Page 71 of Substitute for Love

“Absolutely, good point,” Avery said. “Anyone else?”Please?She looked at the clock. Ten minutes of class left.

“Subs! Subs! Subs!” the students chanted loudly.

Gabe stood stage left, his hands behind his back. He raised his eyebrows at Avery, who begrudgingly grabbed a copy ofRomeo and Julietand joined him center stage, the students cheering and clapping.

“Don’t you need a book?” she asked.

Gabe shook his head, his eyes gleaming, his face smirking. Somehow this enigma of a man was completely vulnerable athis kitchen table, but up here on stage he was the epitome of confidence.

“You are full of surprises,” Avery said, mostly to herself.

He held out his hand and waited. She slowly approached, not looking at him so she could avoid his beautiful blue eyes, and yet the strong reassurance of his touch calmed and excited her as she slid her hand into his.

ROMEO/GABE (his voice soft and low): What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand

Of yonder knight?

SERVINGMAN/AVERY: Uh, I know not, sir.

ROMEO/GABE (Putting his other hand on hers): O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night ….

For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.

For several seconds, Gabe’s eyes lingered on her, Avery and Gabe the only two people on Earth. His words, though part of a play, felt so real. Her heartbeat quickened.

“Yay! Let’s goooo!” hooted Jake from the front row, while the rest of the students cheered. The applause only egged on Gabe even more.

ROMEO/GABE: If I profane with my unworthiest hand…

Avery pulled her hand away from him—an off-script move, but heat was rising up her throat. She had to put a stop to their interaction.

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

She turned away from him, but he walked around and faced her, the students reacting with scoffs.

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

He reached out and held her chin, but she pushed his arm away.No you didn’t, Gabe.

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

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

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

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

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

Avery and Gabe locked eyes, neither moving a muscle. In that moment, the man she thought she could resist was literally reciting Shakespeare from memory, their relationship basically playing out as if the bard had written it about them.

How could her literary-loving heart not swoon?

“Kiss her! Kiss her!” The students chanted.

The bell rang, Gabe walked away, and the students booed.

---