Choice of the Cheerleader - A Fair of Change - Part 2

 

Quinn was annoyed. Brittany’s audition, while rather good, wasn’t an excuse for Mr. O’Neill to not consider anyone else. She wondered what to do about it. Then it hit her. Sabotage! “She won’t know what’s coming!” she said darkly.

 

 

The fair was already underway when the Morgendorffers arrived. Both Quinn and Daria took leave of their parents. “Daria! Quinn!” Helen called.

 

“That’s funny, they were here a minute ago.”

 

Helen saw Linda Griffin approaching, along with her husband and children. “Linda. Tom!”

 

“Helen, Jake,” Tom greeted.

 

“Have you met, Sam and Chris?” Linda asked. “Kids, say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Morgendorffer.”

 

The two boys ran off. Sandi rolled her eyes.

 

“Too bad Quinn lost out to the Taylor girl,” Linda said.

 

“There will be other opportunities,” Helen said in a neutral tone. “The competition was fairly stiff.”

 

“That’s not the way I heard it,” Linda shot back.

 

‘Of course, Sandi would misrepresent it,’ Helen thought with a glance at the girl in question as she too, wandered off.

 

 

Brittany arrived at the fair. It was well underway. She turned to Kevin. “Now, Kevie, I want you on your best behaviour!”

 

“I always behave, Babe,” Kevin responded.

 

Brittany knew that was a lie. “I mean, don’t cause trouble at the theatre! Especially if you see me with someone else on stage.”

 

“You mean, Corey?”

 

“Exactly!”

 

 

Sandi found the rest of her club looking at a pie stand. She noticed Stacy sobbing over some boy or other. “… Stacy, what’s wrong? You look awful.”

 

“Yeah, really, really bad,” Tiffany added.

 

“Was it Bret Strand?” Quinn asked.

 

“Yes!” Stacy paused to let out a sob. “He said he'd call me after our first date but he never did, and I just saw him and I said hi and he pretended like he didn't even see me.”

 

“Bummer,” Sandi said.

 

Quinn glared at Sandi.

 

Sandi glared back. ‘Now’s not the time, Quinn.’

 

“I have an idea,” Quinn said, with an edge to her voice.

 

“What is it?” Sandi asked with annoyance.

 

“Sabotage!” Quinn said.

 

“Quinn, are you suggesting that we sabotage the production of The Canterbury Tales” Sandi asked.

 

“Exactly, Brittany got the part instead of me.”

 

‘Oh, revenge is it?’ Sandi asked herself. She could work with that, and figure out a way to make it backfire on Quinn. “Sure, let’s do it!

“Um, count me out,” Stacy said with more nervous fidgeting than usual.

 

“Stacy!” Sandi said.

 

“Eep! I’ll help, Sandi.”

 

“What are we doing at the theatre?” Tiffany asked.

 

“Wrecking Things,” Quinn declared.

 

“Um, sure,” Tiffany said, although there was tinge of uncertainty in her usual slow tone. “I can’t believe Brittany got the part over you. That’s so wrong.”

 

“She won’t do a good job if I have anything to say about it!” Quinn said vehemently.

 

“But what about Bret?!” Stacy asked.

 

“Sta-cy, we’re going to be making sure that airheaded cheerleader, like, won’t become any more popular!” Sandi shot back.

 

“Um, sure,” Stacy said. “But I can’t get it out of my mind!”

 

Sandi sighed. “Let’s get to the theatre.”

 

The Fashion Club then started moving.

 

 

Daria and Jane saw a girl run from the Fortune Teller’s booth, sobbing. Ms. Barch had struck again.

 

‘Much, much better off,” Jane commented.

 

“And she’s the living proof,” Daria added.

 

“Should we get our fortunes read?”

 

“I’ll pass. Knowing the present is bad enough.”

 

“Then how about a Ferris wheel ride?” Jane asked.

 

‘Are you kidding?’ Daria thought to herself. “Do I look desperate to you?”

 

Sam and Chris appeared. “Crusades! Crusades!”

 

Upchuck appeared in the opposite direction. “Ladies... wait till you hear the Ballad of the Misunderstood Minstrel.”

 

“Do I look desperate to you now?” Daria asked.

 

“Yep,” Jane said.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

 

They came up to the ferris wheel.

“You’re in luck. One basket left.”

 

Upchuck had followed them. “Hey, come on. Listen to my song. It's only got 12 verses.”

 

Sam and Chris had followed them, but they turned their attention to Upchuck as they boarded the basket.

 

 

 

At the theatre, they were almost ready to start the play. “Now, I want everyone to take a minute and visualize the audience,” Mr. O’Neill said. “As we finish our wonderful play, they finish their delicious dinner and leap up as one in a standing ovation. Brava! Brava! Everyone.”

 

“Brava, Brava!” the cast repeated.

 

“Yum, yum!” O’Neill said.

 

“Yum, yum!”

 

“Now, let's bow our heads for a moment and remember poor James Dean.”

 

‘Hopefully just James Dean,’ Brittany thought.

 

 

The Fashion Club entered the auditorium. “Um, Quinn?” Stacy asked, more nervously than usual. “How are we going to sabotage this?”

 

Quinn had been thinking about it. She grabbed a copy of The Canterbury Tales. She saw Kevin looking annoyed on the side of the stage. “Kevin can help.”

 

“Huh?” Sandi asked. “How?”

 

“By taking his stupidity into account. Duh!” Quinn responded. She went over.

 

“I’m taking your propensity to make things up as you go along into account,” Sandi murmured.

 

“What?” Tiffany asked.

 

“Never mind.”

 

 

“Quinn?” Mr. O’Neill asked.

 

“I just wanted to say something to Brittany,” Quinn said innocently.

 

“Something encouraging?” the teacher asked.

 

Quinn nodded.

 

“What is it?” Brittany asked.

 

“I just wanted to ask if you knew how to say the words,” Quinn stated.

 

“I know how to say them,” Brittany retorted. “Ashley Amber coached me. “

 

“Oh,” Quinn said. “Are you sure?”

 

 

Brittany knew what Quinn was doing. It would have worked on Kevin, but certainly not on her. “Of course I’m sure,” she shot back.

“Well, say a line, then,” Quinn said peevishly.

 

“No!” Brittany objected. “I know what you’re doing.”