Ricky came running out after him. "Ian, wait. You're not going to tell anyone about this, are you?"
"Tell anyone about what? You think the whole school doesn't already have you figured out? Hey man, be realistic would you? Certainly the drama class has."
"My dad doesn't know about me," whimpered Ricky.
"In that case, he's got to be the dumbest Mayor ever. Ricky, how you live your life is of no concern to me, but if you want my advice, I think you could do a little better than Tim." Ian shook his head and looked down. "You sure couldn't possibly do any worse."
"Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe I don't have a whole lot of choices." Ricky was now on the brink of tears.
Meanwhile, Rita had reappeared out of the girl's locker room. "Hello Ricky." Both boys simultaneously decided not to say anything more. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt something?"
"No you didn't. Let's get going."
He led her to his bike. She perched herself on the rear seat and he handed her his helmet.
"Put this on."
"But then you won't have one."
"Rita, your safety is more important than mine."
"Ian you know that isn't true..."
"Stop arguing. You're wearing it and that's that."
"Yes mom."
As he pedaled her home, she asked him about what just went on again. "So what were you and Ricky screaming about."
"I just caught him in the locker room making out with that Tim."
"Tim?"Rita thought about it for a moment. "Wait a minute, you mean that tall skinny geek with the yellow teeth who's always hanging out with Felix and Becker?"
"Yes dear, that would be him."
"Eeeww. That means Ricky could be passing on that guy's germs to me every time we rehearse."
"Which means you could be passing them on to me."
The two of them both let out a loud "Eeewww" at the same time, which instantly morphed into chuckles.
Rita began to ponder out loud, "I wonder if Felix knows about what that guy's up to when he's not around."
"Well, my guess is that Tim figures that nobody'll suspect anything about him if he goes around beating me up like normal people. That's probably why he hangs out with them."
"Take my word for it, Ian. By the end of this week, 'beating you up' will no longer be considered 'normal behaviour'."
8:00 am
Rita showed up at school wearing one of Ian's striped shirts. The youngsters, who only a few weeks earlier looked like polar opposites, were now starting to look like twins. The same height, the same age and now even the same clothes. What was even more incredible, is that the majority of the kids who knew them, were already starting to get used to the idea. With Felix and Becker temporarily sidelined, and Tim no longer a threat to be reckoned with, Ian now felt a lot safer traversing the halls in between classes. He continued to say "Hello" to anyone who was in any of his classes, but now, more than a few of them were actually starting to say "Hello Ian" back. Steven was no longer the only person in the school who called him by his first name. Betty and Trish now both addressed him as Ian and not ‘idiot’.
Phoebe was still enraged with them. If anything, the relationship between one of her best friends and the idiot who publicly insulted her mother, made her even more temperamental than usual. What on earth could an intelligent, well-groomed, impeccably made-up Goddess like Rita possibly see in this retarded kid who had no fashion sense whatsoever? Little did she know that this would turn out to be the most transformative day of her life.
1:15 pm
It was in between 4th and 5th period, that Betty and Trish stopped Rita in the hall. They had a look of concern in their eyes that was not common for two girls who were normally as easy-go-lucky as them.
"Rita, we've got to talk to you," said Trish.
"What's up?"
" Betty and I are going to see a movie at the mall while our parents are at the meeting tonight. Want to come along?"
"Aw, thanks, but I'm already going to do that with Ian this afternoon. We might even catch you arriving as we're leaving."
"There's something else we wanted to mention," Betty sounded serious. "Phoebe is apparently spending the evening with Felix."
"What!?" Rita was alarmed. "How...?"
"Her mom is driving her there, under the pretense that they're going to be doing homework."
"Homework? They're not even in the same grade!"
"We don't think her mother really cares, one way or the other. All Phoebe knows is that he lives in the Alveira heights area, which of course, automatically makes him 'desireable' in her strange universe."
"Rita, we were hoping there's an outside chance that you might be able to talk some sense into her," pleaded Trish."We tried, but to no avail."
Rita thought about it for a moment. "She's in Norman's 5th period math class, right?"
"I believe so."
"I'll catch her as she's leaving. On some level, she's got to realize that this is just plain wrong...and probably dangerous."
2:10 pm
When Phoebe arrived at her locker, Rita was waiting there for her.
"Ok, what do you want?"
Rita was slightly thrown by the coldness in her voice. "You haven't spoken to me since yesterday at lunch."
"Gee, I can't imagine why," was Phoebe's sarcastic retort, as she fiddled with the combination on her locker.
"Phoebe, are we still friends?"
"I don't know, are we?"
"Betty and Trish tell me that you're planning on spending the evening with a guy who just got expelled for beating up my boyfriend."
Phoebe was incredulous. "Like he's the only person who's ever done that." She slammed her locker shut. "Need I remind you that all last week, your boyfriend was expelled for insulting my mother in front of an entire class...among other things."
Rita sighed. "I hate to say this Phoebe, but the more I learn about your mother, the more I realize just how much restraint Ian was using when he said what he said."
"I've heard enough of this." Phoebe started to take off, but Rita grabbed her arm.
"I don't know whether or not you still consider me to be your friend, but I still consider you to be mine. Please tell me that my phone number is still on speed-dial on your cell phone...Just in case."
"Just in case what!?"
"Phoebe, I don't give a damn how big, strong, handsome and wealthy Felix is. I think that guy is seriously dangerous, and I just want you to know that I'm there for you...no matter what."
Phoebe didn't answer. She didn't know what to say, or for that matter, what to believe...or who to believe. Her confusion was too much. Her mother tells her one thing, her friends tell her the opposite. The fact is that although she instinctively knew how to put on make-up and always wore clothing that showed off her curvaceous figure, the pretty girl was not nearly as emotionally mature as her other friends. The two of them were literally examples of superb raw material, influenced heavily by bad and good parenting, respectively. The two of them parted quietly.
3:45 pm
The Alamanda Galleria was a huge indoor mall, located within short walking distance of the school. It was anchored on either side by two large department stores. The third floor was dominated by culinary businesses and a multiplex. Ian and Steven were seated at the pizza place where the girls were supposed to meet them.
"Do you think I should offer to pay her admission?" Asked Steven.
"No, that would be way too obvious. Not unless she specifically indicates that she's short of funds. Remember, Rita just told her that she's going to see a movie at the mall with a couple of friends. She didn't specifically say that it would be her boyfriend and another guy. You don't want t
o seem too anxious."
"Well, Ian, I'm certainly not going to argue with the master."
"Steven, I'm no master at anything. Getting together with Rita was merely the result of a ridiculously improbable string of events. There was an accident in the gym, an earthquake, a large grandfather clock...Not to mention the fact that Trish really knows how to think on her feet...much to my surprise. If any single one of those elements had been out of place, we would not be sitting here right now. Or maybe we would be, but we certainly wouldn't be waiting for anyone."
Steven was doubtful that lightning could possibly strike twice in the same school. "I've got a feeling that the moment she sees the two of us sitting here, she's going to realize it's a set-up, and off she goes."
"Well, if that happens, there are other girls." Ian tried to sound as inspirational as possible. "By any chance, do you have a second choice?"
"Yes, of course. My second choice is anybody who happens to be female."
Ian spotted the two girls as they emerged from the escalator and waved to them. As they walked over and sat down, it was obvious that Steven's prediction was pretty close to accurate. Although Sheila wasn't making a run for it, the look on her face was indicative of someone who felt she had just been misled. Rita put her arm around Ian's shoulder and gave him a big kiss as usual. Sheila didn't even make eye-contact with Steven.
"Have you guys picked out a film?" asked Rita.
Although they actually hadn't, Ian immediately pointed at the marquis. "Yes, that one." It was a romantic comedy.
"Interesting choice," observed