Smiling coyly, Alexis made her way through the crowd to Leigh. He was talking to Tom and Rebekah about Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. that he had been in a few weeks before. “I loved,” said Tom, “the part when, like, all the sons came forward and sang, ‘I hear they’ve picked a bride for me. I hope she’s pretty.’ That was so, like, funny!”

Alexis smiled again and pounced. Purring sweetly, she pushed in front of Rebekah, and said, “And, Leigh, who were you thinking of during that part? Maybe a certain brunette?” Flipping her long brown hair, she put her arm around Leigh’s shoulder. Leigh smiled gently, and tactfully slipped from under her arm. “Actually, Alexis, I was thinking of a blonde. I leave you to guess who it is.”

Alexis spun around, so angry she spilled her punch. “Here, Alexis,” Rebekah said, coming to her rescue with a paper towel, “Let me. You can still use the cup.”

Alexis grabbed the paper towel and snapped, “I can get it! I don’t need the help of someone who doesn’t think that this theatre company’s important enough to be in the best show!” Everyone was staring at the two girls. “And,” She continued, “Furthermore, I think that Peter Pan WAS the best show, because you weren’t in it!”

Rebekah went pale. Her mother had not come to the party; Rebekah and Heather had driven themselves. Alexis had wounded Rebekah in a very tender spot. She had wanted to be in Peter Pan, but she had been in a car wreck, causing her to lose the use of her legs for six months. Her lead role of Peter had gone to her understudy.  Everyone thought that there would be a fight. Rebekah turned on her heel and walked calmly out of the house, breaking into a run once she was past everyone’s view. She ran to the pond, where there was a small bench. She collapsed on it and wept.

Back in the house, Alexis watched Rebekah with a smirk on her face. Almost immediately, Miss Cathleen exploded at Alexis. “Alexis Westlake! I can’t believe you! You signed that contract. Respect others!”

While Miss Cathleen was publicly scolding Alexis, Leigh slipped out. He knew that Rebekah would go to the pond; she had told him that if she was ever sad or upset, she would go there. At the time, he had laughed and said, “When are you ever sad or upset?” and dismissed it, but now the information came in handy. He found her on the bench, pressing her forehead against the cold concrete of the bench, and moaning. He was about to approach her, when he noticed that she was clutching a necklace. It was a heart with “A + R = Friends” written on it. She pulled it off, and was going to throw it in the pond, when Leigh sprang forward and grasped her wrist. She gave a little cry of surprise, and turned. Seeing it was only Leigh, she struggled to free her hand. “Please, Leigh, let go. I know that Alexis and I can’t be friends. I’ve tried for as long as I’ve known her. Everything that I do offends her. But, I do…try…”

She trailed off into silence as Leigh sat down, released her wrist and smiled. “Have you guessed who that blonde is?”

“Not really. Is it maybe Catherine? Or Heather? I know that she’s 18, though, like Alexis.”

Leigh took the 15-year-old’s hands and said with a chuckle, “Rebekah, you are silly. It’s you! I’ve liked you for as long as I’ve known you! You are the most pretty, talented, gorgeous spark of pure energy that I have ever seen. And I want you to feel the same way about me.”

Taking her hand off of the necklace, Rebekah stared in happy bewilderment. “Then, I guess that I can tell you that the first time I saw you, I whispered to Heather, ‘Omigosh, he is SO cute!!!’”

They both laughed, and Leigh hugged Rebekah. Finally, Leigh looked up. He saw Alexis Westlake approaching across the fields. “Oh dear, Alexis is coming. Let’s walk and meet her. Hold my hand.”

Holding hands and walking leisurely, they strolled across her route. Rebekah glimpsed the fury in her eyes and shivered. “Hey, Alexis,” she said warily.

Alexis looked at her, hot rage making her quiver. “Hello,” she said through clenched teeth. “So I see that you steal boys as well as wallets.”

Rebekah stared at her, aghast. “Oh, yes,” Alexis sneered, enjoying this, “You remember. You stole my purse at the BMC theater. And when they found it, there was twenty bucks missing.”

Leigh stopped any further tête-à-tête with a question. “What are they doing at the house, Alexis?”

“Oh, they’re about to do awards. But you two aren’t going,” she said, trying to block their path. Leigh winked at Rebekah and they sprinted around Alexis. But Rebekah tripped on a root and a fell heavily. Alexis hauled her up. “Thank you, Alexis,” Rebekah said.

“Oh, it wasn’t for you.” she grinned meanly. “It was so that I could do this!”

With that, she slapped Rebekah, her manicured nails scraping against Rebekah’s cheek.. Leigh ran back and grabbed Rebekah’s hand, pulling her to the house. They entered the house. Leigh took his charge to the kitchen, asking Miss Sarah for a wet paper towel. She quickly gave him the requested items. He took Rebekah into the living room, instructing her to hold the towel on her cheek just so. Miss Cathleen gasped. “What happened to you?”

Not wanting to get Alexis in trouble, Rebekah said, “Oh, I was careless and I ran into a tree branch. I’ll be fine.”

Miss Cathleen shrugged and yelled, “Kids, time for the awards!” As people quieted down, they noticed Leigh sitting with his arm around Rebekah. She had a large band-aid on her cheek, and was leaning on Leigh’s shoulder. Some started whispering. Miss Cathleen glared at everyone. “The first award is for best female extra. That goes to Katrina Sewall!” In ten minutes, they were to the most important award of all, The Best Actor/Actress Award. Leigh had gone up twice, and Rebekah once. Everyone held their breath. “And the Best Actor/Actress Award goes to…Rebekah!”

People cheered. But in the midst, there was someone booing. Alexis came to the front of the room. “She doesn’t deserve this award!” she shouted. “She is a mean, hypocritical, sassy, back-biting double-crosser!”

There was complete silence in the room. Leigh stood up. “Why do you say that, Alexis?”

“She stole my purse and money from it. She’s managed to manipulate a few people such as Angela, Leigh and Tom and Alyssa, who USED to be MY friends! Mine. Now they think that I am horrible. Well, she’s more horrible than I am. She has told me multiple times that she wants to be my friend and then goes and ignores me! That award should be mine! I am a hundred times the actress and person that she is!!!”

Miss Cathleen went up to Alexis. “Alexis, you're fired. Respecting others was on your contract, and you've failed to keep it in that part.”

Alexis scowled, and ran out of the house. Miss Cathleen turned to Rebekah. “Are you okay?”

Rebekah sat up. “Yes ma'am. I didn’t realize that Alexis hated me. I guess that I’ve been a little stupid.”

Miss Cathleen held out the award to Rebekah. “Here you go. This is yours.”

But Rebekah pushed it away. “I don’t think I want it. If it means more than friends to her, give it to Alexis.”