The Tell-Tale... Forget It

10:01 am - Monday 13th

She thought to herself, ever since middle school Juliette put Clubs, Councils, and things like that aside to focus on her grades, but this time looking at the poster she was really considering it. It was labeled "Romeo & Juliet, a tale of two star-crossed lovers" she smiled, imagining ironically getting the main female role for that play.

Without further notice, she took into account the play and skipped back to class, hopefully not earning the teacher's attention for being out of the classroom for more than five minutes. She slipped back into the classroom not receiving any look from anyone before taking her seat by the window, all that was left now was English.

The Math lesson dragged but in the end, the teacher quickly wrapped it up and dismissed the class ten minutes early due to the lack of, mental presence...? Or either he was just sick of the high schoolers. mara quickly draped one arm over Juliette and raised her eyebrows. "I heard they're having tryouts for volleyball, men's and women's, you planning on joining?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Nope, but there are tryouts for the school play," Juliette paused. "It's a classic!" Mara smacked her own forehead in disbelief, it was obvious that Juliette would pick something related to those romance novels she was obsessed with reading.

"Oh heavens, no, I'm going to go grab my boyfriend for English, see you there," Mara waved goodbye and walked in the opposite direction, as Juliette began trotting towards the Aula once more hoping for a shot at getting into the play. Once she reached the Aula, she opened the door and headed into the dark theatre.

"Yo, you here for tryouts?" Asked a voice from the stage in front of her. She smiled and nodded quickly. "Alright, just write your name here and then meet us here on Friday evening, okay?" It replied sticking out a notepad with sections like Year, Full Name, and Role. She signed everything off and left the room, happy, and silently cheering on herself.

"And now I know, now I know

It's time to go, it's time to go"

After making it barely in time for her lesson Juliette sat down and turned to meet the eyes of a popular volleyball player in her grade. She then bent to the side and told him to lean the other way so she could signal her friend, surprisingly he did and she signaled Mara 'I did it, I signed up for the play!' Her friend stifled a giggle and returned her message with a thumbs up.

The English professor mentioned Shakespeare, Dickens, Poe, and loads more that she had no idea of. "Alright, for your project this month I want each of you to recreate the storyline on one of the classics written by these incredible Authors," she pointed to the whiteboard and continued. "Here are your groups." Just as she finished that sentence the class erupted with loud groans, apparently, it was a school policy to not let students choose because someone would be left out. Juliette quickly scanned the projected groups and let out a sigh, it was going to be tough being a partner with a guy like that volleyball player behind her, but in the end, they both would have to deal with each other.

"Hey," he replied poking the back of Juliette's chair. "Looks like we're working together," he flashed a smile, she almost rolled her eyes in front of him. Almost. She rolled her shoulders and face him, he looked kind of like her brother. She flinched, she actually compared the likes of him to her perfect brother, that, now that was an insult.

"So, do you have an idea on which classic you want to rewrite?" She asked pointing to the whiteboard before looking back at him.

"I was thinking 'The Tell-Tale Heart' written by Edgar Allan Poe, does that work with you?" He said, wiggling his finger in front of him.

"The one where the narrator questions his sanity?" She pursed her lips, as he nodded enthusiastically. Juliette rubs her temple before stepping out of her seat. "I'll tell her that, and then we can start planning, how does that sound?"

"I like the sound of that," the side of his mouth curved upwards as he directed his attention to Mickaela who was now sitting together with Mara throwing hate like a fountain.

"Okay," she smiled and walked up to the English teacher, letting her know which story they were going to recreate, she turned to her seat but couldn't find the volleyball player who was sitting behind her. "Psst, Mars? Have you seen him?" She poked at the empty chair behind her.

"Nah, wasn't he just there, though?" Mara sighed dramatically, then eyed Mickaela, she was clearly making fun of her perfect little blonde project partner but the blonde didn't seem to notice.

"Who, Kota?" the blonde finally slipped back into reality and began speaking once more. "He walked out, said he had to go the bathroom or something," she then took out her lip gloss and reapplied for probably the 27th time today. Juliette groaned, her head lightly hitting the table beneath her as she quietly slipped her earphones back in.

"We've traveled the seas, we've ridden the stars

We've seen everything from Saturn to Mars"

As time was nearing a close the volleyball player's dirty blond hair came into view as lifted her head from the table. "Where've you been?" She watched him settle down, comfortably, before prying an answer from him due to her lack of patience.

"Bathroom," he muttered, rubbing his nose.

"This long?" She sucked in air. "At this rate, we won't get anything completed." Juliette frowned, drumming her fingers once more out of anxiousness.

"Relax, we'll get a decent grade," he rolled his neck before staring right back at her.

"Decent?" She chuckled rudely. "The story was your choice, was it not?" She asked, he nodded raising an eyebrow. "Therefore I am looking forwards to nothing below an A."

"Seriously?" He answered eyes wide open, then he smiled and laughed out loud. "Don't worry yourself to death, rest assured we'll get an A on this project." She exhaled, not sure how to process his confidence or even if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

"Yo Dakota, neighboring schools think they're better," one of his friends said passing him by, Juliette almost didn't notice the time fly by while talking to him.

Time flew, just like leaves in the autumn air, as Juliette and her friends got ready for another hour of school. Lunchtime.