if the method works

[mightbeweird]

Curses.
Now I'm gonna be late for my practice with Jan.
I don't start these things.
I don't want to quarrel.
But it is against my good nature to see my fellow cast members Montagues in trouble so when I saw the fray begin well...
I got involved.
I don't know what started it. I don't know what his problem is.
It's not right for Tybalt and his

Comments

[_janice_]

I wait, as planned, on a bench outside the auditorium. I look over the scene on my script again, mumbling the lines to myself, and then glance at my watch. Amanda did say today, didn't she? But then I see her rushing down the hall, looking a little flustered.

I stand up and wave the script at her. "Hey, there you are! I'm all ready, practiced a little and everything."

[mightbeweird]

Oh good, there she is. I didn't want her to think I'd stood her up.
I wave back so she knows I saw her.
"Fair greeting to you, Lady." I grin and take a moment to get my breath back. "I brought my copy of the script too."

[_janice_]

For a second her greeting makes me think, oh no, not another one. But then she sounds normal, so I let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, there were extra copies when Miss Vargas passed them out so I snagged one, but I didn't actually open it 'til this weekend. I meant to read the whole play, but...well, things have been busy."

I peek into the auditorium and see just a few students around. "But I am totally ready to play lovesick Romeo, as long as there's no actual audience, to y'know, laugh and point."

[mightbeweird]

I'm glad Jan agreed to help. I'd almost thought she was sick of the play. After all we're usually rehearsing while she's painting sets so I'm sure she's heard it all before.
"And I'm perfectly pleased to take advantage of that."

"Is the auditorium ok? I think it's pretty quiet right now. Otherwise I think the music room is empty too." I wonder what's up, Jan gave me the look Do I look that bad from the fight?

[_janice_]

"Yeah, the auditorium's pretty empty right now, it should be cool. It's kinda fun to be doing something besides inhaling paint fumes," I add, as we go in. "I mean, I have stage fright like crazy, but it's cool to be helping out the great act-ors!" I say this last with emphasis on the last syllable, just goofing around.

"So, um," I say, as we stake out an empty corner of the room for ourselves, "Have you noticed some of the other cast members acting...well, a little too into their parts?"

[mightbeweird]

"What? You mean like Mercutio's improved wardrobe?" I sit down cross-legged and lean back against the wall. "Or does this have something to do with Romeo?"

I have eyes enough to see that something is going on with my cuz Jordy and the other girls...Jan. Even if I don't know what.

[_janice_]

I plop down facing her and fiddle with the pages of the script, trying not to react when she mentiones Romeo...Jordy. I hope it's not too obvious I've been avoiding him since that night. And I kinda hope the "improved" remark is a joke. Except I've seen Amanda looking at Eric like she...well, maybe she kinda likes him, so maybe it's not. Maybe she thinks the role-play stuff is romantic, who knows?

"Well yeah, people dressing differently, talking like their roles even when they're not rehearsing and stuff...I dunno, just seems kind of strange to me. Did like Miss Vargas suggest you do that, or did some of the cast decide, or did people just start doing it?" I ask nervously, and then think maybe I should keep my mouth shut and just get on with running the lines. The whole situation is making me paranoid, like it's one of those Star trek episodes where I'm trying to pass myself off as an alien. "Um, let's see, I guess your line is first after Enter Romeo."

[mightbeweird]

"Nope." pause." "I mean yes, well yes it's my line but stop just a minute." I just look at her as she's rushed through that entire speech. She's bugged about something.
"You're worried?"

[_janice_]

She doesn't seem to be affected with the strange speech, but she also isn't noticing other people doing it. I swear, if Miss Dante hadn't asked me about it, I'd think I was imagining the whole thing. And I don't think she's buying my attempt at non-chalance.

"Not really," I lie. "I was just wondering if someone suggested it, or if it just sorta happened. But if you haven't noticed, maybe it's just a couple of people."