The following day in English we finally begin reading Romeo and Juliet.

Luke seems to be in an exceptionally good mood, and I know exactly why. If only I could feel as confident and assured about what Luke and I are doing to Liam as Luke seems to, because so far all I feel is immense guilt. I know what I've agreed to do is wrong, and yet I'm doing it anyway, all because some boy I don't even like asked me to.

I want to turn around in my seat right now and tell Luke that I'm calling his stupid plan off. I want to explain how Liam has been nothing but sweet since I've started talking to him, and that if he is the one to become lacrosse captain he deserves the spot, and Luke will just have to get over it. I fantasize about saying these words to the point where I feel as if I've actually spoken them. That's when I realize that I could be telling all of this to Luke, though the second I go to turn around, Ms. Edwards enters the room.

"Today is the day you've all been waiting for." Ms. Edwards offers the class a knowing smile, eyes gleaming as she raises her copy of Romeo and Juliet up in the air, causing the class to simultaneously groan.

"Oh, stop with the goat noises," Ms. Edwards chides, rolling her eyes. "I promise it won't be as bad as you all think it will be. In fact, I think a lot of you are going to enjoy this section of the course. And if not, we can always go back to taking tests instead of performing skits for a grade."

To this, the class quickly falls silent. Ms. Edwards instructs us to grab our own copies of the play, which she handed out the previous day, and I bend over to reach for my book under my desk.

"I'm kind of excited," Emma whispers to me, almost sheepishly. "I love Shakespeare."

"No offense, but I'm the opposite," I admit to Emma with a shrug. "I can't stand old English because it confuses me. Plus, romance just makes me want to vomit."

"But Romeo and Juliet is a classic," I hear Luke's voice counter, joining my conversation with Emma. I'm slightly startled, as Luke almost never chimes in when the two of us are talking. I'm sure the only reason he interrupts now is because he can't pass up an opportunity to argue with me. "You can't deny that it's one of the most prized pieces in literature."

I turn around in my seat to face Luke, noticing that his glasses are set on the edge of his desk, perched atop the book he's been reading for days now. I risk a quick glance at the title, reading: To Kill A Mockingbird.

With a coy smirk, I gesture to Luke's book. "Yeah. You'd know."

Luke merely raises an eyebrow at my comment. "Of course you'd think classic American literature is lame."

"Because it is," I say. "Reading isn't really my thing. Unless we're talking about Percy Jackson."

Luke rolls his eyes. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Say what you want, but Percy Jackson is the only class American literature I'm open to."

"But, it's not—"

"Don't you dare say Percy Jackson isn't classic American literature," I cut Luke off before he can finish his sentence, shooting him a glare.

Luke opens his mouth as if he wants to argue with me, though Ms. Edwards instructs the class to begin reading before he's able to get a word out.

I open my book and turn to the first page, trying to keep my eyes from glazing over as I scan line over line.

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . .

Reading the opening line of the play, I can't help feeling like Romeo and Juliet isn't the only new thing starting in my life.

»»----- -----««

"What are you wearing?" Kendall questions when I enter the living room, glancing at me as if she doesn't recognize me at all. I take this as a good sign.

Liam didn't offer much information as to what we'd be doing on our date, so I wasn't exactly sure what to dress for. Luke told me I should try and dress as nicely as possible, to which I couldn't contain an eye roll. His reasoning behind the suggestion was: The better you look, the more Liam is going to like you. Of course, I completely disregarded this advice.

Instead of turning myself into some princess for one measly date, I opted to dress in a casual top and matching skirt, leaving my hair down without much styling. I've never been one to spend forever on my appearance, and even going out with Liam Wellington isn't enough to change that.

"I'm going on a date," I inform my sister, "and this is what I'm wearing."

Kendall seems startled, as if I've just told her I'm now an astronaut for NASA and will be spending the next year on the moon. Gaping at me, my sister's blue eyes widen in disbelief. It isn't until after a brief moment of silence she's able to choke out, "You're going on a date?"

I roll my eyes at Kendall's comment, slightly offended by her shock over the matter. "Yeah. It's just so crazy, isn't it?"

"Who's dumb enough to go on a date with you?" Kendall questions, which only further insults me.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm going out with Liam Wellington."

Kendall's jaw drops. Her eyes widen to the point I fear that might actually fall from their sockets. She looks as if she's going to faint, and I almost wish that she would just to avoid any further conversation with her.

"You're going out with Liam Wellington?" Kendall screeches in disbelief, more shocked than she needs to be. I nod in response, wondering why I find this encounter so insulting. "He would never go out with someone like you!" Kendall continues, really driving her knife into my back. "I mean, you're . . . you. And Liam is a . . . Wellington."

"Nice of you to notice. And I am going out with Liam, whether you believe it or not."

"Yeah, right," Kendall scoffs, rolling her blue eyes. "So who are you really going out with? Because I know the second hottest guy at Crestwood would never go after my sister."

"Who's the first hottest guy at Crestwood?"

"Luke Bradford. Duh. And he hates you, so don't even try telling me that you're going out with him."

I wrinkle my nose at the thought of what my sister has mentioned. "I'm not going out with Luke," I admit. "I am going out with Liam." I don't add that the only reason I'm going out with Liam at all is because Luke asked me to. Considering the way my sister is reacting to the news of me and Liam, she wouldn't believe me anyway.

"I still think you're lying," Kendall says with a sniff, too stubborn to see that I'm telling the truth. "Besides, do you really think Mom and Dad are going to let you go out?"

"I guess we'll see." With that, I wander into the den, where my parents are sitting on the couch. My father stares blankly at the TV across the room, and my mother looks down at a book perched in her lap. For some reason, this makes me think of Luke.

"Hey, guys," I murmur to my parents, inefficiently gaining either of their attention. "Is it okay with you if I go out with Liam Wellington tonight?"

My parents have yet to look up at me as I speak, though my father does gesture for me to move out of the way of the TV while my mother turns to the next page in her book.

"I suppose," Mom says after a moment, yawning into her hand.

"Don't stay out too late," my father adds. I think he's saying this out of concern for my well-being until he continues, "I have an early meeting."

I turn and glance at a lingering Kendall over my shoulder with a smug look of satisfaction. My sister merely gapes at our parents, as if unable to believe that they are seemingly okay with this situation. I head out of the room and into the foyer to wait for Liam's appearance, expecting him to be arriving any minute now. As I wait, I grab my phone and send a quick text to Luke, explaining my plans with Liam for the night. He responds with a simple thumbs-up emoji, and I'm unsure of why this leaves me feeling slightly miffed.

The doorbell rings as I'm slipping my phone back into my bag. Kendall immediately scurries into the room, looking at me with her eyebrows raised and arms crossed over her chest, as if she's expecting to catch me in some sort of act. I ignore her and inhale a deep breath, painting a smile on my face as I open the door and exclaim brightly, "Hey, Liam!"

Liam must notice the startled expression my sister wears as she stares at him, because his eyebrows furrow as he glances over at her like what's up with this chick?

"Liam, this is my sister, Kendall," I introduce the two, stepping to the side. Liam extends his hand to shake Kendall's in greeting, and Kendall's cheeks instantly flush bright red.

"Nice to meet you," Liam says to my sister politely before returning his attention to me, eyes wide as he offers a faint smile. "Wow, Jade. You look . . . amazing."

"Thank you," I say gratefully, returning his smile. "You clean up nicely yourself, Wellington."

"So, you ready to head out?" Liam asks, gesturing to his car parked out in the driveway. I'm pleased to find that he drives an older-modeled Honda Civic, as almost everyone else around here owns an expensive foreign car that make me nervous to merely look at in fear I'll somehow ruin them.

"Whenever you are," I reply with a grin, stepping outside to join Liam on the porch. I wave goodbye to my sister, who is still standing by the doorway, staring as if she's seen a ghost. With that, I descend the stairs with Liam at my side, heading for his car.

I can't help noticing that down the street, Luke just-so-happens to be outside checking his mail. He must notice me and Liam walking down my driveway, because he glances up and locks gazes with me. It isn't long before his attention shifts to Liam, pure hatred radiating from his expression as his glance lingers on the boy by my side. Shocking me more than his random appearance, Luke raises his hand and waves in my direction. I can't help wondering what he might be getting at as I absentmindedly return the gesture.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Liam shooting me a confused glance as he opens the passenger door for me like a gentleman. I only shrug in response to his unasked question, because I don't know what Luke is up to at the moment either.

I slide into the passenger seat of Liam's car, and he shuts the door gently behind me before crossing over to the driver's side, all without saying a word to Luke, which is probably for the best. It isn't long before Liam takes his seat, closing his door and starting the car.

I don't realize that all of this is actually happening until Liam begins to pull out of my driveway, and that's when I start to get nervous. I guess none of Luke's plan had really felt real up until now. I mean, flirting with Liam in the library had been practically nothing, as I hadn't really put much thought into what I was doing. And texting him had been simple too, because it seemed harmless. But right here, right now, being in Liam's car with him as we go on an actual date? It's a completely different thing.

I can feel guilt rising in my chest, and I force myself to try and relax. I mean, Liam doesn't know my reasoning behind going on this date with him. He doesn't know about the deal I made with Luke. To him, this is all real. And, if I forget about everything else going on, it's not hard for me to pretend the same.

"I wasn't really sure where to take you," Liam admits, sounding almost sheepish. He keeps his gaze trained on the road before him, though risks a quick glance my way as he clears his throat.

"Is that so?" I ask in response, biting the corner of my lip to hold back a smile.

"If you don't mind me asking, what does an ideal first date sound like to you, exactly?" Liam questions after a moment, offering me the hint of a smile. I'm not sure why, but something about the way he asks me this has my heart fluttering slightly, his smile contagious.

It's an interesting question to be asked, I'll admit. I suppose I'm used to going out on dates with boys who have already planned everything out without necessarily asking me what I'd like to go do. And it just might be that reason as to why most of those boys never got second chances.

"I guess my ideal first date would be something . . . simple," I admit in soft tone, lost in thought. "I don't know if this might sound stupid, but sometimes I find myself thinking about how over-the-top my life is. I mean, I'm sure you've seen some of the articles about me recently. Normal girls don't have headlines created about them. And I've always wanted to be a normal girl, you know? So I guess doing something that makes me feel normal would be my ideal first date . . . something simple, yet fun. Escape my reality for a little while."

"I almost thought I was the only one who felt that way," Liam says after a moment of brief silence, chuckling. "It's like everyone who goes to Crestwood—everyone who grew up in the spotlight the way you and I have—it's like they actually enjoy the sort of lives they lead. And I just can't imagine that. I mean, my dad is the owner of Wellington Enterprises, right? So of course people have heard of him. And when they hear the name Wellington, they immediately think of the money, the limos, the jets, the fame. No one ever thinks about what goes on behind closed doors. People just assume my life is perfect because of my last name. They don't know what it was like having to grow up in the public eye, or never getting to see their dad because he's always on some business trip, or what it was like having to move every other month for 'job opportunities'. You know?"

Liam's words hang in the air around us, hovering over our heads like storm clouds threatening rain. They seem to tug at something deep inside of me, something that refuses to be ignored. In a way, he's right. These lives we were forced to grow up with, being socialites or New York's elite or whatever you want to call it . . . all of it is meaningless. It's the equivalent of being in a room filled with people, yet feeling completely alone. What people don't seem to understand when they call our lives "perfect" or "enviable" is that no amount of money can buy happiness. Diamonds may be forever, but who wants to spend their life surrounded by nothing but jewels?

Liam seemingly mistakes my silence for discomfort, because he is soon speaking again. "I'm sorry, Jade," he says, sounding almost regretful. "I didn't mean to sound so dark. Or ungrateful for my life or everything I've been fortunate to have, because I'm not. It's just . . . I really liked the way you worded that. Escaping reality, I mean."

"You didn't get any darker than the truth is," I assure Liam. "I mean, isn't that all you said, anyway? The truth? And . . . I like how easy it is to talk to you about this. It's . . . comforting."

And it really is, in a way that I can't quite describe. I don't know how to put it into words, but knowing that Liam feels the same way about all of this that I do makes me feel . . . well, it makes me feel less alone than I sometimes think I am.

"Well, whenever you're feeling down and want to talk about how much everything sucks, give me a call."

I can't refrain from laughing at Liam's little joke, the mood between us brightening somewhat.

"So, Jade," Liam says softly, eyes meeting mine as he turns to glance at me with a small smile. "What do you say about escaping reality with me?"

»»----- -----««

a/n: so like. can 2019 just end already? thanks.