text: The nervous energy buzzing in the air is unmistakable as the students pace around the auditorium, their eyes darting to the empty bulletin board. It is casting day. The atmosphere is charged with hope and anxiety, everyone waiting for the director to walk in and put up the cast list of “Romeo and Juliet.” Jake tries to hide his nerves behind a mask of casual confidence. However, bouncing on the balls of his feet is a clear giveaway. His friends, always the cynics, stand beside him and tease him. "You really think you’ll get Romeo?" asks Max, raising an eyebrow. "And that it'll somehow make Lily fall for you?" Jake shrugs, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why not? We both had really good auditions, and this could be my only real shot at getting with her. Think of all the practices we’d spend holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes..." His voice trails off, his thoughts wandering into a dream world where Jake and Lily are dating. Max and the others continue to laugh at him, trying to explain how stupid he sounds. “Lily is way out of your league. She would nev--” “Shut up! She could walk behind you any second.” Jake said, motioning around him. His eyes flicker to the auditorium doors just as they swing open, and there she is--Lily. In Jake’s eyes, she's walking down the hall like a scene from a movie, her hair flowing as if caught by an invisible wind (where did it come from?), her stride confident, almost regal. She looks every bit the leading lady, ready to receive her role as Juliet. Lily joins her friends, and Jake can’t help but eavesdrop. "I’m obviously the choice for Juliet," she says, her voice ringing with certainty. "There's no one else who even stands a chance." Her friends nod in agreement, their faces mirroring her confidence. As Lily continues to talk, everyone in the hallway starts moving aside. The director, Mr. Hastings, strides down the hall with the cast list in hand. He reaches the bulletin board, and with a flourish, pins the paper up. He smiles smugly and shouts, “Good luck to all!” and struts away with an energy that could only follow with chaos. A wave of students crashes toward the board as they push forward to see their roles. The voices grow louder, a cacophony of excitement and nerves. Jake grows increasingly anxious, feeling the intensity of the moment that could make or break his year. A shriek cuts through the noise. It’s Lily. Her face is a storm of emotions as she stomps off, the sound of her platform wedges echoing down the hall. Jake, breathing heavily, finally pushes his way to the front and his eyes scan the list. "Romeo - Jake." Before he can even react, Jake is high-fived and slapped on the back in approval. The sounds of congratulations fade away as his eyes move to the line just below his name. "Juliet - Isabella." Jake’s heart sinks. He forces a smile, trying to look excited and happy as his friends cheer around him. Deep down, disappointment gnaws at him. He had hoped being Romeo would bring him closer to Lily, but now she’s cast as Juliet’s understudy. His whole plan is ruined. Did he even want to be Romeo if he didn’t have his Juliet? As the crowd begins to disperse, he wonders, "Who is Isabella?" His mind drifts back, vaguely recalling a shy girl he showed around on her first day of school. He barely remembers her, but he was about to get to know her very well. As the initial shock wears off, Jake takes a deep breath. The show must go on, and he had a role to play. -------------- Chattering excitement fills the room as students slowly arrive in the auditorium for the first rehearsal. Actors are warming up on stage, laughing with their friends, and meeting the rest of the cast. Jake stays off to the side, distractedly flipping through his new script. This is it. Jake thinks to himself. It’s the first rehearsal of Romeo and Juliet, and the perfect time to talk to Lily. After a few minutes of back and forth in his head, Jake takes a deep breath and looks up at the stage. He steels himself and walks up the steps of the stage towards Lily. There she stands, laughing with her friends, but to Jake it’s as if no one else is around. Platform wedges showing off her defined calves, golden hoop earrings glistening from her ears, and her shining, waist length hair blowing in the wind. (Seriously, where is that wind coming from?) Jake’s heart pounds as he approaches her, forgetting everything he rehearsed to say. “H-hey Lily,” he stammers. “I was wondering if we could--” Before he could finish, he feels a gentle tap on his shoulder. “Hi Jake,” says Isabella softly but with enthusiasm. “I’m so excited to work with you and be your co-star. Maybe we could go over our scenes together? You know, to work on our chemistry and stuff.” Jake glances over his shoulder at Lily, her left eyebrow now raised and her smile slightly faded. Jake wants to say no, thinking this would ruin his chance with Lily, but he has a responsibility as the lead. “Sure, sounds like a good idea,” he says reluctantly. Isabella’s face lights up, and she leads him to a quiet corner of the stage. They sit down and open their scripts, about to begin their first scene together. However, they are quickly interrupted by Mr. Hastings calling the cast to center stage. Jake quickly joins the forming circle, sliding into the open spot next to Lily. He shoots her a crooked smile, and tries to start a friendly conversation. “Looks like we’re all set for an amazing show, huh.” “Yeah, whatever.” Lily responds coldly, her tone edged with irritation. Jake, hurt, looks away in a shrug. I ruined it. Now I’ll never have a chance with her , Jake thinks to himself, forgetting to listen to the director's opening words. “I SAID, Jake, time to dive into the first scene,” shouted Mr. Hastings, already showing his short temper. They are flying through the first few scenes and it’s time for Romeo and Juliet to take the stage together. Jake and Isabella take their places, facing each other on the stage. As they deliver their lines, it becomes painfully clear that something is off. Their interactions are awkward, their movements are stiff. The moment they are supposed to hold hands is ruined by Jake's recoil to Isabella’s sweaty palm. “STOP,” barks Mr. Hastings. “This is supposed to be a moment of connection, not repulsion. From the top!” Jake sighs in frustration, and pushes through the scene. However, the awkwardness lingers, and his mind keeps wandering to Lily. After another hour of criticism from Mr. Hastings, the whole cast is on edge, and the initial excitement has fizzled into tension. Rehearsal finishes and everyone starts to leave. Jake stands alone on the stage, feeling the weight of the practice pressing down on him. He just watches as Lily gathers her things and leaves without a word. Isabella lingers around the auditorium, casting hopeful glances Jake’s way. Jake sighs, rubbing his temples. This is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought. -------------- The auditorium is starting to feel like a second home for the cast, as opening night is around the corner. The walls backstage are covered in posters, sketches, and set designs, showcasing all the hard work that has been put into the set. The play itself has also begun to take shape. The awkward interactions between Jake and Isabella become more natural, and, at moments, almost magical. The chemistry they display on stage breathes new life into their performance, and their energy is undeniable. Jake starts to look forward to rehearsals after school, not just because of his character, but to spend more time with Isabella. His feelings for her are growing. Her initial shyness starts to melt away, revealing a passionate, witty, and charming girl. They spend hours together, on and off stage, running lines and exploring their characters, only to find they have a genuine connection. This afternoon during rehearsal, Isabella and Jake perform their scene that had caused them trouble from the beginning. Now, when the time comes for their hands to touch, the whole room can feel the passionate energy. After the scene, Mr. Hastings claps his hands slowly together and says, “Bravo! Now where do you suppose this beautiful chemistry that blossomed tonight came from?” Isabella beams, barely containing her excitement. “Well,” she says looking up at Jake, her eyes sparkling. “We went out on a date to get to know each other better.” Jake feels his stomach flip when she says “date.” Annoyed at how fast she’s moving, he realizes he doesn’t like her as much as he previously thought. He chuckles nervously, shaking his head. “It wasn’t really a date.” The room grows tense and awkward, whispers spreading around the auditorium. Isabella’s face falls, her smile fading and cheeks turning pink. “Come on, Jake. It was kind of a date.” Jake feels the heat rise in his cheeks, and in frustration he says a bit too loudly, “No, it wasn’t, Isabella. We were just rehearsing.” The room turns silent. The cast and crew members exchange wide eyes as they watch this interaction. Isabella’s expression hardens, her frustration growing as she takes a step closer to Jake. “Why are you being like this?” She says through her teeth. “Because this isn’t just about us.” The words tumble out of Jake faster than he can process. “This is about the play, and how you even got the lead in the first place.” “What are you talking about?” Isabella sneers, in a much too defensive tone. “I’m talking about how you bribed Mr. Hastings into getting the lead! All I want to know is why,” says Jake. All eyes turn to Mr. Hastings, whose face now resembles a beet. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. Tears well up in Isabella’s eyes, and she has no idea what to do with herself. “Is this true?” Someone whispers, breaking the heavy silence. “I just wanted to get close to you,” Isabella chokes through her tears. “I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand. I really really like you, Jake.” “I can’t do this anymore!” Mr. Hastings cries, as the students' heads turn quickly back to him. “I am sick and tired of the lies. The truth is...I am a collector.” Confused looks spread across the students’ faces. “I collect antique stage props from Broadway. When I see one, I can’t help myself. And when Isabella came to me, a one of a kind Phantom of the Opera mask was being sold for a price I could not afford on my own. Don’t look at me like that, I know it was a mistake and I deeply apologize.” Mr. Hastings looks around the room one last time, watching as the cast snickers and whispers to each other. He feels pathetic. All at once, he gathers his things and storms out of the auditorium, papers flying behind him as he makes his dramatic exit. The room erupts into chaos, no voice can be heard over another. Accusations are flying, sounds of panic echo. Jake stands frozen in the center of it all, unable to process all of his emotions. Jake storms off the stage and out the front door of the school. He needs fresh air to process everything that’s happened. The cool outside air washes over him, but does little to clear the turmoil in his head. He thinks about the irony of him trying out for a play just to get a girl, only for another girl to manipulate the show to get closer to him. He sits on the concrete, his face between his knees. They are so close to opening night, and they are actually getting better. At this point, he doesn’t even know if there will be a play. -------------- The next day at rehearsal, the atmosphere is thick with uncertainty. Students walk around the room, distractedly running lines, and glancing nervously at the clock. Mr. Hastings is nowhere to be found, and speculations are swirling around the stage with what might happen next. Jake sits alone on the edge of the stage, legs dangling, absentmindedly flipping through his script. His thoughts are a tangled mess of anger and confusion as he sorts out last night’s revelations and tries to figure out how to move forward. The auditorium door creaks open, and all heads turn toward the entrance. A tall, middle aged woman, with sharp eyes and a confident smile strides in. “Good morning everyone.” She begins, her voice steady and authoritative. “I’m Mrs. Thompson, and from here on out, I will be directing your production.” Murmurs ripple throughout the room. Jake exchanges a glance with Lily, causing butterflies to appear in his stomach. Isabella stands off in the corner, eyes downcast and face pale. She regrets even showing up, but there is something she has to do. In true director form, Mrs. Thompson claps her hands together loudly. “All right, all right. There are a few things we must discuss before we get started, so pay attention.” Isabella steps forward, her voice trembling. “Before we start, I need to say something to all of you. I’m sorry. I realize now the hurt I caused because of my selfish goals. It was not fair and I understand if you guys are mad.” The cast threw sympathetic glances her way. “That is why I have decided to step down as Juliet, and let someone who truly deserves this opportunity have a chance.” There is a moment of stunned silence before Mrs. Thompson adds, “Thank you Isabella. We appreciate your acknowledgement. That was very mature. Now team, let's begin. Lily, I understand that you were the understudy for the role of Juliet. That deems you perfect in my eyes to fill this role. Do you think you can handle it?” “Yes, ma’am. Thank you for this chance!” Lily exclaims, determination shining in her eyes. The cast proceeds to go through warmups and prepare for the first run-through with the new changes. Lily pulls Jake aside during warmups to a quieter side of the stage. “Hey,” she says with a genuine expression on her face. “I’ve been acting like a brat. I’m sorry. I was mad at the casting and took it out on you when it wasn’t your fault. Can we start over?” “Thanks Lily, this means a lot,” says Jake with a warm smile. “I’m Jake, and I am so excited we get to co-star in this play.” Lily giggles, throwing her head back. “Nice to meet you, I’m Lily. And we are going to rock this play.” When it comes time for their first scene together, Jake feels a mix of nerves and anticipation for how it will go over. Their hands touch for the first time, in the play and in real life, and there is a burst of passion and sparks that no one can deny. Their hands meet, not with clammy awkwardness, but with true connection and excitement. Their fingers intertwine perfectly, and their eyes lock, acknowledging all of their feelings for each other in a single look. Mrs. Thompson is on the edge of her seat in the audience, a huge smile spreading across her face. “That...was... IT, my darlings. Keep this up and we will be ready in no time.” Jake and Lily continue the scene, their movements fluid, and every line delivered with heartfelt emotion. It feels right, like this was how the show was always meant to be. Every touch, every glance is filled with a love and affection that could only be true. During this run-through, they are not acting. As the scene comes to an end, the rest of the cast erupts into applause, creating a unity and excitement that has not been felt in weeks. Lily turns to Jake, overflowing with joy. “Wow, that was amazing. I don’t even know how to describe that, other than... right.” Jake nods, still feeling the rush of the moment. “Do you want to hang out after rehearsal?” Lily stands still. “Like a date?” Jake takes her hand and says, “Yes. Like a date.” She smiles shyly and nods her head yes. Rehearsal finishes stronger than it started. Everyone embraces the energy put forth by Jake and Lily’s connection, and experiences the best run-through yet of “Romeo and Juliet.” The journey to opening night is back on track, and the cast moves forward with a sense of excitement and solidarity, ready to bring their story to life on stage. Jake and Lily walk out of the auditorium that day, hand in hand, ready to embrace the rest of their journey together.