Random Shakespeare

CHAPTER 1

     "It is a story about how true love knows no bounds!"

     "No, it's a story about how love is irrational and stupid!" After that sentence, Mannington High School's drama club descended into complete chaos, all brought on by Brittany saying that her favorite Shakespeare play is Romeo and Juliet. Her sister, Kaitlyn, had instantly replied that Romeo and Juliet was a ridiculous story about how when people fall in love, they do stupid things. After that, everyone felt the need to start chiming in with their opinions, many of the girls arguing with the boys about what exactly is the message Shakespeare was trying to convey.  

     Really, Rae thinks that the boys of the Drama Club weren't as into discovering the meaning of Shakespeare plays as the girls were, despite many of them getting into the argument . Once they heard that they were going to have to do a Shakespeare play, nearly all of the aforementioned boys had groaned collectively about having to wear tights, save for the eccentrically gay Ajax, who had asked the teacher heading the club, Mrs. Smith, if he could add glitter to his costume. Ajax was still discussing that issue with the teacher now, actually. It seems that Ajax, herself, and some other guy who has been in Drama club since she could remember but Rae had not yet met were the only ones not arguing about the theme.  

     "What side are you on?" The guy said, as he picked up a chair by her, sitting on it sideways to face her.

     "Why do you want to know?" She asked him, not very kindly. She was, unfortunately, very wary of new people. This has made her seem very standoffish to many people at her school, she had noted during her freshman year. After half the year had passed, less and less people would come over to talk to her, unless they were telling her an announcement for Drama.  

     He shrugged, making his sandy almost-curls swish across his forehead slightly, and smiled playfully. "Curiosity, I guess. You're just sitting here, reading a book, while Brittany looks like she's about to cry and Hector over there looks like he's about ready to kill someone." 

     "Those two always look like that, and I'm always reading a book. Why are you curious about me? We've never talked before. I don't even know you're name, and I doubt you know mine." She said, turning her head back to her book, as this is the point where-in many similar conversations-the person talking to her would realize that she is a lost cause and walk away.

     Apparently, he seems very set in talking to her. She couldn't decide whether to be irritated by this or find it endearing. "Let's change that then." He held out his hand to her when he saw that she had looked back up. "My name's Jackson, nice to met you." 

     Rae tentatively took his hand, offering only her name in response. She noticed that his hands were smooth, but lightly calloused, which seemed odd to her. He smiled, then gestured to the room of arguing people when he dropped her hand after holding it for a few seconds too long. "So, which side are you on? Personally, I rather liked Romeo and Juliet, and I thought it was a very nice love story that showed young people could find a true love they'd be willing to love more than anyone or anything else, even life." He fidgeted slightly after he said this, as if waiting for ridicule from her.

     "You're parents married young, didn't they?" Was all she said in return, careful not to accidently put a condescending tone in her voice. His hazel eyes widened ever so slightly, but then he smiled again, laughing slightly.

     "I guess that's kinda obvious, after what I had said?" 

     "Yes, it was. Children often base their values and views on the parental figures that raised them, but I'm sure you had already guessed that. However, I do think some of the girls in this room are basing their ideas of this play on what kind of romance they want to have." She replied, placing her book down, with the page she had left on clearly marked by a standard, black bookmark with a golden tassel. While she admired the simpleness of the black, the gold had given it a special flair that she liked.