OT: I present to you... A Short Story (Rated PG-13) This is a Fame the TV Series Fanfiction Story, NOT Monkees related :) 
HI Everyone,
This is an Off-Topic (OT) story not related to Monkees at all that I wanted to share. It's a Fame the TV Series fanfiction story that I wrote yesterday and this morning. It's a finished story, but I wanted to post it here too, in case there are Fame the TV Series lovers as well. I hope you all enjoy. As always, feedback is welcomed if you wish.
This story is rated PG-13 for implied violence, death, and hallucinations.
And now... the story...
It was early morning and Doris woke up extremely unhappy that she had to be at school for an early rehearsal before the crack of dawn.
"Okay, I'm here," Doris said angrily as she walked into the classroom only to find that she was the only person there. "I'll be..." she mumbled to herself as she checked her calendar to make sure she had the correct day written down, which she did. She sat on the piano bench and banged on the keys until one-by-one people started showing up. "It's about freaking time!" Doris said angrily at each of them as they walked in.
"We got here as soon as we could, Doris." Bruno said.
"You know don't even talk to me this morning. Let's just get this done and over with or I will leave."
"You leaving won't help matters any, Doris," Leroy said.
"Oh yes it will," Doris said. "Yes, it will."
Danny walked in and yawned. "This is too early. I just went to sleep two hours ago."
"Why so late?" Bruno asked.
"Why?" Doris asked. "Because I'll tell you why. He had a date with Nicole last night, didn't ya, Danny?"
"Doris, that is my business, not yours." Danny said angrily at her. "Not like you'd even know what it was like to date someone."
"Knock it off you two," Bruno said taking his seat at the piano next to Doris.
"You know what?" Doris said.
"Doris, don't do it," Bruno said. "He's just trying to agitate you."
"Yeah be quiet, Doris," Danny said sitting at his drums and drumming a ba-duh-bump.
"You know what, I quit." Doris said. "Find yourself another actress." Doris grabbed her book bag and walked out of class.
"Is someone going to go after her?" Holly asked.
"Let her calm down first," Bruno said. "She'll be back."
"And if she doesn't?" Holly asked.
"Then we'll all rejoice!" Danny said pounding on the drums.
"Just shut up everyone, please!" Bruno said. "We cannot practice without Doris." Holly and Bruno walked out into the hallway and it was empty. "I think she was dead serious, Bruno."
"Unfortunately, now I believe you're right." Bruno said.
Miss Grant walked into the rehearsal room and asked, "Where's Doris?"
"She just quit." Holly said.
"What? Why?" Miss Grant asked.
"Danny was agitating her again and she was already mad at everyone being late." Bruno replied.
"Okay people, I'll be Doris then. You all need to practice." Miss Grant said instructing them on the rehearsal.
As school went on that day, no one saw Doris anywhere in any classes. Holly looked at Danny and said, "I think you really hit a nerve with her."
"About?" Danny asked.
"About her not having many dates, Danny. That really hurt her." Holly said.
"It was a joke, Holly. I know she's been out on dates before." Danny replied.
"But you really hurt her feelings, Danny." Holly said. "You need to go and find her after school and apologize."
"If she doesn't realize it was a joke, that is not my fault Holly." Danny said. "I am not apologizing for something that was so obvious a joke."
That night after school was out, Holly tried to call Doris and got the machine. "I'm telling you, Danny, you hurt her feelings."
"Well she needs to learn not to take me so seriously too, Laird." Danny replied.
Bruno walked up to them at their lockers and said, "Well, it's official."
"What?" Danny asked.
"Doris is definitely out." Bruno replied. "Miss Grant talked to her on lunch and Doris is adamantly refusing to come back to the production, so Michelle will be taking over since she's Doris' understudy."
Holly looked at Danny and Danny said, "It was a joke."
"Problem with that, Danny, is that you promised Doris you wouldn't do that to her anymore once you two were locked in the elevator together." Bruno said.
"I didn't promise anything, Bruno, and I was there." Danny replied. "She's just too hypersensitive anymore."
As the week went on and Doris was no longer even coming to classes, Holly was getting concerned. "Why isn't she coming to school?" Holly asked Bruno.
"I don't know," Bruno replied. "I tried to call her, but got the machine six times."
"This isn't funny anymore," Holly said angrily. "And Danny hasn't even apologized to her yet either."
"How do you know?" Bruno asked.
"He adamantly says he hasn't, Bruno," Holly said.
Friday night at Lou's, the gang met at their usual table, however, Doris was not present then either. "I should try to talk with her," Holly said.
"Actually, I've kind of loved her not being around," Danny said.
"You are so mean and cruel to her, Amatullo. You are the one that needs punishment, not her."
"No yelling, screaming, or making weird noises." Danny said. "It's been so peaceful."
Bruno looked up and saw Doris standing behind Danny.
"Yeah, it's been more roomier at the lunch table too without her, as she's been putting on weight more now than ever before."
"Shut up, Amatullo." Bruno said pointing. Danny turned behind him and saw Doris standing there. "Doris, what a shocking surprise."
"Oh excuse me, Danny." Doris said walking over to him and pushing him to the floor and screaming at him, "I hate you, Amatullo. I hate you." Doris started hitting him really hard in the face and arms. Holly, Bruno, and Nicole had to rip Doris off of him.
"You are freaking crazy, Doris!" Danny said fixing his shirt. "Freaking loony."
"Shut up!" Doris screamed. "Shut up and don't ever talk to me again, not ever." Doris smacked his face and walked out screaming, "I hate you all."
"Thanks a lot, Danny!" Holly said angrily as she ran out of Lou's after her best friend.
"Yo, she started it with me, Holly." Danny said.
"You two need to stop being enemies and start being friends, Amatullo," Chris said.
"She drives me insane, Chris. Absolutely insane." Danny said.
Outside Doris was standing at her car breathing hard when Holly walked over to her. "I'm sorry about that in there, Doris." Holly said.
"I can't stand him, Holly. And I can't get away from him because he's in most of all my classes. He's been after me since the first day he arrived at this school and I can't figure out what I've done to him to make him this way with me," Doris said wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I thought you two made up in that elevator when you were both stuck in there, Doris," Holly said.
"I thought so too, Holly. But he still keeps attacking me, and I'm really sick of it." Doris said.
"Maybe you should tell Mr. Morloch about it," Holly said. "Maybe he can straighten it out."
"Maybe I will find another way, Holly. Another way that will be better for not only me but everyone else." Doris said.
"Like what, Doris?" Holly asked concerned.
"I have to go now Holly. Take care." Doris said getting into her car and driving off.
"But Doris, wait? What's your idea?" Holly yelled.
Holly went back inside and pulled Chris aside.
"How's Doris?" Chris asked.
"I think she's going to do something." Holly said.
"What? Doris?" Chris asked.
"I don't know, Chris. But I am very worried about her." Holly said wiping the tears from her eyes.
At school that following week, in first period all the students were given an overhead announcement that raised eyebrows in some and gave chills to others.
"Danny Amatullo, Holly Laird, Chris Donlon, Nicole Chapman, and Jesse Velasquez to the Office immediately. If you are not here in under five minutes, you are all expelled." The teachers looked at their students and said, "You heard the announcement, move."
All five of them ran to the office but stopped in the doorway when they saw a police officer and Doris' parents.
"OMGosh," Holly said falling into Chris' arms.
"What's going on here?" Chris asked moving Holly into the office and sitting her in a chair.
"In my office all of you," Mr. Morloch said angrily.
Chris carried Holly into the office and put her in the chair. They were all joined by Doris' parents and the police officer.
Danny's body went numb inside seeing Doris' parents staring at him with cold and evil eyes.
After the door to the office was closed, Mr. Morloch sat down in his chair and he said, "Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz and this police officer want to talk to each and every one of you about Doris. And you will answer them honestly and truthfully or you will be forced out of this school. These are serious allegations here, possibly one of you or more will be going to jail."
"Thank you Mr. Morloch," Mrs. Schwartz said taking a kleenex from her pocket and wiping her eyes.
"What happened?" Chris asked looking at everyone.
"You'll find out in due time." Mr. Morloch said. "Go ahead Officer Peters."
A tall, blonde-headed officer of thin stature walked in front of the five students in the chairs and asked, "Which one is Danny Amatullo?"
Danny swallowed hard as he raised his arm and said, "I am."
"Mr. Amatullo, I need you to tell me exactly what happened Friday evening at Lou's. Take your time and think it over very thoroughly before giving me your answers," the Officer said.
"What happened to Doris?" Nicole asked.
"I can't reveal that to you now. But we need to ask each of you this and instead of doing this one-by-one in separate rooms, we're doing it here. But you are under strict honesty or I will be forced to arrest you."
Nicole looked at Jesse with raised eyes.
"Mr. Amatullo?" the Officer said. "What is your answer?"
One-by-one through the questioning, all five students gave their description of the night in complete and brutal honesty, which revealed bad things about Danny. Danny sat there listening to their accounts and felt absolutely horrible. His heart was racing like crazy and he was starting to sweat, for he had no idea what had happened to Doris because no one was telling them anything. After everyone gave their accounts of that night, the Officer made sure all their testimonies were on tape and then sat there looking at Danny.
"Won't someone please tell us what is going on?" Danny asked.
Mrs. Schwartz looked at Danny and asked, "Why have you been terrorizing our daughter?"
"I haven't been terrorizing her, Mrs. Schwartz. I have been joking around with her." Danny said.
"You have been terrorizing her, Danny. Making rude comments about her weight, and that's she's 'crazy' or a 'loon,' that is verbal harassment, Danny. Do you not realize this?"
"I've always made jokes with her Mrs. Schwartz." Danny said.
"Friday night didn't sound like jokes to me, son," Mr. Schwartz said looking at him.
"What happened to Doris?" Danny asked.
"We've got enough information here, folks," the Officer said.
"Hello? Isn't someone going to answer me?" Danny asked getting irritated.
Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz looked at Mr. Morloch along with the officer and nodded. Mr. Morloch said, "Doris never came home from Lou's that night on Friday, Danny. They haven't seen or heard from her since."
"Oh dear God," Holly cried out grabbing a hold of Chris and crying hysterically. Nicole put her head on Jesse's shoulder and started crying as well.
Danny's body went completely numb. His heart started to race even more. "Well, when she left, she was alive. No one was injured physically." Holly said.
"We're investigating everything right now folks. Thank you for your accounts. Please do not discuss this with other students and here is my business card. If you see Doris or hear from her, please call me and her parents and let us know immediately, okay?" the Officer asked.
"Okay Officer," Nicole said wiping her eyes. The officer looked at Danny and said, "Do not go near her. If she contacts you, you call us immediately."
"I will," Danny said. "I'm sorry Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz."
During their classes, Danny's mind raced to Doris' angry face at him hitting and screaming at him. He couldn't concentrate. He couldn't breathe. Miss Sherwood asked, "What is that wheezing sound?"
"Danny," Nicole said.
"Danny, you okay?" Miss Sherwood asked.
"It's my asthma," Danny gasped. "I'm fine."
"Do you need the nurse's station?" Miss Sherwood asked.
"Yeah, I do," Danny replied grabbing his books and slowly walking down to the nurse's station. On his walk down there, visions of Doris' face jumped in front of him and he said, "I'm hallucinating. She's not really here."
"Oh but she is, Amatullo," he heard. "And you will never forget it."
Danny's breathing got more and more labored as he walked to the Nurse's station. "Sit down Danny and I'll get your medication," the Nurse said (who had kept some extra medication for Danny in case of emergencies). She gave him four puffs on his inhaler and reassured him he would be okay.
"Choke, choke," he heard as Doris' head popped in front of him again. "I'm dead, Danny, and you're the cause!"
"NO!" Danny cried out. "NO!"
"No what, Danny?" asked the nurse.
Danny looked at the Nurse and then passed out.
Back at the Schwartz household, Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz walked inside with the so-called officer and sat on the couch.
"How did it go?" they heard.
"Danny's hysterical and your other friends are very distraught," Mrs. Schwartz said.
"Good," Doris said looking at them.
"Impersonating an officer is a criminal offense, Doris," the man said handing her the tape recorder.
"But you are an officer, Dan. You're retired, remember." Doris asked.
"I know, but still. I feel kind of awkward about it." Dan said.
"I will take all the heat if you get into trouble, Dan." Doris said. "I want to teach these folks that they don't mess with Doris Schwartz and get away with it."
Doris kissed Dan and said, "I owe you."
"Good, I'll collect then. Let me take you to dinner tonight," Dan said.
"We can't go anywhere locally, Dan, or my cover is blown." Doris said.
"We won't. I'll take you to New Jersey for dinner." Dan said.
"Doris, we had to tell Mr. Morloch about your scheme," Mrs. Schwartz said. "He was not willing to do the announcement unless he knew the exact reason."
"What did he say?" Doris asked.
"That you were absolutely brilliant and that he wanted to see them squirm." Mr. Schwartz said.
Doris laughed hysterically and said, "I told you Mr. Morloch was cool."
"New Jersey tonight, huh, Dan?" Doris asked.
"Yes, please." Dan asked.
"Okay," Doris said smiling.
"Where are you going to live for this hiding, Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"Right here where they won't suspect a thing," Doris said.
"What about your apartment?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"The rent is paid up this month, so he won't be coming around for rent anytime soon and no one will bother it." Doris said.
"Let me get changed Dan, and then we'll go to New Jersey now, okay?" Doris asked.
"Okay," Dan replied.
"Where's your car, Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"In the garage." Doris replied. "I put it next to yours momma."
"Okay," Mrs. Schwartz replied.
At Mrs. Amatullo's that night, Danny slowly came around. "What happened?" he asked.
"You passed out at school, Danny." Mrs. Amatullo said putting an icepack on her son's forehead.
"Want to tell me about what happened between you and Doris, Danny?" she asked.
Danny laid there staring at his mother. "I was only joking with her mother. I didn't mean any of it."
"Danny, you need to stop joking all the time." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I can't help it, momma. That's my nature." Danny said.
"But now someone has gone missing from it, Danny. Someone has became very hurt and violated from your jokes. That is not right." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I love her momma," Danny said. "I would never hurt her."
"Then stop joking with her, Danny, and you need to go to the chapel today and pray that she's okay." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I don't know where she's at momma, but I do know she left Lou's alive that night." Danny said wiping his tears that were forming in his eyes.
"You need to rest, Danny. I'll light a candle for Doris in the livingroom. You need to try and rest." Mrs. Amatullo said kissing her son's forehead. Mrs. Amatullo left the room and visions of Doris' face came back and paralyzed Danny to the bed. He gripped the comforter because he felt like he was falling. "I'm dead, Danny, and you're the cause," he heard Doris say to him.
"Momma!" Danny called out anxiously.
"What is it?" Mrs. Amatullo asked walking back in the room.
"Do you see Doris in my room?" Danny asked.
"No, there's no one here, Danny. Why?" Mrs. Amatullo asked seeing the terror in his eyes.
"I keep seeing her face and she's telling me that she's dead and I'm the cause." Danny said crying out.
"Oh baby," Mrs. Amatullo said walking up to her son and holding him in her arms. "I'm so sorry."
Danny clung to his mother for dear life.
That night Holly, Chris, Nicole, and Jesse sat around in Chris' apartment discussing the day. "Danny looked like he saw a ghost today in English class." Holly said.
"I know. What was up with that?" Nicole asked.
"I don't know," Chris replied. "But they sent him home with his mother today. I guess he passed out in the nurse's station."
During the brief period that Danny finally did get to sleep in his mother's arms, he slept peacefully. However, when his mother left the room, Danny's visions of Doris' face came back full force at him and he screamed, "Nooooooooooooo, Schwartz, I didn't mean to kill you. Please come back. I love you." Mrs. Amatullo came back in the room and saw the anguish on her son's face, but left him alone to deal with it.
During that week at school, Danny sat in the back of the class and stared out the window. The teachers gave him a break considering what all five of them were going through. He made sure to bring his inhaler with him during the day because his breathing got very labored when the visions kept coming after him full force, even in dance class. One day, Danny was doing the dance routine with Michelle. As he spun her around, her face turned into Doris' and Danny froze. "I'm dead and you killed me," Doris said to him. "Schwartz, I'm sorry I killed you," Danny screamed. "I love you," he grabbed Michelle and started kissing her.
"Danny!" Michelle screamed pushing him away. "What are you doing?"
"Hold up class," Miss Grant said. "Amatullo, what is the problem?"
Danny looked at Miss Grant and then back at Michelle. "I'm sorry," he said and then he ran out of class down the hallway.
"I'm sorry, Michelle," Holly said. "Danny's going through a lot right now. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Michelle said wiping her mouth over and over again. "Why did he kill Doris?"
Miss Grant looked at Holly, Chris, Nicole, and Jesse and said, "I need to tell them."
Miss Grant closed the danceroom door and told the class about that Doris was missing and they didn't know where she was at.
"Oh wow!" Michelle said. "I had no idea."
"He's been having visions of Doris' face haunting him telling him that he killed her and I'm afraid that happened a moment ago with you, Michelle." Holly said.
"Poor child," Miss Grant said. "He needs help."
One night, in Danny's apartment, Doris stood out his window and slowly lifted it up. Danny was sleeping. Doris snuck into his apartment and wrote with chalk around his room, "You killed me, you killed me." Then she snuck out closing the window again and went back to her mother's.
When Danny woke up the early the following morning, Danny screamed, "Ahhhhhhhhh," as he saw the writing on the walls. It was Doris' handwriting. He grabbed his phone and called Chris in a panic. "Um, she's been in my room, Chris. There's physical proof."
"Be right there, Danny. Try to calm down," he told his friend.
Chris drove to Danny's and went inside with his key that Danny had gave him for emergencies. Danny couldn't move, he was paralyzed with fear. "Holy cow," Chris said looking at the writing on the wall. "What on earth is going on here, Danny?" Chris asked.
"I don't know," Danny cried out. "I'm hallucinating."
When Mrs. Schwartz got a phone call from Chris explaining what had happened to Danny's room, she thanked Chris for calling and relayed that she would tell the officer as well. She went into Doris' room and said, "Enough is enough, you're terrorizing him."
"What do you mean?" Doris asked.
"You snuck into his room and wrote on his walls. Doris, that is vandalism." Mrs. Schwartz said.
"And what he did to me was harassment, momma." Doris said.
"This ends today, Doris. It has been almost two months and he's been hallucinating that you're dead. Do you know Chris told me in dance class the other day, Danny grabbed Michelle because he saw your face and screamed, 'I didn't mean to kill you, Doris. I love you,' and he kissed her thinking it was you."
"He did?" Doris asked.
"Yes, Doris. This ends today." Mrs. Schwartz said. "You are going into that school today and you will make the announcement to those five that you are fine. And you will pray that they will forgive you for what you did to them. Get up and get showered now. I will drive you."
"But momma!" Doris said.
"But nothing. This has gone on long enough and it ends today." Mrs. Schwartz said.
At school that day, there was another announcement for the five to return to the school office. "Now what?" Danny asked irritated.
"Go now," Miss Sherwood said to the five. They all walked down there and Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz and the officer were standing there again.
"Come inside my office everyone," Mr. Morloch said wanting to snicker from laughter.
"Did you find her?" Holly asked.
They walked into the office and saw Doris sitting there. "Doris!" Holly screamed with happiness. "You're back."
"Sit down, Holly." Doris said walking up to Mr. Morloch's desk and sitting on the edge.
Danny looked at Doris and said, "It's a dream again. She's not really here."
"Sit down, Amatullo." Doris said irritated.
Danny sat down in the chair and the office door closed. Doris explained to the five that she had staged it all and hired her friend to play the officer.
"What a horrible thing to do to us, Schwartz." Danny said irritated.
"How did you feel being terrorized, Amatullo? Did you find it amusing?" Doris asked yelling at him.
"No, I didn't." Danny said crossing his arms and taking a breath.
"Now you know how I felt with your attacking me all the time." Doris said. "Maybe now you'll have a little more respect for people's feelings." Doris walked to the door and looked back at everyone. "I'm sorry I put you all through this," she said and then ran out the office.
"Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz called out.
"She needs to be alone right now, dear." Mr. Schwartz said to her.
"Did you know about this Mr. Morloch?" Holly asked.
"We put him up to it, Holly. Don't blame him," Mrs. Schwartz said.
In the auditorium, Danny walked in and went up to the stage. He needed to be alone and have some peace and quiet. He looked around and there were no more visions of Doris' face in his eyes. He saw everything clearly. He blinked a few times when he saw Doris standing in the corner of the auditorium facing the wall.
"Schwartz, is that you?" Danny asked walking up closer to her.
"Doris?" Danny said as he gently took her arm and turned her around. She was staring at him with tears flowing down her eyes. "I'm so sorry I put you through this, Danny," she said.
"I deserved it, Schwartz, and I am so sorry for how I was towards you." Danny said putting his arms around her and kissing her cheek.
"Danny?" Doris asked.
"Yeah," Danny said.
"I love you," Doris said.
"Oh me too, Schwartz. I love you so much," Danny said kissing her lips and holding her so tightly in his arms.
~The End~
This is an Off-Topic (OT) story not related to Monkees at all that I wanted to share. It's a Fame the TV Series fanfiction story that I wrote yesterday and this morning. It's a finished story, but I wanted to post it here too, in case there are Fame the TV Series lovers as well. I hope you all enjoy. As always, feedback is welcomed if you wish.
This story is rated PG-13 for implied violence, death, and hallucinations.
And now... the story...
It was early morning and Doris woke up extremely unhappy that she had to be at school for an early rehearsal before the crack of dawn.
"Okay, I'm here," Doris said angrily as she walked into the classroom only to find that she was the only person there. "I'll be..." she mumbled to herself as she checked her calendar to make sure she had the correct day written down, which she did. She sat on the piano bench and banged on the keys until one-by-one people started showing up. "It's about freaking time!" Doris said angrily at each of them as they walked in.
"We got here as soon as we could, Doris." Bruno said.
"You know don't even talk to me this morning. Let's just get this done and over with or I will leave."
"You leaving won't help matters any, Doris," Leroy said.
"Oh yes it will," Doris said. "Yes, it will."
Danny walked in and yawned. "This is too early. I just went to sleep two hours ago."
"Why so late?" Bruno asked.
"Why?" Doris asked. "Because I'll tell you why. He had a date with Nicole last night, didn't ya, Danny?"
"Doris, that is my business, not yours." Danny said angrily at her. "Not like you'd even know what it was like to date someone."
"Knock it off you two," Bruno said taking his seat at the piano next to Doris.
"You know what?" Doris said.
"Doris, don't do it," Bruno said. "He's just trying to agitate you."
"Yeah be quiet, Doris," Danny said sitting at his drums and drumming a ba-duh-bump.
"You know what, I quit." Doris said. "Find yourself another actress." Doris grabbed her book bag and walked out of class.
"Is someone going to go after her?" Holly asked.
"Let her calm down first," Bruno said. "She'll be back."
"And if she doesn't?" Holly asked.
"Then we'll all rejoice!" Danny said pounding on the drums.
"Just shut up everyone, please!" Bruno said. "We cannot practice without Doris." Holly and Bruno walked out into the hallway and it was empty. "I think she was dead serious, Bruno."
"Unfortunately, now I believe you're right." Bruno said.
Miss Grant walked into the rehearsal room and asked, "Where's Doris?"
"She just quit." Holly said.
"What? Why?" Miss Grant asked.
"Danny was agitating her again and she was already mad at everyone being late." Bruno replied.
"Okay people, I'll be Doris then. You all need to practice." Miss Grant said instructing them on the rehearsal.
As school went on that day, no one saw Doris anywhere in any classes. Holly looked at Danny and said, "I think you really hit a nerve with her."
"About?" Danny asked.
"About her not having many dates, Danny. That really hurt her." Holly said.
"It was a joke, Holly. I know she's been out on dates before." Danny replied.
"But you really hurt her feelings, Danny." Holly said. "You need to go and find her after school and apologize."
"If she doesn't realize it was a joke, that is not my fault Holly." Danny said. "I am not apologizing for something that was so obvious a joke."
That night after school was out, Holly tried to call Doris and got the machine. "I'm telling you, Danny, you hurt her feelings."
"Well she needs to learn not to take me so seriously too, Laird." Danny replied.
Bruno walked up to them at their lockers and said, "Well, it's official."
"What?" Danny asked.
"Doris is definitely out." Bruno replied. "Miss Grant talked to her on lunch and Doris is adamantly refusing to come back to the production, so Michelle will be taking over since she's Doris' understudy."
Holly looked at Danny and Danny said, "It was a joke."
"Problem with that, Danny, is that you promised Doris you wouldn't do that to her anymore once you two were locked in the elevator together." Bruno said.
"I didn't promise anything, Bruno, and I was there." Danny replied. "She's just too hypersensitive anymore."
As the week went on and Doris was no longer even coming to classes, Holly was getting concerned. "Why isn't she coming to school?" Holly asked Bruno.
"I don't know," Bruno replied. "I tried to call her, but got the machine six times."
"This isn't funny anymore," Holly said angrily. "And Danny hasn't even apologized to her yet either."
"How do you know?" Bruno asked.
"He adamantly says he hasn't, Bruno," Holly said.
Friday night at Lou's, the gang met at their usual table, however, Doris was not present then either. "I should try to talk with her," Holly said.
"Actually, I've kind of loved her not being around," Danny said.
"You are so mean and cruel to her, Amatullo. You are the one that needs punishment, not her."
"No yelling, screaming, or making weird noises." Danny said. "It's been so peaceful."
Bruno looked up and saw Doris standing behind Danny.
"Yeah, it's been more roomier at the lunch table too without her, as she's been putting on weight more now than ever before."
"Shut up, Amatullo." Bruno said pointing. Danny turned behind him and saw Doris standing there. "Doris, what a shocking surprise."
"Oh excuse me, Danny." Doris said walking over to him and pushing him to the floor and screaming at him, "I hate you, Amatullo. I hate you." Doris started hitting him really hard in the face and arms. Holly, Bruno, and Nicole had to rip Doris off of him.
"You are freaking crazy, Doris!" Danny said fixing his shirt. "Freaking loony."
"Shut up!" Doris screamed. "Shut up and don't ever talk to me again, not ever." Doris smacked his face and walked out screaming, "I hate you all."
"Thanks a lot, Danny!" Holly said angrily as she ran out of Lou's after her best friend.
"Yo, she started it with me, Holly." Danny said.
"You two need to stop being enemies and start being friends, Amatullo," Chris said.
"She drives me insane, Chris. Absolutely insane." Danny said.
Outside Doris was standing at her car breathing hard when Holly walked over to her. "I'm sorry about that in there, Doris." Holly said.
"I can't stand him, Holly. And I can't get away from him because he's in most of all my classes. He's been after me since the first day he arrived at this school and I can't figure out what I've done to him to make him this way with me," Doris said wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I thought you two made up in that elevator when you were both stuck in there, Doris," Holly said.
"I thought so too, Holly. But he still keeps attacking me, and I'm really sick of it." Doris said.
"Maybe you should tell Mr. Morloch about it," Holly said. "Maybe he can straighten it out."
"Maybe I will find another way, Holly. Another way that will be better for not only me but everyone else." Doris said.
"Like what, Doris?" Holly asked concerned.
"I have to go now Holly. Take care." Doris said getting into her car and driving off.
"But Doris, wait? What's your idea?" Holly yelled.
Holly went back inside and pulled Chris aside.
"How's Doris?" Chris asked.
"I think she's going to do something." Holly said.
"What? Doris?" Chris asked.
"I don't know, Chris. But I am very worried about her." Holly said wiping the tears from her eyes.
At school that following week, in first period all the students were given an overhead announcement that raised eyebrows in some and gave chills to others.
"Danny Amatullo, Holly Laird, Chris Donlon, Nicole Chapman, and Jesse Velasquez to the Office immediately. If you are not here in under five minutes, you are all expelled." The teachers looked at their students and said, "You heard the announcement, move."
All five of them ran to the office but stopped in the doorway when they saw a police officer and Doris' parents.
"OMGosh," Holly said falling into Chris' arms.
"What's going on here?" Chris asked moving Holly into the office and sitting her in a chair.
"In my office all of you," Mr. Morloch said angrily.
Chris carried Holly into the office and put her in the chair. They were all joined by Doris' parents and the police officer.
Danny's body went numb inside seeing Doris' parents staring at him with cold and evil eyes.
After the door to the office was closed, Mr. Morloch sat down in his chair and he said, "Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz and this police officer want to talk to each and every one of you about Doris. And you will answer them honestly and truthfully or you will be forced out of this school. These are serious allegations here, possibly one of you or more will be going to jail."
"Thank you Mr. Morloch," Mrs. Schwartz said taking a kleenex from her pocket and wiping her eyes.
"What happened?" Chris asked looking at everyone.
"You'll find out in due time." Mr. Morloch said. "Go ahead Officer Peters."
A tall, blonde-headed officer of thin stature walked in front of the five students in the chairs and asked, "Which one is Danny Amatullo?"
Danny swallowed hard as he raised his arm and said, "I am."
"Mr. Amatullo, I need you to tell me exactly what happened Friday evening at Lou's. Take your time and think it over very thoroughly before giving me your answers," the Officer said.
"What happened to Doris?" Nicole asked.
"I can't reveal that to you now. But we need to ask each of you this and instead of doing this one-by-one in separate rooms, we're doing it here. But you are under strict honesty or I will be forced to arrest you."
Nicole looked at Jesse with raised eyes.
"Mr. Amatullo?" the Officer said. "What is your answer?"
One-by-one through the questioning, all five students gave their description of the night in complete and brutal honesty, which revealed bad things about Danny. Danny sat there listening to their accounts and felt absolutely horrible. His heart was racing like crazy and he was starting to sweat, for he had no idea what had happened to Doris because no one was telling them anything. After everyone gave their accounts of that night, the Officer made sure all their testimonies were on tape and then sat there looking at Danny.
"Won't someone please tell us what is going on?" Danny asked.
Mrs. Schwartz looked at Danny and asked, "Why have you been terrorizing our daughter?"
"I haven't been terrorizing her, Mrs. Schwartz. I have been joking around with her." Danny said.
"You have been terrorizing her, Danny. Making rude comments about her weight, and that's she's 'crazy' or a 'loon,' that is verbal harassment, Danny. Do you not realize this?"
"I've always made jokes with her Mrs. Schwartz." Danny said.
"Friday night didn't sound like jokes to me, son," Mr. Schwartz said looking at him.
"What happened to Doris?" Danny asked.
"We've got enough information here, folks," the Officer said.
"Hello? Isn't someone going to answer me?" Danny asked getting irritated.
Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz looked at Mr. Morloch along with the officer and nodded. Mr. Morloch said, "Doris never came home from Lou's that night on Friday, Danny. They haven't seen or heard from her since."
"Oh dear God," Holly cried out grabbing a hold of Chris and crying hysterically. Nicole put her head on Jesse's shoulder and started crying as well.
Danny's body went completely numb. His heart started to race even more. "Well, when she left, she was alive. No one was injured physically." Holly said.
"We're investigating everything right now folks. Thank you for your accounts. Please do not discuss this with other students and here is my business card. If you see Doris or hear from her, please call me and her parents and let us know immediately, okay?" the Officer asked.
"Okay Officer," Nicole said wiping her eyes. The officer looked at Danny and said, "Do not go near her. If she contacts you, you call us immediately."
"I will," Danny said. "I'm sorry Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz."
During their classes, Danny's mind raced to Doris' angry face at him hitting and screaming at him. He couldn't concentrate. He couldn't breathe. Miss Sherwood asked, "What is that wheezing sound?"
"Danny," Nicole said.
"Danny, you okay?" Miss Sherwood asked.
"It's my asthma," Danny gasped. "I'm fine."
"Do you need the nurse's station?" Miss Sherwood asked.
"Yeah, I do," Danny replied grabbing his books and slowly walking down to the nurse's station. On his walk down there, visions of Doris' face jumped in front of him and he said, "I'm hallucinating. She's not really here."
"Oh but she is, Amatullo," he heard. "And you will never forget it."
Danny's breathing got more and more labored as he walked to the Nurse's station. "Sit down Danny and I'll get your medication," the Nurse said (who had kept some extra medication for Danny in case of emergencies). She gave him four puffs on his inhaler and reassured him he would be okay.
"Choke, choke," he heard as Doris' head popped in front of him again. "I'm dead, Danny, and you're the cause!"
"NO!" Danny cried out. "NO!"
"No what, Danny?" asked the nurse.
Danny looked at the Nurse and then passed out.
Back at the Schwartz household, Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz walked inside with the so-called officer and sat on the couch.
"How did it go?" they heard.
"Danny's hysterical and your other friends are very distraught," Mrs. Schwartz said.
"Good," Doris said looking at them.
"Impersonating an officer is a criminal offense, Doris," the man said handing her the tape recorder.
"But you are an officer, Dan. You're retired, remember." Doris asked.
"I know, but still. I feel kind of awkward about it." Dan said.
"I will take all the heat if you get into trouble, Dan." Doris said. "I want to teach these folks that they don't mess with Doris Schwartz and get away with it."
Doris kissed Dan and said, "I owe you."
"Good, I'll collect then. Let me take you to dinner tonight," Dan said.
"We can't go anywhere locally, Dan, or my cover is blown." Doris said.
"We won't. I'll take you to New Jersey for dinner." Dan said.
"Doris, we had to tell Mr. Morloch about your scheme," Mrs. Schwartz said. "He was not willing to do the announcement unless he knew the exact reason."
"What did he say?" Doris asked.
"That you were absolutely brilliant and that he wanted to see them squirm." Mr. Schwartz said.
Doris laughed hysterically and said, "I told you Mr. Morloch was cool."
"New Jersey tonight, huh, Dan?" Doris asked.
"Yes, please." Dan asked.
"Okay," Doris said smiling.
"Where are you going to live for this hiding, Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"Right here where they won't suspect a thing," Doris said.
"What about your apartment?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"The rent is paid up this month, so he won't be coming around for rent anytime soon and no one will bother it." Doris said.
"Let me get changed Dan, and then we'll go to New Jersey now, okay?" Doris asked.
"Okay," Dan replied.
"Where's your car, Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz asked.
"In the garage." Doris replied. "I put it next to yours momma."
"Okay," Mrs. Schwartz replied.
At Mrs. Amatullo's that night, Danny slowly came around. "What happened?" he asked.
"You passed out at school, Danny." Mrs. Amatullo said putting an icepack on her son's forehead.
"Want to tell me about what happened between you and Doris, Danny?" she asked.
Danny laid there staring at his mother. "I was only joking with her mother. I didn't mean any of it."
"Danny, you need to stop joking all the time." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I can't help it, momma. That's my nature." Danny said.
"But now someone has gone missing from it, Danny. Someone has became very hurt and violated from your jokes. That is not right." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I love her momma," Danny said. "I would never hurt her."
"Then stop joking with her, Danny, and you need to go to the chapel today and pray that she's okay." Mrs. Amatullo said.
"I don't know where she's at momma, but I do know she left Lou's alive that night." Danny said wiping his tears that were forming in his eyes.
"You need to rest, Danny. I'll light a candle for Doris in the livingroom. You need to try and rest." Mrs. Amatullo said kissing her son's forehead. Mrs. Amatullo left the room and visions of Doris' face came back and paralyzed Danny to the bed. He gripped the comforter because he felt like he was falling. "I'm dead, Danny, and you're the cause," he heard Doris say to him.
"Momma!" Danny called out anxiously.
"What is it?" Mrs. Amatullo asked walking back in the room.
"Do you see Doris in my room?" Danny asked.
"No, there's no one here, Danny. Why?" Mrs. Amatullo asked seeing the terror in his eyes.
"I keep seeing her face and she's telling me that she's dead and I'm the cause." Danny said crying out.
"Oh baby," Mrs. Amatullo said walking up to her son and holding him in her arms. "I'm so sorry."
Danny clung to his mother for dear life.
That night Holly, Chris, Nicole, and Jesse sat around in Chris' apartment discussing the day. "Danny looked like he saw a ghost today in English class." Holly said.
"I know. What was up with that?" Nicole asked.
"I don't know," Chris replied. "But they sent him home with his mother today. I guess he passed out in the nurse's station."
During the brief period that Danny finally did get to sleep in his mother's arms, he slept peacefully. However, when his mother left the room, Danny's visions of Doris' face came back full force at him and he screamed, "Nooooooooooooo, Schwartz, I didn't mean to kill you. Please come back. I love you." Mrs. Amatullo came back in the room and saw the anguish on her son's face, but left him alone to deal with it.
During that week at school, Danny sat in the back of the class and stared out the window. The teachers gave him a break considering what all five of them were going through. He made sure to bring his inhaler with him during the day because his breathing got very labored when the visions kept coming after him full force, even in dance class. One day, Danny was doing the dance routine with Michelle. As he spun her around, her face turned into Doris' and Danny froze. "I'm dead and you killed me," Doris said to him. "Schwartz, I'm sorry I killed you," Danny screamed. "I love you," he grabbed Michelle and started kissing her.
"Danny!" Michelle screamed pushing him away. "What are you doing?"
"Hold up class," Miss Grant said. "Amatullo, what is the problem?"
Danny looked at Miss Grant and then back at Michelle. "I'm sorry," he said and then he ran out of class down the hallway.
"I'm sorry, Michelle," Holly said. "Danny's going through a lot right now. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Michelle said wiping her mouth over and over again. "Why did he kill Doris?"
Miss Grant looked at Holly, Chris, Nicole, and Jesse and said, "I need to tell them."
Miss Grant closed the danceroom door and told the class about that Doris was missing and they didn't know where she was at.
"Oh wow!" Michelle said. "I had no idea."
"He's been having visions of Doris' face haunting him telling him that he killed her and I'm afraid that happened a moment ago with you, Michelle." Holly said.
"Poor child," Miss Grant said. "He needs help."
One night, in Danny's apartment, Doris stood out his window and slowly lifted it up. Danny was sleeping. Doris snuck into his apartment and wrote with chalk around his room, "You killed me, you killed me." Then she snuck out closing the window again and went back to her mother's.
When Danny woke up the early the following morning, Danny screamed, "Ahhhhhhhhh," as he saw the writing on the walls. It was Doris' handwriting. He grabbed his phone and called Chris in a panic. "Um, she's been in my room, Chris. There's physical proof."
"Be right there, Danny. Try to calm down," he told his friend.
Chris drove to Danny's and went inside with his key that Danny had gave him for emergencies. Danny couldn't move, he was paralyzed with fear. "Holy cow," Chris said looking at the writing on the wall. "What on earth is going on here, Danny?" Chris asked.
"I don't know," Danny cried out. "I'm hallucinating."
When Mrs. Schwartz got a phone call from Chris explaining what had happened to Danny's room, she thanked Chris for calling and relayed that she would tell the officer as well. She went into Doris' room and said, "Enough is enough, you're terrorizing him."
"What do you mean?" Doris asked.
"You snuck into his room and wrote on his walls. Doris, that is vandalism." Mrs. Schwartz said.
"And what he did to me was harassment, momma." Doris said.
"This ends today, Doris. It has been almost two months and he's been hallucinating that you're dead. Do you know Chris told me in dance class the other day, Danny grabbed Michelle because he saw your face and screamed, 'I didn't mean to kill you, Doris. I love you,' and he kissed her thinking it was you."
"He did?" Doris asked.
"Yes, Doris. This ends today." Mrs. Schwartz said. "You are going into that school today and you will make the announcement to those five that you are fine. And you will pray that they will forgive you for what you did to them. Get up and get showered now. I will drive you."
"But momma!" Doris said.
"But nothing. This has gone on long enough and it ends today." Mrs. Schwartz said.
At school that day, there was another announcement for the five to return to the school office. "Now what?" Danny asked irritated.
"Go now," Miss Sherwood said to the five. They all walked down there and Mr. & Mrs. Schwartz and the officer were standing there again.
"Come inside my office everyone," Mr. Morloch said wanting to snicker from laughter.
"Did you find her?" Holly asked.
They walked into the office and saw Doris sitting there. "Doris!" Holly screamed with happiness. "You're back."
"Sit down, Holly." Doris said walking up to Mr. Morloch's desk and sitting on the edge.
Danny looked at Doris and said, "It's a dream again. She's not really here."
"Sit down, Amatullo." Doris said irritated.
Danny sat down in the chair and the office door closed. Doris explained to the five that she had staged it all and hired her friend to play the officer.
"What a horrible thing to do to us, Schwartz." Danny said irritated.
"How did you feel being terrorized, Amatullo? Did you find it amusing?" Doris asked yelling at him.
"No, I didn't." Danny said crossing his arms and taking a breath.
"Now you know how I felt with your attacking me all the time." Doris said. "Maybe now you'll have a little more respect for people's feelings." Doris walked to the door and looked back at everyone. "I'm sorry I put you all through this," she said and then ran out the office.
"Doris?" Mrs. Schwartz called out.
"She needs to be alone right now, dear." Mr. Schwartz said to her.
"Did you know about this Mr. Morloch?" Holly asked.
"We put him up to it, Holly. Don't blame him," Mrs. Schwartz said.
In the auditorium, Danny walked in and went up to the stage. He needed to be alone and have some peace and quiet. He looked around and there were no more visions of Doris' face in his eyes. He saw everything clearly. He blinked a few times when he saw Doris standing in the corner of the auditorium facing the wall.
"Schwartz, is that you?" Danny asked walking up closer to her.
"Doris?" Danny said as he gently took her arm and turned her around. She was staring at him with tears flowing down her eyes. "I'm so sorry I put you through this, Danny," she said.
"I deserved it, Schwartz, and I am so sorry for how I was towards you." Danny said putting his arms around her and kissing her cheek.
"Danny?" Doris asked.
"Yeah," Danny said.
"I love you," Doris said.
"Oh me too, Schwartz. I love you so much," Danny said kissing her lips and holding her so tightly in his arms.
~The End~
Awsome story Cheri
Bruno from Fame, Tom Everett Scott, and Adriene Griener!
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