Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hey Juliet...

Hey Juliet!

Cathy Parr was having a bad day.
She'd been in class all morning and was lucky enough it was now lunch time. She had homework to do, studying for tests soon... No time to work on her novel...
And all her friends had ditched her.
As usual.
Catalina was 'studying' (or to put it less politely, making out with Anne in the library) and Maria was God only knows where.
Anna was with Jane, practicing for regional running championships, or something like that.
And Kitty was, well, no idea.
And Cathy was bored.
Trees hung over her head, lay down on the grass, sunshine and a coat on because you know, it is still January. Blue skies. Birds singing. Cathy absently wondered if they took requests.

And then, like a harbringer of doom and evil, Maria De Salinas loomed over her. Cathy blocked the sun from her eyes. "Oh. It's you."

"Don't be too pleased to see me, Parr.". She flopped down. "You like Kitty Howard, right?".
Before Cathy could splutter a 'no', she waved her hand. "Don't answer that, love. Alright, I have an amazing way for you to get close to her.".

"... Um.". Eloquent as always, and Maria had to smother a sigh. "Why is it you all think I like her?"

"So you don't?". The disbelief was about as subtle as a flying brick, but Cathy took the question seriously. "Obviously not!"

"So go say hi, she's right there.". Maria pointed over her shoulder, to which Cathy yelped and spun over, landing heavily on her belly, grass stain on her shirt. "Where- Oh, real mature, 'Ria.".

"Maturity is overrated anyway.". A brief smile. "You want to hear what I have to say or not?".

"I'll give you three guesses.".

"Suit yourself, Parr.". She only shrugged, and patted Cathy's head mockingly in farewell. Cathy pushed her away. "Gerroffme!"

"Eloquent."

"Go burn."

"Charming.". Maria was gone, leaving her friend behind.

Cathy scowled. No, this wasn't why she was having a bad day.

Hey, I've been watching you
Every little thing you do

She wasn't even staring at Kitty when she went to Seymours. She wasn't staring that much. Not as much as Catalina insisted.
No where near. "Heart emoji, I told you." Catalina said.

"Go burn!".

"What is that, your number one insult right now?". Maria glanced up from filing her nails to shoot her a glare. "I mean, come on! Say something original!".

She was sick of being teased about this. I mean, come on! She didn't. She really didn't. Wasn't her fault Howard was... Distracting.
She beat her in every subject. Cathy spent ours studying, prepping for tests, and that Kitty Howard girl stormed in and got top marks- How was that fair?
Cathy could never decide whether she was resentful of her, or admired her.
Or anything else, for that matter.
All she knew was her heart started pounding like a goddamn subway train when she saw her walk past. And dammit, she was always walking past.

If Cathy was in class, she had to ask her teacher something.
If Cathy was with Catalina, Kitty just had to ask where Anne was real quick- Side eying Cathy the entire time.

It was incessant. It was annoying. It was-
Oh, Cathy didn't want to think about what else it was. She just knew two things.

First, she was having a bad day.
Second, she was not, in any way, shape or form, liking Kitty Howard. For any reason. Ever. And that would not change.

Ever.

***

I've tried to page you twice
But I see you roll your eyes

One thing Kitty noticed about Cathy Parr was that she was always rolling her eyes at something.
Catalina so much as looked at Anne too long? Eye roll.
Maria so much as opened her mouth? Eye roll.
It was weirdly endearing. But it wasn't when it was directed at her.

Maybe that was why Kitty tried not to talk to her all that much, although she wanted to… Since Anne and Catalina began dating, the two groups had began spending more time together. Kitty found Catalina far too intimidating, and Cathy too... Intense. Too smart. Too pretty to talk to for too long.

Wish I could make you real
But your lips are sealed
That ain't no big deal

But she found Maria to be surprisingly nice. Attentive, if a little sarcastic, and snobby. But Kitty persisted, and found her to be a treasure chest of information. Especially regarding her current obsession (there wasn't much more of a reason for her to be pretty much stalking her around school) with Cathy Parr.
Maria was more than delighted to discuss Cathy. Much more than delighted.
She was blunt, openly admitting Cathy was (to use her phrase) 'heart emoji' over Kitty. She didn't even want to ask what that meant precisely. 
Maria didn't seem to see this as a betrayal of trust. "I mean, you're the same about her.". She held up a hand to shush the girl. "Don't even consider denying it. I may not be a genius, but I'm not that thick. I have eyes, I can see how you two act."

"You mean... Ignoring each other?"

"So she's playing hard to get? So what?"

"Or I'm playing hard to tolerate?". Maria rushed to calm Kitty's anxiety.

"She's like that with everyone, she communicates using glaring and thesaurus level insults. It's just her personality, the little depresso espresso. God knows what you see in her, love.".

'Cause I know you really want me (yeah)
I hear your friends talk about me (yeah)

Kitty wasn't dumb. Neither socially or academically. She got good marks in tests (although she always beat Cathy, it never seemed to impress the girl, just drive her more insane), and she was on the Spelling Bee team, the Debate team, and the track team. She founded both the Maths Club and the drama society, for goodness sake.
She was always busy, always doing something. She was never trouble by any of it.
She knew damn well Cathy liked her.
She also knew she liked Cathy.
The fact that they weren't together, especially considering Maria's continuing insistence and the fact that all of her friends were dating people, was a source of endless annoyance to her.

So why you tryin' to do without me (yeah)
When you got me where you want me?

But since Cathy was either a coward or more oblivious than Catalina had been, Kitty was now taking matters into her own hands. 

That was why she whispered to Maria, sent her with a mission to where Cathy was lounging around out on the field.
But it seems Maria wasn't as good as matchmaking as she insisted. 

Katti: hey Ria did u tell her?

LilDrummerGirl: huh tell who what?

Katti: MARIA DE SALINAS YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULD TELL CATHY ABOUT THE PLAY!!!

LilDrummerGirl: the capslock is SO unneccessary okie chill

Katti: so u told her?

LilDrummerGirl: no but I will.

Katti: I hate u

LilDrummerGirl: love u too, KitKat. Now remind me again why you cant just ask Cathy out like, yknow, a regular human being?

Katti: hows she gonna say yes to dating me if she doesnt even know she likes me?

LilDrummerGirl: touche i guess... Okay chill out when i find her i'll totally tell her.

Katti: urgh i should have asked Catalina...

LilDrummerGirl: but you didnt. You've got me, love, so deal with it. Gotta run now, I've got a geek to find, adios.

Kitty snarled and hurled the phone across her bedroom. It landed on the end of the bed with a flop. Honestly, you want something done right, you ought to do it yourself.
But she wouldn't. Her plan would work, she was sure of it.
She just had to convince Cathy to do the play first. She took a deep breath, looked into her mirror and immediately sat up straighter. "This will work.". Flashing herself a quick smile as she grabbed her denim jacket and got ready to leave for audition, she purred to no one in particular "And I'm going to make such a cute Juliet.".

Hey, Juliet
I think you're fine
You really blow my mind

Maybe someday (someday)
You and me can run away

***

Maria was so done with this day. First, she failed her English test. Then she had a surprise Chemistry test. Probably failed that too. Physics was okay, but good God, if she ever had to copy out another one of Newtons laws, she'd travel back in time and chuck an apple at his head significantly harder.
And now Cathy Parr decided to not only play hard to get with Kitty, but with her. I mean where the hell could she be?

Pet shop? Nope. And believe Maria, she did not relish going into that hell hole. She wouldn't have minded, the puppies were cute, but she was also very much allergic.
After she had picked up some antihistamines, Maria went around the ret of the town.
But was she at Seymour's? As if. Because heaven forbid Cathy be easy to find.

She wasn't even in the Goddamn library, where she normally hid like a freaking hermit. 

At last, Maria gave up and pulled out her phone. If she couldn't find Parr, she could at least play some Solitaire while she waited.
And at last she remembered. Oh yeah. She could just text her.

Dammit, I'm dumb sometimes...

LilDrummerGirl: Yo Parr, where are you?

CathInAHat: uh I'm like, busy?

LilDrummerGirl: doing what?
LilDrummerGirl: doesnt matter. Listen up. You like Kitty Howard. Dont deny it, obliviousness isnt attractive. Now because I'm so very nice i've found a way for you get closer to KitKat but you may need to do something stupid

CathInAHat: uh yh okie... bc ill humour you, what exactly is it you want me to do?

LilDrummerGirl: How do you feel about acting?

CathInAHat: you better not suggest what I think you're gonna.


***

The main hall was empty when Cathy arrived. The Drama society was all there- Miss Singh was there, stood on the stage calling names out from the sign up sheet. Kitty was there, whispering with Joan and Bessie, happy to be there. Maria was there too, and a friend of hers Cathy didn't recognize.
The whole room looked up when the door slammed behind her.
Well this was a bad idea... My days already not great, though so I guess it cant be worse.

"Can I help you, there, young lady?" Miss Singh announced, and all eyes still remained uncomfortably on Cathy.

"Uhhh...". Her gaze landed on Kitty. Confused, but... Hopeful? Or was she reading that wrong?
"Uh, hi. Sorry, I'm Catherine Parr. I didn't have time to sign up, but I'd like to audition if it's okay with... All of you?".

Far from throwing her out, the teacher beamed. "Ah, of course, of course! Well, what role would you like then?".

"Oh, uh, Romeo. Please. Thank you.". Because Cathy was nervous with all these people, she just spewed out random politeness. 

"Absolutely! Well, take a seat, young lady, and we'll get started. Find someone auditioning for Juliet so you can practice, and oh, Jane, please find Catherine a script."

She hopped lightly from the stage, leading the girl to a chair by Kitty's side, thank goodness. Joan and Bessie gave her nods, and Maria only smirked. The one Miss Singh had called Jane ran over with a script for her. "I'm Jane Grey, nice to meet you, Catherine!".

"It's just Cathy, actually. Sorry.". Seriously, when was the last time she asked to be called Catherine? Idiot...

"Don't be, nothing to apologize for, Just Cathy! Take a seat, please, we'll start soon.". The girl seemed nice enough, but when Cathy took a peek at her script, she saw it was identical to her own.
So, this girl wanted to be Romeo?
And I guess she's my enemy now... Although maybe not, I can still ask to audition with Kitty?

I just want you to know
I wanna be your Romeo

Too late now, Kitty and Jane Grey whispered for a second before smiling at each other. Or I could just be a moron and let her take my girl- Not that she's my girl... Wait, you know what, forget feelings, they're too complicated. Oh how the hell did Maria convince me to do this?

Hey, Juliet
Hey, Juliet
Hey, Juliet

A hiss in her ear from Maria "I'll audition with you, Parr. Too late to ask Kitten over there.".

"Sure thing." Said Cathy through gritted teeth.

But they were both shushed firmly by one of the others.
Auditions were about to start.
Cathy sent a quick prayer up.

Hey, God? I know we don't talk all that much, but if it helps, I don't talk to anyone much.
I need to do something in this play. Just to talk to her. I can't normally. I've got nothing interesting to say. Please, God. Do me a favor. Just give me a chance. Let the geek get the girl.
Just this once. Turn today into a good day!
Thanks, mate.
Uh, I mean, Lord.
Whatever.
Amen, and um, yours sincerely, Cathy Parr.