Dance took a lot out of people, is what Shirley noticed in her English
class the next day. She did anything she could to keep her eyes open.
Studying Romeo and Juliet was actually quite interesting, but why did
they have to study it today? That was the second thing that made Shirley
mad, the first was that Bo sat beside her in English.
"Ms. Holmes!" Mrs. Leery's voice cut through Shirley's thoughts.
"Yes Ma'am?" Shirley asked.
"Since you seemed to be so INTERESTED in Romeo and Juliet today, maybe you could tell me, why do you think Romeo was so willing to kill himself for Juliet? Why not believe that maybe Juliet wasn't the right person for him? Why not grieve her death instead? Even though she wasn't really dead at all."
Shirley thought for a moment.
"Romeo couldn't NOT kill himself. He wouldn't have been willing to do so if Juliet wasn't the right person for him. I think that their love was so strong for eachother, that they could look at it as death being only the beginning. Juliet didn't wake soon enough, it was like they were meant for eachother in death. Technically today, every Juliet has a Romeo, whether it end tragically or not. When you're right for that person, you're right for that person and you can't let anything get in the way of your love. You NEED them."
Mrs. Leery was impressed, "Very well put Ms. Holmes."
She moved on. Shirley saw a piece of paper land on her desk. She glanced
at Bo side ways without him noticing enough and opened it.
Scrawled in Bo's handwriting were the words:
I NEED YOU.
Shirley in response wrote: OBVIOUSLY NOT WHEN IT COMES TO DANCING.
She gave it back to him, if she had waited a moment after the bell rang, she would've seen the depair thrown across Bo's face.
* * *
"You can't keep avoiding me." Bo said, appearing behind Shirley, who was on her way home.
"Shouldn't you have turned left on the last corner?" She asked coldly. Bo threw his arms out in frustration.
"What do you want from me Shirley???? I'm sorry that this is my big chance, and you know, that I'd like to succeed at it! And before you say anything, I know that I could succeed with you, but if the judges see me with Gina it gives me one up. I never meant to hurt you! This isn't a television show! If it is, then I'm gonna meet a whole bunch of interesting people yet. Let's see, we have the blond from New York, the delusioned film maker, the small city girl with no family, a gay football star, and a mental girl who sees dead people! Oh and let's not forget Pacey, the big joke!"
"Well, unlike Dawson's Creek this isn't a joke Bo." Shirley snapped.
"Let see, boy is best friends with girl... girl likes boy, boy likes girl, they get together, break up-- Nope, my life is beginning to look more and more like a Kevin Williamson teleplay!" Bo yelled.
"He does much better work then this." Shirley muttered.
"Are you trying to make this complicated?" Bo asked crossing his arms and stopping. Shirley turned around.
"NO! No, I'm not. I just don't know what to say to you!" Shirley said.
Bo looked at her.
"I don't want you to SAY anything, I just want you to UNDERSTAND." Bo said quietly. Shirley sighed.
"Bo, I understand. I want you to be HAPPY. But I'm HURT. And I'm sorry I can't put my analytical mind before my heart this time, because there's all these emotions in me right now trying to figure themselves out. It all feels so NEW to me, and the worse part is all these emotions begin with YOU. You're everything that I need, and at the same time everything I don't." Shirley replied, Bo stared at the ground.
"The more I think about it, the more you begin to sound like Katie Holmes."
Shirley actually laughed.
"Don't insult me. I can act."
"Oh so low Holmes."
"Well one does tend to get tired of the same half smile and shrug she does all the time. And her character Joey is extremely annoying."
Shirley and Bo stared at eachother for a moment.
"Shirley can you forgive me?" Bo asked. Shirley struggled to say something,
as though she couldn't put what she wanted to in words.
Finally she spoke.
"We were good there." And she turned around and walked to her house. Bo closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. He was Oh So Close.
"I'M NOT GIVING UP YET SHIRLEY!!!" He yelled, but she was already gone.
-End of Part 5-