(8) Payback's A Bitch


With Maria’s help it took Isabel only two days flat to make Liz regret even thinking about Maria in the wrong way. After leaving the park, they spent all of Monday night talking on the phone, plotting up ideas to carry out to plan. The first prank that they played out was pretty tame.

They rigged her locker to make all of her books fall out when she opened it. Then Maria distracted Liz while Isabel stole her purse. Isabel then proceeded to exchange her baby powder with itching powder. Needless to say that wasn’t a very pleasant feeling for Liz. She started scratching in the most embarrassing places.

Next they had Alex flirt with Liz and had him ask her to meet him in the Eraser Room. When Liz arrived her pulled her in the room and started to make out with her. She thought she was in heaven until the door was opened up and flashlights beamed in her face. She realized that the guy she had been making out with was Alvin Pulaski, the nerdiest guy in all of Antaria High. He was best known as Alvin the Booger Eater, because he was always picking his nose and… (Well you get the picture).

Their latest prank (releasing ten baby spiders in her gym locker) had Liz running down the crowded school halls, screaming at the top of her lungs. What made the scene eve funnier was the fact that she was only in her gym shirt and Pokemon panties.

“Hey Liz, I see you had to borrow your little brother’s underwear.” Some one called out.

Max tried not to laugh as the screaming girl ran past him. He walked up to Maria and his Isabel who were standing against their lockers trying to look innocent. “I’m not even going to ask who’s responsible for that.”

Isabel shrugged and shared a secretive smile with Maria. “I plead the fifth.”

He smirked. “What about you Maria? Are you denying all charges?”

She grinned. “Innocent until proven guilty. You don’t have probable cause. What’s the motive?”

“Ha! You two think you’re so smart.”

“Max, I resent your horrible suspicions. Are you implying that we’re guilty of something?” Isabel feigned horrified shock. “Can you believe him? He’s implying that we’re evil fiends.”

Max rolled his eyes. “Hey I’m not knocking the pranks. I just wanted to congratulate the pranksters on a job well done. You brought down your enemy and helped Alvin play out his fantasy.”

“See I told you that the one with Alvin was sheer genius.” Maria bragged.

“Maria! We’re not supposed to know anything. Remember?” Isabel laughed.

“Oops, sorry!”

Max smiled. He couldn’t resist the urge to brush back a lock of hair that had fallen into Maria’s face. “You’re a little imp. You know that right?”

She giggled. “Yeah well… it was worth it. Did you see the look on her face when she went running past? I almost had a heart attack I was laughing so hard.”

“Yeah it was funny.” He pulled his hand back and leaned his shoulder up against the locker. “So, what plans do you two have now?”

Maria slammed her locker door shut before turning back to answer him. “Isabel is forcing me to audition for the lead in West Side Story.”

“I’m not forcing you Maria. I just suggested that with your talented voice you would be perfect for the role of Maria.” She gave her a hug of self-confidence. “Who better to play Maria than Maria?”

“Who indeed?” Said Alex as he came up on the tail end of the conversation. “Hey, can somebody tell me why Liz Parker was just running through the halls in Pokemon underwear?”

He looked on in confusion as the three teens started laughing. “You guys started another prank without me?” He pouted.

Isabel slung an arm around her brother. “Come on Lexie, we’ll tell you all about it on the way to the auditions.”


(Thirty Minutes Later)

“Okay everyone, next up we have Maria Deluca auditioning for the part of Maria. First Ms Deluca I want to hear your voice. Then you can do dialogue. Choose any song and dialogue you want.”

Maria slowly walked into the middle of the stage. She was so nervous. She felt butterflies going berserk in her stomach.

“Ms Deluca, are you ready?”

She sighed and said. “Yes, I’m ready. I’m going to sing the song is from a different musical. I’m sure you all will recognize it.”

She sat down on a stool and began to play the opening notes on her guitar:

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops.
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then - oh, why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow,
Why, oh, why can't I?

Maria blushed at all the applause she received led by Isabel, Alex, and most of all Max. She smiled shyly and took a bow.

“That was lovely Ms Deluca. Are you going to do dialogue from the Wizard of Oz?” asked the drama teacher.

“No sir. I’m going to do a piece from Romeo and Juliet. I’m only doing Juliet’s part so pretend that Romeo is speaking.”

She stood and set her guitar and the stool aside. Then she walked off to the side of the stage to where the piano was. She leaned over it as if it was a balcony.

“Ay me!” She began.

Max jumped up on the stage and began to speak.

“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
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.”

Maria paused. Shocked that Max knew the play by heart. She looked over to Isabel for fortification. Isabel urged her on. She turned back to Max momentarily forgetting her spot. Then she remembered.

“O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.”

“Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?”

"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.”

“I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.”

“What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night
So stumblest on my counsel?”

“By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.”

“My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?”

“Enough! Enough!” the drama teacher called out. He turned to the chorus teacher and grinned. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I do believe we have found our Tony and Maria.”

“That’s no fair sir. You haven’t heard everyone audition.” Liz Parker pouted.

“Ms Parker if you had been on time for the auditions you would have had your chance just like everyone else.”

“But sir. I was not auditioning. I was just helping Maria out.” Max protested. “I can’t act.”

“Nonsense Mr. Colvin. You have a natural talent.”

“And he can sing.” The chorus teacher spoke up. “I know that for a fact.”

Max groaned as the teachers ganged up on him. What had he gotten himself into?

Maria grinned at her best friend. “This will be perfect Max. Now I don’t have to be alone.”