Daniel Mangan roamed the halls of Sleepyside Junior-Senior High; a cat stalking its prey. His gait was casual, but his eyes were intensely alert as he watched for the perfect moment. It came when he was slouched against a wall, observing the throng of students milling between classes.

“Hey, Ash,” he said, and fell into step with the young man. “How's it going?”

Jack eyed him warily. “How's it going?” He pressed his lips together. “How do you think it's going? I spent the evening being carted around Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, Croton-on-the-Hudson, and probably the actual Hudson while the stupid truck made its deliveries.”

Dan raised an eyebrow. “Why didn't you just sneak out of the truck when it was stopped?”

“There were two guys. One guy handed stuff to the other. There was never a chance. I was just lucky that they left the door unattended for a few minutes when they got back to the bakery. Otherwise, I'd still be in there.”

“Still, doesn't sound too bad,” Dan commented. “So, you spent an evening sight-seeing. Could have been worse.”

“Could have been worse? I almost had to go to emergency!” Jack exclaimed, then coloured when Dan looked at him expectantly. “I thought I had frostbite on my butt,” he muttered.

This time, Dan didn't try to keep from laughing. The image of Jack Ash huddled in a refrigerated delivery truck driving around town was too much.

Jack glared at him. “Not funny! No girl is worth that.”

Dan shrugged. “Matter of opinion. Di and Honey are worth a whole lot more than that to me.”

“You know them pretty well?” Jack asked.

“Yup.”

Dan's monosyllabic answer gave Jack pause. “You think they're worth it?” he asked.

“I wouldn't be friends with them if they weren't.”

Jack considered. “And their boyfriends. Do you know them at all?”

A flicker of surprise crossed Dan's face. Had no one told Jack about the Bob-Whites? He studied Jack's face, but didn't detect any subterfuge. The beginnings of an evil plan took root.

“I know Mart and Brian,” he said carefully.

Jack studied him. “And you still think I should get together with Di or Honey?”

“I didn't say that. I said Di and Honey were worth it.” Dan rolled his eyes mentally. This guy is unbelievable! He seems to think that Honey and Di have no say in the matter. That if Jack wants to be with them, well, then that's the way it will be. Diana's decision to play with him suddenly made much more sense. If ever there was a male in need of being taken down a peg or two, Jack Ash was it. Di had already set something in motion. If he could help a little, why not?

And this was a perfect way to keep Mart from going more berserk than he already was. Remembering Mart's panicked phone call from the previous night, and the crazy scheme the jealous boyfriend had proposed, Dan made up his mind. It was time to get devious.

“So, how do I do it?” Jack demanded. “That Mart Belden guy is always around.”

“Oh, I think I can figure something out,” Dan said, his eyes glinting with feline cunning.

Margery Trask stood in front of the mirror and did a slow pirouette. The copper-coloured gown she wore shimmered as it fell into perfect folds. It fit like a glove; a very expensive and highly ornamental glove.

She studied herself critically, but couldn't find any fault. The dress was beautiful. For the first time in years, she looked beautiful. Even better, she felt beautiful.

She lifted the skirt of the dress to see her new copper sandals with three-inch heels and delicate straps. Definitely not your standard oxford, she murmured. And yet, she liked them. The new clothes brought out a feminine quality never quite achieved by her tailored suits and sensible shoes.

Laws-a-lack-a-mercy, this can't be I!

Honey hummed happily as she sorted through the fabric in the sewing room at the Manor House. Everything I need is right here! Now, if I could only be sure that Trixie will wear this...

She shook her head. Trixie simply wouldn't have a choice. It was a masquerade. Not even Trixie would be able to resist this costume. And it wasn't as if Trixie were going to sew her own costume.

In triumph, she held up a bolt of deep red fabric. It wasn't Trixie's favourite colour, but Ben loved it. She held it against the fitting mannequin and envisioned the costume on Trixie's curvy build. Trixie's going to love it, once she stops freaking out about the neckline, she told herself.

After clearing the large table in the centre of the room, Honey laid out pattern pieces and fabric and began cutting. If this costume doesn't boost Trixie's confidence, my name isn't Honey Wheeler.

Diana sprawled on top of her luxurious lilac comforter, an open text book in front of her. She hadn't been contemplating Elizabethan history for long when she was distracted by the love theme from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Di scooped up her cell phone and flipped it open.

Her initial disappointment was replaced by curiosity when Dan identified himself. “What's up, Dan?” she asked.

“Oh, not much,” Dan replied, in a tone meaning exactly the opposite. “I just had a very enlightening conversation today that I thought might interest you.”

Diana waited.

“With Jack Ash,” Dan supplied.

“And?”

Dan laughed. “Di, you're obviously messing with this guy's head.”

“Would I do that?” Diana asked, twirling a strand of ebony hair around her finger.

“Yes, you would,” Dan snorted. “And you're doing it really well. If you want to mess with him a little more, I can help.”

Diana sat up straighter. “Talk to me.”

Dan proceeded to outline his plan, while Diana listened with growing amusement. “Honey and I should have recruited you from the beginning!” she exclaimed when he had finished.

“I highly doubt you and Honey need my help. I am happy to do my part, though.”

“So, after school tomorrow?” Di asked.

“I wouldn't miss it for the world,” Dan assured her.

“You missed a spot.” Mart held up the dish he was drying and showed it to his sister. “Tomato sauce, I believe.”

Trixie gritted her teeth and took back the plate, making sure to leave some bubbles on Mart. As she plunged the plate back into the soapy water, she heard the unmistakable strains of the Jeopardy jingle coming from Mart's cell phone.

She narrowed her eyes. “You're not taking a call now, are you?”

Mart looked from the phone to his sister, his face stamped with guilt. “Please, Trix?” he wheedled.

“I'm not drying the dishes for you,” Trixie warned. “They're sitting in the drain tray until you get back. And you'd better hope that the cutlery doesn't get water spots.”

Mart shrugged into his winter jacket and hurried out the kitchen door to talk in the privacy of the yard. What he didn't realize was that the cold February air was an excellent conductor of sound, and that Trixie could hear bits and snatches of his conversation as he paced.

Trixie's dish-washing grew slower and slower as she strained to catch Mart's words.

“They're meeting him where?!...Why?...How will...”

“Are you sure you know what you're doing?” Mart finally asked. “Yeah, well, at least I'll know.”

Trixie scrambled to begin washing dishes again as Mart completed his call and came back to the kitchen.

“So, what did Dan want?” she asked, hoping that her face and voice weren't betraying the intense curiosity she felt.

Mart looked at her suspiciously. “We have plans for after school tomorrow,” he said shortly.

Trixie nodded, her mind scrambling. Honey and Di had plans, too. Plans they hadn't had time to tell her about yet. Were the plans connected? She grinned, remembering that she had another tutoring session with Nick. All hands would be on deck.

Jim Frayne heard the door of his dorm suite open, but didn't look up. “How's it going, Brian?” he asked, still reading the thick text book in front of him.

Setting down his heavy backpack, Brian Belden flopped onto one of the two twin beds in the room. “So. Tired.”

Jim chuckled. “Maybe you shouldn't stay up until two in the morning instant messaging my sister.”

“I didn't know it was so late!” Brian protested. “I just hope Mr. Wheeler doesn't find out. Somehow, I don't think he'd approve.”

“Dad's a big softy,” Jim protested.

Brian opened one eye. “Not where his only daughter is concerned.” He sat up again. “I need to work on my biology paper. I'm going to have to finish it early if I want to go to Di's Mardi Gras party.”

Jim looked away.

“Oh, good grief, Jim. Don't tell me you're not coming.”

“I have a lot of work to do,” Jim protested weakly.

Brian snorted.

“And it's not as if I have a girlfriend who expects me to take her,” Jim continued, a sheepish expression on his face.

“Trixie would say yes if you asked her,” Brian said softly.

Jim snorted. “Yeah, right. She probably has a date lined up already.”

Brian hesitated, unsure how much he should tell his friend. “From what I've heard, Trixie turned down at least one invitation.”

Jim's heart stopped beating. “She did?”

“Honey said Ben Riker asked her. And she's pretty sure Nick Roberts arranged to tutor her in math just so he could ask her to the party.”

“Why didn't Honey tell me?” Jim asked.

“Because she's the one who convinced Ben to ask her!” Brian laughed. “She's not too happy that it didn't turn out. But she doesn't think Trixie will say yes to Nick, either. That's who Di was rooting for.”

Jim's eyes grew wide. “Honey and Di are trying to set Trixie up with other guys?”

“They just thought she might like a date for the Mardi Gras party,” Brian said, not quite sure whether or not he should acknowledge the desperation he could see in Jim's eyes. Almost as an after-thought, he added, “But Trixie has pretty high standards. From what I can tell, she's holding out for the most wonderful boy in the world.”

Flustered, Jim turned back to his text book.

“Why haven't you asked her out, Jim?” Brian's quiet question sounded like a clap of thunder in the quiet room.

Jim felt his face turn red. “Brian!”

“I'm serious, Jim. You two are perfect for each other, and you know it. Are you ever going to ask her out?”

“But,” Jim spluttered.

“But nothing. I've kept my mouth shut for a long time, but this has gone on long enough. If you like her, do something. Soon.”

Brian picked up his backpack and headed for the library, leaving Jim alone with his thoughts.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Honey whispered, tugging on Diana's elbow.

Diana looked back at her, her blue-black hair swinging. “Of course it is! It teaches Jack Ash and Mart a lesson. How could it not be a good idea?”

Honey still looked a trifle uncertain.

“Do you want Ash pestering you for the entire year?” Di probed. “Because he will.”

Honey grimaced. “Okay, okay. So, what do we do?”

Di tugged on the doors to the Sleepyside Junior-Senior High gym. The hard wood floors gleamed with newly painted lines for the basketball courts, but the overhead lights were dim. “Perfect,” she breathed.

Honey's eyes darted around the deserted gym. “What's perfect? It's going to be dark in here in minutes.”

Reaching into her over-sized shoulder bag, Di withdrew two small poster board signs and a role of tape. “It won't be that dark,” she insisted, pointing to the glowing exit lights and a few low-burning bulbs. “They always have some light in here. Besides, the boys' soccer team will be coming in about twenty minutes.”

Diana tucked the poster board signs and the roll of tape against the wall, just inside the gym doors, where Dan would find them easily. “Now we just need to wait for the man of the hour,” she said, dusting her hands.

“In the girls' change room,” Honey said.

“In the girls' change room,” Di agreed.

They stared at each other. “We are going to be in so much trouble,” Honey finally said, but her lips were twitching.

Diana started to giggle. “It'll be worth it,” she promised. “Just picture the look on Jack's face when--” Di broke off as she started to laugh harder.

Honey joined her friend, laughing helplessly. “If this doesn't cure Jack Ash, nothing will.”

“Shh,” Di cautioned. “We'd better get in place. Jack will be here any minute.”

Honey and Di ducked into the girls' change room and sat down on the hard wooden bench that lined the outer room. Within moments, they heard the sound of the heavy gym doors opening and closing, scraping against the smooth floor. Honey bit her lip, fighting the nervous giggle that threatened to escape.

The door to the change room opened, and they could see a dark figure in silhouette.

“Is that you, Jack?” Di whispered.

The figure came all the way into the change room, smiling broadly. “Hello, ladies.”

Diana patted the bench beside her. “Come, sit down,” she invited.

Jack's yes darted from side to side. “Are you sure it's safe for us to be here?”

“It's the girls' change room, silly!” Di giggled. “And the girls don't have any after-school sports today.”

“What about Mart?” he demanded.

“Oh, he went home on the bus twenty minutes ago,” Di said, waving her arm dismissively.

Honey stared at her. “No, he didn't.”

Diana looked at her in surprise.

“I thought you knew! Mart stayed after school again to work on something.”

Jack tugged at the collar of his shirt and eyed the door.

“I'll go take a look around,” Honey offered, winking covertly at her friend. “And I'll make sure that he doesn't come here.”

“Would you really?” Di asked, her violet eyes shining.

“Of course!” Honey smoothed her skirt and headed for the door. “Have fun, you two!”

When the door had closed behind her, Di patted the seat next to her again. “Don't you want to sit down?” she cooed.

A lascivious smile lit Jack's face, and he hastened to her side. “Alone at last,” he murmured.

Di playfully batted his arm. “You make it sound as if you've been trying to get me alone for years,” she teased. “We met only a week ago.”

“It feels like forever,” he murmured, reaching to touch her silky hair.

The door of the change room opened with a loud groan. “I'm back, Di,” Honey called loudly, a frantic expression on her face. “Did you find your hair clip?”

Di and Jack stared at her in confusion.

“No?” Honey continued. “I'll help you look, then.” She pulled the door firmly shut behind her and hurried into the room. “Mart is right outside, waiting by the gym doors,” she hissed. “He must have heard about your plans. I told him you were looking for a lost hair clip.”

Diana blinked several times, then reached up to remove her amethyst clip.

“Honey? Di?” Mart called. “Are you coming?”

Jack's eyes bulged. “You've got to hide me. Quick!”

“Mart won't come in here,” Di said, but her voice lacked conviction.

“Do you need help?” Mart called. “I can help you look for the hair thingee.”

“I could be wrong,” Di muttered. Raising her voice, she said, “We'll be right there, Mart. I'm sure it's here's somewhere.”

“Where can I hide?” Jack was ferreting his way through the dim room, looking for a place to conceal himself.

“Put this on,” Honey instructed, handing him a bundle of clothing.

Jack frowned, looking at the material. “This looks like--”

“Just put it on!” Di hissed. “Any boy caught in the girls' change room is automatically suspended.”

Jack nodded nervously and darted into a stall.

“Just stay put,” Di whispered to him. “When it's been quiet for about fifteen minutes, it should be safe for you to leave.”

“You're leaving?” Jack asked, his voice rising to a squeak.

“It's the only way,” Honey told him. “Mart will burst in if Di and I don't leave with him.”

Exchanging amused glances, Di and Honey left the change room. “Found it!” Di sang, waving the amethyst hair clip. She smiled at her boyfriend. “Thanks for offering to help look, Mart.”

Mart looked from the hair clip to the closed change room door. “That's all you were doing?” he asked. He opened the door, but the room was dark. “There's no one else in there?”

“Who else would be there?” Di asked, her violet eyes wide.

Mart shrugged. “I don't know. But it's a good thing you're out of there.” The three walked through the gym to the main doors. “While I was waiting for you I noticed that the boys' change room is out of order. There's a sign telling the boys soccer team to use girls' change room.”

As if to prove him true, the varsity soccer team filed in, hot and sweaty from an outdoor practice. Honey and Di hid grins as the team read the sign Dan had placed on the change room door, and trooped into the girls' change room. Di grabbed Mart's arm and hurried him out of the gym, not wanting him to hear the inevitable commotion.

The commotion that would almost certainly be caused by the presence of a boy in the girls’ change room. A boy who just happened to be wearing a girls’ cheerleading outfit.