Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare for Everyone Else)

  Chapter Four

  “Look at them,” Barry said, frowning as he stole a look toward Clark’s house. Jason was there, no doubt talking about what happened.

  “I don’t know what else we can do,” Vernon said. “I don’t like what’s happened either, and now Heaven hasn’t been going to school.”

  “Jesus,” Barry said. “It’s that bad?”

  “Clark called her a lying slut at the dance,” Vernon said. “That’s what Cole told me. Her dad was there and everything.”

  “It’s bullshit,” Barry said. “I wish you could’ve been there, Lex,” he continued, eyeing up his friend who occasionally had time to hang out with them. He could be a little annoying but if any of his friends knew about gossip, it was him. He was willing to tolerate him to figure out what had happened. “You should have seen how mad Leo was at us.”

  “From what you told me it couldn’t be helped,” Lex said. “So was it actually Jason who was involved?” he asked, looking over at the deck a few houses over.

  “No…well, I don’t know,” Barry said. “Bordin and Connor were there but they were both talking about something Jason had promised them.”

  “That he’d set him up with Heaven,” Vernon said.

  “Jason promised that?”

  “Yes,” Barry said.

  “To whom?”

  “Bordin,” Barry said. “I can’t stand him.”

  “Connor isn’t any better,” Vernon said. “His dad’s some big shot realtor in the city so he thinks he’s hot shit.”

  “And they all attend my family’s church,” Barry said, shaking his head.

  “And yet they act as though they’ve done nothing wrong,” Vernon said. “What they did to Heaven, how they tricked Clark, it’s not right, dammit.”

  “Clark’s a good soccer player, but let’s face it,” Barry said, “He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Connor’s shifty as hell; I bet they had no trouble convincing him.”

  “They’re liars,” Vernon said.

  “And they’re going to get away with it,” Lex said.

  “Of course they would,” Barry said. “But we heard Bordin with our own ears. He wasn’t doing anything with Heaven, but with Meagan. Isn’t that terrible? Bordin called Meagan ‘Heaven’ hoping that Clark would misunderstand.”

  “He certainly did,” Lex said.

  “We’re still talking about this?” a voice cracking from puberty broke in. The Watch brothers strolled over to the group from behind a hedge. The brother who had spoken looked at Lex expectantly. “Don’t tell me that you can’t tell who I am?”

  “Watch One?” Lex guessed.

  “Are you ever actually going to call me by my real name?” he asked, smiling.

  “Watch One and Watch Two is easier to remember,” Lex said.

  “Look, we’re talking about Heaven here, not these snoops,” Barry said.

  “I would suggest that you guys get over it. Jason sucks and he tricked everyone—”

  “So you know,” Barry said. “You know that Jason is disgusting. Donnie’s half-brother ruined everything.”

  “Bordin’s no better,” Watch Two said. “Wasn’t he the one who was actually in Heaven’s bedroom with another girl?”

  “I think Clark’s the worst,” Barry said. “He couldn’t talk to Heaven about this in private? He had to keep dating her knowing what he knew, take her to the dance, allow them to be crowned king and queen, and only then he decides to call her out? In front of the whole school? That’s the worst.”

  “We can’t just let this go, can we?” Vernon asked.

  “We tried to talk to Leo,” Barry said, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just not that simple.”

  Lex looked down at his sneakers. “I suppose it’s not simple, but you can’t tell me it’s fair that Jason’s family is letting him go on a vacation tomorrow.”

  “Where did you hear that?” Barry asked, looking over at Lex. “He doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere.”

  “My mom told me about it,” Lex said. “He’s going.”

  “We can’t let him get away with this,” Barry said, pounding his fist into his palm.

  “Just let it pass,” Lex said. “Another scandal will bubble up soon enough.”

  “No,” Barry said. “Not when it comes to her. I’m going to try and talk to Leo again. He needs to understand.”

  “You’ll be lucky if Bordin and Connor don’t beat the shit out of you,” Vernon said.

  “I don’t care, let them do it,” Barry said. “I can’t stand Heaven’s name being ruined.”

  “Do whatever,” Lex said. “But don’t expect us to get our hands dirty.”

  “Really?” Barry asked. “None of you? None of you will help me?” He looked at the Watch brothers who were suddenly looking at something else. Lex coughed and looked away. “Vernon?” he asked desperately. “Please?”

  “Barry…I—”

  “Please, Vernon…I’m begging you. Help me with this. Help me clear her name.”

  “This really means that much to you?” Vernon asked.

  “Yes. I need to do this.”

  Vernon looked over. “Fine. If that’s what matters to you.”

  Barry smiled. “It does. More than anything.”

  Act Five