ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON THIRTEEN

Episode 159

During free period at Barrington Academy Luci and Sol were on the huge stage in the cavernous auditorium attempting to rehearse their lines for Romeo and Juliet as a glum faced Richie and Lewis watched them from the front seats.

Luci couldn't concentrate and barely remembered her own lines. She had to get a line prompt from Richie or Lewis constantly because she kept thinking about Andrew being missing. She hated the thought of the man she considered a grandfather being lost , hurt or worse so far from family and home. And, she also kept thinking about poor Alan dealing with being in a wheelchair and burying his father that day too. Not to mention Theodore having to play at a funeral while his grandfather was in trouble and missing.

She threw up her hands in frustration. " This is useless today! ," she said out loud. " I can't think about silly stuff like plays when......"

Sol sighed and came behind her to wrap his arms around her tall thin baggy black clothed body. " I know. Part of me wishes they'd just call the play off but I know they can't. "

Richie looked at Lewis who had shifted away the copy of the play script for that journal he kept scribbling in. Lewis barely talked to him or anyone lately. Even Judge Wide Load or Pirate Man. Just wrote in the book his therapist had gave him. It was irritating to Richie because he missed talking to him. He missed his friend. " Yeah. Life sucks. Nobody knows that better than me, guys. My dad killed my mom. Me and Tanisha had to sleep on the streets. But life goes on. I mean that's how it goes right? "

" Doesn't mean it's right," Luci retorted as she shook her head at him. " Or that I have to like it. Which I don't. Where is he ? Why would he go away? Why would he stay away? "

Sol added in his own head silently, " And , who might have hurt him ? " His arms tightened around Luci as he inhaled her reassuring scent.

" A real professional can perform in spite of anything ," they heard from the wings on the left side of the stage and they all turned to see Willow Malden gliding towards them. She stopped inches from Luci and Sol with an arrogant smirk upon her face. Flipping her golden blonde hair over one shoulder Willow smiled at Sol , saying," If Luci can't handle the stress of being your Juliet maybe I can help you out, Solly. " Then she winked one of her big baby blue eyes at him.

Sol rolled his eyes back. " Not now, Willow. "

" Yeah ," Luci snapped. " Not now. Not ever. Nobody here is in the mood for your bougie ass. Standing there like you ate when you didn't even have a meal. What do you know about about being professional when your own uncle didn't think you were good enough to be Juliet? "

Willow propped her hands on her trim hips. " Uncle Reese isn't thinking properly since Uncle Eric died. He cries most nights. Still. It's kinda sad but annoying. Anyway I was the better choice. Who ever heard of a flat chested Juliet with a girl dick ? At least I have boobs. "

Sol made an unpleasant face at the girl. " Leave Luci alone. She's a good actor and your boobs ain't that big, gal. "

Richie laughed out loud and poked Lewis who just ignored them all while still writing in his journal.

Willow sighed dramatically. " I like you, Solomon, but I just don't get what you see in her. I mean being a chaser is so beige flag. You can do better. " She kept her hands on her hips and pushed out her chest. " Like me. " She blew him a kiss.

Luci pulled away from Sol. " And , you can stay the hell away from my boo. Okay? Back off. Back all the way off. "

Willow's smirk grew on her face. " Make me. "

Luci narrowed her eyes at the girl and then slapped her across the face hard.

" Luce ! ," Sol said in shock.

" Fight! ," Richie laughed from his seat.

Lewis continued ignoring everyone.

Willow screeched while holding her reddened face. Then she jumped on Luci as she grabbed her long jet black braid hanging down her back.

As they both began to fight with hands grabbing hair and trying to scratch eyes Sol attempted to separate them as Richie laughed and recorded on his phone.

Suddenly they all heard a loud baritone voice from the back of the auditorium. "Kindly stop all this nonsense! Please save the drama for the play. Thank you."

Willow and Luci stopped fighting in mid action as they gaped at Reese Malden who came striding up to the stage area in a black turtleneck and matching skinny jeans.

Willow immediately summoned up tears in her eyes and ran to her uncle saying," Uncle Reese ! She bullied me ! Make her stop! "

Reese merely looked at his niece and sighed. " I think not. I've been at Barrington long enough to know Luci Moore is not a bully. I do know you though , Willow, dear. You most likely started it and she finished it. I'll overlook it this time but any more fights and you both are out of the play. And , Willow, behave yourself. Your father is on a scientific research study in the Amazon at the moment but if you continue to misbehave you might find yourself at an all girl boarding school. "