Chapter 18

(10:24am, Monday, Feb 13, 2006)

It was another bitterly cold morning to the start of the school week at Middleton High. The Reader Board said, "Free Hot Chocolate Inside...For Students"

Kim came up to her locker. She was wearing a long-sleeved plaid button-down shirt, her baggy dark denim Club Banana overalls with both straps hooked to go along with her CB black boots. She layered the outfit with a mid-length heavy jacket because of the bitter Colorado winter but left it unzipped because she was indoors.

She opened it as Monique approached her. Monique was wearing a CB max-length denim dress, high-heeled black boots with a gold necklace and giant hoops.

"Girl, ready for the Romeo and Juliet reveal for Drama class?" Monique asked.

"Monique, it's so not going to be the drama for Drama." Kim replied, unaware of what happened Saturday night at the school. "Everyone knows that Zita is going to be Juliet and Rob Reeger is going to be Romeo, even though he can forget lines sometimes."

"We'll have to find out soon, Kim!" Monique insisted, "The Glee Three are keeping their eye on everything!"

"Goody..." she sighed.

(1:18pm)

Kim and Ron were approaching Drama class within G-Hall. The first thing they noticed was that the sign-up sheet for the tryouts were taken down.

"Hey, KP, looks like I finally found the perfect tree costume!" Ron exclaimed, "It even has a zipper in the front."

Kim sighed, "So glad for you, Ron."

Ron looked at her with worry, "Are you feeling OK, KP? You seem kinda...moopy!"

"I just got an eerie feeling going on, Ron." Kim replied, "Like, as if, some major from Humiliation Nation is coming!"

"Come on, it's just probably the AC in the hallway." Ron replied, looking relaxed.

The duo then took their seats, as did the rest of the drama class. Ashley A and Ashley B simply smirked, anticipation to see what kind of reaction Kim would get.

The Glee Three also kept a watchful eye on them.

Barkin then came into the room.

"Alright, people. Now is the moment that you've been waiting for!" the gruff teacher insisted, "The reveal of the roles for Romeo and Juliet! We will go from the least important role to the greatest!"

"Here we go..." Kim moaned, not wanting to take the role of assistant director to the Glee Three.

"First up, Friar John will be played by Horton!"

Eddie Horton pumped his fist in the background for joy.

"Next, playing the role of Balthazar is Platt!"

Alan Platt exclaimed, "Woo-hoo!"

"Don't get too excited!" Barkin muttered. "The role of Abraham will be given to...Beale!"

Larry Beale could harly contain his excitement. He was a defensive back on the football team.

"I won't let you down, Coach!" Larry exclaimed.

Barkin continued with the roll call, "The role of Lady Montague is given to Silver!"

Liz, the other redhead on the cheer squad, smiled with pride from her seat. "Thanks, Mr. Barkin!"

"And the role of Lord Montague will be given to Flagg!"

Brick was listening to music on his headphones when Hope elbowed him on his muscular shoulders.

"Brick, you got the role!" Hope insisted.

"Oh, I did?" Brick asked, slightly confused.

Hope nodded her head.

"Awesome!" Brick said with a smile and went back to listening to music.

"Next, the role of the Chorus will be given to Detweiler, Griswold, and Patterson!"

TJ Detweiler, Gus Griswold, and Hope all gasped for joy. TJ and Gus both played on the football team as linebacker and punter, respectively. They were both juniors at the time.

The two Ashleys looked at them coldly.

"I know that my singing voice would come in handy!" Hope insisted.

"The role of Gregory is given to LaSalle!"

Vince LaSalle exclaimed, "Yes!"

"Next, the roles of Samson and Peter are given to Hall and Bolton, respectively!" Barkin continued down the list.

Troy Bolton and Jamarcus Hall grinned at each other. Troy was a backup quarterback to Brick on the team, for he was a sophomore at the time. Jamarcus was also on the football team as a rising star at wide receiver.

Kim gave a deep sigh. She had read the list before, knowing those students would get the roles.

"Now, we come to the supporting roles!" Barkin replied, "The one who will play the role of Mercutio will be Custer!"

Arnie Custer stood up and took a bow.

Barkin ignored him and continued, "The one playing Benvolio will be Renton!"

Felix gave a high-five to Ron, "Told ya I nailed the role, Stoppable."

"See, Felix? That voice can come quite in handy!" Ron added.

"Can you put a zipper to your mouth, Stoppable? I'm trying to read the list here!" Barkin exclaimed.

Ron immediately shut his mouth as the oft-substitute teacher continued reading.

"Mercutio will be played by Kamalani."

Milo Kamalani stood up from his seat and said, "It is my honor and duty to accept this role..."

"Yeah, yeah, save it for the stage!" Barkin gruffed. "Now, we're coming to the major roles and...looks like we got some last-minute changes!"

"Lady Capulet will be played by Flores!"

His eyes turned to Zita.

Zita's eyes widened in sheer surprise. "Uhh...Mr. Barkin? I hate to say this but I was supposed to be Juliet!"

"It's not according to the list. Did I not mention that once I say the roles, they cannot be reversed?" Barkin explained.

Zita was about to open her mouth in protest, but didn't because she feared that she would get a detention slip or, worse yet, a trip to Veronica Rockwaller's office.

"Understood, Mr. Barkin!"

"Huh? That can't be right..." Kim said to herself.

"Next up, Lord Capulet will be played by Reeger!"

Ron Reeger also widened his eyes in surprise and stood up. "Uhhh...Mr. Barkin, I signed up to be the Romeo of the play."

"And this list says that you are not, Reeger. So sit down before I give you detention!"

Reeger sat back down in his seat.

"The role of the Nurse will be played by Armbrister!"

Ashley A grinned and said nothing. She knew what was coming.

"Next up, Friar Lawrence will be played by Mankey.

Kim gave a weak smile at her former crush, now that he was Tara's BF. But she felt that something was off...way off!

"Thank you, Mr. Barkin!" Josh said while standing up.

And last, but not least, the title roles!" Barkin said with a wide grin on his face. "Romeo will be played by...Stoppable!"

Ron stood up in complete surprise.

"Wow..." he said sheepisly, scratching his back with his arm, "...I...I don't know what to say, Mr. B. A few days ago, I was assigned to be a tree."

"Well, Stoppable, consider this your second non-tree related role." Barkin replied.

Kim began to panic. She had seen that list a few days ago and the names were different.

"And lastly, Juliet will be played by...Possible!"

In her mind, she had the blue screen of death on her face. Her eyes widened with fear and her mouth dropped in sheer shock.

She could only utter one word in a loud scream.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

AN: Eddie Horton and Lloyd in Space is created by Paul Germain and Joe Ansolabehere and (c) by Disney. TJ Detweiler, Vince LaSalle, Gus Griswold and Recess are also created by Germain and Ansolabehere and (c) by Disney. Larry Beale and Even Stevens is created by Matt Dearborn and (c) by Disney. Troy Bolton and High School Musical was written by Peter Barsocchini and (c) by Disney. Milo Kamalani and Pepper Ann is created by Sue Rose and (c) by Disney.