Drama Kings

Chapter 1

It was just past noon.

'Think fast!'

The voice shot through the dining hall, loud and distinct in spite of the constant chattering that filled the room. I didn't think twice before ducking, almost smashing my head onto the table in the process. I felt the air move above me with a swooshing sound, and a brown package crashed right in Emma's pizza, one table in front of us. She stood up immediately, infuriated, and opened her mouth as to yell something probably worthy of a parental advisory sign, when she was cut short by a thundering voice:

'For the last time, Harry! You will not throw objects inside this school!'

The mouth which spoke these words was enhanced with a majestic, thick black mustache, and belonged to M.Willis, my math teacher. The room fell silent for a second, hundreds of eyes lazily turning to see what was happening.

I myself turned around to discover Harry walking towards us, a toothy grin taking half is face, his green eyes sparkling with what some may call malice and what I, myself, believe to be pure madness. As M.Willis glared at him for a few more seconds across the room, which was once again vibrating with the noises of two hundred students having lunch, Harry held an apologetic palm in the air, before going to snatch the flying package off Emma's angry hands, earning himself a snarky comment and a shove in the shoulder. He came back holding the object high in the air as if it was the worthiest and holiest thing that ever touched the ground, and, making and keeping a tense eye contact with me, he sat on the chair opposed to my seat. He then delicately set the package in front of me and whispered with a confidential tone:

'Happy unbirthday, Al'.

I looked at him a moment before letting an heavy sigh out.

'It's the fifth time in three days, Harry. You truly need to stop'

'I can't!' He half-yelled, standing up and climbing on the small wooden chair which painfully squealed under his weight. 'It is my duty, Al, my only quest in this dark hole we call our world, and I shall not rest before I succeed, or die trying!' He declaimed, fully screaming at the end of his dramatic tirade.

'M.Lee! Sit down at this moment or so help me!' Yelled M.Willis in return, his mustache shivering with anger.

Harry stepped down and heavily fell back in a more suitable position, staring at me in the most serious fashion.

'Please, Al. Save my life and say yes. You're my best friend. My everything. You do know I will have to commit suicide if you reject me once again?'

I stared back.

'And you do know today really is my birthday, don't you, best friend?' I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I emphasized the last two words.

His face went blank, and he turned to Elisa, on his right.

'Is it?' He asked.

She positively nodded.

'Well this is an even better reason for you to open this, then! He pushed the now pizza grease stained paper package towards me. I pushed it back.

'I will not. We went through this a hundred times'

He proceeded to give me the puppy eyes, which I thoroughly ignored, before he started unpacking the package himself.

There was no place for any mistake, his present was a book, and we all knew perfectly which one. He slammed it on the table, cover up. It was a worn out copy of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

'Before you, my dear friend, rest the most wonderful piece of literature ever known by man, written by the most greatest Shakespeare'

'Please shut up' I prayed in a whisper.