Hey, everyone! After finishing my last series, "A New Chapter," I tried to think of more ideas that would work as fan fiction, and this is the result I came up with. The year is 1991, and Sam and Josie are attending the same high school, Sam as a senior and Josie as a junior. Since I recently read HAMLET for my British Literature class and completely loved it, I decided to add this element to the story as well. While I'm including some of the characters from my last series in this, it doesn't follow with it otherwise because in the last one I assumed that Sam and Josie met at South Glen South for the first time, as they do in the movie. I guess that's what's so great about fan fiction. Anything you imagine is possible! Finally, I would like to thank all the other fan fiction writers. It was my love for the movie that led me to search for it on the net in the first place, but I really think that it's the fan fiction that TRULY captures the essence of the characters, since so much is left out in the movie. As always, comments are welcome at [email protected] or on the message board. Enjoy!
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Josie's eyes lit up for a moment when she saw the flyer posted on the bulletin board outside the cafeteria. "Try-Outs for the spring play, Hamlet, beginning Monday after school on the stage," it read. Josie had always dreamt of playing "Ophelia," especially after she'd seen Franco Zeffirelli's film version of the play. While Helena Bonham Carter had done all right in the role, Josie's had always thought she could do better.
Sighing, Josie suddenly came back to reality. Her long brown hair fell in oily strands down her back and over her shoulders and she wore an oversized white sweatshirt and far-too-big blue jeans. Of course, the jeans had fit her at one point, before she'd lost weight. She just hadn't gotten around to going shopping, even though her mother had asked her to come with her on many occasions. Although she had just had her braces removed, it didn't seem to matter much to her. She felt odd and out of place like always, and it didn't help that a new pimple seemed to appear on her face every day.
Josie was about to head to her next class when someone grabbed her by the arm. She stopped, seeing that it was Angela Dawson. Angela had just transferred to Lincoln Park High from a small town in southeastern Ohio. She was tall and gorgeous, with long legs, silky blond hair, and the bluest of blue eyes. She also had incredible fashion sense-always wearing the hippest clothes in the brightest colors. She literally lit up a room when she walked into it, and her hundred-watt smile only enhanced this effect.
Pretty as she was, Josie had assumed that Angela would hang out with the popular girls. Oddly, though, that didn't seem to be the case. She had sat next to Josie in Literature class on her first day and had made an effort to be her friend. Angela loved Shakespeare and writing every bit as much as Josie did, and she didn't want to have any part with the superficial popular girls.
"Hey, Josie, how's it goin'?" Angela asked, the words coming from her mouth in her southeastern Ohio twang.
"Oh, all right," Josie replied, still thinking about the play.
"I saw you were looking at that flyer about the Hamlet try-outs. You know, I think you'd make the perfect 'Ophelia.'"
Josie tried not to laugh. "Me? I�I don't think so. 'Ophelia' is supposed to be pretty and I'm�well�not."
Angela's eyes grew wide. "What are you talking about?" she gasped. "I happen to think that you're very pretty. You just downplay it too much is all."
Josie rolled her eyes. "That's nice of you to say, Angela, but I'm sure you're the only one who thinks that."
"Well, that's why we have to do something about it," she insisted. "What are you doing after school today, Josie?"
It was Friday, but Josie, as always, was without plans for the night. She figured she'd just find a quiet corner in the library and read for a while, as she usually did on Friday night. "Um�I don't know. I thought I'd just go to the library," she told her.
"Do you have a paper due or something?"
Josie shook her head. "No. I don't have any homework for the weekend, but my younger brother Rob is going to have some friends over tonight and they're always really rowdy. It distracts me from reading."
"Well, how about if you come with me to the mall instead?" Angela suggested. "We could go shopping together and then go back to my house and hang out."
This was the first time in years that one of Josie's peers had invited her to hang out, and while she liked Angela and thought she was nice, she was still a little suspicious. "What for?" she heard herself ask.
Angela smiled at her, putting her arm around her. "Well, I thought we would work on enhancing your�look," she explained. "It sounds to me like you have some issues about it, and I want to help you change that. I'm going to be a beautician once I get out of high school, you know."
The last statement didn't at all surprise Josie. Angela seemed like just the type of girl who would end up doing something like that. The idea of someone "making her over" sounded like fun, but Josie was still uncertain. "Really?" she whispered.
Angela nodded. "Yep. And besides, I already told my uncle that I have the perfect 'Ophelia' for him."
"Your uncle?"
"Yeah. Mr. Peterson, the director�he's my uncle. Didn't you know that?"
Mr. Peterson had been the head of the drama department at the high school for years, and since Angela was new, Josie hadn't thought about her being related to anyone associated with the school. "Wow. I didn't know that."
"Yep. He's my mom's brother. You don't want me to disappoint him, do you?"
Something else occurred to Josie then, and she decided to bring it up. "What about you, Angela? You're already beautiful. Maybe you should try out for the part."
Angela shook her head and laughed. "Oh, no, not me! I'm a terrible actress. Just ask my uncle!" Just then, the bell rang, letting the students know that it was time to go to their next class. "Look, Josie, I have to get going�So will you come with me then?"
Josie shrugged. After all, what did she have to lose? "Sure, I guess. Right after school?"
Angela considered this for a moment. "Well�How about I pick you up at your house at four o'clock? Is that all right?"
Josie nodded. "Okay. I'll see you then, Angela."
"Great!" Angela exclaimed, turning away from Josie and skipping down the hallway. Josie stood there for a moment watching her friend. She was about to head to class herself when she felt someone standing behind her. She turned around, surprised to see a tall, lanky boy with green eyes and blond hair. He was absolutely gorgeous, Josie thought immediately. Even though it was a big school, Josie thought it odd that she had never actually seen this guy before. How could she have missed someone this breathtaking in the halls?
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I run into you?" the guy asked her.
Josie was alarmed. She certainly hadn't expected this guy to talk to her! "Um�I�uh�it's okay," she sputtered.
Smiling at her, the guy moved to stand beside her, leaning down to read the flyer. "Hamlet, eh?" he mused. "You know, I think I might just try out for that one. I always used to think school plays were lame, but if they're doing Hamlet, well�it might be cool." Josie stared blankly at him, unable to believe that he was still talking to her. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've forgotten my manners completely. I'm Sam�Coulson."
Sam Coulson�She had never heard the name before, never seen him before, but she was smitten right then and there. Then, incredibly, he held out his hand to her. Trembling slightly, Josie reached up to take his hand and shake it. "Um�hi," she muttered, embarrassed. "I'm�I'm�" What was her name again? For a moment she couldn't seem to remember. "Josie!" she exclaimed, laughing. "Josie�Geller�Yeah, that's it�Josie Geller�"
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Josie Geller," Sam said, finally releasing her hand. He looked around then, suddenly noticing that the hallway had completely emptied. "Uh oh. I'm gonna be late for class again." He smacked himself on his forehead. "How I always end up doing this I have no idea. Well, it was nice talking to you, Josie Geller, but I really ought to be going. See you around!" Flashing her one last smile, he darted down the hallway and around the corner out of sight.
Once Sam had gone, Josie leaned up against the bulletin board, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. Her hand still felt warm from Sam's touch. "I'll never wash it again," she whispered.
"Not a good idea, Jos," a loud voice insisted. Josie opened her eyes, surprised to see her brother Rob standing before her. "You really should wash your hair every once in a while," he said, as a clarification of his comment.
Frowning, Josie smacked her brother on the arm. "What are you doing here, Rob?" she demanded. "Don't you have class?"
"Don't you?" he countered.
Just then, the tardy bell rang. "Shoot!" Josie cried. "I'm late. I'm never late!"
Rob shook his head, putting an affectionate arm around his sister. "Aw, don't sweat it, big sis. Lucky for both of us, I'm late all the time. I know how to work the ladies in the Principal's office so we won't have to get tardy slips."
"You do? But you're only a freshman!" she cried.
"I know, I know�I didn't want to brag about it, but if you wanna do my bragging for me, well, go right ahead!"
Josie headed to the office with her brother, hoping he was right and that they wouldn't be marked tardy.
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Sam tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of his car as "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol played on the radio. He had the radio turned up loud and he moved his head in time with the music. He had to pick his brother Matt up at the elementary school before going home.
While he was still in the car alone, he thought for a moment about that girl he'd met when he was looking at the flyer about Hamlet. She'd said her name was Josie Geller. He'd never remembered seeing her before. She'd seemed so nervous, so timid and maybe even surprised that he was talking to her. He wondered if she had been looking at the flyer too. Would he see her at the try- outs on Monday? He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her definitely interested him. Sure, her skin was shiny and her hair awfully stringy, but she had the most beautiful blue eyes he'd ever seen.
Before long, Sam pulled up in front of the elementary school, and his brother Matt, who was only ten, bounded into the back seat, breaking through his thoughts. "Sam!" Matt shouted. "Turn the music down, would ya? It's hurting my ears!"
Sighing, Sam reached over and turned the radio down. "Sorry, Matt," he insisted. "How was school today?"
"Okay. Mrs. Smith said I have the best handwriting in the class."
"Well, that's good."
"Yep, and we did more multiplication. We have to memorize all our tables. I always forget 7 times 7 and 7 times 8. Do you know what they are, Sam?"
"7 times 7 is 49; 7 times 8 is 56," Sam told his brother without hesitation.
"Okay. I'll try to remember that."
Sam shook his head, smiling, vaguely remembering the time when school had been that easy for him. He hadn't thought so at the time, but now, looking back, it sounded so simple�Learning multiplication, having recess, practicing neat writing�Now Sam had so much to deal with that at times he thought his head would explode. This play was just what he needed, he decided, and he'd be at those try-outs on Monday right after school.