Chapter 2

-- In the hallway.

Ron- So Ellis, what was that you were writing while the girls were practicing?

Ellis- ( blushing) Oh, nothing, just some boring stuff.

Ron- It can't be as boring as Murphy's class, man! Was it a song or something?

Ellis- Uh, no it was a, well...

Ron- A what?

Ellis- It was a, a poem about, er, for, um... English! Yeah, it's my English homework!

Ron- (skeptically) Yeah... Right.

--The bell rings.

Ellis- Gotta go, dude!

Ron-Whatever, hippo.

--In class.

--Ron slides into the seat next to Kim, who is next to HOLO. Mr. Murphy (the history teacher) walks over.

Mr. Murphy- The tardy bell just rang, young man.

Ron- (trying to portray innocence) Oh? It did?

Mr. Murphy- Yes.

Ron- Are you sure, because I thought it was...

Mr. Murphy- Positive, and spit out your gum!

Ron- Aw come on, dude, it's the last week of school! Cut me a little slack, will ya?

Mr. Murphy- A dollar or a detention. No slack will be cut for slackers! Improve your grade and then we'll see about some slack.

Ron- (with resignation) Okay, I'll try.

--He hands over a dollar.

Mr. Murphy- Very good.

--During a lull in a discussion on Democrats and World hunger...

Kim- (whispering) Ron, why were you so late? You know how much Murph hates tardiness!

Ron- You mean the Smurph? I was trying to get Ellis to tell me what he was writing in his book during your practice.

Kim- Oh, well, did you find out?

Ron- No, he wouldn't tell me anything... Not the truth anyway. Something is definitely up with him. He's been acting weird ever since Mo found the beginning of that list.

Kim- You mean the "Who I Like" list? Totally! I wish we knew who the last few people on it are! I mean, I don't like to pry, but it would be interesting to see.

Ron- Yeah, I know, but Monique is the only one who...

Mindy- (interrupting) Shh, guys! The question is: What were Farmer's Alliances?

Mr. Murphy- Kimberely?

Kim- Well, they were this group of mad farmers who tried to lower the price to ship their crops and get farmers out of debt and stuff, right?

Mr. Murphy- Why yes, yes they were! Ah, Ronald, would you please answer the second question?

Ron-Um, I, uh, well, the truth is Mr. Murphy, I just can't see the board well enough to read the question.

Mr. Murphy-The question is not on the board; it's in your book!

Ron-Oh, yeah, duh, what was I thinking?

--He slaps the side of his head with his hand.

Mr. Murphy- Obviously that talking to your friend during my class is "no big" as you say.

--Ron and Kim both blush.

Ron-Oh, he he, sorry about that. I needed to get that the homework from Kim because I didn't hear you say it.

Mr. Murphy-That's because I haven't given it out yet.

Ron- Well, there must be some logical explanation for...

--At that moment Tara, a pretty blond girl on the cheer squad with Kim, walks in.

Mr. Murphy- Yes Tara, do you need something?

Tara- Not really, I'm just turning in some extra credit reports.

--She looks past Mr. Murphy at Ron. (She likes to flirt with him) She smiles and he blushes in response.

Mr. Murphy- Well, if that's all you need, you should be getting back to class...(he hasn't caught any of the weird looks she's given Ron)

Tara-Oh, I need to borrow a stapler, too.

--Of course, to get to the stapler she had to walk right past Ron.

Mr. Murphy- Oh, well, of course.

--As She walks by, Tara drops a note on Ron's desk. The note reads:

"Hey Ronny, you are such a loser! Ha ha, just stop bugging me, okay? Love,Tara"

Ron- (sputtering) what, what did I ever do to her?

--HOLO had been reading over his shoulder.

HOLO- Oh, you probably just drooled over her favorite pink shoes while you were worshiping the ground she walks on.

Ron- I do not!

Kim- Aw, come on Ron, we already know how much you like her.

--The bell rrriiinnggss and they all head to second period.

Kim- (sarcastically) It's off to Number Theory we go!

HOLO- Not me, I have Calculus, ugh!

Kim- Don't Ron and Mo have that, too?

HOLO- Yeah, but Mindy and Ellis have Algebra 3.

Kim- That is so weird that we all have math at the same time.

HOLO-Yeah, okay, see you Kimmy! (Kim hates being called Kimmy, so that's what HOLO calls her every once in a while)

--Kim only sticks her tongue out in reply...