"Shakespeare," Mrs. Pepper, standing no taller than five feet, reached up and scribbled the word on the board. "Was one of literature's greatest figures, writing a total of thirty-seven plays and one hundred and fifty-four sonnets, many of which you all know of. There is Hamlet, Julius Ceasar, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and who could forget one of the most popular of all time, Romeo and Juliet?" She turned to the class, her smile bright. Her gray hair was back in a bun and her eyes were a bright blue, blue as the sky. She looked like one of those elderly woman that would be seen in the park feeding pigeons or maybe parading the streets with a sign that encouraged people to save the environment or something. "There are many symbols, allusions, archetypes, similes, metaphors and all types of things in this lovely play. You get to identify them all with a partner that I will chose for each of you."
Several sighs and groans were heard from around the room. Mrs. Pepper waved a hand at them, laughing over the sound of her rattling bracelets. "Now now, don't get too excited. You will have until the end of the quarter to finish this project. It can be a poster, a report, a movie, a play--" "A play?" "Yes, Zack, a play, or a powerpoint or a painting or anything! Let your imagination go wild! The sky is the limit, so be creative everyone. Now, I'll be putting everyone in pairs. When I call your name, you and your partner come get one book each and start reading. Ready?" The woman picked up a clipboard with shaking hands and walking over to the bookshelf, her dark blue dress so long that it made her look like she was floating towards it. Clearing her throat, she lowered her glasses from her hair and focused on the names on the listen. "Hailey Smith and Prince Wagner, you two will be partners. Next two are Ashlyn Peterson and Zachary Robin. Marlee Machanzee and Hagen Smith. Rebecca Frost and Adam O'Malley. Summer Day and Elijah Woods. Hazel Frosse and Marco Film. Paris Wagner and Tyson Nix. Macy Thorton and Daniel Sanders. Kiara Liby and Ezequiel Robin. Claire and Troy Sanders. And last but not least, Joy Charks and Brody Mass" She checked off the last pair of names, smiling sweetly. She didn't notice the dull looks or the moans of pure agony coming from her class. Instead, she sauntered her way over to her chair and sat, crossing her hands in front of her. "Isn't learning great? Now get to reading, chop chop!"
This wasn't possible. Zeke glanced back at the many rows of desks and at the girl he was supposed to be partnered with. Kiara Liby. She wasn't a popular, and she didn't look like a geek. But still, she wasn't a popular. He couldn't work with someone like that. Not with his popularity at stake. His hand shot up, and before the teacher could call him name, he blurted out, "Excuse me, can we switch partners?" Mrs. Pepper leaned forward in her desk and tilted her head, her gentle eyes on the jock. "But that wouldn't be fun, now would it, Ezequiel?" His face fell. Was this some kind of game to her? Mrs. Pepper only smiled at his frown and waved over at the distraught students. "Partners are permanent! Enjoy yourselves, class." Zeke scowled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Hopefully the three months went by faster. He doubted that would be the case though. Kicking his backpack out of the way, the boy stood and trudged over to the bookcase, his footsteps slow and dragging. He didn't talk to this Kiara girl, but grabbed the book and slumped into the empty chair beside her. He flipped it open to a random page and lifted it up to his face so no one could see him.
"Who in the world is Adam O'Reilly?" Becca whispered, leaning over to one of her friendly Geeks and nudging him on the arm. With a grin the size of Texas, Zack elbowed her back and laughed cheerfully. "Can you believe it? We can do a play! One with costumes and props and--" "I asked you a question, genius." She mumbled, and the boy cocked his head before turning to look around the room. "Oh. Right. It's O'Malley, isn't it? I think it's that dude that speaks Irelandish or something." He shrugged and picked up his things, then walked over to look for his partner. Becca sighed, covering her face with her hand. The guy that spoke "Irelandish." That sure helped a lot. Shifting in her seat, she cast another uncomfortable look around the room, hoping her partner would find her so she wouldn't have to do so herself.
Zachary, on the other hand, was too excited about the project to care about who his partner was. Talk about an easy A! He could act out a play by Shakespeare, one of his favorite playwrights. If he were a girl, he'd be squealing at this moment. But thankfully for the rest of the class, the most he did was wear that huge smile. Now all he had to do was find this Ashlyn girl. And he found her. She was a Popular, his brother had told him. He always gossiped about the people at school whenever they were at home. He guessed Zeke wasn't embarrassed to talk to him whenever they were at home. Word was Ashlyn was sisters with a Popular that left the school not that long ago. She was quiet, so she was in the group but not really in the group. Interesting. Zack walked up to Ashlyn's table and pressed his hands against its surface. "Hello there." He leaned forward, his shaggy hair framed around his glasses. "I'm Zack."
Just her luck. Hazel was paired up with a geek. Not just any geek, but a hyperactive, giggly geek. Of course! Why not? Just another thing to add to her bad day. Her hair had refused to cooperate with her this morning, so she hid it under a cute cream-colored cloche hat. Her father wasn't left early, so she had to eat breakfast by herself. Again. Her best friend was absent today, so she had no one to walk with during passing period. Hazel rested her chin in the palm of her hand, her lips in a slight frown. She already gave up for today.
Several sighs and groans were heard from around the room. Mrs. Pepper waved a hand at them, laughing over the sound of her rattling bracelets. "Now now, don't get too excited. You will have until the end of the quarter to finish this project. It can be a poster, a report, a movie, a play--" "A play?" "Yes, Zack, a play, or a powerpoint or a painting or anything! Let your imagination go wild! The sky is the limit, so be creative everyone. Now, I'll be putting everyone in pairs. When I call your name, you and your partner come get one book each and start reading. Ready?" The woman picked up a clipboard with shaking hands and walking over to the bookshelf, her dark blue dress so long that it made her look like she was floating towards it. Clearing her throat, she lowered her glasses from her hair and focused on the names on the listen. "Hailey Smith and Prince Wagner, you two will be partners. Next two are Ashlyn Peterson and Zachary Robin. Marlee Machanzee and Hagen Smith. Rebecca Frost and Adam O'Malley. Summer Day and Elijah Woods. Hazel Frosse and Marco Film. Paris Wagner and Tyson Nix. Macy Thorton and Daniel Sanders. Kiara Liby and Ezequiel Robin. Claire and Troy Sanders. And last but not least, Joy Charks and Brody Mass" She checked off the last pair of names, smiling sweetly. She didn't notice the dull looks or the moans of pure agony coming from her class. Instead, she sauntered her way over to her chair and sat, crossing her hands in front of her. "Isn't learning great? Now get to reading, chop chop!"
This wasn't possible. Zeke glanced back at the many rows of desks and at the girl he was supposed to be partnered with. Kiara Liby. She wasn't a popular, and she didn't look like a geek. But still, she wasn't a popular. He couldn't work with someone like that. Not with his popularity at stake. His hand shot up, and before the teacher could call him name, he blurted out, "Excuse me, can we switch partners?" Mrs. Pepper leaned forward in her desk and tilted her head, her gentle eyes on the jock. "But that wouldn't be fun, now would it, Ezequiel?" His face fell. Was this some kind of game to her? Mrs. Pepper only smiled at his frown and waved over at the distraught students. "Partners are permanent! Enjoy yourselves, class." Zeke scowled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Hopefully the three months went by faster. He doubted that would be the case though. Kicking his backpack out of the way, the boy stood and trudged over to the bookcase, his footsteps slow and dragging. He didn't talk to this Kiara girl, but grabbed the book and slumped into the empty chair beside her. He flipped it open to a random page and lifted it up to his face so no one could see him.
"Who in the world is Adam O'Reilly?" Becca whispered, leaning over to one of her friendly Geeks and nudging him on the arm. With a grin the size of Texas, Zack elbowed her back and laughed cheerfully. "Can you believe it? We can do a play! One with costumes and props and--" "I asked you a question, genius." She mumbled, and the boy cocked his head before turning to look around the room. "Oh. Right. It's O'Malley, isn't it? I think it's that dude that speaks Irelandish or something." He shrugged and picked up his things, then walked over to look for his partner. Becca sighed, covering her face with her hand. The guy that spoke "Irelandish." That sure helped a lot. Shifting in her seat, she cast another uncomfortable look around the room, hoping her partner would find her so she wouldn't have to do so herself.
Zachary, on the other hand, was too excited about the project to care about who his partner was. Talk about an easy A! He could act out a play by Shakespeare, one of his favorite playwrights. If he were a girl, he'd be squealing at this moment. But thankfully for the rest of the class, the most he did was wear that huge smile. Now all he had to do was find this Ashlyn girl. And he found her. She was a Popular, his brother had told him. He always gossiped about the people at school whenever they were at home. He guessed Zeke wasn't embarrassed to talk to him whenever they were at home. Word was Ashlyn was sisters with a Popular that left the school not that long ago. She was quiet, so she was in the group but not really in the group. Interesting. Zack walked up to Ashlyn's table and pressed his hands against its surface. "Hello there." He leaned forward, his shaggy hair framed around his glasses. "I'm Zack."
Just her luck. Hazel was paired up with a geek. Not just any geek, but a hyperactive, giggly geek. Of course! Why not? Just another thing to add to her bad day. Her hair had refused to cooperate with her this morning, so she hid it under a cute cream-colored cloche hat. Her father wasn't left early, so she had to eat breakfast by herself. Again. Her best friend was absent today, so she had no one to walk with during passing period. Hazel rested her chin in the palm of her hand, her lips in a slight frown. She already gave up for today.
