Chapter 21

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss". He says and he smiles at me like he means it. I stare at him blank because I don't know what to say.

"Kelly it's your turn. Remember you're Juliet" the professor says bringing me out of my dazed state. "Oh right" I say as I look into my book and find the conversation. I clear my throat and I start speaking.

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss". I say trying to get into character and he smirks and I glare at him.

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" He says looking into my eyes I avert his gaze and look into the book for my line

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer". I say. "Eye contact is important when reading a dialogue Kelly. You need to make eye contact" the professor says to me.

And I'm trying not to freak out because I'm so nervous. I hate public speaking and I have a phobia for crowds. I think Adrian notices and he gives me a sinister smile.

"O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.

They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair". He says

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake". I respond and I'm wishing I could disappear from this moment.

"Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take". He says pulling me closer to himself and I gasp in shock. "Ww-hat are you doing!?" I ask him quietly. He leans in and his mouth is just some inches from mine as he tries to kiss me and I slap him across his face.

"Fuck!" He curses and everyone in the lecture hall gasps in horror. My eyes widen in surprise at what I just did and he gives me a death glare. "I-- I'm... So sorry" I apologise and the professor looks surprised.

"Why were you trying to kiss me?" I ask him in horror. "That's the script Kelly" the professor says and I look at my book and I see that it's indeed the script. I look at Adrian with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry" I say but it comes out of my mouth as a squeak. He rubs his cheek and cleans off the blood from the side of his mouth because it's bleeding from my slap. "I'm really sorry" I apologise again and Adrian shoots me another death glare and goes back to his seat beside me and everyone in hall is looking at me.

I gulp and quietly go back to my seat beside Adrian. I look at him and he looks away he looks really angry. I sit quietly.

"Alright... Now we'll talk about the theme of love in Romeo and Juliet" the professor begins and I try to pay attention to what the professor is saying. "It's very clear that Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other the first time they saw each other. And they were driven by their love for each other until their last breath. So with this.. what do you think love is?." The professor asks and everyone's silent. Adrian is still nursing his left cheek. "Anyone?" The professor asks.