A/N: Yep, gotta love Norm the genie. I hope he'll be in more episodes in the future. Sarcastic tricksters make fantastic characters! Thanks Terra-Yugi for pointing out the error with Dinkleberg's lines. I've corrected that chapter and reposted it. And yes everyone, lots of Vicky/Chip on the way!
Cosmo: The writer would like to take this time to remind everyone that she has personally re-written all the musical numbers for this play!
Wanda: We're really sorry about this guys.
Me: HEY!
Cosmo: Hi!
Wanda: :nervous laugh: Oops...sorry, didn't see you there.
Me: :glares daggers at Wanda: Everyone's a critic.
:Cosmo poofs into the Hawaiian skirt and fruit basket head wrap get-up.:
Cosmo: And now it's time for the show! Da da da da...da da...da da da da da...da da...DA!
Phantom of the Music Biz: Genie Gypped
Chapter Two: Mr. Bickles's Newest Inspiration
Drizzleboro Community College (one month prior to chapter one)...
True to its name the skies were gray and the day was rainy in the barely existent town of Drizzleboro. School was typical, the minutes dragged by until finally the lunch hour had come and gone. With the morning classes finished it was time for a certain pair of exhausted teens to drag themselves out to the students' parking lot.
"Ugh," griped one young brunette with a deeply tanned complexion and chocolate brown eyes, "I hate these early morning classes. My brain doesn't even kick start until sometime after noon."
"Hey Bri," a carrot top greeted her with a tired moan and droopy pink eyes, "ready to head home?"
"Am I ever," her friend (and roommate) nodded.
"Yo wait up!" a male's voice called from behind.
Glancing back towards the school Bri sighed, "Troy, what the heck is your problem? Can't you see we're tired?"
"This better be good," Vicky warned.
"Well I wouldn't say it's good," Troy answered a bit out of breath from sprinting the whole way down to the mass of parked cars, "the theatrics department called a last minute meeting. Some sort of special guest teacher or whatever."
"So?" Bri demanded with a yawn, "Fill me in on it later man, I was up all night studying for that exam on playwrights we had today."
"It's mandatory that all the drama majors attend," he frowned.
Growling Bri grabbed Vicky by the wrist and started pulling her back towards the school, "Stupid mandatory meetings! C'mon girl, let's get this over with."
"What!" Vicky scoffed, "Why do I have to go? You're the drama major not me."
"Because we drove MY car to school today," Bri reminded her sternly.
"Oh," Vicky sighed in defeat, "right."
Inside the on-campus theatre...
The countless rows of tattered theatre seats in the poorly maintained auditorium were sparsely filled with half-awake, obviously uninterested students. Up on stage a cheerful ebony haired man wearing a red beret traipsed up to the rickety podium and bid hello to the crowd.
"Hi students!" he greeted in a high pitched nasally voice, "My name is Mr. Bickles and I'm originally from Dimmsdale Elementary! I'll be your guest instructor for the next few months and I've decided what better to teach you all about the art of the theatre than to have you all put on a play!"
The students stared up at him in boredom, one or two blinked, someone in the back row coughed. It was safe to say that the only person in the room riveted by Mr. Bickles's announcement was—well—Mr. Bickles.
After getting no response from the exhausted audience he tugged at his bandanna and continued, "Alrighty so, let's get straight to business huh? The play that I've selected for us to perform is my own revised production of The Phantom of the Opera!"
This seemed to spark Bri's attention, she instantly leaned forward from her third row seat exclaiming, "The Phantom of the Opera! I love that play! It's my all time favorite! Gotta adore the musical works!"
Vicky just yawned and rolled her eyes. She had discovered right off the bat that her college roomie's big ambition in life was to become a famous Broadway singer/actress and perform in tons of hit musicals. Posters from various plays, musicals, movies, etc. were plastered all over the walls of their apartment. Personally Vicky couldn't care less about the so-called performing arts. Her goal was simple, get a degree, make enough money babysitting on the side to build up her savings, and by the time she graduated she should have just enough saved up to start construction on Loveable Vicky's Center for Precious Gifts From Above.
It'll be sweet, she smiled while daydreaming about her money-making childcare empire.
Meanwhile Mr. Bickles was informing the drama students about the cast shortage.
"Since this is a small (yet growing) program at Drizzleboro Community College I'm afraid that there just aren't enough of us to put on a decent sized play. But fear not," his countenance brightened once more, "for where there is a will there is a way. And my eager pupils we WILL find a WAY! Even if we have to recruit students from other programs to do so."
The students in the theatre/auditorium exchanged doubtful glances. To be quite honest the theatrics department was somewhat of a joke to the rest of the college. It wasn't—as Mr. Bickles had so naively put it—growing, more like dwindling...and fast.
"This ain't never gonna happen man," Troy's friend and roommate Reggie scoffed, "Nobody here takes this program seriously, so how are we supposed to dig up some real talent in such a short time?"
"Now," Mr. Bickles smiled hopefully, "does anyone know of a candidate—or candidates—who might be willing to volunteer for our little production?"
The room was filled with unenthusiastic murmuring. The four mentioned students all sat back in their seats, Troy and Reggie chillin' in the row behind the girls.
Bri propped her chin on her hand and thought hard for a moment. She's gonna kill me for this, she decided before forcing herself to stand.
"Mr.—ur—Bickles?"
"Ooo...yes young lady?" the teacher seemed relieved. "Do you have a suggestion?"
"Uh yeah," Bri gulped, noting the pink glare she was receiving from the seat beside her, "I nominate my roommate Vicky for an audition."
"Wonderful!" Mr. Bickles exclaimed while Vicky scowled at her 'friend'.
"What are you doing!" she hissed.
"C'mon girl," Bri laughed nervously, "You can sing, I know it. I've heard you in the shower, you've got pipes!"
Vicky's face went bright red when Mr. Bickles called for her to stand and approach the stage. "Hello Miss Vicky," he greeted shaking her hand amiably, "and what major are you taking?"
"Early Childhood Development," she muttered.
"Excellent!" he practically squealed, "People who work with children are naturally even-tempered and fond of public activities. That's why they make excellent cast members!"
A few muffled snickers escaped from the few members of the crowd who'd gotten to know Vicky through Bri. True she wasn't nearly as loathed and feared by the kids at the on-campus daycare as she was by her earlier victims in Dimmsdale but she did have a reputation for making them mind, and putting them to work if they didn't. Tots, pre-schoolers, grade-schoolers, and babies...none dared to cross the fiery redhead's path.
"So now," turning back to the crowd Mr. Bickles inquired, "do we have anyone here in charge of playing the piano?"
"That would be me," a dirty blond haired teen from the fifth row said while waving a hand in the air.
"Great, now would you please come up here and play an excerpt from the opera so we can give our volunteer Miss Vicky a quick audition hm?"
"Sure," he shrugged with a grin. He'd heard of Vicky, she was cute but rub her the wrong way and you were a dead man. This Bickles guy is treading on thin ice and he doesn't even know it.
Mr. Bickles handed the teen boy the appropriate sheets of music then waited for him to begin playing before handing Vicky the new and revised lyrics he'd composed.
"Alright now, don't be nervous." he instructed her in a helpfully annoying manner, "Just take a deep breath and sing what's on the page. And if you should miss a high note don't worry, just keep going til you reach the bottom."
"But I-" the redhead started to object but was cut off by sudden cheering from the crowd.
"Whoo! C'mon girl!" Bri clapped, "You can do it! Blow 'em away!"
"Make me proud honey!" Troy teased elbowing Reggie, "That's my baby girl up there!"
Note to self, she sneered, hurt those three morons the second we're off school grounds.
"Let's hear it sweetie," Mr. Bickles insisted, "Don't be shy, sing out."
Sighing she inhaled and started skimming the page. The lyrics were so lame but she supposed she may as well get this over with.
Picture me
Picture me only
With my name in lights
Sign me
Give me a contract
Fame don't pass me by
Not I.
By now everyone in the theatre had quieted down and started to stare dumbfounded at Vicky and her surprisingly harmonious voice.
"Yo Troy" Reggie whispered.
"Yeah Reg"
"Did you know Vicky could sing"
Grinning in spite of himself Troy shrugged"I guess we all know now dude."
In a bind
pinch, or
corner, you seek
a bright new star
young and free-
if you
ever get
the notion,
Simply call
on me.
The scene changes to a month later...
The theatre has undergone a tremendous transformation. Everything is in place, the seats mended, the stage repaired, a new podium, lots of sets have been created by the arts props department for the play, and Vicky is rehearsing on stage.
All the polls are in
my voice is
purely pristine
my image an enchanting
flawless teen-
So if
you have
a role then
stop and
picture me...
Preview all the parts
I've played and starred
Don't dwell on competition
They're all has-beens...
Picture me,
Picture me singing
raking in
the dough.
Envision me,
a vocal sensation
All the products
I'd endorse.
Don't let this chance
pass you by
a rare opportunity,
Picture all that
My skills could do-
And as
my managers
think, you'll
get a percentage
too...
Up in the newly restored manager's box Troy hastily clipped on his mic before singing his lines.
Who can that be?
Not my sweet Vicky
Way to go!
It seems like ages
Since I last saw her
Now I'm certainly glad
That I kept her number
Yes I remember her!
Troy sighed with relief after finishing his solo, now it was back to Vicky.
All the polls are in
my voice is
purely pristine
my image an enchanting
flawless teen-
So when
you need
a born star
just stop and
picture
me...!
Back at the Dimmsdale City Dump...
A disguised Yugopatamian prince named Mark Chang rushed over to his cloaked ship with a mouthful of garbage and panicked when he saw the radar screen.
"Oh no!" he gasped, grime and auto parts flying from his mouth, "The royal vessel! Mother and Father must be on their way to retrieve me! I fear that they wish to take me back to Yugopatamia and force my marriage to the hideous warrior princess Mandi! That I cannot allow!"
Swallowing the disgusting 'delicacy' he pressed a button on his cloaking device and switched from an attractive Earth boy to a dreamy Earth teen. Really all it involved was a slight alteration to his crimson-eyed, ebony-haired, baggy clothes and backwards cap human disguise.
"There!" he exclaimed happily admiring himself in the reflection of his ship's glass dome, "Now no one will be the wiser. I must seek out my beloved Vicky first. Mother and Father will surely try to track her down in order to discover the location of my hideout. I shall not let any harm befall my bodacious Earth babe. Besides..." he batted his eyes dreamily, "she ROCKS!"
The dome to the alien spacecraft popped open allowing the alien to climb inside. Moments later his ship shifted into what resembled a cool, highly tripped out (or whatever hip young lingo you'd prefer), sports car.
"I'm off!" he announced speeding out of the dump with the cruise control set and an onboard navigation guide locked in on Vicky's bio signature. "Fear not Vicky, your one true love is on his way!"
Inside a bus driving down a winding road just outside of Dimmsdale...
"Don't worry Vicky," Tootie beamed staring out the window now in her 'special operative' form, "I'm on my way!"
Sulking beside her Norm sat dressed in a large tan trench coat glaring at the back of the seat in front of them. "Ya know," he muttered in open annoyance, "you could've just wished us there Agent Clueless."
Her smile faded as she sat back against the seat and crossed her arms (just like Norm), "No way, Cupid warned me not to trust you. I'm not making any wishes. So if you insist on tagging along then you'd better stop complaining and get used to doing things without magic."
"Says the girl who just used a rose to age six years." he countered smugly.
Growling to herself Tootie slumped down so that she now fully resembled the position of her aggravated companion.
Norm smirked, Misery loves company. This kid's a real hard case but I've cracked tougher. It's just a matter of finding out what she wants so that I can exploit her deepest desires and turn Turner to toast! Mwuhahaha...
Cloudy Falls, Chip has just finished up his last concert of the summer-long tour there...
Emerging from the coliseum the delicious teen with the dazzling smile stretched his arms and legs before staring dejectedly at the tour bus.
It would be another long ride crammed inside with Tony the profit-seeking manager and Mimi the eccentric fan girl personal assistant that Vicky had so thoughtfully recommended as her replacement.
Speaking of Vicky, he was really starting to miss her. It'd been well over a month and the phone calls and emails were starting to get sparse. He'd tried to tell himself that she was just busy with college right now but every once in a while the thought that maybe she'd met some other guy there would cross his mind and make his heart sink.
No way, she'd never do that to me. he told himself trying to dismiss the unpleasant ache in his chest. Vicky loves me. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder right?
"OHCHIP!" a high pitched singsong voice called out.
The pop singer cringed; Mimi had caught up with him again. At least that's the way it goes for me.
"Ah there you are Chip," Tony smiled approaching the tour bus. "I'm glad to report that you'll be able to enjoy some free time all to yourself for the next month or so."
"What?" Chip was confused, it wasn't like his money-hungry manager to give him time off...willingly anyway.
"Chip my boy you're overworked," Tony explained a bit too understandingly draping an arm across his shoulders, "and I wasn't going to say anything but you seem awfully tense as of late. Besides-"
Tony paused to toss a glance back at the dimwitted blonde standing a few feet behind them hugging a Chip doll til its head burst off, "-if you or I spend another minute in the presence of that twit I think we might both lose our minds."
"Tell me she's fired just as soon as we back home." he groaned.
"The moment I hand her the last paycheck she's out the door my boy," Mr. Platinum nodded.
"Phew, thank goodness." Chip sighed in relief, "I didn't think I could take one more bus ride with her latched onto my arm the whole way."
"Yes," Tony frowned, "it was becoming rather bothersome having to pry her off with the 'jaws of life' before the start of each concert."
An idea suddenly popped into Chip's head. "Hey Tony, I've got a whole month off right?"
"That's right."
"Which means no concerts, no public appearances, no autograph signings, or endorsements...right?"
"Uh...right."
"Awesome!" the red and denim clad teen jumped for joy, "In that case I know exactly where I wanna spend my month-long vacation!"
"And uh, where would that be?" Tony asked tapping his shades down to the tip of his nose.
"With Vicky!" he chirped causing his manager to sigh.
"Very well, just don't get yourself on the cover of any tabloids."
"No worries Tony," Chip assured him, "Vicky's college is in this small town called Drizzleboro. Their entire population is less than the turnout for a weak-teethed Skip Sparkypants concert."
"All the more reason for them to be abuzz if word gets out that you're in town." Tony grumbled.
"Eh, I'll just travel incognito." Chip promised dancing over to the street corner to hail a taxi.
Hopping into the backseat he turned to his manager and gave him a quick thumb's up.
Tony returned the gesture halfheartedly. He could hear the cab driver asking his client if he was the real Chip Skylark.
With his hands folded behind his head Chip leaned back against the seat and smiled, "Nope, for the next four weeks I'm just a plain ol' everyday teen spending time with his girlfriend."
Amanda/Artiste: Heh, that's what he thinks. Next Chapter: Norm and Tootie arrive in Drizzleboro and while Tootie concentrates on protecting Vicky (as inconspicuously as possible) Norm starts plotting a means of luring Timmy there so he can exact his revenge. Chip arrives but is he too late? Or will the spontaneous appearance of the alien and human rivals for Vicky's love give a certain conniving genie a truly devious idea? Review!
