Dudes, you're all freaking awesome! I got so many nice messages even though my story was pretty basic. Thank you so much.
So I think this chapter is a tad bit longer. Progress is progress. Once again, reviews are appreciated so I can EVOLVE and IMPROVE and all of that jazz.
I also don't own anything except the writing, because I am unoriginal.
Sunlight seeped through the spaces left bare between blindfolds, a beautiful yet unwelcome intruder in the domain of Victoria Chase. The beams, conveniently enough, settled directly above the blonde's flitting eyelids, causing her to growl and cover her face with a satin pillow. It was Saturday, and Victoria was determined to get as much well-deserved beauty rest as she could before she was forced to face the world.
Not that she needed beauty rest, thank you very much.
Accepting her fate with an uncharacteristic lack of poise, Victoria rolled out of bed, grimacing at the face she found in the mirror. Alright, so maybe she did need beauty rest. The dark circles under her eyes were a clear indication of the lack of sleep she had been getting as of late. As she applied make-up and began choosing the perfect outfit to present herself to the world, she fought the urge to curl into a ball and wait for her problems to sort themselves out.
"Today will be a GOOD day. You are Victoria Chase, bane of the Blackwell Academy student body and rising star in the world of photography. The world is your jewel-encrusted oyster, god damn it, and whatever silly things that are passing through your head will be gone before you know it." That seemed to be enough. Who was Max, anyway? No one important, surely.
Smirking at her reflection, she fixed her sweater and stepped out. Her spirits were high, her demeanor optimistic. She was like a majestic, blue butterfly, fluttering through the breeze and … and promptly bursting into flames.
Sitting across the hall, tapping her foot impatiently and smoking a cigarette, was the blue-haired menace Chloe Price, who wore a similar expression of distaste when she saw who had emerged. So much for a good day.
"Price."
"Chase." The girl mocked, taking a drag.
"Excuse you, but this is a smoke free building, and last time I checked Blackwell didn't allow drug addicts on campus." Victoria sneered, secretly glad the idiot would have to look up to her for a change, seated on the ground like that.
"Last time I checked they didn't allow ogres either, but you're still here." Chloe exclaimed, making sure to huff smoke in her direction. "Besides, I'm just waiting for Max, so take a chill pill."
Victoria's expression fell, eyes narrowing. "Figures. I learned in class that nobodies tend to stick in groups of two to four to avoid being wiped off the food chain."
"Listen, I don't know what your problem is, princess, but you need to check yourself."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means to stop digging into Max's business, or I'll be on your ass hella fast-"
"Max can fight her own battles, Price. And this discussion is between her and I, not her glorified body guard."
Chloe stood, looking down at the blonde menacingly, but Victoria was not so easily swayed. Chloe bared her teeth.
"Bitch."
"Druggy."
"Tool-"
"Uh, guys?" The two girls snapped their heads around to face the door behind said bodyguard. Max emerged, smiling weakly at Victoria before turning to her friend.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing to worry about, Maximus." Chloe shrugged. Victoria noted how Chloe's expression instantly softened, and she clenched her fists. Instead of engaging in this losing battle, she turned on her heel and stomped off, livid. Behind her, she heard Chloe scoff. "Man, I don't know who let that dog out." followed by a quieter "Be nice!" from Max. Then the door to the stairwell slammed shut.
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"And then he, like, totally fell into the kegs, and they go spilling everywhere!" Hayden raises his hands in the air, the rest of the table bursting into laughter.
"What a fucking loser." Courtney giggled, taking a sip of her latte.
Victoria leaned on her palm, wondering why she deserved to be stuck here, then nodding her head slightly. Oh right. Yeah, she did deserve it.
"... Victoria?"
"What now, Taylor?" She snapped, a little ruder than intended, but she didn't necessarily feel bad about it.
"You, like, weren't even paying attention. What gives?" Taylor asked, suspicion evident in her voice. Victoria frowned in response.
"Nothing important."
Hayden and Taylor seemed to get the hint (or they just didn't care enough) and returned to their conversations, but Courtney was like a lost puppy. Not even a cute one, Victoria lamented.
"What's on your mind, girl. You can tell me anything." Courtney said, voice oozing with faux admiration. The girl would do anything to get in Victoria's good graces and up her social status. Truth be told, Victoria didn't trust any of her Vortex club zombies, but if she was going to get over her internal dilemma talking it out with someone slightly more intelligent than a brick wall may be the way to go.
"Courtney and I are going to go touch up our makeup." Victoria stood, the others giving brief nods in her direction. Courtney followed behind her, obviously giving herself an internal pep talk. Walking into the Sturbacks bathroom, Victoria cleared her throat, the crowd of nameless faces getting the hint and exiting. Sometimes she was afraid she'd go mad with all of the power she held, honestly.
"If you breathe a word of this to anyone, you'll never get out of the pit I'll stick you in. Your life will be a living hell." Victoria threatened, watching Courtney's eyes go round like saucers. The girl nodded, frightened.
"Right. So there's this person I hate-"
"Oh god, it isn't me right? Listen, that note was supposed to go to Dana, but the bitch probably slipped it to Juliet and … you're not talking about me." Victoria's expression was the definition of "if looks could kill."
"C-continue."
"... I hate someone. Like, more than the usual bad-hairday hatred. I hate this person with a burning passion." Her lackey gave an affirmative. Yes, it was clear Victoria was a ball of spite.
"So it's completely normal to think about someone you hate that much a lot, right?"
Courtney paused.
"I mean, yeah, I guess? I hate Cameron Diaz and it always bums me out when I think of who else could have been cast in Sex Tape."
Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Right. Cameron Diaz, whatever." God, give me strength. "So it'd be natural for you to have some … confusing thoughts about Cameron Diaz every once in awhile."
"Like, why someone would cast her for anything now-"
"NO. No. Like …" Victoria rolled her shoulders, uncomfortable. "Like … kissing … and stuff. Listen, forget it."
She watched out of the corner of her eye as Courtney's face grew into one of realization.
"Whoa whoa. Girl, you have a crush?! No one is ever going to believe me!"
"I do NOT have a crush, dunce. And you're not going to tell anyone, because if you try you'll be dead." Victoria hissed.
"I mean, I never have any wet dreams about Cameron Diaz-"
"I said NOTHING about wet dreams."
"-Right right."
"Forget I said anything. Obviously you're too incompetent to have a mature conversation."
Victoria walked out of the bathroom, ignoring the pleas behind her.
"Listen, I was kidding! So what if you have a crush, it's no big deal!"
Instead of going back to the table, she walked out of the coffee shop, enjoying the fresh air.
No, she did not have a crush on anyone, let alone that doe-eyed waste of space.
Victoria Chase hated Courtney, she hated Cameron Diaz, and she hated Chloe Price.
But most of all, she still hated Max Caulfield.