Chapter 6:

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on cologne, and they go out and smell each other."

"We're going to play a game," said West's instructor. Tatyna, who preferred to be called Taty.

"Great," mumbled Sarah, throwing West a sarcastic smile.

"Why don't we introduce ourselves," Taty stated, a corny looking smile on her face. "Why don't you start Sarah?"

"I'm Sarah Kaplan," Sarah started, but Taty interrupted her.

"Why not Cassandra Day?" she asked Sarah. "Why not Adair Robertson? Why not?"

Sarah caught on pretty quickly, putting on a fake French accent. "My name is Giselle Delacour, and I live in Paris. I am seventeen years of age. I like to, how do you say—sing and act. It is very fun."

"Perfect!" laughed Taty, her blonde curls ablaze. "Great at capturing the moment! Very convincing act Giselle!"

Sarah smiled cockily, as if daring someone to do better.

The next person was Mad. West had been sort of surprised that he was involved in the play, but Mad had explained he wanted to get better at acting as well as continuing his visual art career. Brenna was also there—she was going to have a small part in the play, but mainly was doing sets. However, Taty thought everybody should be included.

As Mad introduced himself as "Hank Thames, cowboy," West started to think of what he could be. He got it.

After Bren had haltingly muttered that she was "Sara Porter, college professor," Taty's eyes rested on West.

"My name is Samantha Gray. I'm eight years old and I go to Beaming Children's Elementary School. I like rainbows and clouds and bunnies. My favorite food is," West paused for a moment in his false falsetto, and continued, "ice cream and hot dogs. I have a big brother who eats a lot of food. He eats hamburgers a lot," he said, putting on an indignant frown. "My mommy says he will get fat soon."

Taty let out a high-pitched laugh. "Humor, Weston, humor. Where did you learn to speak like that?"

West grinned. "Halloween. Last year. We were fifteen…" he trailed off, painting a picture for them all.

It was a cold night, the stormy winds blowing, but a full moon was painted in the sky. The first thing seen was a tall figure. The figure had a wig on, a brown wig with braids. He was wearing a checkered blue jumper with a white ruffled shirt inside, and carried a small basket with a stuffed Scottie dog inside.

"Come on Jason," said West, his voice in a high falsetto. "Come on!"

Jason, in his "Tin Man" suit grimaced. "West, how do you manage to force us into this stuff?"

"It's Dorothy," West snapped impatiently, "and you're the TIN MAN, and you're taking forever."

"Well it's sort of hard to walk when you're stuffed into a CARDBOARD BOX," Jason said, awkwardly pointing one of his foil-covered arms down at the silver-spray painted box.

"What you think it's easy walking in a dress?" West challenged him, throwing "Toto" in the air. "You have it easy."

"Well it was your idea," pointed out the scarecrow. Alek. He had straw stuffed on top of his light brown hair, was wearing a jacket that looked like a lumber jack's, and was busy scratching away at the itchy straw that poked out of the sleeves.

"Shut up you guys," muttered an irritable Jorge, who was of course the lion. His long hair had been spiked up by Weston, and it was really bugging him. West's sister, Rae, had used her mascara to make his nose black, and he kept on sneezing, holding his limp looking tail. "This lion suit is getting really hot."

"Now, now, no stripping," butted in West. "If anybody strips, it's Dorothy here."

Weston finished his story, and everybody else was cracking up. He smiled. He liked making people laugh.

xxx

Jason was led to his dorm by the man with pimples, whose name turned out to be Carl.

"Why ain't you a pretty one," he said with a small, sad smile, looking at Jason.

Jason blushed, hoping he wasn't about to be molested. He hurried into his room as fast as he could. Good. He was by himself. Or so he thought.

After he had pulled off his Etnies (ok, he did have some brand names), and unpacked his suitcase, there door opened and Patrick came in.

Trying to shake off his disappointed feeling guiltily, he raised a hand. "Hi."

"Hey," Patrick said, grinning and shaking his hair of out his eyes. Jason noted that he was pretty good-looking. Not as attractive as Jason was, but a better personality. No wonder he already had a girlfriend, while "Mr. Gorgeous" over here had never had one.

Jason wanted a girl that was kind, cared about him personally, didn't judge him write away, and would only take what he had to offer.

The only problem was that he hadn't found that type of girl yet.

Jason pulled off his plain white t-shirt, and replaced it with a grey one. Maybe he'd find a girl this summer. You never knew.

Jorge,

Yes I did almost run over a girl. You know that crazy millionaire? Daniel Lohemann? Well, I almost killed his daughter. My car is totaled—it's dead. And the guy is too lazy to pay for it. You would think since his daughter almost killed me… well she ran in the way, he would pay for it. But no. You don't have to laugh at me for it though. I'm sorry about your dad—man, that has to be tough. I'm getting that jacket in about three days—West better send it to me.

Ok, I have to go. Nikki just threw up all over Mom, and I better go help her clean up. Hang in there Jorge. Have fun. Call me if you need anything.

Alek