Kris is cast as the lead male in the upcoming school play, Romeo and Juliet, and Tao helps him with his lines.

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“Ge!” Tao called out to his comrade as they met up between classes at their lockers. He was wearing a confident smile while strutting seamlessly in Kris and Yixing’ direction. “Or should I start calling you Romeo now?”

Kris’s face brightened at the sound of the younger and he subconsciously chewed the right corner of his bottom lip. Yixing simply rolled his eyes at the exchange.

“Please don’t,” Kris groaned. “But hey… I was wondering if you’d help me run lines later after school? I really want to impress the actress when we rehearse tomorrow. I have a feeling she is going to rock Juliet and I’m just… not.”

Tao appeared confused. “I mean… you know I’m not really the Shakespeare type. Why don’t you have Xing-ge help you?”

Yixing’ eyes narrowed at the remark. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

A cheeky grin fell across Tao’s mouth as he replied, “You’re… you know.”

“No, I don’t,” Yixing stated flatly.

Tao sighed and shifted as if he were bored. He glanced at Kris with a smirk before he said, “You’re just more… artsy is probably the nicest way to put it.”

Yixing looked him up and down. He hissed, “You’re the one who gives quotes to everyone around like-”

“I’ve stomped bigger bugs than you!” Tao threatened. He strongly disliked it when Yixing dissed his quotes.

“Can you two not go one interaction without nitpicking?” Kris sighed. “Just once. Please?”

They both eyed each other skeptically before Tao reverted back to Kris’s previous inquiry. “I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I can go over your lines with you.”

Kris genuinely smiled. “Cool. I’ll catch up with you after the seventh period.”

Tao nodded and returned the smile before wandering off toward his next class.

Gazing after him, Kris couldn’t help but sigh contently.

Yixing elbowed him in the side. “Nice move. You’re becoming obvious, bro.”

“Shut up,” Kris drawled.

“Are you two finally going to… begetting?” As he finished his question, Yixing furrowed his brows repeatedly and made a completely inappropriate gesture with his hands. “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?!” he moaned suggestively and his hips. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name!”

Kris’s cheeks turned an embarrassed shade of scarlet. He ducked his head and tried to slip away as quickly as possible.

Tao poked around the corner down the hall and pointed at Yixing. “See! I knew you knew that stuff!”

“Thou art as loathsome as a toad!” Yixing howled back.

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“Which part am I reading again?” Tao asked as he stared over the play. He and Kris were sitting on Kris’s bed facing one another.

“The first act, part five. Just after Capulet and Tybalt finish arguing,” the brunette replied.

“So I’m reading Juliet?” Tao asked after a brief pause.

Kris nodded. “Yeah.” Of course.

The younger took a