now tell me, how did all my dreams turn to nightmares?

Chapter 12

"Don't drag me into this," the boy answered.

Cheryl looked back at the girl, "Was there anything else you needed, Ethel?"

"No," she shook her head. "That was all. See you around?"

"Of course," Cheryl grinned. She watched Ethel walk away before turning her focus to her friends, "I did that. I actually made a difference."

"It's only been a day," Jughead reminded her, "but ya, I think you did, Cher. I really think you did."

-

"Good afternoon," Miss Rollins said as she walked into the classroom. "We have an exciting class ahead of us."

"Is this about the project?" Dilton asked, anxious to get started.

"It is," the teacher replied. "I hope you all are excited about this as I am." The comment was met with an astounding grumble throughout the classroom. "Not so much?" She laughed, "That's fine. Maybe I can sway you."

Cheryl sat listening intently, or she tried to, at least. Her attention would often drift to Toni. She'd catch herself staring at the back of her head, thinking about how soft her hair looked and how she longed to run her fingers through it.

"You all have a favorite movie right?" Everyone nodded in response. "Growing up, mine was 10 Things I Hate About You. Have you guys heard of it?"

"Wasn't that inspired by The Taming of the Shrew?" Toni asked.

Hearing Toni speak pulled her back to the present. She straightened in her chair and did best to understand what was going on, not wanting to be ill prepared for the final project.

Miss Rollins smiled widely, "Right you are, Toni. You don't realize it, but you just uncovered the basis for this project. I wanted us all to end the year with something fun. I want you all to take one of the works we have been reading this year and convert it into a modern adaptation."

"You want us to make a movie?" Reggie asked, clearly annoyed.

"A movie, a music video, a song, anything," she explained. "I want you to take your work and convert it into something you can relate to, just like Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith did when they wrote 10 Things I Hate About You."

Midge's hand went up. When called on, she asked, "Will we be picking or will you be assigning who works on which play we use?"

"We are leaving that up to fate," she answered. Miss Rollins walked to the front of the room and grabbed the two plastic cups sitting on her desk. The cups had letters written on them in thick Sharpie. "In cup A, I have everyone's names. I will drawing two names at a time to assign the pairs. Then, I will draw from cup B to assign that pairs work. Understood?"

The room nodded, and Cheryl began to stress about who she would be forced to endure working with. She hoped for Toni, but she knew to be realistic. With the way the universe treated her, she'd likely end up with Reggie Mantle.

"First up is," Miss Rollins continued, pulling two pieces of paper from one of the cups, "Midge Klump and Frankie Valdez. They will be adapting," she pulled a piece of paper from the second cup, "The Winter's Tale."

She went through the papers, calling out name after name. The numbers were dwindling down, leaving only Cheryl, Reggie, a boy Cheryl didn't know, and —

"Toni Topaz and Cheryl Blossom," Miss Rollins said, causing Cheryl's heart to stop. "You will be working with Romeo and Juliet."

Cheryl looked over at Toni, her mouth hanging open. The redhead couldn't believe her luck. She would have guaranteed time with Toni. It was everything she wanted for weeks, and the thought forced Cheryl to fight back tears.