"Blythe, I am telling you. You're already smart enough as it is. Besides, the midterm is still next week. Why don't you come and party with us?"
"No can do Thea. I already got sick on the first week of school, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Plus, you're well aware that I'm not a party kid."
"But-"
"Zip it. End of conversation." She sighed and rolled her eyes at my willingness to study.
Both of us were currently at the school's cafeteria eating our lunch. The person with me is my friend and classmate Althea Elsher. She had wavy blonde locks that reached her elbows and honey-like skin. Her eyes were a fascinating shade of brown that makes boys melt when they stare at her. She was one of the top ten beautiful girls here at school so there is no doubt that she was popular.
Her parents run a busy company in this city, so she was basically spoiled to the core. But that was nothing, I mean- everyone here is basically filthy rich blessed with good looks.
You see, I enrolled at Eastwood High which was one of the top three rich schools in this city. No ordinary people can afford to be here at this school because of the tuition fee alone. That's why all the students here are wealthy as hell.
How did I manage to get in here, you ask. Well, there is a small percentage of people in this school that have managed to get in through a scholarship. This school offers academic scholarships, art scholarships, and sports scholarships. I managed to get in through the academic scholarship.
I only applied at this school for my future. If my resume were to have Eastwood High as my high school, then that will increase my chance of getting a decent job. I had perfect grades throughout my life so I gave the scholarship a go and boom! They accepted me.
At first, it was hard to fit in with all these high class people around. There were times when I would see them sneer and snide at me from the corner of my eye. Sometimes it was more direct like writing things on my notebook or throwing my stuff away. I didn't care if I make any friends at this school or not, all that I wanted was to work my way to the top.
So, I studied, tried to work my way into clubs, and they eventually warmed up to me after a year. Well, probably because I helped them with their home works and exams. In my third year, I was elected as the student council president because of my grades and behavior in school. By then, I was finally at the top.
"Hey Blythe, could you do my home work in History? I got swim club this afternoon so I have no time to waste."
I glanced at my back side and saw my classmate. I took a bite of my chicken sandwich and spoke.
"Sure."
"Thanks! You're the best Miss President."
I ignored him as he walked away and munched down the remains of my sandwich.
"You really shouldn't let them get away with things like that. They're literally using you." Thea gave me a worried look.
"You're one to talk. Didn't you also say that you wanted me to do your home work because you're going to the party?"
She blushed in embarrassment and tried to defend herself but it just wasn't working at all. The bell rung signaling that lunchtime is already over so I stood up and left her. I heard her asking me to wait for her but I just ignored her.
She eventually caught up to me and we both arrived at the same time in our room. We both sat in our respective seats and waited for our English teacher to come in.
Mr. Hansen was always on time so he arrived shortly after us. He was a man in his mid-30's with his slicked-back brown hair and tired blue eyes. He had tan skin and a noticeable slouch that made him the same height as me.
Today, he was teaching us literature. Shakespeare's literary work called "Hamlet" to be more exact. Of course, I already knew the story of Hamlet since I read it last summer. Before Mr. Hansen dove in further in the discussion of Hamlet, he asked the class if we read any other works of Shakespeare.
No one raised their hand except me. Of course, he ignored me because he wanted to give other students a chance to express their ideas. Therefore, he pointed to a student in the middle of the room.
"What about you, Harry? Surely you've read at least one work of Shakespeare?"
Harry, my classmate, raised his head while fiddling with his pen on his hand.
"I don't know. Romeo and Juliet?"
"Romeo and Juliet, of course. An ever-so classic tragedy. Correct, however I would prefer it that you stand up when answering me."
Everyone chuckled at his comment.
"Now, what can you tell me about Romeo and Juliet?"
I raised my hand once again to answer to which Mr. Hansen sighed at. I could tell that he was about to pick me when another hand suddenly raised. I looked over to my right side to see that it was a guy that I had never seen in school before.
He had wavy ginger hair, light brown eyes, and light skin. This guy was definitely new because if he wasn't I would have remembered him, especially with all his noticeable features.
"Well, looks like we have a stand-off. Alright, both of you stand up and let the class hear your thoughts."
Both of us stood up and Mr. Hansen pointed his finger at me.
"Miss Hansley. Let's hear yours first since you also raised your hand earlier."
"Well, as all of we know, Romeo and Juliet is the tragic love story of between two lovers. Even though they were separated by the feud between their families, they still loved each other. Romeo fought for Juliet no matter what the circumstances where while Juliet defended Romeo the best that she could from her family."
I momentarily paused and looked at my classmates.
"Romeo died for Juliet as she died for Romeo. This piece of Shakespeare's work is what invented the trope that is known today as the 'star-crossed lovers.' Shakespeare made it clear to us that not all lovers end up happily together."
"That's where you're wrong, Miss Hansley."
I glanced at the ginger-haired guy who was looking back at me.
"Please, elaborate Mr. Hendrix." Mr. Hansen said while gesturing for him to state his point. I turned to him, eager to hear his answer.
"Romeo and Juliet was not a love story nor was it a tragedy. It was a satire invented by Shakespeare made to mock the 'love-at-first-sight' idea. Think about it. No one would actually fall in love that fast with a maiden, most especially die for them."
He stared right into my eyes as I stared back. I could tell that he was asserting his dominance on his answer to me, mocking me of my answer from earlier.
"The so-called 'tragedy' that you called at the end was made to mock the naivety of a young maiden falling in love. Shakespeare was poking fun at the idea of love and did not plan for it to be a tragedy or romance."
"Are you saying that all the time Romeo spent on courting Juliet was all for naught, Mr. Hendrix? Romeo visited Juliet every night to prove his love and devotion towards her. Juliet tried to push him away but Romeo was determined and that determination was what led Romeo to fall in love with him."
I crossed my arms.
"Sure, Romeo was infatuated towards her during the beginning. However, as time passed by they both slowly fell in love with each other. They were in love. To add more, Juliet was in a state of shock and sadness that she had no idea what had happened nor what to do."
He chuckled at me.
"You're only making my point Miss Hansley. Romeo was 'infatuated.' Do you really think that it's romantic to stalk the girl you just met and show up at her window? If so, how naïve you must be."
The class "oohed" at his comment as he sent me a smug grin. I glared at him.
"Furthermore, would you really go as far as to stab yourself when you see the person you love died?"
I breathed deeply.
"You must understand Mr. Hendrix," I made a point to emphasized his last name.
"Their time was different from ours. What you consider as stalking was considered as courting back then. And to answer your second question, they were young. Dying for each other was what they considered true love. They wanted to spend the rest of their days together even after death."
I stared him down.
"Now, it's my turn to ask you a question Mr. Hendrix." He cocked his head to the side, curious to hear my question.
"Have you ever been in love before?"
He laughed at me. "Well, I have not Miss Hansley and I assume that you haven't either."
"Do tell." I said.
The air was filled with tension. The class was silent and so was Mr. Hansen. This is probably the most interesting thing that has happened in English class for the past few weeks, that's why no one dared interrupt our debate. Mr. Henson was definitely enjoying this since it meant that he doesn't get to teach while also improving our debate skills.
"They both wanted each other to live side-by-side. They weren't in love, they were selfish. Too blinded by the idea of loving someone. If they really loved each other, Romeo wouldn't have killed himself because Juliet wanted him to live even if she was gone. Letting go of someone is a form of true love."
He paused and grinned at me. I gaped at him. I had no more words to throw back at him.
"If Romeo had did that, Juliet wouldn't have had stabbed herself and they would both be still living happily. That's why Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' was a satire literary work."
Everyone clapped at him as Mr. Hansen praised him. He was still staring at me as I continued to glare at him.
"Miss Hansley, you and I had never fallen in love before. So, how about we learn love together?"
It took all of us a minute to process his words and when we did the whole class roared at his comment as I thought about ways on how to end him right here and now.
"Alright class, calm down. Both of you sit down."
I refused to look at him after that and sat down. The whole class were still teasing us about his comment but I just ignored it.
"Now, the two of you made very good points but we need to get back to Hamlet. You're exam's next week so I want you all to listen and study well about this certain subject."
And that's when all their teasing turned into groans of tiredness.