The photographer was ready for the team to take its place on the stage. Brian stood on the first row with Richard instead of with the starters. Out of the bright lights, he could see the yearbook staff scattered among the first two rows of the theater. Diana waved up at the. Brian looked over at Richard, assuming that Diana was waving at him. Pat was looking down, busy writing on a pad of paper.

The photographer kept looking at them. "Something's different."

"Hey, they changed places from before," said someone from the yearbook staff.

"Do you guys remember where you were?" someone else asked.

"Hey Martin!" Danny called down from the top row.

"You're an asshole Danny," Mike said in the high-pitched voice. Brian heard the top row laugh.

The yearbook editor went over to where Pat and Diana were sitting for some kind of consultation. While Pat talked to her and pointed up at the players, Brian checked his watch.

"Jesus, how long does it take to get one picture?"

"Be cool, Martin." Richard grinned.

Brian glared at him, then turned back to face forward with a frown that made it into the picture.

It was finally decided that the varsity players would file in their rows over to Pat, who was writing down their names for the caption.

Brian told Richard what had transpired between him and Danny while they were waiting.

"Well, I don't think he was really trying to call you a slave."

"Whose side are you on? I'm telling you he's a racist jerk," Brian hissed, looking around the theater.

Richard held up his hands. "Your side, man. I'm just saying he wouldn't be dumb enough to call you a slave to your face."

"Why not, who would stop him?" Brian asked.

"Aw man, the school. They can't let people talk like that, the parents would sue...or something," Richard said, dismissing it, "So did you talk to Maria?" he asked.

Brian sighed and looked ahead of him in line. Diana was talking to every player walking by.

"Naw man, I'll do it today," Brian said, feeling annoyed. It was just like Richard to ignore his problem to talk about some girl. Dawn, a friend of Maria's from drill-team had been talking to him a lot and eating lunch with them. Richard wanted Brian to ask Maria what her deal was. It reminded Brian of the seventh grade; he'd bet part of his allowance that the twins were involved in the same exact thing.

"Ask her when you guys walk to fifth period; I don't want to be around," Richard said.

Brian chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Don't worry chicken, that's when I was going to ask her."

"I'm not chicken, I just don't want to hear her preach."

"What would she preach about? All you want to know is what's up with Dawn," Brian said.

Richard shrugged, a bit taken aback at Brian's tone. "Well, every time Maria and I get into discussions I end up listening to her lecture me. You can cut through the crap with her and get her to tell you something. You know, I ask Anne stuff and you deal with Maria," Richard said, turning. He was next in line to talk to Pat. He leaned over her chair.

"R-i-c-h..." he began.

"Very funny," she said, pushing him away.

"What do you mean, deal with Maria?" Brian asked.

"Nothin'," sighed Richard.

Brian stood next to his sister, watching her finish Richard's name. He felt stupid standing there next to his own sister and not saying anything.

"You coming home on the late bus?" He asked, having nothing else to say.

"How else am I going to get home, Brian?"

Screw this, he thought. "Yeah well, don't misspell Coppenhagen frosh," he said.

"Yeah, that's with three p's," said Richard.

"I think that's Copp-pah-hagen," Diana said, giggling.

"Moving on," Pat said, looking past Brian at the next player.

"Hey Richard, can I see your Algebra notes?" Diana asked as Brian and Richard turned to leave. Richard nodded without answering and they stopped at the door.

"And just so you know, I can ask Maria or Anne anything I want," Brian said. Richard looked up from his backpack.

"Yeah right. Who can talk Anne into anything? Me, thank you. I could ask Maria if I wanted. It's just faster if you do it."

"Sure it is," Brian said, leaning back against a chair in the last row. He was facing the row where Pat and Diana were. Pat was nearly finished with the list. Danny and Mike were standing behind her, talking to Diana. Brian assumed they were waiting for someone.

"Oh okay, big man," Richard said, "I'll ask Maria myself. But you gotta get Anne to do something."

"What for?"

"Well, if you're scared I understand," Richard said.

"Oh yeah right, who was begging me not to ask Maria when he's not around?"

"Listen, it's okay Brian, I won't make you do it if you don't want to, you don't have to cover up."

"Oh please! Fine. I'll do it, but you have to get Dawn to go out with us or something you can't just ask a question. We can meet them after the game."

Richard thought about it. "Okay," he said, "and you have to get Anne to ditch her dad's and come with us."

"No way! She'll get pissed. She won't!" Brian said.

"I could make her do it," Richard said.

"All right, fine." They shook on it. "Do you even like Dawn Lane?" Brian asked.

"Oh, I think I like her enough to prove you wrong for one night." Richard grinned.

Brian laughed. "Oh that's really ni..."

"What?" Richard said, turning to see what Brian was looking at.

Pat had apparently finished her list. She was standing empty-handed, leaning against the row of chairs, casually talking to Danny Willis. Brian watched as she laughed at something Danny said while pointing to the lights over the stage.

"I want know what that dickhead has to say to my sister," Brian said.

"Oh do you believe that? Lucky," Diana said. She had walked over to Richard with her Algebra notebook. She took Richard's backpack off his shoulder and began to shuffle through it.

Brian slid his backpack off his shoulder and handed it to Richard.

"Co? What are you doing?" Richard asked.

"I'll meet you at the latebus," Brian said. He went over to where Pat and Danny were talking.

"I know," Pat was saying in a giggly tone, "when we took a picture in this other club I'm in. I almost went blind. It's like, thanks guys, I didn't need those retinas anyway."

"I'm serious, where's my white cane?" Danny said. "So what other club are you in?" he asked. Brian saw him shift his eyes a bit to one side and guessed Danny had seen him. But this time he wasn't letting Danny intimidate him into silence.

"Pat," he said before his sister could answer.

"I'm in the French Club," Pat said in strained voice, shooting a glare at Brian.

"Parlez you francais, huh?" Danny said.

Pat giggled again. "Gee, you speak it so well, I thought I was in France for a second."

"Pat," Brian said again.

She looked over at him. "What?"

"Are you done with your list?"

Pat held out her arms. "Do you see it in my hands, Brian?"

"I need to talk to you," Brian said.

"Later," Pat said, turning back to Danny.

"No now," Brian answered.

"Brian, it can wait, I'm talking."

"No it can't," Brian said. He took his sister by the arm and began to pull her towards the door.

"Brian!" she hissed. But Brian knew she wouldn't cause a huge scene by resisting physically.

"I'll be back!" Pat threw over her shoulder before Brian pulled her through the door.

When the door was shut, Pat snatched her arm from Brian's so hard her glasses nearly fell off.Brian had the stage play feeling again as Pat faced him, jamming her glasses back on her face. He heard her next question in all caps:

Patella: WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

Brian: Pat, it's about that guy Danny.

Patella: (walking off anger in little pacing motions) I can't believe you dragged me out of there like a baby! I have never been so humiliated. You jerk, just because you're on varsity you think you can throw people around? I'm so sick of this crap. You don't see Danny and those guys acting like gods because they've got letter jacket on. You're nothing but a dumb jock!

Brian: (taken aback at dumb jock) Look, I'm trying to warn you about Danny, he's not what you think.

Patella: Let's get something straight right now. I am not one of these stupid girls around here who thinks you and your friends are such hot shit!

Brian: (getting angry) You are so immature, I'm trying to tell something for your own good. Fine, do what you want; I don't care.

Patella: I can live my own life without your precious advice you conceited jock! From now on, don't talk to me, touch me, or even look at me at school!

Brian: (glaring) That's fine with me. If you want to be an idiot, go ahead.

Patella: Starting now. SHUTup!

Brian: Fine. How about let's make your new rule count at home too?

Patella: (starting down the hall towards the lockers) I was planning to!

Brian: Good! (exits to a nearby boys' bathroom, slamming the door open with one fist)