Mr. Higgins gave Jack a long list of rules and regulations before they practiced the fight scene.

“Do not aim your sword at anyone’s face, is that clear?” he said sternly.

“Yup.” Jack nodded. “Can we start now?”

“And every time I lunge forward, you step back. A duel is really a choreographed dance routine. Is that understood?”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Can we fight now?” He was getting impatient. “I played a lot of Ninja Reflex on my Wii last night. I’m ready.”

“Your sword is a prop, not a weapon. The goal here is to make the scene authentic. Not wound your fellow actors…”

Before Mr. Higgins could finish his speech, Jack charged forward screaming, “Hiyah!”

The boys in the class cheered, “Get him, Jack! Get him!”

“The correct term is en garde not hiyah,” Mr. Higgins replied, crossing swords with him. With one lightning-quick move, he sent Jack’s sword flying from his hand and into the air. It landed with a clank on the floor of the classroom.

“Bravo!” Juliette cheered. Mr. Higgins bowed.

“Awww, you took my sword!” Jack whined. “No fair!”

“All’s fair in love and war,” Mr. Higgins corrected him. “Next time, you wait till I show you how to use your sword before you try and spear me.”

Jack moped but handed his sword back to his teacher.

“Now, speaking of love and war, it’s time for the love scene. Jeremy and Lexi, please take your places,” said Juliette.

Oh no! Lexi thought. She had prayed the sword fight would take up all of the third period rehearsal and she wouldn’t have to practice her scene with Jeremy. No such luck. There were fifteen minutes left.

“Up you go,” Juliette said, motioning for her to take her place on the makeshift balcony. Reluctantly, Lexi climbed the step ladder to the top rung and gazed down on Jeremy. He looked as pale and queasy as she felt.

“Okay, Lexi, from the top,” Mr. Higgins commanded.

Lexi cleared her throat. She knew the lines, but for some reason her mouth and her brain were not working together. “Um, Romeo, Romeo, art for where—oh no!”

Meredith snickered. “I should have been Juliet! She’s a disaster!”

“The line is, ‘Wherefore art thou?’” Mr. Higgins corrected. “Once again, please.”

Lexi took a deep breath and began: “Be but sworn my love…” She looked down at Jeremy who was staring up at her. She imagined him as Romeo, dressed in a blue velvet jacket with gold braiding and buttons. He was so handsome! Suddenly, the room felt like it was spinning, just like the carousel Aunt Dee had taken her on in Central Park. Lexi’s knees were wobbling, and the next thing she knew, she lost her balance and toppled off the top step.

“Help!” she squeaked as she fell backward. Jeremy reached up and grabbed her around the waist, gently guiding her down to the floor.

“You okay?” he asked. Juliette and Mr. Higgins had already grabbed her and helped her to a chair. The entire class was gathered around, and Lexi saw that Kylie was right beside her, looking very worried.

“Lexi, you okay?” Jeremy repeated. Lexi nodded. She was so embarrassed, she couldn’t answer. She noticed that Jeremy looked worried too—which made her feel a tiny bit better.

“The swoon doesn’t come till much later in the play,” Mr. Higgins teased. “When she takes the poison. But well done.”

“It must have been the ladder,” Juliette reassured her. “Makes me dizzy too.” She squeezed Lexi’s hand. “You’ll be okay. The real balcony is a lot less wobbly.”

Lexi wasn’t sure if it was the ladder, her nerves, or Jeremy’s blue eyes that had made her lose her balance.

“What am I going to do?” she whispered to Kylie.

“Like Juliette said, you’ll be okay!” her friend attempted to cheer her. But it wasn’t helping. She still felt like everything in her life was spinning out of control.

She knew what Aunt Dee would say: “Lexi, honey, you have to face your fears—stare them right in the eye and say, ‘Bug off! You don’t bother me!’” That’s what Dee would do. She wouldn’t let a boy or a play or self-doubt hold her back. She’d climb right back up that ladder!

So that’s what Lexi did. She got to her feet, turned to Mr. Higgins, and said, “Can I try it again?”

The teachers looked at each other, concerned. “Are you sure?” Juliette asked. “You sure you feel up to it?”

She got to her feet and made her way up to the top rung once more. This time, Kylie stood behind her, spotting her, just in case…

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou?” she began.

Jeremy blurted out, “I’m right here! I mean, she speaks!”

Lexi grinned back. He looked even cuter when he messed up his lines and blushed.

When they were done with the scene, the entire class applauded. “Brava!” Mr. Higgins said. “You do Shakespeare proud.”

Shakespeare and Aunt Dee would be proud, Lexi thought to herself.