This'll probably be a long one. I'm not sure how they would do Romeo and Juliet, as it is in English, but whatever. This will focus on Hanschen and Ernst, but will not neglect the other boys. Please read and review. I do not own Spring Awakening or Romeo and Juliet.

"So this year, to illustrate our studies, we have decided to put on a production of our latest reading, Romeo and Juliet," announced Herr Sonnenstitch, as class ended.

The boys looked from one to another before Georg voiced the question, "But it's a romance."

"A tragedy," Herr Sonnenstitch corrected him.

Understanding exactly what his friend was trying to say, Otto stepped in and asked, "But Romeo and Juliet do fall in love...so wouldn't they have to kiss?"

Melchior Gabor laughed audibly. His legs were kicked up on his desk.

"Herr Gabor, please control yourself, and take your feet down."

"Yes sir." Sarcasm was dripping in his voice.

"Anyway to answer your question, I suppose so, but we'll figure it out on a later date…"

"Yes, isn't that how you always run things, pushing away possible problems to a later date, always afraid, never confronting anything…" Mechior's voice grew as he stood up.

"Herr Gabor! Silence yourself and sit down!" Herr Sonnenstitch screamed.

With a smirk, he did.

"Everyone will be required to play at least a small part in the play, and parts will be assigned at random. The cast will be posted on Monday morning. You are dismissed."

The boys stood up and began to pack their things. They discussed the announcement. Melchior comforted Moritz, who frantically panicked on how he could remember lines, if he could not remember his latest lesson of Latin. Georg and Otto lamented their treatment after the questions they asked. Occasionally someone mentioned which character he would like to play.

In the corner, Ernst packed his books more hurriedly than usual. He did not want to be questioned on anything concerning the play. Lord knows, the visions he had as the class read the play, and now to be performing it, he was sure these apparitions would only worsen. And, the fact that he would have to memorize lines, any lines, frightened him.

He strode out the door, when a strong hand grasped his shoulder and turned him around.

"And you wish to play whom?" Ernst found himself face to face with Hanschen Rilow.

"I-I'm really not-not sure." His voice quivered and he looked at the ground, occasionally looking up, as he answered the question. He couldn't help noticing that Hanschen had not removed his hand from Ernst's shoulder.

"Oh Ernst, you must have some idea." He taunted him, tightening his grip on Ernst's shoulder ever so slightly. His mouth curved into a smirk.

"I…" Ernst paused and then threw Hanschen's hand off and bolted home. He spoke to none of his schoolmates that weekend.

Following the weekend, Ernst walked to school. The morning was very pleasant. The warmth of spring was peeking through the chilled wind that occasionally blew. The weekend had been very nice for Ernst. He had been able to finish his schoolwork on Saturday, so he was able to fully enjoy the sermon at church on Sunday, not distracted by the lingering work to be done.

As he approached the school, he noticed his schoolmates crowded around the door. He wondered why this was.

He got closer and he heard Georg say, "Melchior is Mercutio."

The play! Ernst had very happily forgotten about their production of Romeo and Juliet over the weekend. The casting news made him slightly sick as he dreaded discovering to which part he had been assigned.

"Melchi, isn't the nurse a woman?" Moritz asked.

"Yes."

"Melchi, how can I play a woman?" Moritz looked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown, "Do you see how this will haunt my dreams, Melchi? I can't handle this."

"Moritz, it will be fine." Melchior comforted his friend. Ernst, though upset that Moritz was so distraught, was very happy to learn that Moritz was the nurse. He had been very afraid that he had been cast in that role. Surely, he had been relegated to one of the servants. That wouldn't be too bad.

He drew closer. The other boys took notice of him, and parted for him to see the list. He wasn't sure quite why they did this, as they hardly took notice of him before. He got to where he could see the names on the list. He realized that Otto and Georg had been cast as the servants. He traced the names up the list, until he found his. He looked to the other side of the paper and read the character, "Juliet Capulet."

"What?" Ernst almost gasped. He couldn't be Juliet. Aside from his massive insecurities, he could not remember all the lines. He just couldn't.

In his silent fretting he didn't realize that someone now stood behind him, reading the list, until he heard a small laugh.

Ernst turned to see Hanschen standing over him. "This will be fun won't it, Ernst?"

Ernst, having not seen any name other than Otto, Georg's, and his own, cocked his head. Hanschen nodded toward the list, and Ernst turned to see Hanschen's name next to "Romeo Montague."

Things could not have gotten worse.