"It is a bit troubling to think that the American public education system oftentimes fails students, mostly those with sub par socio-economic climates, but then you'll find that William McKinley has a decent curriculum, though often neglects the Arts…"
This bird has been talking all morning about bollocks and I don't know if she has noticed I haven't listened to a Goddamn word. It's sort of nice, her constant chattering. It reminds me of Panda. Though Panda is more bubbly and at least talks about boys once and a while. This one just patters on about singing. What I do like about her is she tweaked to stop asking me questions. She knows I'm doing a PG year because of my crap grades and because Anthea was worried about another depressive episode. She doesn't know that I feel empty because Freds is dead and gone and that I may or may not harbor some more than friendly feelings for a certain female friend back home. Of course that's never going to happen. I stop outside the building for a fag and Rachel looks at me like I've grown another head.
"You smoke! You can't smoke here! This isn't Europe!"
"They don't allow smoking in the States?"
"Of course they do. You can't at school!" Rachel said. She looks like she might burst. It'd be fun to see if her entrails are also argyle. I give her a small smirk.
"I'm sure they can make an exception. Being my first day and all that."
"I would think you'd want to make a good impression. As you are staying with my family and I, you reflect on me." Rachel's parents were sweet, but they're being men didn't phase me like she thought it would. Rachel's very proud of them, but I could tell she was worried I might flip. Shit like that doesn't bother me. She was lucky, her parents were still together and not yelling all the time like mine had done. I continue to smoke and Rachel rolls her eyes.
"Fine. Get cancer in a few years. Hopefully by then chemotherapy will become less expensive."
"Healthcare's free across the pond, luv." She crosses her arms and I take a long drag. Students mill in and I can feel them stare at me. Nothing new. Two birds with linked pinkies stop in front of us. The vicious one starts in.
"Who's this Berry?" I eye her cautiously and the blonde one looks me up and down. Ah. Lesbians. So this place isn't so boring.
"This is Effy Stonem. She's visiting our fair school for the next year and it would behoove all of us to give her a good impression of the U.S. as our world reputation has been tarnished thanks to the Bush administration and our tireless wars." I should remind Rachel that we Brits helped out with those tireless wars, but I nod my head in the tan one's direction. The tan one nods back.
"She's cute. What's she doing with you?" The tan one says. The blonde looks perpetually confused.
"My dads wanted to ensure that I expose myself to different cultures and a grander world view even though at this juncture in time I am stuck in Ohio."
"So they bought you a friend? That's a new low for you Berry." The tan one grins and something about it makes me want to put her in her place.
"How long have you two been shagging?" I ask and the tan one goes red.
"Is shagging sex? Santana and I do that a lot."
"Britney!" Santana and Britney. Dumb and Dumber. Got it. I stomp out my fag and lean in close to the blonde one.
"Yes. Shagging is sex. Fancy a go sometime?" I give her a tiny peck on the lips and the tan one pushes me away. I grin and take Rachel's arm.
"Do show me around Rachel. The locals here are fascinating." Rachel just nods dumbly, her mouth open as I guide her into the building and down the hallways.
When we reach her locker, Rachel's face is met with an icy juice. The culprit is some Neanderthal in a sports jacket and everyone around us is laughing. Rachel looks fucking trashed, but kind of resigned like she's bloody used to it. I stroke my finger down her cheek, slowly and give it a taste.
"Cherry. Not bad."
"Do you have to make everything pseudo sexual!" Rachel barks and I give her a small smile. That's when I see her, staring at Rachel. She's the all American girl and she's looking at Rachel the way I used to look at Freddy. She looks at Rachel like she wishes she were me, licking Rachel's face. I slide in closer to Rachel and whisper while I look at the mystery girl. She is fuming.
"You have an admirer then. Don't turn around." Rachel stiffens and whispers harshly in my ear.
"Who? Please don't say Jacob Ben Israel."
"It's a Barbie doll. A very angry looking Barbie doll." Rachel stays close to me.
"It can't be. She barely acknowledges my presence." Huh. That's interesting. I step away from Rachel and grab her arm, pulling me toward the mystery girl.
"Soz to trouble you. Where's the toilet? Rachel's had a bit of a fruit fight." I size up the girl and she's gorgeous, empty and definitely repressed. It's in the way she stands, rigid, like a fucking strap on cock. The girl looks at Rachel and her gaze changes, but she still takes Rachel in with a soft gaze.
"Are you okay?" The girl asks and Rachel looks gobsmacked.
"Yes, Quinn. Thank you." So that's the mystery girl's name. Precious. The two of them just stand there. It's nice to know that there is something that will shut Rachel up.
"You're Quinn? Well Rachel speaks very highly of you." Might as well stir the pot while here. Rachel gives me a sideway glance and I can tell Quinn looks a little surprised.
"She does?"
"Yeah. She does." I smirk and link on to Rachel's arm. "Better get our girl cleaned up. Don't want to be late for classes, Heaven forbid." I drag Rachel away and finally her voice comes back.
"I've never even mentioned Quinn to you!"
"No, but she'll be wondering what you did say." I push Rachel into the loo and get her washed up while I smoke another fag. She moans that her outfit will smell like smoke. I tell her to piss off. She's my favorite one here so far.