A/N: Almost done with this. I have about half a page left for this ENTIRE story. That's right, it's almost over. Are you as excited as I am!? Because you should be, because I'm, like, SUPER excited! As always, my props go out to Ponytail30527, for her gracious acceptance in letting me torment her characters! As well as Kowalskiluva11, because you reviewed and made me smile! :D

Chapter Nine: The Day Before

There were 27 things Roz would rather have done that day than go to school. Three of them involved knives. She had even attempted to tell each and every reason to her mother, as Marlene went about cleaning up for the day.

Roz had gotten to item number thirteen before Marlene growled, "Rozalin! Please. You're not getting out of this, you are going to school." Even though it sounded like that was that, Roz kept pushing it.

"But I hate school! I'm not good at it." Marlene scoffed. Next excuse. "And Marshal's there." Her mom stopped for a minute, and the young girl thought she had it. Until Marlene shrugged and told her to get over it. "Ugh! But I don't want to go to school today!" She grabbed Marlene's leg and held on for dear life. "I want to stay home and bake cookies with you!" At that moment, Cube came back in, tugging on his gloves. Roz had asked Cube about them ever since she could remember, but he only said they were lucky, and prevented him from getting shocked. And third degree burns.

Which made sense, but she had to wonder if he was hiding something else. "Roz, you have to go to school. Who else will keep J.J. at bay?" He chuckled, grabbing his and Athena's extra credit.

Marlene stared at her daughter. "Roz, what's he talking about?" She gasped as she figured it out only seconds later. "Do you like J.J.?" Cube and Peanut both burst out laughing.

Roz, however, was not amused and did NOT find this funny. "No, mother, just… ugh, could I just stay here?" Marlene thought about it, and just as Rozalin was just about to give up and go to school, Marlene shrugged and said okay. Peanut frowned. He wanted to stay at home too!

But Marlene shook her head, and the boy could have sworn he saw her wink. "You and your brother go on to school. See you later." She said matter of factily.

Cube shrugged, and the pair headed off, Marshal and Eggy catching up not very long after. "Where's the royal pain?" Marshal asked, after looking around for her. Peanut was about to go off on a rant about the fairness of treatment between him and Roz, when she came shooting out of their habitat like a bat out of hell. Marshal slapped his forehead. "Why did I even ask?" He groaned. Peanut looked at her, she was kinda sweaty and she looked very scared.

What was wrong with her? They let her catch her breath and asked her what the matter was. But, the poor animal was too angry to say much more than, "She's good. She's really, really good."

Peanut looked up at Marshal and shrugged, but felt equally glad that his mom really didn't show favoritism. Cube had already gone to find Athena, and Marshal, Eggy, and Peanut were discussing their talent show project. "And after Marshal slips and falls, we'll end with… the golden joke!" Eggy said, ending on a high note. "What do you think, Roz?" The girl stretched her arms high above her head and grinned.

"I think Marshal doesn't get hit enough." She said, being completely serious.

Eggy smiled and nodded. "That's—"

"—what—"

"—I—"

"—said!" His brother and sisters seemingly chimed in out of nowhere. Roz jumped from surprise, grabbing onto Marshal in the process.

"Whoa! Okay, that was weird. Like freaky weird." She looked at Marshal, who was disgruntled, to say the least.

"Rozalin?" He started.

"Yes, Marsh-mellow?"

The boy sighed and continued. "I know we're sorta friends now, but you holding my flipper? Do not want."

Roz then smiled, having thought up a devious plan. "But Marsh-mellow, you're so strong; you can protect me from the bad things." The other kids around them snickered as Marshal visibly blushed and tried to pry the sticky mammal off.

"Get off me, you crazy chick!" He yelled, finally peeling her off and hiding behind Peanut. "Dude, do something about your insane sister!" The group was still laughing as they reached the "classroom", Roz and Marshal going back and forth with fake insults.

"Man, I can't WAIT for school to be over." They both said, as the class began for the day.

Today wasn't as bad as before, especially since Mason and Phil focused on especially what she needed. Sure it was a little embarrassing, but that didn't stop her from appreciating the gesture. Cube looked over at his little sister and smiled. She was really coming into her own. With time, she'd be hanging out with friends, always happy… and those nightmares would stop. He clenched his eyes shut and thought back to a few nights ago. She had woken up, sweating, breathing really heavy. It was a nightmare about their father, he knew that much, but always held any comments in, so that she didn't feel uncomfortable. He would wait for her to open up to him.

That's just what big brothers did for their sisters.

Roz looked over at him and stuck her tongue out, then sent him a quick smile and turned back to her work. She was this energetic, now playful ball of fur, and he wouldn't trade her for the other, more serious Roz, ever. Besides, maybe this time she'd stay in one spot and end up with some nice boy.

A few minutes later (by coincidence or by ill-fate, Cube couldn't tell) J.J. and Maurisa came rushing in, looking frantic and worried. J.J. sat down in the seat next to Roz, but said nothing, just scribbling as he was given the instructions for the day. By the end of class he was wriggling in his seat like a night crawler, and barely made it through the afternoon announcements.

"There will be no class tomorrow, so that we can all prepare for the talent show. Afterwards, there will be a small party your parents have been invited to, so bring food." Mason said, looking around at Phil. The other chimp shrugged and signed something. Mason nodded. "Indeed, I think that is all for today. Hand in your day work and we'll see you all tomorrow night."

Mason and Phil had almost doubled the daily workload since they had no homework, and the extra credit would have helped with that… If anyone but Cube and Athena had done the extra credit. The pair left holding hands and talking about the lesson they had just learned. Roz giggled, racing Marshal to the turn in desk and leaning back on it. "Is there anything sweeter than nerds in love? I mean, other than the obvious anything. Though they do look good toge—WHAT, J.J.!?" During her whole speech, J.J. had been poking and prodding her, trying to get her attention. Though, now that he had it, he wasn't sure he wanted it.

But, such is life, and Maurisa stepped up to explain. "So me and J.J. were practicing this morning, you know, before class… well, before we came to class, you know, and—" Roz threw her a look, one that could only say get to the point. "Our song got messed up! We spent all morning looking for a replacement CD, but there just wasn't one!" Roz looked over at the disappointed and downtrodden Prince, and felt a little bad for him.

He just wanted a great talent show performance. She sighed and patted both of them on the back. "You guys, relax. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's improvising! We'll think of something, don't worry. And by we, I mean me." She rushed out of the class and looked around, though she wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do. The talent show was almost 24 hours away. There was no way she could find a new CD and get it back with enough time to practice! And she REALLY needed to practice.

"I need a miracle." She finally decided, sitting beneath a tree in the park. All of a sudden, she heard music coming from somewhere in the park. Despite all logic that said she really shouldn't follow it, she did anyway, and was surprised at what she found in a storage room, not too far from the zoo's entrance.

"What rhymes with 'Athena'?"

"Ah… need yah?"

"Nice! Oh, check it out, we have company!" Buck said, looking around his drum set at Roz.

Jack smirked. "Cute company. And to what do we owe this… gorgeous surprise?" Roz rolled her eyes, but kept a close watch on what the strange animals (She could only suppose they were rats or something) were holding. Jack had a guitar, and Buck was tapping two drumsticks together.

Miracle, instrument playing rat things… She couldn't be picky. All she needed was someone to do lyrics. And she knew just the girl! "Guys…" She said in her sweetest voice, which they bought, hook, line, and sinker. "I REALLY need your musical talents for a show. It'd mean a lot to me if—"The work was already done, however, and they more than assured her that they would be more than pleased to help her.

"Anything for you, sweetness." She cringed internally at the cutsie nickname, but tried not to show any disgust externally.

"Only one piece of our happy little puzzle is missing," Roz said as they left the shelter of the storeroom. The squirrels were right behind her, hanging onto her every word. "Once we get her, though, it'll be on, my friends. Come on!"

------------

Next Time on Geeze Doumani!

We're all getting ready for the talent show!
Yeah, I'm not!
Lucky, you're such a stick in the mud.
Well sorry, Lilly, I'm not going to parade around like a foolish fooly-fool.
You guys, knock it off. We gotta talk about the next chapter, else we'll get fired!
Don't worry so much, Nellie, we'll be fine.
Do you even know what the next chapter is, Eggy?
Sure, it's… erm… We're practicing for our acts.
That's it? Just practice?
LILLY! You just gave away the title! We're not supposed to do that!
Now we'll get fired for sure!
Our--
--first--
--job--
--too!

All: AWW, MAN!

Okay… the ducklings, everybody. Er… And yes, they gave away the title. But not so much the chapter. It'll be a good one, just wait and see. As always, review.

Please—
--Review—
--For—
--Us!