Scott unzipped the bunny suit and climbed out of it. Carefully he folded it and put it and the head into the box labeled "bunny". He climbed up the ladder and set the box next to the one that contained the Santa Claus costume he had worn for the shelters Christmas party. He climbed back down the ladder and grabbed his change of shirts. Taking off his dirty shirt, he slipped on the clean one. He shoved the dirty shirt in Bob's backpack and walked out of the prop room. Turning the light off and closing the door behind him, he started walking around the corner. He didn't get that far considering Bernard was towering over him, a cocky smile plastered to his face.
"Hello Spot," he said half heartedly.
"It's Scott," Scott corrected him.
"Of course it is, whatever you say. Look, I need a favor," he leaned up against the wall, blocking Scott's escape.
"What would make you think I would do a favor for you?," Scott asked, disgusted by the thought.
"For Corey."
"Huh? What about her?," Scott asked, slightly confused.
"Well, I need a favor. I need you to write a love letter to her, from me," he smirked.
"What? Why the hell would I do that?"
"Because, if you don't, I would have to tell her the truth"
"What truth?," Scott asked confused.
"That you like her."
Scott was thrown off-guard. How could he, a total stranger, know that?, "what are you talking about? I don't like her! You must be smoking something"
Bernard chuckled and shook his head, "Scott, Scott, Scott, you know you like her. Don't deny it. I tell by the look in your eyes when you look at her, it isn't a ‘friendly' look. But what do you think she would react when she finds out her best friend is in love with her?"
Scott looked at the ground. He couldn't even put his situation into words and here was someone he just met, putting it into sentences! When Scott looked back up, he saw Bernard looking past him and down the hall. Scott turned to see Corey helping a crying girl collect all the candy that had rolled out of her dropped basket.
"She is great isn't she?," he whispered watching her gently wipe the girls tears away.
"Yes, she is. That is why I need you to write that letter for me. I like her a lot Scott. Please?," he begged, seeming for a split second, nice. Feeling as if his love was genuine, he gave in.
"Alright, I'll do it," he muttered. His adverted his eyes back to Corey. She was looking over at them. She smiled and waved. Scott half smiled and waved back.
"Good, because I would hate to have to nark on you," Bernard chuckled, his mean streak coming back, "I am staying with my aunt at 7654 Anacourt Dr., over by the golf course. I need it tonight by 7."
"Yeah, whatever. Just don't say anything to Corey, alright?," Scott asked.
"I won't, as long as you deliver,"Bernard promised.
"I will, don't worry"
"Thanks, you a pal," Bernard patted him on the back, "well, I have to go. Corey and I are going to go get some lunch."
Scott watched as Bernard walked over to Corey. Picking the girl up and putting her on his shoulders, the three of them walked around the corner and out of Scott's sight. He was beginning to hate french.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Scott took the piece of paper that had just been spit out of there printer and looked it over. This letter contained almost ever single thing he thought about her. Every feeling, every dream. And here it was, being taken away by some French geek. Scott carefully read it over to make sure nothing gave it away that he wrote it:
This isn't easy for me to put into words, considering our relationship. It is so hard to think of something so smart, so loving, to win over a girl like you. If you took my love, timed it by a million and flew it all over the galaxy, I still don't think you would understand it. If I could hear and angel talk or laugh, I know it would be just like yours. All I want to do is hold you in my arms and not let go. Just lay there in the sweet serenity of the world with the girl of my dreams right there in my arms.
Bernard
Scott wrinkled his nose at the last part. He found it so disturbing that some new person could waltz in here, threaten to tell his deepest secret, and take the girl of his dreams. He sighed and stuck the letter in an envelope. Sticking it in his jacket pocket, he walked out of the office and down the hall. Stopping by his brothers room. He peered in. He caught Bob and Clint in the midst of a jam session.
"Guys, I'm going out. I'll be home in a half hour," he waited for an answer. After going unnoticed, he shut the door and headed out. He hoped on his bike and started down the street. As he approached Corey's house, he scanned her driveway. Not seeing her old green truck, he continued on.
After 5 minutes of riding, he turned on to Anacourt drive and began looking for Bernard's house. He didn't really have to look considering he figured it was the house with Corey's green truck out in front. A surge of anger shot through his body as he rode up the driveway. Getting off his bike and letting it fall to the ground, he walked up to the porch. Grasping the letter tightly in his hand, he knocked. A few moments later, Mrs. Harrison appeared.
"Oh, hello Dot," she smiled.
Scott felt sick of people getting his name wrong, "it's Scott. Is Bernard home?"
She shook her head, "afraid not. He and Corey went for a walk. Can I take a message?"
"No, just give him this," he handed her the envelope. She nodded.
"Very well."
Before Scott said good-bye, she had shut the door in his face. He sighed and turned around. He headed for his bike and hopped on. He always knew of just one place that he could go to find comfort in this tornado of drama.