Hadleigh's Performance High School
New York City
Established twenty years ago by the Broadway Union Theatre and Arts Division in New York City, Hadleigh's Performance High School had several well-known performers, musicians, dancers, and artists graduate as alums of this prestigious high school. For sixteen year old Pilar Jacqui Benton-Pacheco, it gave her an opportunity to showcase her talents as both a musician and a dancer.
Sixteen years ago, her mother Jerrica Benton had sold ownership of Starlight Music to former musician turned mogul Ronnie Cox's corporation Virtue Enterprises and became a corporate executive of the company's music division. Moving to New York City had been a welcoming change as both Pilar and her mother soaked in the exciting metropolitan and creative atmosphere of the Big Apple that molded and shaped future talent. Pilar saw herself as being on one of its greatest achievements.
Growing up as a child of two single parents, Pilar often had divide her time living half the year with her father Rio in Los Angeles and her mother Jerrica in New York. As the teen grew older, her father agreed to have her mother be granted full custody in the hopes that his daughter could have a stable education as she attended Hadleigh's. However, Pilar had other plans.
Near the end of her freshman year, the dark haired, blue eyed teen began joining a group of juvenile delinquents known as The Limp Lizards and experimented with her appearance and style of dress. Instead of cute girly tops and skirts, the rebellious teenager wore combat boots, ripped leggings, black punk clothes, and sported a nose ring. Plastering her face with tribal make-up, she spiked her hair and began acting out in school. Worried about Pilar's behavior, Jerrica began sending her to a therapist.
Dr. Roxanne Pelligrini sat in leather chair wearing her favorite pink dress suit as she smiled at the sixteen year old. The young girl was not going to budge and reveal anything during their session but the experienced psychologist had methods of making her patients talk.
"So Pilar," said Dr. Pelligrini stroking her short brown hair. "You've been acting out in school to the point that your friends were caught breaking and entering the facility and vandalizing an artist's painting that was being donated for charity. Is this true?"
"The painting sucked!" Pilar spat. She pushed her glasses to her face. "Who paints about stupid water lilies and people in Vietnam?"
"The artist is Ba Nee O'Carolan," the therapist stated. "She's a good friend of mine and a very famous artist. That painting you destroyed was to be donated to charity in order to raise money for the music department. Don't you even feel slightly guilty about it?"
"Why? Should I?" The rebellious teen clucked.
Dr. Pelligrini grinned. "I think you do. You put on this hard edge façade because deep down you know you don't want to be seen as some scared, weak little girl who heading nowhere with her life and wasting the talents she been blessed with."
Pilar was offended. She stood up from the couch and clenched her fists her to her sides. "I'm not going to sit here for this!" Preparing to march off, the therapist blocked her at the door.
"Move out of my way!" The young girl demanded.
Dr. Pelligrini shook her head. Raising a threatening finger, she pointed at her. "SIT DOWN! SHUT YOUR TRAP AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY! OR DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT FOR YOU!"
Frightened, the young teen quaked. Scooting her black boots, she slumped into the couch as her therapist straightened her pink suit before returning to her chair.
"Good," the therapist smirked. "Obviously, you're not as tough as you thought. Even little girls who put on the façade of strength often find themselves helpless against those who hold much more power. Back to the incident at your high school, your mother tells me you've been hanging around some group calling themselves The Limp Lizards?"
"Yeah," the teen snorted. "What of it? The Lizards are tough! I like what they stand for!"
The therapist's brown eyes focused on the torn t-shirt Pilar had been wearing. Emblazoned on front was a picture of a famous, bad girl group of the 80's. Roxanne Pelligrini knew very well.
"The Misfits?" She pointed to the teen's shirt. "You're a fan?"
"Of course," smiled Pilar. "They didn't take crap from anybody! That's why I like being with The Limp Lizards! We're simply carrying out the teachings that The Misfits started."
"Like what?" Roxanne was curious to know.
"Making mischief, be cruel to everyone, and take what you want with no regrets." Pilar stated.
Dr. Pellegrini sighed. "You might also add being alone, having no friends, no one to trust, no one to love you, and embarking on a path of self-destruction."
"Oh please!" The dark haired teen rolled her eyes. "Like you would know what it's like to be bad girl much less be anyone like a Misfit."
Rage surged through Roxanne. This time she would not control her temper. "Listen to you little snot nose brat! I knew the original Limp Lizards and they were lousy musicians and a lame excuse for a band. The fact that your so called friends are using their name to start a gang is pathetic!" Pilar's mouth dropped. "And another thing! The Misfits were not all that! They might have looked cool on the outside but on the inside they were nothing but immature girls who would never amount to anything in their lives. I should know because I was THAT girl!" She pointed to the white haired woman on the teen's shirt.
Pilar shot up. "You're Roxy? Oh my God! Why didn't I see it before? You're Roxy of The Misfits!"
Roxy twisted her lip to her admittance. "Yeah and the woman in that picture that was illiterate and always angry. Plus, do you know how much peroxide the record company forced me to put in my hair that nearly burned off my scalp? They said that I looked good in platinum white! What a crock! Being Roxy nearly destroyed my life, Pilar. Is this the kind of person you want to be? A Misfit?"
"But…but you're a Misfit!" The teen girl reminded her. "Nothing phases you!"
"Wake up and smell the Starbucks, Pilar!" The therapist snapped. "This is the real world! In the real world, you can be as bad as you want but at the end of the day all you got to show for it is no one caring about you and good chance of dying or ending up in prison. That is not how I wanted to go!"
The truth of what happened to the former band mates shocked her. Pilar did not what to say. "So is that what happened to you guys? Is that why you broke up?"
Roxy inhaled a breath. "Many factors caused out break up. The music industry had changed. Our sound no longer seemed of any interest to the consumers. Our saxophonist Jetta became involved with embezzlement and fraud from our music label and got sent to prison. Then our technician Techrat was found in possession of child pornography and was accused of molesting young boys and was sent to prison. Finally our associates, Ripper and Clash got involved with illegal drug dealings with the mob and ended up getting killed by their business people. It seemed anything that The Misfits touched turned to garbage."
"What about Pizazz and Stormer?" Pilar wondered.
"Pizazz is an arrogant, spoiled brat who cares for nothing but herself," The former Misfit admitted. "After the Misfits disbanded, she turned back on her so called friends leaving Stormer and me to rot in the streets. Luckily, your mom and her friends were there to help pick up the pieces and help us get back on track with your lives."
"My mom helped you?" The teen inquired.
"Of course," smiled the therapist. "Why do you think pink is now my favorite color? It's a color your mom use to wear a lot. After Stormer's husband Riot died in drug overdose, Jerrica and her friends provided Stormer a place to stay for a couple months until her baby was born and her family helped raised the child. I tagged along since I had nowhere else to go. Jerrica was especially encouraging in helping me to overcome my illiteracy and pursue my dreams of college. Heck, she even helped find me scholarships to pay for school. For that I'm grateful to her and that is why we're the best of friends today."
Pilar scowled. "So is this little pep talk going to convince me to change my ways?"
Roxy leaned back in her chair. "That's all up to you. Look, I'm not saying a little rebellion is bad. Sometimes it can be positive in strengthening ourselves as powerful women but there has to be a focus and a reason behind it. What you're rebelling against is simply the idea that you are resentful for the demise of your parents' relationship and their connection to you. That's the reason, isn't it Pilar?"
Small tears began to drip from her eyes, Roxanne Pelligrini had finally gotten to the root of her troubles and broken her down. "Yes. That's why. I hate the fact that my parents are still separated all these years and I know deep down that they still love each other but both of them won't admit to it."
"I agree," the therapist inhaled a breath. "Knowing both your parents for a long time, Jerrica and Rio have a very complicated relationship. There are still issues that are left unresolved."
"Like Jem?" The teen asked bluntly.
"What do mean by that?" Roxy inquired nervously.
"I found old love letters addressed to Jem by my dad," Pilar informed her. "They were having an affair while my mom and him were still together, weren't there?"
Roxy hesitated. "It's not something that can easily be explained or understood. Jem was…"
"Some pink haired skank that my father was sleeping with," the dark haired girl interrupted. "Good thing she died too in that plane crash or else she would've homewrecked someone else's relationship."
Dr. Pelligrini cocked her head. "Now. Now. Let's not speak ill-will of the dead. Jem was a kindhearted soul and I admit I was jealous of her good nature but in the end her influence eventually rubbed off on me making me a much more, happier fulfilled person."
"You make it sound like she's still alive," Pilar clucked. "She's now become a paranormal sighting next to Elvis Presley and 2Pac. Personally, my mom can't stand her. I'm betting she's glad that's Jem is gone since it ruined things with my dad."
"Jerrica is still working on reconciling her feelings for Jem," confessed the therapist. "However, I will say that without Jem's support I would not have this wonderful career in psychology and therapy. I would not have met my gorgeous husband and I would not have three beautiful children to show for it. Not bad for the runway girl from Philly who was told she would never amount to anything."
"So where does that leave me?" Pilar wondered.
"I want you to re-examine yourself, Pilar," Roxy remarked. "I want you to take that strength, the need to rebel, and to turn it into something positive. You have a talent for music and dance and I want you to focus those energies toward that. I predict big things coming from you. Use that inner power to do something good with it." She glanced at her watch. "Looks like our session is over, I'll let your mother know that you're really opening up."
"You're…not going to tell her about…the whole Jem, my Dad, and her relationship thing," she asked. "Are you?"
"No," her therapist reassured her. "All sessions are confidential. Your secret's safe with me."
Getting up from the couch, the dark haired teen headed for the door before noticing a series of photographs of Roxanne Pellegrini's family on the mantle.
"Beautiful family," Pilar noted. "And your husband's a babe!"
"Thanks," laughed Roxy. "I got lucky with this one. Svensson Jorgenson and I first met during a celebrity ski race in the Swedish Alps where he was your mother's ski instructor. We didn't hit it off right away until we met years later here in New York. He is now the top real estate agent in the city and we are thinking of purchasing a penthouse near Manhattan. I can't believe how blessed I truly am."
"Well I hope you and your family the best," stated Pilar. She slowly shut the door behind her. Today she was going to change her life for the better.
Pilar tossed her backpack on to sofa of the townhouse that she shared with her mom on the upper east side of Manhatttan. Marching her boots up the stairs, she passed by her bedroom to see her mother packing a suitcase with items from her closet.
"Mom, what are you doing?" She asked leaning against the doorframe.
Jerrica Benton did not acknowledge her daughter as she placed the folded Pilar's folded sweaters into her suitcase. Slowly, she turned to her offspring.
"I've talked to your father," she commented. "We've arranged a flight for you to Los Angeles. You'll be spending a year of schooling there on a trial basis."
"What?" The teen's eyes widened. "You're shipping me off?"
Jerrica sighed. "It's for the best. You've been kicked out of Hadleigh due to the breaking and entering and vandalism incident. I've pulled some strings in California and got you into a different performing arts school there close to your father's beach house."
"That's not fair!" Pilar protested. "I had nothing to do with destroying Ba Nee's painting. One of my friends did it!"
"It doesn't matter," replied the blonde executive. "The point is you were associated with these people and that makes you an accessory. By law, I would have to send you to a juvenile detention facility but instead our attorneys placed you under close parental supervision. Ba Nee agreed to submit another one of her art pieces for the school's charity."
"Well that should be no problem," clucked the teenager. "Especially since she used to be one of your foster orphans back when Starlight House was still open! But then you decided to pawn off the remaining girls to other foster homes because you could no longer take care of them!"
Anger displayed on the blonde woman's face. Raising a hand, she slapped her daughter across the cheek. "You have no idea how easy you've got it! You've been raised in a nice home compared to the girls that came to us. Let me explain something to you, missy. Starlight Music was losing money and we couldn't keep the foster home running any longer. Luckily, I was able to find good homes for all the girls and kept track of their progress over the years! ALL of them are flourishing with their loving families and many of them are on track to go to college! However, my own flesh and blood is growing up to be a resentful, bitter, ungrateful person and I think a little change of venue is needed to straighten you out!"
Pilar grabbed her reddened cheek as tears began to flow from her eyes. "I HATE YOU!"
Jerrica gulped a breath. "And I love you but I can't allow you to become this monster that I'm seeing growing up in front of me. I think this time with your father is going to keep you out of trouble. CHAPAS is performing arts magnet academy that will harness you musical and dance talents. I think the California air will do you some good."
The blonde executive continued to pack her things as Pilar darted out of the room.
"No wonder Dad cheated on you with Jem!" She shouted. "You're too much of a bitch!"
Her daughter's words stung her hard. Jerrica hated to admit it but there were many reasons why Rio fell for her Jem persona. The pink haired singer was the direct opposite of her. That is why she despised the woman so much and providing her just cause to kill the iconic front woman off in a plane crash.
"You start school next week."