Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy.

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Fortunes Fools

Chapter Seven

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"Maddie, you're going to have to face him sometime." Belle said from her seat next to me.

"More to the point" Cassie said from the other side "M-Girl, you're going to have to face you're feelings." She finished seriously.

"What feelings?" I sighed, looking between the two of them, as they gave me that 'you know' look.

"I don't know, let's see." Belle said sarcastically "How about those repressed feelings that have been written all over your face since that afternoon in the backyard."

"And can I remind you, that you have yet to share the words exchanged between the two of you, with the two of us." Cassie said, not sugarcoating anything.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." I groaned, my head falling into my hands "I was supposed to get away from the Matilda Hunter that was picked on, I was supposed to get away from the Ric Dalby who had made my life a living hell. He wasn't supposed to redeem himself" I said, sighing "I wasn't supposed to have these feelings."

"You mean you weren't supposed to fall for him?" Cassie added gently, as I nodded me head, ignoring whatever Ashton was yelling from the front of the auditorium.

Cassie pulled me into her arms and held me close, knowing the utter turmoil these feelings were creating in me, while Belle, well, B did something that was typical of B.

"A wise person once said 'I think it's time that the two of you got your shot, cuz the way I see it, you never did. And this world can use as many Romeo and Juliet's as it can get.' And they were right. You deserve to be happy M-Girl, and Ric, well, aside from the last five years of loathing, has he done anything to make you think he'd hurt you?" She asked seriously.

I started to giggle a little, before breaking out into a grin.

"A wise person did not say that B, you've been watching your Dawsons Creek DVD's again." I said, as she nodded guiltily "But that's okay. You still made me smile… and feel better." I said, pushing myself off Cassie and back into my own chair.

"Okay, children, the dress rehearsal is this weekend." Ashton barked from the front of the stage. "Come prepared for a very long day, as I expect none of us are any where near ready, or good enough, to pull off a half decent show." He said, talking a long drink from his water. "Class dismissed." He said finally, sneering at us before walking backstage.

"Insulted much?" Belle said as we stood up from our seats and walked out into the bight sunshine.

"By the demonic Ashton? Always" Cass said, poking her tongue out in the general direction Ashton may have walked in.

"Focus girls." I said, bringing their attention back to me "Between now and this weekend, I have to confront my own feelings for one Ric Dalby, then I must confront said person." I said, believing firmly that I actually had a plan.

"Uh, great, how does right about now sound?" Cassie said nervously, standing infront of me.

"Way to soon. Out of curiosity, why do you ask?"

"Well, Ashtons minion demons are headed this way." Cassie said eventually, standing aside, giving me full view of Ric, Henry and Luke, all of who were striding directly towards us.

"Can I pretend to faint, or something?" I asked, panicked by the obvious interaction that was about to take place. Besides rehearsals, I'd managed to avoid spending any possible time with Ric. And in rehearsals, I'd convinced Belle and Cassie to interrupt us any time there had been the slightest movement of him getting close to me.

Okay, so maybe it was a little drastic, but put anyone else in the same situation, and they'd do exactly the same thing. I swear.

"Hey minion." Cassie said to Henry as he glared evilly at her.

"Hey witch. We need to converse." He replied spitefully.

"Converse, Henry?" Cassie asked, raising her eyebrow, questioning him. "You finally planning on expanding your vocabulary from 'Yo Dude, what's hanging'? We're all so proud." She said sarcastically.

"Can we just talk please?" Henry snapped at her.

"Oh a please, now I'm intrigued." Cassie said, sharing a look with Belle and I before following Henry.

Luke went to open his mouth, and it struck me as to what they were doing.

I shot Belle a 'don't you dare leave me under pain of death' look, which quickly got the message across, as we both glared at Luke who shut his mouth quickly.

We stood awkwardly while Henry and Cassie shared hushed, heated words a few meters away from us. I avoided Ric's steady gaze at all costs, afraid of the truth I would find in those piercing green eyes.

Eventually, Cassie stormed back over to us, and dragged Belle and I away from the boys, as Henry glared after her.

"Of all the pigheaded, derrbrained things to think." She muttered under her breath as we walked away.

"Care to share, oh annoyed one?" B finally said as we reached the local bus stop.

"Huh?" Cassie said, having been lost in her own little world for quite some time.

"Oh Henry. First he tells me that we have to have an extra rehearsal before the weekend. He TELLS me, doesn't ask, TELLS. Then he claims that I have a thing for him. It was like he was confusing me for Maddie, and him for Ric. The nerve." She said, as she looked up to find Belle and I giggling.

"What?" She asked, slightly flustered from her rant.

"Well, my the sounds of things" B said, as she was the first to recover "You maybe, kind of, do, have a thing… for him." She mumbled, as Cassie glared at her.

"I do NOT have a thing for Henry Hunter." She said sharply "Pigs would have to fly, and hell would have to freeze over" She continued loudly "Before I had a THING for Henry Hunter."

Thank god the bus arrived, because I thought Cassie was almost going to hit Belle as she nodded, before pulling that 'Yeah right' face she does so well.

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"So" I said later on, when we'd arrived back at B's house, and were sprawled across her living room, all calmer than we'd been that afternoon. "This extra rehearsal, it's not happening, right?"

"Ah, actually," Cass said, just as a doorbell rang "I kinda said yes. To this afternoon."

"Belle, there are three strange males here to see you." B's mum yelled down the stairs.

"Don't hate me, please" Cassie said pleadingly "But Henry, he got me all flustered when he accused me of liking him, and I don't know what happened but the next thing I remember is Henry saying 'We'll see you at Belle's house' then calling me…"

"Lovergirl, great to see you again." Henry smirked from the top step before walking quickly down and running to Cassie, taking her in his arms dramatically, until she practically punched her way out of her embrace.

"Its okay Turner, you aren't my type either." Henry said, smirking still, as Luke and Ric wandered down the stairs.

"Uh, hi." Ric said, almost shyly, sitting awkwardly down in an available chair.

"So, can we do this thing?" Luke said anxiously "I've got a hot date tonight and I wanna go home and get changed for it."

"Who's going to date you, pretty boy? Someone on the other side of a computer screen?" Belle said sardonically to Luke.

"Which is more action that you could ever hope to see." He retorted "Actually no, it's a real, live person." He finished firmly.

"In your dreams." Belle snapped, "I'm going to get some refreshments, anyone care to join me?" She said.

"I will" Cassie and I said in unison, jumping at the chance to leave the room.

We followed Belle quickly up the stairs, happy to be rid of those boys for at least five minutes.

"Okay girls" Cass said as we reached the kitchen, as Belle headed for the fridge "We need a game plan."

"How about we kick them out?" I suggested, hoping it was a reasonable enough request.

"And watch the play we worked so hard on fall by the way side? I think not Matilda Hunter" Cassie said seriously.

"We are going to be grown up about this. We are going to finalize everything, and make everything perfect. Then we're going to kick them out." She replied, grinning evilly.

"I like the way you think." Belle agreed, pulling a bottle of coke out and handing me six cups.

"Mum would kill me if I didn't at least offer then a drink" She replied off the look I gave her.

"Alright girls." I said, "Let's do this."

-

"That's not it." Cassie said tiredly.

"Well how does it go?" Ric snapped at her. "Come and show us if you're so good at it."

Cassie sighed before looking at Henry, and sighing again.

"Okay Loverboy" She said sarcastically "We've got to show them how its done."

"Fine by me" Henry replied, smirking evilly at her.

We'd been stuck on the same scene for an hour. It was where Romeo and Juliet meet on the dance floor, and share the gaze followed by the dance that changes everything. Ric knew what he wanted, and he was putting his all into it. But I was playing it safe, still a little unsure of my feelings.

But the last thing I wanted was for Cassie to have to demonstrate with Henry, although it was too late to stop that now.

"You need to be lost in your own world Maddie." Cassie said, closing her eyes and swaying to the techno music that was pumping loudly though the stereo.

"You've never been allowed to do this before." She continued softly, her hips swaying seductively, her hands running up and down her sides, through her hair. "You're free Maddie. Juliet has never experienced this kind of freedom, so she needs to feel it with everything she has." Cassie finished, as Henry stepped in.

"And Ric, you're the kind of guy who melts into the shadows." Henry said, standing next to Ric, who had taken his role of Mercutio. "You know you're the cats meow. And you milk that for all its worth." He said, slumping back against the wall and looking down, playing with what looked to be a lighter. Before looking up, his gaze falling on Cassie's body which was still moving to the music.

"Then" Belle said, pulling Luke aside so they could demonstrate too "Its like slow motion. Romeo see's Juliet first, and he's captivated by her beauty. He stares, and stares some more" She said, as Henry stared at Cassie, Luke at her.

"Then he stalks her down. Follows her across the room. He prowls like a lion, claiming his prey." Belle continued, as Henry pushed himself off the walk and walked briskly over to Cassie, stopping mere centimeters from her body. And Luke closed the gap between he and Belle. I looked up to find Ric's intense gaze on me, and as much as I wanted to look away, I found I was unable to. His eyes were drawing me in.

"Romeo spins Juliet to face him" Belle said, as Henry roughly grabbed Cassie, spinning her around and pulling her too him. Their bodies melting into one as his arms wrapped tight around her waist, her arms were left to run free up and down his body, her eyes remained closed, a small smile playing on her lips.

Belle was now wrapped in Luke's arms as he pushed their bodies against the wall, boxing her in with his muscular arms.

"Juliet opens her eyes and looks into Romeo's" Belle said softly, sucking in a breath as she looked up into Luke's blue eyes, while Cassie stopped moving, opened her eyes slowly and glared up into Henry's dark eyes, that were glaring at her.

"Then" Belle said huskily, as Luke trails a hand down the side of her body "Everything changes." She manages to get out, before closing her eyes as Luke leant down, his lips moving towards hers.

Henry had tilted Cassie's head roughly upwards, and they shot venomous glares at one another until their lips were inches apart.

Ric continued to look at me, and I realised suddenly, that if this show was going to be any good, the two leads would have to share more than pretend feelings for one another. There needed to be sizzling sexual tension between them, so hot that the audience could feel it radiate off them. Kind of like how I felt now, watching Belle be felt up my Luke against a wall, and watching the utter hatred Henry and Cassie felt for one another be transformed into passion.

And, as I looked towards Ric, his eyes glazed over with a lustful, sinful look, I realised that it was not going to be a problem.

I opened my mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Belle, as Luke pulled away from her.

"I've uh, got to get home, for that date." He said abruptly, before practically running up the stairs, leaving behind a slightly confused, very flushed Belle.

"Mmm" Henry growled from behind me. I turned to find he and Cassie still locked in an embrace, his lips moving towards her ear.

"No feelings ay?" He said spitefully, before Cassie managed to push him away from her.

"What can I say?" She replied angrily "I can act with anyone, even vermin." She said to him, before turning away from his glare and looking at me. "That's how its done M-Girl, think you and Ric could do that?"

"I think we could manage." I said lightly, biting my lip and smiling towards him "But we're going to need to practice along. Wouldn't want to ruin anything for you, would we?" I said, crossing the room and grabbing Ric's hand, attempting to lead him upstairs.

I'd taken two steps, when I felt myself being pushed gently against the wall, and before I had a chance to react, I felt his soft lips gently move against my own. I felt his body press against mine, as his hands found its way to the back of my head, pushing against me, deepening the kiss.

Momentarily stunned by the kiss, it took me a few moments before I kissed him back hungrily, wanting this more than I ever imagined I would.

When the need for breath became to great, I pulled away from his heavenly lips, as Ric rested his forehead against my own.

"Now that" Cassie said from behind me as I tried to control my breathing "is how it should be done."

I turned around and smiled at Cassie, who was grinning ear to ear, as was Belle. But Henry, well, his eyes had clouded over, his face was pinched with rage.

"Maddie." He said, addressing me for the first time that afternoon "You can't do it. You can't be in the play. Someone else will have to do it."

"Yeah right" Cassie said from next to him "No one else has THAT Henry, or did you just completely miss it?"

Henry ignored her and looked straight at me "Have you ever mentioned it Maddie?" He asked icily.

"Henry, don't go there" Cassie warned, pulling him back to face her, but he walked over to me.

"Have you told him Maddie, because I haven't." Henry said, pulling me away from Ric.

"Told me what?" Ric asked, completely confused.

"Why would I have told him Henry? Until a couple of weeks ago, you all HATED me, remember? You made my life a living hell Henry. You couldn't even look at me. And now you're playing the saint, trying to protect you're friend? Go to hell." I said, storming away from him.

"TELL HIM MADDIE" Henry screamed at me, as I reached the bottom step.

I paused, leaning against the wall and taking deep breaths, trying to calm my now erratic breathing, and the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Tell him, or I will." Henry repeated firmly.

"Ric I…" I began as my breath caught in my throat, unable to continue.

"I'm… I…" I said, my eyes beginning to mist over as I looked up to meet his own concerned eyes.

"I'm sick Ric." I said, gulping for air as I slid down the wall to sit on the step, my face in my hands.

"Why, what's wrong? You seem to be fine to me." Ric replied, kneeling down infront of me, taking my hands in his.

"No Ric." I choked out, as the tears fell freely now. "I'm not getting better."

"What do you mean Maddie?" Ric said quietly, standing back from me, confusion and fear on his face.

"I'm dying Ric." I whispered, as I heard Cassie and Belle sob quietly from the side of the room.

When he didn't answer, I looked up to see his face set in a weird expression, his eyes glazed over, with anger, with terror.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." I said pleadingly, walking toward him "We weren't meant to feel this."

"Obviously not." He shot back angrily, before running up the stairs, slamming the front door.

I crumbled into a heap on the floor, as Cassie and Belle ran over to me, and hugged me tightly.

"Are you happy now?" Cassie screamed at Henry, who was standing silently in a corner "You ruined this. You ruined your sisters on shot at happiness, at love. You ruined her life, AGAIN." She screamed, as Henry met her eyes momentarily, before walking quietly out of the room.

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The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

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AN: Thanks Tess for proof reading. Please don't hate me. Really, I just… it needed to be there. If you do hate me, review, if you don't hate me… review. Thanks to those who do review :D