A/N: I dedicate this chapter to Angelus-alvus, my 10th reviewer!!! YAY!! And, oh, y'all can probably see where this story is going, but enjoy the ride anyway! Now here is Chapter 2. You already know about the "IDNOAC" subtext!! Enjoy!

Sleepover Nightmare—Chapter 2--Misfires

Sam, followed by Danny and Tucker, finally arrived at the theatre. They were there for the rehearsal of a new school play, none other than—what do you know?-- Sleeping Beauty! The stage preparation, though elaborate, was still incomplete; and many of the props, including the costumes, were in full view. The trio stopped in front of where the costumes were, waiting for the rehearsal to get organized and started. Though it didn't look like that was going to happen right away. Many of the chief players hadn't arrived yet and Mr. Lancer was barking at some stage hands. He was not happy that they were not in a hurry to finish the set-up of the stage.

In the meantime, Sam, who had defrosted a bit, asked Tucker, "Hey, Tucker, before I forget, could you try to fix this phone for me? I really like it but it was custom-ordered and they don't make any like it anymore. I'd hate to throw it out before I let the 'Cybermaster' cast his techno-savvy spell on it!"

Tucker, obviously flattered, smirked and replied, "Give that baby to me." But as Sam handed it to him, he cringed when he saw how hideous it looked. It definitely looked like a grotesque purple and black version of a deformed spider, or at least it did to him, anyway. Trying not to shiver with repulsion, he feigned a weak smile even as one of its eight tiny itchy legs brushed the back of his hand...But then he couldn't help himself and he blurted out, "This is your favorite?"

Sam's lethal look was her only response back to him.

The 'cybermaster' suddenly cleared his throat as he winced and purposely changed the subject. "H-hey! The school play is next week, isn't it?" he stammered, his voice squeaking a little.

Danny answered dreamily, "Yeah! And Paulina is playing the leading lady. Too bad I'm the understudy for the Prince's part. Dash is so lucky!"

Sam sarcastically added, "Only if he can memorize his lines by then."

Danny brightened and said, "You mean there's still a chance for me? I know all the lines!"

Getting rapidly vexed again, Sam answered with a scowl, "Hello, so do I! Remember, I'm Paulina's understudy? And she has missed way too many practices. Something about keeping her appearance flawless. I just hope I won't have to go through with it!"

Tucker teased her, "Because you don't want to fake out a kiss with Dash?"

Sam gave him another of her 'lethal looks' and he nearly choked. "No! Because I don't want to wear that!" She pointed to the nearby 'Princess' costume. "That is so…urrgh…definitely not a statement of individuality!"

Danny, reaching for and then holding up the 'Prince' costume, complained, "That can't be as bad as wearing tights! And baggy ones if I have to stand in for Dash! They only made one costume and it fits him!" He frowned again as he looked at the red and black costume. "Ugh! Whoever thought red tights were once 'in' had to have a hole in their head!" he uttered as he put it back down. Just then, a couple of other students came to retrieve both costumes. They hurriedly brought the costumes backstage.

Sam, becoming more exasperated with the situation, blurted out, "Urgh! I didn't even want to be in this stupid play in the first place! Just like Lancer to make everyone audition! How was I supposed to know that he would actually liked my acting? I didn't even try to impress him!"

"Well, it didn't hurt that no other girl wanted to get Paulina mad by competing with her," Tucker replied, offering a very bad choice of words to encourage Sam.

Seeing Sam's now infamous 'lethal look' confirmed that, and Tucker cringed in fear.

Danny piped in, "Well, I don't know why he doesn't like my acting anymore!"

Counting the reasons on his fingers, Tucker was quick to remind him, "Maybe it's because he likes Dash way better than you? And you got the part for the last play because Dash was in the big playoffs and wouldn't even be in town? And the fact that Dash asked Mr. Lancer to let you be his understudy so that Dash could get his frustrations out while he was trying to learn his lines?"

"Yeah, yeah, ok, Tuck, I get the point," Danny said, getting slightly irritated.

But Tucker did not let it go. "And the way Dash hasn't been able to memorize his lines, there must be an awful lot of frustration in him!"

Sadly rubbing his arm at the memory, Danny remarked, "No kidding!"

Meanwhile, many of the students stood idly around, waiting for the rehearsal to begin. Finally, Paulina, wearing the beautiful 'Princess' costume, paraded onto the stage. She looked stunning in the blue and gold-accented flowing dress. And even she could pull off wearing the blue henin. It, too, had a sheer scarf on top of it like the one the Sleeping Ghost wore. But this scarf was golden and glimmered in delight as the Hispanic girl's black hair played with it.

Danny's expression suddenly changed; and he looked at Paulina in a daze. He accidentally blurted out, "If I get the chance, I certainly won't need to act for my fake out kiss with her!"

"Heard that!" Sam said sarcastically, turning to Danny and giving him the same 'lethal' glare.

Tucker, standing helplessly next to Danny and Sam, cringed.

Danny chuckled nervously, "Er, I mean, it's just acting, Sam!"

"Of course," Sam tersely replied, unconsciously crossing her arms in irritation.

Trying to calm her, Danny continued, "C'mon, Sam! If there's a chance, you might have to fake out a kiss with Dash…" He stopped at the sudden thought and gulped, "… or me!"

Sam, her eyes widening as she grew more infuriated, commented, "And that's when you'll really be acting, huh?"

Tucker cringed even more.

Danny, flustered by her charge, uttered, "Yes…I mean, no!... Uh, I don't know!" And as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, he nervously added, "Can't we talk about something else?"

Sam, now clearly angry with jealously, pointed violently to Paulina and yelled, "Why? Obviously we can't talk about much of anything more important than…than beauty's sleeper over there!" She stomped off, leaving Danny and Tucker completely bewildered.

Danny turned to Tucker and asked with pleading eyes, "Tucker, I know that I don't get a lot of things right the first time, but what did Sam just say?"

Tucker advised, "Dude, I don't think we should go there. Let's just say that you better hope that you make it through this rehearsal alive!"

Seeing Dash walking up toward him, Danny fretfully thought, "Between facing Dash and Sam that may very well be impossible!"