A/N: Hello fellow Rise fans. Here with chapter two. This one was really fun. As per usual, I do not own Rise that belongs to NBC. I do not own Uptown Girls, that belongs to MGM. The only characters I own are my OCs, Hazel Jordan-Mazzuchelli and Carrie Jordan. Another small disclaimer, some of the chapter is adapted from the film. Loosely adapted with some changes but still adapted nonetheless.
Chapter Two: Awkward First Impressions
The elder Mazzuchellis and Tracey Wolfe had left some time ago and the party was in full swing. Gwen and Lilette had found some of the girls and they were currently discussing the latest trends in costume design. Gwen was trying not to zone out. This topic of discussion always came up when she was around. Secretly, she found it to be brown nosing rather than actual discussion and far too vapid for her taste.
"So what do you think?" Jolene, one of the understudies and Gwen's personal frival held up several sketches. "Does Ms. Strickland approve. After all, you have the eye my dear." She then frowned. "Oh sweetie, have you had someone look at those crow's feet? You won't be able to play a teenager for much longer with those. I know the best cosmetologist-."
The discussion was interrupted as a man, clearly drunk stumbled over. "Hello Ladies."
"Oh my god, who invited him?"
"Is it one of those parties?"
"This is going to be a disaster."
Gwen couldn't help but notice how most of the girls looked disgusted and suddenly the discussion was over. Her and Lilette were the only ones that remained with the stranger.
Lilette raised her eyebrows. "Gordy…" She crossed her arms. "Take a seat before you hurt yourself Babe." She grabbed a stool and plonked it down. "Really…I insist." Gwen noticed the shift in her friend's tone, but couldn't ask any whispered questions as the man she now knew as Gordy took a seat, and nearly fell backwards into her, drink and all.
Gwen took the man by the shoulders and pushed him upwards. "Lil, are you sure there aren't any backed chairs around?" She did not think the stools could possibly be comfortable with how dead on his feet this guy looked.
"If you want to walk all the way to the other end of the club be my guest." Lilette said. She then took her own seat.
Gwen took the seat to Lilette's right, keeping a grip on the man as she was actually genuinely scared he'd hurt himself. "So, I think you're cut off Sir." She reached around trying to take Gordy's drink from him as he pulled back.
"I...I thought this was a party." He held his drink high above her head as he slurred.
"Yes, my birthday party, and I don't want anyone dying from alcohol poisoning, so thank you." She reached for it only for him to pull it back again as his hand slipped and the drink spilled all over her dress.
She shot up out of the seat and backed away. "Oh my god!"
"Aw come on birthday girl, don't be a spoilsport." He stood grabbing napkins from the bar and tried to wipe her dress. "It was an accident."
She nodded, taking the napkins from him carefully. "Yes, yes it was. Excuse me." She then turned and left in the direction of the bathroom.
Gwen was in the bathroom stall trying to clean her dress, but it was useless. She knew she shouldn't have drank this much two nights in a row. She finished and went out to the mirror to check herself. She grabbed her makeup bag and began taking out her beauty regimen and reapplying her concealer. Those crow's feet under her eyes would not stand. Jolene wouldn't be able to point them out anymore if she could help it. At least one thing would go right.
"Excuse me!" She suddenly felt herself being shoved to the side. "This is a public bathroom. Not the makeup counter at Sephora."
Gwen glanced sideways to see a young girl. She had blonde hair that was flat ironed and green eyes. She wore a pale blue button down shirt and a navy skirt with a blue headband to match. "Oh I'm sorry." She moved her things. "But if you don't mind me asking, aren't you a little young to be out clubbing?"
The girl looked her up and down. "Aren't you a little old to be wearing cotton candy that smells like Mike's Hard Lemonade?"
"Excuse me?" Gwen crossed her arms studying herself in the mirror. The dress was pale pink and had waves of fabric expanding outwards with sparkle on the bodice. "And how do you even know what Hard Lemonade even is?"
" I have cable. It's a lovely dress. You would be really pretty. But I had a dress like that when I was four…minus the alcohol stench."
Gwen scoffed. "When was that, six days ago?"
"Try six years."
Gwen stared at the girl with wide eyes for a few moments more before she turned her attention to washing her hands. She was a kid. Just an annoying bratty kid. She let the warm water run over her hands. This was a night to celebrate, never mind the terribly sad looks she had been getting for the past year and a half. This was her birthday, a chance for a fresh start. She'd be damned if she'd let some kid get under her skin too. "Oh, so you're ten? Last I checked, you still can't get in here."
"Well I'm here, so that point is moot isn't it?" The girl shrugged. "Enjoy your plastic tiara Princess Priss."
The door opened, and Gwen turned around to see Jeremy of all people enter the restroom.
"There you are. Your Mom's been looking for you." Jeremy glared at the young girl.
The girl gave Jeremy a serious look that sent chills up and down Gwen's back. This chick's really only ten? "I know you might have trouble knowing this with the cotton balls between your ears and all but this is the LADIES' room. L-A-D-."
Gwen gave Jeremy a look. Care to clue me in Travers?
Jeremy sighed rolling his eyes as he grabbed the girl by the wrist cutting off her spelling lesson. "Boss' kid, they went through their seventh nanny three days ago." He then turned his attention back to the girl. "If this is the ladies' room, what's your excuse?"
"She had halitosis! Let go of me! You can't do this Travesty! I'll have you fired for this! This is child abuse, you cretin." The girl's voice grew increasingly higher pitched as she tried to fight Jeremy off, punching him in the stomach. This only caused Jeremy to grip her tighter, nearly picking her up off the ground as he tried to get her to leave.
Gwen tried to hide a smirk. Travers, Travesty, where did a ten year old come up with this stuff?
"Sure, well last I checked, I'm not on your payroll. So good luck with that. Let's go young lady." He shot Gwen a helpless and apologetic look, then dragged the girl out the door.
Kaitlin went over to the bar after hearing the news from Jolene and Lilette. Her brother was here and had spilled alcohol all over Gwen Strickland.
"You are beyond lucky your timing sucks. Well at least in one case." Kaitlin slid onto the stool Gwen had occupied just a few moments before.
Gordy glanced over rubbing his head. "Screw luck."
"More like luck screwed you big brother, and not the good kind either. Hangover?" Kaitlin went into her purse and grabbed two ibuprofen flagging the bartender. "Just a water please, with lots of ice."
Gordy sneered.
"You just missed Mom and Dad."
"So, only a lecture from you and Robbie 'Let thee be Righteous' Thorne today? I did luck out." Gordy took the pills dry.
"If that's how you see it." Kaitlin rolled her eyes. "You do realize that Jeremy had to babysit your daughter tonight because you passed out at three in the afternoon on your weekend again?"
"Your water miss." The bartender placed the drink down.
"I thought Jeremy was on a date. Doesn't Carrie have help for that sort of thing?"
Kaitlin glared daggers. " He is actually. He's fortunately a skilled multitasker, good at his insufferable job and has a boyfriend who is a literal saint at times. Just...don't hurt yourself anymore or ruin anything else. I'm begging you." She heaved a sigh. "So before you spilled the drink all over her, did you at least make a non pathetic attempt to be nice to Gwen?" She knew her brother was a hopeless flirt.
"She…" Gordy closed his eyes against the harsh strobe lights. "She seems nice."
"So you did get her attention?" Kaitlin let a bit of teasing enter her tone.
Gordy made an attempt to shrug. "Can't…'member." He lay his head in his hands. "Oh god, does this pain go away?"
Kaitlin chuckled. "Oh poor Big brother."
Gordy slapped her on the shoulder as she took his hand and squeezed.
A/N: So Gwen had her first encounters with Gordy, and an interesting run in with young Hazel who is just... a little charmer. Jeremy is picking up some unfortunate extra work hours during his night with Simon. Meanwhile, Kaitlin had words with her brother as well as a bit of good natured teasing. Will it lead to some matchmaking ? We shall see.
Hazel is played by McKenna Grace.
Next up: We check in with Siremy on their date turned babysitting job as Gwen grills her costars about just what the big deal with Gordy is, and she makes the connection as an actual Gwordy conversation happens and...more awkwardness because it's fun. Another familiar face makes an appearance. And Gwen gets home to a disastrous bit of news.
Please let me know your thoughts.