Daydreams and the occasional glare from Mr. Howard filled my first few hours in school that day. Before long, it was time for recess.

I bought myself two bags of chips from the school shop, which had to suffice as breakfast. The table I sat at filled up in about two minutes.

Hans said to me, "I've been thinking about the back-to-school party."

"And?"

"Originally I planned to organize a costume party-"

"Then you realized Halloween is next month."

"Ditto. So, I thought, 'how do I use a thousand dollars to organize an unforgettable party?' That's when it hit me, the best idea ever, the jewel among the-"

I sighed. "Can you get on with it and stop your attempts to hide the fact you're flunking English?"

A sheepish grin formed on Hans' face as snickers rippled over the table. "Right, sorry. The idea I have is... a pool party."

I stared at Hans, then dug a finger into my ear. Bringing it out, I frowned. "Funny, there's no wax on this, so I didn't misinterpret your words. You want us to throw a pool party?"

"A pool party would be great-"

"Oh, sure it will. Who'll forget the party they caught pneumonia after attending?"

"What are you-" His eyes widened, then he shook his head. "I don't mean a pool party outside! You know that resort, 'The Blue Diamond?'

"Yeah. My family owns it."

"I rented part of it for a night. It has an indoor heated pool, a good DJ, snacks, alcohol... everything you need to have a good party!"

I blinked. Damn, maybe I was wrong.

"That's... not a bad idea for a party."

He smirked. "Never again doubt my party planning ability. That's my thing!"

My fists clenched. Asides from kissing ass and bullying, right? I can testify to your skill in that regard.

"You're right, I shouldn't have doubted you. Party planning is the only thing you're good at, so of course, you have enough energy to put into it, right?"

Laughter and jeers flowed across the table.

Hans grinned, even as people took jabs at him as they patted him on his back.

Yet, a spark of anger was visible in his eyes.

I smirked. You are a stick, Hans Davis, and I'm going to break you.

. . .

"Angelo, can you tell me what year the Korean civil war started?"

I shrugged at the man in front of the class. "You fought in it, so shouldn't you know?"

"Don't be ridiculous, I fell asleep in the Victorian ages and woke up after the Vietnam War!"

Laughter sprung up in the class. Even I couldn't stop myself from cracking a smile.

The area around his dark brown eyes crinkled as a smile broke out across his face. "Jokes aside, what's the answer?"

"1950."

"Good. I don't know why so many teachers complain about the fact you don't pay attention to their class. Honestly, I wouldn't mind if all my students do what you do. As long as you all are getting good grades, I can use this period to catch up on my sleep."

"You can also read a newspaper then."

"Nah, I move with the times. I read my news online now."

More laughter broke out across the class as other students began to shoot him with comments.

How the fuck am I supposed to move from this to Miss Lane's class?

. . .

Miss Lane's lesson was... absolutely uneventful.

When I first walked into the class, I was shivering a bit. But nothing happened. Neither she nor Aimee spared me a look.

It was kinda insulting.

Thankfully, that was a drop in the emotions that flooded through me when the class ended.

I gathered my books then hurried towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

Before I could step over the threshold, a hand grabbed my shoulder.

Looking back, I furrowed my brow at Aimee. "Where else? Class is over, so I'm leaving."

Her red lips pursued as her eyes narrowed. "Maybe you've forgotten-"

"-all the threats I've been receiving?"

"No- wait, yes!"

"I wasn't sure they were real, or I was dreaming-"

"Okay, enough with the rhyming!"

"Aimee dear, can you please move? I have a staff meeting in ten minutes, and I'll like to eat before then."

Miss Lane didn't even bother to look at me as she said those words.

Aimee said, "Oh Miss Delane, wait! Angelo has something to say to you-" She shot me a pointed look, "-don't you, Angelo?"

Miss Lane's nose wrinkled. "Oh, Mr. Smith. Well, what is it?"

Taking a deep breath, I smiled. "Thank you for the wonderful lesson, Miss Lane."

For a while, none of them said anything. Miss Lane stared at me bewildered, while steam poured out of Aimee as she shot me murderous looks.

After an eternity, Miss Lane rose an eyebrow at me. "Is that it?"

I nodded.

"No, it isn't!" Aimee crossed her arms. "Isn't there something else you want to tell Miss Delane? You know, like an apology?"

I shrugged. "I can't imagine why I'd want to do something like that."

"Oh, let me jog your memory! Miss Delane, do you think I should stop harassing Angelo, and maybe get out of his hair?"

This bitch!

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Miss Delane replied after a pause.

Restraining myself from gritting my teeth, I sighed. "Miss Lane, telling you how wonderful your lesson was isn't what I wanted to tell you. In fact, that was a lie-"

"Angelo-"

"-right, not important right now. "I-I guess what I want to say is... I'm... going to play Romeo in your play!"

"Excuse me? Are you demanding to do it?"

"No, no, he's not!" Aimee said as I said, "Is there a problem with that?"

Miss Lane waved Aimee off before fixing me with a steely look. "Why would I want to have you play such a prestigious part?"

"I can't imagine why you-"

"-wouldn't!" Aimee interjected.

Miss Lane ran her eyes over me. "And how am I sure you wouldn't... repeat the horrors you did yesterday?"

I sighed. "There's no indicator that I-"

"-would!" Aimee interjected again. "Look, Miss, what Angelo did was because of nerves. He wants to do this play-"

I scoffed.

"-so if you give him another chance, he'll give it his all." She fixed Miss Lane with puppy dog eyes.

Please say no-

"Another chance, no problem!" Miss Lane rushed to her desk. "I'll hate to lose such a handsome Romeo and beautiful Juliet anyways. I can totally see the chemistry between the two of you!"

I choked on my spit.

Aimee laughed. "Oh, I have a boyfriend."

"What a shame!" Fishing out a script from her desk, Miss Lane handed it to me. "Here. This time, try to handle it with more care, okay?"

I grinned. "I'll treat it as is if it is my own child."

"Considering that's what you said yesterday, please don't! Am I glad Romeo and Juliet didn't have children! Now, begin, and I want to see some acting!"

The temperature seemed to drop by several degrees.

I'm going to read it. Again. Then they would come for me. Again.

I asked, "N- now? Don't you have a meeting?"

"Teacher's meeting- Oh, I said that because I didn't want to be in class with a heretic any longer than I had to! Now, no more stalling, begin!"

Aimee said, "Since we aren't sure Angelo won't have another nervous breakdown now, can we read it instead? At least until he's comfortable doing it."

My breath caught. Will they still come if I read it instead?

After a while, Miss Lane settled back in her seat as she sighed. "Oh well, if that's best."

"Thank you, Miss." Turning back to me with glimmering eyes, Aimee asked, "Romeo, shall we begin?"

I sighed, although I could feel a weight rising off my shoulders. "Do I have a choice?"

"Nope."

"You have your answer then."