"Attention class!" Miss Madison chirped to our last period English class. "Today we're going to be starting one of the most famous love stories of all time – and one of my personal favorites – Romeo and Juliet."

Oh great, I groaned. This again.

Now don't get me wrong, I mean, I like Romeo and Juliet and all, I just don't understand how one girl could fawn over some guy she barely knows.

Now I know what you're thinking. 'Mai, you like that Naru guy, right? And you just met him a little while ago, right?' Well, to that, I say—

"—Mai?"

I whipped my head around as I was pulled out of my fantasy to see my classmate Nester behind me with a pile of books. "Take one."

"Oh, sorry," I apologized with a nervous chuckle as he handed me a rundown copy of Romeo and Juliet that has definitely seen better days – just like the characters.

I let out a bored sigh as I filled out the book cards that we were passed next. Well this'll be fun … yeah right. It's times like these that make me glad to have an exciting after-school job as a ghost hunter – which not many people can say, mind you!

But more on that later. For now, I have to immerse myself in the "amazing" world of Shakespeare. Whoo.

I can only imagine what Naru would say if he saw my enthusiasm. "Mai," his raspy voice would accuse, "with that attitude, you're going to fail more than you already are." Man, what a jerk! I swear that boy is the most stuck up, selfish, workaholic person who ever existed on the face of this—

"Mai?"

"Huh? What?" Whoops. Must've trailed off again.

It was my teacher. "I asked if you would like to read a part."

Uh, not really. How do I politely decline?

"We still need a Juliet," she reminded me.

"Uh, I don't think—"

"It'll be payment for mentally dozing off in class. If you read a part, especially a lead, you won't daydream so much."

Geez, she sounds like Naru! Can I ever escape that pig-headed narciss—

"So what do you think? Yes?"

I quietly sighed in defeat. "Why not?"

Miss Madison clapped her hands together. "Lovely! So you will be our Juliet. Isn't that exciting?"

Oh boy. I'm so enthralled. "Y-yeah, sure," I lied.

"Good," she continued a little too enthusiastically. "Everyone, open up to page three. Let's begin. Sampson and Gregory, you're up!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Twenty long minutes later, the bell rang, putting me out of my frilly, aristocratic, overly fancy misery.

"That's all for today, class!" concluded Miss Madison. "See you tomorrow. And remember to bring your books because we're going to continue our exciting adventure in Verona!"

Okay, we got through three scenes and my opinion of Juliet still hasn't changed. She's just a naïve, lovesick teenager who falls for some snobby Casanova (A/N: haha, the irony!).

But I'll worry about that tomorrow. Now I'm headed to SPR to see what thrilling new case Naru has awaiting us.

ooooooooo

So that's the first chapter! Like it? Don't like it? Please tell me why. Is it too cliché? Did I make Mai too… anything? Oooo what's gonna happen next? Next installment up soon, I've had a little more time to write now that I'm settled into a comfortable school routine. And yes, I know that Nester isn't a Japanese name, I was in class myself when I was writing this and, looking around the room for inspiration for a random character who gets one line, saw my classmate Nester. So hence, this. In any case, please tell me what you think, and as always, thanks for reading!