Page 38 of Burning Skies
“It’s hard to say without knowing all the details. I hope they’ve been accidents. I don’t like thinking the worst of people.” I motion to my students. “We need to review the first act ofRomeo and Juliet. Please get out your notes.”
“Miss, I don’t get why these families hate each other,” Sarah says. “Do we ever find out what happened that made them want to mow each other down in the streets?”
“Unfortunately, we don’t. It’s just an old grudge.” As students get out their notebooks, I walk around my desk and slide back to sit on it. “Have you ever had a friend, maybe someone you grew up with, and they did something that hurt your feelings, so you stopped talking? Then, one day, you can’t remember what happened, only that you don’t like that person?” A few kids nod. “Maybe it started like that.”
Sarah frowns. “But when Benvolio tries to make peace, Juliet’s cousin Tybalt tells him off.”
“True. So the inciting incident might have been something worse. Whatever the case, it’s gotten bad because the prince says this is the last time he’s going to put up with fighting in the streets. How many times have they brawled like this?”
“Three times,” Emilio says.
“Very good. Now, based on what we know about Tybalt so far, how would you describe him?”
“A hothead.”
“A dumbass.”
“A badass.”
Ignoring the curse words, I chuckle. “He’s definitely intense. Consider that first scene where the servants from both families are fighting, and Benvolio breaks them up. He asks for peace. Then Tybalt appears. How does he feel about peace?”
“He hates it!”
“Yes. Can anyone tell me his famous line in this part? It’s okay if you have to refer to the play.”
Nora Jean holds up her hand as she reads the line out loud. “‘What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee…’”
“Tybalt takes issue with Romeo’s cousin, Benvolio, who has his sword out. That’s what he means when he says he’s ‘drawn’—his weapon is out.”
“But Benvolio is trying to stop the fighting, right?”
“Exactly. Let’s consider his name, Benvolio. In Italian, it means ‘well-wisher’ or ‘good will.’ It makes me think of the word ‘benevolent,’ which means ‘kind’ or ‘has positive intentions.’ Do you think Tybalt has good intentions?”
“No!” Emilio shouts.
Thomas’s hand flies in the air. He’s usually quiet, so I’m excited he’s showing interest. When I call on him, he points at me as I’m taking a sip of coffee. “Is this like your family’s feud with the Walkers?”
I choke and try to use the extra moment to think of what to say. By the time I can breathe again, I decide I don’t want to add to the drama. “Does anybody really care about that these days?”
The kid nods as Emilio frowns. “In the Wild West reenactments downtown, they always have a Walker and a McAllister in the shootout.”
Damn. Forgot about that. I decide to go withmytruth. “I’m good friends with Paige Lewis, who married Rhett Walker, andI’m going to be in Baylee Reyes’s wedding when she marries Maverick Walker this winter. Does that seem like a feud?”
Thomas looks crestfallen. “So y’all aren’t gonna shoot anyone?”
Would my brother Trig like to shoot someone? Possibly.
Will I let him? No.
Even if Beau does make me crazy.
15
HONEY
After class,I do a double-take when I see the message on my desk.Report to the principal’s office during your lunch.
Adrian peeks over my shoulder and lifts a brow. “What did you do?” he teases.
