Dancing With Raven (The Young Shakespeareans Series) Read Online Free PDF

off one another with zeal. When they were finished, their classmates clapped with genuine enthusiasm.
    “Best scene of the class so far. Where did you get your training, Raven?” Mr. Strunk asked.
    “London Youth Playhouse, mainly,” Raven replied.
    “Well done.”
    Raven and his scene partner returned to their seats.
    “You might want to work on that English accent,” George whispered. “It was a little over the top.”
    “Yeah,” Raven murmured. “Probably.”

    Dread had accompanied Tori as she walked into the theater for drama class. As confident as she was in her dance skills, she was equally insecure about her acting ability. I’m going to make a fool of myself in front of everyone. When she read her scene, it was all she could do to keep her hand from trembling as she gripped the paper. Fortunately the scene wasn’t long, and her partner had most of the longer passages. Afterward, Tori hastened off stage and slumped into a seat, her face burning with embarrassment. I was abysmal!
    The cold readings went on. When George and a new student took the stage, Tori forgot about her embarrassment. That new guy is totally gorgeous. A glance toward her scene partner confirmed she wasn’t the only girl to think so. After he introduced himself, Tori’s interest was piqued even further. Raven…even his name is sexy. His reading didn’t disappoint her. From the moment Raven opened his mouth, he was Mercutio in word and deed, barely even looking at the lines. He and George were both brilliant. Ha! George is notoriously ambitious. I wonder if his ego can stand the competition?
    When class was over, she picked up her book bag and stood. As Raven passed by, he met her gaze for a long moment before glancing away without so much as a smile or nod. Her spine stiffened. Can’t he be bothered with anyone or is it just me he ignores? For some reason, she found it difficult to shrug off the snub. Why do I care so much if he won’t acknowledge my presence?
    At lunch, she headed toward the cafeteria. Jenny fell into step alongside. “Did you see the new guy? Everyone’s saying he’s hot.”
    Tori shrugged. “He’s in my homeroom and drama class.”
    “Well?”
    “His name is Raven and he’s English.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah. In drama class, his accent during his reading of Romeo and Juliet made him sound like an English lord or something.”
    “To be fair, it was Shakespeare.”
    Tori imitated Raven as a mincing English fop. “I will bite thee by the ear for that jest.”
    She and Jenny dissolved into laughter.
    “Nay, good goose, bite not.”
    The response came from behind her, in a silky male voice. Raven cocked an eyebrow in Tori’s direction as he shut his locker with a loud, pointed snap, turned on his heel, and strode off. Beyond humiliated, Tori exchanged a horrified glance with Jenny.
    “That was him!”
    “I guessed as much. He is gorgeous.”
    “But he heard me making fun of him!”
    “True.” Jenny gave her a sympathetic look. “Well, you won’t have to wonder if he’ll ask you out.”
    “Thanks, Jen. I feel a whole lot better now.”

    What did I do to deserve such good fortune? Raven had expected to be overlooked, ignored, or dismissed, but openly mocked on his first day…and by the prettiest girl in school? Tori had been so obviously miserable after she finished her scene, he’d been sympathetic. Not now. Hadn’t he learned his lesson once before? Pretty girls couldn’t be trusted. My instinct to steer clear was the right one.
    Hunger made Raven’s stomach contract. Maybe it was anger, since he was in no mood to eat anything. Although he hadn’t brought a change of clothes, he decided to head over to the weight room. He stripped off his shirt, slipped on a pair of gloves, and began to pepper the bag with punches. Sweat beaded up on his forehead as he slammed his knuckles into the sand-filled bag. At the same time, general resentment began to build. Coming to L.A. had been a very bad