I Don't Love You Too

Chapter 3 - Love's Faithful Vow

We had Drama in the afternoon. I decided I had to talk to Merida then; it was my only chance. The best part? We were in a group together, she'd have to talk to me. I smiled as I lined up outside the auditorium, clutching my green folder to my chest. Soon Merida arrived, carrying her folder covered in doodles and scribbles. She didn't look at me.

It felt like forever but eventually her eyes found mine. They weren't shining with the light they usually were though. They were glistening with tears; the rims of her eyes red and swollen. I approached her to talk to her but she hid her face and walked away.

We had a cover teacher that lesson, which meant that we were almost certainly working on a given script for that lesson. I didn't mind that; they were usually half decent. The register was taken and we were assigned a partner. Our class is tiny so the chances of me getting Merida were pretty high. Sure enough, I was given Merida. I tried to smile at her. She looked at the floor and showed no sign she'd even seen me. We were given our scripts and I heard a whisper of "shit," come from Merida under her breath. I look at the piece of paper in front of me and I rolled my eyes in exasperation. The cover teacher explained the work to us as Merida refused to make eye contact.

"It says on the cover sheet you've been working on Shakespeare in English. Your teacher would like you to link that into your drama. You'll be performing a shorter excerpt of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet as used in the 1968 film -"

"Do we get to do the kissing part too?" Snotlout yelled. The class laughed and the teacher raised her eyebrows.

"It would certainly make for a more convincing performance," the teacher smiled, "but only if your partner consents." Snotlout groaned as Ruffnut (his partner) punched the air in glee. "Now, you have an hour and a half to rehearse this scene and then in the last half hour we'll watch them. Get going!"

"Well," I tried to make a joke, "you be Juliet I'll be Romeo?" She looked at me like, don't even talk to me.

"Let's just get this over with."

Our rehearsal time was awkward and went badly. Neither of us acted well, neither of us could be bothered to be frank. It was cringeworthy how bad it was. Soon however, it came our time to perform.

We made our way onto the stage and we found an old set we could use as a balcony. It had a set of steps which made it more convenient for me anyway. Merida climbed up with skill and waited for me to start. I coughed and raised my voice.

"But soft! What light from yonder window breaks!" I cried to the auditorium, "It is my lady! Oh, it is my love. Oh, that she knew she were! See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand. Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand that I might touch that cheek..."

Merida finally spoke up and stared into the distance, as Juliet does on the script. "Ay me!"

"She speaks!" I whispered. "Oh speak again, bright angel!"

"Romeo, Romeo," Merida's eyes widened as she flowed with the gentle character of Juliet, "wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name! Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

"Should I hear more, or should I speak at this?"

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo called, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title. Romeo, doff thy name, and for that name which is no part of thee take all myself!"

"I take thee at thy word!" I shouted and ran into her view. The conversation continued and we worked our way down the script as I climbed up the 'orchard wall'. We then came to the part when she asks me to prove to her that my love for her is real.

"Lady, by blessed moon I swear -"

"Oh swear not by the moon. The inconstant moon!"

"What shall I swear by?"

"Do not swear at all," Merida said quietly, looking directly into my eyes. "Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy blessed self."

"If my heart's dear love -"

"Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee. This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet. Good night, good night!"

I took hold of Merida's hand and entwined it in my own.

"Oh, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?"

"What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?"

"The exchange," I replied as I tried to convey through my eyes that Romeo's affection for Juliet was nothing compared to mine for her, "of thy love's faithful vow for mine."

She turned away, pulling her hand free of mine.

"I gave thee mine before thou did request it," Merida was speaking quietly now and it was driving me insane, "and yet I would it were to give again." Before I could understand it, Merida had locked our hands together again and I felt jets of electricity shooting through the places her skin met my own.

"Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?" I whispered as I found my lips becoming more and more sensitive. Merida's hand was pulling me closer and closer as I heard her murmuring her lines.

"But to be frank, and give it thee again." I acted on impulse and pulled her close, my lips meeting hers in a haze of overflowing feelings kept harboured for years. I kissed her She broke away to recite her next line; "And yet I wish but for the thing I have. My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee the more I have, for both are infinite. Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again."

She ran off of the set and I hung off of the ladder, almost screaming my words in joy,

"O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard being in night, all this is but a dream - too flattering-sweet to be substantial!"

Suddenly I realised that our whole class had seen what we'd just performed. I stared at the onlookers and blushed furiously. The teacher gave us a knowing smile and called up to us:

"It's OK, you can stop acting now. A very convincing performance from the pair of you..."

I grinned as I dropped off of the ladder onto the stage. Merida descended after me, but she wasn't smiling as I was. She was walking with her head down and a tear rolling down her cheek. I held her back, concerned, before she could walk away.

"Merida? What's wrong?"

"You don't get it," Merida shook her head and pushed me away.

"Don't get what?" I asked her almost desperately now, holding her hand and pulling her to face me. "Merida, what don't I understand?"

"I told you I was good at drama."

"What does that have anything to do with this?"

"It was all just an act," Merida said bluntly and pulled herself free. "The kiss, the words, everything. I didn't mean it Hiccup. It was just an act." 

Not to me, I silently screamed. Not to me. Don't leave now. Before I could speak again, she'd left: the double doors of the auditorium swinging to and fro. I was left standing with my mouth wide open and staring after what I didn't have.