Chapter 2: Oopsy Daisy
"Ugh, what is this?" Scoffs Daisy, as she examines the containers of food before her. This comes as a surprise to Jemma, who has only experienced the happy, positive Daisy and had yet to encounter any other side of the girl until now. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not be poisoned." Jemma agrees with her on that. The food does look quite...unappetizing.
"You'd think they'd be decent enough to at least give us a substantial lunch. I mean, this is basically encouraging students to skip meals, and then how are we expected to learn properly?" Jemma complains as the two girls move along the hatches, grimacing at the displeasing cuisine. She is about to make another remark when the cook emerges from the kitchen.
"Oh, hi!" Says Jemma, a little too kindly. She blushes slightly, anxious in case the woman has heard what she has been saying about her cooking skills. "Can I just say, you've done a great job of lunch today!" She compliments her in an attempt to cover up her previous rudeness. Daisy raises her eyebrow at her teasingly, finding the fact that she is flustered over a bit of food quite amusing.
"Thank you... I don't know you're name? Are you new here?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm an exchange student. Jemma Simmons." Jemma explains to the rosy cheeked, plump woman in front of her.
"Well, you're a very kind girl, Jemma. So, what would you like?" Jemma looks like a deer in the headlights. Daisy laughs at her awkward social skills and takes over the situation.
"Um, actually, we're not very hungry right now. We'll just get something from the vending machine later. Right, Jemma?" Jemma nods without a word before briskly walking after her friend.
Daisy heads for a table in the centre of the canteen, with Bobbi and two other boys that Jemma hasn't seen before."Hey, guys," Daisy greets as she slides into a free chair. "Jemma, this is Mack and Trip. Mack, Trip, this is my new friend Jemma. She's an exchange student from England." She introduces them, motioning between the three. The two boys nod approvingly and Jemma sits down in between Bobbi and Daisy.
The group of friends are deep in conversation, Mack and Trip bombarding Jemma with questions about England, when another, slimmer boy approaches them, sneaking up from behind Daisy and covering her eyes with his hands.
"Guess who?" He asks her, teasingly. Daisy sighs but a smile spreads across her face.
"Lincoln, this was cute the first time you did it. Now it's just annoying." Lincoln leans around his girlfriend and places a kiss to her lips.
"Maybe. But that's just one of the things you love about me." He shoots her a cheeky smile before sitting down in a nearby seat, taking Daisy's hand and pulling her onto his lap. For some reason, Jemma is shocked. She didn't perceive Daisy as one to get too involved with relationships and boys. However, Lincoln is one lucky boy, she thinks, to have a girlfriend as pretty and sweet as Daisy. Daisy notices Jemma's confused expression and introduces her to her boyfriend properly.
"Oh, sorry. Jemma, this is my boyfriend, Lincoln Campbell." She says, pulling him in for another quick kiss.
"Ew! Do you guys need to do this here?! It's so corny." Bobbi pulls a disgusted expression. "You're not on the Titanic, you know." With that, both Bobbi and Mack turn to each other and jokingly hold hands.
"Don't let go, Daisy." Mack says in a dramatic voice.
"I'll never let go, Lincoln." Imitates Bobbi. Daisy and Lincoln give them insulted looks.
"Okay, that is not how we act!" Daisy objects. Bobbi laughs and is about to stand up when a figure appears beside her. Lance has resolved that he will try and get to know the mysterious girl he met in the locker room, considering the way she'd clearly intrigued him in their brief conversation. Bobbi's eyes widen in surprise; she wasn't expecting to see the creepy guy from the locker rooms again.
"Hey," Says Lance, ignoring the nervous butterflies in his stomach. Jemma, totally oblivious to the fact she is interrupting the moment, pipes up.
"Hi, Lance! How you getting on here? Made any new friends?" Lance shoots her annoyed look, shutting her up. "Oh..."
"Uh, hi." Says Bobbi, anxiously. "You're the one from the locker rooms? Right, Lance?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I am. I- I didn't catch your name."
"Uh..." Bobbi tries to answer, but struggles. Luckily, Daisy, who is still perched on Lincoln's lap and is watching on excitedly, answers for her.
"Bobbi. Her name's Bobbi." Bobbi nods in agreement
"Um...yeah. Yeah, Bobbi." Lance smiles.
"Well, hi, Bobbi. I was-I was just wondering if maybe you would-if you might want to go out sometime. You know, for a drink. Maybe this weekend?" He stutters.
"Oh, I can't." Bobbi replies, dissapointedly. "It's Daisy's birthday on Saturday and we're all going out to the new club down the street. I'm...sorry."
"Well, Lance, you could come along with us!" Daisy offers.
"You sure?"
"Of course! It's my birthday-I get to choose who comes. Everyone's welcome."
"Oh, well, yeah. I'd love to come! See you there, Bob." He nudges Bobbi playfully before strolling away. Bobbi forces her eyes to look away and turns back to her friends. Daisy and Lincoln are looking into each other's eyes, recreating the scene Mack and Bobbi had performed earlier.
'Don't let go, Bobbi." Says Lincoln.
"I'll never let go, Lance." Replies Daisy. Bobbi sighs and glowers at them before picking up her bag and stalking off in the opposite direction to which Lance had walked in. A chorus of giggles starts up among the remaining friends.
Jemma sighs as she approaches a nearby Starbucks. She has already been walking around the mall for an hour, desperately trying to find a last minute birthday present for Daisy. It has been difficult, since she hasn't really known Daisy for that long and isn't exactly rich, meaning she is limited to what she can buy. Now she is exhausted, on the verge of giving up and telling Daisy she is unable come to her party.
She is about to enter the coffee shop when a brightly coloured sign catches her attention, just beyond the cafe. Craning her neck to get a better look, she sees that the sign reads 'Oh So Special Stationary- Personalised Stationary At Your Service'. Jemma's face lights up. She knows stationary isn't the best present, but right now she'd try anything. Besides, she'd overheard Daisy complaining that her pen had broken the other day, and at least this is better than nothing. Jemma wouldn't be all that disappointed with some brand-new personalised stationary to add to her already-overflowing collection. Leaving the coffee shop behind, she makes her way towards the sign she had originally noticed.
"$15?! For a pen?!" Jemma exclaims to herself, after examining the prices of the items.
"Ah, a personalised pen." Says a voice from behind her- the sales assistant.
"I don't care if it's personalised or not! These are ridiculous prices! Do you really think that people are going to pay this kind of money for pens and pencils?" To be honest, Jemma is seriously considering doing this, since it appears to be her only option remaining. Daisy's birthday is tomorrow and she needs something to give her. Eventually, she decides to give in and pay the money for the pen. Although she was hoping she had enough money to buy a few more things for Daisy, she supposes this is going to have to suffice. She sighs, making her way over to the counter reluctantly.
"Ready?" Asks Daisy's voice from inside the bathroom.
"Ready!" Replies Jemma. Daisy steps out of the bathroom wearing a magenta skater dress, followed by Bobbi, who is dressed in high-waisted white jeans paired with a mint green crop top.
"Wow. You both look...great."
"Well, I hope so! We have been out all day looking for the perfect outfit! Do you think Lincoln will like it?" She brushes herself down, unsurely.
"Of course he will. You look beautiful, Daisy. You too, Bobbi; I'm sure Lance will love it." She winks at the blonde and Bobbi giggles excitedly.
"Omg, Bobbi- what was that? Did you just...giggle?" Daisy exclaims. Bobbi blushes.
"No. No, I didn't." Daisy and Jemma continue to stare at her, expectantly. "I didn't! Can we just- can we just go now, please." Bobbi blushes as she turns away and Jemma and Daisy giggle among themselves.
"I'm so excited for this party, you guys." Says Daisy. "It's going to be the coolest birthday ever!"
When the the trio arrives at the club, the boys are already there. Lincoln abandons his drink at the bar and sweeps his girlfriend into a hug followed by a kiss.
"Happy birthday, babe!" He says, charmingly. Daisy laughs happily.
"Thanks, Link!" She raises her eyebrows, looking past him at the large gift bag sitting on the bar stool. "Do I, uh... have a present?" Lincoln's lips form a huge smile.
"How did you guess?" He leads Daisy over to the bar as Bobbi and Jemma follow. Lance stands as the blonde beauty approaches him and blushes a little.
"Bobbi..." Bobbi smiles shyly at him. "You look... amazing."
"Oh...thanks." She replies, blushing, before sliding into the vacant bar stool beside him.
"Lincoln, you didn't?!" Daisy squeals as she cautiously peels away the wrapping paper, revealing a small silver box. She appears to already have an idea of what is inside, judging by the excited look on her face. Sure enough, she lifts the lid to reveal a dainty silver chain with a locket in the shape of a daisy threaded carefully onto it. "No way! I've been wanting this locket for months," she explains. "Ever since I spotted it in the window of the jewellers in town." Her elated face compares to that of a child on Christmas Day as she cradles the locket in her dainty hands. Lincoln gazes at her intently, grinning from ear to ear.
"Open it," he urges. Daisy slowly clicks the locket open, then pauses as her breath catches in her throat. She stares at the photograph inside the locket for a few seconds in silence.
"Who is it?" Jemma inquires, curiously, as she peers subtly over Daisy's shoulder. Daisy jumps slightly at the sound of her voice, as if being brought out of a trance.
"It's my...father." She says, almost inaudibly. Jemma wrestles with the urge to ask her follow-up question, but decides to risk it.
"What happened to him?" She asks, earning a look of annoyance from Lincoln. She hangs her head in guilt, knowing she shouldn't have asked such a personal question. However, Daisy answered.
"He was taken away. To rehab. He was an alcoholic and only worsened when mom died."
"Oh, I see. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Comforts Jemma, honoured that Daisy feels comfortable enough to share this information with her but not wanting to see her upset. Daisy's eyes settle on the small gift bag in Jemma's hand.
"Do you have a present for me too?" Jemma is confused for a second, temporarily forgetting that it is Daisy's birthday.
"Oh, yeah, about that. I do have a present for you, but it was really short notice and I definitely didn't have enough money to buy you a locket-"
"It's okay. I understand. You know what they say- it's the thought that counts" A smile seems be returning to her face, which in turn makes Jemma happy. She hands her the gift bag and observes with bated breath as Daisy plunges her hand in, recovering a silver fountain pen with five cursive letters engraved carefully into it, as if it is the most precious word in the world. Daisy. Daisy's face lights up, but before she can thank the British girl as she is intending to, Lincoln intercepts.
"A pen?!" He scoffs, mockingly. "Wow, Jemma, you really pushed the boat out there, didn't you?" Daisy frowns, disapprovingly as Jemma blushes at Lincoln's words.
"Well, I for one think it's beautiful. Thank you Jemma; I love it." The brunette shoots her friend a warm smile. Lincoln looks from Daisy to Jemma, shocked at how annoyingly friendly his girlfriend is being towards a girl she'd just met that week. He huffs loudly and returns to his third pint since he arrived at the club. Daisy winks triumphantly at Jemma, which only makes her blush even more, but she forces a small smile in her direction.
The night goes on, with Lance and Lincoln growing rowdier and rowdier with each pint, which was only made worse when the dark-haired boy from their dorm arrived with his girlfriend Kara, although Lance deliberately avoided him and headed to the dance floor with Bobbi. They are greeted by Daisy and Jemma, who have been dancing for over an hour, singing at the top of their voices every time a new song blasts through the speakers.
"Hey, Jemma! Go get us another drink, will you?" Daisy shouts over the music. Jemma nods.
"Sure! Same as last time?"
"You know it!" Jemma leaves Daisy behind and makes her way through the maze of sweaty bodies until she reaches the bar. Lincoln and his friend are slumped drunkenly over the counter, amd Jemma tries her best not to make eye contact with them while she waits for the barmaid to finish serving another customer. However, despite her efforts, she still hears the sickening sound of Lincoln's voice over the noise.
"Oh, look who it is! Hey, Grant, that's the girl that got Daisy a pen for her birthday. I mean, a damn pen!" He snarls, and Jemma can feel her cheeks burning up as the two boys snigger at her.
"Oh my god, that's a new one!" Grant exclaims, in between fits of laughter.
"Oi, Jemma! What's with you and Daisy all of a sudden? You like her or something?" This sends the drunken boys into yet another fit of giggles. Jemma decides to remove herself from the embarrassing situation as quickly as possible and abandons the bar before the barmaid can even take her order. However, she doesn't get far before someone nudges he from behind. Out of habit, she spins around to apologise, but is met by a glass of red wine in her face. As her eyes adjust, she sees who is in front of her.
"Oopsy daisy." Lincoln mocks. Jemma is overcome with embarrassment as everyone around her turns to look at her in shock, and is close to tears. Daisy can feel the anger bubbling inside her as she watches on. She begins storming towards Lincoln, reaches for Grant's glass of wine and pours it over a bewildered Lincoln's head before anyone has time to react. Overcome with anger, Daisy slams the empty glass down on the counter and looks Lincoln dead in the eyes.
"How could you?! What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Daisy," Lincoln interjects. "Babe, just calm down."
"No! I won't calm down. And don't you ever call me 'babe' again. You're sick. We're through!" Daisy rests a hand gently on Jemma's arm.
"Are you okay?" Jemma nods, silently.
"Good. Now let's go. The party's over." With that, Daisy leads Jemma out of the club and onto the street, leaving the night's drama behind.
