Happy Holidays, Scrawled (nee Sunshade)!
For: sunshade
By: musegaarid
Title: Lower Tadfield High
Rating: PG-13 for language
Summary: An uber-fluffy high school het AU. Wait... where are you going?
Lower Tadfield High was run by the cliques: jocks, cheerleaders, young republicans, PITA, party people, goths, emo-boys, drama freaks, band geeks, dance dweebs, nerds, Snakes, chem kids, queers, and choir. It wasn't too hard to find a place to belong.
Then there was Adeara Fell.
She was short and plump with messy blonde curls and wide blue eyes. Mostly she wore dowdy button-up sweaters and knee-length skirts that met her knee-length socks coming the other way. Her most prized possession was a small gold cross that she wore every day, and if anyone ever thought about her at all - which they didn't - they'd assume she had a long career as Sunday School teacher stretched out ahead of her. Adeara was the school's Nobody; she didn't fit in anywhere. But the funny thing about people who don't belong anywhere is... they can go everywhere. Especially when they're the designated seventh period runner for the school's principal.
One crisp late-autumn day, her duties took her out to the football field. She hummed a cheerful inspirational tune as she walked along, breaking into off-pitch lyrics whenever she could remember them. On her way, she stopped to watch the cheerleaders practicing.
"We Are The Mighty Chiefs
Of Lower Tadfield High
We Take The Ball From Goal To Goal
With Our Hearts Held High
Make Way For The Mighty Chiefs
Our Cause To Do Or Die!!!!
So Fight! Fight! Fight! To Victory
For Lower Tadfield High."
They twirled, flipped, and ended in a pyramid and Adeara clapped enthusiastically. She either didn't hear or gently ignored the "Oh, Christ, it's Adeara Fell..." A stately blonde observing off to one side like a military commander turned to look behind her. "You liked that?" she demanded.
"Oh, yes," said Adeara. "I thought it was terribly impressive."
"Well, I didn't," snapped Michelle, the head cheerleader, as she turned back to her team. "What the hell did you think you were doing, Lady? 'Victory' is three syllables, not two. You threw off the whole rhythm. And Rags, maybe you can show Nadine how to spring lightly to the top of the pyramid, not stomp up like an elephant. Been hitting the cheesecake lately, have you?" she asked nastily. "Now I don't know about you girls, but while I've been on this team, we've never lost the Western Division competition and it isn't going to happen while I'm captain, so I suggest you try it again until you GET IT RIGHT!"
As the cheerleaders lined up to start again, Adeara shrugged and wandered on.
+ + +
Eventually she made it to where the football players were practicing.
"Coach?"
The stocky man in crumpled sweats looked up from his bag of chips. "Yeah?"
"Got a message from Mr. Young for you." Adeara handed the note over and watched as he opened it, read it, and frowned. He blew on his whistle and all the frantic activity ground to a halt.
"Martinez, front and center." A handsome young man with dark eyes broke from the others, tossing the ball to a teammate, and hustled over.
"Yes, Coach?"
The coach crossed his arms. "Mr. Young wants to see you in his office. You're not in trouble, are you?"
Raphael shook his head. "No, sir."
"Then you tell that Adam Young that he can't take my star quarterback out of practice two days before a game against Central."
The player looked terrified at the idea and Adeara couldn't blame him. Nobody told Mr. Young what to do. He might Look at you... "I'll try, Coach Brian."
"You do that. And hurry back." He patted the boy on the shoulder and sent him off. "The rest of you are going to do push-ups until Martinez gets back." About forty groans followed them.
Raphael winced and walked faster. "No pressure or anything," he muttered as Adeara tried to keep up. But suddenly his steps slowed, and Adeara nearly tripped trying not to run into him. Glancing up to find out what had happened, she saw Raphael's eyes locked on the distant figure of the scowling Michelle. It was only for a brief moment, but she'd caught the longing in that gaze.
Continuing at an easier pace, they carried on. The football field was about as far from the main office as any point in the school, so they walked together in silence for some time. Passing the open door of the modern dance studio, Raphael stopped to watch, and Adeara barely managed to not crash into him again. Looking over at him, she caught almost the same expression that he'd had moments before and wondered if anyone knew the real Raphael Martinez.
"I didn't know you liked dance," she said and he nearly leapt out of his skin. Raphael had clearly forgotten she was there.
"What? No! Buncha fags..." he replied quickly and marched off.
"Not really," said Adeara, following. "Ezra's got a girlfriend, Danny's been chasing Claire for months, and Thomas refuses to do lifts because he's embarrassed about grabbing a girl's inner thigh."
Raphael didn't respond.
"You know," she continued, "they're having an audition in a couple of weeks..."
He glanced at her, apparently weighing his answers. But she was Nobody. What could it hurt? "Can't," he said tersely. "Football."
Adeara shook her head. "No football practice that day," she explained. "Basketball tryouts." A lot of the jocks played both. "And the recital isn't until well after football season is over."
He was again silent, but it was a thoughtful silence.
"The 21st, in room 104 at 3pm," Adeara mentioned, just as they reached the door of Mr. Young's office. Raphael shot her an unreadable look before he disappeared inside.
+ + +
As the school day wound down, Adeara was just gathering her things together to head home when the resident campus thugs, the Snakes, stopped within earshot. She froze.
"C'mon, Tony. We're goin' to my place for a coupla beers, shoot some pool, maybe catch some titties if the madam is sunbathing again," said the slightly unhinged head of the biker gang.
The darkly handsome boy in sunglasses snorted. "You're crazy, Lou. Someday old man Shadwell's gonna switch from BBs to shotgun shells, and then you'll be fucked." Tony was probably the only person in the school who could speak to Lou that way. The two boys had grown up together in the garage that their fathers co-owned, which gave Tony a bit of leeway that no one else could match without sixteen years of stupid stunts and subsequent blackmail material.
They laughed, but Adeara blushed, wishing she could finish packing up without drawing any attention to herself.
"Can't anyway," said Tony. "Another detention with Device."
Adeara frowned; there were no detentions scheduled for the day that she knew of, and she was usually the one who had to pass out the slips. She wondered why he was lying.
"What a witch," said Leggy. He was hunched and squat and seemed to be wiping his nose on the edge of his sleeve.
Lou agreed. "Told you that you should have taken Pulsifer's class. He's a total pushover."
"Yeah," Tony drawled, "but my dad wanted me to take auto shop and that's at the same time."
"Like you need auto shop," Hasty laughed, lighting the dog end of a cigarette he'd saved from lunch. He was lean and would have been menacing apart from the silly greaser haircut he sported.
Tony shrugged. "Gotta do what he says. Catch you later."
Lou and the others headed for their motorcycles in the parking lot, and Adeara watched as Tony walked away. But he wasn't going in the direction of Miss Device's English classroom; it looked like he was walking toward the library. Curious, she followed.
He headed for the isolated tables in the back of the stacks. Usually people only went back there for serious study or serious making out; Adeara began to have second thoughts about trailing him until she caught a glimpse of the school valedictorian working nearby and figured he wouldn't be meeting a date in front of her. Instead, he glanced around - his gaze lingering a moment on Gabriella as she worked intently over her Calculus book - and pulled a slim volume out of his back pocket as he sat down to read.
Adeara was as shocked as if one of the goths had come in wearing pink and singing 'You Are My Sunshine'. Tony was a Snake and Snakes didn't read. They especially didn't read...
"Shakespeare?" she said.
Tony slammed the book shut and shoved it down the side of the chair before looking up. "What?"
She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Embarrassed, Adeara said, "Shakespeare. It said on the cover... Which, uh, play is it?"
Cool gray eyes regarded her over the dark glasses. "Henry IV," he eventually said with a defensive sneer, crossing his arms over his chest. His leather jacket squeaked with the movement. "Got a problem with that?"
"No!" the blonde exclaimed. "No, I think it's kind of... cool. Is that, um, for Miss Device's class?"
Tony scoffed. "As if. They're doing The Merry Wives of Windsor." His disdain was almost palpable. "But Falstaff is a far more complex character in Henry."
Adeara nodded. "You know, I always thought so, too. He's just so..."
They were interrupted by the school's tiny and dictatorial librarian. "I'm sorry, does it say 'social club' over the door? I thought it said library. You know, the place where people read? In silence?!"
"Sorry, Mr. Tyler!" she squeaked. "My fault." Shooting an apologetic look at Tony, Adeara scooted out.
##########################
A week or so later, Adeara had a message to deliver to the chemistry teacher, so she headed for the lab. The twins were in there, as always - both of them so fair that they probably couldn't even step into direct sunlight without immediately burning - but there was no teacher to be found.
"Hi, Lance," she said cheerfully, "Hi, Polly. You guys know where Mr. Wensleydale is?"
"He's in..." Lance began, looking up from the oily dark liquid in his test tube.
"...the faculty lounge," finished Polly, dropping something green and crystalline into hers.
They always spoke like that.
"Thanks!" said Adeara, giving them a wave and leaving them to their Bunsen burners.
Thinking she'd take the short-cut through the gym - no one should be in there for another fifteen minutes or so - Adeara pushed open one of the swinging doors and heard the swoosh, thunk of a successful basket.
"Oh, good shot!" she exclaimed as the player swiveled guiltily.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Michelle, putting her hands on her hips and letting the ball bounce idly into the corner.
Adeara pointed at the far door. "Short-cut to the faculty lounge," she explained. "I didn't know you played basketball."
"I don't," the cheerleader snarled. "Only boys play sports."
"Don't let Coach Pep hear you say that!" said Adeara, horrified. "She's always saying that if she could just find a shooting guard who could consistently make good jump shots, she'd not only make the championships, easy, but cream the boys' team, too." Adeara paused, and then added honestly, "Not that I know what any of that means, but she's always saying it."
Michelle looked at her suspiciously.
"You're good, though. You should try out."
"Oh, yeah?" asked the taller blonde. "It's just that easy, is it? What about the cheerleading team? I can't just walk away from it."
Privately, Adeara didn't think Michelle actually liked cheerleading all that much. She did seem to thrive on competition, though. "Well, Rags is almost as good as you. I bet she wouldn't mind taking over the team. It might be her only chance to captain, really. But if you don't think you're as good as the other girls who are going to try out..."
"Screw you, Adeara Fell. I can beat any girl in this school with one arm tied behind my back."
Adeara stifled a smile. "The 21st, then, in room 104 at 3pm." She didn't dare look behind her as she bustled through the far door.
+ + +
Mr. Wensleydale scribbled something on Mr. Young's note and asked Adeara to take it to Coach Brian, so she tromped out to the football field again, humming happily. Halfway there, she happened across the football team's waterboy and watched his progress, confused.
"Hey, Remy!" she called out.
The sandy-haired boy stopped, put down the cooler he carried, and turned. "Yeah?"
"Where are you going?"
"... To get water." The sarcasm was pretty evident even through his thick Australian accent. Remy's family had only moved to the States about a year prior, but he learned how to navigate the school fast enough.
"Well, I know that," she laughed. "But why are you going all the way back to the gym when there's a fountain right over there?" Adeara pointed to a shady corner nearby.
Remy stared. "I can't go to the Pit!" he exclaimed. "That's Mort's territory. It's where the goths and emo-boys hang out."
"There's nobody over there now," she said reasonably, having just walked past the turf in question. "Well, nobody but Sari. And he won't bother you. I think he's writing poems."
He looked at her skeptically, then at the Pit, then at the long walk back to the gym. "You sure?"
"Just passed it."
Squaring his shoulders, Remy hefted the cooler once more and walked toward the shady Pit. Adeara continued on her own way.
As she approached the practice area, Coach Brian turned and frowned at her. "You'd better not be taking one of my players again."
She held out the note. "I don't think so..."
Snatching the paper from her fingers, the Coach frowned at it. "Got a pen?" he asked.
Adeara pulled one from her pocket and handed it over. As he began to write slowly, his tongue sticking out between his teeth in concentration, she had the opportunity to watch the team run through its paces.
Eventually - though it took a lot longer than it seemed like it should have to just fill a water cooler - Remy returned. He looked at Adeara and seemed on the verge of saying something when Raphael called his name. "Remy! Water over here."
The boy turned with alacrity and hurried over. "Coming, Raph!" he called eagerly.
Oh, dear, thought Adeara watching the scene.
Finally the Coach finished writing and handed the paper and pen back. "Take this to Coach Pep."
"Yes, sir."
+ + +
Coach Pep also taught history (with a strong emphasis on gender studies) so her classroom was over on the west side of campus. Adeara grinned as she bustled over; she was certainly getting her exercise today. Figuring it'd be faster if she went through the cafeteria, she opened the door - and stepped into a war zone. Sable, the President of the Young Republicans was yelling at Ruby, First-Among-Equals of the militant PITA association, and she was yelling right back. Behind them, group members were throwing lettuce leaves and sheets of paper back and forth at each other. The dispute seemed to focus on which group had arranged for the use of the cafeteria that afternoon for their monthly meeting. As far as Adeara knew, neither of them had. Dithering over what to do - should she run and get Mr. Young? - someone else stepped into the room behind her and everyone fell silent. She didn't need to look to see who it was. Only one person in the school had that affect.
Han.
He was a senior and by far the coolest person in the school, possibly even in the whole town. "Chill out, cats and kittens," he said smoothly, adjusting the tilt of his hat. "What's the dish?" Gesturing coolly at Ruby, he added, "Dames first."
Though Adeara could tell she had something sharp to say about sexist comments, Ruby swallowed it. No one was immune to Han's charms. "We're trying to organize a meat boycott for the school, but these yuppies are in our space."
"Yuppies!" protested Sable. "We're putting together a dinner to raise funds for a State Senator. I think that's a little more important than pushing some crazy hippie agenda."
"With steaks made from abused animals, no doubt," the fiery redhead retorted.
"Dozens of them," Sable sneered cruelly. "Hundreds."
Han looked at him. "Zip it," he said, and Sable did, though he gaped like a goldfish, surprised at his own acquiescence. "All right, you crazy kids. There's no need for this baloney. Suits, over there." He pointed to the left half of the cafeteria. "Skins, over there." He pointed to the right.
Once everyone had trudged to their own sides like puppies with their tails between their legs, Han slid a tucked away partition across the space. "Ditch the booshwash and let's all keep it real cool. Stay on your own sides and it'll be gravy," he suggested to both groups. "Oh, and clean up your damn mess. If Lunchlady Loquacious sees that, you'll be in next Thursday's tuna surprise," added Han before slotting the dividing wall into place.
With that parting shot, he was gone.
Impressed, Adeara slid through the room, trying not to attract any attention as both groups finally began their meetings. Fortunately, she wasn't stopped again on her way to Coach Pep's classroom and the coach's reply was brief, so Adeara got the note back to Mr. Young just before final bell.
##########################
When October 21st rolled around, Adeara promised Mr. Young that she'd look in on the dance auditions and basketball tryouts for him. Toddling along to room 104, she sat in the back waiting for everyone to arrive.
After a few minutes, she heard a door snick open and looked up to see Michelle peek her head in furtively. Adeara was about to say hello when the other door opened to reveal Raphael Martinez.
"Oh," he began, looking awkward. "I didn't know you'd..."
"What are you doing here?" she interrupted sharply.
"I, uh, came to watch," he lied. "You know, check things out, watch people fall on their face." Raphael realized what he was saying and looked stricken. "Not that you would, of course..."
Michelle's eyes narrowed. "You came to laugh at me?"
"No! I... I just..."
"Oh, my goodness!" cried Adeara, standing and rushing forward. Raphael and Michelle jumped apart, unaware that they'd had an audience. "I'm so sorry, Michelle! I got all mixed up. It's the dance auditions in here at 3pm. The girl's basketball try-outs are next door in 103 at 4pm. Gracious, I'll forget my head next."
"Dance...?"
"Basketball...?"
The cheerleader and the jock stared at each other and Raphael seemed on the verge of speaking again when the door opened to admit the dance and drama instructor: a severe looking woman wearing voluminous skirts like she was still in costume for one of her beloved classical productions. Her gaze flicked over the three students inside, so different from the twitchy teens who followed in her wake.
"If ye art not here for the dancing auditions, ye may leave."
Raphael glanced uncertainly at the drama freaks and dance dweebs and looked on the edge of bolting when Michelle spoke quietly, "Break a leg."
He looked up at her, surprised, then his dark eyes grew determined and he nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "You, too," he said. Michelle flashed him a look and was gone.
Adeara tried to explain. "Miss Nutter? Mr. Young said I should..."
"Aye, childe. I know. Sit thee down. Ye others may begin to stretch thy limbs."
+ + +
Adeara spent a comfortable afternoon watching all the try-outs and was pleased when both Michelle and Raphael were selected for call-backs the next day. She reported the good news back to Mr. Young before heading to the library to check out a couple of books for her social studies report. Finding what she wanted in the stacks, Adeara grabbed the books and headed back to the study area to work. She found Gabriella and Tony there again just as she had left them weeks before: Gabriella bent over a text book, and Tony reading in an armchair nearby.
Smiling at Gabriella - Tony didn't even look up at her approach - Adeara headed to a table further back so as not to disturb them, but the valedictorian stopped her.
"Adeara, wait," Gabriella whispered. The plump little blonde changed course and made for the pretty brunette's table instead.
"Yes?" she asked in hushed tones, remembering Mr. Tyler's wrath.
"You do well in English, right?"
"Not too bad," Adeara admitted modestly.
Gabriella pulled out the chair next to hers in invitation to sit down. "I need your help, then. I have to write about the role of gender in Twelfth Night but this stupid play doesn't make any sense. Give me a math problem or a science experiment, something with a concrete answer, and I'm fine. But how am I supposed to know why the Duke falls in love with the girl who he thinks is a guy? Or why the Countess falls in love with a guy who's actually the same girl in disguise? Maybe they're both gay."
Adeara giggled. "I don't think so." Trying to figure out how to best explain, the blonde was thinking over the problem when her eyes fell on the young man occupying the nearby chair. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Let's ask Tony."
"What?!" asked Gabriella, horrified. "We can't ask him. He's a Snake!"
"But he's really good at Shakespeare," Adeara whispered back, already halfway across the intervening space.
Gabriella's eyes flashed a warning but she couldn't raise her voice to stop Adeara from cheerfully wandering over to the biker.
"Tony?"
His sunglasses tilted up to regard her a moment. "What do you want?"
"You're good with Shakespeare, right? Do you know Twelfth Night?"
Tony's lip curled. "Yeah. What of it?"
Adeara bounced happily and motioned toward Gabriella who was still subtly shaking her head and vaguely hiding behind her text. "My friend is working on a paper, and she's having a little trouble with it. Will you come talk her through it?"
His expression was carefully blank as he looked in the pretty brunette's direction. "I guess."
Pleased, Adeara led him back to the table. "Gabriella, this is Tony. He knows lots about Shakespeare, so he can probably tell you all about those gender roles."
"Hey," he said in greeting, turning a chair around and sitting in it backwards. "They're asking the old gender question, huh?"
Gabriella was half-hiding behind her long hair. "I'm supposed to say why the Duke and the Countess are both in love with Viola when she's dressed like a boy," she said shyly.
Tony made a dismissive sound. "Fuck that. That's kid stuff. What's a hell of a lot more interesting is Viola persisting in her cross-dressing even after she's been revealed as a woman and engaged to the Duke. He even keeps calling her Cesario."
Looking vaguely apprehensive yet intrigued at the same time, Gabriella nodded. "That's true. But he compared her to Diana earlier in the play..."
With a slight smile, Adeara crept away to let them talk. By the time she'd picked up her things and packed everything away, the two were bent over Gabriella's copy of the text arguing their points.
##########################
Time passed in its usual way. The football team acquitted itself respectably through the season and the cheerleaders won the Western Division Championship. PITA held its rally, the Young Republicans their fundraiser, and Lance and Polly only blew up the chem lab once. It was pretty much life as usual at Lower Tadfield High... with one or two exceptions.
Raphael was accepted onto the dance team, and while he enjoyed the activity itself far more than playing football, his social life suffered a great deal. The dance dweebs viewed the jock with cool suspicion and generally excluded him from whatever they could. And once the football players found out about his new passion, they mocked him mercilessly. Raphael went from being the star quarterback and one of the most popular boys in the school to a near Nobody overnight. The only things that sustained him were the fact that he truly loved what he was doing and knew it would make him an even better quarterback come next Fall (the only way he could redeem himself in the team's eyes), along with Remy's unwavering - if strange - devotion (he'd followed his idol into the dance program, although he seemed to disappear from rehearsals for odd stretches now and again). And Michelle.
Michelle had become the star shooting guard on the girl's basketball team, and they did, in fact, cream the boys team in the exhibition game at the beginning of the season. But her decisions had fallout, too. Rags took over as captain of the cheerleading squad, though not without harsh words being slung from both sides. None of the other cheerleaders were all that sad to see her go, and the girls on the basketball team were none too happy to have her join. Whatever social prestige had come with being head cheerleader turned into jealousy and spite as a ball player. The only things that sustained her were that she truly loved what she was doing and knew it would make her a stronger candidate for a college scholarship than cheerleading ever would, along with the intense competition. And Raphael.
Sometimes Adeara would see them together in an empty practice room talking about dance, Michelle demonstrating some techniques she'd learned as a cheerleader to help him nail a tricky move. And sometimes she'd see them on the asphalt of the outside court talking about sports, Raphael demonstrating some ball handling techniques he'd learned in football to help her improve her skills. If they never quite got any further than that in their conversations, what did anyone else care? The school collectively shrugged and ignored them.
The school did the same to Tony and Gabriella. Their situation was somewhat different. As Gabriella was the school valedictorian, she was by default the head nerd - a position that had never had any cachė in high school. And Tony, as one of the Snakes, was pretty much the scum of the school. By lying to his friends about his after school activities, he was at least able to retain his worth in their group (although Adeara sort of wondered why he'd want to before realizing there wasn't really anywhere else he could go). So the two spent their afternoons in the library talking about Shakespeare and they seemed fairly happy. If they never quite got any further than that in their conversations, what did anyone else care?
Then came the prom.
Adeara noticed weird things starting to happen just as soon as she started putting up the posters around the school. Heading into the library to tack one up on the bulletin board, she caught sight of Tony and Gabriella in their usual spot going over a monologue from Romeo and Juliet. Apparently Gabriella had to memorize it for her class.
"...If thou will but swear my love..."
"No. 'If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love," Tony corrected without consulting the book. It was surprisingly gentle coming from him.
"Damn it!" Gabriella exclaimed, frustrated.
Adeara's eyebrows rose slightly.
The studious young woman continued determinedly, glancing at her study partner. "If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love," she repeated, "and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
No one noticed Sable coming in.
"...'Tis but thy name that is thy enemy. Thou art thyself, though..."
"Excuse me, Gabriella," Sable interrupted.
She jumped a little in surprise, the words dying on her lips. "Um, yes?"
"I'd like to take you to the prom," said the Young Republican confidently and without hesitation.
Gabriella looked shocked. "Oh. Uh..." Her gaze was drawn hopefully to Tony, but his only response was to throw her book angrily to the table and storm out. She watched him go with a frown before turning back to Sable. "I... I guess so," she finally replied.
"Good," the thin boy answered. "Did you know my chances of making it into Yale are significantly higher if I accompany the valedictorian to the prom?"
She shook her head in mute horror.
"Well, they are. I'll pick you up at six o'clock. Be ready and wear something conservative," he insisted before walking away.
Gabriella stared after him. When she finally noticed Adeara standing there, having mutely witnessed the whole scene, she burst into tears and ran off. Upset, but unable to help, Adeara tucked the remaining posters under her arm and continued with her task.
Her next stop was the gym. As Adeara searched her pockets for the thumbtacks she'd brought, she saw Raphael walking nearby and was about to greet him when another voice beat her to it.
"Martinez!"
The boy stopped and looked back at the open door. "Hi, Coach Brian," he said, obviously surprised that the man was speaking to him after the season was over.
"Martinez," he repeated. "C'mere, son." Raphael did as he was told and the Coach put a friendly arm around his shoulders. "So, have you thought about who you're taking to the prom?"
Raphael had clearly not expected that question. He colored slightly. "I... well, uh, I was thinking... I was sort of thinking about maybeaskingMichelleYoung." It all came out in a rush at the end.
"What?!" asked the Coach. "The Principal's niece?"
He nodded mutely.
"No, no, no!" Coach Brian exclaimed heatedly, and Raphael looked at him with a haunted expression. "You can't go with her! She's a basketball player. No. It's a school tradition that the quarterback take the head cheerleader to the prom."
"She was the head cheerleader," Raphael protested.
"Was," the Coach repeated. "Not anymore. Now it's that Asian girl. What's her name?"
"Rags? You want me... But..."
"No buts, my boy. Tradition!"
"I don't..."
Coach Brian stopped him with a fierce look. "Martinez, you'll take the cheerleader, or I'm not putting you in next year's line-up, period."
Raphael's shoulders slumped. "Yes, sir..."
Adeara wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.
##########################
The theme of this year's prom was Heaven on Earth, with all the requisite silver stars, wispy clouds, and smiling angels. But looking at the couples filing into the rented hotel ballroom, Adeara didn't think it would live up to its name. Gabriella and Sable were two of the first to arrive and Adeara felt positively dumpy in her poufy white dress compared to Gabriella in her elegant red gown. But while the brunette looked absolutely stunning, she also looked absolutely miserable. Sable didn't seem to care.
Not long after, the twins arrived with their dates. Lance had brought Nadine, the chubby cheerleader, who was wearing a layered lilac confection that really did nothing to flatter her physique; and Polly in a clinging dress of acid green was hanging happily on Remy's arm. Adeara stared at the strange pairs for a moment and shook her head in surprise.
The Snakes came in a group, Lou having brought another of the cheerleaders, Lady, and Tony slinking in behind Ruby, who was looking sharp and dangerous in emerald and silver. Leggy and Hasty apparently hadn't had any luck in finding dates.
Neither had Sari, who crept in alone wearing all black, his hair falling dramatically over one eye. He was actually dressed very similarly to Mort - the tall, gaunt leader of the goths - who was wearing his formal chains and workman's boots and escorting Michelle, who was breathtaking in a short, sparkly, sapphire blue gown.
Last to arrive were Raphael and Rags. Rags had on a slinky off-the-shoulder number in gray satin, and Raphael was wearing a matching vest with his tuxedo. Judging by the glares they were getting from Michelle, there'd be burn marks in both by the end of the night.
Adeara sighed. It was going to be a long evening.
+ + +
Things progressed as they always do. People stood in awkward groups with their friends, feeling stiff and starched and laughing too loudly at things that weren't that funny. Occasionally boys would go fetch punch for their dates or lead them to the dance floor to sway back and forth for four minutes. The tables were strewn with the detritus of candy almonds, discarded cups, wilting flowers, and small purses containing not much more than lipstick. Chaperons made their rounds, but no one had spiked the punch and there wasn't any funny business going on. There wasn't much of anything going on. The hired DJ looked despondent.
Suddenly...
"Murderer!" shrieked Ruby, pointing at Sable's leather jacket.
"What? Was it your mother?" Sable sneered back.
Tony and Gabriella edged away from their dates in contact embarrassment.
Then Lou's voice cut bitterly through the crowd. "So I brought her 'cause everyone says cheerleaders are easy, but I guess she ain't heard it."
Before anyone could respond, Rags screamed. "My dress!"
"Oops," said Michelle blithely, her glass having transferred its contents down Rags' front.
And just to top off the chaos, the punch bowl suddenly exploded in a plume of green smoke. Lance and Polly could be seen giggling nearby.
Then Han arrived.
He looked incredibly dapper in his tailcoat and pinstriped charcoal trousers. His boutonniere was perfectly fresh, and his fedora was tilted at a rakish angle across his brow. Adeara wondered vaguely if he'd intentionally timed his entrance or if it was just a lucky coincidence. Either way the room fell silent, and all eyes were on him as he briefly surveyed the scene.
"All right. How'd you bums manage to blow this?" he asked no one in particular. For just a moment, no one would meet anyone else's eye. "Fine," said Han taking charge. "Fillies on one side and fellas on the other."
Everyone stared at him.
"Now!" he demanded.
Hesitantly, all the girls filed to one side of the room and the boys to the other. Adeara ended up between Michelle and Rags and was mildly afraid of getting wounded in the crossfire.
"You," said Han, pointing at Michelle. "C'mere."
She glanced around as he tapped his foot impatiently. Eventually she edged onto the dance floor, looking self-conscious. Han took her wrist with one hand and pointed at Raphael with the other. "And you."
Raphael's eyes widened. He looked trapped between hope and fear - and considering the glares Michelle was directing at him, the latter was probably in self-defense.
"I don't got all night, kid," said Han.
Raphael slunk onto the floor and Han snatched his wrist, putting his hand in Michelle's. They stood there uncomfortably, unable to look at each other.
"Right. Don't let go until I say so."
Once their hands touched, all the football players, cheerleaders, basketball players, and dancers stepped back in disgust.
Han looked at them curiously, then pointed at Gabriella. "Now you."
She stepped forward, staring at the ground. The brunette looked so small that Adeara's kind little heart almost broke.
"And you."
Gabriella squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't seem to want to open them until a hand was joined to hers. When she did look up, it was to find Tony nervously eying her from a couple of feet away.
The Snakes and nerds also drew away in horror, afraid of becoming equally tainted.
Han walked down the center of the floor matching up couples. He put Lance with Lady and Polly with Hasty. Leggy was paired with Nadine and Ruby with Lou. Then Han put Rags' hand in Sable's.
Adeara looked around. There had been more boys than girls, so Mort, Sari, and Remy were left without partners. She bounced hopefully, but Han appeared to be done matchmaking. She deflated.
"Alone again," Mort intoned in his deep voice. "Adrift in the vast inky blackness of the empty universe..." He stalked off toward the drinks table talking to himself about the meaninglessness of life.
Han spoke briefly to the DJ, who struck up something with a medium beat. Han then turned to address the crowd.
"The platter's rockin', you deadbeats, so let's see some rolling."
When no one moved, he sighed. "Oh, for crying out loud. Look, you goofs, all this baloney about who's in and who's out is a load of hooey. There ain't one Joe or Jane in this joint who's on the level." Han pointed at Raphael. "So this palooka plays ball and is a real Oliver Twist." He gestured to Michelle. "So his sheba can throw and kick. So what? It ain't like the rest of you punks only got one face. There's not one of you pretenders who's the Real McCoy. So quit being damn hypocrites and get a wiggle on. This a hop or ain't it?"
With a variety of stunned and embarrassed expressions, everyone sort of shuffled around not meeting anyone else's eye for a long moment. It was a testament, though, to Han's charisma, if nothing else, that there was a general sort of awkward mingling followed by one of the football players stepping forward to ask a band geek for a dance. He was followed by an emo-girl who stuttered her request to one of the Young Republicans, and it was like falling dominoes after that. Everyone began to find partners and started dancing as the DJ kicked the music into high gear. Adeara could only watch in open-mouthed astonishment but Han continued to stroll around and gently shoved random people together.
She wasn't quite naive enough to think that his speech would be enough to change the whole clique structure of the school overnight, no matter how charismatic he was. But it was starting to look like a whole new party...
"... then why'd you decide to go with that prick?" she overheard Tony ask, as he and Gabriella swayed past. He sounded hurt.
"Well, I'd sort of hoped you'd ask me," Gabriella blushed. "But you stomped off and I thought that meant you didn't want to..."
"I stomped off because I desperately wanted to, but I was too much of a fucking coward to actually do it."
"You managed to ask Ruby..."
He made a wry face. "She asked me. Being a Snake, I guess she thought I was tough or something."
"Oh, Tony..."
The handsome young man smiled faintly. "She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven."
Gabriella laughed brightly. Then they were beyond the point of hearing over the music and Adeara wasn't enough of a snoop to continue eavesdropping. Besides, other people were wandering past.
"Try that again and I'll rip your nuts off," she caught Ruby saying. "I'd feed them to the squirrels, but that would be animal cruelty." Lou grinned at her in return. Adeara winced.
Sable and Rags were next to them: He appeared to be giving her advice for getting the punch stain out of her dress while she asked interestedly about his plans for Yale.
Lance and Lady seemed to be discussing the mono infection Lady had contracted in her sophomore year, while Polly grilled Hasty on the various fluids that went into the operation of his motorcycle. Leggy and Nadine had abandoned the dance floor in favor of the cake table.
Then Adeara spotted Raphael and Michelle. Although everyone else had loosened up, they were dancing woodenly without speaking. This, at least, she could do something about.
"Raphael?" she inquired lightly, ignoring Michelle's hostile glare. "Sorry to interrupt, but why don't you just tell Michelle why you didn't ask her to the prom even though you wanted to...?"
Michelle's eyes locked on her partner like a laser beam while Raphael spluttered at being put on the spot. "You wanted to ask me?"
Raphael stared at his shoes. "Well, yeah... But Coach said I couldn't."
"Your coach?" she asked dumbfounded.
The poor boy was turning an interesting shade of red. "He asked who I was going to bring, and I said I wanted to ask you, but he said I couldn't because you're a basketball player, and it's tradition for the quarterback to take the head cheerleader."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "No, it isn't. I've been on the team for three years and the head cheerleader never once went to prom with the quarterback."
They stared at each other.
"I think I can solve this one," came an amused voice from behind them.
"Uncle Adam?" said Michelle just as Raphael was stammering, "Principal Young? I wasn't... I mean we weren't..."
Mr. Young laughed. "Calm down, Raphael. I think you two just got caught in an old memory."
"What?"
"About twenty-five years ago," he explained, "Coach Brian was one of the best quarterbacks Lower Tadfield High ever had." Raphael nodded; he'd known that, it seemed. "Well, he asked a certain basketball player to the prom, and she turned him down in favor of the head cheerleader. I think it's bothered him ever since."
The three teens stared at him, trying to process that. Almost in unison their eyes slid to where Coach Pep was standing with Mr. Wensleydale and went round in surprise.
Mr. Young clapped Raphael on the shoulder. "But it worked out for you, so enjoy yourselves."
Raphael blinked and turned his attention dreamily back to Michelle. Without another word being necessary, they began to dance much more smoothly, moving together in harmony and melding into the crowd.
Mr. Young watched them for a moment, smiling, then turned to his young assistant. "Adeara, I know you're off the clock, as it were, but do you mind running one more errand for me? I'd like you to go into the kitchen and get some more soda for the punch bowl. I can't imagine what happened to it all..." His eyes twinkled.
She grinned. "Yes, sir."
Adeara practically skipped into the kitchen, happy that everything seemed to be working out for everyone. Well, almost everyone. She still felt bad for Remy and Sari. It seemed they'd both left the party in disappointment.
...Or not.
Adeara's hand flew to her mouth. She stared at the refrigerator that Sari had pressed Remy up against, apparently intent on devouring him. Remy, his eyes closed and arms wrapped tightly around the darker young man, didn't seem to mind much. Tiptoeing backwards, Adeara dashed back into the ballroom and let out an, "Oh." That was one thing she'd certainly missed on her travels. Although Remy's odd disappearances suddenly made a lot more sense now...
Then she noticed that Mr. Young was looking at her curiously.
"Um, the soda wasn't cold yet," she lied, a little out of breath. "I'll go get it in a few more minutes."
He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. As he walked away, Adeara sagged gratefully into a convenient chair. A moment later a voice near her ear asked, "Tired already, sweetheart?"
She glanced up to find Han standing behind her. Adeara smiled. "No. Just happy. That was a really nice thing you did for everyone tonight."
"You think so?" he asked thoughtfully. "Well, I saved the best for last."
"You did?" asked Adeara, puzzled. She couldn't imagine what else he could possibly do this evening to make it any better.
Han held out his hand to her and smiled. "C'mon, dollface. Let's you and me liven up this sorry wingding."
Glowing, Adeara allowed the charming senior to whirl her out across the dance floor, her tiny gold cross sparkling beneath the twinkling stars…
~end~
Happy Holidays, sunshade, from your Secret Writer!
By: musegaarid
Title: Lower Tadfield High
Rating: PG-13 for language
Summary: An uber-fluffy high school het AU. Wait... where are you going?
Lower Tadfield High was run by the cliques: jocks, cheerleaders, young republicans, PITA, party people, goths, emo-boys, drama freaks, band geeks, dance dweebs, nerds, Snakes, chem kids, queers, and choir. It wasn't too hard to find a place to belong.
Then there was Adeara Fell.
She was short and plump with messy blonde curls and wide blue eyes. Mostly she wore dowdy button-up sweaters and knee-length skirts that met her knee-length socks coming the other way. Her most prized possession was a small gold cross that she wore every day, and if anyone ever thought about her at all - which they didn't - they'd assume she had a long career as Sunday School teacher stretched out ahead of her. Adeara was the school's Nobody; she didn't fit in anywhere. But the funny thing about people who don't belong anywhere is... they can go everywhere. Especially when they're the designated seventh period runner for the school's principal.
One crisp late-autumn day, her duties took her out to the football field. She hummed a cheerful inspirational tune as she walked along, breaking into off-pitch lyrics whenever she could remember them. On her way, she stopped to watch the cheerleaders practicing.
"We Are The Mighty Chiefs
Of Lower Tadfield High
We Take The Ball From Goal To Goal
With Our Hearts Held High
Make Way For The Mighty Chiefs
Our Cause To Do Or Die!!!!
So Fight! Fight! Fight! To Victory
For Lower Tadfield High."
They twirled, flipped, and ended in a pyramid and Adeara clapped enthusiastically. She either didn't hear or gently ignored the "Oh, Christ, it's Adeara Fell..." A stately blonde observing off to one side like a military commander turned to look behind her. "You liked that?" she demanded.
"Oh, yes," said Adeara. "I thought it was terribly impressive."
"Well, I didn't," snapped Michelle, the head cheerleader, as she turned back to her team. "What the hell did you think you were doing, Lady? 'Victory' is three syllables, not two. You threw off the whole rhythm. And Rags, maybe you can show Nadine how to spring lightly to the top of the pyramid, not stomp up like an elephant. Been hitting the cheesecake lately, have you?" she asked nastily. "Now I don't know about you girls, but while I've been on this team, we've never lost the Western Division competition and it isn't going to happen while I'm captain, so I suggest you try it again until you GET IT RIGHT!"
As the cheerleaders lined up to start again, Adeara shrugged and wandered on.
+ + +
Eventually she made it to where the football players were practicing.
"Coach?"
The stocky man in crumpled sweats looked up from his bag of chips. "Yeah?"
"Got a message from Mr. Young for you." Adeara handed the note over and watched as he opened it, read it, and frowned. He blew on his whistle and all the frantic activity ground to a halt.
"Martinez, front and center." A handsome young man with dark eyes broke from the others, tossing the ball to a teammate, and hustled over.
"Yes, Coach?"
The coach crossed his arms. "Mr. Young wants to see you in his office. You're not in trouble, are you?"
Raphael shook his head. "No, sir."
"Then you tell that Adam Young that he can't take my star quarterback out of practice two days before a game against Central."
The player looked terrified at the idea and Adeara couldn't blame him. Nobody told Mr. Young what to do. He might Look at you... "I'll try, Coach Brian."
"You do that. And hurry back." He patted the boy on the shoulder and sent him off. "The rest of you are going to do push-ups until Martinez gets back." About forty groans followed them.
Raphael winced and walked faster. "No pressure or anything," he muttered as Adeara tried to keep up. But suddenly his steps slowed, and Adeara nearly tripped trying not to run into him. Glancing up to find out what had happened, she saw Raphael's eyes locked on the distant figure of the scowling Michelle. It was only for a brief moment, but she'd caught the longing in that gaze.
Continuing at an easier pace, they carried on. The football field was about as far from the main office as any point in the school, so they walked together in silence for some time. Passing the open door of the modern dance studio, Raphael stopped to watch, and Adeara barely managed to not crash into him again. Looking over at him, she caught almost the same expression that he'd had moments before and wondered if anyone knew the real Raphael Martinez.
"I didn't know you liked dance," she said and he nearly leapt out of his skin. Raphael had clearly forgotten she was there.
"What? No! Buncha fags..." he replied quickly and marched off.
"Not really," said Adeara, following. "Ezra's got a girlfriend, Danny's been chasing Claire for months, and Thomas refuses to do lifts because he's embarrassed about grabbing a girl's inner thigh."
Raphael didn't respond.
"You know," she continued, "they're having an audition in a couple of weeks..."
He glanced at her, apparently weighing his answers. But she was Nobody. What could it hurt? "Can't," he said tersely. "Football."
Adeara shook her head. "No football practice that day," she explained. "Basketball tryouts." A lot of the jocks played both. "And the recital isn't until well after football season is over."
He was again silent, but it was a thoughtful silence.
"The 21st, in room 104 at 3pm," Adeara mentioned, just as they reached the door of Mr. Young's office. Raphael shot her an unreadable look before he disappeared inside.
+ + +
As the school day wound down, Adeara was just gathering her things together to head home when the resident campus thugs, the Snakes, stopped within earshot. She froze.
"C'mon, Tony. We're goin' to my place for a coupla beers, shoot some pool, maybe catch some titties if the madam is sunbathing again," said the slightly unhinged head of the biker gang.
The darkly handsome boy in sunglasses snorted. "You're crazy, Lou. Someday old man Shadwell's gonna switch from BBs to shotgun shells, and then you'll be fucked." Tony was probably the only person in the school who could speak to Lou that way. The two boys had grown up together in the garage that their fathers co-owned, which gave Tony a bit of leeway that no one else could match without sixteen years of stupid stunts and subsequent blackmail material.
They laughed, but Adeara blushed, wishing she could finish packing up without drawing any attention to herself.
"Can't anyway," said Tony. "Another detention with Device."
Adeara frowned; there were no detentions scheduled for the day that she knew of, and she was usually the one who had to pass out the slips. She wondered why he was lying.
"What a witch," said Leggy. He was hunched and squat and seemed to be wiping his nose on the edge of his sleeve.
Lou agreed. "Told you that you should have taken Pulsifer's class. He's a total pushover."
"Yeah," Tony drawled, "but my dad wanted me to take auto shop and that's at the same time."
"Like you need auto shop," Hasty laughed, lighting the dog end of a cigarette he'd saved from lunch. He was lean and would have been menacing apart from the silly greaser haircut he sported.
Tony shrugged. "Gotta do what he says. Catch you later."
Lou and the others headed for their motorcycles in the parking lot, and Adeara watched as Tony walked away. But he wasn't going in the direction of Miss Device's English classroom; it looked like he was walking toward the library. Curious, she followed.
He headed for the isolated tables in the back of the stacks. Usually people only went back there for serious study or serious making out; Adeara began to have second thoughts about trailing him until she caught a glimpse of the school valedictorian working nearby and figured he wouldn't be meeting a date in front of her. Instead, he glanced around - his gaze lingering a moment on Gabriella as she worked intently over her Calculus book - and pulled a slim volume out of his back pocket as he sat down to read.
Adeara was as shocked as if one of the goths had come in wearing pink and singing 'You Are My Sunshine'. Tony was a Snake and Snakes didn't read. They especially didn't read...
"Shakespeare?" she said.
Tony slammed the book shut and shoved it down the side of the chair before looking up. "What?"
She hadn't meant to say that out loud. Embarrassed, Adeara said, "Shakespeare. It said on the cover... Which, uh, play is it?"
Cool gray eyes regarded her over the dark glasses. "Henry IV," he eventually said with a defensive sneer, crossing his arms over his chest. His leather jacket squeaked with the movement. "Got a problem with that?"
"No!" the blonde exclaimed. "No, I think it's kind of... cool. Is that, um, for Miss Device's class?"
Tony scoffed. "As if. They're doing The Merry Wives of Windsor." His disdain was almost palpable. "But Falstaff is a far more complex character in Henry."
Adeara nodded. "You know, I always thought so, too. He's just so..."
They were interrupted by the school's tiny and dictatorial librarian. "I'm sorry, does it say 'social club' over the door? I thought it said library. You know, the place where people read? In silence?!"
"Sorry, Mr. Tyler!" she squeaked. "My fault." Shooting an apologetic look at Tony, Adeara scooted out.
##########################
A week or so later, Adeara had a message to deliver to the chemistry teacher, so she headed for the lab. The twins were in there, as always - both of them so fair that they probably couldn't even step into direct sunlight without immediately burning - but there was no teacher to be found.
"Hi, Lance," she said cheerfully, "Hi, Polly. You guys know where Mr. Wensleydale is?"
"He's in..." Lance began, looking up from the oily dark liquid in his test tube.
"...the faculty lounge," finished Polly, dropping something green and crystalline into hers.
They always spoke like that.
"Thanks!" said Adeara, giving them a wave and leaving them to their Bunsen burners.
Thinking she'd take the short-cut through the gym - no one should be in there for another fifteen minutes or so - Adeara pushed open one of the swinging doors and heard the swoosh, thunk of a successful basket.
"Oh, good shot!" she exclaimed as the player swiveled guiltily.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Michelle, putting her hands on her hips and letting the ball bounce idly into the corner.
Adeara pointed at the far door. "Short-cut to the faculty lounge," she explained. "I didn't know you played basketball."
"I don't," the cheerleader snarled. "Only boys play sports."
"Don't let Coach Pep hear you say that!" said Adeara, horrified. "She's always saying that if she could just find a shooting guard who could consistently make good jump shots, she'd not only make the championships, easy, but cream the boys' team, too." Adeara paused, and then added honestly, "Not that I know what any of that means, but she's always saying it."
Michelle looked at her suspiciously.
"You're good, though. You should try out."
"Oh, yeah?" asked the taller blonde. "It's just that easy, is it? What about the cheerleading team? I can't just walk away from it."
Privately, Adeara didn't think Michelle actually liked cheerleading all that much. She did seem to thrive on competition, though. "Well, Rags is almost as good as you. I bet she wouldn't mind taking over the team. It might be her only chance to captain, really. But if you don't think you're as good as the other girls who are going to try out..."
"Screw you, Adeara Fell. I can beat any girl in this school with one arm tied behind my back."
Adeara stifled a smile. "The 21st, then, in room 104 at 3pm." She didn't dare look behind her as she bustled through the far door.
+ + +
Mr. Wensleydale scribbled something on Mr. Young's note and asked Adeara to take it to Coach Brian, so she tromped out to the football field again, humming happily. Halfway there, she happened across the football team's waterboy and watched his progress, confused.
"Hey, Remy!" she called out.
The sandy-haired boy stopped, put down the cooler he carried, and turned. "Yeah?"
"Where are you going?"
"... To get water." The sarcasm was pretty evident even through his thick Australian accent. Remy's family had only moved to the States about a year prior, but he learned how to navigate the school fast enough.
"Well, I know that," she laughed. "But why are you going all the way back to the gym when there's a fountain right over there?" Adeara pointed to a shady corner nearby.
Remy stared. "I can't go to the Pit!" he exclaimed. "That's Mort's territory. It's where the goths and emo-boys hang out."
"There's nobody over there now," she said reasonably, having just walked past the turf in question. "Well, nobody but Sari. And he won't bother you. I think he's writing poems."
He looked at her skeptically, then at the Pit, then at the long walk back to the gym. "You sure?"
"Just passed it."
Squaring his shoulders, Remy hefted the cooler once more and walked toward the shady Pit. Adeara continued on her own way.
As she approached the practice area, Coach Brian turned and frowned at her. "You'd better not be taking one of my players again."
She held out the note. "I don't think so..."
Snatching the paper from her fingers, the Coach frowned at it. "Got a pen?" he asked.
Adeara pulled one from her pocket and handed it over. As he began to write slowly, his tongue sticking out between his teeth in concentration, she had the opportunity to watch the team run through its paces.
Eventually - though it took a lot longer than it seemed like it should have to just fill a water cooler - Remy returned. He looked at Adeara and seemed on the verge of saying something when Raphael called his name. "Remy! Water over here."
The boy turned with alacrity and hurried over. "Coming, Raph!" he called eagerly.
Oh, dear, thought Adeara watching the scene.
Finally the Coach finished writing and handed the paper and pen back. "Take this to Coach Pep."
"Yes, sir."
+ + +
Coach Pep also taught history (with a strong emphasis on gender studies) so her classroom was over on the west side of campus. Adeara grinned as she bustled over; she was certainly getting her exercise today. Figuring it'd be faster if she went through the cafeteria, she opened the door - and stepped into a war zone. Sable, the President of the Young Republicans was yelling at Ruby, First-Among-Equals of the militant PITA association, and she was yelling right back. Behind them, group members were throwing lettuce leaves and sheets of paper back and forth at each other. The dispute seemed to focus on which group had arranged for the use of the cafeteria that afternoon for their monthly meeting. As far as Adeara knew, neither of them had. Dithering over what to do - should she run and get Mr. Young? - someone else stepped into the room behind her and everyone fell silent. She didn't need to look to see who it was. Only one person in the school had that affect.
Han.
He was a senior and by far the coolest person in the school, possibly even in the whole town. "Chill out, cats and kittens," he said smoothly, adjusting the tilt of his hat. "What's the dish?" Gesturing coolly at Ruby, he added, "Dames first."
Though Adeara could tell she had something sharp to say about sexist comments, Ruby swallowed it. No one was immune to Han's charms. "We're trying to organize a meat boycott for the school, but these yuppies are in our space."
"Yuppies!" protested Sable. "We're putting together a dinner to raise funds for a State Senator. I think that's a little more important than pushing some crazy hippie agenda."
"With steaks made from abused animals, no doubt," the fiery redhead retorted.
"Dozens of them," Sable sneered cruelly. "Hundreds."
Han looked at him. "Zip it," he said, and Sable did, though he gaped like a goldfish, surprised at his own acquiescence. "All right, you crazy kids. There's no need for this baloney. Suits, over there." He pointed to the left half of the cafeteria. "Skins, over there." He pointed to the right.
Once everyone had trudged to their own sides like puppies with their tails between their legs, Han slid a tucked away partition across the space. "Ditch the booshwash and let's all keep it real cool. Stay on your own sides and it'll be gravy," he suggested to both groups. "Oh, and clean up your damn mess. If Lunchlady Loquacious sees that, you'll be in next Thursday's tuna surprise," added Han before slotting the dividing wall into place.
With that parting shot, he was gone.
Impressed, Adeara slid through the room, trying not to attract any attention as both groups finally began their meetings. Fortunately, she wasn't stopped again on her way to Coach Pep's classroom and the coach's reply was brief, so Adeara got the note back to Mr. Young just before final bell.
##########################
When October 21st rolled around, Adeara promised Mr. Young that she'd look in on the dance auditions and basketball tryouts for him. Toddling along to room 104, she sat in the back waiting for everyone to arrive.
After a few minutes, she heard a door snick open and looked up to see Michelle peek her head in furtively. Adeara was about to say hello when the other door opened to reveal Raphael Martinez.
"Oh," he began, looking awkward. "I didn't know you'd..."
"What are you doing here?" she interrupted sharply.
"I, uh, came to watch," he lied. "You know, check things out, watch people fall on their face." Raphael realized what he was saying and looked stricken. "Not that you would, of course..."
Michelle's eyes narrowed. "You came to laugh at me?"
"No! I... I just..."
"Oh, my goodness!" cried Adeara, standing and rushing forward. Raphael and Michelle jumped apart, unaware that they'd had an audience. "I'm so sorry, Michelle! I got all mixed up. It's the dance auditions in here at 3pm. The girl's basketball try-outs are next door in 103 at 4pm. Gracious, I'll forget my head next."
"Dance...?"
"Basketball...?"
The cheerleader and the jock stared at each other and Raphael seemed on the verge of speaking again when the door opened to admit the dance and drama instructor: a severe looking woman wearing voluminous skirts like she was still in costume for one of her beloved classical productions. Her gaze flicked over the three students inside, so different from the twitchy teens who followed in her wake.
"If ye art not here for the dancing auditions, ye may leave."
Raphael glanced uncertainly at the drama freaks and dance dweebs and looked on the edge of bolting when Michelle spoke quietly, "Break a leg."
He looked up at her, surprised, then his dark eyes grew determined and he nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. "You, too," he said. Michelle flashed him a look and was gone.
Adeara tried to explain. "Miss Nutter? Mr. Young said I should..."
"Aye, childe. I know. Sit thee down. Ye others may begin to stretch thy limbs."
+ + +
Adeara spent a comfortable afternoon watching all the try-outs and was pleased when both Michelle and Raphael were selected for call-backs the next day. She reported the good news back to Mr. Young before heading to the library to check out a couple of books for her social studies report. Finding what she wanted in the stacks, Adeara grabbed the books and headed back to the study area to work. She found Gabriella and Tony there again just as she had left them weeks before: Gabriella bent over a text book, and Tony reading in an armchair nearby.
Smiling at Gabriella - Tony didn't even look up at her approach - Adeara headed to a table further back so as not to disturb them, but the valedictorian stopped her.
"Adeara, wait," Gabriella whispered. The plump little blonde changed course and made for the pretty brunette's table instead.
"Yes?" she asked in hushed tones, remembering Mr. Tyler's wrath.
"You do well in English, right?"
"Not too bad," Adeara admitted modestly.
Gabriella pulled out the chair next to hers in invitation to sit down. "I need your help, then. I have to write about the role of gender in Twelfth Night but this stupid play doesn't make any sense. Give me a math problem or a science experiment, something with a concrete answer, and I'm fine. But how am I supposed to know why the Duke falls in love with the girl who he thinks is a guy? Or why the Countess falls in love with a guy who's actually the same girl in disguise? Maybe they're both gay."
Adeara giggled. "I don't think so." Trying to figure out how to best explain, the blonde was thinking over the problem when her eyes fell on the young man occupying the nearby chair. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Let's ask Tony."
"What?!" asked Gabriella, horrified. "We can't ask him. He's a Snake!"
"But he's really good at Shakespeare," Adeara whispered back, already halfway across the intervening space.
Gabriella's eyes flashed a warning but she couldn't raise her voice to stop Adeara from cheerfully wandering over to the biker.
"Tony?"
His sunglasses tilted up to regard her a moment. "What do you want?"
"You're good with Shakespeare, right? Do you know Twelfth Night?"
Tony's lip curled. "Yeah. What of it?"
Adeara bounced happily and motioned toward Gabriella who was still subtly shaking her head and vaguely hiding behind her text. "My friend is working on a paper, and she's having a little trouble with it. Will you come talk her through it?"
His expression was carefully blank as he looked in the pretty brunette's direction. "I guess."
Pleased, Adeara led him back to the table. "Gabriella, this is Tony. He knows lots about Shakespeare, so he can probably tell you all about those gender roles."
"Hey," he said in greeting, turning a chair around and sitting in it backwards. "They're asking the old gender question, huh?"
Gabriella was half-hiding behind her long hair. "I'm supposed to say why the Duke and the Countess are both in love with Viola when she's dressed like a boy," she said shyly.
Tony made a dismissive sound. "Fuck that. That's kid stuff. What's a hell of a lot more interesting is Viola persisting in her cross-dressing even after she's been revealed as a woman and engaged to the Duke. He even keeps calling her Cesario."
Looking vaguely apprehensive yet intrigued at the same time, Gabriella nodded. "That's true. But he compared her to Diana earlier in the play..."
With a slight smile, Adeara crept away to let them talk. By the time she'd picked up her things and packed everything away, the two were bent over Gabriella's copy of the text arguing their points.
##########################
Time passed in its usual way. The football team acquitted itself respectably through the season and the cheerleaders won the Western Division Championship. PITA held its rally, the Young Republicans their fundraiser, and Lance and Polly only blew up the chem lab once. It was pretty much life as usual at Lower Tadfield High... with one or two exceptions.
Raphael was accepted onto the dance team, and while he enjoyed the activity itself far more than playing football, his social life suffered a great deal. The dance dweebs viewed the jock with cool suspicion and generally excluded him from whatever they could. And once the football players found out about his new passion, they mocked him mercilessly. Raphael went from being the star quarterback and one of the most popular boys in the school to a near Nobody overnight. The only things that sustained him were the fact that he truly loved what he was doing and knew it would make him an even better quarterback come next Fall (the only way he could redeem himself in the team's eyes), along with Remy's unwavering - if strange - devotion (he'd followed his idol into the dance program, although he seemed to disappear from rehearsals for odd stretches now and again). And Michelle.
Michelle had become the star shooting guard on the girl's basketball team, and they did, in fact, cream the boys team in the exhibition game at the beginning of the season. But her decisions had fallout, too. Rags took over as captain of the cheerleading squad, though not without harsh words being slung from both sides. None of the other cheerleaders were all that sad to see her go, and the girls on the basketball team were none too happy to have her join. Whatever social prestige had come with being head cheerleader turned into jealousy and spite as a ball player. The only things that sustained her were that she truly loved what she was doing and knew it would make her a stronger candidate for a college scholarship than cheerleading ever would, along with the intense competition. And Raphael.
Sometimes Adeara would see them together in an empty practice room talking about dance, Michelle demonstrating some techniques she'd learned as a cheerleader to help him nail a tricky move. And sometimes she'd see them on the asphalt of the outside court talking about sports, Raphael demonstrating some ball handling techniques he'd learned in football to help her improve her skills. If they never quite got any further than that in their conversations, what did anyone else care? The school collectively shrugged and ignored them.
The school did the same to Tony and Gabriella. Their situation was somewhat different. As Gabriella was the school valedictorian, she was by default the head nerd - a position that had never had any cachė in high school. And Tony, as one of the Snakes, was pretty much the scum of the school. By lying to his friends about his after school activities, he was at least able to retain his worth in their group (although Adeara sort of wondered why he'd want to before realizing there wasn't really anywhere else he could go). So the two spent their afternoons in the library talking about Shakespeare and they seemed fairly happy. If they never quite got any further than that in their conversations, what did anyone else care?
Then came the prom.
Adeara noticed weird things starting to happen just as soon as she started putting up the posters around the school. Heading into the library to tack one up on the bulletin board, she caught sight of Tony and Gabriella in their usual spot going over a monologue from Romeo and Juliet. Apparently Gabriella had to memorize it for her class.
"...If thou will but swear my love..."
"No. 'If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love," Tony corrected without consulting the book. It was surprisingly gentle coming from him.
"Damn it!" Gabriella exclaimed, frustrated.
Adeara's eyebrows rose slightly.
The studious young woman continued determinedly, glancing at her study partner. "If thou wilt not, be but sworn my love," she repeated, "and I'll no longer be a Capulet."
No one noticed Sable coming in.
"...'Tis but thy name that is thy enemy. Thou art thyself, though..."
"Excuse me, Gabriella," Sable interrupted.
She jumped a little in surprise, the words dying on her lips. "Um, yes?"
"I'd like to take you to the prom," said the Young Republican confidently and without hesitation.
Gabriella looked shocked. "Oh. Uh..." Her gaze was drawn hopefully to Tony, but his only response was to throw her book angrily to the table and storm out. She watched him go with a frown before turning back to Sable. "I... I guess so," she finally replied.
"Good," the thin boy answered. "Did you know my chances of making it into Yale are significantly higher if I accompany the valedictorian to the prom?"
She shook her head in mute horror.
"Well, they are. I'll pick you up at six o'clock. Be ready and wear something conservative," he insisted before walking away.
Gabriella stared after him. When she finally noticed Adeara standing there, having mutely witnessed the whole scene, she burst into tears and ran off. Upset, but unable to help, Adeara tucked the remaining posters under her arm and continued with her task.
Her next stop was the gym. As Adeara searched her pockets for the thumbtacks she'd brought, she saw Raphael walking nearby and was about to greet him when another voice beat her to it.
"Martinez!"
The boy stopped and looked back at the open door. "Hi, Coach Brian," he said, obviously surprised that the man was speaking to him after the season was over.
"Martinez," he repeated. "C'mere, son." Raphael did as he was told and the Coach put a friendly arm around his shoulders. "So, have you thought about who you're taking to the prom?"
Raphael had clearly not expected that question. He colored slightly. "I... well, uh, I was thinking... I was sort of thinking about maybeaskingMichelleYoung." It all came out in a rush at the end.
"What?!" asked the Coach. "The Principal's niece?"
He nodded mutely.
"No, no, no!" Coach Brian exclaimed heatedly, and Raphael looked at him with a haunted expression. "You can't go with her! She's a basketball player. No. It's a school tradition that the quarterback take the head cheerleader to the prom."
"She was the head cheerleader," Raphael protested.
"Was," the Coach repeated. "Not anymore. Now it's that Asian girl. What's her name?"
"Rags? You want me... But..."
"No buts, my boy. Tradition!"
"I don't..."
Coach Brian stopped him with a fierce look. "Martinez, you'll take the cheerleader, or I'm not putting you in next year's line-up, period."
Raphael's shoulders slumped. "Yes, sir..."
Adeara wasn't sure how much more of this she could take.
##########################
The theme of this year's prom was Heaven on Earth, with all the requisite silver stars, wispy clouds, and smiling angels. But looking at the couples filing into the rented hotel ballroom, Adeara didn't think it would live up to its name. Gabriella and Sable were two of the first to arrive and Adeara felt positively dumpy in her poufy white dress compared to Gabriella in her elegant red gown. But while the brunette looked absolutely stunning, she also looked absolutely miserable. Sable didn't seem to care.
Not long after, the twins arrived with their dates. Lance had brought Nadine, the chubby cheerleader, who was wearing a layered lilac confection that really did nothing to flatter her physique; and Polly in a clinging dress of acid green was hanging happily on Remy's arm. Adeara stared at the strange pairs for a moment and shook her head in surprise.
The Snakes came in a group, Lou having brought another of the cheerleaders, Lady, and Tony slinking in behind Ruby, who was looking sharp and dangerous in emerald and silver. Leggy and Hasty apparently hadn't had any luck in finding dates.
Neither had Sari, who crept in alone wearing all black, his hair falling dramatically over one eye. He was actually dressed very similarly to Mort - the tall, gaunt leader of the goths - who was wearing his formal chains and workman's boots and escorting Michelle, who was breathtaking in a short, sparkly, sapphire blue gown.
Last to arrive were Raphael and Rags. Rags had on a slinky off-the-shoulder number in gray satin, and Raphael was wearing a matching vest with his tuxedo. Judging by the glares they were getting from Michelle, there'd be burn marks in both by the end of the night.
Adeara sighed. It was going to be a long evening.
+ + +
Things progressed as they always do. People stood in awkward groups with their friends, feeling stiff and starched and laughing too loudly at things that weren't that funny. Occasionally boys would go fetch punch for their dates or lead them to the dance floor to sway back and forth for four minutes. The tables were strewn with the detritus of candy almonds, discarded cups, wilting flowers, and small purses containing not much more than lipstick. Chaperons made their rounds, but no one had spiked the punch and there wasn't any funny business going on. There wasn't much of anything going on. The hired DJ looked despondent.
Suddenly...
"Murderer!" shrieked Ruby, pointing at Sable's leather jacket.
"What? Was it your mother?" Sable sneered back.
Tony and Gabriella edged away from their dates in contact embarrassment.
Then Lou's voice cut bitterly through the crowd. "So I brought her 'cause everyone says cheerleaders are easy, but I guess she ain't heard it."
Before anyone could respond, Rags screamed. "My dress!"
"Oops," said Michelle blithely, her glass having transferred its contents down Rags' front.
And just to top off the chaos, the punch bowl suddenly exploded in a plume of green smoke. Lance and Polly could be seen giggling nearby.
Then Han arrived.
He looked incredibly dapper in his tailcoat and pinstriped charcoal trousers. His boutonniere was perfectly fresh, and his fedora was tilted at a rakish angle across his brow. Adeara wondered vaguely if he'd intentionally timed his entrance or if it was just a lucky coincidence. Either way the room fell silent, and all eyes were on him as he briefly surveyed the scene.
"All right. How'd you bums manage to blow this?" he asked no one in particular. For just a moment, no one would meet anyone else's eye. "Fine," said Han taking charge. "Fillies on one side and fellas on the other."
Everyone stared at him.
"Now!" he demanded.
Hesitantly, all the girls filed to one side of the room and the boys to the other. Adeara ended up between Michelle and Rags and was mildly afraid of getting wounded in the crossfire.
"You," said Han, pointing at Michelle. "C'mere."
She glanced around as he tapped his foot impatiently. Eventually she edged onto the dance floor, looking self-conscious. Han took her wrist with one hand and pointed at Raphael with the other. "And you."
Raphael's eyes widened. He looked trapped between hope and fear - and considering the glares Michelle was directing at him, the latter was probably in self-defense.
"I don't got all night, kid," said Han.
Raphael slunk onto the floor and Han snatched his wrist, putting his hand in Michelle's. They stood there uncomfortably, unable to look at each other.
"Right. Don't let go until I say so."
Once their hands touched, all the football players, cheerleaders, basketball players, and dancers stepped back in disgust.
Han looked at them curiously, then pointed at Gabriella. "Now you."
She stepped forward, staring at the ground. The brunette looked so small that Adeara's kind little heart almost broke.
"And you."
Gabriella squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't seem to want to open them until a hand was joined to hers. When she did look up, it was to find Tony nervously eying her from a couple of feet away.
The Snakes and nerds also drew away in horror, afraid of becoming equally tainted.
Han walked down the center of the floor matching up couples. He put Lance with Lady and Polly with Hasty. Leggy was paired with Nadine and Ruby with Lou. Then Han put Rags' hand in Sable's.
Adeara looked around. There had been more boys than girls, so Mort, Sari, and Remy were left without partners. She bounced hopefully, but Han appeared to be done matchmaking. She deflated.
"Alone again," Mort intoned in his deep voice. "Adrift in the vast inky blackness of the empty universe..." He stalked off toward the drinks table talking to himself about the meaninglessness of life.
Han spoke briefly to the DJ, who struck up something with a medium beat. Han then turned to address the crowd.
"The platter's rockin', you deadbeats, so let's see some rolling."
When no one moved, he sighed. "Oh, for crying out loud. Look, you goofs, all this baloney about who's in and who's out is a load of hooey. There ain't one Joe or Jane in this joint who's on the level." Han pointed at Raphael. "So this palooka plays ball and is a real Oliver Twist." He gestured to Michelle. "So his sheba can throw and kick. So what? It ain't like the rest of you punks only got one face. There's not one of you pretenders who's the Real McCoy. So quit being damn hypocrites and get a wiggle on. This a hop or ain't it?"
With a variety of stunned and embarrassed expressions, everyone sort of shuffled around not meeting anyone else's eye for a long moment. It was a testament, though, to Han's charisma, if nothing else, that there was a general sort of awkward mingling followed by one of the football players stepping forward to ask a band geek for a dance. He was followed by an emo-girl who stuttered her request to one of the Young Republicans, and it was like falling dominoes after that. Everyone began to find partners and started dancing as the DJ kicked the music into high gear. Adeara could only watch in open-mouthed astonishment but Han continued to stroll around and gently shoved random people together.
She wasn't quite naive enough to think that his speech would be enough to change the whole clique structure of the school overnight, no matter how charismatic he was. But it was starting to look like a whole new party...
"... then why'd you decide to go with that prick?" she overheard Tony ask, as he and Gabriella swayed past. He sounded hurt.
"Well, I'd sort of hoped you'd ask me," Gabriella blushed. "But you stomped off and I thought that meant you didn't want to..."
"I stomped off because I desperately wanted to, but I was too much of a fucking coward to actually do it."
"You managed to ask Ruby..."
He made a wry face. "She asked me. Being a Snake, I guess she thought I was tough or something."
"Oh, Tony..."
The handsome young man smiled faintly. "She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o'er my head as is a winged messenger of heaven."
Gabriella laughed brightly. Then they were beyond the point of hearing over the music and Adeara wasn't enough of a snoop to continue eavesdropping. Besides, other people were wandering past.
"Try that again and I'll rip your nuts off," she caught Ruby saying. "I'd feed them to the squirrels, but that would be animal cruelty." Lou grinned at her in return. Adeara winced.
Sable and Rags were next to them: He appeared to be giving her advice for getting the punch stain out of her dress while she asked interestedly about his plans for Yale.
Lance and Lady seemed to be discussing the mono infection Lady had contracted in her sophomore year, while Polly grilled Hasty on the various fluids that went into the operation of his motorcycle. Leggy and Nadine had abandoned the dance floor in favor of the cake table.
Then Adeara spotted Raphael and Michelle. Although everyone else had loosened up, they were dancing woodenly without speaking. This, at least, she could do something about.
"Raphael?" she inquired lightly, ignoring Michelle's hostile glare. "Sorry to interrupt, but why don't you just tell Michelle why you didn't ask her to the prom even though you wanted to...?"
Michelle's eyes locked on her partner like a laser beam while Raphael spluttered at being put on the spot. "You wanted to ask me?"
Raphael stared at his shoes. "Well, yeah... But Coach said I couldn't."
"Your coach?" she asked dumbfounded.
The poor boy was turning an interesting shade of red. "He asked who I was going to bring, and I said I wanted to ask you, but he said I couldn't because you're a basketball player, and it's tradition for the quarterback to take the head cheerleader."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "No, it isn't. I've been on the team for three years and the head cheerleader never once went to prom with the quarterback."
They stared at each other.
"I think I can solve this one," came an amused voice from behind them.
"Uncle Adam?" said Michelle just as Raphael was stammering, "Principal Young? I wasn't... I mean we weren't..."
Mr. Young laughed. "Calm down, Raphael. I think you two just got caught in an old memory."
"What?"
"About twenty-five years ago," he explained, "Coach Brian was one of the best quarterbacks Lower Tadfield High ever had." Raphael nodded; he'd known that, it seemed. "Well, he asked a certain basketball player to the prom, and she turned him down in favor of the head cheerleader. I think it's bothered him ever since."
The three teens stared at him, trying to process that. Almost in unison their eyes slid to where Coach Pep was standing with Mr. Wensleydale and went round in surprise.
Mr. Young clapped Raphael on the shoulder. "But it worked out for you, so enjoy yourselves."
Raphael blinked and turned his attention dreamily back to Michelle. Without another word being necessary, they began to dance much more smoothly, moving together in harmony and melding into the crowd.
Mr. Young watched them for a moment, smiling, then turned to his young assistant. "Adeara, I know you're off the clock, as it were, but do you mind running one more errand for me? I'd like you to go into the kitchen and get some more soda for the punch bowl. I can't imagine what happened to it all..." His eyes twinkled.
She grinned. "Yes, sir."
Adeara practically skipped into the kitchen, happy that everything seemed to be working out for everyone. Well, almost everyone. She still felt bad for Remy and Sari. It seemed they'd both left the party in disappointment.
...Or not.
Adeara's hand flew to her mouth. She stared at the refrigerator that Sari had pressed Remy up against, apparently intent on devouring him. Remy, his eyes closed and arms wrapped tightly around the darker young man, didn't seem to mind much. Tiptoeing backwards, Adeara dashed back into the ballroom and let out an, "Oh." That was one thing she'd certainly missed on her travels. Although Remy's odd disappearances suddenly made a lot more sense now...
Then she noticed that Mr. Young was looking at her curiously.
"Um, the soda wasn't cold yet," she lied, a little out of breath. "I'll go get it in a few more minutes."
He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. As he walked away, Adeara sagged gratefully into a convenient chair. A moment later a voice near her ear asked, "Tired already, sweetheart?"
She glanced up to find Han standing behind her. Adeara smiled. "No. Just happy. That was a really nice thing you did for everyone tonight."
"You think so?" he asked thoughtfully. "Well, I saved the best for last."
"You did?" asked Adeara, puzzled. She couldn't imagine what else he could possibly do this evening to make it any better.
Han held out his hand to her and smiled. "C'mon, dollface. Let's you and me liven up this sorry wingding."
Glowing, Adeara allowed the charming senior to whirl her out across the dance floor, her tiny gold cross sparkling beneath the twinkling stars…
~end~
Happy Holidays, sunshade, from your Secret Writer!