The sun filtered lazily through the classroom windows as Alexandra walked into the school grounds, her steps slower than usual. Her friends noticed it immediately.
"Alex... did you cry?" Rose asked, narrowing her eyes as she leaned in for a better look. "Your eyes are kind of puffy."
Alex waved her hand dismissively, forcing a smile. "No, I didn't. Maybe it's the allergies."
Rose wasn't convinced, but decided to drop it for now. Daman, standing nearby, gave her a quiet glance. He didn't press the issue either, but he could tell something had happened.
"I don't see Nat... Were is she?" Alex asked.
"She said that she suddenly had to visit a relative's house. She will be back tomorrow." Daman told her.
"Oh... I hope she's alright..." Alex sighed.
"She will be fine! You know how strong she is!" Dan patted on Alex's back.
"Yeah..."
___________________
After a few uneventful classes and a much-needed lunch break, things took a turn.
A message went out calling certain students to the drama room, including Alex and Catherine. The two girls spotted each other almost instantly and immediately locked into a silent battle of glaring.
"Oh look, it's Muscle Barbie." Catherine scoffed, brushing her curls back with an air of mockery.
"Oh, it's Lady Pipsqueak! I don't see you around Daman anymore. Do you not want to get together with him?" Alex fired back with a dry smirk.
"Daman? Pfft! You think I'm still hung up on that guy? I, am dating someone else now." Catherine said with a smug smile.
"I feel sorry for the guy..."
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"Bleh!" Alex stuck her tongue out, just to annoy Catherine even more.
-------------
When Alex entered the drama club room, she saw that Daman and Daniel were already there. She raised an eyebrow and made her way to them.
"What are you two doing here?" she asked.
"Scouted for a drama, apparently." Daman said, shrugging.
Daniel leaned in, whispering dramatically with a wink, "I think it's because of my overwhelming charisma."
Alex snorted. "Right."
Soon, Tracey, the club's head, joined them. She looked at Alex and grinned.
"Hiii, Aleeexx! I can't believe you came for me!" She exclaimed as she ran and cuddled Alex.
"Uh, we are here too?" Dan told her but she didn't even mind him.
"Ah! I know! You came here because you like me! Let me give you a kiss!"
"Hey, where is this coming from?!" Daman pushed her face again. Alex was surprised.
"Ugh, you!" Tracey cursed under her breath.
"Tracey." Mike, the assistant head, gave her a death glare. Tracey quickly changed her stance.
"*Ahem* Today, we called you all here to discuss regarding the drama that we will perform on the day of the school festival. This time," Tracey announced proudly, "we'll be performing A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Alex blinked. 'Doesn't that drama have a lot of characters? Must be why there are a lot of kids here.' She thought.
Tracey continued with an exaggerated flourish. "For those unfamiliar, it's a story of love, mischief, fairies, mistaken identities, and magic. And, I know that we students will rock this play!" She then looked at Mike.
"Mike and I have assigned the characters to each one of you. Hope you won't have any objections." She smiled, but her voice certainly had a tint of threat in it.
As names were being scribbled on the whiteboard, Tracey turned to Alex.
"You're tall, Alex." she said. "And beautiful, and handsome." She mumbled.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"So, you can play a male character."
Alex blinked. "Huh? But, I'm a—"
"It's totally fine!" Tracey cut in, smiling a little too brightly. 'Hehe... My one and only chance to see Alex as a guy! I shall not miss it!' She thought to herself while grinning creepily.
Alex narrowed her eyes at Tracey, suspicious of her enthusiasm. 'Isn't she enjoying this too much?'
Meanwhile, Daniel snorted and nudged Daman. "You might want to keep an eye on Tracey. Your girlfriend's a heartthrob even among girls." he muttered.
Then the role assignments began. And, to Alex's and Catherine's greatest horror,
"Alex, you'll be playing Lysander. Because, your names match."
"Eh?"
"And Catherine, you'll be Hermia."
"WHAAAAT?!"
Alex and Catherine slowly turned to each other, glaring.
"I can't believe it." Catherine said, deadpan.
"You better not mess up your lines, Broomstick." Alex snapped.
"Worry about your own lines, Protein Shake."
Tracey looked at them and sighed. "I wanted to be Hermia... but..." she looked at Mike, "a certain someone wouldn't let me."
"Tracey will be playing Helena." Mike read out.
Tracey then scanned her casting sheet as she read out the names of the other members. Finally, when her eyes fell on one particular name, she grinned. "Daniel, you'll be playing Nick Bottom."
"EXCUSE ME?! I AM THAT GUY WHO BECOMES A DONKEY?!" Daniel erupted.
Laughter rippled through the room.
"He doesn't become a donkey, genius. He gets the head of a donkey." Tracey corrected him.
"I—how dare you?!" Daniel continued, clutching his chest like a man betrayed. "Look at this face! These cheekbones! These regal brows! This is the face of a Theseus! Or an Oberon at the very least!"
"Honestly, you're more suited to play a horse's backside." muttered someone from the back.
"Who said that!?" Daniel shouted, dramatically stomping forward. "Reveal your cowardly self!"
"Nick Bottom's role is perfect for you." Alex added, barely hiding her grin. "It will be fun watching you."
Daniel pointed at her. "Just you wait, Lysander! My tragic brilliance will outshine your love-sick monologues!"
Alex, barely holding back laughter, muttered to Daman, "He's taking this harder than when he got a B+ in math."
Daman replied, "This is worse. His pride is on the line."
Daniel threw himself onto a nearby chair like a heartbroken prince. "Fine. Cast me as the donkey. But know this—when I steal the show, don't come begging me for autographs."
Tracey gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit."
And then came the biggest plot twist.
"Daman," Tracey said, pausing for effect. "You'll be Titania, the Fairy Queen."
There was a beat of silence.
Daman stared blankly. "Wait, what?"
"I need someone 'beautiful' for the role," Tracey said. "And frankly, there's no one here who looks more ethereal than you." Then, she turned her face as if to hide her evil smile. This was her form of revenge on Daman for standing between her and Alex.
"I saw that." Daman said with a deadpan look.
Alex nearly burst out laughing but managed to turn her head away, biting her lip to keep it together.
"I am not— Titania is— You want me to wear a dress?"
"It will be fun!" Tracey beamed.
Daniel patted Daman's back sympathetically. "Guess we're both screwed."
Daman gave Alex a look of sheer betrayal.