CHAPTER 8: A POTENTIAL SPARK
The sun was slowly beginning to set and leave the city in a dark blanket of night,and Lucy appeared to be blissfully sitting at her psychiatric booth with her feet propped up on the wooden panel,because if there was one thing about her that had never changed at all over the last couple of years,it was the business side of her who would never pass up an opportunity to give kids some "help" in exchange for a single nickel. The girl seemed to be fiddling around with a single dandelion and blowing away some of it's petals before she suddenly noticed Christine across the street and walking down the sidewalk to which she grew a look of intrigue on her face and optimistically called out "Hey there Christine,what are you doing out this late?" which prompted Christine to perk up and look over to the left to see Lucy in a much more professional and doctor-like position.
"Oh,hey Lucy." Christine politely responded to Lucy's call as she walked across the street and joined her at the wooden booth before she brought attention to it and wondered out of curiosity "So what is this thing you got here? Your happy place?" to which the typically crabby girl closed her eyes and calmly answered with an ego filled look on her face "This right here is my workstation,you see for the incredibly cheap price of five cents,I can help out any kid with their personal problems,for example,Charlie Brown used to be my top customer but ever since he started growing a spine,business has been a little less lively."
"And lemme guess,you want me to increase your stocks?" Christine smirked and suspiciously wondered with a raised eyebrow only for Lucy to shake her head and deny in a somewhat sing-song kind of voice "Oh no,I'm just here wondering what you're doing out here so late,the only kids I see out like this are the ones that are going on a date." to which Christine sighed and ultimately caved in while she sat down at the small chair in front of the booth "Well,I guess I could tell you this."
ONE HOUR EARLIER
Christine and James were both standing near the entrance of the theater after they had finished all the stuff they could have done that day,and were talking about how things seemed to be going so far as the former gratefully showed her gratitude for the help "Thanks a lot for some of the help James,I think this will have the potential to really sort me out before the show." to which the latter smiled and happily retorted "It's proving to be very fun to me if I were being honest,it's better than doing nothing at home since I already do my homework before I even leave the school." which prompted Christine to lightly chuckle and playfully joke "Really? I do that too."
"Oh you do? That's neat." James perked up a little and dumbfoundedly stated in response before he cheerfully continued "But yeah as long as you come on by to the school auditorium everyday after all our classes,I think you'll be in perfect shape for the show." only for Christine to sigh and meekly retort afterwards "I hope so,I'm definitely feeling better and more confident than I normally do about stuff like this,but I'm just a little worried I'll still bundle it up somehow."
James:
Tell me what would you do coming out of the stakes?
With no folks,no dough,a whole world of no?
Just a scared kid trying to make it into Maine?
Christine:
Rise up?
James:
And what would you do in the spring of '06?
If they tossed me in jail and we couldn't make bail?
And you lived in the car 'till I was back on the street?
Christine:
Yeah,good times.
James:
If there's one dang thing I know for sure.
You've gotta keep on moving.
This town is a convenience store.
Breeze in,stock up and go.
All you need is just one major score.
For things to start improving.
Trust me Christine,you'll rise up.
Christine:
And what if I don't?
James:
Sure it's looking bad,what else is new?
Christine:
What's the plan?
James:
Not a clue.
You'll pull through somehow,we always do.
Gotta take a leap of faith.
It was at this point that Christine couldn't help but smile due to James's encouraging words which resulted in the boy timidly blushing at the sight,followed up by the girl blushing as well while she slowly headed out of the theater and began to head on home.
PRESENT DAY
"Are you serious?! That was quick!" A surprised and bewildered Lucy exclaimed in awe after Christine had told her what's been happening with her and James only for the girl to meekly try to brush the supposed accusations aside "I-it's not entirely like that just yet,but I can't help but think that I'm starting to like him,he seems very nice,very sweet,he was very open to hearing about my anxiety issues and his passion for musical theater is also very admirable to the point where I think it's rubbing off on me. I don't know if he's feeling the same way but…...I think one day this week I'll see if he wants to go somewhere one night." to which Lucy rolled her eyes and nonchalantly lamented in response "Well if you ask me I'd say it's about time you hooked up with someone,almost everyone in the gang is hitched now aside from Ashlynn,and that's because she's into girls and hasn't found her soulmate yet."
"Well,I guess I just have to wait and see if he's feeling that way first,oh and would you mind keeping this a secret from everyone else for a while?" Christine sighed and hopefully requested that Lucy not tell anyone about her feelings for James as she stood up from the chair before Lucy zipped her lips and happily obliged while she held up her money can "My lips will be sealed Christine,in exchange for five cents." to which the shy girl promptly took out a nickel and placed it inside,making Lucy hug the thing like a teddy bear as she continued to walk home.
Meanwhile back in the downtown area of Sparkyville,James appeared to be stepping out of the theater and locking it up with a key before the voice of Peppermint Patty suddenly called out from behind "Hey James,what are you doing all the way out here?" to which the boy perked up a bit before he turned around to see the tomboy, Franco, Marcie and Franklin looking at him from the sidewalk while he politely answered "Oh hi you guys,I'm just locking up the theater for the night and heading home. What about you four?
"We've decided to try out this new restaurant Patty heard about and go on a double date there." Franklin promptly explained what the four of them were doing out in the downtown area away from their side of town before Marcie politely offered at the mention "Would you like to come with us as a bystander?" only for James to shake his head and respectfully decline "No thank you,I need to be heading home anyway. My parents are having company over and they need me to keep their kid occupied in my room." to which Franco calmly wondered in response "What were you doing over here? No one saw you at all today."
"I was helping out Christine with some of her anxiety issues so she can be ready for the show on Friday,and I have to say she's a very nice girl whenever she starts to warm up to you." James calmly answered Franco's question as he walked towards the group,unaware that his face was starting to turn red at the mere mention of Christine to which Peppermint Patty took notice and smugly asked with a sly grin "Christine huh? What's making your face all red then?" before the british boy realized what was going on and timidly tried to dodge the question "Uh n-n-nothing,isn't i-it just the way it normally looks?" only for Franklin to shrug and nonchalantly reply "No not really."
"Come on Jimbo,you can tell us if anything's going on,we won't tell." Peppermint Patty wrapped her arm around James and playfully tried to encourage him to tell them if anything was going on before the boy sighed and reluctantly admitted "Alright,I think I'm starting to like Christine,and I would really appreciate it if we keep it a secret between us for now. Please?" to which Patty slapped the boy on the back and cheerfully obliged "You got it,and hey,I'm just glad you're finally starting to find some love in your life. Lord knows you need it."
"Same here,but I can't believe it's Christine of all people,she just seems so shy and antisocial." Franklin nodded his head and cheerfully added in agreement before Marcie politely wondered out of curiosity "When do you think you're gonna tell her how you feel?" to which James placed a hand on his chin and thought about it for a few moments before he answered "I suppose either one day this week or after the show,but I at least wanna fully help her out first before completely jumping to a relationship."
It was at this point that Patty, Franklin and Marcie decided to give James a thumbs up in support before proceeding to head off towards their destination while the tomboy cheerfully added "Don't worry about us,our secret stays with us until you spill the beans yourself!" to which James gave a sigh of relief and happily retorted "That's good to know! Thanks for that!" before he decided to head home. As the weekend promptly came to a close and the school week reared its ugly head back up again,things seemed to be going mostly smooth when it came to the gang getting ready for the show and Christine fixing herself up with James,and it was pretty obvious that the two were starting to showcase their personal feelings toward each other and put them on display,despite how much they both tried to make it appear otherwise when the other was present like in classrooms,lunchtime,recess or the bus ride home.
James's Thoughts:
That girl right there.
Am I the only one who sees those lips?
That hair?
Those eyes that knock me to my knees?
Voices Of Charlie Brown, Linus, Scheroder, Pigpen, Shermy, Skylar, Thibualt, Dominick, Jose, Ox and Ed:
(Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.)
James's Thoughts:
Don't look at her.
They find out they'll laugh at you for sure.
Voices Of Charlie Brown, Linus, Scheroder, Pigpen, Shermy, Skylar, Thibualt. Dominick, Jose, Ox and Ed:
(Sooooooooooooo.)
James's Thoughts:
What's it matter?
She's not one of us.
And you're just-
James And Boys:
Out of your head-
James's Thoughts:
If you think that this ever could be.
You're dreaming.
James And Boys:
Go back to bed you're out of your head.
James's Thoughts:
Girls like her don't happen to guys like me.
Christine's Thoughts:
That boy right there.
I see him everywhere I go.
He smiles,I stare.
Could it be more?
I just don't know.
Voices Of Freida, Violet, Patty Swanson, Eudora, Cobra, Rattler, Dolores, Joslyn, Claudia, Ashlynn and Rebecca:
No! Don't be stupid!
Christine's Thoughts:
Told myself a million times before.
Voices Of Freida, Violet, Patty Swanson, Eudora, Cobra, Rattler, Dolores, Joslyn, Claudia, Ashlynn and Rebecca:
No! Don't be foolish!
He is not your kind.
And you're just out of your head if you think that this ever could be.
You're dreaming.
Go back to bed you're out of your head.
Christine's Thoughts:
Boys like him don't happen.
Christine And James:
And you're just-
Everyone:
Out of your head if you think that this ever could be.
You're dreaming.
Go back to bed you're outta your head.
Christine's Thoughts:
Boys like him don't happen to girls like me.
Voices Of Freida, Violet, Patty Swanson, Eudora, Conra, Rattler, Dolores, Joysln, Claudia, Ashlynn and Rebecca:
No! No!
James's Thoughts:
Girls like her don't happen to guys like me.
Voices Of Freida, Violet, Patty Swanson, Eudora, Cobra, Rattler, Dolores, Joysln, Claudia, Ashlynn and Rebecca:
No! No!
Christine And James:
Things like this don't happen.
As that very same Monday came to a close and Christine was about to leave the school auditorium after another day of special practice,James suddenly felt like this was a chance to tell her how he was feeling.
James's Thoughts:
And then she's there.
The chance would never come again.
I say a prayer.
Take one deep breath and count to ten.
Then I know it.
Something tells me she must feel the same.
See,don't blow it,simply call her name.
However much to his own surprise,James couldn't bring himself to call out to Christine and instead just let her walk out the auditorium doors as he sighed out of disappointment and followed suit.
I must be out of my head but I've got it as bad as can be.
God help me.
She is so fine but it's crossing a line.
Girls like her don't happen.
Girls like her can't happen.
Girls like her don't happen to guys like me.
NEXT CHAPTER: CURED
"Rise Up Reprise 1." and "Out Of Your Head." Written By Alan Menken and Glenn Slater.
©️Menken Music. Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
©️Universal Music Corp. Punchbuggy Music. Menken Music. Warner- Tamerlane Publishing Corp.