"No way. I'm telling you that cafeteria food is made from some sort of sludge and shaped and colored to look like actual food." Davis said as he was talking with Ken and Yolei at school. "I can still feel that sludge swishing around in my stomach."
"I agree that cafeteria food is disgusting, but I doubt they would do that." Yolei said. "Sometimes that stuff is too solid for it to be sludge."
"Now you know why I bring my own lunch." Ken said.
"Can I get a little help here?" All of them looked up some stairs and saw Kari trying to drag a large bin of instrument ups the stairs, but it was heavy.
"I've got you." Davis said as he hurried up the stairs. He grabbed the other end and they were able to lift the box together. With Davis' help, they carried the box up the stairs with Ken and Yolei following.
"Thanks, Davis." Kari said.
"No problem." Davis said.
"What's all these instruments for?" Yolei asked.
"They're for our school's play." Kari said. "We're trying our best to put it together and we don't have that much time left. We still need to get the music together."
"Sounds like you still have much to do." Ken said.
"You're right." Kari said. "We still have much to do and there isn't a lot to do. We thought we had enough time, but some childish jocks had to be part of set designs and much more. The principal thought they were being punished, but we ended up the ones being punished."
"Wait. Are you in the play, Kari?" Davis asked.
"No, but I volunteered to help out. T.K. is in the play." Kari said. They could see that she was starting to get stressed out. "There's still some work to be done, especially with the music. I don't know how we're going to get it all done before the show."
"I'll help." Davis said. He just said that out of nowhere. All of them were pretty shocked that he would just volunteer like that.
"Really?!" Kari said as she was glad to hear that.
"Really?" Both Ken and Yolei said as they were more confused than glad.
"Yeah. It sounds like you need some extra help. I don't really have anything else going on for a while." Davis said.
"That would be great, Davis! Thank you." Kari said.
"Hold it. What are you up to?" Yolei said as she was suspicious about this whole thing.
"I'm not up to anything." Davis said, but Ken and Yolei weren't so sure. "What? Is it really so hard to believe I'm doing this just because I want to."
"Yes." Both Ken and Yolei said.
"Stop it, both of you." Kari said. "Davis, I really do appreciate the help. Meet me at the auditorium after school and I'll show you what you can do." When that was settled, Kari grabbed the bin of instruments and left with Davis following behind. Ken and Yolei were still a little suspicious about Davis' actions.
"You really believe he's doing this simply because he wants to help?" Ken said.
"No." Yolei said. "You don't think he really held a spark for Kari all this time, do you?"
"Maybe it was just a relapse, a onetime thing. Let's just give him the benefit of the doubt." Ken said, but Yolei wasn't so sure about that just yet.
….
The Auditorium
Davis headed for the auditorium after school. He went on inside and saw some people at work for the play that is coming. Davis looked around and spotted T.K. practicing his lines. He knew that T.K. would know where Kari is.
"Hey, T.K." Davis said.
"Davis?! What are you doing here?" T.K. said.
"Kari said she needed some help and told me to come here. Where is she?" Davis said.
"She's backstage. Thanks for helping out." T.K. said. Davis headed over to the stage. He went behind it and saw some people at work. He spotted Kari and saw her painting a background set.
"Kari!" Davis called and got her attention.
"Davis! Glad you could make it. You can start by grabbing a brush and start painting." Kari said.
"Right to it." Davis said as he did what he was told.
"I told you that we don't have much time." Kari said as the two of them got to painting.
"So what is this play even about?" Davis asked.
"It's about a busy man who ends up in a magical world and remembers what it's like to be young and to enjoy life." Kari said.
"Is T.K. the leading role?" Davis said.
"No, but he is a supporting character." Kari said. "You know what they say. There are no small parts, only small actors."
"I never understood that saying. How can there be small actors?" Davis said. "There are plenty of tall actors. I suppose there are kid actors, but even adults act like little kids on T.V." That caused Kari to chuckle a little.
"I suppose you would know since you live with a big star." Kari said. "I have been meaning to ask you this. What's it like having someone like Miley Stewart as your guardian?"
"It's fine. It can be fun sometimes, but Miley does act like a parent sometimes. We both know how that can be." Davis said.
"I think it's really sweet of her to take care of you until your parents get back." Kari said. "With your parents away because of their jobs and your older sister away at college, it must not be easy for you."
"Actually, things are fine." Davis said. "I do admit that I miss them, even my sister when we don't get along that well, but Miley and her husband have been real great to me."
"I know the feeling." Kari said.
"You do?" Davis questioned.
"You remember my older brother, don't you?" Kari asked.
"Yeah. Tai. Your older brother is so cool." Davis said.
"I'm glad you think so. He's away for college as well." Kari said. "He's also aiming to be a diplomat. That means he'll be going from one place to another in the world. I miss him a lot."
"Sounds hard. Hold on." Davis said. "Doesn't T.K. have an older brother away too? Wouldn't he be able to help you with this sort of thing?"
"Yeah, but I don't think he fully understand." Kari said. "You seem to. T.K.'s parents got divorced, but he still sees his father and his older brother. His brother also goes to college, but he's close by. He can still see him whenever he likes. I can't do that with Tai."
"Yeah. I can't really do the same with Jun." Davis said. "I never knew you were bothered by all that."
"I guess. To be honest, I tend to keep things to myself because I don't want to bother people with my problems." Kari said.
"Really? I just went through something a little similar myself, only I knew no one would have been able to help me." Davis said.
"So have you met other celebrities? What about Jason Burner?" Kari said. "Isn't he Miley's student or something?"
"Jason Burner?" Davis said as he tried to act innocent. "No. Miley wants to respect a celebrity's privacy." Things seem to be going well between those two.
"Lookout." Kari said as she pulled him away and he missed a bucket of water falling on him. They looked up and saw one of those immature jocks Kari was talking about. "Not funny."
"Uh…Kari." Davis said as he looked to see she was still holding him and she was holding his hand. Kari noticed this and quickly let go.
"Sorry." Kari said. A lot can go on backstage and Davis of all people knows that.
…
The Penthouse
Davis went on back home. When he walked through the front door and saw Yolei was there and she was standing with Miley. Neither one of them looked happy. Davis slowly tried to go back through the door.
"Davis, come here." Miley said.
"What?! I swear I didn't do anything this time." Davis said.
"Yolei told me you got involved in helping the theater group of your school." Miley said. "She's a little concerned you're doing this because of Kari."
"Yolei, you told on me when I didn't even do anything?!" Davis said.
"I'm just concerned for you." Yolei said.
"Davis, you swear that there's nothing going on between you and Kari?" Miley said. "If she is the whole reason you agreed to help, I don't think it's a good idea for you to get involved."
"Nothing really happened. Yolei, what's the matter with you?" Davis said. "Why do you care if I hang out with Kari?"
"Davis, you made yourself miserable because of her." Yolei said. "It seems like you've finally moved on from her. Do you really want to go back to that?"
"I'll be fine." Davis said. Miley sighed as she saw there was nothing she could really do.
"Okay. It's your life. There doesn't seem to be really any problems to it." Miley said.
"You'll see. Everything is going to be fine." Davis said and he thought he really meant that.
…
The Next Day
Davis continued helping out with the play. Everything seemed to be going fine with him and it seemed like Yolei had nothing to worry about. Davis was walking through the halls and he heard a piano. Davis walked into the music room, he saw Kari playing on the piano.
"Hey." Davis said.
"Hey." Kari said.
"What are you working on?" Davis said.
"The music for the play. I think it's coming together really nice." Kari said. "A little practice with it and it will be good to go."
"Let me have a look." Davis said as he had a seat next to her. He played a few notes and Kari was impressed that Davis even knew how to play.
"You can play piano?" Kari said.
"I know a thing or two about music." Davis said. "This song doesn't sound all that bad."
"Thanks. I just hope it all works out." Kari said as they started playing together. "I want this play to be good for the school, but I'm a little worried it might not be. If the first night doesn't go well, we won't get much of an audience and raise some money for the school."
"So you think the first night might make a real difference?" Davis said and got a crazy idea. "Well, what if I managed to get something to open the show for you. Something so good that it will draw a lot of people in that the first night alone will raise plenty of money for the school."
"What do you mean? Do you have something in mind?" Kari said.
"A thing or two." Davis said. Kari was actually enjoying her time with Davis.
"Davis Motomiya, you are really something else." Kari said. The two of them continued to play piano together until their hands accidently touched and they both felt something. They both looked at each other and were about to close the distance between them.
"Woah!" Yolei came walking in the door and interrupted them. When she did, they both backed away. "What's going on?!"
"Nothing!" Both of them said.
"Is everything okay?" T.K. said as he came walking in. "I thought I heard Yolei scream or something."
"We're just working on the music, that's all." Kari said as they tried to act innocent.
"Yeah." Yolei said as she was playing along. "T.K., how about you help Kari. Davis, let's do some vocal exercises." She said as she moved the two of them in position. "Let's try this. No. No. No. No. No. No. NO!" Yolei grabbed Davis and dragged him out of there. She knew something was going to happen.
…
Ken
Ken was clearing out his locker and grabbed his books before he was going to head home. Before he could leave, Yolei and Davis came by.
"Ken, Davis almost kissed Kari!" Yolei said.
"Not now, Yolei. I have…. He almost kissed Kari?!" Ken said as he couldn't believe it.
"I knew it! I knew this whole thing was a bad idea!" Yolei said and Davis was feeling bad.
"Davis, how could you?" Ken said. "What about Ashely? I thought you still had a thing going with her, sort of?"
"I don't know what happened!" Davis said. "We were just sitting there and working on the music. While we did, our hands touched and I felt something. It seemed like she felt it too. If Yolei hadn't stepped in when she did, it would have happened."
"I got half a mind to do a football takedown on you." Yolei said.
"Davis, you need to shut this down. I don't think this is a good idea." Ken said.
"I get it. I'll leave it alone" Davis said. Ken and Yolei hoped so, but what they didn't know was that Davis already promised something else for the play and he didn't want to back out of it.
…
Opening Day
The day of the play has finally come. There was a rumor going on that there was some sort of big star was going to open the play. Kari looked through the curtains and saw a real turnout.
"I guess Davis really came through, but who is the person he was talking about?" Kari said. She felt someone tapped her shoulder. She turned around and saw someone dress in black.
"You're Kari, right?"
"Yes. Who are you?" Kari said. The guy moved his hat and showed it was Jason Burner. "Oh my! Jason Burner!"
"That's right. Davis got a hold of me and said you could use some help." Jason said.
"I can't believe you're really here." Kari said.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of this." Jason said as he went on the stage. He showed himself to the audience and they all loved it. "Hi. How's it going? I'm here as a favor to a friend. This friend apparently has some girl problems. He had things going with this girl he likes and he's starting think "things" could be happening. Anyway, here we go." Music started playing and everyone was listening
Everyone's looking for love
Yeah!
You don't even need to try, it will come to you
The one could be in front of you
I could even be the one you're looking for
Just take my hand, let me lead the way
It's your choice if you go or stay
You might see a side of me you never knew
It could happen now
Love work in mysterious ways
It could happen
Might come the next day
It could happen
Maybe I'm the one
It could happen
It could happen now
Everyone needs love
Hey!
It's true regardless of what people say
Instead of talking just follow the heart
It will tell you where to go
Just take my hand, let me lead the way
It's your choice if you go or stay
You might see a side of me you never knew
It could happen now
Love work in mysterious ways
It could happen
Might come the next day
It could happen
Maybe I'm the one
It could happen
It could happen now
Just take my hand, let me lead the way
It's your choice if you go or stay
You might see a side of me you never knew
It could happen now
Love work in mysterious ways
It could happen
Might come the next day
It could happen
Maybe I'm the one
It could happen
It could happen now
Hey
He-ey
Oh
Woah
Just take my hand, let me lead the way
It's your choice if you go or stay
You might see a side of me you never knew
It could happen now
Love work in mysterious ways
It could happen
Might come the next day
It could happen
Maybe I'm the one
It could happen
It could happen now
Love work in mysterious ways
It could happen
Might come the next day
It could happen
Maybe I'm the one
It could happen
It could happen now
Everyone cheered as they loved hearing that song. It was great for everyone.
"Enjoy the show!" Jason said and went backstage.
"Jason, thank you so much." Kari said.
"No problem." Jason said. That was when his phone went off and saw it was Miley. "Oh boy." He knew he be in trouble, but he answer it anyway. "Hi, Miley." He was getting an earful as you could barely hear Miley's voice coming from the phone. "How did you even know where I am?" Jason took a look out to the audience and spotted Ken and Yolei videoing this. Now he's really in trouble. "I've got to go."
"Okay." Kari said as she let him go, but she was really grateful.
….
The Next Day
Davis got in real trouble with Miley after Jason's performance. He made his way through school, but Kari spotted him.
"Davis!" Kari said and got his attention. "Thank you so much for getting Jason here. How did you do that?"
"Truth be told, I swiped Miley's phone so I'm grounded." Davis said.
"Well, I still appreciate what you've done. Thank you." Kari said as she hugged him and he hugged back. He let Kari go and she went over to T.K. That was when Ken and Yolei showed up.
"So how long did Miley ground you for misusing Jason?" Ken said.
"Two weeks. She went easy since I did it for a good reason." Davis said.
"Davis, do you like Kari again?" Yolei said.
"I don't know. I thought singing that song would get whatever's going on with me out." Davis said. Davis couldn't help, but look back at Kari.
"When you look back like that, it is a sign that you like someone." Yolei said.
"Doesn't matter. She's still with T.K. So I'm not going to act on it." Davis said. It seems like he has had a relapse, but things are a little different. From what Yolei has said, Kari looked back as well when Davis wasn't looking and stared at him.