Authors Note: I hope you guys like this story. I named it after the song The First One by Boys Like Girls. I will also name each chapter after a song. This chapter is named after the song Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer. Authors notes in the story will be in bold.
"Here are the scripts," JT said, handing Liberty the scripts for Dracula.
"Wow, that's a lot of paper," Liberty remarked, looking down at the huge stack of paper in her arms. "And muffins? Drama club goes all out." Manny was holding the box of muffins. "I don't want to do this anymore," Liberty groaned, stressed out about the play.
"Liberty, you wrote the play! You adapted Dracula," said Manny
"And not from a movie, either, from a book!" JT pointed out. "It's great!"
"But it's not great. It's embarrassing, reputation-killing," Liberty argued.
"Okay, this is so not you. You are irritating, stubborn…" said Manny.
"...Self-confident to the point of social retardation," continued JT jokingly. Manny laughed.
"Gee, JT, thanks," Liberty sarcastically said.
"You're talented, okay? Brilliant," JT said seriously this time. "So just have a muffin, and chill." JT took the muffin box from Manny and dropped it on top of the scripts in Liberty's arms. "Your director says so," said JT, walking off.
Liberty looked at Manny, and in a surprised tone, said, " JT just said I'm brilliant." Manny and Liberty smiled at each other before walking off together.
After school, the actors were reading their lines in the gym.
"Promise that if the time comes, you will kill me," recited Manny.
"I promise," said Alex.
"Mina, the sun's almost set," Nate said his line.
"Dracula's blood has not nearly poisoned mine, but it will. In killing me Dr. Van Helsing saves my life. But Jonathan, it is you who saves my soul," Manny finished. The bell then rang. Ms. Kwan clapped.
"Okay, we're all meeting Saturday Morning, we'll finish the rest then," said Ms. Kwan.
"Ms. Kwan? A word?" asked Mr. Raditch.
"That was great Liberty," said Emma. Liberty smiled at her friend's praise.
"Yeah, a little gross too." Even Alex was impressed. Manny smiled big and gave Liberty a thumbs up. JT smiled and gently nudged Liberty.
"You see?" he asked. He knew people would like Liberty's play. Liberty looked down and smiled.
After the rehearsal, Mr. Raditch was talking to JT and Liberty about the play. He didn't think putting on a play with violence was a good idea, after the school's recent events. Liberty tried to convince him that they were putting on a play to show the school that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Mr. Raditch still didn't agree. He told them to put on a joyful, fun musical instead. He told them to get working on it, since they didn't have much time. JT and Liberty walked away.
JT and Liberty waited at The Dot for Manny. "There she is!" JT called out.
"So, how long have you guys been working together?" Manny asked.
"Dracula is dead. But, Degrassi: The Musical, is born!" Liberty exclaimed.
"Say you're kidding," said Manny, not enthusiastic about the new play idea,
"We thought we could set the character around someone who's been working at Degrassi since it opened," said Liberty.
JT continued, "a cafeteria worker named…"
"SHELLY!" Liberty and JT shouted together.
"And while she works, she sings!" JT said happily. Manny frowned at the idea.
JT and Liberty sang the song they wrote for their new musical.
Manny shook her head. "Say you're kidding." She still frowned.
JT sighed. "She's right, this is stupid. I quit." JT got his backpack and walked away in frustration.
"Go after him. Invite him back to your place, brainstorm ideas in the hot tub. Anything that doesn't involve me wearing a hairnet," Manny said, also getting up and walking out.
Liberty swung her backpack over her shoulder, walking outside. "JT!" she called. He turned around.
"What?" he flatly said.
"Please don't quit. I can't do this alone. Please, come over to my house at 7:00, we can brainstorm ideas in the hot tub," Liberty begged him.
JT could hear the desperation in her voice, and her hazel eyes betrayed her, showing her anxiety. JT knew he couldn't let her do this alone. "Alright," he agreed. "I'll see you at 7."
"Thank you so much for coming. You have no idea how grateful I am right now," Liberty said sincerely, stepping into the hot tub.
"It's no big deal, really," JT insisted taking off his shirt and getting in next to Liberty.
"Hey guys!" said Liberty's little brother, Danny.
"Sup Danny," replied JT.
"Danny, we're trying to work on something really important here," Liberty said, annoyed at her brother.
"I won't bother you!"
After a couple of hours of brainstorming, Liberty and JT still had nothing.
"How about putting Dracula in Degrassi! He turns the teachers into vampires, saving Raditch for last! Huh? Good idea, huh?" Danny suggested.
"The elders are sleeping, Danny." Liberty hinted for Danny to shut up.
"You guys aren't even listening. And I'm getting pruned!" Danny complained, getting out of the hot tub.
"I'm experiencing major prunage as well, and I'm way too tired for this." JT also started getting out.
"But what about tomorrow?" Liberty asked.
"Radishes, radishes, not so sweet. Red, and round, and gross to eat," Liberty said.
JT sat down next to her again. "What is that?" he asked, laughing.
"It's our song! Stick a tune on it.." She started singing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, "Radishes, radishes, not so sweet! Red and round, and gross to eat! They have power, cruel little voices!"
"I run Degrassi you have no choices!" JT started singing, too.
"It's perfect! I'll finish it tonight, and we'll sing it to Raditch tomorrow! We'll be rebels!" Liberty said.
"Rebels who sing!" added JT. JT and Liberty then did a cool handshake.
"Are you ready?" JT asked Liberty.
"As ready as I'll ever be," replied Liberty.
JT and Liberty did the same handshake they did last night, but their hands held on longer this time. Before working on the play with her, JT didn't like Liberty, mostly because of her annoying crush on him. She seemed to have stopped chasing him now. Now, JT was unsure of his feelings. They let go of each other when they were interrupted by Nate rehearsing his Dracula lines.
JT handed everyone their lines for the Radish Song and told them the tune. Everybody looked at the lyrics and sang it to themselves.
"I can't do this," said Manny, and everyone else agreed.
"But it's a song of rebellion! Our not-so-silent protest against tyranny and oppression," explained Liberty.
"I'm all for rebellion, but not so much for getting expelled over a play," said Alex, handing back the lyrics. Everyone started leaving.
"Guys, you can't leave now! United we stand, divided we suck!" called out JT.
Liberty and JT were waiting for Raditch to arrive so they could sing their song for him. JT was lying down on the stage and Liberty sat next to him.
"The enemy approaches, finally," Liberty said as Raditch walked in. JT sat up.
"Where's the drama club?" asked Mr. Raditch.
"Oh, you know actors. Notoriously late," said JT.
"You've made some progress, I assume?" said Raditch.
"Yes, sir, and we'd like to sing you our progress," Liberty said.
Liberty started playing the song on the piano. To Liberty's surprise, JT started playing the song they had originally wrote for the musical about Degrassi, instead of singing the Raditch song. Liberty stopped playing. "JT, those aren't the words."
"Those were fine words, Liberty," said Raditch, smiling.
"A student died in this school, Mr. Raditch. And fuzzy songs with awkward choreography isn't gonna help up deal with it," Liberty snapped.
"Liberty…" JT muttered, trying to warn her to stop.
Liberty ignored his warning, and started singing the Radish Song. JT stood there awkwardly. Liberty walked by Mr. Raditch when singing the last two lines, and walked out of the room after finishing the song. Mr. Raditch sat in silence and JT sheepishly smiled. Mr. Raditch finally stood up.
"Interesting song. I'd like a reprisal. Monday. In detention. Both of you," said Mr. Raditch before walking out.
That Monday, JT and Liberty sat next to each other in detention. JT got the opportunity to talk to Liberty when the teacher stepped out of the room to speak with another teacher.
"Don't think of it as detention, think of us as acts of delight. (Not completely sure if "acts of delight" is right, it's hard to tell what he was saying.) Thanks, I'm here all week."
"I don't know why you're here. I'm the one who sang the stupid song," said Liberty.
"But it was totally worth it! I mean, the look on Raditch's face when he fired us!" he grinned.
"Not helping JT," Liberty said.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I chickened out. But what you did, the way you stood up to Raditch, it took guts. Brilliant," JT said, meaning what he said. Liberty smiled softly.
"You know what I wish I'd done?" Liberty's heart started to race, nervous about what she was about to do. She leaned in closer and JT noticed the dark specks of brown in Liberty's hazel eyes. Liberty softly pressed her lips to his, and JT closed his eyes, and sat up more, kissing back. The warmth of her smooth lips sent sparks flying everywhere. Liberty pulled away, ending the kiss, not believing she had just done that. She scanned his face to try to find out how he felt about the kiss. The only thing that revealed his feelings was the smile on his face, but Liberty couldn't tell what kind of smile it was. Liberty looked down, feeling embarrassed. "I've crushed on you for four years," she beamed. JT was now sure of how he felt. He no longer doubted his feelings. He closed his eyes and leaned in, kissing her again, this kiss being just as good as the first. Nervously, he pulled away.
"My stomach hurts a little," he admitted, smiling. Liberty smiled back. The teacher walked into the room, but JT and Liberty spent the rest of the detention sneaking small glances at each other.
