Sam sat up in the bed. He looked around at his new surroundings. He seemed to be in a bedroom. A girls bedroom he could tell by the decorations in it. Plus there was a pile of clothing on a small bureau. He got up and went to the bathroom and splashed som water on his face. Or did he mean "her" face. Today he was a girl, and the girl was familiar.
"Dana Poole." Sam said to himself. "The blonde girl I stopped from falling down in front of the school. He dried his face off and started to undress. He heard Al enter through his portal.
"I got here in time, the show's about to start." He heard him say. He reminded himself once again that Al didnt see "Sam" but whoever he had leapt into at the time. In Al's opinion Sam had leapt into his second "hottie" as they call them in three days.
"I'm Dana Poole today." Sam said.
"I know. Oh boy do I know!" Al replied.
"I don't know if you get pervier everytime we meet, or if its just me."
"I'm a guy. So shoot me." He said sucking his cigar. "Ohh, bad choice of words."
"Was that what you were trying to tell me yesterday? That I was gonna get shot?" Sam asked.
"That AND a new piece of info on why you might be here." Al said.
"You mean I'm not here to stop the shooting?" Sam asked incredulously. "The shooting is a coincidence? I don't believe that. I don't believe they would put me here on the same day as a shooting, now four days in a row, and then tell me its not my real mission. That it is something a lot smaller and not as affecting as a murder in a high school." Sam shook his head. "Tell me this new info. It might be the lead we need to get out of here. Soon enough we'll run out of people to be."
"Could be worse, you could leap into Antonio Garpaccia." Al said.
"Then I could stop the shooting by not shooting anyone at all." Sam said. "Novel idea, why hasnt that happened yet?"
"Beats me." Al said. "I'll tell you more in a bit. You are gonna be late to school young lady."
"Yeah, its getting late, maybe I will take a shower." He said starting the water. He moved to take his top off. He paused. "Get out Al, no free show for you today. Come back when you have a ticket."
"You're such a killjoy." Al said. "I'll be back in ten minutes whether you are done or not. Oh by the way Sam?"
"Yeah?" Sam said as Al started to leave.
"Just a hint on what my info might be about. This leap seems to have four corners. Four sides, you have been three different people...the same day,yet at the end of each leap, all three people that you have been have been at the scene of the shooting. They were all in Harry Senates room whenever someone got shot." Al said. Harrys there, Laurens there." He said counting off. "Scott is there." Sam said continuing. "Danas not there."
"Yeah, but why not Dana?" Al said.
"I think Dana saw the gun in Antonio Garpaccia's bag and never got a chance to tell anyone. Why? Where did she go?" Sam asked.
He went out of the bathroom, and into what was considered the living room in Danas spacious studio apartment. Sam sat down at a table.
"Theres something connecting Dana to that. Why isnt she there?" He asked himself. He then looked at a sheet of paper. A transfer notice. "Al did you ever see anything about Dana switching classes?"
Al checked into his device. "According to this Dana had some extra credits she wanted to get before she graduated. The class she needs is history, or something. Its not clear here. She was transferring into..."
"...Harry Senates class." Sam said. "And on each occassion Dana never showed up for class. I wonder why."
Harry Senates Place
Harry had a hard choice to make. He was about to tell Lauren they were on the verge of breaking up but he didnt know whether to do it before school or after school. He put his books into a small bag and went to wait for her to finish dressing.
"Whats going on today?" He heard her ask. "You seem a little jumpy. I put my hand on your shoulder and you jumped twenty feet."
"I got a transfer student coming into my class." He said.
"Who?" Lauren asked.
"Dana Poole." He said. She finished buttoning her blouse staring straight ahead. "I guess she has some credits she has to pick up before she graduates." He said with an uneasy laugh. "Strange world, isnt it?"
"Strange." Lauren said. "Indeed."
They looked at each other for a minute. "I'll go get the car." Harry said.
"What?" She said startled out of her own thoughts. "I'll be right with you."
He smiled at her and went out the door. Lauren grabbed her things. She was going to go to her place to pick up a dress she wanted to wear to a concert they had special tickets to, but she didnt want to anymore. Whats more, she had a feeling she and Harry wouldnt make it to that concert.
"Harry wants to break up with me." She thought. "And its no coincidence that Dana Poole is entering his class all of a sudden. There must be something there." She heard Harry honk his horn. "I gotta find out. But to do that theres something I gotta do." She went through the door and down the stairs. "And if I'm gonna do it, I gotta do it before Harrys class starts."
7:45 Winslow High
It took some time to dress, Sam realized. Almost every single outfit Dana owned was lowcut and tight as all heck. It was also hard to have Al in the room ogling him, as if he the lone customer in a strip joint. It was funny that Sam had the thought about a strip joint, Al soon notified him that it was rumored that Dana made extra cash there during her free periods. Today she was gonna have to be late for work. Sam didnt intend on leaving the school.
Als information on Danas life helped understand one students cat call. "I'll be right back honey! I need a stack of ones!"
"How rude." Sam said.
"Really. I'll go kick his butt." Al offered. A strange protective side came out in Al whenever Same became a woman. It was almost a ying yang affect to whenever Al became too pervy for his own good.
"You can't do that." Sam said. "Though it would be fun to watch."
Sam felt someone standing behind him. It was Harry.
"Hi Harry." Sam said. "Whats new?"
"This is." He said showing a copy of something. "Why are you transfering to my class when you can pick up your extra credit in someone elses class?" He asked. What he was holding was a copy of the same class transfer paper that Dana had at her place.
Sam thought. He suddenly realized that he had no idea how Dana acted. I guess I have to wing it. I've done it so many times before.
"Well you know me Harry." Sam said. "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer."
"What does a quote from the Godfather movie have to do with this?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, Harry, you tell me." Sam said. "See you in class." He turned and walked away, slightly stumbling in Danas heels. He recovered quickly and walked around the corner. He almost ran into Scott Guber.
"Morning Mr Guber." Sam said.
"Morning Ms Poole." Scott said. "I trust you are having a good morning."
"It's all right." Sam said.
"Then maybe once we get over this small wardrobe problem, it will be better." Scott said. "You didnt button your top all the way up." He said pointing it out without actually doing so.
"So thats what you're looking at." Sam said shifting his load while be finished the last button. "I had no idea."
"No idea what?" Scott asked.
"Never mind." Sam said. "If you don't know you never will." He said and walked around the vice principal. "Good day."
"Good day." Scott said and went into his office.
"Al wheres my locker?" Sam muttered as he walked along the hallway of lockers.
"238." Al said. "Heads up."
Sam looked to his side as Lauren and Harry went to the principals office. "I wonder what Steven wants." Lauren said. "I have a class."
"The ball is already in motion." Sam said. "What do I do?" He muttered.
"Theres nothing you can do. Unless you care to take another bullet." Al said smoking his stogie.
Sam looked up. "Thats it." He said. "Thats the answer."
"What?" Al asked.
"Let's go in the girls bathroom." He said.
"All right!" Al said. They walked into a girls bathroom. He put Danas books down. After Sam checked to see if it was empty, he started again.
"So far Antonio has shot the gun no matter who or what tries to stop him, so why not prepare for it?" He asked Al.
"How would you do that?" Al asked.
"Get him to shoot me, only this time, it won't hurt me." He said. "Theres gotta be something around here I can stick in this excuse for lesure wear to stop a bullet."
"Like what?" Al asked.
"Something real thick, like sports equipment." Sam said his mind cranking like heavy machinery. "An umpires protective gear. The vest. Would it fit under this?" He asked Al.
"We would have to find out." Al said thinking it over.
"Find out where the the sports equipment is..." He said.
"I can lead you there." Al said. "Its under the gym."
"Let's go. I have ten minutes till class starts." Sam said exiting the bathroom. Sam ran down the hallway, and went to the left.
At that exact moment Harry and Lauren came out of the office. Sam went past the duo and down another hallway.
They looked after her.
"Where is she going in such rush?" Harry asked. "Happy hour isnt for another couple of hours. And its almost time for class."
"Hmm. Yeah." Lauren said. "Look, Harry why don't you go to class. I will meet you there."
"Sure." Harry said giving her a questioning look.
"I'll be back soon." Lauren said to him. She went around the corner. She watched "Dana go down a flight of stairs. She followed her to the top of the stairs then slowly followed down.
"Maybe this is my chance to get rid of her for good. If Harrys breaking up with me over someone, it sure isnt going to be her." She thought.
Sam looked through the room underneath the gym. All the older used sports equipment. He was looking for the umpire vests. He looked under a stack of old uniforms and found a box.
"Here we go." Sam told Al who was looking at some old exercise equipment. "Hopefully I can get one or two under this outfit."
Al whistled a little tune. Sam looked up and was face to face with Lauren.
"Dana we need to talk." Lauren said.
"Sure, Ms Davis, what do you need?" Sam asked.
"It's really important." Lauren said thinking. "We need a little privacy."
"Can't get more private than right here." Sam said.
"I know, but people can hear through the air vent." Lauren said. "Go over there." She pointed at an area next to another section. It was a old baseball batting cage.
Sam followed Laurens finger while carting two of the thickest umpire vests with him.
"Why do we need to talk over here." Sam said. "Shouldn't we be getting to class?"
"I will. But you wont." Lauren said giving Sam a hefty shove. Sam fell forward over a box and ended up in the batting cage. Lauren grabbed a lock and placed it in the latch.
"Lauren!" Sam said. "What are you doing?"
"You very well know what I'm doing!" Lauren said. "Harry is going to break up with me. I know hes going to see another woman soon after, and I will be damned if that woman is going to be you Dana." She said. "Its a little last minute, but you left me no choice."
"Wait, please, you have to let me out." Sam said. Something terrible is going to happen in Harrys class, and I am the only one who can stop it."
"Do I look stupid to you?" Lauren asked. "You are going to stay in here for a long time." She said walking away. "See you later Dana."
"Wait, please!" Sam yelled. "If you don't let me out, someone in Harrys class will die! Lauren!! Lauren!!!!"
Harry was writing a new homework assignment on the board. Lauren came in before the first bell rang.
"I hope everything went well." Harry said as some students filed in.
"It's fine." Lauren said. "I have the feeling everything is going to be fine."
"Al how do I get out of here?" Sam asked.
"Don't look at me, I'm in no position to pick a lock." Al said.
"Hmm." Sam said pacing. He looked up. "It looks like this is an open cage."
"If it was an open cage, you would be out." Al said.
"No, I mean most cages would have a roof. This doesnt." Sam said. "I can climb out." He said "But of course that would be dangerous." He thought for a minute and saw the umpire vests that he dropped when Lauren pushed him in the cage. "Ah hah." He said. "I guess I can get more than one use out of these." He said picking them up.
"What are you going to do?" Al asked as Sam stuffed the umpire vests under his shirt.
"Dana didnt get out, but its not going to be that way this time." Sam said as he started to climb. "Al turn around. I don't want you to even think about looking up this girls skirt at a time like this."
"All right." Al turned around. Sam quickly scaled over the fence wall. He then let go at the top and jumpe down. He misjudged the distance and tumbled onto his chest.
"OWwww." Sam said. "Suddenly the vest was a good idea." He said. "I'm glad I'm not a guy today though." He groaned.
Al looked at the device. "We gotta get going!" He said.
"I'll meet you there.I hope we're not too late." Sam said as he went up the stairs.
"The american revoltion was caused in part by taxes." Harry said. "Some of the taxes were on stamps among other things. But the big thing with them was the tax on teas." He said. "Having come from a tea country, the new americans expected to enjoy their pleasure for their little piece of the homeland in their new home. But the tax ruined that, and that among other things that brought about the war." He said. "Is there something today that could bring about a war, or a major conflict of some sort?"
"What about a tax on 40's?" A student in the back asked.
"Okay, how about something thats not from a bad Boyz in the hood sequel." Harry said.
Sam finished running up the stairs and continued running toward Harrys room.
"What about Danas books in the girls bathroom?" Al asked.
"Theres no time!" Sam said running past Scott.
"Hey, you walk in these halls!" He thundered.
"Ah piss off!" Sam said. He had no time to mess with him now.
Scott raised his eyebrows and followed after her.
Sam ran into the door, forgetting to open it. Harry and Lauren looked at him. Sam took a breath and opened the door. Harry went to him, with Lauren on his tail.
"Why are you late, Dana? And why do you look like a New England Patriots linebacker?" Harry asked.
"Linebacker?" Sam thought. He adjusted his umpire pads. It must have ridden up on the upstairs.
"I have something to tell you." Sam said. Laurens eyes lit up.
"Don't listen to her, shes crazy." She said.
"Its very important." Sam said as the door opened. It was Scott.
"Great timing Scott." Sam thought. "He wasnt supposed to be here until after the gun goes off."
"Come with me, Ms Poole." Scott said. "I want to talk to you in my office."
"What? No!" Sam said fighting him off. "I have something to tell Harry...Mr Senate!"
"You can tell him later. Now come on." He said.
"No!" Sam said. He wasnt going to let me tell him, Sam thought. I have to say it now, or never. "Antonio Garpaccia has a gun!"
Scott stopped pulling on him. Harry looked at him with shock. Lauren was shocked as well, since she thought Dana would reveal that what she did to her downstairs.
"It's true." Sam said. "Its in his bag."
Their attention turned to Antonio. Scott approached him.
"I'm going to have to ask you to relinquish your bag." He said holding out his hand.
"Forget it." Antonio said. He got up and whipped his gun out of the bag. "Its too late now."
"It's never too late." Scott said.
"Put the gun down, Antonio." Sam said. "We can talk." He said as he and Harry and Lauren approached. "We can resolve this withouth violence. Without anyone dying."
Antonio thought it over. His hand shook. Some tears came down his face. Scott got as close to him as he dared to. Antonio looked up at him.
"No. It can't." He said aiming the gun at Sam. Sam gasped. Antonio quickly pulled the trigger before anyone tried to grab him. Sam winced as he anticipated the bullet coming at him. The impact was quick and brutal. The impact of it threw him back five feet. Sam was a big man, he knew, in real life, but small Dana Poole would be no match to the projectary path of a bullet. Sam felt himself thrown to the floor. From his place on the floor he see could the students run out of the room. Scott had thrown Antonio to the floor. He took the fun away from him and kicked it aside. Harry picked it up. He took out the clip inside it and emptied the chamber.
"Dana?" Harry asked as he discarded the gun. He sat next to Sam. "Dana?" He asked. He opened Danas shirt and revealed the umpire vests. He lifted the first umpire vest. There was a hole blasted throught it. By some sort of miracle, the bullet was somehow stopped by the second, thicker vest.
"Oh my god." Harry said to Lauren. "She knew." He said. "Somehow she knew."
"Oh my god." Lauren answered. "She was this close to dying."
"Where were you anyway?" Harry asked Sam. Sam looked at Lauren.
"Lauren locked me into a batting cage downstairs." Sam said. "She wanted to keep me away from class. She think you are going to break up with her." Sam continued.
Harry looked at Lauren. "Did you?" He asked her.
"I thought you were going to break up with me." She said. "And maybe go back to her after she graduates. So you don't get in trouble like Milton and Kevin did." She said. "Were you?"
"I don't think I was going to." Harry said to her. "But this changes that, a little bit I think." Harry said. He turned and went out the door. Lauren followed him.
Al appeared at Sams side as Sam got up. He excused himself to the bathroom, after which Scott told him to report to his office so he could tell him everything that happened. Sam went into the bathroom where he left Danas books.
"Was that my real mission? That Harry know the truth about Lauren?" Sam asked as soon as he was sure that the room was empty.
"Apparently so. The shooting was a coincidence. Or maybe it was part of it after all. Maybe its what led up to it." Al said.
"Then why didnt this transfer thing pop up until the fourth time?" Sam asked.
"Who knows. Maybe we were meant to figure that out." Al said. "It's time."
"Great." Sam as he felt himself leap.
"Good news." Al said. "You get to be a ballerina." Al said as he was almost gone."
"Perfect, no guns." Sam said.
"Don't speak too soon, you'll be a communist defector." Al said as they both left.
Dana blinked. She stared into the mirror. Why was her shirt off? And why was she only in her bra?
The bathroom door opened. "Scott is ready for you." Louisa said.
"Okay." Dana said spaced out. She put her extra shirt on, that she had in her bag. She went to Scotts office. She sat down in front of him. He was cheesed about something, but Dana didnt know what.
"Okay, Dana, tell me everything that happened today." Scott said.
"What happened today?" Dana asked.
"Thats what I want to know." Scott said.
"To tell you the truth Scott, like it would mean anything, I can't tell you what happened at all today." Dana said. "I went to bed, then I was here. I don't remember a damn thing." Scott shook his head. "No clue at all." Dana finished.
