The Diary of a Crazy Teenager

"Romeo and Juliet!"

"No Othello!"

"Who the hell wants to act that play? It's controversial."

"Then Romeo and Juliet."

"Please, you're just looking for an excuse to kiss a girl above your standard!"

"You bitch I'll..."

Alice groaned and rubbed her middle of her forehead. If she had known that this was what she signed up for, she might have as well stayed home.

For the past one hour, she had been seated in the theater room, waiting for the rest of the cast to come to a mutual agreement.

The drama director, had instructed them to pick a suitable play that they felt they could embody and spoke more to them. She had emphasized on uniqueness passion and the fact that the best performer would get a prize. So the moment she had stepped out of the room to give the students the open floor to speak, it had turned to a mad house with each person fighting for the play they felt they could portray more and outshine others.

Humans were so selfish.

"This is a mad house." Alice whispered to herself.

"How long are we going to be here?" Erica asked as she tapped her boots on the carpeted ground.

Alice chuckled at the question and stole a glance at her friend whose normally cherry face was turned down in a scowl. "Are you psychic? You literally read my mind."

Alice crossed her legs and looked around the room. The one thing her school prided itself with was the massive stage it had with the perfect equipments. It was the perfect stage to make a debut to the acting industry and, it was quite common to see scouts during school events.

She looked at the right and noticed a bunch of people who had secluded themselves from the argument, screwing light bulbs into the celling.

Erica looked at the direction that Alice stared at and she nudged her head. "Curious about them?" She asked.

"Yeah, kinda."

"It's the maintenance and technical crew." Erica commented and pointed at Laura who was amongst them. "Our puppy over there seems excited."

"I know right? I was surprised when she said she'd act. It isn't really her forte." Alice said. She smiled lightly and felt a warm feeling in her chest. She was proud that Laura found something that she'd fit into right away. And that was something she herself was incapable of doing.

Alice sighed and shifted her attention back to the noisy kids. At least they all seemed to have passion, but the only passion she seemed to have, was all channeled into sleeping. She couldn't feel motivated to do anything, even if her life depended on it. She wasn't like Erica that was excited for the cameras to start rolling, or like Laura that wanted the set to be as perfect as she was. Neither was she like Ronnie that was the stage manager and, derived joy from bossing people around.

Why was she here again?

Oh yes, she was merely doing this for her friends, not even for the plot.

"Everyone, shut up!!!"

Alice turned her head and chuckled when she saw the fumming face of her friend.

"Red is so not her color." Alice commented as she looked at her red face which contrasted with her short white dress.

"...but the Drama teacher told us to decide on what play we're doing." One of the students whined.

"Yes she did but, it's been an hour and you guys are still shouting at the top of your lungs, achieving nothing."

"But we've done something." A girl in blue interjected.

"I pray, do tell me what exactly you've done?"

"Well...we've..." The girl looked around the room, stammering and feeling intimidated by Veronica's intense gaze. She shook her head and mumbled and apology.

Veronica rolled her eyes and looked back at the casts and crew. "Before I was interrupted, we concluded that you all have achieved nothing right?"

The students all reluctantly echoed an affirmation and she continued.

"So we could do a poll which I think would be very stressful but it will allow each person to exercise their freedom of choice or, we could ask the drama director what she wants. So which option do you prefer?"

"Drama director."

"The director."

"Definitely the director for me."

Veronica, looked at Alice, awaiting her reply. When Alice realized that, she sighed and nodded her head reluctantly. "Let's wait for the drama director."

***

"It seems you students can't do anything without me, and here I was thinking you were all mature." The drama director shunned them. Her red beet face, was covered with heavy framed spectacles and her chest went up and down, indicating that she was struggling to breathe.

"Sorry Miss Medley."

"Humph, I didn't expect much from you kids anyways. Well I already have something planned for the play so listen up."

Every student in the room leaned forward and Alice, could feel the shift in mood. The once noisy room became quiet and the excitement could be felt in the air.

"This year, I want something unique and more versatile. Something that the audience would not be expecting. Asides that, you should all remember that as much as team work is essential to the progress of the play, this is also a competition." Miss Medley paused to make sure that they were listening to her and when she was sure that she had their attention, she continued.

"...this means that individual marks will be allocated. Every single thing you do on that final day will be observed, be it those acting or those in charge of the set and if you're lucky enough, you could be scouted. So I want you to give it your best." Miss Medley looked directly at Alice, as though she were referring to her, and she shifted uncomfortably on her seat.

"Now, the play we'll be doing is a Shakespeare work and no, it's not Romeo and Juliet. No one is dying or kissing." She looked at the boy who had suggested it and glared at him.

"Neither is it Othello."

"Then what play is it? Hamlet? Macbeth?" A student asked.

"No students, it is best to act a play that utilizes as many people as possible. So that everyone has a role to play and brings about versatility. Why have one lead character when you can have many?"

"Then, is it Romeo and Juliet?" Another student asked.

"No dummy, weren't you listening?" Veronica sniggered.

"Wrong, wrong, wrong." Miss Medley shook her head and walked to the podium. She stopped in front of it and stretched out her hands dramatically. "Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight I present you the show that you've all been waiting for!"

For the first time since the audition was brought up, Alice could feel a chill down her spine and an excitement that she had once thought was non-existent in her began to build up. Maybe this wasn't going to be bad after all. This was going to be definitely eventful and the spice that she needed to end the school year.

"Midsummer Night Dream!"

Alice, threw her head back and laughed. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that that was what they would act out.

Her sudden laughter, drew the attention of everyone in the room and they stared at her. She waved her hands apologetically and blushed awkwardly. "Sorry for interrupting." She mumbled.

The Miss Medley, pointed at Aloce and signalled her to get up. "You."

"Me?"

"Yes, come here."

Alice hesistated before she stood up from her seat and walked to her. "Yess ma'am."

"What's your name?"

"Alice, my name is Alice."

"And what's your role here? Surely it's not to create a nuisance."

"No Miss Medley, I'm part of the cast."

Miss Medley, took note of her physique and nodded in what seemed to be satisfaction. "You'll do."

"Excuse me?"

"Alice, you'll be playing the role of the fairy queen."

"Me?!" Alice widened her eyes in shock and took a step back. "Why? Aren't we all supposed to try each role and decide on what best suits us?"

"Yes but, I'm the drama director and whatever I say, goes. Besides, we don't have the time to waste. We have so much to do and so little time."

Miss Medley, turned away from Alice and towards the other students. "And on that note, I brought in someone who'll play the role of the King of fairies. I totally forgot to mention this earlier but I felt there was no need since this individual was formally a student of ours and now he's back." Miss Medley clapped her hand and signalled for someone behind the door. "You can come in now!"

Alice closed her eyes and released a frustrated breathe. What the actual hell was happening? Surely, nothing worse than this could happen. Right?

A tall brunette boy, strode inside the room as though he owned the place and everyone's eyes glue to him.

Some girls shrieked in excitement, which caused Alice to open her eyes but nothing, would have prepared her for who she was about to meet.

The once warm air, became icy cold as amber eyes, met brown eyes.

Alice sucked in a breathe and concluded that she was reliving her worst nightmare.

"Students, meet Eric!" The Drama director exclaime

d happily, oblivious to the fact that Alice was a few seconds away from passing out or jumping from a window."

"Someone, please wake me up."

***