Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare for Everyone Else)

  Chapter Three

  “You bastard!” Barry wailed loudly as Connor tried to restrain him. “Admit what you’ve done! It’s been days! Hasn’t she been put through enough?”

  “Watch your mouth,” Bordin shouted, watching Donnie and Clark running up to the scene.

  “What’s going on here? Connor, Bordin? What are you doing on our street?” Donnie shouted, noticing the young Watch twins standing nearby.

  “Why are you guys fighting?” Clark asked, looking at the younger boys. “You’re lucky they didn’t accidently kill you.”

  “Seriously though, what the hell Connor? Bordin? Why are you fighting these kids?”

  “They attacked us!” Connor shouted. “We couldn’t find Jason anywhere so we were going to your house, Donnie, to see if he was there.”

  “He’s not,” Donnie said. He looked at the boy being held by Connor who was trying to gather his breath. “Barry? What’s going on here?”

  “They’re liars!” he shouted back, breaking from Connor’s grasp. “They’ve ruined Heaven’s name! I heard them! They’re liars!”

  “What?” Donnie asked. “What’d they lie about?”

  “Heaven,” Barry said, stepping forward. “I heard the whole thing.”

  “What thing?”

  “About Heaven sleeping with another guy. About Heaven cheating on Clark,” Barry shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Bordin and Connor. “Tell them!”

  The older boys remained silent as Donnie looked them over. “What’s he talking about? What do you know about Heaven?”

  Bordin smiled. “I suppose that we’ve finally been caught, eh Connor?”

  “It appears so,” Connor agreed. “We figured this day would come, but we were hoping Jason would be here for it.”

  “For what?” Clark growled. “What did you do?”

  “These kids,” Bordin said, “they heard me talking to Connor on the night Jason took you to Heaven’s house. These kids were able to figure out what neither of you could.”

  “What? What the hell are you talking about?” Clark shouted.

  Bordin rolled his eyes. “You’re always too slow to understand anything, Clark. They heard me say to Connor about how Jason offered Heaven up to me in exchange for ruining her name. When Jason took you to her bedroom and you heard voices, it wasn’t Heaven.”

  “Then…who was it?”

  “It was Meagan and I.”

  “But I heard Heaven’s name—” Clark started.

  “That was me,” Bordin said, shrugging. “I called Meagan ‘Heaven’ in hopes of confusing you. And it certainly worked. These idiots have been following Leo, me and anyone who would listen to their rambling to clear Heaven’s name, but no one took them seriously. And now…here we are. I admit it. Heaven never cheated on you, never did anything more than the Virgin Mary herself would do.”

  Donnie’s face grew pale. “You mean…Jason—”

  “Jason set up the whole thing,” Connor said. “Your own half-brother. Don’t you feel like an idiot? Clark, you should feel the same as always, vacant and confused.”

  “And…he promised, Heaven?” Clark asked.

  “He was going to find a way to get her to me when she was feeling down and alone,” Bordin said. “I was waiting to be her shoulder to cry on.”

  “And then—”

  “And then, genius,” Bordin said, “I would comfort her in a way that a man can best comfort a woman.”

  “How…” Clark muttered. “He…you…we were all tricked.”

  “Good call, genius,” Connor said.

  “I’ll go tell Leo,” Vernon spoke up, turning to run toward Heaven’s house.

  “No need,” Clark said, swallowing deeply as he saw Leo walking up the street to see what was going on.

  “What…is what I heard true?” he whispered thickly, looking over the scene. “You…you were the ones who did this to my daughter?”

  “If you wanna know who came up with this brilliant idea, it was me,” Bordin said, smiling. “If you lay a hand on me though, I’ll make sure my dad sues you for everything you’re worth.”

  “My daughter weeps uncontrollably in her room and you’re standing there with a smile on your face?” Leo asked.

  “Sorry,” Bordin said insincerely. “It sounded like fun at the time.”

  “Well we’ll see what fun you’re having when I call your father and tell him what you’ve done.” Bordin’s face grew pale. “Ahh yes, you’ve forgotten. I may not be the one who strikes you, but I am sure that your father will not like to hear that is son is risking his precious reputation. Go home now – your faces make me sick. Expect a phone call.”

  “Even me, sir?” Connor asked quietly.

  “All of you,” Leo said.

  “Mr. George, I’m so sorry,” Clark said. “I know you can’t forgive me right now but…you must know that I was tricked. I had no idea.”

  “I was tricked as well, sir,” Donnie said.

  “Clear Heaven’s name,” Leo said coldly. “Go to school and tell everyone that my daughter has been nothing but good. You will defend her against all rumors and innuendo and you should pray that she consents to even look at either of your sorry faces again.” He shook his head. “My daughter, ruined over nothing.”

  “I’ll fix this, Mr. George. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  “You’ll do more than that,” Leo said. “The Halloween dance is next weekend. You will take her cousin because she doesn’t have a date and you will treat her like the angel she is because she’s Heaven’s cousin. I’ll base my approval on how you treat her.”

  “Y-you’re serious?” Clark croaked. “You’ll forgive me?”

  “You’re a child, aren’t you?” Leo asked. “You’re stupid and you’ll make mistakes. It’s up to adults to guide children to correct their errors. You’ll take Heaven’s cousin to the dance and you’ll show her a good time. If you succeed in this, I may consider giving you permission to date my daughter. If my niece does not return as the happiest woman in the world then you can kiss any chance of dating Heaven again good-bye. Am I clear?”

  “As water, sir,” Clark said, shaking his hand. “Thank you! Thank you! You really are a good man.”

  “Next weekend,” Leo said, pulling his hand away. “I must take care of my daughter while you repair her reputation at school. I’ll also talk to Meagan’s mother because she’s not innocent in this ordeal.”

  “I’m sure Beatriz will have a little chat with her, as well,” Donnie said.

  “Now, I have an apology to make,” Leo said, turning towards Barry and his friends. “Forgive me, you were trying to tell me the night of the dance but I blew you all off. I do hope you can forgive this old man.”

  “You’re hardly old,” Barry said, laughing. “And we were happy to do it. We’re happy to see Heaven’s name cleared. Though I hope…” he trailed off, looking at Clark, “I hope you remember how much thanks you owe Leo for forgiving you because I don’t think I ever will.”

  “I suppose I get that,” Clark said. “Is there anything I can do to earn your trust?”

  “Never hurt Heaven again,” Barry said. “She doesn’t deserve that.”

  “Never,” Clark said. “It may take a while—”

  “I’m patient,” Barry said, puffing out his chest. “But I better go. I think my mom’s making tacos for dinner tonight.”

  “Tacos?” Leo asked, laughing. “The dinner of an honest man, I’m sure.”

  “Thanks Mr. George,” Barry said, pulling Vernon and the twins away with him, rushing past Andrew who was only now showing up to the scene.

  “What the hell happened?” Andrew asked.

  “Heaven’s name has been cleared,” Leo said.

  “Thank hell. It’s about time. What happens now?”

  “We wait,” Clark said. “I’ll make things right at school with Heaven’s classmates and I’ll take her cousin
to the Halloween dance to prove to Leo that I’m trustworthy again.”

  Andrew arched a brow, mouthing to Leo, “Heaven’s cousin?”

  Leo winked at him slyly. “I have some phone calls to make tonight. Clark, pick my niece up at six. Be prompt, be polite and you shall earn my blessing again.”

  Clark smiled. “It seems like months until Halloween.”