Improvisation: F-

Late at night, Archie was practising his lines on asking Atlanta to the dance.

"Hi Atlanta," He started. "Do you want to go to the dance with me?"

That's good except that there's no reason why she should agree, he thought. I need to convince her to say yes.

Archie tried a different way. "Hello Atlanta. I see you do not have a date for the Valentine Dance. Therefore, it is my pleasure to offer if you would like to go to the dance with me, Archie."

He paused for a while, thinking about his new line. Too formal, he thought.

"Yo Atta! Sup girl? Wanna go to that "Love" Dance on Feb. 14? I swear I've got chillin' moves that will knock your feet down!" Archie stopped, completely disgusted. Sure it was cool sounding (to him, at least) but to say that in front of Atlanta? She'll probably just get some stomach cramps on her sides after laughing for 5 hours!

Archie tried again…and again…and again…and again…and again…and again…and again…

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"Hi Theresa, I was wondering if you want to go to the Valentine Dance with me because I love you." Jay rehearsed. Too pathetic, he scolded.

"Hi Theresa, I love you. Do you want to dance with me?" He tried. Too lame, he cried. Maybe I should try a bit more romance.

"Hi beloved Theresa, you're like a lovely red rose in a meadow full fresh green grass. Your eyes sparkle like precious green emeralds and your hair is like flowing water. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever met and I am crazy about you." Jay didn't go on. Right there, he knew it was too sappy.

Great, he groaned. At this rate, I'll never be able to go to sleep!

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"Hey Theresa, you're dead hot. I've got no other girl I want to ask to the Valentine Dance so I was wondering if you want to go to the dance with me." Neil questioned to thin air.

Pretty good, he thought, except for the beginning and ending part. They needed serious cleaning. Neil tried again.

"Hi Theresa, could I talk to you? I've got no other girl I want to ask to the Valentine Dance so I was wondering if you want to go to the dance with me because I've only got a heart for you."

Neil liked the ending part a lot. The only problem was the beginning. It somehow didn't fit well with the others. Maybe I should just skip it, he thought.

"Hey Theresa, I've got no other girl I want to ask to the Valentine Dance so I was wondering if you want to go to the dance with me because I've got a heart only for you."

Neil liked his newest sentence the best. Now, he thought, how do I say the line?

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"Jay, Jay,"

Go away, Jay thought and squeezed his eyes harder.

"JAY!" Theresa was shaking Jay's arm. Theresa?

"What are you doing here? This is the boys' dormitory." Jay mumbled. Then suddenly, he remembered. Jay yelped and yanked his blanket over his shoulders. "Theresa!"

"Sorry," She apologised hastily. "Come on, everybody's waiting for you." Theresa left Jay's room as soon as possible.

He dropped his blanket and let out a deep sigh. Then Jay got changed into his usual outfit and went downstairs.

Archie, Atlanta, Neil, Odie, Herry and Theresa were already down there, waiting impatiently for Jay.

"What took you so long?" Archie asked.

"Lack of sleep," Jay yawned and stretched.

After breakfast, the group split and went to their 1st period. Archie had Social Studies with Atlanta. Neil, Theresa and Jay had Science and Odie and Herry had English.

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"Archie, you're starting to annoy me!" Atlanta whispered.

During Social Studies, the teacher was droning on Canadian history while Archie and Atlanta were having fun nudging each other's shins.

"You do realize that annoyance is entertainment to me, right?" Archie kicked Atlanta's legs again. She in turn, shoved his right heel. "Ow! Careful, will you?"

"Are you two kids paying attention over there?" The teacher asked sternly. Archie and Atlanta both looked at each other and gulped.

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"…that's why I want you guys to pair up." Hephaestus said to his science class. "You're both going to form a battle helmet hard enough to hold up a twenty pound object. Do whatever you want. You know, be creative. Now go and pick your groups."

There were an odd number of people in the class and as everybody began to pair up, Jay, Theresa and Neil were always a group.

"Ok," Jay picked up the slab of metal they were given. "Theresa, you heat up this slab and make it soft enough so we can slice it. Neil," He turned to him. "Get the materials ready. I'll help out with Theresa."

Neil was slightly annoyed with this plan. He wanted to help Theresa out but he didn't complain.

Theresa placed the metal on an iron tray and put in into a heater made for metal. While that was done, Jay operated the machine.

Theresa and Neil waited for the metal to heat up. Neil was checking out his appearance in his mirror. Theresa groaned at that. "Listen, Neil. Can't you survive for at least 2 seconds without that mirror of yours?"

"Hm, let me think," Neil said while checking his teeth. "Nope,"

Theresa rolled her eyes just as the metal had finished heating. Jay took out the metal. "I don't think heating up the metal was a good idea." He held it up with a mitten on his hands.

The metal wasn't soft at all; it was a white color instead. Theresa looked at it.

"So, Mr. Smarty-Pants," She said. "Tell us, whose idea was it?"

"Mine," Jay admitted, embarrassed.

"I'll go ask Heph for another slab." Theresa went up to Hephaestus at the other side of the room.

Neil leaned to Jay. "So who are you taking to the Valentine Dance?" He asked.

"I don't know," Jay said. "I haven't asked anybody yet."

"Who do you want to go with?" Neil asked.

Jay hesitated for a while. "Are you sure you want to know the answer?" He asked.

"Obviously, why?" Neil asked. "I won't tell, I swear," He placed his right hand over his heart and plastered on a grinning face.

"You're not going to laugh, are you?" Jay asked, worried. Neil shook his head. Jay paused and then said. "I want to ask Theresa!"

Neil was shocked. Jay wanted to ask his Juliet to the dance? "What about you?" He asked. "Who are you taking?"

Neil mumbled something instinctive. "What?" Jay asked.

"Theresa," He replied.

Now it was Jay's turn to be shocked. "Theresa? The one I like?"

"Hey," Neil scowled. "You can't claim her for yourself. I also like her."

Jay felt this flame of anger rising in his chest. "Yeah, well, both of us can't ask Theresa to the dance."

"You could always forfeit, you know." Neil suggested.

"Forfeit?" Jay asked. "Why should I forfeit? What about you? I fell in love with her a long time ago."

"So?" Neil argued. "I fell in love with her a long, long time ago!"

Jay was now shaking with anger. "Listen, Theresa will not come with you to the dance-"

"How do you know?" Neil interjected. "None of us know what Theresa really thinks about you."

"There're hints, you know," Jay said. "From what I've witnessed, she thinks you're a goof and wastes your time staring at that stupid mirror of yours."

"This mirror is golden and costs a lot," Neil caressed his mirror. "Besides, you probably didn't witness enough."

"Yes, I did," Jay cried frustrated.

"No, you didn't," Neil shouted back.

Jay didn't want to have a row with one of his team mates to take down Cronus. "Just back off, ok?" He pushed Neil on the shoulder.

"No, why don't you back off?" Neil shoved Jay's arm.

"For you, it's not that hard to find another date. Yourself, for example," Jay pushed Neil's body harder.

"Very funny," Neil rammed into Jay's body. "Don't tell me you're a wimp with girls."

"Shut up,"

"You shut up,"

"Why don't you just-"

"STOP IT!"

Theresa went straight into the fight between her friends and pushed them aside. "Stop it!" She repeated as the boys struggled against her force. They calmed down and realized that the whole class had seen them fighting.

Hephaestus started. "Well, I don't like handing out detentions but…"

The bell rang and Jay and Neil were out of there. Theresa, looking worried, followed them.

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Aren't I nasty? I made two friends have a fight! Please R&R! Oh and by the way, I know Jay doesn't argue that badly but, well, just go with the flow (please)!