Romeo’s Kiss - chapter five

Brian sighed heavily as he slumped down onto his bed. He stared up at the ceiling for a minute before turning his head to look at the clock sitting on the nightstand. Five minutes before he had to leave for rehearsals. Today they were going over a seen that takes place at the beginning of the play, where Romeo goes to the Capulet’s party in disguise and meets Juliet for the first time. He would have to kiss her in this seen and even though he didn’t mind it, he knew she was probably raising a fit as she read through her script. His feelings for her, which he had tried so hard to hide from Trevor, were slowly making there way to the surface. He would catch himself staring at her every now and then in classes, or he would over hear a conversation and couldn’t help but laugh at the jokes she would tell her friends. If only she could see that side of him, the side that made people laugh, and was a complete and total nut; but she didn’t spend enough time thinking about him to realize that he was completely different from what she thought he was, and if had paid any attention to him she would clearly see that he was crushing on her.

It was a Saturday, exactly a week before the play and everything was still a mess. He would have to call her eventually so they could get together and learn their lines. Brian had by then figured out that Mrs. Rankle would not be his favorite teacher, she was the one that paired them together after all, and even after an hour of pleading they were still stuck as Romeo and Juliet.

Jackie Littrell poked her head in the room and looked over at her youngest son, she smiled widely before stating that he needed to be leaving for the school. Brian sighed once more before getting up form his bed and grabbing the keys to the truck he shared with his brother, thanking the lord that Harry was staying in tonight so he wouldn’t have to bum a ride from anybody.

                                                            ***

“No, now Brian, you have to say it with more feeling. You’ve just been heartbroken, and your devastated, you have to LOOK the part.” Mrs. Rankle lectured once again as she slapped her hand together with each word she said, emphasizing every word. Brian sighed once more and looked over at Steven, who was playing the part of Benvolio, Romeo’s best friend. Romeo was supposed to be explaining to Benvolio about Roselyn (SP?) the girl he was in love with.

Brian shuffled his feet around some when they finished the scene and Mrs. Rankle pushed Julie up the stairs and next to Brian for the next scene. The kiss. From Brian’s perspective Julie seemed to be hating every minute of this rehearsal, which only made him feel even worse. He felt like hiding under a rock. Mrs. Rankle sat in front of stage and talked them through their lines but when the kiss came Mrs. Rankle skipped right past it and onto the next lines.

Whether she was meaning to skip the kiss neither of them was going to argue about it as they both heaved out a sigh of relief and went on with reading their lines.

After rehearsals Julie waited patiently in front of the office for someone to unlock the door so she could get to the phone.

Brian came bounding down the stairs that lead to ‘the arts’ floor where band, acting, and art classes were held and out into the hallway by the main doors which were left unlocked for the students in the play, he glanced over at her before heading for the exit, he did a double take and stopped for a minute, still holding the door open he looked back at her.

“What are you doin’?” He asked Julie as she crossed her arms and sat down, leaning against the wall.

“Waiting to use the phone.” She said quietly. She looked up at him; still troubled about the time they would eventually have to spend together to get this play right.

“Why are you waiting on the phone?” Brian let go of the door and slowly walked over to her.

“To call for a ride, how else am I supposed to get home?” She said in a sarcastic tone of voice. She didn’t mean to be so mean but that was really the only cover she had on her feelings. It was like a mask just there to hide what was really inside her head.

Brian thought for a minute, not sure whether he should be so nice, after all she hadn’t done anything for him. He sighed and gave into the kindness trying to seep out. “Well…um…I could give you a ride…if ya want.” He started as he shoved his hands down into his jeans’ pockets. Julie looked like she was thinking it over as she looked up at him, their eyes locked for a split second before she turned her head and started to contemplate whether she could be nice enough to him to end the war going on. She slightly nodded her head yes and saw the smile grow on Brian’s face. He helped her up from the floor and they walked out to his truck.

                                                            ***

“So you’ve really never heard of them? I can’t believe it. The Kentucky Wildcats…that doesn’t ring any bells?” Brian asked in astonishment.

“No! I’m not really into college basketball though. I like the WNBA more than any of it. Although I’m really into hockey.” Julie stated, as she watched Brian turned his slightly to give her a funny look like ‘yeah right’ and she chuckled to herself again. Not two minutes once they were in the truck they had gotten into a conversation about sports. Julie couldn’t believe she was actually having a conversation with him; and she was just about to give into the fact that he really was a pretty nice guy. They got quiet again as they stopped at a red light and watched the cars pass by.

“So…we should probably get together some time and try to learn our lines don’t ya think?” Brian started as he looked over at her out of the corner of his eye. She rested her head in her hand and rested her elbow on the arm of the door as she looked up at the light, praying that I would change right then and she would be home. She REALLY didn’t want to rehearse THOSE lines with him. Anything else would have been fine, but not the kiss scene; she would even settle for a scary movie script in which she’s the dumb blonde that runs up the stairs instead going out the front door and ends up getting got in the doggie door while the garage door is being opened, finally trying to reach the outside world. ANYTHING but that Romeo and Juliet kiss scene.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Brian; in fact it was the exact opposite, that deep down inside she really thanked Mrs. Rankle for putting them together but at the same time hated her for it. Knowing that Brian was right and they really need to practice she gave in and shook her head and the car started to move again and they came closer to her house. She swallowed harshly before agreeing, “Yeah, we probably should. The play is a week away.”

“So, when?” He asked as he looked over at her.

“I don’t know.” She said, gripping the handle of the door as they approached her driveway. “Why don’t you just call me and we’ll figure something out.” She whispered as she stepped out pf the car and up to the house before Brian could say another word.