After Scott watched Lizzie walk away he spun on his heel and went back into the school. The students who had seen Lizzie kiss him were still lined up in the hallway. Some whistled as he passed while others went oooohhhhh".
He stopped halfway down the middle he turned and looked at all the students.
"Anyone here want detention? Huh?" He said raising his voice. "A day? A week? Maybe a month?" He said staring coldly. "I'll be glad to be there for each and every one of your detentions. I have time! I have plenty of time! So if anyone who wants to join me in some quality afterschool time, then go ahead. Stay in the hallway. If you are still here after I get back, I'll be glad to find you something to do here after school!"
Scott then turned and marched toward Stevens office. The students, having completely thought through his offer, sprinted towards a classroom, even if it wasnt the class they were supposed to be in. Doors slammed up and down the hallway. Scott closed the door to the main office and pressed his back against it as he heard the cascading sound of doors slamming up and down the hallway. He took a deep breath. He then pulled himself away from the door and went to Stevens office. Lauren and Harry were still there.
"Steven?" Scott said as entered the doorway. "I would like you to expain what just happened?" He asked. "Why did Lizzie leave like that?"
"Do you mean the kiss or the actual leaving?" Harry asked.
"The leaving of course." Scotts face flushed with color as he remembered the kiss. He looked at Lauren and Harry. "Would you please leave? I need to speak to Steven alone." He asked them.
"Sure." Lauren said grabbing Harrys hand. "Come on, the shows over." She whispered to him.
"Just when it was getting interesting." Harry muttered as he closed the door. "Now we'll just hear by hearsay."
Scott looked between the blinds to make sure that Harry and Lauren were out of earshot. He then turned to Steven, letting the blinds fall back into place.
"Why did Lizzie leave so abruptly?" He asked again.
"I told her that I didn't approve of a teacher dating someone in a higher position she was in. She in turn decided you, yes you Scott, were worth quitting her job for. " Steven said. "I tried to talk to her but she was just too fast." He sighed. "At least if she was going to quit, she could have waited till after the competition." He said sitting back down.
"Dammit Steven there is more important things that a inane cheerleading competition." Scott thundered at him. "Priorities are in order here."
"What priorities?" Steven asked him."Do you want to think more of someones emotions than the school? I don't she could have stayed if she tried. After all the things that have been on that damned site of Holts, I think her quitting was a matter of one thing...pride...pride and pride alone." He said thinking about it. "It doesnt matter anyway. I don't need a cheerleading coach until the fall sports season." Steven said after a minute.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Scott asked gradually calming down. He sat.
"I mean after the competition I wouldnt need her." He said. "She would have been done for the school year."
"Right." Scott agreed. "But like I said..."
"After two days she would no longer be a school employee till the fall." He said. "That would mean that you would no longer be her superior."
"What are you saying?" Scott asked, while trying to figure all this out in his head.
"It means, that after this competition is over, I have no objection to you seeing Lizzie." He said. "Thats what I tried to tell her before she bolted. So I'm telling you now so you can tell her." Steven said. "I have seen you with her, just talking in the hallway. Everyone can see the connection between you two. You have to blind to miss it. You have never been so happy Scott. Not for a long time." Steven continued. "I want you to go for it."
Scott felt elated. He felt himself rising out his chair with something other than his own strength. "Do you mean what I think you do?"
"I do." Steven said. "No go after her. IF you let her get away before you tell her what I just said, and how you feel, then I will never let you live it down. I'll make you teach in the dungeon for a week!" Steven threatened.
Scott went for the door. He had his hand on the knob. He looked at Steven.
"Will you go already before I change my mind?" Steven asked as he looked at some papers.
Scott nodded and went out the door. He was almost out of the office when he realized that he didnt know where she was staying. There was only one person. He looked down the hallway, nowhere to be found. He then took a turn and went to the teachers lounge, where he thought Lauren and Harry went after he dismissed them from the office. He looked inside the window. Harry and Lauren were sitting at a table with a cup of coffee in each hand. They had a class next period, so they had decided to relax in the lounge. He opened the door and came in. He strode quickly to their table.
"Oh what did we do now?" Harry asked. "Did we run in the hallway?" He snarked.
"Harry..." Lauren softly warned.
"Oh no, this guy has been on my case since the very beginning. Especially since Lizzie or whatever came into town and I just to know whats what, thats all."
"With all due respect Harry I am not here for you." Scott said. "Lauren." He said going to her. "Do you remember where it was that Lizzie said she was staying?"
"Motel 6 on Oak Pine Grove. Room 10." Lauren said surprised he asked her. "Why?"
"Cause I want to see her again. Hope that nobody blows our chance or anything." Scott said. "I want another chance to tell her how I feel, before she vanishes forever." Scott said. "Thanks." He said going to the door.
"Scott!" Lauren called out to him. He stopped at the door. "For what its worth, good luck."
"Thanks." Scott nodded. He went out the door.
"I wonder what he'll be like once hes with Lizzie full time." Lauren wondered.
"Anything would be better than this." Harry said. "I like to think a woman improves a man whens shes with him."
"Is that true?" Lauren asked looking at him.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"I think so too." She said after a minute.
Motel 6
Scott pulled his car up to the Motel 6. He parked and got out. He then made his way over to room 10. Once he found it, he saw that the door was open. He knocked, then went inside. There was a white cart in there full with cleaning supplies. An elderly looking black woman was surpervising a younger woman making the bed. She had a trainee pin on her uniform. The woman, with a nametag that read Sarah Graham on it. She looked at Scott.
"Can I help you?" She asked.
"Wheres the woman that was staying here?" Scott asked.
"A tall blonde?" Sarah said. "She checked out a few minutes ago." She said. "Sorry pal."
"Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" He asked.
"Do I look like her damn mother?" Sarah replied. "She left in a cab after making a phone call. That is all I know."
Scott dug in his pocket. He slapped a twenty in her hand. "Do you know anymore now?"
"Okay, she was going to some auditorium to practice something. That is all I know, really." She said. "Now if you don't mind, I need to get this room ready for someone else."
"All right." Scott said leaving. "Thank you." He said. The woman nodded her head making an "mmh hmm" sound.
He walked slowly out to the car. "I really blew it. I missed her. Now all there is to do is go back to the school.
The school
Scott slowly walked through the halls after school. He deliberately avoided people so he wouldnt have to tell them what happened. Steven came out of his office with his jacket on. He had been avoiding him all afternoon, he knew. Steven followed him to the door that lead to the stairwell. He caught up with him as he went through the door.
"Scott I been wanting to talk to you again." Steven said.
"Why? So you can ask if I met up with her?" Scott asked.
"Yes, I was curious as to what happened."
"Well I didnt see her. In fact her hotel room was empty when I got there." He said.
"Oh." Steven said. "I'm sorry."
Scott nodded.
"I have a favor to ask of you." He said. Scott looked up. "It's nothing terrible. Since Lizzie is gone, and not likely to return, I need someone to escort the girls to the competition tomorrow." Steven said.
"Why me?"
"You have nothing scheduled tomorrow." He said. "You wont have to do anything. The girls know their routine, so its not like you have to teach them anything." He said. "Will you do it? The girls have worked hard over the last week to get ir right, it would be unfair if they didnt get a chance to prove themselves."
"All right." Scott said. "At least it will be a chance to get out for a bit." He reasoned to himself.
Cheryl Holts secret room
Cheryl was getting ready another animation, one of Scott and Lizzies passionate kiss in the hallway. Of course she planned to add a few extras, like Lizzie turning and vomiting after the kiss, then she runs outside and is hit by a transit bus. After a second of mourning the animated Scott sighs and moves on to Lauren once again. It would have been a great animation too, if she was able to upload it.
"Why isnt this working?" She muttered. After a few minutes of hacking she discovered that the animation slot was already full for that day. But she didnt make the animation. Cheryl squinted as she saw a likeness of her running hurtles in a sequined evening gown. She competed in several "track and field" events, failing in each one. The hauled herself to the last event, which was a 100 meter jump. She made a running jump, and made it up into the air. She didnt make it far, just 10 meters from the jumping point something dragged her from the air and into the sand. Except the sand wasnt ordinary sand. It was quicksand. A screaming and yelling Cheryl fought to escape it but got pulled in. As she vanished a statement appeared at the beginning of the jump, 'so goes Cheryl, so goes the rest of the school'. Cheryl moved to erase the statement but found she couldnt.
Two seconds later another statement appeared. "Good night, and thank you Boston!" It was by Lizzie.
Cheryl, incensed at what had been done to her image, reached out and hit her computer. It topped over and smashed on teh floor. A couple of sparks came out of the mangled pile. Cheryl cringed as the wreck sparked and she grabbed a small fire extinguisher and sprayed it onto the pile. She then stood back and examined the mess.
"I'll get her someday. As soon as I get a new computer anyway." She vowed.
Lauren and Harry watched the new animation and laughed.
"I think she really got her good this time." Lauren said.
"Its about time. Maybe her reign of terror will end once she understands its not funny when its you on there." Harry said.
The next day
Scott rode over with the cheerleaders to the auditorium where the contest would be held. The girls ran off to do last minute rehersals while Scott walked through the building. He was about to make his way up to the complimetary snack bar when he felt someone behind him. He felt a hand grabbing his shoudler softly. Scott turned arond to face Lizzie. She kissed him hello, this time allowing him time to react to her. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her like he always wanted to. She pulled back softly.
"Hello." She said breathlessly.
"Hello." He said back to her. "What are you doing here?"
"I wasnt about to let down the girls. I helped them, I thought I might be here for support." She said.
"I have something I need to tell you..." Scott said.
"I know." Lizzie said placing her finger on his lips. "I talked to Steven. I know he approves me seeing you after today."
"What about in the fall?"
"What about it?" She said. "We'll see when the time comes. It might work out. It might not. Que Sera, Sera. Whatever will be will be." She said singing the song. "The futures not ours to see. Que Sera, sera." She finished.
"Should we go watch the competition?" He asked as the first squad went out of the floor.
"Nah, lets wait." She sighed. "We have a lot of catching up to do." She kissed him warmly. "There is no rush."
"What did you do about Holt?" He asked pulling away.
"You're with me and you think of Holt? Perv." She kidded him.
"I simply mean...."
"There won't be a Holt site for a while. Trust me." She said. "Shes having....difficulties."
"What did you do?" He asked.
"Don't worry your head about it." She said. "I'll tell you later. Much later."
They walked out to the gym door. A man took their picture together. That picture would go on to hang next to the 2001 championship cheerleading trophy that she helped them win.
The rest would be history.
