Now, this was a class I could get behind. This was a class I’d always support. Well, maybe not always, but occasionally, when things are done fairly and the kids aren’t completely annoying. 

Okay, so maybe I can’t get behind this class, but I can totally be part of it. 

“What do you think?” Green asked me as we stared at the poster on the wall.

“I think Romeo and Juliet is overdone,” I replied.

“But…” She started.

“But, I’m definitely going to get Juliet,” I said, turning on my heel and leading us towards our seats. 

“Then I guess I’m going to have to be stage manager again.” She responded. 

Although Green didn’t like to act, she had a flare for the dramatics, as anyone who knows her can tell you. So I’ve been forcing her to take drama class with me since the seventh grade. While she stays in the background of the theater, as stage manager or part of the tech crew, I audition for any and every role I can get my hands on. We work well together in that way, neither one of us is ever encroaching on the other’s parts. 

We made our way to the seats we claimed in freshman year in the corner of the classroom. 

“Who do you think will get Romeo?” I asked Green.

“Unfortunately, it will probably end up being Pearl,” she sighed.

I made a face and she continued, “Don’t look at me like that. You know he’s the only decent actor here. And he’s gotten the lead in like, every play since he joined the class in Junior year.”

“He only joined cause he was bored,” I grumbled.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Red, I love you, you know I do. But not everyone has wanted to become a professional actress since age 6.” 

I crossed my arms and sunk back into my chair, “Well, they should."

Just then, our teacher walked in holding a few sheets of paper. 

“Okay guys, I’m sure you’ve all seen the play poster I’ve hung up on the far wall and I’m also sure you’ve all signed up for auditions already.”

At our nods she continued, holding up the sheets of paper, “Well, I have the audition sheets here that I will be ranking you with, together with our stage manager and assistant director. When I announce your name please come and pull up a chair.”

She paused for effect. 

“Please welcome to the front of the room your stage manager, Green! And, your assistant director Gold!”

We all clapped as they both walked to the front and took seats on either side of our teacher behind the large desk at the front of the room. She handed each of them a stack of ranking sheets and began to go over the rules of auditioning. Having been through years of auditions, I zoned out her speech and began thinking about my answers to the questions I knew she would ask. 

Why should I play Juliet? Because I was born to play the lead role in a Shakespearean tragedy. Though, it would be better to play the role in a more well-known place. 

Mrs. Olive had just finished her announcements when Orange walked in. 

“Uh, hi,” he said. “I’m your student aid for this period, sorry I’m late. I couldn’t find the class.”

I met Green’s eyes over his head and wiggled my eyebrows.

Your boy-toy’s here.

She glared at me and quickly looked away, as our teacher directed Orange on Green’s other side.

As he sat down he whispered, “Hey, is anything going on today?”

She looked a little star-struck, “Yeah, we have auditions for Romeo and Juliet.”

He looked over at her, “Like the play about the dumb kids who die in the end?”

She laughed lightly, “Everyone dies in the end anyway.”

“Deep,” he nodded.

Go Green!

As Mrs. Olive called each hopeful student up to the front of the class, I tried to zone out so I wouldn’t get nervous.

‘Nerves only stop you from being great.’ I wish my brain cared about that.

Finally, it was my turn.

Because we were doing auditions for the lead roles, each person would act in one scene alone and another with a student auditioning for the opposite lead. 

I breezed through my monologue, having practiced so much with Green the night before that she was silently mouthing the words as I said them.

“Very nice, Red. Pearl? Can you come up here and act as Romeo with her for the next scene.”

Couldn’t it be anyone else? I’d even take Blue at this point. Actually, Blue would do well as an actor.  He has that movie star look. Objectively, of course. And he’s pretty good at putting on a show if that love declaration from math is how he normally acts. What was that even about?

Pearl walked up to the table to grab the script for this scene. As always, this was Mrs. Olive’s way of testing our improvisation skills, by withholding the joint scenes until the day of the audition.

Blue couldn’t be Romeo, though. He would never do the things Romeo did, he’s way smarter. Pearl, though. Pearl will, upsettingly, be a good Romeo. Then he can make bad decisions in real life and the play, it’ll be easy for him.

Standing across from each other, Pearl and I took up the makeshift stage in the center of the room.

“O Romeo, Romeo! 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.” 

This scene, seriously?

As waited for Pearl to say his lines, I looked to see Green not even paying attention to the scene.

What kind of best friend are you?

Instead, she was distracted, talking to Orange about something that was apparently more important.

Get a boyfriend after I get the part.

The scene ended and Pearl and I went back to our seats as Mrs. Olive continued to call out the next pair auditioning.

“We’ll get the leads for sure,” Pearl whispered to me as we walked.

That’s… nice of him.

“I mean, I know I will and since she called you to do the scene with me, you’ll probably end up getting Juliet. I can make anyone look good.”

What’s wrong with this kid?

I gave him a tight-lipped smile, turning towards my chair and effectively ending the conversation.

“Right,” Mrs. Olive cleared her throat as the last couple completed their performance. “Thank you so much to everyone who auditioned and I’m sure we’ll find you all a spot in our latest production. I’ll post the cast list on the wall next to the posters next week.”

We all began to hurriedly whisper to each other about our predictions of who got what role.

“And,” She continued. “You will also be able to pick up your scripts next Thursday.”

With that, she dismissed the class and I turned to look for Green. But I soon found that she was still talking to Orange. 

As I walked up to them, their conversation became clearer, “Yeah, it’s a great place you should try it sometime.”

Green giggled, “Maybe I will.”

They stood there smiling at each other until I cleared my throat, “Hi.”

Orange turned to me first, “Hey! Red, right? Your audition was great, I won’t be surprised if you get the lead.”

Did you even see my audition? You were talking the whole time.

“Yeah,” Green jumped in, “It was great, Red. Loved it, as usual.”

I raised a silent eyebrow at her and she turned back towards Orange guiltily, “So, we’ll see you next class?”

“Sure,” He replied. “Can’t wait to see who gets to play Romeo with you, Red. See you around, Green.”

With that, he walked off towards the courtyard. 

“Loved it,” I mocked. “As usual.”

Green groaned as we walked out after Orange towards our next class.

“What did you love? My audition or him?” I teased.

“Stop it,” Green said as she made a path through a few lost freshmen. 

“Oh, so you can tease me but I can’t do it back?”

“Nope,” she replied.

We went back and forth like that, arguing about different subjects until we reached our English class. 

“So basically,” Green finished. “If chocolate-covered raisins are considered acceptable snacks, so should chocolate-covered strawberries.”

“They are if you’re brave enough,” I answered

I settled into my seat and pulled out a notebook. 

I wonder if Green will ever be brave enough to confess to Orange. Probably not. But I’ll still root for her.