A/N: I wrote this while waiting to get on a plane and it was simply a way to cure my boredom. I don't know where this story is heading but ehhh it's fun, fluffy...so enjoy! Apologies if some of this is messy...blame it on the jet-lag ;) Also, thank you Placebo for giving me a title!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Absolutely nothing. Zero. Except for unrecognizable characters but apart from that...nothing!
Rain.
Heavy rain.
I was in the middle of considering a move to LA when mud slapped me across the face.
"Eyes on the ball Mizzati!" A rough voice pierced through the wind.
"Oh, look, now you have mud on your face!" Coach Waters bellowed over the heads of the players.
I grimaced slightly, not wanting to open my mouth to answer back for fear of more projectile mud. I decided to stop playing all together. I leaned on my hockey stick and glanced around at my surroundings. In the corner of my eye I saw Coach Waters throw his hands up in defeat. He blew his whistle loudly.
"It seems our captain has had enough!" He yelled in a patronizing manner as all eyes turned to me. I wiped my sleeve across my forehead and shrugged indifferently.
"I thought it best to stop before anyone gets hurt." I mumbled lazily when he stormed up to me, white knuckles clinging onto a worn clipboard.
"Oh, and I suppose the opposition will just step aside so no one breaks a nail?" He sneered loudly and I couldn't tell whether it was spit or rain landing on my face. He gave me a warning glare and blew his whistle again while jogging towards the changing rooms.
"Good choice," I felt someone lean into me and I glanced sideways at a flushed Jenna Thorn who was smiling sympathetically,"He knows it's stupid to play in these conditions anyway."
"Stubborn old man..." I trailed off quietly and stifled a laugh when I saw him lose his footing and latch onto the nearest student desperately. He was so uncoordinated and ape-like as he tried to smoothly hold himself upright.
"He is indeed," Jenna's musing brought me back to attention,"Shall we?" She gestured towards the changing rooms and I nodded eagerly, the anticipation of a warm shower almost overwhelming.
"Jenna!" I slammed my fist on the door of our dorm room,"Locked myself out...again." I kept knocking until I heard a low disgruntled grumble on the other side. The door opened and I was greeted with a pair of judgemental brown eyes.
"Third time this week, Adele."
"Aiden." I gave a curt nod and shimmied my way under his arm which was holding the door open. I dropped my books on the floor and flopped face first onto my bed.
"How was study?" I heard Jenna ask as Aiden closed the door a little too hard.
"Great." I mumbled into my pillow,"I love Geometry, did you know?"
"I think Geometry is fascinating. If you can't do it then why did you choose the course?" Aiden piped up obnoxiously and I lifted my head to glare at him.
"It's not that I can't do it. I just don't want to do it," I said stubbornly,"And I have to do it for extra credit. Unlike you Aiden, I actually want to get into Yale through hard work rather than via a nice merry ride on my parents' coat tails." I sat up against the wall and distracted myself from the awkward silence by painting my nails. I saw Aiden shake his head and Jenna look at him nervously in my peripheral vision.
"I've never understood why you like her." Aiden spoke under his breath to his girlfriend on the other side of the room. Oh so I'm her now! I swear to god if this boy jumped off a cliff tomorrow I would be there at the bottom for the kodak moment.
"Aiden, please!" Jenna whispered hurriedly casting a quick glance over at me to see if I heard. I pretended I hadn't and happily continued my nail art.
Aiden sighed impatiently and stood up,"I need to borrow your car. Mine's in the shop." He said demandingly and grabbed Jenna's keys. I looked up then realising that they were no longer talking about me.
"But I need to go to work in half an hour..." Jenna said quietly, wringing her hands anxiously. Aiden gave her a swift smile that didn't reach his eyes and kissed her on the cheek briskly.
"I'm sure Adele won't mind driving you for a change." He drawled condescendingly as he grabbed his long black coat off the hook on the back of the door.
"I don't have a car dickhead!" I yelled as he slammed the door shut. I turned to Jenna who was pursing her lips at me irritably.
"Seriously, what do you see in him?" I asked not really expecting an answer. She rolled her eyes at me and I decided to drop it. After all, I expressed my feelings towards him everyday so I'm sure she was getting sick of it. One day she'll snap and realize the truth! That Aiden is a no-good cheating son of a bitch who's probably using Jenna's car to pick up another slut from Hastings right now. Not that I had any proof but the bottom line is: Aiden's an asshole. And Jenna will open her eyes one day. One day...
I frowned to myself when I realized I was thinking like a soap star and searched for something else to think about to distract myself.
I tried to think about hockey but my thoughts rapidly changed to a scene involving him and my hockey stick. I guess I was still too infuriated with the fact that Aiden existed. I was suprised at how malicious I was being but reasoned with myself. I only think this way about him because he thinks this way about me! Treat others how you wish to be treated. That's what he must say to himself everytime he talks down to me. Yes, sound reasoning on my behalf.
I had never seen the attraction between Aiden and Jenna. They say opposites attract but I mean, really. Jenna is sweet, shy, gentle (unless she's playing hockey, the girl's vicious!) and caring. Aiden is an arrogant mummy's boy in a knitted oxford vest with black rimmed glasses that would be cool if it was 1995. I kept telling Jenna that Aiden was using her; eg. for her car! But also for things more important than that like her generous nature which he constantly took advantage of. Not that he needed to since he could get everything he wanted from mummy Blackington anyway. I guess he enjoyed being the alpha of the relationship.
Unfortunately for me, bumping into Aiden in my own dorm room wasn't the only time we saw eachother. To my disgrace, the Blackington and Mizzati families are close. I hate myself for knowing that my link with Aiden probably helped with the whole him and Jenna situation. I say probably. I've taught myself to be in denile about such miniscule details. Our families, along with the Abbot's and the Rossett's, socialize together in typical rich, obnoxious fashion; $500 wine by the ancient fireplace along a with a lovely chat about each family's ancestry etc etc. Very monotonous stuff. I satisfied my boredom during these times by drinking the wine by the ancient fireplace on my own. Occasionally, I sat with Aurelie Blackington who was Aiden's younger sister. I could tell by her needy attitude that she was going to grow up to be just like her brother but until she started irritating me beyond belief, atleast she was 10 year old company also uninterested in family history.
"Who tutored you today?" Jenna's sweet voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"Snider." I said gloomily and smiled inwardly when Jenna laughed. Ah, back in the good books.
"Yeah? How was that?" She asked, glad to not be talking about her boyfriend. I gave her a look that said "do you really need to ask?" and shrugged.
"The bitch knows her stuff." I said casually and examined my beautiful nails. Perfectly polished and not chipped much to Coach Waters' disappointment. In the eyes of a chauvanistic sports teacher, unchipped nails meant a lazy athlete. I pondered on whether there was a slight truth behind this but instead found myself laughing as the memory of him slipping in the mud flooded back to me.
I hardly had enough time to get ready for dinner in the dining hall that night. In between infuriated crying sessions over geometry and then the ugly realisation that I needed to reapply my make-up, I was wide-eyed when I saw the clock in my room show 5.55pm. Dinner at Spenser Academy was served promptly at six o'clock every evening and those who wished to save themselves the embarrassment of arriving late and loitering on the spot awkwardly trying to search for a free seat, usually got to the dining hall by 5.45pm. Fortunately for me, or unfortunately in a more general situation, Jenna always saved me a seat next to her. And Aiden. And Aaron Abbot which meant the Snider girl. And Jake and Paulina Rossett. According to our parents, it was of the utmost importance that the four families stick together.
"Family first!" My mother would screech proudly infront of the others who would all nod in agreement before sipping a brandy. This was the type of situation where you would find me drinking by the fireplace on my own.
I tied my black unruly hair into a messy bun and made my way down to dinner quickly. I scanned the room hastily and noticed Jenna's distinctive blonde hair at a table in the far right corner. Nice and social like always.
"Hey." I said airily as I slipped in beside Jenna who smiled warmly at me.
"Work out those geometry puzzles, Adele?" Kira sneered while playing with Aaron's dirty hair. I raised my eyebrows and piled some brown rice onto my china plate. It would be a shame to see such beautiful china smashed over something as ugly as Kira Snider.
"Trouble with geometry?" Paulina's shrill voice broke in suddenly,"I must say I find it pre-schoolish."
"I imagine it would be for someone who doesn't think their own age." I snapped back indignantly, ending the conversation. The table settled into some lousy small talk while I fiddled with my food.
"Playing with your food seems a bit hypocritical of you right now doesn't it?" Jenna murmured in my ear amused and I immediately put down my fork.
"I lose my appetite around these people..." I mumbled almost incoherently. A loud noise gained my attention from the other side of the room and I perked up curiously. Over the heads of students I could see was Caleb Danvers and Pogue Parry laughing about something. I lost interest as quickly as it hit me.
"Garwin being a prick as usual." Aaron muttered to which Kira laughed bitterly. The rest of the table talk slid easily into an hour long bitching session about the Ipswich boys. It became apparent to me how influential those many family gatherings around the ancient fire place really were. After all, the lessons about family loyalty were few and far between as opposed to how many lectures we received on family rivalries that had been ongoing for centuries. Then again, I guess one sort of flowed effortlessly into the other. In the narrow minded eyes of our parents it was the Mizzati's, Blackington's, Abbot's and Rossett's against our toughest social and financial competition The Ipswich Families.
Not in the mood to listen to Jake groan about Tyler Simms cheating in the final swimming heat, I mumbled a low goodbye to Jenna who seemed eager to come with me if it weren't for Aiden tightening his grip around her even more so than before. I rolled my eyes at his pettiness and waved dismissively to the rest of the table and left without a word.
I made my way down the hall, stopping at my locker to pick up my copy of The Shining which we were reading in class.
I screamed as Reid Garwin appeared next to my locker suddenly. I swear I hadn't heard him coming.
"What the hell Garwin!" I snapped through gritted teeth trying to compose myself. I slowly felt my heart rate return to normal.
He smirked and leaned against the locker next to mine,"You're looking lovely as always Adele. New hair?"
"What do you want?" I spat out ignoring the fact that he had actually noticed my change in hair style. He tapped his fingers on his chin amused.
"I need a favour." He said nonchalantly. Silence crept over us and eventually I broke out laughing.
"You're kidding right?" I questioned back in pure disbelief. The day I help Reid Garwin would be the day I officially become insane. And my feelings had nothing to do with our so called "family rivalries"; I was completely impartial in regards to that. Family aside, I genuinely dislike Reid Garwin as an individual. I believe he feels the same way towards me so all is fair and mutual. I mentally pat myself on the back for my second batch of sound reasoning for the day.
"Mhm it's my excuse for coming all the way out here just so I could be around you." Reid drawled sarcastically and I slammed my locker impatiently and stared at him.
"Your boyfriend will be wondering where you are." I remarked casually and he folded his arms over his chest, cocking his head to the side.
"I would say the same for you but we both know you're a stubborn bitch thus obviously of single status." He said lightly as if commenting on the weather.
"I take it you've never needed to ask for a favour before." I said lazily, brushing off his insult and growing tired of the conversation.
"This is more of a favour on someone else's behalf..." He mused and arched an eyebrow when he saw my curiousity peek.
"Since I know you well enough to know that you would never do something that didn't benefit you in some way," he continued lightly as I scoffed at his assumption,"I'll say right now that I believe even you will benefit from this favour in the long run." We stared at eachother for a while.
"Uh huh and what's in it for you? I fail to believe that you're actually a good person." I said calmly although I couldn't hide the fact I was intrigued.
"Just being a good friend." Reid said amused, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Right..." I muttered completely unconvinced.
"It involves Tyler," he said slowly as if talking to a child,"and the Jenna Thorn girl."
"That Jenna Thorn girl happens to be my best friend, Garwin," I snapped irritably,"So, no. No to you and no to whatever you and your stupid friends are planning." I spun on my heel and walked away.
"If there was anyone I could count on to help humiliate Aiden Blackington, it was you...I'm disappointed." Reid called out patronizingly and I stopped in my tracks, turning around to stare at him. Humiliate Aiden? The irrational part of me screamed YES! but then I thought about Jenna's involvement...
"What is this, some sort of matchmaking scheme like in the movies?" I asked trying not to show my curiousity. He saw right through me though and flashed me a brilliant smile.
"The match has already been made. We just need to get things moving." He replied aloofly as if what he was saying wasn't weird. Was this idiot aware Jenna didn't have eyes for anyone else and was already in a relationship?! An unfortunate one at that but a relationship nonetheless! I was completely puzzled; did Tyler like Jenna? Did Tyler even know Jenna?!
Would she be crushed if she knew Tyler Simms was interested? My conscience interrupted rudely. My very stubborn, very bias conscience.
"Are you asking me to intervene in Jenna's private life and risk hurting my best friend...for your best friend?" I asked disbelievingly and he stared at me like I was the idiot. Imbecile!
"Decision time, Mizzati. My dinner's getting cold." Reid demanded impatiently.
"I'm leaving." I said simply and Reid shrugged indifferently.
"Suit yourself." He said and swaggered back into the dining hall swiftly.
Needless to say, that night not even The Shining could distract me from mulling over my strange encounter with the blonde. The annoying blonde, not Jenna who was innocently reading the same book while Aiden leaned against her on the bed. Does that boy even have a room? I heard Jenna giggle and saw her hit Aiden with the book lightly on his forehead.
"Ah, babe you'll break my glasses..." He trailed off, unable to hide his anger as he wiped them on the bottom of his vest. Worst of all Jenna was apologizing! Apologizing for almost destroying such an atrocity!
"Can I just say, Aiden, that those glasses are the ugliest things I've ever seen in my life." I said lightly while pretending to be engrossed in my book.
"Two things Adele: A mirror and your reflection." Aiden spat back viciously and I groaned at his terrible comeback. I smothered my face with a pillow.
"You too sweetheart," he said with false sweetness,"looks like someone's gained a few." I heard Jenna mumble something incoherent and I nearly screamed into my pillow. I shut off my light and forced myself to sleep in hopes that the morning would come quicker so I could track down the other blonde.
A/N: Et voila! The ramblings of a person stuck in a stuffy airport...feel free to review if you want! x