CHAPTER FIVE !

"modern day shakespeare"

🎸.  .  .  . TRAVIS / HARDING HIGH

TRAVIS was always the life of the party, the guy who could turn any situation into a comedy show. As he walked into the English classroom for the first period, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. He was new to Alderidge High, coming from Harding School, and the stares from the Alderidge students made it clear they were not used to seeing newcomers.

"Hey, Sera, wait up!" Travis called out, catching sight of his friend Seraphina, or Sera for short, who was already heading towards a seat at the back of the room.

Sera turned and smiled, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Travis. "Morning, Trav. Ready to dazzle these Alderidge folks with your unparalleled wit and charm?"

"Always," Travis grinned, plopping down into the seat next to her. "Just wait until they get a load of us. Harding's finest."

The classroom was already buzzing with the low hum of chatter as students settled into their seats. The Alderidge students eyed Travis and Sera with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. It didn't help that Travis's backpack had a small, fluffy teddy bear keychain hanging off it—a gift from Sera that he wore proudly, despite the teasing it might invite.

"Okay, class, settle down," Ms. Barrett, their English teacher, called from the front of the room. She was a no-nonsense woman with sharp features and a reputation for being tough but fair. "Let's welcome our new students from Harding School."

Travis gave a mock salute. "Thanks, Ms. B. We're happy to be here and ready to rock your world with our literary prowess."

A few students snickered, and Sera shook her head, laughing. "Oh, Travis, you never change."

Ms. Barrett raised an eyebrow but couldn't suppress a small smile. "We'll see about that, Mr. Millar. Today we're diving into Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'"

As Ms. Barrett handed out copies of the play, Travis leaned over to Sera. "You know, if we were in Shakespeare's time, you'd totally be my Titania."

Sera rolled her eyes, though her cheeks turned a slight pink. "And you'd be my Bottom. You know, the guy who gets turned into a donkey."

"Touché," Travis laughed, earning another round of curious glances from their classmates.

The class proceeded with Ms. Barrett assigning parts for a reading of Act I. Travis, of course, was given the role of Bottom, while Sera got the part of Hermia. They took turns reading their lines, and Travis couldn't help but ham it up, making exaggerated gestures and voices that had the class, including Ms. Barrett, laughing.

"Bottom, thou art translated!" Sera read, struggling to keep a straight face.

Travis, with a mock-serious expression, responded in his best donkey voice, "Why do they run away? This is a knavery of them to make me afeard."

The class erupted in laughter, and even the stares from the Alderidge students began to soften. It was hard not to be charmed by Travis's infectious humor and Sera's good-natured tolerance of his antics.

After classes Travis met Sera at the cafeteria. The large, bright room was already filling with students, the noise level rising with chatter and the clatter of trays. As they stood in line for food, Travis nudged Sera.

"Do you think they're warming up to us?" he asked, glancing around at the Alderidge students who were now giving them more friendly looks.

"Maybe," Sera replied, grabbing a tray. "Or maybe they just can't resist your charm."

"Who can?" Travis said, striking a pose that made Sera giggle.

They found a table near the window and sat down with their trays. As they started eating, Travis couldn't help but notice a few Alderidge students still sneaking glances at them. He decided to make the most of it.

"So, Sera, how's your novel coming along?" he asked loudly, knowing full well that she wasn't writing a novel but enjoying the way she played along.

"Oh, it's going great," Sera said, matching his volume. "Just finished the chapter where the hero saves the damsel in distress."

"Ah, a classic," Travis said, nodding sagely. "But what if the damsel doesn't want to be saved? What if she wants to save herself?"

Sera smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Then the hero will just have to support her from the sidelines, won't he?"

"That's the spirit," Travis said, raising his juice box like a toast. "To independent damsels and supportive heroes." Just then Ryan and Christian sat down besides them with the trays on their hands.

"Novel? damsels? " Ryan raises his eyebrows listening to their conversation confused. "Just what are you talking about?"

"Heh, nothing important dont wory." Sera says smiling. "Where is Josephine, by the way?" 

Ryan rolls his eyes as she points to the place Josie was standing in. Josephine had managed to attract a crowd of both girls and boys (majority were boys) standing around her asking her all types of questions.

"Guess she's having it easy here." Travis shrugs. "How was your day Chris?" 

Sera saw that Chris was distracted by something, she just couldnt pinpoint what. She turns her head dramatically to her right and sees nothing but tons of students. Just who was he looking at? A brunette girl playing with her necklace was looking straight at them, at Chris specifically, but she turned her head away immediately.

just who was she?

EJONA SPEAKS !!

do i have some chapters already written?

yes, yes i do

so prepare to be updated a lot (im editing them)