Page 70 of Substitute for Love

“No worries. It’s just pretend.” Gabe stole a glance at Avery, her cheeks flushing like Jake’s had earlier. Was Gabe insinuating something?

Again Jake cleared his throat, but hesitated. Gabe approached him and said, “What’s your favorite movie?”

Jake shrugged and answered: “Spider-Man.”

He nodded. “Just pretend you’re Spider-Man, and Juliet is MJ.”

Gabe backed away stage left as Jake looked over the words again, cleared his throat and began again. This time, the words flowed much better, the drama in his voice more natural.

Everyone clapped. “Great job!” Avery said. “Okay, continue on line 104.”

Jake scanned the text. “It says I have to take her hand. Do I have to?”

Sarah already had her hand out, waiting, sighing and rolling her eyes. “It’s acting. Come on, hurry or there won’t be time left for the subs to act out this part!”

Jake grabbed her hand. “Woah, softer, bruh,” Sarah said, and Jake let go, then more gently held her hand. Avery tried not to giggle, thinking how awkward yet cute it was.

“So, a note, Jake,” Gabe said. “Romeo is already super in love with Juliet, so he calls her hand a shrine, but then Juliet is trying to shoot him down. But Romeo keeps going through the sarcasm.” Again, he glanced at Avery. She narrowed her eyes at him. Wait, was he talking about Romeo and Juliet or Gabe and Avery?

Jake nodded, holding up Sarah’s hand. He was really getting into this.

ROMEO/JAKE: If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

JULIET/SARAH: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

ROMEO/JAKE: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

JULIET/SARAH (with sarcasm): Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

ROMEO/JAKE: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.

They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.

JULIET/SARAH: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

ROMEO/JAKE: Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.

“Wait, the book says to kiss her.” Jake backed away while the other students snickered.

“No, no. You can stop there. You both did great. Everyone give a hand for Romeo and Juliet!” Avery said, directing them to sit.

The students really had done a good job. Avery clapped and smiled, but inside her heart dropped. Because there was still time for her and Gabe to act out the scene. Maybe she could draw out the discussion portion of the class.

“What are your thoughts on the drama or the literature of the scene?” she asked. “Yes, over there, Kate, right?”

She nodded. “I mean, even though the words were super old, it was still kinda the same vibe as kids talking today.”

---