.

"Let's get back to work, please. Hogsmeade and Tatooine are both cool ideas." Julie said getting back on track. She glanced at Troy who looked disappointed she avoided answering his question.

Maybe it would be best to avoid all boys for a while. It was an unrealistic idea, though.