For the next two weeks Mitch and Avi worked tirelessly to prepare for the show.

Everyone of their classes were doing performances and a select few were going to do solos and duets.

Tickets were to be sold to raise money as well as a snack stall, and a teacher auction.

The date was finalised and most of the details had been worked out.

Except for one.

"Think!" Mitch shouted as he threw his arms into the air.

Avi turned from where he stood at the end of his bed. "I am!"

"Makes a change." He mumbled.

The bearded man shot him a look and crossed his arms. "Shut up."

"Or what?" Mitch smiled evilly, laying on his stomach near to the pillows.

"Mitchell."

"Avriel."

They continued to discuss what the main performance was going to be. They couldn't think of anything particularly exciting or original.

The revised draft of the evening had been made and there was just the last slot to fill. It went as followed:

6-6:05pm - Intro (Avi)
6:05-6:45pm - Teacher auctioning (Mitch)
6:45-7pm - Break for snacks
7-7:45pm - Group performances
7:45-8pm - Interval (more snacks)
8-8:45pm - Solos/duets
8:45-9pm - Announcement of money raised
9pm - Last performance

The last performance had to be something big. It has to be engaging and different.

"I've got it!"

Avi's eyes opened wide and he sat bolt upright.

Mitch gave him a weird look. "Calm down, Einstein."

Avi ripped the pillow from behind Mitch and smacked him with it. He didn't do it very hard but Mitch still fell onto his face.

After a few laughs, Avi turned to him and said with a shrug. "Nice to know you think I'm a genius, though."

"Okaaaay."

Mitch pushed himself back up and messed with his hair. Avi couldn't find a fault with it but obviously Mitch could.

It took four attempts for him to push that one bit of hair out of his face but once he did, he was left with a triumphant smile and perfect hair.

"Why don't you perform?" Avi suddenly shouted.

"What?"

"For the last performance! No one knows you can sing, except me, so it will be-"

"And Scott and Kirstie." Mitch interupted. "Who, by the way, also sing."

"Really?"

"Yeah we used to be in a little group in high school."

"No way. You three have to perform."

"Nope. One, I haven't sung properly since I was 16 and two, they're never gonna agree to it."

"Come on!"

"No."

"Miiiitch."

"No"

"Pleeea-"

"Unless..."

"What?"

"Unless you sing with us."

So it was decided. Mitch, Scott, Kirstie, and Avi were to perform for the finale in a few weeks time.

They asked Scott and he was instantly on board. Scott also went along when Mitch didn't want to ask Kirstie on his own. What a good best friend.

Scott also suggested that they should include Kevin as he was the best beatboxer he knew. Kevin seemed reluctant at first, wanting to spend as little time away from Alyssa as possible, but eventually he agreed to helping out.

With that one last piece sorted, they went to work on helping their students with their performances, forgetting completely about arranging rehearsal times for their own group.

On the Wednesday before the show they were in class watching yet another group rehearse.

"It just doesn't fit with the theme." Avi complained whilst stroking his beard.

Mitch laughed a little at the gesture and held his hand up to make the group in front of them pause.

The collection of students stopped their singing and ran to get some water from the side of the room.

"I don't get why you picked the theme anyway." Mitch said unhappily.

His coffee cup sat comfortably in his hand as he took a sip. Finally filling up on some much needed caffeine, he listened to Avi's reply.

"Because the show needs to fit together." He said, looking around to make sure everyone was on task.

"No, I get that. I mean, why pick that theme?"

Avi turned back to face Mitch. "Why not?"

With a shrug and another sip of coffee he replied. "It's kinda clique."

"No it's not!"

"It is."

"It's n---"

"Sir, what is the theme again?"

At the same time both teachers turned and said.

"Love and hate."

-------

Also during those weeks Alex and Jake had been planning their own surprise.

Alex already had the ring but didn't have a time or a place to use it.

Jake suggested going to where they had their first date but Alex didn't exactly want to propose in McDonald's.

"Seriously that was your first date?"

Alex nodded and smiled widely. "It was actually really cute."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Can't remember much of it though. We were drunk as hell."

They both laughed, Jake laughing at the thought and Alex at the memory.

The conversation soon changed to other important things in their lives such as Carrie Underwood and who could eat the most ice cream in under a minute.

For Jake it was great to unwind and relax after such a long day at work and for Alex is was fun to have someone to talk to.

His best friend and boyfriend spent most of their days working at the school and all his other friends were busy were with their own partners.

He shouldn't complain about days off, he never got many at all. It's just that sometimes they were boring and he would often find himself waiting for the day to be over.

Once Jake had left he sat and waited for Scott to get home who was with Mitch at his place.

------

"Trust me, it's gonna look great." He said with the purple bottle in his hand.

"Are you sure?" Scott asked fearfully.

He turned the bottle upside over his own head and answered. "Yes I'm sure. Stop worrying."

Scott than watched as his best friend poured the bleach onto his hair.

The stress from all the show preparation was probably stressing him out, Scott thought as he saw Mitch shake the last few drops onto his scalp.

He always supported Mitch in whatever he wanted to do with his body but liked to check that he wouldn't come to regret any decision he made.

"Why did you suddenly want to do this anyway? Trying to impress someone?" Scott asked and they waited for the bleach to ruin Mitch's hair.

Mitch caught the subtle hint at whether he liked anyone but chose to ignore it.

"No and it's not sudden, I've been thinking about it for so long."

"You never told me about it." Scott informed him.

"'Cos I haven't seen you in forever."

"That's 'cos you've been with your boyfriend everyday."

If looks could kill Scott would have died twice.

"One, he's not my boyfriend..." Mitch said angrily as he wiped another spot of bleach from his forehead. "...And two, it's not everyday."

"Most days?"

"Most days."