Thanks to "spinelli woods, esquire", "Mistress of Balmoral", "lilvickiryan", and "goofy monkey child" for reviewing! It means a lot that you guys are reading and enjoying it especially since the story is a lot (LOL) longer than most of the others, and that you guys are patient with the story. I know the story is long, but I want to take you guys in a certain, careful direction with the story. Again, thanks!
Chapter Twelve: The Plan and The Rescue
Location: It's around 7:30 PM, Ms. Finster's classroom
The snow storm was not letting up as everyone in Third Street and around town had hoped for. Incredibly, the snow just kept falling and the snow height was around 13 feet. Gretchen found out from Galileo that a hurricane which planned to hit the eastern coast of Texas had made a dramatic change in direction that headed for Louisiana and Arkansas, and with a huge cold front from the north heading toward Arkansas too.... it explained the unbelievable snow blizzard.
Mikey told the gang about Stacey's condition, and they found out about her detention through Randall, yet they couldn't help her out just now since Ms. Finster was trying to 'entertain' her students through several activities.
Ms. Finster grumbled, "Okay you little hoodlums now it's time for 'Guess the Capital'!" Ms. Finster bored the heck out of the class by playing jitterbug songs, hangman with stars from the 1950s, and playing trivia games from stars in the past the kids had no idea that existed.
Ms. Finster pulled out a flashcard from the box and asked the class, "What's the capital of the Canadian providence of Saskatchewan?"
Vince tiredly questioned to the gang, "Well....any of you guys having fun yet?"
Spinelli mumbled, "I rather just sleep through all of this!"
T.J. was busy writing up a plan on a piece of paper trying to figure a way to get Stacey's CD player back and to free her. He scratched his head and scribbled several times. He was frustrated and complained, "This whomps! I need to get to my locker to pull this off...but with Finster around..."
Gretchen was enthusiastic to answer Ms. Finster's question and slyly answered, "The capital of Saskatchewan is Regina."
Ms. Finster complained, "That's right Gretchen...as always.... (sigh)..." She silently grumbled, "When will this cursed snow storm end?!? My feet can't stand for some dang ice age to start..."
Vince threw a paper ball at Gretchen's head and when she whipped her head around, Vince whispered, "C'mon Gretch! We need your help for this plan T.J. is going to pull off."
Ms. Finster picked up another card and asked, "Ashley A, what's the capital of Florida?"
Ashley A who was busy filing her nails, sarcastically said, "Like I don't know...and who cares! But it's definitely an awesome place to go to!"
Ashley B, who was painting her fingernails, brightened up adding, "Totally! The beach, the warm weather...the Latino guys!"
The Ashleys squealed altogether, "Scandalous!" and continued giggling.
Ashley Q sighed, "It's a shame that we have to like lather ourselves like grease monkey Detweiler to get skin protection!" The Ashleys continued to laugh.
Ashley B rudely commented, "Being with these six losers and the snitch for the class is bad enough....but all day now....I'm getting like the biggest migraine!"
Ashley B noticed that Ashley T wasn't laughing as hard and questioned, "Like what's wrong Ashley T?!?" Ashley T kept the whole catfight incident quiet from them and placed her hair upright so that it wasn't visible that parts of her hair had been pulled off.
Ashley T looked around the classroom and noticed everyone looking at her, and she saw Ms. Finster, she dismissed it, "Like let's move on okay?!?"
Ashley Q concerned pressed on, "You have to totally tell us! That's what we Ashleys are here for!"
Ashley T crossed her arms and sighed harshly, "Look...I don't like want to tell you now!"
Ms. Finster trumpeted into the conversation, stating, "Then I WILL!" Ashley T put her head down in embarrassment. Ms. Finster announced, "Little Ms. Tomassian here was involved in a heated catfight with Ms. Reluve of Mr. Johnson's class. Thankfully I ended this street alley behavior fight!" The class heard about it and so did the gang, but it was difficult to believe knowing how extremely shy, and introverted Stacey was.
Ashley A noticed something peculiar with Ashley T's hair and questioned, "What happened to your hair? It's like totally not what you styled for this morning. I mean like you have a few hairs not in perfect place!"
T.J. saw an opportunity revealed before him. He quickly whispered to Gretchen, "Gretch! Say you have to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW!"
Gretchen saw the look of urgency in T.J.'s eyes and she just went along with it. Gretchen cut off the Ashleys and asked Ms. Finster, "Ms. Finster I have to go to the bathroom, NOW! It's an emergency!"
Before Ms. Finster could give Gretchen permission to leave, she quickly got up and took a note T.J. wrote down for Gretchen to do at the bathroom. The classroom door slowly creaked shut.
Ashley Q huffed at Gretchen's disturbance, and walked up to Ashley T's hair and released the clips on her hair bun unknowingly exposing the horror. Ashley Q, Ashley B, and Ashley A all screamed in fright while the rest of the class laughed hysterically. Ashley T's hair had three big spots of ripped hair on the top of her head. Ashley T snatched the hair clips from Ashley Q and quickly placed her hair clips back on. Ashley T sank down in her chair and her face turned pink in embarrassment.
Vince laughed, "Aw man! That was too good!"
Ashley A worried, rushed on, "We totally have to make you over! This is like too traumatic for any Ashley to go through!"
Ashley Q requested, "Ms. Finster can we take Ashley T to the girls' room?"
Ms. Finster declined, "Sorry Ashleys but Gretchen is using the restroom."
Ashley A, B, and Q all screamed, "WHAT?!? But Ms. Finster!"
Ms. Finster explained, "No one can go to the restroom while another student is using..." Suddenly, Gretchen came into the classroom and winked at T.J. to signal that the plan was set. Ms. Finster changed her decision, "Fine Ashleys you four can go now! BUT MAKE IT SNAPPY!" The four Ashleys ran to the restroom to fix Ashley T's appearance or at least to try to make the best of it.
Gretchen silently said, "Everything is in place....all we have to do is wait for them to use the toilet."
Gus questioned T.J., "What do you have planned?"
T.J. teasingly replied, "You'll see..."
After about 10 minutes, Ashley Q came screaming into the classroom while Ms. Finster was trying to file her toenails as the class sat around daydreaming.
Spinelli commented, "Dang! It's like seeing Godzilla trying to file its claws!"
Ashley Q hollered, "Eww! Like Ms. Finster, there are remnants coming up! Eww! Eww! Eww!"
Ms. Finster put on her high-heeled shoes and angrily got up roaring, "WHAT THE HECK?!? Take me there immediately!" Ms. Finster and Randall followed Ashley Q to the girls' restroom.
The gang looked at T.J. and looked at him strangely. Vince questioned, "That was your plan, Teej?"
T.J. rolled his eyes, saying, "Hey it was the best I could do..." T.J. got up and looked through the classroom door window and saw that Ms. Finster and Randall were far away, down the hallway. T.J. snuck into Ms. Finster's desk, while the class nervously watched him, he pulled open several drawers and finally found Stacey's CD player and headphones. He immediately closed the drawers back, carefully making sure nothing was out of place, and eventually stuffed the CD player into his desk.
The class waited for several minutes and Ms. Finster didn't show up. The class quietly waited for Ms. Finster to come back expecting her to be crabby and upset toward them after the events with the restroom. After a few more minutes, the class began to talk silently among themselves.
T.J. curiously asked, "Uh...Gretchen....how big did you make the toilet clog?"
Gretchen assured the gang, "Don't worry, I made the clog guaranteed to effectively flood..."
Vince cocked an eyebrow and pressed on to Gretchen, "How much.....toilet paper did you use?"
Gretchen stopped blinking, and rethought about her actions, and she bit her lower lip admitting, "Uh....4 rolls..."
The gang silently yelled, "4 ROLLS!?!"
Gretchen confessed, "I'm sorry guys....I just wanted to make sure it did clog because T.J. seemed so intent on making the plan to work."
Ms. Finster finally came and slammed the door open. She steamed silently to Gretchen, "Grundler I suggest you come with me....NOW!"
T.J. felt bad and guilty for getting Gretchen in trouble and whispered to her as she was walking with Ms. Finster, "Man...I'm really sorry Gretch... I didn't mean to..."
The class went to the doorway to see what was happening as Ms. Finster took Gretchen down the hallway to the girls' restroom. The Ashleys were across the hallway from the girls' restroom shrieking seeing the water that was creeping closer to them. Ms. Finster projected her voice at Gretchen, "Now look what YOU have done! Is this one of your little childish pranks that you little hoodlums made?" The toilet in the girls' restroom that Gretchen wanted to clog was gushing out water like a fountain and the water was creeping slowly and outwardly from the girls' restroom like a puddle slowly consuming the hallway. Fortunately, it wasn't sewage water and only clean intake toilet water; Gretchen actually stuffed a lot of toilet paper in the toilet and did not actually 'use' the toilet. The Ashleys tried to tip-toe their way out of the puddle's path, but then Ashley A slipped and fell onto the puddle on her butt.
Ashley A screamed, "Like eww! Yuck! I have to go to a new restroom and change quick!" The Ashleys left the scene and the rest of the class joined up with Gretchen and Ms. Finster and they couldn't believe the sight! It seemed like one of those movie scenes in Titanic where the water was eerily coming closer...and closer to them.
Vince cried out in disbelief, "Whoa! Who would of thought four toilet rolls would of have done so much?!?" T.J. and his gang slapped their mouths trying not to believe that Vince actually said that out loud.
Ms. Finster sneered and turned back saying, "What did you just say LaSalle?!?"
A crowd of faculty and students began to form around the scene and before Vince could reply back to Ms. Finster....Hank walked up to Ms. Finster with Randall tagging along (since Randall went to get him.) Ms. Finster was about to let Vince have it, "Why this is despicable! You, LaSalle, and Grundler and all your friends have crossed the line! Now I'll really give you delinquents a punishment YOU'LL NEVER FOR---" Ms. Finster's eyes caught the lovely site of Hank and her voice weakened, "FORR...oh....Hi Hank...hee hee.... my...it's lovely to see you again!"
Hank's eyes bulged out and yelled, "WHY THIS IS.....No time for chit-chat Muriel...I'm on a mission..." The water around the entrance of the girls' bathroom was two inches deep and the puddle in the hallway had a width of 15 feet and was forming small waves from the water rushing underneath the bathroom door. The puddle made the hallway uncrossable unless one was willing to walk in an inch deep of water. Hank walked into the girls' bathroom with his knee high black boots and carefully, yet with purpose, made his way inside the girls' restroom...that awaited his fate.
Ms. Finster started to tear up, "That's one of the bravest things I've ever seen him do...risking his hygiene to save the school from flooding....how chivalrous..." She blew her nose on her handkerchief and watched Hank go inside the chamber of water... (Inside the restroom it was already one foot deep.)
T.J. looked around and saw that, Ms. Finster and the bigger forming crowd around them had gazed upon what was before them, and knew it was a great opportunity to help Stacey. T.J. elbowed to Spinelli and silently talked with the gang, "Now's the time to help Stacey out guys!"
Gus surveyed the scene and questioned him, "Are you sure Teej, I mean what if Ms. Finster notices us gone?"
Gretchen felt badly for causing so much trouble and sighed, "Yeah, I don't feel so good after causing this huge predicament..."
T.J. took another glance at Ms. Finster and tried to comfort them, especially Gretchen, "Don't worry guys! Knowing how good Hank is and how much Ms. Finster loves him I doubt she'll remember.... and besides Gretch, you did this to help a kid out. And the way how Mikey described Stacey, I think we all need to help her out."
The gang slowly walked away from the crowds so that they wouldn't be noticed, especially by Randall. T.J. went back into the classroom and took Stacey's CD player and headphones from his desk and hid them in his right coat pocket. When they approached the stairway, Vince and T.J. looked back and they turned their heads to see Randall slip and fall into the puddle. Lawson belted out in laughter and told the students "Look everyone! Randall's butt touched toilet water! AH HA! HA!" The students laughed uncontrollably as Ms. Finster tried to silence them.
Vince quietly commented to T.J., "Aww...that was a classic." He saw T.J. smile slyly and smugly questioned, "Hey Teej, you knew that this would all work out in the end...right? I mean something big enough to distract the school....and a prank where Hank would be needed that would distract Ms. Finster... C'mon now, you knew this all along..."
T.J. made a small laugh and looked up humbly saying, "Well, okay....yeah I knew....but's let go before anyone sees us leaving!" Vince and T.J. quickly caught up with the rest of the gang as they made a search to find where Stacey was upstairs...
Chapter Thirteen: Is This Really Happening?
Location: On the second floor of Third Street, around 8 PM
T.J. and his gang did not have to watch themselves to make sure nobody noticed them since the school was too busy preoccupied with the flooding on the first floor. They looked through each classroom door window to see if Stacey was inside or not. Finally, they checked the Student Study Center and saw Stacey there gazing into the outdoor window at the seemingly endless snow storm. Spinelli tried to open it but it was locked. Stacey couldn't see who was at the other side of the door and she tensed up thinking it was Randall returning.
Spinelli grunted, "Hey Gretch, you got a paper clip or somethin'?" Gretchen looked around the floor since she didn't have one and handed her a paper clip she found on the floor.
Spinelli bended the clip in several ways and placed it into the keyhole and in a few turns "CLICK!" The door was unlocked. The gang opened the door and walked into the Study Center finding Stacey.
Stacey was taken back somewhat finding T.J. and his gang, instead of Randall, here with her. Stacey took her right sleeve (since it wasn't ripped off, as her left one was at her elbow) and padded her cheeks making sure her tear trails weren't obvious. She faked smiling, and pretending she was okay, said, "Oh! A Hi! How did you guys get in?" The gang couldn't stop staring at Stacey's left sleeve, which was partially ripped off, and especially the four deep scratch marks that were appearing under their bandage since, Stacey cried so much that, the adhesiveness of the bandage was peeling off.
Stacey giggled nervously wondering what the gang was looking at and spoke a little louder, "Is something wrong guys?" She padded her right cheek and felt her bandage half-way coming off. She tried pressing the edges of the bandage onto her skin so that it would stick back on but it would stay on only for a few seconds and the wounds would reveal themselves again.
Spinelli shook her head realizing the fight between Ashley T and Stacey was true. She hastily began, "Yeah, yeah don't worry about the door...what happened to your face? Did you really get into a fight with Ashley T?!?"
Stacey slowly started, "Uhhh...."
Gus went up to Stacey's left side and asked, "What happened to your left sleeve? Was that from the fight too?"
Vince went up to her and questioned, "What was the fight about?"
Stacey's eyes frantically saw the six of them looking for some answers and she bit her tongue trying to think of something, but she tried to brush it aside. Stacey tried to smile but her eyes gave away that she was hiding something deep inside her. She whimsically said, "It's nothing...really... You know...just something stupid..."
Spinelli snapped, "Right Stacey! C'mon what was it?!? I mean if it was just nothing...how in the hang could you have gotten those scratch marks? I mean it looks like a tiger tried to dig into your face!"
Stacey tried to emphasize, "Guys! Really! I'm fine! It's just something dumb that happened between me and Ashley T!"
T.J. was suddenly reminded of the CD player in his right pocket and softly spoke, "Uh....Stace? This is yours right?" T.J. presented Stacey the CD player and headphones casually.
Stacey just stared at it infinitely, trying to believe that it was actually there in front of her because at her previous school once the faculty confiscated something from a student...it was never to be seen again. Stacey's eyes started to become moist and she stopped herself from going emotionally further. She smiled and faced the rest of the gang. She warmly said, "Thanks guys... I really appreciate it. I don't know what to say....I thought I would never see it again." Her 'doorway' to her emotional escapism was back and she was overjoyed knowing how much it comforted her. The gang noticed that Stacey truly valued it, but they didn't question her on why or anything more about it. T.J. could sense that Stacey cherished the CD player just as much as he valued his 'Mr. Monk Monk' stuffed animal.
Gus tried to change the topic, in the moment of silence, "What are you doing here Stacey for such a long time?"
Stacey sighed, "I'm just serving my detention time....waiting for Randall to return...I've been here for over 2 and a half hours..." Her stomach started to grumble and make noises indicating that she was hungry.
Gretchen added, "And your stomach seems to have noticed as well..."
Stacey explained, "Well, Randall said he would inform me about my dinner arrangements after my detention..."
T.J. felt bad that Stacey didn't have anything to eat since the school had already served dinner to the rest of the school. T.J. optimistically began, "Don't worry Stacey...we'll go to the cafeteria and find something for you to eat...but we'll treat you to the really good food!" The gang was getting to follow T.J. leave.
Stacey interrupted them, "Uh...how?!? I mean won't the lunch ladies notice us sneaking around?!?"
Spinelli teased Stacey, "You don't know T.J. very well...do you Stacey?"
Stacey just stared, not knowing what to expect. The gang left the room and Stacey caught up, taking her backpack, but hesitated for a moment before leaving the room also. She was not only nervous about leaving her detention, but leaving with T.J. and his gang. Stacey worried that she might be caught up in some huge prank against her...or that she would be blamed for it, but she took a deep breath and slowly followed behind them yet her mind was plaguing her about her past horrible history on making friends.
The seven of them walked down the hallway to the first floor and was able to sneak into the ventilation system through an old storage room. None of the faculty really paid attention to the seven of them since the flooding near the girls' restroom was becoming worse and worse. The gang casually and calmly traveled through the maze of vent ducts to the cafeteria kitchen while Stacey's heart was hyper with fear since she never got into trouble and worried about T.J. and his gang of friends with every crawling step she made. She knew that she did not know them at all really and felt that she was taking an enormous emotional, possibly devastating, risk.
They arrived at the cafeteria kitchen and fortunately none of the lunch ladies were there since they finished all of their cooking for the school about an hour ago. T.J. popped the vent screen open and the six of them crawled out with Stacey tagging behind. They walked up to the huge restaurant-sized refrigerator with a sign labeled 'The Good Food' that towered above them. The gang gathered around it anticipating something delicious and delectable inside for them to eat since their dinner wasn't too appetizing. Stacey took one small step observing the kitchen all around and met up with the gang.
T.J. announced, "Here Stacey is where the real food is!" T.J. opened the heavy refrigerator door and held it open with his right hand and welcoming Stacey with the left.
Stacey looked at all six of them suspiciously. She tried to innocently request, "Why don't you guys go first? Then I'll choose something..."
Mikey warmly replied, "But you have not eaten yet! Please dear Stacey choose anything you like!"
Stacey looked back into the refrigerator and there were cupcakes, milk, juices, hamburgers, cheeses, hot dogs, fruit, and an entire selection of anything Stacey could want. Stacey looked at the warm and innocent smiles from the gang, but that wasn't how she was interpreting it. She had flashbacks of how similar this scene looked whenever it came to peer-pressure back at her old school. She could close her eyes for an instant, and envision it.
Spinelli impatiently teased Stacey, "What's wrong Stacey, can't make up your mind or somethin'?"
Stacey opened her eyes and saw Spinelli from the corner of her eye. Her mouth tensed up trying to think of what to choose and there was no turning back now. But she saw something... she decided to pick one of those small individually packed, serving size yogurts. She knew that it would not be noticeable if one was gone and she sighed in relief.
Gus questioned, "You're just choosing yogurt?"
Spinelli cracked, "Yeah, what are you on a diet or somethin'?"
Stacey just looked around and innocently said, "Uh...let me finish this and then I'll see....you know ...better to not waste food."
The gang just shook it off and they each grabbed something to eat. Stacey carefully found a plastic spoon while Mikey and T.J. warmed hamburgers for both of them. Gus, Gretchen, Vince, and Spinelli decided to share a half-gallon size of Rocky Road ice cream. The seven of them soon sat on the kitchen floor and began talking about the girls' restroom prank. Stacey wasn't paying attention to the conversation and she looked at the yogurt as if she was committing a crime. She slowly ripped the cover seal off and she ate one morsel of yogurt at a time. She noticed how much fun the six of them were having and she wished she could be a part of it, but she didn't know, with her years of betrayal, if she was making a right decision by resisting to get involved or her desperate hope was making her think she was paranoid.
T.J. was laughing about the prank, but he noticed Stacey wasn't paying attention. He looked toward Stacey and invitingly said, "I'm sorry Stacey...I didn't mean to ignore you out of the conversation, but how are you doing? Do you want anything else?"
Stacey just gave a fake smile, "No, I'm fine...." She had only eaten one-fourth of her yogurt cautiously yet her stomach really wanted to eat something solid.
Vince asked, "What's your full name Stacey?"
Stacey was somewhat reluctant but she knew that she was already in trouble and decided to reveal it anyways. She answered, "Stacey Shanice Reluve. My last name is pronounced as....Ray-Loouuuv..."
Gus complimented, "That's kind of a cool name! It kinda flows..." Gus then ate another spoonful of ice cream.
Stacey just looked back down at her cup of yogurt...looking at it with weak yet somewhat terrified eyes. The gang looked at each other with concern and heavy eyes implying their worry about Stacey. The gang couldn't believe that Mikey said how Stacey had given up on friendship by singing the line, 'I've tried and tried that friendship thing for the last time.' It seemed unthinkable that a kid could be led to those types of feelings. They were at a loss of words of what to say but then T.J. bravely spoke, "Hey Stace! Um...how would you like to join our classroom?"
Stacey emotionally weak yet surprised asked, "Really? Why?" The other five from the gang were curious as to why also but they remained silent waiting for something from T.J.
T.J. smiled, and trying to delicately find the right words, "Well...a...I thought you could join all of us." T.J. knew that gaining Stacey's trust was going to be long and difficult and thought, that if, maybe Stacey was around them....maybe she could be a bit more comfortable with them. T.J. normally would have complimented and flattered Stacey, but she wasn't an ordinary kid, he noticed how nervous she was around them and knew that compliments this early would make her even more suspicious and uncomfortable.
Stacey thought about it for a few seconds and felt that at least anything would be better than Mr. Johnson's classroom, but she realized that it would be impossible since kids couldn't request a new teacher without office approval. She blinked a few times and asked, "But a...how will you do that? I mean don't you need some type of faculty approval?"
T.J. slyly grinned, "Leave that to me... C'mon guys let's take visit to Menlo's." The seven of them threw away their garbage and followed T.J. to the cafeteria doors and then to the hallways of Third Street. The seven then walked inside to the secretary's office, but Ms. Lemmon soon rushed past them as she went to discuss and inform the crowds at the girls' restroom about what was going on now.
Menlo was frantically answering several phone calls at a time and typing away at his computer trying to settle several parents' calls, ask the local plumber on what to do with the flooding problem, waiting for the city to answer his line to know about snow removal, and the news about the weather. The snow storm was creating havoc for Menlo as he was trying to take care of several problems at once.
Menlo was on the phone, "Yes Mrs. Lawson I know its 8:30 PM and the snow storm is bad....but we have to keep the kids inside!" He pushed another button on the phone keys' keyboard for another line, he snapped, "When are nitwits at city hall going to answer my call!" He sighed harshly, and answered another line, he tried to reassure another parent, "I know Mr. Japeski that we have to find sleeping materials for the students and the janitors are working on it!" He reluctantly answered line 17, "Look I told you Mrs. Shierat FOR THE SEVENTH TIME!! We can't worry about your kid's underwear needs with this snow storm clobbering us! If you have a problem with that, I suggest YOU take your constipated mouth to his underwear!" He slammed the phone down onto the receiver as 15 lights kept flickering in red indicating the callers put on hold...and more lights were lighting up! Menlo tiredly looked up to the gang and sighed, "OH WHAT DO YOU WANT?!? Can't you see that I have enough whining already?!? I've taken 7 Tylenol Migraine pills and they aren't as effective as they claim to be! Huh! Wasting my money!"
Stacey whispered to T.J.'s ear while biting her tongue, "Maybe this isn't such a good time..." Stacey looked down on the floor worried about annoying such an authoritative figure at Third Street.
The gang wasn't prepared to hear 'sleeping materials' and Vince boldly inquired, "Sleeping Materials?!? What are you talkin' about Menlo?!?"
Menlo exhausted, sternly answered, "Because of the continuous severity of the storm...it has been decided that you kids will sleep here at Third Street."
The seven of them yelled out, "WHAT?!?"
Menlo tired of explaining, as he did with hundreds of people probably, began, "Look! This snow storm has crippled every effect mode of transportation outside of this building! The plow trucks can't keep up! They are even getting stalled! They have to use a blow torch just to get emergency vehicles through the neighborhood! The last thing this town needs is to be bothered with your whining, pathetic childish demands!" He reclined back in his chair and tried messaging his forehead; all of this was becoming so unbearable for him.
Gus slowly questioned, "A BLOW TORCH?!?"
Menlo sat up and sarcastically agreed, "Yes...a blow torch! You rambling students will have a curfew at 9:30 PM tonight! All of you are expected to be in your classrooms by then and your teacher will inform you about the sleeping arrangements. In fact, Principal Prickly is expected to make an announcement at 9 PM."
T.J. slightly smiled, "Hey! It's later than my parents would normally send me to bed!" The rest of the gang agreed and cheered softly.
Menlo sighed again and softly said, "Now what was it you guys wanted?" T.J. was about to say something but Menlo cut him off. "Excuse me T.J.", Menlo interrupted. Menlo tapped his fingers in aggravation over the plumber repairmen not responding. He then shouted when the line was answered, "Look you imbecile! I've spoken with Bob, Fred, and some other butt scratcher down there! And you guys have kept on putting me on hold! Now I suggest you start ---" The guy on the other line put Menlo on hold again. Menlo threw the phone back on the receiver and cursed out, "Idiots! Wasting my time with their lack of efficiency!"
T.J. prudently began, "Uh Menlo...I wanted to ask if you could make Stacey change classes and join ours?"
Menlo got up and shouted, "WHAT!?! NOW?!? IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS?!?"
The gang became discouraged knowing that Menlo was extremely swamped with the matters of school because of the snow storm, but before they could leave, Menlo took another look at Stacey and called them back, "Okay...I'll take care of it...BUT....Stacey has to say here with me while you pests leave!"
Spinelli hollered at Menlo, "Pests?!? I'll show you, you disgusting office worm!"
Stacey noticed Menlo impishly looking at her and then stood in front of Spinelli. Stacey explained, "Look Spinelli....I'll take care of him." Spinelli fumingly followed the gang down the hallway while giving Menlo an acidic look.
After they left the room, Menlo scheming, applauded, "Good job Stacey....or should I say Renee?"
Stacey stood completely still and rotated her head back to face Menlo. With deep interest, she asked, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?"
Menlo repeated arrogantly, "I said, 'Good job Stacey...' or should I call you Renee Radick?"
Chapter Fourteen: Less Places To Hide
Location: The Secretary's Office, just moments afterward
Stacey just gazed mindlessly into Menlo. "What?!? But how did you know that?"
Menlo sighed and smirked, "It was simple...I was looking though the signatures of students who entered into the Winter Holiday Dance Party and of course no one named 'Renee Radick' goes here, but the penmanship looked familiar. When I looked through some students files, I found out that your signature and 'Renee's' had the same handwriting."
Stacey looked to the left trying to avoid looking at Menlo. She was disappointed that not being noticed did not work, and remarked, "Well...it was worth a try..."
Menlo finished, "And a pitiful one if I may say so." Stacey just sighed deeply and closing her eyes wishing this conversation would end.
Stacey broke a momentary silence, "So...what do you want me to do then?"
Menlo quickly looked around and carefully locked the entrance door making sure no would enter. Stacey looked at Menlo in confusion. Menlo whispered, "I need you to do me a favor.....if you do this for me....I'll place you in Ms. Finster's class..."
Stacey crossed her arms, and it was dubious that the favor was something small. She willingly opened up, "What is the favor?"
Menlo's hands were becoming sweaty and his throat was dry because he never asked for something like this ever. Menlo feeling parched, "Um...I need you to help me woo Ashley A..."
Stacey's eyes bulged out, and she quickly put her hand on her mouth as she tried to control her snickering. Her mouth was vibrating from the laughter, and she tried to seriously speak, "That's really crazy boy..."
Menlo sternly faced Stacey and assertively defended, "I'm very serious! I've noticed you on the dance floor in the gymnasium and I want you to tutor me on dancing!"
Stacey belted out in uncontrollable laughter. Stacey caught her breath for a second, "You want me...to teach you?!?"
Menlo harshly continued, "Of course! If you don't....your 'dancing alias' will be exposed in the school announcements."
Stacey's laughter was stopped in an instant and she composed herself realizing that Menlo was dead serious. She reminded herself that Menlo did have school administrative power. She cleared her throat and politely started, "Okay...um...but what about your phone calls?"
Menlo dismissively explained, "I'll take care of that now, and you'll wait here, at 10 PM when everyone plans on sleeping....you are coming with me to the library." Menlo paced back to his office desk and Stacey looked around for a seat. She finally found it and waited for the time to pass.
Meanwhile, as the gang walked back to class they heard a lot of yelling and screaming near the girls' restroom. Hank was leaning and pushing on the girls' restroom door with all of his strength with Ms. Finster and another janitor. Amazingly, as the restroom began to flood, more and more of the toilet paper left on the floor was flowing toward the floor drains...eventually clogging them. The girls' restroom door opened only by entering into the restroom and therefore the crack underneath the door could not drain off the accumulating water enough. The water was flowing so uncontrollably and fast that the girls' restroom was now an aquarium filled with toilet water. The metal restroom door was straining and moaning from the high water pressure that wanted to burst out like a geyser.
Hank yelled and grunted, "Jack! Tell those guys downstairs to shut the water off now!"
Ms. Finster viciously roared, "How long does it take those lazy swines down there!?!" She ended with another grunt trying to hold back the increasing and exhaustive pressure against their bodies. Little did they all know that the increasing water pressure and amounts caused all of the sinks and the toilets to flood up as well...
A screw from the hinge of the restroom door shot off like a bullet and lodged itself on a framed picture right underneath the nose of the portrait of Principal Prickly.
The gang all knew that it was a matter of time before the immense amount of water would bust the door down. They quickly walked away from the girls' restroom scene and one boy yelled, "IT'S GONNA BLOW!" The students and faculty that gathered around the restroom were scattering and running all over the place and it was instant chaos.
Ms. Finster shouted to calm the students down, "STAY CALM YOU HOOLIGANS! EGH!" She pressed her back onto the overbearing enormous mounting pressure and with a strained voice, she looked at Hank, "Go and save yourself Hank! So you won't be caught up with this..."
Hank reassured Ms. Finster and being emotionally supportive said, "I won't leave you Muriel...Egh! Ack! Remember that tomato surprise explosion mess at the cafeteria kitchen?!? I couldn't let you be covered with all that mess...that's my job Muriel..."
Ms. Finster started to tear up and she saw Hank hold her hand. He said, "We'll stick through this...."
Ms. Finster whispered the last words before the devastation would really begin, "...together..."
After two seconds, both of the hinges were blasted off and were smashed against the opposite wall and in one splash Hank and Ms. Finster were overcome by a gigantic wave that drowned them. The water bolted out of the restroom and intimidated the scurrying students below it as the huge initial wave rose up eight feet like a tidal wave. The tremendous wave chased the students and sucked them in faster than they could escape from it, causing some of them to collapse on the floor or on one another. The wave was surging toward the gang and the stairway was too far away for them to escape to.
Mikey fearfully looked back while the gang was trying to run away. He yelled, "GUYS, WHAT DO WE DO?!? IT'S GONNA TAKE US ALL!" Mikey kept running as hard as he could but his diaphragm was bothering him with on going pain, causing him to get cramps.
T.J. took a glance behind him while darting away from the wave and saw a mixed bundle of students helplessly floating on the wave, but Hank and Ms. Finster was nowhere to be found. The ominous, all 'kid'-consuming wave barreled toward them closer and closer and was only 15 feet away. He saw Randall getting caught up by the wave and screaming in terror. Out of all of the chaos, he faintly noticed the girls' restroom door floating above the wave that gave him an idea.
T.J. yelled loud enough above the commotion, "Guys! I have an idea!" The water was crashing upon the metal lockers and blasting some of the classroom doors as it raced down the hallway.
Spinelli annoyed yet more tensed up shouted, "What is it, Teej?!?" Her boots were causing her feet to throb in pain, since she was running, petrified of what the wave would do to them.
T.J. hollered back, "We have stop running and then jump onto the broken restroom door!"
The gang, almost hyperventilating, were shocked screaming, "WHAT?!?"
Gretchen added, while breathing irregularly, "Are you suggesting we 'ride' the wave?!? It's almost impossible because.....ugh! Phew!...we have to have the right timing and jump at the right places...ugh!....not to mention the right buoyancy!"
T.J. pleaded, seeing the wave now only 10 feet away, "Guys! We have to! There's no other choice! Start slowing down and at 3 we'll all jump on it!"
The gang knew it was futile to try to out run it or run inside a classroom since all the teachers had locked their doors tightly to prevent water from entering into their classrooms, with their students inside. They couldn't believe they were doing it, but they went from a sprinting speed to a jogging speed and began running backwards. T.J. counted, "1...." The gang saw the menacing wave thrashing it's captured victims (some students and faculty) in the water and they gulped feeling overly horrified of what was to come.
"2...." Gus trembled in fear with the approaching wave that seemed to amplify its height. T.J. doubted himself and his idea, and thought to himself,'Whompin' Bobbula! What did I just do?' as the wave gave a greater sense of fear with each passing microsecond. The gang stared at the wave as if their fates were sealed...never did they keep track of time so meticulously...
T.J. clenched his teeth and ended with, "3...." The gang saw the brutal, oppressing wave only a few feet away and they saw the approaching students and faculty scream wildly and perilously while staring into the gang. A moment that between the gang and the 'captured' knew they were all eventually joining this terrifying ride. The gang all tightly closed their eyes and they all suddenly jumped as high, with as much strength in their legs as they could possible have left, after the energy draining running. They expected a harsh blow on their bodies in their mental darkness as they were momentarily in the air...anticipating... just anticipating…
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To Be Continued…