You know the drill: Drake & Josh characters do not belong to me. The Wicked songs and concepts don't belong to me. All the songs were written by Stephen Schwartz. The line "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" is spoken by Glinda in the Wizard of Oz movie. That's not mine either.

Okay, longest chapter. Plenty of lyrics in this one...which I double checked with a Wicked songbook. It's the most accurate set of lyrics I have, considering the songs were arranged by Stephen Schwartz and a few other people who gave him help. Yes, this is the book I used to sing "For Good". Anyway, more cruelty by Shelly...how's this all going to end up? I'm not going to tell you. You'll just have to read!

Drake and Josh ran around the house on Friday night. Drake was making sure he had everything. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and would change into his costume when he got to the school. Josh was dressed in black, as the rest of the stage crew would be, to make sure no one saw him as he moved around backstage.

The two guys hopped in the car and took off for the school. When they arrived, they headed inside and backstage. Josh began making sure everything was ready, and Drake headed into the guy's dressing room to change into his first costume.

When Drake opened the door Hewitt was standing there. He gave Drake an "if looks could kill" glance and headed toward the make-up room. Drake pulled on his pants and white shirt. Then he slipped his red vest over it. He headed toward the make-up room himself.

On the way out he ran into Mindy backstage. She had been talking to Josh before the show.

"Hey Mindy," said Drake. "This is going to seem odd, but I need to ask you something."

"What?" she asked.

"If a girl says she's worried about another girl hurting you...does that mean she likes you?"

"Uh, yeah," said Mindy, a bit shocked. "I guess so. Unless she's your sister."

"I see. Thanks," said Drake. He opened the door to the make-up room.

Shelly had been there about an hour earlier. She was applying a ton of green make-up. She had to cover her face, shoulders, arms, and hands. Lea was sitting in front of another mirror. Her hair fell to her shoulders in pretty gold curls. Drake looked from her to Shelly and thought about what Josh and Lea said. Shelly was not going to embarrass him in front of everyone.

Good news...
She's dead...
The Witch of the West is dead!
The wickedest witch there ever was
The enemy of all of us here in Oz
Is dead...
Good news...
Good news...

Drake watched from backstage. He didn't go on for quite some time yet, but he was enjoying watching. Then, Lea appeared onstage. Josh had done a good job working on her "bubble." Obviously it wasn't as elaborate or as amazing as the Broadway set piece, but it looked pretty good.

Fellow Ozians,
Let us be glad
Let us be greatful
Let us rejoicify that goodness could subdue
The wicked workings of you know who...
Isn't it nice to know
That good will conquer evil?
The truth we'll all believe'll
By and by...
Outlive a lie...
For you and...

Drake watched. Lea really was good. She was really pretty too. She had been so nice to him. Uh oh, what was going on with his head?

Drake stood onstage. Wow, this was a bit scary. Good thing he got used to it with his band. He was enjoying being in the musical though. He was in the middle of "Dancing Through Life," which reminded him a bit of himself.

Let's go down to the Ozdust ballroom
We'll meet there later tonight
We can dance till it's light
Find the prettiest girl
Give 'er a whirl...

Drake grabbed Lea's hand and spun her around. This production was pretty fun, he had to admit.

When I see depressing creatures
With unprepossessing features
I remind them on their own behalf
To...think...of
Celebrated heads of state
Or 'specially great communicators
Did they have brains or knowledge?
Don't make me laugh
They were popular
Please!
It's all about popular
It's not about aptitude
It's the way you're viewed
That's why it's very shrewd to be
Very very popular
Like me

Lea's song didn't fit her much. She wasn't the popular one. She could definitely pull off Glinda though. She was cute and was able to act very perky.

Drake and Lea argued onstage as Fiyero and Glinda and Drake went offstage. Lea got back up and continued to sing.

That's why...
I couldn't be happier
No, I couldn't be happier
Though it is I admit
The tiniest bit
Unlike I anticipated

But I couldn't be happier
Simply, couldn't be happier
Well, not simply
'Cause getting your dreams
It's strange but it seems
A little, well, complicated

There's a kind of a sort of... cost
There's a couple of things get... lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you crossed...

And if that joy
That thrill
Doesn't thrill like you think it will
Still
With this perfect finale
The cheers and the ballyhoo
Who wouldn't be happier?
So, I couldn't be happier
Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true
Well isn't it?
Happy is what happens
When your dreams come true...

Lea couldn't help but think that she really wasn't happy at that point. She wanted someone she couldn't have, and it broke her heart that Drake was being played by Shelly.

Kiss me to fiercely
Hold me too tight
I need help believing
You're with me tonight

Drake listened to Shelly singing. She was good, but Lea's voice sounded better to him for some reason.

My wildest dreamings
Could not foresee
Lying beside you
With you wanting me...

Actually, Shelly didn't appear as pretty as Lea. Even without the green make-up. She also seemed very close-minded, so why had he wanted to date her in the first place?

Just for this moment
As long as you're mine
I've lost all resistance
And crossed some borderline
And if it turns out
It's over too fast
I'll make every last moment last
As long as you're mine

Shelly was kind of nasty. What exactly had he seen in her? She was glaring now. Hmm...Ah! His turn to sing!

Who can say if I've been changed for the better, but
Because I knew you
No one mourns the wicked
Because I knew you
I have been changed...

No one mourns the wicked
Wicked!
Wicked!

The play ended and everyone in the audience began to applaud. The cast came out onstage and took their bows and headed off to the back. Drake pulled off his costume and quickly changed into his jeans and t-shirt again. He headed to the sink and washed the bit of make-up off of his face. He headed out the door and waited for Shelly. It was going to take a while for her to get that green make-up off of her face. He was supposed to wait for her and go with her to the cast party though. The party was going to be at the Premiere. Josh had originally asked Helen if they could have it there, but she had said no...until she learned Drake was in the play.

Shelly walked out and gave Drake a smile. She knew what was coming later. Oh, it was going to be good.

Everyone was at the Premiere and having a good time. Shelly was talking with some of the girls from the chorus when she decided the time was right.

"Drake," she said. "Can I talk to you?"

Lea looked up. She stood about ten feet away from them. Drake hadn't listened to her. Now Shelly was going to embarrass him in front of everyone.

"Actually," said Drake. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh?" said Shelly.

"Yeah," began Drake. "You know, we've been dating for about a month now and from that, I would think that people in that kind of relationship would respect each other and be trusting. From what I hear though, that's not the case. From what I hear, you seem to think you were going to teach me a lesson. Well, I'm sorry. That won't be happening today. I should've forgotten about you the moment you started insulting me. I just can't stay away from a pretty face though. Now, I don't think I like you very much anymore. We're through Shelly."

Shelly stared at him in disbelief. Everyone was staring at the pair. Someone had told him, but who? Who had known what she was going to do? Katherine wouldn't have told Drake. The only other person she had told was Lea. There was no way Lea would talk to Drake, so how did he find out?

"Who told you?" she demanded.

"I don't think that's what's important," said Drake. "I do know that they were concerned about my feelings though, which is more than I can say for you. I guess I really did choose the wicked witch when the good one was right in front of me the whole time."

"Huh?" asked Shelly.

Drake turned and headed toward Lea. She felt her knees get a bit shaky. Why was Drake approaching her?

"Hi," said Drake.

"Hi," responded Lea.

"I told you she wouldn't do that to me," he said with a grin.

Lea looked at him. He had believed her.

Shelly looked shocked.

"Lea!" Shelly exclaimed. "You told him?"

"Yes," said Lea.

"You like him," said Shelly, smiling smugly. "That's why you told him. The little sophomore likes the junior that she can't have," Shelly said mockingly.

"Actually," said Drake. "I was just about to ask the 'little sophomore' out."

Shelly dropped her jaw. No guy had ever left her to go out with Lea. No guy ever went out with Lea period. Now, as much as Shelly couldn't stand him, the hottest and most popular guy in school, who was also older than Lea, was asking her out.

"Well," said Drake, looking at Lea. "What do you say?"

"Yes," said Lea.

"Great."

"Hey you can't just..." Shelly cried as Drake and Lea walked away from her. "I'm not through with you Drake Parker...If you think you can...oooooh!" Shelly began to storm out of the Premiere. She ran into Craig, who was carrying a bowl of green punch. She was drenched from head to foot.

"Gee Shelly," said Craig. "I thought you already took off your make-up."

"Ahh!" she screamed as she pushed past Craig and out of the theater with everyone remaining in the lobby laughing.

Drake made his way over to Josh.

"Sorry I didn't believe you before man," Drake said to Josh. "I guess she was only a monther."

"It's cool," said Josh. "Everything's good now."

"So," said Mindy. "That's why you asked me if when a girl asked if she was worried about you if that meant she liked you."

"Uh, yeah," said Drake.

Lea turned red. She realized she must have been a bit obvious.

Drake pulled Lea to the side, away from everyone else.

"Thanks," he said. "I really owe you."

"I didn't know you figured out that I liked you. I mean, I felt bad enough as it was. Practically every girl here likes you. I was a year younger. I didn't think I had much of a chance."

"Well," said Drake. "I don't think that year's going to matter." He bent down and kissed her.

Lea realized at that moment she couldn't be happier, and this time, it was true.

Okay, do I get the prize for corniest last line or what? Anyway, gotta love karma. I don't think Shelly will be messing with Drake or Lea for a long time. I wanted to give Craig the final insult because he's the annoying geek who annoys Eric even, and he's his best friend. So, Craig had the honor of irritating Shelly, which makes her defeat all the more so sweet for Drake and Lea. By the way, if you haven't been able to tell by this story my favorite character in Wicked is Glinda.

There will be a bit of a delay to the sequel of "Measure of a Man". You see, I've completely written the sequel, but I haven't edited it, like at all. As much as I love what came out of the third story in my series, it's still missing some pieces. There are the Drake & Josh moments that make us smile, but then again, it doesn't seem like enough. Anyway, it's called "Collide" and it will be up here soon.