The Adventures at Hobbiton High
This story is the adventures of highschool hobbits, wether it be sad or happy..This story was put together by various members of the fansite Ringquest. We had to change things a bit..Things may by dark at time, but they get through it..
We use some characters from LotR, as you can see. I know they are of varying ages and that Merry doesn't live in Hobbiton, but for the story's purposes they're nearly the same age and live in the same area. Who knows, maybe the Shire only has one high school! (this all takes place before the ringstuff) The story starts of Off light and happy, but soon gets darker..
Background:
Hobbiton High... not a large place, not a tall place. Classes were held casually under large oak trees on sunny days- which of course, prevailed in Hobbiton. Hobbit students set down in the cool grass, with their books and pencils in the shade...
When the schoolmaster rings the bell, the hobbit students gather in the auditorium (a valley) for a school assembly, As they... well, assemble, the hobbit cheerleaders, about 7 of them, are already cheering their way into the day. If they see a hobbit boy they know, they'll do a little cheer for them... (Hey, Sammie, you so fine... etc.) These cheerleaders have knee- length skirts and only light hair on their feet that makes the hobbit boys blush. They have little pom-poms and dresses and bows with the Hobbiton High School colors : yellow, green, and brown. The school mascot is the pony (and we're working on the fight song!).
Characters:
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Peregrin Took
Gregar Cotton (bully, Rosie's older brother)
Rosie Cotton (cheerleader)
Elanor Cheesethrower (cheerleader)
Daisy Bumblefoot (cheerleader)
Celia Rosewater (cheerleader)
Susie Brandybuck (cheerleader + Merry's younger sister)
Samantha Rumtea (cheerleader)
Lily Roseleaf (head cheerleader)
Bilbo Baggins
Miss Rumspiller (a teacher)
Who likes who?
Rosie has a crush on Sam, who of course, has a crush on Rosie, but neither of them know this. Little Daisy Bumblefoot has a crush on Merry, and Celia Rosewater, who is younger, has a crush on Pippin. Samantha Rumtea has a crush on Frodo. Aww, hobbitlove is in the air! But unfortunately, Frodo has a crush on Lily Roseleaf instead of Samantha. Poor Samantha! But Merry has a crush on Samantha.
Intro: Daisy decides to go to the fall dance with Pippin to make Merry jealous. Sam, of course, is too shy to ask Rosie, and Rosie wouldn't go with anyone but Sam. So Frodo's trying to get the two to speak their minds! Gregar Cotton knows about Sam's crush on Rosie, and is insanely protective in a bad way, being a mean bully.
Chapter 1
The old oak creaked in the breeze of a summer's day. Eleven young hobbits, probably in their twenties, sat leisurely in the tree's shade upon the grass. Meriadoc Brandybuck shook the hair out of his eyes and frowned, leaning across to his friend and whispering.
"Frodo, if we have elevensies at eleven, and afternoon tea at three in the afternoon, why don't we call it 'threesies'? Or for that matter, why don't we call elevensies 'morning crunchies'? Why-"
"Meriadoc? Do you have something important to share with the rest of the class?"
"Well, ma'am, I was thinking, it's been awhile since luncheon, and my belly's fair rumbling." Three or four hobbits giggled. Frodo covered his mouth. After a silence, Miss Rumspiller looked back down at Merry, and said: "There's three hours left until school is dismissed...then you can have afternoon tea..."
"That's another thing, Ma'am..." Pippin interrupted. "If tea is at three o'clock...why dont they call it threesies instead of afternoon tea?" The class burst into a humming cloud of giggles and jolly hobbit laughter.Miss Rumspiller stood in front of the class impatiently. After a few minutes, it was apparent she would get positively out of sorts if the class didn't settle down. Frodo stood and motioned with his hands for the class to simmer down. The laughter ceased after some time and Frodo sat down.
"As I was about to say, Meriadoc Brandybuck, if you find yourself hungry between luncheon and tea time, perhaps you should bring something with you..."
Pippin pondered this for a moment. "Or, add another mealtime between luncheon and tea..."
There were resounding "Here Here"'s across the room...The teacher merely rolled her eyes, half amused, half frustrated and went back to her lesson.
School was dismissed later that day. Sam waited under a particularly old willow tree for Frodo, so they could walk home together as usual. Frodo was always late. Just as Sam settled down onto the dirt, crossing his legs and leaning his back against the tree, he heard a familiar and beloved voice.
"Why, hullo there Sammie!"
Sam looked up quickly with wide eyes and a fluttery heart. Before speaking, he opened and closed his mouth several times soundlessly.
"Hullo Rosie..." he finally said. Just then, Frodo was on his way up the hill to the old tree.He saw Sam talking with Rosie and smiled, deciding not to interrupt them just yet. Then, behind him, came Pippin and Merry. Merry munched on an apple and looked at Sam. Pippin burst into a high-pitched giggle. "Jolly old Sam's getting some female attention, eh? Should we go see what he's up to?"
"No," Said Frodo quietly. "Let's leave them for a bit. 'tis rude to interrupt, Peregrin." He said, mock-sternly. He then headed down a trail to the creek near the clearing where they had their lessons. Frodo sat on a rock and let his feet soak in the creek. He smiled as if he was washing away the cares of the world to forever leave them behind.
Frodo relaxed. A bit too much, perhaps, as he slipped into a sleep. The water glided over his feet, a mesmerizing cool massage that every hobbit should have once in a while. The breeze blew, the sun shone, and the creek carried still, but Frodo was elsewhere in his mind. He had stepped into his own dreamworld. He was imagining himself walking hand in hand with his dream girl, Lily Roseleaf. Frodo smiled in his sleep. Lily... she was so perfect...
All of a sudden, there was a big *SPLASH!* !
He awoke with a start. Pippin and Merry bust into uncontrollable giggles. Frodo sat up and shook out his now drenched, curly locks.
"Very funny!" he said indignantly. Then he set about wringing out his soaked clothing, all the while muttering to himself. "The nerve! Dumping water all over a poor sleeping hobbit... Why I oughtta..."
Just then, three distinct echoes of feminine hobbit laughter were heard coming down the lane. Frodo started.
"Lily!" he gasped as he fell face-first into the stream, making Merry and Pippin laugh all the harder. "Hey there Pip," came a voice from behind.
Pippin whirled around. "Ce-Ce-Celia," he stammered. "Um... nice day, i'nt it?"
Celia laughed, "That it is."
Pippin looked down at the ground and drew circles with his toe in the dirt.
Celia blushed and glanced at the sky. Frodo, having somewhat recovered himself, had ducked behind a tree. Lily and Samantha Rumtea could be seen coming down the lane, sharing biscuits from their lunch baskets and laughing every so often at the antics of some bird or squirrel. Merry stood to the side of the trail, trying not to laugh, and smirking at Frodo and Pippin's situations.
The silence was finally broken by Sam. He stumbled up to Frodo behind the tree, grinning like an idiot, his heart still all in flutters.
"Oh, Frodo, I've just had-"
"Shhh, Sam, quiet, would you! Pretend I'm not here," Frodo muttered. Sam, too flustered to do much of anything, just stumbled along the way up to Merry.
"Oh, Merry, I've just had-" just then Merry spotted Rosie join Lily and Samantha.
"Ooohhh, there, boy, look! Isn't that Rooosie?" Merry grinned widely.
"It is, Merry-"
"Your girlfriend?" Merry teased. Sam flushed scarlet and was silent for a few moments.
"She's not my gir-"
"Oh hi, Rosie. Lily, Samantha," Merry acknowledged the trio stopping in front of them. When he said 'Samantha', he winked at her.
"Hey there, Merry," said Lily. "Hullo, Sam."
"Meriadoc! Are you teasing Sam?" Rosie said. "Why look, you've made him turn scarlet! I don't right know what you go on about to him, and I don't figure I want to... but I ought to tell your mother on you!" She stared at him disapprovingly.
"Ain't no trouble, Rosie, I was just pullin' his leg a bit." Then, addressing all the girls, he queried, "Any of you fine ladies snagged a date to the fall dance yet?" He glanced quickly at Samantha to see if he could glean anything from her face, but was careful not to show any expression himself. He was dismayed to see that she almost seemed not to have heard him, and was looking intently at the large tree beside the road, with something of a quizzical look on her face.
"Why no," Rosie said, making eyes at Sam. "Not one of the handsome boys around here has asked me yet."
Sam flushed even more.
"Good grief," Merry muttered under his breath. "Any redder and he'd pass for a ripe tomato."
Then Lily spoke up. "I'm, uh... not going. That is, unless one of you lazy boys gets up to ask me right! Don't know how to treat a girl, the bunch of you!" Lily leaned over to Rosie, whispering, "None like your Sam, eh?" to which Rosie blushed herself.
"I'd sure like to be asked by someone," Samantha sighed, still staring ahead.
"Well, Samantha-" Merry was cut short when Gregar Cotton stepped up.
"Samwise? Meriadoc? Are you troubling these girls here?" Rosie looked at him in disgust.
"Greg... go away."
"Come on, Rosie, it's time to go home." Gregar appeared to not have heard Rosie's words, as he turned to leave with Rosie at his arm, and Samantha and Lily right behind them.
Merry and Sam looked at each other.
"She digs me," Merry said with a nod. Sam just sighed.
"Oh, Merry, I wish so much that I could ask Rosie to the dance. But I just can't. It wouldn't be proper. She's such a nice, pretty girl, and here I am the son of a gardener, destined to be a gardener myself, I shouldn't hope..."
"Oh, buck up there chap," Merry said, clapping Sam heartily on the back. "She's taken a liking to you. I saw the looks she was giving you."
Sam flushed again. "You think so?" he asked. "You really think so?"
"Yes, I do," Merry told him, and meant it.
About then Frodo emerged from his hiding place, and muttered: "Well, Merry, a right mess you've made of me!" He looked down the road after the girls. "I'll never get Lily to go with me..."
"Lily Roseleaf?" Sam asked. "Good luck getting her! She's the head of the cheerleading squad..."
"Not without good reason," Frodo sighed. He looked up at Sam, who was now looking wistfully at Rosie's back. "Well Sam, let's go home." He turned, and Sam followed him.
"Buh-bye, Merry!" Sam called.
"Tomorrow, boys!" Merry called back. As he began to walk home himself, Pippin jumped excitedly in front of him, waving something in his face. It was a pamphlet, which read: "Attention, hobbits of Hobbiton High!
On the noon of the morrow's day,
Hobbiton High will be holding a
quad-annual pep assembly!
Follow our cheerleaders as they
lead us down the road to school pride.
Remember, the fall dance is in but two weeks!
So snag your date soon!
Make someone a lucky hobbit." Merry groaned. "Not an assembly! Those are always soooooooo long." He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.
"Boot Merry," Pippin squealed excitedly, "the cheerleaders ere gonna be perfomin'!"
Merry looked up sharply. "That means.." He and Pippin looked at each other and grinned. "..Pom-poms!" they said together, nodding confidently.
"Maybe I'll ask one of them," Pippin said thoughtfully. Merry laughed.
"Pippin! You're too young for love..."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
The next day, at the assembly, a hundred or so hobbits were already strewn around the small amphitheater valley at the core of the high school. The cheerleaders, smiling, cheered for anyone they fancied as they came into the assembly. Right then, they were merely dancing. Susie nudged Rosie.
"Look, it's my brother. Let's ignore him, please!" Rosie laughed and nudged Lily, the head cheerleader to start a cheer. The cheerleaders all looked up in unison to see Merry- his little jaw might as well be on the floor, for the admiring' he was doing- and they smiled their dazzling smiles. They threw their pom- poms in the air.
"Ohhh... (Hit it girls!) Oh Merry, you so fine, you so fine you blow my mind, hey Merry! *clapping* Hey Merry!" Merry's face broke out into a wide grin and he whistled.
"Yeah girls! Oh, you know it, baby! Yeah, that's right!" Soon to follow Merry was Pippin. Meanwhile, Sam was sitting by himself on the edge of the crowd. He stole occasional glances at Rosie, who was dancing as energetically as ever in the center of the formation, but couldn't bring himself to stare. He felt it was indecent to gawk like Merry and Pippin were. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Sam." It was Frodo. "What are you doing over here all alone? Come join the fun!"
"Aww, I think I'll just stay here and enjoy my apple juice," he said, holding up the earthenware mug he'd been sipping from. But Frodo didn't miss the glance Sam stole over his shoulder at the smiling, dancing Rosie. "Oh no you don't!" he said with a grin, taking hold of Sam's arm and pulling him to his feet. "Up you go! You're going to come sit with me."
Sam tried to protest, but Frodo cut him short. "Perhaps Rosie'll do a little cheer for you," he added with a wink, which only made Sam blush (as he was quite prone to doing when Rosie was the topic of conversation). "And anyway," Frodo continued, "the assembly will be starting up any time now, so come along."
Pippin, meanwhile, was reveling in the pool of attention the cheerleaders had he and Merry swimming senselessly in. He had been pulled onto the stage with the cheerleaders and was now cheering as well, waving a borrowed pom-pom in the air and laughing merrily.
Frodo smiled as he took his seat. "See? Merry and Pippin are letting go and having fun..."
"You know, you're not up there either, Frodo..." Sam cut in without thinking. "Not to be disrespectful." He said blushing. Frodo just smiled kindly and said: "I'm here to make sure you don't run off and let someone else ask that pretty Rosie to the Fall Dance."
"Oh Frodo," Sam protested. "You know I could never ask her. 'Wouldn't be right. I just..." "Nonsense!" Frodo cut in. But before he could say more, Principal Crabtree was calling the boisterous hobbits to order (with quite a stern look given to Pippin).
"Our first order of business," he began, when all had finally become quiet, "Is the decorating committee for the fall dance. I have placed your own Frodo Baggins in charge of the committee." The Bagginses were notorious for their parties, and with Frodo in charge, not only splendid decorations, but Gandalf's sensational fireworks were no doubt going to be provided. "Are there any volunteers? Or shall Mr. Baggins recruit you?" He said, eyeing the high school crowd. Merry and Pippin practically hooted, their hands wildly in the air.
"Ooh, me, me!"
"Anyone... else?" Principle Crabtree inquired.
"All right, I pick Merry and Pippin!" Frodo said, rolling his eyes. "And Sam!" Sam smiled, glancing at Rosie. Rosie, who had been "glancing" at him, looked away quickly, blushing the most beautiful color Sam had ever seen. He sighed, and began to daydream. Having taken care of the decorating committee, Principal Crabtree continued to the next item on his list: another cheerleading display! The one before had been but a welcoming practice, but it was now time for them to put on the real show. "...I am proud to introduce the Hobbiton High cheerleaders!" the principal said. A rousing cheer waved through the hobbits, and the band (consisting of a flute, a lute, and a small hand drum) began to play. The cheerleaders leapt to their feet, and the crowd cheered heartily. Merry and Pippin were eating it up. Frodo wasn't blind to the glances Rosie and Sam kept stealing at each other. "Just look at her, Sam," he prodded him. "She's perfect for you!"
"You really think I have a chance?" Sam asked doubtfully.
"Sam," Frodo sighed. "If you don't ask that girl to the dance, I'll lock you in together at Bag End until you do!"
"Frodo! That wouldn't be right... oh, I don't know if I even want to go. I'd be too- why, Rosie would never go with me anyhow," Sam said, making up his mind again. They both looked back up at the cheerleaders, seeing their big, beautiful smiles. Frodo sighed. Sam whimpered.
"Merry! Pippin!" called little Daisy Bumblefoot after the assembly. The two hobbits looked up and smiled, making their way over.
"Hi there, Daisy!" Pippin said cheerfully.
"Hullo, Daisy... where's Samantha?" Merry said, straining his neck to search the crowd.
"Oh... well, she's gone away home with Rosie, Greg, and Lily."
"Oh, well then I suppose I ought to get going too," Merry said, disappointed.
"Wait, Merry!" Pippin said.
"About the fall dance-" Daisy cut in. Merry's mind was elsewhere. "Mer- oh, drat it all. Pippin, would *you* like to go with me?" she said defiantly, loud enough for Merry to hear clearly.
"It would be my pleasure, Miss Bumblefoot!" cried Pippin. "In fact, I was jus' thinking to myself, 'Pip, you best get yerself a date to that dance soon.' But I guess you've solved my problem for me, Miss Daisy."
Daisy smiled, and stole a glance at Merry. He was looking the other direction.
"Ahem," Celia coughed.
No reaction.
"So, uh, Merry," she finally chirped. "Who are *you* going to go with?"
"A what?" Merry suddenly snapped out of his trance. "Oh, right, the dance."
Celia frowned.
"I don't suppose I've given it much thought," he lied.
"Well," Celia continued, "You best give it as much thought as you can! I'm looking for a date myself," she said wistfully.
"Come on, Sam," Frodo said as he began to trudge down the path to their homes later that day. Sam followed in silence. He broke it after several minutes.
"Frodo, did you mean what you said about... about locking me n Rosie up in Bag End?" Frodo had a hoot.
"Oohh, Sam, I enjoy your com- WOAH!!!!" Sam and Frodo gasped and stumbled backwards, for they had seen four shadowy figures at the end of the lane. Sam gasped, as chills traveled from the tips of his hairy toes up his spine to the tips of his wavy hobbit hair..."Sir, isn't that...."
"Gregar Cotton..." Frodo shuddered...
Sam stammered with fear and dread... "You don't think he'd dare harm us in front of his sister, do you, sir?"
Frodo hesitated. "Those...those people are much too large to be girls...and I don't see long hair or skirts..."
"Oh sir, they kept me locked up in the outhouse for nearly three hours a few days ago...them bullies never did think of no-one else..."
Frodo hesitated. "We'll take a shortcut home...'cross the fields...come on." He said, wandering of the road quietly, to avoid Gregar and his mischief-making friends. As Sam stumbled after him, he tripped and fell, spewing his books about noisily. When he looked up, he saw Gregar looking down in his face with a smirk.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Half-wise Gamgee!" Gregar and his friends hooted with laughter. Sam took note that a pressed rose from his garden had slipped out of one of his books as it fell, and he reached for it. Gregar stepped on his hand, and picked it up. His expression turned sour. "A rose, eh? And what do you think-"
"Have off, and leave us alone!" Frodo piped up. "Sam doesn't need any of your bullying today, or any day!"
"Oh, doesn't he?" Gregar sneered. "What about the time he kept my sister talking an hour after school was out? She was late getting home and therefore late cooking us dinner. And what about all the times I've caught him eyeing her when he thought no one was looking? Hmm?"
Sam blushed and stammered, "I... I... I didn't mean..."
"Leave him alone!" said Frodo in a warning tone.
"Oh yeah?" Gregar turned to the other hobbit. "And if I don't? What then?" He took a step forward.
But just then, Rosie and Elanor came running down the path, seeing Gregar and his friends leaning threateningly over Sam and Frodo. Rosie yelled at them.
"Greg! What in the name of the Shire are you doing?!"
"These boys are looking for a little trouble, they are! Why, this here's Sam Gamgee!"
"I know that!" Rosie cried. "Sam, Sam, are you all right?" she asked, helping him to his feet and brushing him off.
"Rosie-" Sam eyed Gregar, "-I was thinkin'... if maybe..." Frodo looked at him encouragingly, "... maybe you'd... well..." "Rosie!" Gregar bellowed before Sam could get any further. "I think it's time we were getting home." With that he grabbed his sister by the wrist and began striding off in the opposite direction. Rosie looked back over her shoulder and gave Sam an apologetic look. Sam sighed.
"Don't mind him," Frodo said, trying to comfort his friend. "He's just a bully. You can talk to Rosie at school tomorrow."
"I suppose," Sam replied. But his voice was full of doubt. What little confidence he'd worked up had been shattered.
The two hobbits continued toward their homes, Sam with his head hung dejectedly, and Frodo with his arm around his friend's shoulders.
This story is the adventures of highschool hobbits, wether it be sad or happy..This story was put together by various members of the fansite Ringquest. We had to change things a bit..Things may by dark at time, but they get through it..
We use some characters from LotR, as you can see. I know they are of varying ages and that Merry doesn't live in Hobbiton, but for the story's purposes they're nearly the same age and live in the same area. Who knows, maybe the Shire only has one high school! (this all takes place before the ringstuff) The story starts of Off light and happy, but soon gets darker..
Background:
Hobbiton High... not a large place, not a tall place. Classes were held casually under large oak trees on sunny days- which of course, prevailed in Hobbiton. Hobbit students set down in the cool grass, with their books and pencils in the shade...
When the schoolmaster rings the bell, the hobbit students gather in the auditorium (a valley) for a school assembly, As they... well, assemble, the hobbit cheerleaders, about 7 of them, are already cheering their way into the day. If they see a hobbit boy they know, they'll do a little cheer for them... (Hey, Sammie, you so fine... etc.) These cheerleaders have knee- length skirts and only light hair on their feet that makes the hobbit boys blush. They have little pom-poms and dresses and bows with the Hobbiton High School colors : yellow, green, and brown. The school mascot is the pony (and we're working on the fight song!).
Characters:
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Peregrin Took
Gregar Cotton (bully, Rosie's older brother)
Rosie Cotton (cheerleader)
Elanor Cheesethrower (cheerleader)
Daisy Bumblefoot (cheerleader)
Celia Rosewater (cheerleader)
Susie Brandybuck (cheerleader + Merry's younger sister)
Samantha Rumtea (cheerleader)
Lily Roseleaf (head cheerleader)
Bilbo Baggins
Miss Rumspiller (a teacher)
Who likes who?
Rosie has a crush on Sam, who of course, has a crush on Rosie, but neither of them know this. Little Daisy Bumblefoot has a crush on Merry, and Celia Rosewater, who is younger, has a crush on Pippin. Samantha Rumtea has a crush on Frodo. Aww, hobbitlove is in the air! But unfortunately, Frodo has a crush on Lily Roseleaf instead of Samantha. Poor Samantha! But Merry has a crush on Samantha.
Intro: Daisy decides to go to the fall dance with Pippin to make Merry jealous. Sam, of course, is too shy to ask Rosie, and Rosie wouldn't go with anyone but Sam. So Frodo's trying to get the two to speak their minds! Gregar Cotton knows about Sam's crush on Rosie, and is insanely protective in a bad way, being a mean bully.
Chapter 1
The old oak creaked in the breeze of a summer's day. Eleven young hobbits, probably in their twenties, sat leisurely in the tree's shade upon the grass. Meriadoc Brandybuck shook the hair out of his eyes and frowned, leaning across to his friend and whispering.
"Frodo, if we have elevensies at eleven, and afternoon tea at three in the afternoon, why don't we call it 'threesies'? Or for that matter, why don't we call elevensies 'morning crunchies'? Why-"
"Meriadoc? Do you have something important to share with the rest of the class?"
"Well, ma'am, I was thinking, it's been awhile since luncheon, and my belly's fair rumbling." Three or four hobbits giggled. Frodo covered his mouth. After a silence, Miss Rumspiller looked back down at Merry, and said: "There's three hours left until school is dismissed...then you can have afternoon tea..."
"That's another thing, Ma'am..." Pippin interrupted. "If tea is at three o'clock...why dont they call it threesies instead of afternoon tea?" The class burst into a humming cloud of giggles and jolly hobbit laughter.Miss Rumspiller stood in front of the class impatiently. After a few minutes, it was apparent she would get positively out of sorts if the class didn't settle down. Frodo stood and motioned with his hands for the class to simmer down. The laughter ceased after some time and Frodo sat down.
"As I was about to say, Meriadoc Brandybuck, if you find yourself hungry between luncheon and tea time, perhaps you should bring something with you..."
Pippin pondered this for a moment. "Or, add another mealtime between luncheon and tea..."
There were resounding "Here Here"'s across the room...The teacher merely rolled her eyes, half amused, half frustrated and went back to her lesson.
School was dismissed later that day. Sam waited under a particularly old willow tree for Frodo, so they could walk home together as usual. Frodo was always late. Just as Sam settled down onto the dirt, crossing his legs and leaning his back against the tree, he heard a familiar and beloved voice.
"Why, hullo there Sammie!"
Sam looked up quickly with wide eyes and a fluttery heart. Before speaking, he opened and closed his mouth several times soundlessly.
"Hullo Rosie..." he finally said. Just then, Frodo was on his way up the hill to the old tree.He saw Sam talking with Rosie and smiled, deciding not to interrupt them just yet. Then, behind him, came Pippin and Merry. Merry munched on an apple and looked at Sam. Pippin burst into a high-pitched giggle. "Jolly old Sam's getting some female attention, eh? Should we go see what he's up to?"
"No," Said Frodo quietly. "Let's leave them for a bit. 'tis rude to interrupt, Peregrin." He said, mock-sternly. He then headed down a trail to the creek near the clearing where they had their lessons. Frodo sat on a rock and let his feet soak in the creek. He smiled as if he was washing away the cares of the world to forever leave them behind.
Frodo relaxed. A bit too much, perhaps, as he slipped into a sleep. The water glided over his feet, a mesmerizing cool massage that every hobbit should have once in a while. The breeze blew, the sun shone, and the creek carried still, but Frodo was elsewhere in his mind. He had stepped into his own dreamworld. He was imagining himself walking hand in hand with his dream girl, Lily Roseleaf. Frodo smiled in his sleep. Lily... she was so perfect...
All of a sudden, there was a big *SPLASH!* !
He awoke with a start. Pippin and Merry bust into uncontrollable giggles. Frodo sat up and shook out his now drenched, curly locks.
"Very funny!" he said indignantly. Then he set about wringing out his soaked clothing, all the while muttering to himself. "The nerve! Dumping water all over a poor sleeping hobbit... Why I oughtta..."
Just then, three distinct echoes of feminine hobbit laughter were heard coming down the lane. Frodo started.
"Lily!" he gasped as he fell face-first into the stream, making Merry and Pippin laugh all the harder. "Hey there Pip," came a voice from behind.
Pippin whirled around. "Ce-Ce-Celia," he stammered. "Um... nice day, i'nt it?"
Celia laughed, "That it is."
Pippin looked down at the ground and drew circles with his toe in the dirt.
Celia blushed and glanced at the sky. Frodo, having somewhat recovered himself, had ducked behind a tree. Lily and Samantha Rumtea could be seen coming down the lane, sharing biscuits from their lunch baskets and laughing every so often at the antics of some bird or squirrel. Merry stood to the side of the trail, trying not to laugh, and smirking at Frodo and Pippin's situations.
The silence was finally broken by Sam. He stumbled up to Frodo behind the tree, grinning like an idiot, his heart still all in flutters.
"Oh, Frodo, I've just had-"
"Shhh, Sam, quiet, would you! Pretend I'm not here," Frodo muttered. Sam, too flustered to do much of anything, just stumbled along the way up to Merry.
"Oh, Merry, I've just had-" just then Merry spotted Rosie join Lily and Samantha.
"Ooohhh, there, boy, look! Isn't that Rooosie?" Merry grinned widely.
"It is, Merry-"
"Your girlfriend?" Merry teased. Sam flushed scarlet and was silent for a few moments.
"She's not my gir-"
"Oh hi, Rosie. Lily, Samantha," Merry acknowledged the trio stopping in front of them. When he said 'Samantha', he winked at her.
"Hey there, Merry," said Lily. "Hullo, Sam."
"Meriadoc! Are you teasing Sam?" Rosie said. "Why look, you've made him turn scarlet! I don't right know what you go on about to him, and I don't figure I want to... but I ought to tell your mother on you!" She stared at him disapprovingly.
"Ain't no trouble, Rosie, I was just pullin' his leg a bit." Then, addressing all the girls, he queried, "Any of you fine ladies snagged a date to the fall dance yet?" He glanced quickly at Samantha to see if he could glean anything from her face, but was careful not to show any expression himself. He was dismayed to see that she almost seemed not to have heard him, and was looking intently at the large tree beside the road, with something of a quizzical look on her face.
"Why no," Rosie said, making eyes at Sam. "Not one of the handsome boys around here has asked me yet."
Sam flushed even more.
"Good grief," Merry muttered under his breath. "Any redder and he'd pass for a ripe tomato."
Then Lily spoke up. "I'm, uh... not going. That is, unless one of you lazy boys gets up to ask me right! Don't know how to treat a girl, the bunch of you!" Lily leaned over to Rosie, whispering, "None like your Sam, eh?" to which Rosie blushed herself.
"I'd sure like to be asked by someone," Samantha sighed, still staring ahead.
"Well, Samantha-" Merry was cut short when Gregar Cotton stepped up.
"Samwise? Meriadoc? Are you troubling these girls here?" Rosie looked at him in disgust.
"Greg... go away."
"Come on, Rosie, it's time to go home." Gregar appeared to not have heard Rosie's words, as he turned to leave with Rosie at his arm, and Samantha and Lily right behind them.
Merry and Sam looked at each other.
"She digs me," Merry said with a nod. Sam just sighed.
"Oh, Merry, I wish so much that I could ask Rosie to the dance. But I just can't. It wouldn't be proper. She's such a nice, pretty girl, and here I am the son of a gardener, destined to be a gardener myself, I shouldn't hope..."
"Oh, buck up there chap," Merry said, clapping Sam heartily on the back. "She's taken a liking to you. I saw the looks she was giving you."
Sam flushed again. "You think so?" he asked. "You really think so?"
"Yes, I do," Merry told him, and meant it.
About then Frodo emerged from his hiding place, and muttered: "Well, Merry, a right mess you've made of me!" He looked down the road after the girls. "I'll never get Lily to go with me..."
"Lily Roseleaf?" Sam asked. "Good luck getting her! She's the head of the cheerleading squad..."
"Not without good reason," Frodo sighed. He looked up at Sam, who was now looking wistfully at Rosie's back. "Well Sam, let's go home." He turned, and Sam followed him.
"Buh-bye, Merry!" Sam called.
"Tomorrow, boys!" Merry called back. As he began to walk home himself, Pippin jumped excitedly in front of him, waving something in his face. It was a pamphlet, which read: "Attention, hobbits of Hobbiton High!
On the noon of the morrow's day,
Hobbiton High will be holding a
quad-annual pep assembly!
Follow our cheerleaders as they
lead us down the road to school pride.
Remember, the fall dance is in but two weeks!
So snag your date soon!
Make someone a lucky hobbit." Merry groaned. "Not an assembly! Those are always soooooooo long." He rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically.
"Boot Merry," Pippin squealed excitedly, "the cheerleaders ere gonna be perfomin'!"
Merry looked up sharply. "That means.." He and Pippin looked at each other and grinned. "..Pom-poms!" they said together, nodding confidently.
"Maybe I'll ask one of them," Pippin said thoughtfully. Merry laughed.
"Pippin! You're too young for love..."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
The next day, at the assembly, a hundred or so hobbits were already strewn around the small amphitheater valley at the core of the high school. The cheerleaders, smiling, cheered for anyone they fancied as they came into the assembly. Right then, they were merely dancing. Susie nudged Rosie.
"Look, it's my brother. Let's ignore him, please!" Rosie laughed and nudged Lily, the head cheerleader to start a cheer. The cheerleaders all looked up in unison to see Merry- his little jaw might as well be on the floor, for the admiring' he was doing- and they smiled their dazzling smiles. They threw their pom- poms in the air.
"Ohhh... (Hit it girls!) Oh Merry, you so fine, you so fine you blow my mind, hey Merry! *clapping* Hey Merry!" Merry's face broke out into a wide grin and he whistled.
"Yeah girls! Oh, you know it, baby! Yeah, that's right!" Soon to follow Merry was Pippin. Meanwhile, Sam was sitting by himself on the edge of the crowd. He stole occasional glances at Rosie, who was dancing as energetically as ever in the center of the formation, but couldn't bring himself to stare. He felt it was indecent to gawk like Merry and Pippin were. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Sam." It was Frodo. "What are you doing over here all alone? Come join the fun!"
"Aww, I think I'll just stay here and enjoy my apple juice," he said, holding up the earthenware mug he'd been sipping from. But Frodo didn't miss the glance Sam stole over his shoulder at the smiling, dancing Rosie. "Oh no you don't!" he said with a grin, taking hold of Sam's arm and pulling him to his feet. "Up you go! You're going to come sit with me."
Sam tried to protest, but Frodo cut him short. "Perhaps Rosie'll do a little cheer for you," he added with a wink, which only made Sam blush (as he was quite prone to doing when Rosie was the topic of conversation). "And anyway," Frodo continued, "the assembly will be starting up any time now, so come along."
Pippin, meanwhile, was reveling in the pool of attention the cheerleaders had he and Merry swimming senselessly in. He had been pulled onto the stage with the cheerleaders and was now cheering as well, waving a borrowed pom-pom in the air and laughing merrily.
Frodo smiled as he took his seat. "See? Merry and Pippin are letting go and having fun..."
"You know, you're not up there either, Frodo..." Sam cut in without thinking. "Not to be disrespectful." He said blushing. Frodo just smiled kindly and said: "I'm here to make sure you don't run off and let someone else ask that pretty Rosie to the Fall Dance."
"Oh Frodo," Sam protested. "You know I could never ask her. 'Wouldn't be right. I just..." "Nonsense!" Frodo cut in. But before he could say more, Principal Crabtree was calling the boisterous hobbits to order (with quite a stern look given to Pippin).
"Our first order of business," he began, when all had finally become quiet, "Is the decorating committee for the fall dance. I have placed your own Frodo Baggins in charge of the committee." The Bagginses were notorious for their parties, and with Frodo in charge, not only splendid decorations, but Gandalf's sensational fireworks were no doubt going to be provided. "Are there any volunteers? Or shall Mr. Baggins recruit you?" He said, eyeing the high school crowd. Merry and Pippin practically hooted, their hands wildly in the air.
"Ooh, me, me!"
"Anyone... else?" Principle Crabtree inquired.
"All right, I pick Merry and Pippin!" Frodo said, rolling his eyes. "And Sam!" Sam smiled, glancing at Rosie. Rosie, who had been "glancing" at him, looked away quickly, blushing the most beautiful color Sam had ever seen. He sighed, and began to daydream. Having taken care of the decorating committee, Principal Crabtree continued to the next item on his list: another cheerleading display! The one before had been but a welcoming practice, but it was now time for them to put on the real show. "...I am proud to introduce the Hobbiton High cheerleaders!" the principal said. A rousing cheer waved through the hobbits, and the band (consisting of a flute, a lute, and a small hand drum) began to play. The cheerleaders leapt to their feet, and the crowd cheered heartily. Merry and Pippin were eating it up. Frodo wasn't blind to the glances Rosie and Sam kept stealing at each other. "Just look at her, Sam," he prodded him. "She's perfect for you!"
"You really think I have a chance?" Sam asked doubtfully.
"Sam," Frodo sighed. "If you don't ask that girl to the dance, I'll lock you in together at Bag End until you do!"
"Frodo! That wouldn't be right... oh, I don't know if I even want to go. I'd be too- why, Rosie would never go with me anyhow," Sam said, making up his mind again. They both looked back up at the cheerleaders, seeing their big, beautiful smiles. Frodo sighed. Sam whimpered.
"Merry! Pippin!" called little Daisy Bumblefoot after the assembly. The two hobbits looked up and smiled, making their way over.
"Hi there, Daisy!" Pippin said cheerfully.
"Hullo, Daisy... where's Samantha?" Merry said, straining his neck to search the crowd.
"Oh... well, she's gone away home with Rosie, Greg, and Lily."
"Oh, well then I suppose I ought to get going too," Merry said, disappointed.
"Wait, Merry!" Pippin said.
"About the fall dance-" Daisy cut in. Merry's mind was elsewhere. "Mer- oh, drat it all. Pippin, would *you* like to go with me?" she said defiantly, loud enough for Merry to hear clearly.
"It would be my pleasure, Miss Bumblefoot!" cried Pippin. "In fact, I was jus' thinking to myself, 'Pip, you best get yerself a date to that dance soon.' But I guess you've solved my problem for me, Miss Daisy."
Daisy smiled, and stole a glance at Merry. He was looking the other direction.
"Ahem," Celia coughed.
No reaction.
"So, uh, Merry," she finally chirped. "Who are *you* going to go with?"
"A what?" Merry suddenly snapped out of his trance. "Oh, right, the dance."
Celia frowned.
"I don't suppose I've given it much thought," he lied.
"Well," Celia continued, "You best give it as much thought as you can! I'm looking for a date myself," she said wistfully.
"Come on, Sam," Frodo said as he began to trudge down the path to their homes later that day. Sam followed in silence. He broke it after several minutes.
"Frodo, did you mean what you said about... about locking me n Rosie up in Bag End?" Frodo had a hoot.
"Oohh, Sam, I enjoy your com- WOAH!!!!" Sam and Frodo gasped and stumbled backwards, for they had seen four shadowy figures at the end of the lane. Sam gasped, as chills traveled from the tips of his hairy toes up his spine to the tips of his wavy hobbit hair..."Sir, isn't that...."
"Gregar Cotton..." Frodo shuddered...
Sam stammered with fear and dread... "You don't think he'd dare harm us in front of his sister, do you, sir?"
Frodo hesitated. "Those...those people are much too large to be girls...and I don't see long hair or skirts..."
"Oh sir, they kept me locked up in the outhouse for nearly three hours a few days ago...them bullies never did think of no-one else..."
Frodo hesitated. "We'll take a shortcut home...'cross the fields...come on." He said, wandering of the road quietly, to avoid Gregar and his mischief-making friends. As Sam stumbled after him, he tripped and fell, spewing his books about noisily. When he looked up, he saw Gregar looking down in his face with a smirk.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Half-wise Gamgee!" Gregar and his friends hooted with laughter. Sam took note that a pressed rose from his garden had slipped out of one of his books as it fell, and he reached for it. Gregar stepped on his hand, and picked it up. His expression turned sour. "A rose, eh? And what do you think-"
"Have off, and leave us alone!" Frodo piped up. "Sam doesn't need any of your bullying today, or any day!"
"Oh, doesn't he?" Gregar sneered. "What about the time he kept my sister talking an hour after school was out? She was late getting home and therefore late cooking us dinner. And what about all the times I've caught him eyeing her when he thought no one was looking? Hmm?"
Sam blushed and stammered, "I... I... I didn't mean..."
"Leave him alone!" said Frodo in a warning tone.
"Oh yeah?" Gregar turned to the other hobbit. "And if I don't? What then?" He took a step forward.
But just then, Rosie and Elanor came running down the path, seeing Gregar and his friends leaning threateningly over Sam and Frodo. Rosie yelled at them.
"Greg! What in the name of the Shire are you doing?!"
"These boys are looking for a little trouble, they are! Why, this here's Sam Gamgee!"
"I know that!" Rosie cried. "Sam, Sam, are you all right?" she asked, helping him to his feet and brushing him off.
"Rosie-" Sam eyed Gregar, "-I was thinkin'... if maybe..." Frodo looked at him encouragingly, "... maybe you'd... well..." "Rosie!" Gregar bellowed before Sam could get any further. "I think it's time we were getting home." With that he grabbed his sister by the wrist and began striding off in the opposite direction. Rosie looked back over her shoulder and gave Sam an apologetic look. Sam sighed.
"Don't mind him," Frodo said, trying to comfort his friend. "He's just a bully. You can talk to Rosie at school tomorrow."
"I suppose," Sam replied. But his voice was full of doubt. What little confidence he'd worked up had been shattered.
The two hobbits continued toward their homes, Sam with his head hung dejectedly, and Frodo with his arm around his friend's shoulders.