"Settle down now children, settle down. I know it's almost spring break, but that's still no excuse to slack off"
Lancer used waved his hands in an up and down gesture, trying to get the chattering students to be quiet. It took a good five minutes, but they all hushed up eventually. Lancer was surprised to see Danny Fenton in his seat as the bell rang, looking up at him expectantly.
"Daniel Fenton?"
He asked just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. The boy only showed up for the first fifteen minutes of class most days, and others he just didn't show up at all.
"Yes, Mr. Lancer?"
Fenton wasn't slouching, like he did on most days. In fact, he was sitting upright, his hands intertwined and set nicely on the desk as he looked up at Lancer with brighter eyes than usual. Lancer wasn't buying it.
"Detention, Mr. Fenton," he said calmy.
"Wh-Bu-I didn't do anything wrong!" stammered Danny, having been in a good mood before class. Not a single ghost had bothered him all day! He had actually gotten time to sleep and get to class on time. He had assumed as well that he'd be spared a detention. Apparently not.
"Precisely! I don't know what kind of shenanigans you're planning, Mr. Fenton, but I won't let you pull the wool over my eyes!"
"That's so-you're so-Ugh, fine, whatever!"
Danny dropped his hands and put his head down in defeat. Lancer's smirk faltered for a second, but then he ignored the guilty feeling he got in his stomach and decided this was normal behavior for the boy. Walking back to the white board, he cleared his throat and began his speech.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of Casper High, as you all are probably aware, with the coming of Spring comes the Annual Casper High Original Theatrical Performance. Why does this concern you? Well, freshmen, every year it's my classes that are put in charge of the play!"
The class groaned almost in harmony, and set their heads down much like Danny had done before them.
"Oh, come now, children! I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I do," he said with a bright smile.
Lancer start fumbling with papers on his desk, before he finally found what he was looking for and passed it out to the rows.
"Everything you'll need to know is on this sheet of paper. Read it over, and if you still have any questions then feel free to ask me either before or after school. I won't be here during lunch"
The bell rang, signaling the end of first period and everyone exited Lancer's class sluggishly. Talk of the oncoming play was on everyone's mouth, some of it good and some of it bad.
"I can't believe that jerk!" growled Danny, shutting-or more like slamming his locker. Sam waited on the other side, looking at him sympathetically.
"Chill, Danny. You can't really blame him. I mean what would you think if Vlad suddenly called a truce and stopped trying to kill your dad and marry your mom?"
"Funny thing is, he has," he chuckled softly, remembering what had come out of that.
"Mhmmm, and where did that get him?" she coaxed in a motherly tone.
"In the hospital... with a broken rib, and partially lacerated ear."
"Is that all?" Sam raised her eyebrows in surprise. She grabbed her books from Danny and began walking to their second period class.
"Not exactly. Broken jaw, dislocated knee, third degree burn on his butt, and a bald spot. That's all I can remember, anyway. He also wasted thousands of dollars re-building his house and getting his cat back from the Humane Society."
"Humane Society... I'm not even going to ask. Point is, what's one detention going to do?"
"I guess you're right. Lancer will always pick on me no matter what I do. Might as well deal with it," he sighed.
"That's the spirit!" she said brightly "Or, uhm, not-spirit. Technically, I guess."
"Thanks, Sam. Now mind telling me what happened during first period? I kind of dosed off."
Sam groaned and plopped down on her desk in second period. She fished through her messy binder, trying to find the flyer Lancer had passed out.
"Here. I think this'll explain better than I can."
She passed the flyer to Danny, and he began reading it just as the bell rang.
Annual Casper High Original Play
Shakespeare? Over-rated. Molier? Oh please! Neil Simon? Bleh!
It's time for a different type of play. A play written by you, for you, and performed by you!
This year's topic: Danny Phantom
Danny slammed his head on the table a few times before the teacher had to stop teaching to ask if he needed to go to the nurse, to which he replied to with a simple 'No', and resumed reading.
MR. LANCER'S FIRST PERIOD: Actors; you are in charge of bringing the play to life! Your role will be randomly chosen once the play is done being written. You cannot swamp, trade, quit, or ask for exchanges. All roles are final.
MR. LANCER'S SECOND PERIOD: Play Writers: You are in charge of the story! Each person will create their own, original, plot line following this year's topic. Your teacher will then review them all, and pick the best. If your play is chosen, you can just sit back in the audience and watch your masterpiece unfold. The remaining students will be in charge of writing the script. The script must be reviewed by your teacher before being made final.
MR. LANCER'S THIRD PERIOD: Prop and Costume: What's a play without the costumes and props? The stage and actors are your canvas, go wild! Not too wild, though. Please stay inside the school's dress code regulations. If something is absaloutely critical, you may discuss it with your teacher and work something out between the two of you.
MR. LANCER'S FOURTH PERIOD: Technical Supoort: Anything electronic is up to you guys. Posters, Special Effects, Lights, etc. Try to keep the special effects realistic. There most likely won't be any wild car chases in your play. Other than that, you're free to do whatever you want. Not that great with computers, but have a wicked idea you want in the play? Take it up with Mrs. Bennington (room 720) and she'll be more than happy to help you out.
Good Luck, have a total of two weeks to get everything running!
Make this a play your fellow classmates won't soon forget.
(Chances are a talent scout will be visiting the school soon. If you do spectacular, he might even consider putting the play on the big screen- with your acting and script!)
"He better not give out any homework this entire two weeks if he expects us to actually do good," he said, handing the flyer back to Sam.
"Don't bet on it, not for first period, anyway."
"First period? Aren't they the... awh crap, actors," he groaned, recalling the mimimum amount of effort first period had to put in. They would show up, say a few lines, and go home. Danny wasn't the best actor, but months of pretending he was a defenseless freshmen had paid off.
"Mhmm," she replied with a frown "Tucker is the only one getting the good end of the deal. He's in fourth period, shouldn't take him more than 3 or 4 days. I bet everything will be amazing, too."
"Only if he wants it to be, though. He's smart, just lazy."
"You know him too well, Danny. Valerie is in second period, you don't think she'd... do you?"
"I do. Let's just hope Lancer hates whatever idea she throws at him."
"Let's hope so. Knowing your luck though, we'd be lucky if he chooses a play that doesn't end with you being tortured, married off, or violated"
He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly and she quickly corrected herself.
"Your alter-ego, in the play. Or who ever is going to be playing you... Don't give me that look, you know what I mean!"
Danny laughed at Sam's temper, and was about to reply when the bell rang. Grabbing his stuff, he said bye and walked to his third period class. He wouldn't have anymore classes with his friends until after lunch, so he went through the rest of the day thinking about all the 102 ways this play was going to end badly.