A Midsummer's Nightmare
Hey! Be sure to check out "The Date Continues" and "I Do?" before reading this third book in my Rockett's World fanfiction:)
Chapter 1: School's...Out?
"During the war of 1812, who was fighting against the U.S.?" Ruben Rosales asked.
"Uh-uh-I know this one! Great Britain!" answered Jessie Marbella. "Alright, then. Who was the American nurse who aided the soldiers during The Civil War?"
"Clara Barton!" Rockett Movado shouted out.
"Good job," said Jessie. "Okay, Rockett. It's your turn now."
Ruben, Rockett, and Jessie were all huddled together inside the study hall room, busy quizzing one another for their very last history test of the year. It was hard to believe just how quickly everything had gone by. So much had occurred this year, and so many cool things had happened - like Rockett Movado and Ruben Rosales finally becoming a couple. To Rockett, it was a dream. Even better, since Ruben was just about the world's greatest boyfriend. He was always encouraging, really easy-going and totally nice! Rockett remembered that just a few months ago, right after they'd first gotten together, Ruben had surprised her with a beautiful, full-color page in the school yearbook dedicated to her. She of course thought it to be the one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for her, especially after she'd spent days feeling jealous after Ruben had gotten paired up with Nicole Whittaker for a class marriage project. But that was the thing about Ruben - he knew how to keep a cool head. If he was jealous, he didn't let it take over him. He dealt with things the right way. That, among many others was one of the main things Rockett liked about him.
"Okay, last question here," Rockett said, suddenly trying to focus on the test questions. "Who bought land from the French in 1803? Hint: Louisiana Purchase."
"Ummmm..." Ruben said, totally confused. He flipped open his text book and scanned the page for the answer.
"Uh...wait!" Jessie said suddenly. "Wasn't it the president, or something?"
Rockett nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes..."
"I thought so," Jessie said. "But which one? What was his name again...?"
"...Thomas..." Rockett hinted.
"Thomas Edison!" Jessie boomed.
Ruben made a noise that sounded like a buzzer going off. "Wrong," he said as he closed his textbook. "The correct answer is 'Thomas Jefferson.'"
"Oh, man!" exclaimed Jessie. "That would have been my next guess."
Rockett laughed. "Okay, well just make sure it's your next guess when you sit down to take the test in History," she said as she closed her textbook. "Speaking of which, who's ready to be totally, one-hundred percent done with school?"
"I know I am," said Max Diamond, who had just come down the hall.
Rockett smiled when she caught him staring at Jessie. Okay, so even though it had been a great year, something totally got overlooked - namely, Jessie and Max. Rockett knew they were into each other, so what exactly was taking them so long? Then again, it had definitely taken her and Ruben quite a while.
"Tell me about it, man. I am so ready to be outta this never-ending detention loop. It's time for some real divertido!" Ruben said mischieveously.
Rockett grinned. She didn't exactly know what 'divertido' meant, but coming from Ruben, it was probably a good thing. "Yeah, I totally can't wait! This is going to be a great summer!" she exclaimed.
"It sure is," Max agreed, still looking at Jessie. "We're going away on a cruise for the first month, and the next month, my parents are going to stay onboard the ship while I head back to my place and throw parties all summer long! Woo hoo!" Max hollered.
"Wow! A cruise? Really, Max? That's so cool! Where are you guys headed?" Jessie asked excitedly.
Max blushed. "Ohh, nowhere. Maybe Hawaii or the Bahamas or something."
"That's amazing," Jessie replied. "I've never been to Hawaii before, but I went to the Bahamas as a kid with my parents once. It was totally beautiful!"
Rockett and Ruben smiled at each other and shared a knowing look.
'This is so cute,' Rockett thought. 'Here Ruben and I can't even get a word in with these two! I wonder if they're aware that they're both blushing? Well, Max has to know - Jessie's cheeks are totally red! I wish they'd just admit their feelings already! How hard can it be?'
"You're so cute when you're deep in thought like that," a voice interrupted. "You get these tiny little frown marks just above your brows-"
"Ruben!" Rockett blushed. "Ohmigosh, stop. That's totally embarrasing!"
"Nah, I think it's cute," he said smiling.
Rockett giggled. "You are such a weirdo."
"I know, but it's why you love me," Ruben said matter-of-factly.
Rockett tried to take her attention off of her boyfriend for just a few seconds to catch the last part of Max and Jessie's convo. It looked like they were nearly finished.
"So I'll see ya later, Jess," Max said. The bell had just went off for their next class.
"Oh, great," Rockett said, now fully aware that they were going to be late for History. She knew they couldn't make it on time - the class was two hallways down on the very end of the row. Of course, it didn't seem far, but ever since the whole 'no running in the hallways' rule got re-issued, getting to class on time was a lot tougher.
"Never fear, señor Rosales is here," Ruben joked as he grabbed his backpack. "I think I got a plan. But we're gonna have to run to make it on time," he said before taking Rockett's hand and sprinting off down the hallway.
"Ruben, don't!" Jessie called as she and Max trailed behind them. "We're gonna get in trouble if we run!"
"We'll get in trouble either way," Ruben hollered over his shoulder. "This way, at least we get some excercise," he said with a wink.
"Yeah!" Rockett added. "And besides Jess, it's the last day in school! What could they possibly do to us?"
"Try after-school detention while all the other kids get to leave this place for good!" Jessie panted.
When they finally arrived at the classroom, Ruben stopped. The door was closed. And their teacher, Mr. Weaseldorf, only closed the door after the last student had been called in - which meant if they walked in now, it'd mean they were totally late.
And totally busted.
"Now what, Rosales?" Max said. "I wanna be sippin' lemonade on a cruise ship by this afternoon, not sitting in after-school detention."
"It's simple!" Ruben said, sounding like he had just thought of a plan. "We do the sneak-in."
Rockett bit her lip. Jessie looked doubtful. And Max? He was already done. He mouthed a quick "see-you-later" to the trio, and than slipped into the classroom.
"Actually," Ruben said, once Max had entered in. "This'll work. We could definitely use a decoy. And Max is a good distraction."
That was for sure. When Max walked into a room, everyone knew about it. Loud and proud, he wasn't exactly in his element unless he was the center of attention.
"Mr. Diamond," they heard the teacher say as Max walked in. "I do believe you are a bit late, wouldn't you say?"
"Ohh, sir, I knew this would happen," Max cried dramatically. "Would you believe it - I got here ten minutes before homeroom, but somebody locked the front entrance, so I waited and waited and waited and - finally! Mrs. Lutzi saw me and let me in! I'm just glad I'm inside now! Been at school all morning though, promise."
The class laughed and cheered at Max's ridiculous story. Still hamming it up, he sighed and bowed deeply. "Thank you for your understanding."
Mr. Weaseldorf was not amused. "I feel so bad that you had to wait it out all day, Max. How about I help you and cut you some slack by letting you take your test from start to finish, no points taken off?"
Max leaned back in his seat, comfortably resting his legs up on his desk. "Gee, that would be great."
"Excellent. I'll give it to you after school in the detention room to work on it. You can leave when - and only when - you are finished."
Max rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well, the jig is up," he said. "Shoulda seen that one coming.
A loud rap on the blackboard broke the tension. The history teacher whirled around. "What was that?" he frowned.
The rap continued on the blackboard until the teacher excused himself, left the room, and walked over to the next classroom to investigate.
"Now!" Ruben whispered as he, Rockett and Jessie dashed into the class, textbooks covering their faces.
The teacher returned, shaking his head and muttering to himself. "I must be hearing things," he said after he'd closed the classroom door. Still confused, Mr. Weaseldorf glanced around the room.
Three innocent faces looked back at him. "Hello," Mr. Weaseldorf said. He greeted each one of them: "Ruben, Rockett, Jessie."