I Owe You, Shakespeare (standard:humor, 1662 words)
Author: J. Thalia	Added: Jun 20 2002	Views/Reads: 3360/2236	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
David's infatuation with Flora all changes when he gets casted in the school play, As You Like It. He discovers the girl who likes him is also in the play, he's doomed.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

you were different! That's what I liked about you!” Eva throws her 
script down and runs into the girls' bathroom. David approaches the 
door and can hear her loud sobbing. 

“Eva I feel awful, I'm sorry. I don't hate you. In fact I think you're
one of the best actresses ever!” More sobbing. “I truly didn't mean 
anything that I just said...or...didn't say.” The crying stops. 
“Please, come out we can practice this scene because, well I think you 
could work on it.” The crying starts again as bad as before. “I mean, 
uh, I could use some work on this scene.” Eva comes out, with wet 
cheeks and red eyes. She picks up her script without a word and they 
start practicing again. 

The next day during school, Eva seems much better, but still a little
awkward around David. 

“Gomez,” David taps Gomez on the shoulder during lunch. “Gomez, do you
swear that you will never tell anybody what I'm about to tell you?” 

“Ok, sure,” Gomez says blankly. 

“Can I trust you? Well anyway, yesterday at drama practice—oh my gosh,”
David chokes. “Look over there by the trees!” David continues to choke 
and points. Gomez looks out at the trees with a blank look. 

“Yeah, so? Flora and Mark kiss all the time!” Gomez looks at David who
is about to die from surprise or disgust, Gomez can't decide. “Oh my 
gosh! Now I understand! You like Flora! Haha! You and every other boy 
in the 8th grade.” 

“Shh! Oh man! If you tell anybody, I'll kill you!” David stands up and
runs to the bathroom. He sits right on a toilet and doesn't cry, but 
feels bad. The bell rings. David gets up, takes a deep breath, and goes 
to English class. 

The next day at school David is a little better, but not that much
better. First of all, he can't get the picture of Flora and Mark 
kissing out of his head. Second of all, David isn't sure Gomez will 
keep his secret for long. 

“Hey David,” surprisingly, Flora greets David in the hall. “I can't wait
to see your performance in ‘As You Like It' next week. I hear you're 
good.” 

“Great. Me neither,” David responds. 

“See ya' later then,” Flora says as she walks away. 

“Great? Me neither? What's up with that? Can you get worse David?” David
thinks to himself. Then stops. “Yes!” David says to himself, not that 
he could do worse, but because David always wanted it to be that she 
loved to see his performance, and now knows that this is it! Now, David 
doesn't replay seeing Flora and Mark making out under the tree. He 
replays Flora saying what he's always wanted her to say, well, with the 
exception of  “I love you” but that won't happen. 

The next couple of days drama practice is hectic because the opening is
coming up. Finally, that wonderful night came. 

It's 8 o'clock and all's well in the theatre. It couldn't be going
better. David and Eva are bringing down the house every time they go 
on. Finally, act 5, scene 4, the last scene in the play. Touchstone and 
Audrey (David and Eva) enter, about to be married. 

“Salutations and greetings to you all,” David greets. 

“Good my lord, bid him welcome,” the boy who plays Jacques starts. “This
is the motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in the forest. 
He has been a courtier, he swears.” 

Silence. Everyone looks at David for his line. 

“Oh my gosh,” David thinks silently. “I've forgotten the line! Maybe I
can play it off. Uh improvise.” 

“If a man doesn't—” David starts. 

Silence. 

“Oh no! What do I do?” David thinks. “Improvise again David!” 

“If a man doubts, let him be my-“ David tries. 

“I don't believe this!” David thinks again. “Please, someone help me,
God, Elijah, Buddha, Mohammed, anybody please!” 

Silence. 

Then the miraculous happens. David opens his mouth and— 

“If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation,” Eva steps up
next to David gingerly. “I have seen him trod a measure, I have been 
the lady he's flattered. He has been politic with his friend, smooth 
with his enemy. He has undone three tailors. He has been in four 
quarrels, and like to have fought one.” Eva looks at David oddly, and 
then scowls a little. 

The play continues, David says everything else on cue. 

“Thank you so much for filling in in that last scene, Eva,” as he hugs
her when the curtain call is over. 

“It wasn't anything,” Eva explains. “You would've gotten it, it was
right on the tip of your tongue. I just helped.” 

“Well, it makes a big difference. Thanks a lot,” David says to Eva as he
walks into the lobby to sign autographs. 

“Oh great,” David thinks to himself. “There's Flora and Mark. But wait,
Mark seems sad. Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought. Where's Mark 
going? Why is he walking towards me? Oh boy, he seems mad.” 

“Alright drama boy, what you been doin' to my girl?” Mark's hands
tighten. 

“Mark, see, I didn't do anything to your girl. I don't know what you're
talking-” 

“Oh man you had better run, I'm going to kill you.” 

“What did I do-” David stops as he sees Mark throwing a fist toward him.


POW! The fist hits David right between the eyes, knocking David off his
feet. 

“That'll show you to mess with my girl!” Mark stood above David. 

“Mark! In case you weren't paying attention, I'm not your girl anymore!”
shouted Flora. 

“Uggh” David writhes on the floor. 

“How dare you hit my David!” Another fist flew and gave Mark a black
eye, as he too was knocked off his feet. “That'll teach you to mess 
with David Nosllen!” Eva said, looking at the white knuckles of her 
fist. Quickly, she helps David to his feet. 

“Thanks, a lot, again Eva.” He sees Mark on the floor, and Flora aghast.
Eva was nowhere to be seen. 

“David, I'm sorry Mark did that,” Flora explains. “I hope you can
forgive me?” 

“What did you do Flora? I'm not sure I understand,” David massages
between his eyes. “Where's everybody?” 

“I guess they all left,” Flora surveys the empty lobby. “David, you did
great in the play. I think you're the best. You know what? I think I 
fell in love with you when I saw you on stage. I just dumped Mark and I 
want to know, will you go out with me?” 

“Flora, I have always like you.” said David, who can't believe his ears.
“Of course I'll go out with you.” 

After a week and a half together, Flora and David became a really good
couple. 

“Bye David, I love you,” Flora kissed David as she went home after
school. 

“Man, do I owe you, Shakespeare,” David says to himself. 


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