"Why are we here again?" Finnick questioned while they were in the costume and prop room that was backstage of the school theatre. Him, Ben, and Gideon were watching Nick going through the costume racks.
"The girls are learning about Romeo and Juliet in their English class and Carrots was reciting lines with this professor that's got all of the girls adoring him.
Ben gushed, "Aw, you're afraid you're not romantic enough for her…" he made a giddy squeal.
"Hey, I'm plenty romantic! I just won't let some second rate Dog Juan up-stage me!" suddenly he found a costume that was perfect for his plan, "Ah-ha!" he quickly went to put it on and came back showing it off to the guys, "What do you think?"
Finnick made a gag while Ben was on the edge of exploring with happiness and Gideon pointed out, "Well, at least it's bound to impress Judy."
Nick stated with a determined look, "I'm going for it."
Judy and the girls were still gushing over English class and Mr. Stripe that night in their dorm.
"Wasn't he just amazing?!" exclaimed Fru-Fru.
Giselle smiled, "He certainly knew what he was doing."
"I think I might be his favorite!" proclaimed Dawn.
Fru gestured, "But he had Judy as Juliet."
"But he knew it takes a certain mammal to play Lady Catulet."
Judy giggled, "Okay, we should really get started on our homework, after Mr. Stripe did assign us a two-hundred word essay on the importance of Shakesbeare's famous play and why Romeo and Juliet is important to this day."
"You're right." said Dawn, "Besides he might give an encore performance if we do a great job."
They giggled before turning to their desks to start working when suddenly there was a rapid tap on their balcony doors and when they turned no one was there. Judy being the closet decided to check it out and when she open the door to step out she heard a rustling from the tree that was close to their balcony and to her surprise appeared a fox wearing a costume like that of a romantic hero! He then spoke in a passionate tone.
"What lady's that? O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright. Did my heart love till now? For I never saw true beauty till this night…"
She was awestruck by his words.
He smiled as he slowly walked on the branch that reached the balcony, "My lips ready stand with a tender kiss."
She smirked as she recited the next line, "Good pilgrim, which mannerly devotion show in this? Saints have hands that kiss."
"Have not have saints lips?"
"Lips they use in prayer."
"O then, dear saint, they pray."
"Saints do not move."
"Then move not…" he got closer to her face, "Thus from my lips my sin is purged." he started to pucker up but was stop by Judy's finger.
She smirked, "Did you honestly think it would be that easy?"
"Well, I thought I should at least try." he shrugged.
She shook her head with amusement, "You come here all dressed up like some fairy tale prince, start reciting lines from a play I'm currently reading, and wooing me to give you a kiss, some girls would get excited over this but I know I need exercise caution given you seem to know about my English class doing Romeo and Juliet. So spill."
"Alright, so maybe I saw your class this afternoon and decided to get out of my own class to see what you were doing."
Judy heard the awes from her roommates.
"So you saw me reciting with Mr. Stripe?"
"That's his name?"
"He's substituting for our regular English professor, Mrs. Hardshell. She's ill at the moment and I don't know when she'll be back."
Nick thought with contempt, Great…
She smirked again, "But I am flattered you would go through all this trouble to impress me…"
"Just to remind you that I was here first before that tiger with a silver tongue was."
"Why Nicholas Wilde, I never expected you to be the jealous type."
"I'm not jealous I was just worried that you wouldn't fall for my charms anymore."
She ended up smiling, "Nick. That is just not possible." she kissed his cheek much to his amazement. She kept smiling, "Your charm on me will never die."
He grinned, "Can I get that in writing?"
"Nope. Because it's already on your cheek."
He smirked further as he reached for her paw, "Carrots, you continue to impress…" he kissed it before he started going and gave a bow. "Good night, fair maiden."
She shook her head in amusement, "Good night to you too, drama king... Will I see you tomorrow for more investigating?"
He cringed, "Ah… No."
"Oh, why?"
"I… have to serve detention."
Her eyes widen, "What did you do this time?"
"I did nothing! I was framed!"
She gave him a suspicious look "Any reason why you were framed?"
He sighed, "I may have gotten into… a… bet with Buffalo Butt and Lionfart," he said quickly, "of them having to obey me for a month if we got Ben to be Gazelle's dance partner."
She sighed this time, "Sweet cheese and crackers… so that's why we had that bug… so you would win the bet and now this is their revenge, right?"
"Eee… yeah."
She sighed again while perching her elbow on the rail as she touched her chin, "What am I going to do with you?"
His smirk came back, "I can think of a few things…"
She slowly smiled, "I'm sure you do. Good night, Nick."
"Good night, Carrots, parting is such sweet sorrow." he started climbing down the tree and gave one final wave before going back to the school.
She shook her head again before closing the balcony doors and was met with smirking girls.
As much as she knew what they were going to say, she asked, "What?"
Fru stated, "He was on our balcony. Just for you."
Judy playfully replied, "Really? I didn't notice."
Dawn rolled her eyes, "Deny it all you want, but you were ecstatic when he had started reciting Shakesbeare."
"Maybe I was, maybe I wasn't."
Giselle said, "Oh, Judy, you are falling, we can see that plain as day… so tell us, what are you waiting for? He has made his intentions quite clear of him wanting to be something more."
Judy's face sagged, "I know… it's just… I remember the stuff he did to me last year and there was that bug and in the past there was Roland… I guess I'm a little scared of getting into a relationship again."
"Aw, Judy…" the shrew pats her paw, "We understand. If I had a jerk like that for an ex-boyfriend I would be hesitant too."
Giselle nodded, "Nicholas may have done some questionable things but so far he is willing to change. Unlike Roland who obviously couldn't keep true to his girlfriend."
Dawn commented, "But between him and Wilde, the fox's actually the better choice as surprising as that is."
"I know he is… but…"
Fru piped up as went to her I-pod, "Maybe it would be better if you explained it in song." and the song, I Won't Say I'm in Love from Harecules came on.
Judy started to object but she knew there was no stopping Fru and started singing, "If there's a prize for rotten judgment… I guess I've already won that… No mammal is worth the aggravation… That's ancient history, been there, done that!"
The girls sang on, "Who d'ya think you're kidding… He's the Earth and heaven to you! Try to keep it hidden… Honey, we can see right through you!"
"Oh no…"
"Girl, you can't conceal it… We know how you feel and who you're thinkin' of…"
"Oh-ho… No chance! No way! I won't say it, no, no…"
"You swoon, you sigh, why deny it, uh-oh!"
"It's too cliché… I won't say I'm in love…"
"Shoo-doo, shoo-doo, oo-oo-oo…"
"I thought my heart had learned its lesson… It feels so good when you start out…"
"Ahhhh…"
"My head is screaming, get a grip, girl! Unless you're dyin' to…
"Cry your heart out!"
"Ohhhh…"
"You keep on denying, who you are and how you're feelin'… Baby, we've not buying… Hon, we saw you hit the ceilin'! Face it like a grownup when you're gonna own up that you… Got, got, got it bad!"
"Oh… No chance! No way! I won't say it, no, no!"
"Give up, but give in!"
Giselle sang, "Check the grin, you're in love…"
She was on the edge of giggling as she sang, "This scene won't play! I won't say I'm in love!"
"You're doing flips, read our lips, you're in love! Shoo-doo, shoo-doo…"
"You're way off base, I won't say it!"
"She won't say in love!"
"Get off my case, I won't say it!"
"Girl, don't be proud… It's okay, you're in love…"
She smiled, "Oh… At least out loud… I won't say I'm in… Love…"
"Shoo-doo, shoo-doo, shoo-doo, shoo-doo… Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la… Haaa…"
Then they burst out laughing.
"Okay! So you got me to admit it! I am hoping to make him my steady but my fears are still very real…"
They gave her sympathetic smiles.
"So until I feel sure, I can't return his affections."
Dawn said, "That's a good idea."
"And I'm sure Nicholas will wait for you until you do." motioned Giselle.
"Now that we have that settled why don't you tell me how things are going with the SP campaign?"
Dawn got out a notebook, "Well, the good news is we have some supporters already who want Fru as the Snow Princess again but we're going against Amanda and Katilyn this year and they're just as popular so it's important we sway the first years since they weren't here last year and they make up a large portion of the student body."
"Any ideas on how to do that?" the bunny asked.
Fru and Giselle shook their heads.
The sheep pointed, "I will admit, it has been hard without you. You always come up with the best plans."
"Sorry…" she winced before giving a small smile, "but since Nick is stuck in detention tomorrow, that gives me the chance to help out."
"That's great!" Fru beamed then awkwardly said, "Well, not about Nicky being in detention…"
Judy giggled, "Don't worry, Fru, I know exactly what you mean…"