Leapfrog looked up to see blond hair coming towards him. It was "Heya, Leapfrog. You seen Casey already?"

Leapfrog nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for waiting, Angel."

"Dat's good ta heah." Angel of Death Davis smiled. "You know, if it weren't fer me, ya neva woulda met her. That whole prank wah thing."

"Yeah, I guess. But I still didn't pull that prank on you. Really. And I highly doubt you came up with that. It was probably Ian. He told me he was the mastermind behind most of those."

"Dat's not true!" AD pointed to his head, "This heah, this is da brain. And my brain came up wit' all dat stuff."

"Sure, AD. Sure." Leapfrog laughed and pushed open the door to the lodging house.

Casey smiled as she sat down in her living room with her friends. "Hello, Emily. Hello, Jessica. What brings you two here tonight?"

Emily smiled, "Oh, hello, Casey. We just figured we'd come over here to say hello."

Jessica nodded to affirm this. "That's right. And I also just saw something that was a disgusting sight."

Casey's smile turned into a slight frown. "What was that?"

Jessica shrugged. "Oh, nothing much. Except you were talking and fooling around with a commoner. And it wasn't just buying a paper."

Casey's frown became deeper. "I don't see what's so wrong with me talking to Leapfrog. He's a nice guy. And... he's sweet, too. It's not every day a guy says they love you."

Emily looked at Jessica disgustedly. "Yes, nothing's wrong with his personality. But... I mean... Leapfrog? And... he's filth. He's probably not polite, and there's not a chance that he could ever pass as a gentlemen. He's nothing like the guys in our own social status."

Casey shook her head. "You're wrong. You're very wrong. Leapfrog's perfectly suited. He's nice, sweet, and funny. That's all I ask for. And I think you'd see he could be a gentlemen if you talked to him."

Jessica thought about this for a moment and smiled. She whispered something to Emily, who nodded in turn. "You're sure about this, Case? He could be a gentlemen?"

Casey nodded. "Absolutely."

Jessica smiled. "Good. How'd you like to place your money where your mouth is? I know women don't make bets or gamble, but I think you'll find this most rewarding to your claim."

Casey raised an eyebrow. "A bet? On what, exactly?"

"Oh, nothing too terrible, according to you," Jessica replied, "you just need to turn this... Leapfrog... into a gentlemen. He'll have to use his real name, of course, and have good manners. And he has to have proper clothes and everything. Of course, you're family can provide for all this."

Casey pondered this for a little. She knew Leapfrog was capable, but she didn't know if he would. What if I say yes and he doesn't like that I manipulated him? She sighed before agreeing, "Fine. You have a bet. Let's shake hands. Let's say the stakes are fifty cents to the winner."

Jessica nodded. "You're giving us an easy fifty cents, you know."

Casey groaned. "Oh, don't start this again."

Emily put a hand on Jessica's shoulder. "She's right. So, Casey, did you see Jacob this morning? He lost a bet with your brother, and he had to wear a tutu around town."

Casey smiled. "Just don't tell my brother about this bet. He'll get in on it too. And yes, I did see Jack. What a riot..."

A laugh came from James Callaway's mouth. "She thinks she can turn that riffraff into gentry. This is 'Boxer Boy', right? 'Pond Scum?'"

A boy, who seemed to be Emily's brother nodded. "Yes. She does. Or at least, that's what Emily was telling me."

James smiled. "Good. Not only do we have to do everything in our power to make her lose this one, but I'm going to add a little touch of my own." James stepped out in the hallway. "Casey, I need to speak to you."

Casey walked up to her brother, terrified. "Yes, James?"

"Don't worry, sister. I'm not mad. Surprised, maybe, but not mad. Now, about this bet. What do you say we had some more stakes? I agree with Emily and Jessica. Riffraff doesn't turn into gentry. If I win, you have to walk around wearing one of my suits all day. If I lose, which, of course, won't happen, what do you propose?"

Casey thought about this for a minute. "If you lose, James, than you must wear Mother's pink dress, her perfume, and her makeup. All day for one day. If you lose."

James smiled. "But we know that won't be happening. Thank you, Casey. That's all." James turned around and walked back into his bedroom, leaving Casey in the hallway.

Casey sighed as she walked back to her bedroom, "Leap's going to be so mad at me. When I tell him..."

Leapfrog quickly ran downstairs after oversleeping to see Leapfrog and Casey. "Morning," he smiled.

Casey smiled a hello as Angel lit a cigarette. "Get enough sleep?" He commented.

Leapfrog rolled his eyes. "Thanks, bud."

Angel snickered. "No problem. Anyway, your little buddy here has something she needs to tell you."

Leapfrog sat down on a chair. "Go ahead."

Casey sighed before she started. She didn't know why she was telling him this, as she didn't want to anger him. She stood up and started pacing. "Leapfrog..... uh... well, my friends had to... uh... open their mouths, and they told me you couldn't be a gentleman... and.... well, we...uh... we sorta made a bet on it. You have to dress nice, speak normally, and... uh... use your real name."

Leapfrog looked up, astonished and taken aback. He hadn't expected that. He was fairly angry as he stood. "You made a bet! On -me-! What.... you can't make me into some rich loon!"

Casey tried to look upset. "Please? Just for one day? So they can see you can do it?"

"Casey, look at me! I'm street material!"

"Uh... no, I can change that. Angel agreed to help."

"WHAT!!!!!!!"

Angel laughed. "Promise can get some clothes for me."

Leapfrog sat back down. "This is a disaster..."

Casey kissed him on the cheek. "Please..."

Leapfrog sighed. "Fine. I'll do it. It'll take a long time to get used to, but I'll do it."

Casey kissed him on the cheek again. "Thanks, Leapfrog. Bye!" She turned and left.

It had been two nights. Casey entered the lodging house with clothes in her hands.

Leapfrog blinked a bit. "What are those?"

Casey smiled. "Clothes."

"Never seen anything like 'em."

"Well, they are for a dinner party."

"Dinner party? What dinner party?"

Casey nodded. She knew he'd be surprised yet again. "Yes. Follow me, we're going to teach you some manners. A final review."

Leapfrog sighed as he followed her to the kitchen. "This keeps getting worse."

"Comments like that aren't polite."

"Fine. Polite. We're here." Leapfrog arrived at a table set like one would be at a dinner party. "What now?"

"Pull out the chair and offer the seat to me."

Leapfrog pulled out her chair, "Your seat, miss," he smiled, trying not to laugh. Casey sat down. Leapfrog soon followed.

"All right, Leapfrog. Here are the forks. The tip is to work your way in."

"Wait... let me see... so first is your salad fork. Then, you have a fork for an appetizer. The next one over is... your entree fork. One over is the dessert fork. If you need it."

Casey grinned and nodded. "Yeah... that's perfect! Oh," she added as she saw Leapfrog look curiously at the knives, "don't even worry about those. Even my brother doesn't know what to do."

Leapfrog nodded. "Gotcha. So, sitting, forks. What else is there to know?"

"Napkin in your lap when you sit. And ask if you need something that's in front of someone. Don't reach for it."

"And next is polite speech and being called by," Leapfrog shuddered, "Jed."

Casey nodded. "Exactly. And wear these clothes."

"You're kidding. This penguin suit?"

Casey confirmed. "Yes. The penguin suit. I'll wear a pink silk dress if you wear the suit."

"Fine. Penguin suit. One more thing. Your brother's not going to be there, is he?"

"Yes. He will be."

Leapfrog sighed. One more problem he couldn't handle. He had to be perfect now. "Great."

"I'm sorry." She patted his head.

"That's all right." He kissed her on the cheek. "I can't say no to this. Although what I'm trying to prove is unknown. No pictures, okay?"

Casey laughed. "All right. No pictures. Even if I have to kiss you to block the cameras. No pictures."

Leapfrog grinned and laughed. "Oh no. A kiss? What a crime."

Casey awaited in the lobby in her pale pink dress. She looked astounding as Leapfrog came down the stairs wearing the tuxedo. "Good evening," he smiled.

"Hi! You look great!"

"So do you. Shall we than?" Leapfrog took her arm.

"Yes. My brother is waiting." The two went outside and met up with James Callaway and his date and started walking to the house.

As the four approached the house, Casey's friend Jessica nervously awaited. Casey smiled. "Jessica, this is..."

"Jed Kristo. Enchanted to meet you."

Jessica smiled back. "A pleasure." She opened the door behind her to a large, well decorated house. "Please, do come in."

With subtlety, Casey gave Leapfrog a thumbs up as he held the door out for the ladies to enter.

Leapfrog pull out a chair for Casey when they entered the elegant dining room.

"Why, thank you." She smiled as Leapfrog took a seat next to her.

As everyone took a seat, talk began. Leapfrog had trouble sorting out what, but nothing was really addressed to him.

"Where are your parents?"

"So, I heard that the country club is opening soon. Exciting, isn't it?"

"Of course, Maine was nice."

"Yes, they are."

"Wow. It is."

Conversation ceased as the first course was brought in. A tossed Caesar salad.

Leapfrog placed his napkin in his lap and started eating. He felt a sense of nervousness as he ate. He noticed that nobody was really finishing anything, so he left his plate in front of him as well. He then realized this meal was going to be a large three course meal. More than he'd ever eaten in his entire life.

"So, Jed, how long have you been in the area?"

"I've been in the area for maybe two years."

"Ah. That's nice. Are you enjoying it?"

"Yes, it's very nice. I love it."

"Ah. Here's the filet mignon."

Leapfrog picked up his dinner fork and made no comment about the food before he ate it. It was amazing. Once again, he breezed by the second course. Now the last course. Dessert.

The dessert came out. Leapfrog made it through that. He left the house that night with Casey, her brother swearing and her friend Jessica gaping in disbelief.

Sean closely studied Leapfrog after a short conversation. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes. Just fine!"

"Are you sure? You just look so detached..."

"No. I'm not sure."

"What is it?" Sean watched him closely.

"I dunno if I can..... its that..."

"You can tell me, Leapfrog."

"I slept with another girl on Friday."

Sean blinked, taken aback. "Christ... didn't expect that..."

"I don't know what I'm going to do!"

"You're young. You'll do stupid things in your life. Don't beat yourself up over this one. What are you going to do about this?"

"Picking myself up and moving to a different state."

Sean gave a half smile. "That might work. Gonna tell Casey?"

"I may. She won her bet... she's pretty happy. Better do it when she's not mad. And then I thought my life would be miserable if I did. " Leapfrog gave a half smile. "Then I thought it only costs a few bucks to change my name."

"That's what you get when you listen to your body, not your brain. This is gonna hurt her. But if you tell her, good luck."

"I don't know how she did it to me. She... like seduced me or something."

"You gonna stay with her?"

"Uh... actually... the fact of the matter is," Leapfrog buried his head in his hands, "she's 16."

"She's 16 and she's sleeping with a 13 year old guy? She must be a whore or something. Sorry, kid, you're screwed."

"That's what... yeah. I know."

"Hi!" Casey smiled as she saw Leapfrog on the street. She held back laughs.

Leapfrog grimaced. "Okay. Laugh. I look stupid. Blonde's not my color."

Casey just shook her head. "How are you?"

"I'm fine... look." Leapfrog led her over to a park bench and placed her down. "I have something that needs to be said."

Casey blinked. What could this be, she wondered? "Go ahead."

"I... I don't know how I can put this... I... I guess---"

"You don't want to see me anymore?"

"No! That's not it! I love you... it's just.... I slept with someone, Case."

"You love me?" Casey leaped up and threw her arms around him. She missed the second part, because she was so taken aback.

Leapfrog was shocked. "Yes, I---Did you just miss that?"

Casey nodded.

"I slept with someone... another girl."

Casey quickly moved away from him and fled down the street. She turned around once more, and harshly spit out those harsh words. "I hate you! Don't ever talk to me again! It's over." She ran off, leaving Leapfrog alone, or at least that's how it felt. Sure, he was in the middle of a city of people, but he didn't feel anymore.

Leapfrog furiously scrubbed at his hair on May 14. He had spent most of the day sleeping, tired after his last night's escapade. He looked in the mirror. He had spent all Sunday sleeping over, dreaming. He finally got everything he could out and looked at his hair. Not bad. Green streaks, but he'd have to live with it. He came downstairs.

Courage, Con, and Empire were all playing there poker game.

Con barely looked up to Leapfrog, "Hi, shamrock boy."

Leapfrog smiled sarcastically. "Ha. Look at me laugh."

Con grinned, "What happened?"

"Does it really matter?"

Con shrugged, "Nah, I'd settle for calling you clover in public as well."

"I'd rather."

"That bad?"

Leapfrog nodded.

The other two stopped their game to consider this subject. Courage smirked, "I'd been hearing rumors, Froggy."

"That's the point of rumors. They're lies."

Courage shrugged. "Somethin' about a cult guy..."

Leapfrog snorted, "I don't deal with cults." He glanced at Courage, and after reading the look on his face, he insisted, "I don't."

"Just make sure people on the streets don't bother you. Don't let them get to you."

"They don't."

"Why are you being so rude about it?"

"I'm not. This is normal. So don't believe what you've been hearing."

"I do believe them. They're from the druggies."

"That's why you shouldn't."

"See, they deliver to the rich people. I wonder if that girl... what's her name...uh.."

Empire spoke up, "Casey."

"Ah. Thanks. I wonder if she knows? After all, you did sleep with some whore. She doesn't trust you."

"I know that, touchy subject." Leapfrog took a deep breath and assumed Courage knew what he was talking about. "The only problem is rumors spreading around which say I'm something that I'm not."

"No shit she doesn't trust you... she comes to me. Poor kid. Ignore the rumors."

"Wha? She comes to you. Like... customer?"

"Why don't you come to my place and find out?"

"Why not?"

Courage looked at Leapfrog, confused. "What?"

Con stood. "Come on dope head. Let's go to your place. Comin, Frog?"

Frog stood, "Might as well."

The three of them went off to Courage's place. Angel was sitting on the front steps, holding Casey in his arms.

"I didn't believe you... now I do." Leapfrog gaped.

"What happened?" Courage enquired.

"Found her in an alley. Took me a while to convince her brother I was her boyfriend."

Leapfrog turned and took off, not really knowing where to go.

Con grabbed him, "Where do you think you're going?"

"Anywhere."

Con shoved him into the house. "Like hell, you are. You're staying here with the girl you love."

Leapfrog had just about had enough. First, Casey doing what she did, then being ordered around. He opened a window, and jumped out, only to be tackled by Con.

"Is that the girl you love in there?"

"Damn it, Con!" Leapfrog squirmed, trying to get away. "Leave me the hell alone!"

Con let go. Angrily, he shouted, "What's your problem? I hope she dies, then you can see what happens to lose someone you love!" Con stormed back into the house.

Leapfrog rushed into the house. "How long?"

"What?"

Leapfrog stared at Casey's lifeless body. "How long has she been coming to you?"

"Two or three days, now."

"What happened?" He blinked back tears as he held her head.

"She ODed on cocaine."

Leapfrog kissed her on the lips, and then rushed off. It was the end.