Usagi Cafe was a Japanese style with a cozy minimalist and industrial aesthetic with wooden types of furniture and floors, white brick walls, Smeg appliances, and natural-colored clay tea sets.

The cafe was small because most times, there were little to no customers each day, but their beverages were worth buying from a handful of people each month. What was more cute about it was there was a small window on one side like it was a drive-thru delivery, although it was a walk-thru window for customers who needed a drink to-go.

The girls were waiting for their coffee to be served. They leaned on a wall next to the window. Oddey saw a couple that she knew go to Carm U too and gave them a quick wave. "You know them?" Rita asked.

"Yeah, the girlfriend was a fellow welcoming committee," Oddey answered. "And the guy is an art major. They are such a couple goals."

"How is that?"

"One of my classmates said that she's in Law since her parents are lawyers too and they did not accept her artist boyfriend but they fought their love in the end."

"Aww... that's so sweet," Rita could feel her heart melt from that story.

"I know, I know. Maybe I should sketch them for my romanticism sketch."

"Huh?"

"Oh, it's for this art class."

"I don't think it's a good idea to sketch people who go to the same school as y. People might think you're some kind of stalker."

"Hmm... you're right, I am having some sort of creative block."

"You'll think of something."

"Hopefully very soon," then Oddey started giggling.

"What is it?" Rita's brow lifted.

"I was drawing this guy..."

"That guy who saved you from falling off a bridge? you drew him?"

"Yup, him."

"Hmm..." Rita smirked at her.

"What? I just can't forget those eyes."

"Can I see it?"

"Sure, now where did I put it?" Oddey opened her bag and searched for it, but it wasn't there she gulped. "What the...? It's not here." She kept digging but to no avail. "Oh! crap... it's on the bench... in the garden."

"Okay, relax, it's not like that guy in the sketch will find it."

"Yeah, yeah, but I'm just more bummed that I lost it."

"You can always make another one."

"Right, right," Oddey panted. "I could do that, just not as good as I did with the first one."

"Mochaccino for Rita and Cream Macha for Oddey," informed the server that their drinks were ready, and he placed them on the sill.

The girl took their drinks and had a quick sip. "Let's go. My groupmates must be in study hall already."

"Okay," Oddey responded in a bittersweet tone.

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It was Saturday, Gage and Courtney with him looking at the posters in the hallway, were heading to their theatre club. "Yes, Mom, I'll be home tomorrow... I know, Mom... bye, love you too," Gage just finished talking to his mother on the phone, then he turned to his friend. "Thanks to you, I'll be missing my mom's pot roast."

"You'll have more of that in the future," Courtney snickered.

"Oh! Gosh..."

"The anticipation is killing me," she squealed.

"Me too, I guess..." Gage replied, yet he was less interested than her.

"Oh! come on, at least sound a little excited."

"I could be at home right now with my parents, you know, sleeping or playing my Xbox."

"You can do that right after, and please, show some enthusiasm."

"I am, trust me."

"Now come on," Courtney took his hand and put on a cute face, then pulled him to the club.

"Okay, okay," he grunted as he was reluctantly getting inside.

Sometime later, the two and other members of the theatre club were in a room. Madame Vestia arrived with a big smile on her face, "Now I know you all are very thrilled about what the play is gonna be," she chimed with a bit of jazz hands in the mix.

"YES!!" everyone exclaimed in glee, Gage was sitting back and just nodding his head, trying to look a bit interested, but he was not.

"What is it?" Courtney asked.

"Do you all want to know?"

"Come on, tell us."

"Romeo and Juliet!!" Madame Vestia revealed very proudly, yet everyone got quiet, and the mood of the atmosphere changed.

"For real? You. Had. Got. To. Be. Kidding me," Gage snickered and shook his head that he had to cancel to be with his parents at home for that.

"Romeo and Juliet?" a member agaped in disbelief.

"Yes, the very classic, romantic, and very tragic Shakespearean play of the century."

"And very basic," complained another one. "I was hoping something more... challenging than that."

"Yeah, it's so high school," grunted the other.

"I agree," Gage whispered.

"Alright, alright, I know all of you expected a lot more and that this play has been done a bunch of times, especially in all high schools out there," Madame Vestia sighed and understood the student's frustrations. "But hear me out, this is not your ordinary high school play, this is a university, the stage is bigger, and we'll make it grander and longer than the one you did before in high school. Now I know a lot of our members are sick that we will be needing outside help because the SHOW MUST GO ON."

"Oh wow." Courtney could see her point of view even though the others were beginning to change their minds.

"Oh no," Gage exasperated.

"Yes, this is better. Trust me, I will be sending sign-up forms on our group page, and also, I will inform you of the schedule of the audition," Madame Vestia guaranteed. "I know it, and I know you all know the story of Romeo and Juliet, so today I want you to watch the movie of 1968 and the documentary of the Shakespearean play."

Most of the club members didn't seem to mind. Some were more eager, yet some didn't, including Gage. He felt like he was going to face torture just being there. "I hope you're happy," he glared to Courtney.

"Sorry," she cringed. Madame Vestia walked to her desk and started the movie, and everyone sat back and relaxed to watch it.

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Meanwhile, Oddey was also in school on the weekend, and she walked in the corridor when she stumbled upon the theatre's club meeting room. It got her curious and she peeked through the small rectangular glass window, she saw that they were watching the Romeo and Juliet movie which made her watch too but what she did not know was Gage was there just a few feet away from her with his back turned facing the projector.

All of a sudden, her phone buzzed, and she quickly checked that it was a text message. Gage could feel that someone was leering at him, so he glanced behind his shoulder, but Oddey had already left. "Hey! What is it?" Courtney noticed him getting distracted.

"Hmm?" he flinched to her. "Nothing. I thought there was someone outside."

It was nighttime, and Oddey was inside the university's art studio for hours, they had about forty rooms where the creatives could work in silence, make a mess, and be there however long they wanted. Oddey was there sitting on a stool in front of her was a blank A3 size sketchpad that was placed on the easel trying to think of what to draw.

All of a sudden, she started humming because it was too quiet, it was the 'Born For You' song and she began singing it with the lyrics. "...It's as if the powers of the universe conspire to make you mine..." she sang that part of the chorus, and that was when a lightbulb appeared in her head. "That's it!"

Oddey began sketching her idea on the paper, and it took her about fifteen minutes to finish and polish her work. She stared at it with pride. It was a drawing of a man and a woman with their backs turned, but then there was this string by their hands like it was connecting them.

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The meeting was finally over, and Gage got up from his seat. He stretched his body and then rubbed his tired eyes from watching and listening to the play. "Forget what I said about finals week. This is hell," he yawned, feeling exhausted from the boredom he went through.

Courtney got used to his whining about being in the theatre club since he was just there to keep her company. "Come on, it wasn't that bad."

"I was barely listening."

"It was pretty long, I'll admit that."

"People! People!" Madame Vestia called out to everyone loudly by clapping her hands. Remember to keep checking the group page for audition schedules, scripts, and sign-up forms for the roles you wish to portray. Remember. This is not high school, so you all have to give it your very best shot."

"Oh! I will," Courtney felt determined. "I'm gonna get the part of Juliet."

"Don't you think it's a long shot," Gage asked. "Not to sound unsupportive."

"It kinda sounds like it."

"I'm just looking out for you."

"Aww, that's sweet, but don't worry, I'll rehearse and rehearse and rehearse and rehearse until I get it."

"I don't know, I mean, it is the vital character of the play. God knows how many people would want to be Romeo and Juliet."

"Then bring. It. On," Courtney said with confidence and a smirk on her face as she took her bag, Gage rolled her eyes and laughed a bit.

"Hey, guys!" A girl approached them.

"Hi! Alli," the two greeted back.

"You're gonna audition for Juliet?" she asked Courtney.

"Yeah, I am," Courtney confirmed. "You too?"

"Oh no, but I wish I had a lot to do, I'll go for a small role, what about you, Gage? maybe it's time for you to shine and go for Romeo."

"Nooo, thank you," Gage declined the idea.

"Ugh... you always get the small roles, so why not go for the big ones for one?"

"Sooo not interested," then he took his bag and walked off.

"Hey! Gage, wait up!" Courtney hovered and then looked at Alice. "I'll see you around," she chased him after that.

"Sorry, I just want to get away from there," Gage huffed as he kept walking while talking to Courtney.

"You know, she's right, why don't you be the lead for ones."

"Me?" he stopped and turned. "The lead? Hell no."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to and please, don't beg me."

"We'll be together on stage."

"Huh?" Gage was dazed by what she just said.

Courtney realized what she blurted from her mouth. "Well... it's better to be with you than someone else... right?"

"Court... someday you'll be with someone else, not me," Gage told her by looking her straight in the eyes, Courtney somehow felt hurt by his words. "I mean, you'll be working in different actors once you're out there in Broadway or whatever."

"Oh! right, you're right," Courtney stammered and felt relieved from that.

"Anyway, I can still catch the bus home, what about you?"

"Uhm... no, my folks texted me this morning that they'll be out of town."

"Okay, I'll see you on Monday then, bye," Gage gave her a quick hug and then went away.

"Bye!" Courtney watched him leave so eagerly.

He was able to catch the bus a few blocks from the campus and ride it. Later, Gage arrived at his house, so he thought his parents were in their rooms sleeping. He quietly closed the door and locked it. His stomach rumbled, and he headed to the kitchen first. He opened the refrigerator and saw that there was a leftover pot roast, "Aww yeah!!" he expressed quietly. He took out the food and before he turned around to place it on the table.

"Ahem," someone caught the young man in the kitchen as she opened the light to get his attention.

Gage flinched. There she was, Marie, leaning by the doorway with her arm crossed and a smirk on her face. "Hi! Mom," he greeted with a sheepish smile.

"Hi! dear," she greeted back then embraced her son.