Marie sat at her desk in drama as the kids filed in. Once again Marilyn walked in, flipping her blonde hair to the side before swaying to the front of the class.

"I hear it's dyed," Billy whispered.

Marie glanced at him. "What?"

"Marilyn's hair. You keep glaring at her so I thought I'd let you know, her blonde hair isn't real."

"Oh."

It gave her a moment of introspection. She hadn't realized her face gave away her jealousy of Marilyn. Marilyn never even talked to Marie, but she felt like they were the bitterest enemies. Marie took a deep breath and tried to see Marilyn in a kinder light.

As Marilyn sat down, one of the buttons on her blouse popped open. Marilyn giggled as she looked down.

"Oops!" She calmly buttoned the loose button again and Marie fought the desire to roll her eyes.

"I heard she has a thing for my playwright teacher," Billy said.

Marie closed her eyes and shook her head. "How do you know this stuff?"

"Alright!" Mr. Hitchcock called out when the bell rang. "Everyone to the stage! Sit in the center first two rows, please. It's time to perform our monologues."

Marie chewed on her lips as she followed the crowd, feeling nauseous.

"Ug, I hate this, I hate this, I hate this," Marie said. She would have sworn but didn't want to tempt fate.

She sat between Billy and Abe with Albert next to Billy. Mr. Hitchcock told Marilyn to turn the stage lights on. Marilyn looked confused but left. Marie continued to feel the butterflies in her stomach start to get more violent.

It was a good five minutes before Mr. Hitchcock rubbed the bridge of his nose, muttered something about cattle, and told another student to help Marilyn get the lights on.

Marie groaned, covering her face. "I don't want to do this."

The stage lights came on. Mr. Hitchcock pulled out a clip board and shouted out a name.

"Good," Marie said. "It's alphabetical."

"Yeah, by the time they get to my name, I'll have to think of a way it hasn't been performed before," Billy said.

The monologues went by quickly. Quick enough that Marie still felt like she would throw up when her name was called. Marie got up on trembling legs, vaguely aware of her friends who gave her words of encouragement. She climbed onto the stage, feeling the weight of the stares on her. The stage lights were bright, as Billy said, making it impossible to identify anyone in the audience. She wouldn't see their reactions, though she could still hear their whispers. Marie closed her eyes and forced herself to stop thinking about others and perform her monologue.

How did it start?

"Um..."

Marie opened her eyes, staring above everyone's heads and forced herself to ignore the audience.

"It's strange I only got along with my friend after a fight..." she began, shakily, to recite the monologue.

She started to recite the small story of a person losing a dear friend. A nagging at the back of her head told her to do more with her arms than just folding them, but she was afraid she'd forget everything if she moved. Any emotion in her voice was gone. She was a few pitches above monotone. It had to be good enough. She felt no emotion for this person she was pretending to be. It was an assignment she wanted to get over with.

"And so maybe, one day, I'll meet my friend again." She ended the monologue and gave a smile. She got through it without forgetting any segments. She was quite proud of herself for it.

There were a few bits of scattered applause. Abe, Albert, and Billy gave her the loudest, with Billy giving her a standing ovation. Marie couldn't help but smile as she returned to her seat.

"You got through it without vomiting. I was seriously afraid you were headed for the bathroom," Abe said.

Marie suppressed a smile. "Thanks Abe."

A relieved sigh escaped her as she sat down. It wasn't over. There were still the cold reads. Marie tried hard not to think of it. Surely other people would struggle with the cold read, right?

It was soon Albert's turn. He performed his monologue, and Marie had to admit he was a pretty good actor. Abe did his a few minutes after and did quite well.

Edgar gave his monologue, and Marie squirmed in her seat the entire time. It was crazy how the same monologue could mean different things from different people. Edgar turned up the creepy and Marie imagined a stalker instead of a friend pining for the loss. Edgar was a tad more animated than his normal self, and Marie realized it made him creepier. She was almost glad Edgar only stared in real life.

"And so, maybe one day, I'll meet my friend... again."

Everyone was silent except for Billy, who also gave Edgar a standing ovation. He even added a whistle.

"Anyone else get the feeling Poe's character is about to murder the friend?" Albert asked.

Marie and Abe nodded uncomfortably.

Billy sat down, a huge smile on his face. "Macbeth, he was incredible!"

Albert, Abe, and Marie all stared at him, but he didn't notice.

A few more people went after Edgar, then it was Billy's turn. Marie watched in amazement as her goofy friend changed into the calm nameless character who told a sad but hopeful story about lost friendship. Despite the fact it was the same monologue everyone else had to study, Marie felt captivated and caught up in his performance. When it was over, the audience gave Billy a huge round of applause. Marie couldn't help but notice some of the students glared at Billy jealously. Billy, who didn't seem to notice the jealous looks, smiled and bowed, then returned to his seat. Albert and Marie were shell shocked as Abe smiled.

"Dude, I had no idea you were that good," Albert said.

"Why do you think he's going to skip a grade? Incredible Billy!" Marie said.

Billy waved the compliments away. "Possibly. I might possibly skip a grade."

Marie shook her head. "It's going to happen, Billy."

The rest of the class finished their monologues.

"Okay! On to the cold reads. I will call on two people to read from a page in this script, written by one of our graduates. Give it your best. Marie Curie and Billy Shakespeare are up first!"

Marie gave a relieved sigh. She'd be first, and she was performing with Billy. Billy gave her a comforting smile.

"Let's go, Marie."

They walked to Mr. Hitchcock and got their scripts.

"The blue highlighted section, please. Marie, you are Cecily and Billy, you're Algernon."

"Thanks, Mr. Hitchcock," Billy said as he started up the stairs to the stage.

Marie caught up with Billy, trying to get a head start on the thirty second read through. It seemed like a basic love scene. There were some things she was confused about, but she'd do her best.

"Take a deep breath," Billy whispered as they got on the stage. "Pretend we're back in your living room if it makes you feel better. There's no one else here but us."

Marie took a deep breath and nodded, then read through the short segment and tried to retain as much as she could.

"Preparations are over. Please begin," Mr. Hitchcock said.

Her heart stopped in a panic when she turned and saw Billy. Again, she had to remind her this was Billy, but Macbeth the way he was looking at her made her already anxious heart go into overdrive. She was afraid her situation was back to a love tetrahedron.

"You'll never break off our engagement again, Cecily?" Billy asked.

Marie glanced at the script and made sure to keep it away from her face. She tried to turn so her back wasn't to the audience. And project her voice for everyone to hear. There were too many little things she had to remember.

"I don't think I could break it off now that I have actually met you. Besides, of course, there is the question of your name," she said.

Billy made a point to look uncomfortable and didn't keep eye contact. "Yes, of course."

"You must not laugh at me, darling, but it had always been a girlish dream of mine to love someone whose name was Ernest." Billy was now looking extremely uncomfortable. How did he get to be such a good actor? "There is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence. I pity any poor married woman whose husband is not called Earnest."

Billy turned to her and, to Marie's surprise, grasped her hand. "But, my dear child, do you mean to say you could not love me if I had some other name?"

Unlike the monologue, this part of acting didn't rely on her. She was simply with her friend, pretending, and it was easier with him than with a stranger. She could do this!

"But what name?" Marie asked as this girl Cecily.

"Oh, any name you like – Algernon – for instance..."

Marie shook her head. "But I don't like the name of Algernon."

Billy's face flushed. Could he even control his blushes? Marie found herself blushing with him. "Well, my own dear, sweet, loving little darling, I really can't see why you should object to the name of Algernon." He said it through gritted teeth while still maintaining a pleasant air. "It is not at all a bad name. In fact, it is rather an aristocratic name. Half of the chaps who get into the Bankruptcy Court are called Algernon. But seriously, Cecily, if my name was Algy, couldn't you love me?"

She dropped his hand, glancing again at the script. "I might respect you, Ernest, I might admire your character, but I fear that I should not be able to give you my undivided attention."

Marie felt relieved when she saw it was to the end of the blue highlighted section. It wasn't nearly as long as she thought.

"Well done, you two," Mr. Hitchcock said.

Billy smiled at her. The character melted away and she was looking at her friend again.

"Good job, Marie," he said.

"Thanks, Billy. You too."

They returned to their seats as Mr. Hitchcock called out another pair of names. Marie's drama test was over, and she could breathe freely again. Such a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She didn't know her final score yet, but she felt she did well enough that her grade wasn't in danger.

Abe and Albert were called to do a segment. Abe was Jack and Albert was Algernon. Marie was starting to pick up a bit of the story at this point. She knew enough to realize Jack and Algernon were good friends, and Mr. Hitchcock had Abe and Albert reading from the beginning of the play where they shared some playful banter. It was downright strange to see them acting well together. Marie was half expecting to hear Albert shoot out a passive aggressive insult at any moment and for Abe to glare at him, but it didn't happen. They were happily chatting with each other, and Marie found herself wishing this playful banter was real life.

They finished, and Marie and Billy clapped. Abe and Albert walked back, refusing to look at each other as they returned to their seats.

Marie waited patiently for the end of class. It wasn't worth getting excited over. She still had three more hours of classes after this.

"Okay, final two. Edgar Poe and..." Mr. Hitchcock examined his list. "Billy, would you mind going again?"

Billy's head snapped up. Then he did his scream where he kept his lips together so it sounded muffled.

"I'm coming, Mr. Hitchcock! I'm coming!" Billy turned and grabbed Marie's arm, tugging it until Marie was sure he'd pull it out of her socket. "I've been waiting for a moment like this my whole life!"

Marie didn't know how to react. Instead she glanced at Abe and Albert as they too watched Billy as though unsure how to feel. Billy rushed to Mr. Hitchcock right as Edgar got there.

"Forget this is a romantic comedy, boys. I want you to take this and run with it in whatever direction you choose. Billy, you be Jack, and Edgar, you be Algernon," Mr. Hitchcock said.

"Will do Mr. Hitchcock!" Billy said way too happily.

He grabbed the script, then zoomed up to the stage and bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited for Edgar and began reading his section.

"This is going to be weird," Albert said.

"No," Abe said with a small frown. "This is going to be creepy."

Albert and Marie looked at Abe.

"What do you mean?" Albert asked.

"Billy is obsessed with Poe because they share a dark kindred spirit," Abe said.

Marie glanced at Abe skeptically. "We are talking about the same ridiculously happy Billy Shakespeare, right?"

Abe shook his head. "You haven't read his tragedies, Marie. You'll see."

"Okay, times up. You may begin," Mr. Hitchcock said.

Abe put a finger to his lips then pointed to the stage. Marie turned and watched Billy change like a chameleon. Marie's jaw dropped as she saw him match Poe's soul-wrenching stare.

"What about your brother?" Edgar's voice was frightening, and Marie expected it, but it still sent a chill through her body. "What about the profligate Earnest?"

Marie had heard Billy giggle before, but never like this. Never in a creepy psychopathic way. Marie fought the urge to cover her ears.

"Oh, before the end of the week I shall have got rid of him." Billy took a few steps and stared into the light and Marie almost forgot it was a cold read. "I'll say he died in Paris of apoplexy. Lots of people die of apoplexy, quite suddenly. Don't they?"

From the snippets of the play Marie understood, she knew Earnest wasn't real, but it sure sounded like Billy was casually planning this guy's murder.

Edgar took a few steps toward Billy. "Yes, but it's hereditary, my dear fellow. It's a sort of thing that runs in families." Edgar leaned over to stage whisper in his ear. "You had much better say a severe chill."

Something sinister passed between Billy and Edgar as Billy's eyes narrowed, and Marie could almost sense the distrust Billy's character had against Edgar's character. "You are sure a severe chill isn't hereditary, or anything of that kind?"

A twisted smile played across Edgar's face. Marie wanted to be small so Edgar would never find her. "Of course it isn't!"

Billy paused, then turned back to Edgar, facing the full force of his creepy smile. He didn't even flinch. "Very well, then. My poor brother Ernest is carried off suddenly in Paris, by a severe chill. That gets rid of him." His voice was different, more conspiratorial. Dark.

Billy turned to exit the stage.

"But I thought you said that Miss Cardew was a little too much interested in your poor brother Ernest?" When Edgar said Miss Cardew, Marie could almost hear the impure desire Edgar's character had for her. Billy slowed his step as though he could too. "Won't she feel his loss a good deal?"

"Oh, that is all right. Cecily is not a silly romantic girl, I am glad to say. She has got a capital appetite, goes long walks and pays no attention at all to her lessons."

Edgar's super creepy grin deepened. Marie realized she had shrunk in her seat. Billy glared, making his glare as creepy as Edgar's twisted smile. Marie had to keep reminding herself this was different. This wasn't the real Billy she knew. But it was hard to separate them! Billy looked like he wouldn't be afraid to kill if he had to.

"I would rather like to see Cecily," Edgar said.

Billy crossed the distance in three long strides, dropped the script Marie swore he never looked at, and grabbed the front of Edgar's shirt. "I will take very good care you never do."

It took a full five seconds to realize they were done. Marie didn't feel completely broken from the spell until Abe reached over with a finger and helped her and Albert close their mouths. Marie glanced at Abe as he gave a wistful smile. She was then drawn to Mr. Hitchcock, who was looking at Billy and Edgar with forlorn looks. If it was a thriller or horror, Mr. Hitchcock would have casted those two as leads on the spot. She wondered again how much of Billy's conspiracy was true. The rest of the students were hushed, captivated in the creepy spell Billy and Edgar casted over them.

"Dude!" Billy said, the happiness dancing in his eyes. The spell broke and Marie could almost hear the auditorium take a deep breath. "That was AMAZING!"

Billy raised his hand high in the air, waiting for Edgar to give him a high-five. Marie glanced at Edgar and felt shocked in a different way. Edgar did not have his soul-wrenching stare. He was staring at Billy, but it was blank. If Marie didn't know any better, Edgar seemed as surprised as any of them that Billy matched his emo-ness. Edgar paused, then raised his hand and gave Billy his emo stamp of approval with his soft high-five.

As he returned to his seat, Billy hummed a happy tune. Marie and Albert stared at him, and Abe shook his head.

"You were creepy," Albert said.

"Thank you." Billy sighed contently. "I have never had so much fun in all my life."

Marie felt a giggle escape her. She didn't find it funny, she just needed to laugh, to remind herself Billy was still the happy Billy and not an emo kid.

The bell rang.

"Well done, class. By Wednesday we'll have the cast list up, and we'll start working on our one-act for the following month," Mr. Hitchcock said.

Marie grabbed her backpack and filed out of the auditorium with Albert, Abe, and Billy.

"If Mr. Hitchcock was allowed to do thrillers, he'd stick Poe in the leading character," Billy said. "I would watch it every night."

Marie rolled her eyes.

"The one act is a rom com, though. Can you imagine Poe as the lead in a rom com?" Albert asked.

Billy got a far away look in his eye. "For some reason, yes. Yes I can."

A hybrid laugh and cough escaped Albert. "No, Billy. It would still be creepy."

Once again Marie almost forgot she had three extra hours of school until they walked outside and saw the S.E.A. car. Marie gave a sigh.

"See you guys tomorrow," she said.

They said good bye and left to get on the metro. Marie got in the car and had another silent trip to the S.E.A.