Author's Note

Alrighty, sorry about the delays and all, but I've been busy! I'm a world championship boxer, I found love in an alien, and I've served a tour of duty in Iraq!

Okay, so all of that stuff was virtual, but still, it kept me busy! So anyway, I'm going to be focusing in a bit on Toothy's time with Splendid in this chapter.
And the songs featured are Somebody's Eyes from Footloose the Musical and Fantasies Come True from Avenue Q
So please, read and enjoy

HTF: The Musical!

Open scene on the grocery store on a busy Sunday afternoon, a few Friends passing in and out of the sliding doors. In the front a girl scout troop was raising money by selling cookies, and mothers were strolling by with their children at hand, pushing carts filled with junk food. A little yellow buggy pulls into the parking lot, Splendid and Toothy stepping out. They walk together to the store, Splendid in his full disguise, to defend is identity (He was still blissfully unaware that everyone in town could see through his pathetic tie and glasses outfit)

"You know, you really don't have to do this. I mean, going out shopping is always such a pain, you shouldn't have to be dragged out with me" Toothy said, pulling out his change purse to double-check the coupons he had brought.

"Toothy, please, you're putting me up in your own home. I would feel terrible if I couldn't do something in return," Splendid said as they entered the store, "and buying this week's groceries on my salary is no problem." They laughed, as Splendid grabbed a shopping cart. They headed down an aisle, and Toothy began to thumb through his change purse again.

"Well, I know you want to pay and all, but can we atleast use my coupons? I'd feel bad if you had to pay full price when I could get you a discount."

Splendid let out another chuckle, nodded as he reached up to pull some soup cans off the top shelf. Toothy looked back up from his purse and noticed Splendid stretching, and blushed a little. Without noticing, Splendid shook his tail side to side as he stretched, and Toothy found himself staring.

"Ahem!" A voice from behind made him nearly jump out of his fur, he turned, it was Snickers. They were good friends, since a young age. Snickers was a bit stuck up, and at a young age she would only talk to other girls, she found boys "icky". But Toothy was always a little different, and surprisingly Snickers found a place in her heart for the only boy who wouldn't play in the mud.

"Oh, uh, hi Snickers, what are you doing here?"

"I work here, remember? Ballet lessons don't pay for themselves." She said, holding up the gun she was using to stick labels on the nearby shelf. "And I was going to ask if you needed help, but I see you've gone for the 'Self-Checkout'" She winked, pointing to Splendid, who was already strolling down the aisle with his cart, still too concerned with the best price on soup to notice them.

"I just thought I saw a penny on the ground, but it was only a screw. That's all I was looking at." Toothy turned away, blushing bright red.

"Come on now Toothy, you're my friend. I don't care." She smiled, knowing she was right.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Toothy crossed his arms and looked away angrily, " I don't have to sit here and be made fun of."

"Toothy, I think it's lovely. I wouldn't make fun of something like that, you're just a boy in love, it doesn't matter if it's another boy."

He let out a sigh and dropped the tough guy act, "Yeah, if only the world thought that way…"

Snickers pouted, "I'm sorry, but you can't change everyone." They both shared a moment of awkward silence before Snickers realized she had to return to work, and left with a quick goodbye.

Toothy saw Splendid further down the aisle, and went to follow him with his hands in his pockets. His head hung low, and his mind began to drift.

He's not..gay. He wouldn't even like me. He doesn't need to know about me anyway…He'd probably hate me if he knew

????
Exactly, he'd hate you. So keep it a secret

(Toothy jumps in shock and looks around, the entire stage has dimmed around him, and he's alone. A spotlight shines nearby, and Flaky, Giggles and Petunia are standing across, staring at him. But they look different. The three are dressed in gothic dresses, and each are wearing heavy black makeup. Giggles' bow looks more like a spider, and Petunia's flower has wilted. Flaky is wearing a mourner's veil, and her flaky hair is completely covering her eyes. They speak all at once)

He hates people like you, everyone does.
You freak.
You fag.
(Toothy cringes at their words.)
Never let him know, never let anyone know.
(A dull rhythm picks up, and Toothy can hear music playing. Giggles approaches him and starts singing)

GIGGLES
Careful what you do
Someone's on to you
Careful what you do
(Flaky and Petunia approach as well, each with a grim expression on their faces)
FLAKY
Careful what you say

PETUNIA
Cause you're on display
Every night and every day

GIGGLES
(She gets up in his face, making him back down at her harsh stare.)
Somebody's hiding in the great unknown
(Petunia and Flaky appear from behind, staring him down as well)

P+F
Uh-huh

GIGGLES
And every time you think that you're alone
Somebody's eyes are watching

PETUNIA
Somebody's eyes are seeing you come and go

FLAKY
Somebody's out there, waiting for the show

ALL THREE
You've got no disguise
From somebody's eyes

(The lights fade back on, and Toothy is alone again, and Splendid is standing next to him.)

"Stupid fruit!" Splendid shouts, his back still turned to Toothy
"What are you talking about?" Toothy was shocked by his words.
"Oh, just this!" Splendid turns to show him a cantaloupe "You're supposed to be able to tell how ripe they are by tapping them, but I can't figure it out."
"Oh! Of course…"

(Toothy tries to follow Splendid, but the lights dim again, and but Toothy is not alone. His friends all walk by him, shooting him dirty looks and mumbling things about him. Calling him hurtful names, and he can still hear the girls singing from seemingly everywhere.

ALL THREE
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
Whoa-oh
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
Whoa-oh
(Petunia appears out of the darkness and pinches Toothy's cheeks, mocking him)
PETUNIA
Careful how you speak
Turn the other cheek
Be careful how you speak

(Flaky appears next and begins harassing him too.)
FLAKY
Think a naughty thought
And if you get caught
Well, then boy, you've bought a lot of trouble

(Flaky and Petunia disappear, and Giggles is suddenly behind him)
GIGGLES
Somewhere there's someone with a perfect view

PETUNIA&FLAKY
(They appear and disappear quickly, as they wave at Toothy, mocking him)
Yoo-hoo

GIGGLES
And they're just dying for a little peek-a-boo

PETUNIA&FLAKY
(Appearing suddenly)
Boo!

ALL THREE
Somebody's eyes are watching
Somebody's eyes will never close, never sleep
Somebody's after the secrets that you keep
Who's got alibis
From somebody's eyes?
(The lights turn back on, andToothy is back with Splendid, still shopping as if nothing is going on)

"…Queerer than a three dollar bill." He says, staring at him.

"What do you mean? I'm not queer!" Toothy panics.

"Not you Toothy, these prices! How can you sell something so cheap? It's queerer than I three dollar bill, at least I think so."

"Yeah! I knew, I was just, um, joking!" He smiles nervously, and Splendid looks oddly at him, but returns the grin.

(But before Toothy can say anything else to him, the shadows surround Toothy once more and Now he's surrounded by people he knows, relatives, friends, all staring him down. Petunia Giggles and Flaky all stand in the middle of the group as they all sing.)

ALL
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
Whoa-oh
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
Whoa-oh

PETUNIA
Never laugh to loud
Never leave a crowd

FLAKY
Never dress risque
There'll be hell to pay

GIGGLES
If you've ever had anything to hide
Think twice before you step outside

ALL THREE
Somebody's eyes are watching
Somebody's eyes are following every move
Somebody's waiting to show they don't approve

PETUNIA
Nothin satisfies

GIGGLES
Somebody's eyes

FLAKY
Ain't no alibis

PETUNIA
In somebody's eyes

GIGGLES
You've got no disguise

PETUNIA&FLAKY
From somebody's eyes
(Suddenly, a spotlight shines down behind the three girls, a beaver dressed in priests robes is standing behind them, Toothy immediately recognizes him as his own father. He looks down on Toothy with disgust as everyone around him sings)

EVERYONE
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
Whoa-oh
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody's eyes
(The lights are back on, and Toothy realizes what was going on. It was his own paranoia regarding his sexuality, nothing else. Flaky Petunia and Giggles were nowhere to be seen, and his Father is absent, as usual. And Splendid is close by,)

"Um, are you okay Toothy? You're breathing pretty heavy over there." Splendid asks, as they head for the checkout,

"Of course, I feel fine. Just daydreaming a little," He says, a bit dumbfounded by his own imagination. "But, we have to get home soon, dinner's in the oven."

"Oh, of course" Splendid smiles, paying the cashier. Toothy goes to follow, excited about the meal they'll be sharing, when he hears those three voices behind him once again.

FLAKY, PETUNIA, GIGGLES
Somebody, somebody somebody's eyes…

Whoa-oh…

Toothy panics, and without turning runs from the grocery store to catch up with Splendid, panting wildly.

….Later That Night….

Splendid had settled in his bed, alongside Toothy's bed, still empty. The room had always had two beds, Toothy often received guests and was happy to share space, especially now that he was sharing it with Splendid. It was decorated with hundreds of Splendid items, from the furniture to the very blanket he slept under, but Splendid himself found it endearing and dozed off peacefully. Toothy, however, was brushing his teeth for the fortieth time. He was far too nervous to lay down next to Splendid, even if they weren't laying down in the same bed.

"Just relax Toothy, he's probably asleep by now, and if he isn't, just face the other way. Don't stare too much." He was speaking into the mirror to ready himself. And finally, with one last breath he headed into the bedroom, and thankfully found Splendid lying on one side, breathing peacefully. But, his nervousness got the best of him again.

"Splendid, are, are you awake?" He asked softly.

Splendid rolled a little, startling Toothy, but kept his eyes closed, "Uhhh, is that a unicorn?"

"Splendid?"

"No, I'll wear the purple shoes, I- Who painted the kitten?"

"Oh, he's talking in his sleep," Toothy sighed, and sat down on his own bed. He was about to turn off the lights when Splendid muttered again.

"I love you Toothy."

"WHAT?" He shouted, and covered his mouth in surprise, "A-are you awake?"

"I love your little laugh, take off your shirt."

"Splendid? Oh, Splendid!" Toothy was overcome with joy, "You do care, were you just being shy? Were we, hiding from each other? I wonder.."

TOOTHY
All those nights
I'd lay in bed
Thoughts of you
Running through my head

SPLENDID
(Spoken)
I know, put my earmuffs on the cookie

TOOTHY
But I never thought
The things in my head
Could really happen
In my bed

SPLENDID
You look like David Hasselhoff

TOOTHY
All those years
I missed the signs
Couldn't read
Between the lines

Who'd have thought
I would see the day
Where I'd hear you say
What I heard you say

And now I find
What was always in my mind was in your mind too
Who knew? Fantasies come true
And now I see
That what I always dreamed of was meant to be
You and me and you, fantasies come true
(A mist surrounds the bedroom, and suddenly Splendid rises from the bed, dressed in a tuxedo, as is Toothy. He takes him in his arms and they dance together slowly as a beautiful orchestra rises up behind them. Just at the climax of the music Splendid falls back to the bed asleep and Toothy lays on the edge of the bed, staring and singing to him)

TOOTHY
You and me lived in fantasy
But we'll be a reality…
(The music settles, and then rises back up as Toothy stands and triumphantly sings)
Cuz now
My love
I'm getting what I've always been dreaming of
So are you
Fantasies come true

And now I
swear that
When you want me I'm gonna be right there
To care
For you

And make your Fantasies come true

(Toothy is suddenly jolted awake by Splendid's voice. Before he knows what's going on, he's lying in his own bed, and Splendid is standing beside him with a glass of milk)

"Uh, hey Toothy, you're talking in your sleep." He says, calmly.

"Oh, I thought you were talking in your sleep..." Toothy says, confused and a little disappointed.

"No I just came to bed. Heh, you're dreamin' is all." He laughs and lays down in the other bed

"Oh, silly me." Toothy blushes and turns away in his bed. He hears Splendid's voice again.
"Sounded like a nice dream, though."

"Yes it was a nice dream."

"Well, I'll let you get back to that dream then, goodnight!" Splendid switched off the lamp between him and the room became dark. Toothy listened to him sleeping until he was sure he was asleep, and then let out a sigh of joy, even if what happened was just a dream.

"Goodnight, Splendid." He whispered.


Aw, now ain't that cute?

For those of you who didn't get it, the scene in the grocery store was Toothy's imagination, based on the fear of Homophobes ruining his life. Huh, I feel like Deadliving.

The next chapter will be focusing on Chunky and Petunia, for those of you who still remember that they're in the story.

And for those of you interested, I'd like to advertise another story of mine that I'm putting special attention into, One World. I suppose some of you are sick of hearing about it already, but I'd like to get the word out to any of my fans because that is technically my first Fanfic, written before I came to this site. Plus it's four books long, and I'm putting incredible effort into creating a believable universe.
And while it may not be HTF-centric, Flippy and Flaky are major characters.

So go ahead, click that little link on my name and check it out, I promise you won't be disappointed.

In other news, I'm now eating vegetarian. Not that I have anything against eating meat, it's just very healthy, and soy is surprisingly delicious!

Sorry about the formating, Fanfiction's being a bitch, pardon my French