Here we are are, another installment...oh, I hope that you guys have all seen some of those cheesy wonderful old western films of yesteryear because I couldn't resist my little spoof that follows in parts here...Heehee! If you haven't seen them you will most likely just find me strange...though, what am I talking about; I am strange anyway. Alright, enough of that.

We left off...

Esteban halted, puffing up in all of his tuxedo clad splendor. He jutted his chin out and firmly set his jaw. "I will challenge him to – " he paused for dramatic effect, raising his eyebrows, "– the LIMBO!"

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"So, then I said – 'I forgot my pencil'!" Trevor let out a hearty chuckle. "Get it?" The bubbling humour bursting up died in his throat as he stopped to really look at his date. "What's wrong? I know I'm not the greatest comedian, but I didn't think I was that bad..."

Maddie forced her attention back to her date. "What? I'm sorry; I guess I sort of zoned out there for a minute." She looked apologetic. She had been lost in the moments that she had spent alone with Esteban earlier; she was back outside reliving the feel of his arms around her. Then she remembered his denial of anything happening to everyone and it all came crashing back down.

Trevor paused a moment, examining his shoes. "Why aren't you here with him?" he asked, keeping his sight downcast.

Her wide eyes expanded ten-fold as she tried to think of a swift response. "Huh?" was the most intelligent thing to pop in her head.

He turned his face up to meet her gaze. He laughed sardonically. "Hey – I'm a merit scholar, remember? Don't let my handsome facade fool you..." he joked.

Maddie slipped on her patented 'everything is fine' mask. "Have you been dipping into the punch? I told you that Muriel would probably add her 'special sauce' in it!" Her little laugh rang hollow even to her own ears.

Trevor placed a hand on her arm. "You can tell me the truth, Maddie," he coaxed.

She glanced out to the dance floor longingly. "Can we just dance?"

"Is this your way of saying that you don't want to talk about it?"

She nodded empathetically. "Oh, yes!" she enthused as she led him to the throng of dancers.

They lost themselves admist the groups pulsating along with the fast tempo. It was strange seeing everyone all limbs akimbo to the crescendo of a classical tune that Maddie couldn't quite place. She shrugged and let herself loose, bopping in time with Trevor, pushing aside all thoughts of disappointment and immersing herself in the sweet melodies.

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"YOU THERE!" His voice shot through the air like a silver bullet, shattering the carefree mood. Everyone came to a standstill, even the music wilted into nothing, the last notes still reverberating off the now immobile bows and strings. All heads were turned toward the doorway which framed the lanky penguin suited bellhop.

He drew his height up as tall as he could, pushed his chin to it's furtherest length, set his jaw, squared his shoulders defiantly, and announced in his best and booming golden thunder voice:

"I AM ESTEBAN JULIO RICARDO MONTOYA DE LA ROSA RAMIREZ! I challenge you –" he extended his arm out to it's full extent, pointing as the seas of dancers parted like the Red Sea to reveal Maddie and Trevor standing paralyzed to the spot, staring at him. He kept his finger pointed toward Trevor and puffed up a bit more before continuing. "I challenge you, Trevor..." he paused a moment more, scanning his brain for his opponent's full name before starting again. "I challenge you, Trevor-whom-I-do-not-know-your-full-name, to a duel," he finished triumphantly.

Trevor's brow furrowed. "A duel? What, like with pistols?" The mockery evaporated from his lips at the hard glare radiating off of Esteban.

A slow, cheeky grin spread it's way over Esteban as he regarded him. "Oh, better than that, my amigo – I challenge you to a test of skill, strength, and endurance..." He nodded his head slowly, "oh, yes – we will Limbo!"

Surprise and confusion swept the crowd. No one quite knew whether to laugh or titter in excitement. The band was the first to respond by playing a few notes from the "High Noon" showdown score and Maddie swore she saw a tumble weed drift across the room. She shook her head as Trevor stepped forward.

"Alright, Esteban Julio – whatever the heck your elongated name is – I accept your challenge."

The two young men stepped toward each other slowly, cautiously. Esteban looked behind him to see Zack still standing there.

"Little blond person – would you do me the honour of being my second?" he asked gravely.

"Your second what?" Zack asked blankly.

Cody sighed and walked over to his brother. "In a duel each person appoints someone to be their 'second' ; it means if the person is injured or unable to carry on the 'second' takes their place for them."

Zack straightened up in self importance. "I would be honoured to be your second, Esteban."

"Hey. I don't have a second," Trevor complained, looking around.

"Don't look at me – like I would really wrinkle my gown to limbo!" London scoffed. "I have people to do that!"

Cody stepped towards him. "I'll do it."

"My own brother..." Zack tisked, shaking his head disappointedly.

"Oh! Not my babies!" Carey moaned exaggeratedly. "I can't watch!" She turned and hid her face in Arwin's shoulder. His arms instantly surrounded her and he patted her back reassuringly. Some of the glitter from Carey's crown rubbed off of him and made him sneeze slightly, but he hummed contentedly thinking it a small price to pay to have the object of his affection seeking comfort with him.

"Let's do this," Trevor said with fixed eyes.

Maddie couldn't take it anymore. She threw herself in between the two, looking at each in turn wildly. "This has to stop!" No one said anything, the two merely continued to stare daggers at the other. "There has to be another way!" she wailed, but to no avail.

Esteban kept his stare trained ahead as he called out. "Bring out the limbo stick!"

"NO!" Maddie cried, lunging forward. She clutched the lapels of Esteban's tuxedo, turning her slender fingers white with the force of her desperation. "Esteban! Look at me!" He turned his gaze down to her and she saw tenderness begin to pool in his warm eyes. "This isn't worth it! Stop the madness!"

He cupped her cheek with his large hand. "Oh, my beautiful little muchacha. It will be alright," he soothed.

"Ah – hello? You're fighting over her?" Everyone turned to see Rebecca approaching their little face off.

"Ugg. I forgot about her..." Zack groaned, earning a withering stare from the spoiled girl.

"Ban – Esteban – I went out with you because I knew it would get my daddy's attention and I figured I could use his disapproval to wheedle what I want...but you are so notworth it!" she huffed with an unattractive frown. "I should have expected this from someone of your lowly station!"

Maddie detached her hold on Esteban and turned toward Rebecca, fury glinting in her eyes. "Oh! You did NOT just insult my man!"

A pleasant heat trickled down around Esteban at her words. He reached out to her but she shooed him away, still concentrating on the gobsmacked ninny in front of her, oblivious to what she had just publicly announced.

"Your man? Since when?"

"Since he kissed me outside earlier!" There was a general murmuring of 'Ahh' going around the room, but Maddie didn't notice, she was so enthralled in her anger.

"Well, he kissed me the first night we met – funny how it took him so long to make a move with you. He didn't have to think about kissing me for years first – he knew he wanted to be with me from the start," Rebecca fired back triumphantly.

Maddie felt the all too familiar sensation of tears prickle behind her lids, but she bullied them back down. "Why are you doing this? You don't even want him..."

"That's enough!" Esteban's steely voice cut off Rebecca's forthcoming, surely cruel response. "It is you I care for, Maddie. You know that. I want everyone to know that. I am tired of hiding it." His eager gaze met her uncertain one. The entire room was staring at them with sucked in breath, but they all seemed just fall way. The only person he saw was Maddie and he felt as though a mortar of bricks were piling around him as he awaited her answer.

"Esteban...I – I –" she released a befuddled sigh as the weight of the situation hit her. She had just finally admitted, not only to herself and Esteban, but to the entire staff at large that she cared for him; and he proceeded to publicly return her affection. And now here they were, standing before an audience – what was she supposed to say? She feet like she was drowning, and try as she might she simply couldn't gulp up enough air. Her feet were glued to the ground, her eyes were panic stricken, and her mouth felt as though it was stuffed to the max with over sized cotton balls. She regained her focus as she took in Esteban's hopeful and anxious face.

"I'm sorry – I don't know if I can do this right now..." she stuttered as her feet began to carry her backwards. She saw Esteban crumble, his face immediately droop, the light in his vibrant eyes diminish and flicker out like an old lantern. "I'm so sorry..." she numbly repeated before turning and running out the door.

Esteban stared without feeling, gazing emptily at the place that she had just vanished from.

"Does this mean the limbo is off? Cuz, man, I was gonna see if we could do a water limbo, dude...that would be totally awesome..." Lance asked like a big rube.

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Oy! You're going to review now? Wonderful! Mahvellous, dahling! Good on ya, mate! Hopefully, you all liked the cheese and major corn in this one: ) I hope I'm not the only one who found it funny...sometimes my humour does tend to be on the odd side; ah well. Let me know what you all think.

I know, angst came out in this one but...the path to true love never did run smooth, did it?