A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I'm thrilled you guys like this story so far.
Music included this episode/chapter (not much could be since they're at an assembly and lots of music seemed awkward): "My Generation" by The Who (though other bands do great versions of it even in other languages), and "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service.
Enjoy!
Episode Two: Attention Sophomores
"Attention sophomores: Today at ten a.m. there will be an assembly in the gym that you must attend. Do not report to your third period classes just go straight to the gym's north entrance where a teacher with a class roster will be waiting to check you off as being present for the assembly. Be sure to have your school ID with you," the voice of Dean Rivers boomed across the campus and in every class room over the school's intercom system at the beginning of the fifth day of classes for the new school year.
People try to put us d-down (talkin bout my generation)
Just because we get around (talkin bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (talkin bout my generation)
This is my generation
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
This is my generation, baby
At just before ten a.m. Zoey, Nicole, Dana, and Lola entered the still fairly empty gym together and immediately headed to Chase, Michael, and Logan who were seated in the center of the middle row of bleachers. Towards the beginning of the bleachers the girls climbed up and started walking down the middle row as the spaces around their path were quickly becoming filled by the rush of students flowing into the gym.
As they approached the guys, Logan, who was on the end they were coming from, put his legs across their path so that they couldn't continue on. "Sorry ladies, but you've got to pay the toll," he said with a smirk as he turned his cheek to them and pointed at it.
Zoey was in front of the line of girls, which is why Logan knew she'd want to be passing by him to get to Chase on his and Michael's other side. Before Zoey could retort though, Dana walked on the lower bleacher to get in front of Zoey and retort, "What? You want to be hit in the face? Gladly," she agreed as her hand formed a fist and she pulled it back quickly. Zoey immediately held onto Dana's ready to hit something fist preventing her from actually hitting Logan.
"No, you want to pass? You have too kiss me," Logan replied still smirking and presenting them once again with his cheek.
Dana laughed before letting her challenging eyes meet his again and retorting, "And what do you think I'm more likely to do, kiss your cheek or break your jaw?"
Logan's smirk faded as he actually thought about it and concluded, "Okay, you guys can pass this time." He moved his legs and let them by.
Dana turned around as she passed and commented with mock enthusiasm, "You're such a good little doggie! Now let's see…stay, sit, heel, rollover."
Zoey shoved Dana forward further so she could sit down next to Chase as Logan glared at his provoker. He stayed silent, but was clearly contemplating how he would get her back for her latest insult.
As Nicole and Lola came to sit by Zoey's other side with Dana, Zoey greeted Chase with exaggeration, "Hey, wow it took forever to get here."
Chase chuckled and commented, "Yeah, I guess nothing ever changes, but at least the arguments are entertaining, when it's not annoying." Zoey smiled at his Chase like response, but that was as far as she got.
"So what do you think this assembly's about?" Lola asked to the group at large.
"Don't know, don't care," Logan quickly replied.
"Shockingly I agree," Dana muttered only loud enough for the girls to hear her.
"The assembly is to welcome us back and let us know about new things going on this year," Quinn informed popping up behind Zoey and Chase and causing them to jump slightly in surprise.
Michael was the first to question her, "How do you know that?"
Though they expected her answer to be odd because it was Quinn, it wasn't, "I passed by Dean Rivers telling some teacher that on my way in."
"Hello? Can you hear me?" Dean Rivers questioned into the microphone at his little podium. The class of a few hundred replied lazily with a murmur of grunts. "Right, so welcome back to PCA everyone. This year should be an exciting one. We have lots of new developments so let's get started. The sophomore class has a new football coach this year. Please give a warm welcome to Coach Grier." Dean Rivers stepped aside clapping as some students joined in clapping and a large, thick bald man approached the podium.
After getting to the podium and standing in front of the mic, Coach Grier cleared his throat in a very disgusting manner as it sounded like he had something in it of a mucus like nature. Faces of students scrunched up in revulsion. Finally he spoke in a deep voice, "I'm glad to be here at Pacific Coast Academy. I've kept track of the history of this class and this year I'd like to do a few things differently. In an effort to form a better team football tryouts will be mandatory, it will count as part of everyone's gym grade. We're trying to find the best so do your best at tryouts."
"Can girls tryout for the team?" a female voice called out from the bleachers.
"Yes," Coach Grier replied simply but continued quickly seeing the faces of some of the guys in the crowd, "this school and the league we belong to does actually allow co-ed teams. I want the best team possible and if some girls are better than some of the guys I would gladly have them on my team, but it isn't up to me, it's up to how well you play." Noticing Dean Rivers giving him the wrap it up signal Coach Grier concluded, "Again, it's great to be here and I'm looking forward to leading this years team to many victories."
As applause was half-heartedly given to Coach Grier as he left the podium, Chase said sarcastically, "Great, they're making humiliation mandatory this year."
"Come on man it won't be that bad," Michael replied reassuringly, "you're pretty good at other sports, maybe you'll even make the team."
"I don't think football is really for me even if I did make the team," Chase said honestly.
"Ditto," Logan added, "you can't be making out under the bleachers if you're supposed to be playing on the field. Not that any girl would ever make out under the bleachers with you Matthews."
Chase shrugged and replied, "You either Reese."
"Okay thank you Coach Grier," Dean Rivers said upon reaching the podium again. "And continuing on Coach Grier's last note about co-ed teams, all teams will be co-ed, not just basketball this year. We do have a few teachers who would be willing to coach certain sports if the girls do have enough players to form their own team though. Next…girls…first…a…what?" Dean Rivers speech broke over the clearly failing PA system. He inspected the mic for a second and shouted as loud as he could, "We're having technical difficulties stay in your seats and we'll get this taken care of quickly."
The gym was instantly filled with noise as the students all began conversing.
Nicole nudged Dana and informed her excitedly, "Hank Miller is totally checking you out." As Dana was going to turn her head to follow Nicole's line of sight, Nicole quickly said, "Don't look!"
Lola, however, looked and concluded, "Yep, he's definitely checking you out. He's probably trying to read your t-shirt." And she completely meant the double meaning that went over Nicole's head but Dana picked up on immediately. The three pairs of eyes glanced down to read Dana's shirt, which said, "There's a lot more where this came from."
Dana stood up and replied, "Then I should go make it easier for him to read." A coy smile on her face, Dana left the girls and headed down to the boy who looked the part of a burly All-American football player complete with blond hair and blue eyes.
"Hey where'd Cruz go?" Logan semi-shouted to the girls seated a few people away from him.
"Hank Miller was checking her out so she went over to flirt with him," Lola replied after shaking the weird idea out of her head at Logan asking her that particular question.
After a second of processing Logan's eyes lit up and he left quickly.
"Okay, I think we have it fixed," Dean Rivers said into the mic without having it fail on him. The loud conversations died down and he continued, "So this next announcement is for the girls. Please welcome your very own classmates Tiffany Moore, Morgan Labass, and Jenna Crester."
Three very impeccable looking girls stepped up to the podium decked out in PCA purple cheerleading outfits. Out of the pretty and perfect appearing girls, the tan blond (Tiffany) took the lead, "As you can tell by our uniforms we are PCA cheerleaders! This is the first year the school is going to have cheer squads since the previous all male population never had one and we girls finally managed to get one organized for every grade."
The blond gave a nod to the strawberry blond girl to her left who was slightly paler and Morgan took over at the mic, "So far we are the only three girls on the squad as we were part of the organizing team that established cheering here at PCA. The squad will have at least six members, but we have permission to have as many as ten." Morgan looked to Tiffany, she clearly gave the okay, and Morgan backed away from the mic.
Tiffany gave the nod to the tan light haired brunette and Jenna took the mic closing their speech, "We will be holding tryouts for the other positions ten days from now. Check out the posters that will be all over campus for the time and location of tryouts. So come to tryouts and show us your school spirit."
Tiffany put her hand on Jenna's shoulder and she left the mic trading places with Tiffany. With a flip of her hair Tiffany claimed the podium again and finished with an alluring smile as she spoke, "Just like Coach Grier we're looking for the best. So if you have talent, if you have spirit, and if you demand attention then you belong with us."
An air of confidence surrounding them, the three girls sauntered away from the podium with moderate applause and a few whistles and hoots from the male audience members.
As Dean Rivers was heading back to the podium there was suddenly a crackling noise over the PA system followed by a loud screech and nothingness. When he approached the mic and tried it out he confirmed that it seemed that the PA system was definitely severely damaged now. He once again yelled to the students for them to stay put and everything would be fixed shortly and the assembly would continue.
"I think I want to try out for the cheerleading team," Nicole said once the sitting and waiting began.
"You'd be good at it, you're defiantly perky," Zoey encouraged.
"You look good in purple too," Lola added.
Nicole shrugged and said, "Yeah, maybe I'll try it."
Glancing around Zoey noticed that there was more than two someone's missing and asked, "Where'd Quinn go?"
"I don't really know," Michael began, "but right after that last sound system blow out she got up and headed toward the entrance where all the teachers and, I think speakers, and the sound system is. She took that notebook with her, the one she's had everywhere lately. Does she know how to fix stuff like that, like the sound system?"
Judging by the looks on everyone's faces, Zoey voiced their collective answer, "I don't know."
When Logan was approaching he noticed Dana giggle and flirtatiously place her hand on Hank's forearm in response to something he had said. He hadn't really known exactly how he was going to get back at her, not until he had witnessed that little scene and gotten himself a starting point. He sat down on the bleacher behind both of them and barged into their conversation, "Gee Cruz I didn't know that you had a sense of humor, with the way you're always scowling in all."
Of course the comment angered Dana, but she wasn't about to let Logan win so easily. Her smile remained as she replied only briefly glancing to Logan before returning her attention to Hank, "I have a great sense of humor Reese; you're just not funny like Hank."
"Funny looking," Logan muttered into Dana's ear that was on the opposite side that Hank was. Dana's smile widened despite her best efforts, but she didn't laugh, she wouldn't let herself.
Hank, despite the fact that he watched as Logan clearly said something to Dana and not him, did not put two and two together about what the reason for this could be. He also didn't seem to notice the clear disdain they had for each other and asked Logan, "Dude how come you didn't tell me you were friends with such a cool girl? Not to mention incredibly hot. It's not like you to hold out on me."
This was it, the opportunity Logan was waiting for, the moment when he would get back at Dana for her little dog insult. With a completely serious face Logan explained, "Well, Hank, you're a cool guy and I didn't think Dana would be your type since she's a hermaphrodite."
Dana looked like she had been slapped in the face. Her mouth hung open, her eyes were wide, and she couldn't believe that that was what Logan said. She knew that he would want to do something to make her look bad in front of Hank, especially after the dog comment she had made to him early, but implying that she was both a girl and a boy, that was going above and beyond what she had imagined.
Hank's expression, on the other hand, was a bit confusing. It was kind of like he was about to say, "Oh," but wasn't sure if that was the right response.
Logan smirked, satisfied with the immediate effects of his lie.
"Wow, we're an exciting bunch," Chase said sarcastically after five minutes of silence among the remaining group who had scattered into a circle facing each other.
Zoey sighed and replied, "Well if we actually brought our stuff with us we could be doing homework."
"Only you would do homework to keep yourself entertained Zoey," Lola tried to say as if it wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just a fact.
Nicole suggested hopelessly, "It's too bad we don't have dice, we could play a game of confess or stress if we did."
Yet Nicole's comment on the obvious wasn't useless as it spurred an idea with Zoey. "Oh my gosh, Chase we're so stupid," Zoey began because of her revelation. But Chase wasn't catching on with a similar epiphany so she continued, "What is the one thing we always do whenever we're bored or looking for a distraction or for fun?"
The answer dawned on Chase and he replied with a genuine shining smile to Zoey, "Would you rather. I can't believe we didn't think of that earlier, especially since we haven't gotten to play since last school year."
"We played on AIM," Zoey reminded.
"Oh yeah, but it's not the same when we're not really together," Chase blurted without thinking about it. Quickly noticing what he had said he moved on rapidly asking, "So are we going to play?"
"Yes," Zoey declared herself in.
"Sure," Nicole agreed, "we don't have anything else to do."
"Yep," Michael concurred and noticed Lola hadn't responded, but looked like she figured something out almost. He asked, "Lola, you in?"
"Yeah," she said slowly and continued with slight hesitance, "I've never really played though, I think you might have explained it to me once, but I don't remember."
"Really? How could you have not played with us last year we play all the time? Me and Chase play constantly, it's like our favorite game," Zoey questioned.
Resisting a smile Lola replied, "I don't know, I guess I just missed out on that somehow."
Lola looked away from the group for a second as if she was just glancing over her shoulder as she finally let her eyes widen in the response to the revelation she had in front of her friends.
Zoey began explaining the game so Lola turned back around and heard, "So we come up with totally ridiculous scenarios to face off against each other. Chase is so good at them, like I remember once he asked me if I'd rather be locked in a cage with a rabid tiger or lick peanut butter off a hobo's foot. And, of course, since I could only choose between those two insane things I chose the hobo's foot. Get it? Just choose what you think is the least insane choice and we usually say why too. Like I chose the hobo's foot because I think rabies and tiger mauling is worse than anything you could get from licking a hobo's foot, plus I like peanut butter. So, are you ready?"
This time, Lola was greatly struggling to keep her mouth from dropping open and failing. Michael noticed Lola's signs of a revelation and managed to catch her attention and discreetly jerk his head motioning to her that he wanted to say something to her in private.
Finding her voice Lola responded, "Yeah it sound like fun, um…but I'll be right back I've got to go to the bathroom."
Lola quickly stepped her way through people sitting on the bleachers in front of the group and on to the gym floor. She headed toward the bathrooms, which were near the main entrance to the gym, but with a glance back to make sure no one was looking, she ducked along the side of the bleachers and waited.
Michael attempted causally as soon as Lola left, "Um, yeah, you guys get the game started I'll be right back. I'm gonna go to the bathroom too before this whole assembly gets back on track." He also left quickly, ensuring that no one could question him.
Zoey and Chase turned to each other with looks that said, "That's a little weird," but both shrugged and got started on the game.
Michael found Lola easily and looked around to make sure no one saw his path's detour before joining her at the side of the bleachers back near the wall.
"Oh my gosh!" she quietly yelled, "Zoey! Chase likes Zoey! That's the girl he was talking about before not some girl from home."
"No, he doesn't just like Zoey, he's completely in love with her," Michael corrected.
"Well no duh! After months of liking her it would obviously progress into more or just end and it's definitely not over, not with the way he was looking at her and totally blushing when she was saying how great he is at that game," Lola rambled on.
"Actually," Michael interrupted, "it's been over two years now."
"Two years!" she exclaimed in her same hushed tone.
"Yep, since the very first moment he saw her," Michael confirmed.
Lola gaped in silence struggling to find words for a second before saying, "How come no one told me?"
Michael paused before responding, thinking she would catch on, but said after a beat, "Because it's completely obvious."
"Well yeah thinking back on it, it is. I mean the way they're always together. And they have secret things no one understands and their favorite games are the ones they only play with each other. And the way that he was totally not into me and to not be into me he'd have to be completely in love with someone else because there's no other reason for someone not to like me because I'm fabulous and who wouldn't like me? Then there's Zoey and how weird she was acting around me when I was hanging out with Chase, that dorm room was clearly uncomfortable then. And…oh my gosh I'm such an idiot I should have seen it sooner! I can't believe I never put all that together!" Lola concluded rubbing her hands over her face in frustration about her delayed senses.
"Don't worry about it, it's not like you're the last one to know. Zoey still hasn't put anything together," Michael said trying to comfort Lola.
"Put what together?" Nicole asked joining them.
"What are you doing here?" Lola questioned immediately.
"Well with everyone talking about having to go to the bathroom, it made me have to go to the bathroom. You weren't there though. What are you guys doing? What hasn't Zoey put together?" Nicole explained and returned to her first still unanswered question.
Knowing that she knew, Michael responded honestly, "We were talking about how Zoey doesn't know Chase loves her. Lola just figured it out and I was just letting her know she isn't the last one to know."
"Oh, okay," Nicole replied perkily.
"You knew and didn't tell me either?" Lola asked acting overly dramatic about it.
Nicole shrugged and replied, "Well it's kind of obvious, even I've known about it for over a year and a half now."
Gazing through the crowd, Lola asked as she watched Chase and Zoey huddled close laughing and smiling as they played their favorite game, "And all this time and she still doesn't have any idea?"
Following Lola's line of sight to the happy in appearance pair, Nicole replied with slight hopelessness to her voice, "No."
Dana tried to compose herself and managed to say through gritted teeth, "Hank, don't listen to a word Logan ever says. He's a compulsive liar as a result of spending years trying to get his daddy's attention. I'd love to continue talking to you sometime, more private than this though. I'll see you later." She grasped his arm gently and looked directly in his eyes as she spoke to make sure she had his full attention. With a glance of pure loathing to Logan, she stood up and walked away as normally as she could manage in her state of seething anger.
Logan, of course, followed.
Dana, knowing he was behind her, turned around once they were out of earshot of Hank. With her hands on her hips she attacked, "And he's following again, obedient little doggie aren't you? Too bad all that barking you do can't be comprehended, such a waste of your time."
"It's not my fault the guy couldn't understand simple English," Logan defended.
"You don't understand simple English," Dana quickly rebutted. "But I'm not complaining. Previously obedient little dog just crapped on the carpet, and you know what happens next, you know how the owner breaks him from that habit? He gets his nose rubbed in it, he gets punished. Just wait Reese, you will rue the day you tried to mess with me," Dana threatened getting in his face and dangerously close to him. She turned on her heal and started walking away.
He caught up to her retorting, "What, so you're calling me a dog now and you're my owner? Yeah right, like you have any control over me."
"Who's following who Reese?" Dana replied without turning around to face him. He followed still, coming up beside her she continued, "See, you heal so closely to your owner. Now keep being an obedient little dog and find the nearest freeway and go play on it."
"I'm not following you to be around you, I'm following you to annoy you, there's a difference," Logan replied surprisingly even toned.
"I don't care. Just leave. Get away from me," Dana ordered still not looking at him, just continuing walking in front of the bleachers. The bleachers were very long as the gym was enormous and where she had been sitting at with Hank was way at the other end of the gym, the south wall from her escape to the girl's bathroom at the north entrance. She continued on determinedly despite the fact that he was still there.
He didn't say anything, he just stayed following her knowing it would bother her and he wanted to bother her as much as possible, yet he never bothered to think of why he wanted to.
After only seconds of silence she said, "You know what Reese? You're right. You're not a dog. A dog is a loving creature that actually likes people and listens to its owner and is at least occasionally not everywhere. You're always everywhere and not in a good way. You're more like the devil. Evil and everywhere, taunting and tormenting, taking pleasure in other's unhappiness, you're Satin here to punish us on Earth."
"Dark Prince does sound like a good title if you add hot to it. The Hot Dark Prince, yep that's me, and I do love to see you tormented and taunting you in my hobby. But you've got a hole in your little assessment of who I am, I'm not everywhere," Logan retorted, not disguising the fact that this was something, the tormenting and taunting, that he only did with her, though this fact went unnoticed by the both of them.
Her annoyance clear in her tone, Dana replied, "Well you're still here and everywhere else lately. Like most of my classes and every single meal and every night in the lounge."
Dana's assumptions about him were really starting to get to Logan. If it was just a game, it was just their normal insults it was fine, but she was caring on, convincing them with everything that came to mind. He didn't think and replied instinctively to the attack in a growl of a voice, "I wasn't in Paris."
Dana stopped in her tracks. She let her eyes shut for a brief second as she bit her lower lip. She wasn't expecting anything like that to ever be said and she definitely didn't want to deal with it. In the most even, emotionless tone she could manage she replied simply, "No, you weren't."
"What?" Logan asked quickly. He wasn't expecting her to agree, he didn't even know where his statement came from in the first place so he was completely confused at the entire direction everything was taking.
Dana turned around to face him and explained in an unrevealing tone, "I can't argue with that. You weren't in Paris." Logan still seemed confused at the sudden turn of their fight and so was she. She didn't like things the way they were so she continued quickly getting back on track, "So you weren't the devil because you weren't everywhere, but you are everywhere now, like you're still here, so your ascension to the thrown as Dark Prince was recent."
Glad to be somewhere that he recognized, Logan played along. "Hot Dark Prince," he corrected.
Dana scoffed as she turned around to continue her path to her escape, "Maybe according to you, but really, you pale in comparison to a lot of guys at this school. You should really keep your blinds shut; no one wants to look at you."
"Except you since you just admitted to having looked. I know you want me Cruz, but really, using binoculars to spy on me in my room through my window, that's verging on stalker, I could have you arrested," Logan replied with a cocky smirk.
"Yeah, when my eyes accidentally pass over your window, I vomit at your sight and move on quickly to someone much easier on the eyes, like Hank Miller. Nothing says I want you like vomit. Now go away already!" Dana finished angrily, annoyed at his continued presence.
"I'll leave when you admit you want me," Logan taunted.
Dana let out a screech of frustration.
Zoey and Chase hadn't noticed that their friends hadn't returned from the "bathroom" in over ten minutes, they were too busy enjoying their favorite game with their favorite person to play with.
"Would you rather…" Zoey began but trailed off noticing her friend's very public display of their typical bickering.
Chase had been looking at her attentively, expectantly, but when she paused he followed her gaze to their friends and watched.
"Get away Satan! I repent you. Go torment someone else," Dana yelled beyond frustrated with Logan.
"But you keep lying so I must torment you for that grave sin. Now just admit you want me and I'll be on my way," he countered as he stepped in front of her blocking her path.
"I'm not lying, I don't like you!" she yelled in his face before stepping around him and continuing on.
He followed again.
With their friends' scene leaving from their view, Zoey got back on track with the game still staring out at the spot they once were, "Would you rather be Dana or Logan in a fight?"
Chase thought for a moment and asked, "Um…physical or verbal fight?"
"Physical," Zoey quickly replied looking at him now.
"Then I'd rather be Dana because she's strong and angry and Logan has more sensitive areas," Chase decided. He looked to Zoey and asked, "What about you? Which one would you rather be?"
"For physical, I'd rather be Dana too, for the same reasons, but for verbal I don't know. They're pretty equally matched verbally," Zoey answered as she leaned into Chase slightly more to make sure he could hear her over the roar of students.
Chase's breath hitched a bit at Zoey's close proximity, but he tried not to let it show that it got to him as he responded, "Yeah, in a verbal battle I'd have to say I'm undecided too."
There were only inches between them and suddenly the noise of the crowd seemed to die down. It was just them; nothing else existed except them and their proximity. In the staring solitude, silence and difficulty breathing consumed them.
The sound system boomed again and broke them from their enchantment.
Getting back on track, Chase cleared his throat and pushed past the awkwardness of addressing their previous state by asking, "So, would you rather have toes for fingers or fingers for toes?"
Zoey smiled and pondered, "Hmm…"
"How is my t-shirt inappropriate? It's true, there is more where this came from," Dana retorted to Logan as she gestured to herself and they approached their huddled friends at the end of the bleachers. "Maybe this t-shirt wouldn't be accurate on you, but on me it works. Actually I did see a shirt that, if I liked you at all, I would have gotten for you. It said, 'Dropped on my head as a child.'"
"You were dropped on your head as a child Cruz? Well that explains a lot," Logan quickly spun the attack around.
"That's not what I said idiot. There's really no point arguing with you since you don't posses the brain cells to listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth," she fought back.
"I don't listen because talking doesn't put your mouth to its best use," Logan retorted with his cocky grin as he stepped closer to her staring her directly in her eyes in full on challenge.
"Will you two please be quite? You're drawing attention to us," Lola interrupted with a brief glance back to them before returning her attention to Chase and Zoey.
Dana and Logan quickly jumped apart increasing the space between them. Taking their cues from their friends they looked to the crowds and spotted Chase and Zoey sitting closely together enjoying their favorite game with each other.
"Why are we watching Ducky and Andie?" Dana questioned.
"Oh, watch out she can reference eighties movies," Logan commented earning him being hit in the arm by Dana. He gritted his teeth, but did not let himself show that it hurt.
Michael replied, "Lola just realized Chase loves Zoey."
"And you've been here a year? What, did you let Quinn do experiments on you last year and it made you unable to see the obvious?" Logan insulted.
Dana kicked him in the shins and he let out a loud, "Ow," before she explained, "Every time you say something mean you're getting kicked in the shins." Dana then kicked him again.
Logan screamed another "Ow," and whined, "I didn't say anything!"
"But you deserved it anyway," Dana replied and looked to Lola who gave her an appreciative nod.
"The sound system can't be fixed right now, but they came up with a solution, we should be continuing soon," Quinn said popping up behind them with her notebook in her hand. She opened it up and began scribbling things down as she asked, "What are you all doing over here watching Chase and Zoey?"
"I don't know," Lola said with a sigh, "I guess just waiting for something more."
I tried my best to leave
this all on your machine
but the persistent beat
it sounded thin upon the sending.
Lola's words seemed to express a feeling they could all identify with as they looked on at their seemingly happy friends. They were all just waiting. Some knew exactly what it was they were waiting for and some could never imagine that thing that they wanted so desperately, but knew nothing of.
and that frankly will not fly
you'll hear the shrillest highs
and lowest lows with the windows down
and this is guiding you home.
Chase and Zoey sat in a world by themselves as they appeared to be having the time of their lives, unnoticed by the hoards of high school sophomores surrounding them except for their on looking friends.
they will see us waving from such great heights
"come down now" they'll say
but everything looks perfect from far away
"come down now" but we'll stay
Carrying a small amp with a microphone attached, Dean Rivers walked up to the podium, hit a switch on the amp as he set it down, and said into the mic, "Quite please! As you can see the sound system still isn't working, but we managed to use part of the karaoke system from Sushi Rox to wrap this up. Since we're don't have much time left all other announcements about changes this year will be given to you in your home room in the form a flyer, read it or be uninformed. So, to conclude today's assembly we have your sophomore class president to welcome you back and tell you about what he has planned for the year. Give a warm welcome to Mark Del Figgilo."
Mark unenthusiastically made his way to the podium in the midst of applause that was mostly from Quinn and took the mic from Dean Rivers who exited the front of the assembly. After a short beat of silence Mark said slowly in his monotone voice, "Welcome back sophomores. As your sophomore class president, I resign." He then gave the Star Trek live long and prosper hand gesture, which was returned by a couple students, and exited both the podium and the gym all together.
they will see us waving from such great heights
"come down now" they'll say
but everything looks perfect from far away
"come down now" but we'll stay
Everyone sat in surprised silence. Even Dean Rivers hadn't moved for that was not what he had in mind for the speech. Quinn appeared to be the most surprised of all as her mouth hung open in utter shock.
they will see us waving from such great heights
"come down now" they'll say
but everything looks perfect from far away
"come down now" but we'll stay
Now, thanks to Mark's unexpected words, things would not stay the same. Changes were certain for the gang of eight, but what the changes would hold; only time would tell.
A/N: Director Notes: This last bit where the music plays after Mark's few words I would let the camera linger on both Chase and Zoey and the rest of the group that were standing by the end of the bleachers. I would not, however, suggest who the changes would be for with who the camera lingers on, instead including them all and leaving it a mystery.
Oh, and in case you were wondering the Ducky/Andie comment was in reference to Pretty In Pink, a classic eighties movie staring Molly Ringwald.
In response to comments: Some people have asked if I'm involved in the making of the next season and just to clarify, no I'm not. If I was I wouldn't be on here. I'd love to be their writer, but I'm just a college student that's probably going to end up being a teacher and who has a writing hobby and a sugar addiction.
It was also brought to my attention that the date I have for the new real season starting is way off and I apologize for that. I checked with a very reliable source right before I posted that, but with in days of doing so they changed to the date everyone has been telling me. Sorry, I guess I said that a little pre-maturely. I think the new start date for new episodes is September 24th.
As music will be frequently included throughout this fic, I appreciate any suggestions you'd like to make. Please understand though, that something may not fit the direction of the story since it is all planned out, or something you suggest may work for something, but something else may also work better. So, though I would appreciate any suggestions, especially since personally I'm always looking for something new to listen to, but what you suggest may not be used if it proves to not be the best fitting song I can find for a moment. And some moments when music could be used, it won't, because silence is very powerful (i.e. take the silence in the season two finally of The Office U.K. version, the Dawn and Tim moment was unforgettable or all the silences of Pam and Jim in the U.S. version of The Office, or the silence between Chase and Zoey in this very chapter).
Oh, and I'm a complete dork, so when I was trying to picture all the girls' hair color, for future description mostly, but basically so I could just have a reference point in my head, I actually went to the Loreal Paris Couleur Experte website and picked out colors for the girls. If you want to get the same image of their hair that's going to be in my head then go to the link on my profile which will take you to the Couleur Experte website, click on enter here, then product info and demo, then choices and you can find the shades in the different categories. The main cast color's are all like their colors already just a little warmer and a little more popping to ensure color not coming off as flat. I see Zoey in Dulce De Leche, Dana already seems to be pretty close to Praline, Nicole in Chocolate Macaroon for a little highlights to her hair, and Lola in Butterscotch because I'm tired of yellow and red in her hair and I think it would look cute on her. Also, if you want a better picture of the hair I was very minimally describing for the three cheerleaders, I see Tiffany as having Toasted Coconut, Morgan as Apricot Nectar, and Jenna as Almond Rocca. I know I'm weird for actually doing this and even weirder for actually telling you about it, but what can I say? I like weird, in general it's more fun.
You may also notice that the characters seem more mature, well they are, that's what getting older brings. This show was originally aimed at a tween audience, but as the characters get older that's just not possible. The way to get people hooked on something is to get them to care about it, to get them to identify with it and having the character's act younger than their age to keep the same target audience just isn't believable. I think that this will still be enjoyable for tweens, but since the characters are maturing it will now be open the enjoyment of all teens and therefore the audience's demographic is actually increased. Wider age range appeal equals increase in the number of potential viewers and therefore increase in viewers.
Next Episode/Chapter: The next episode/chapter is titled "Re-Election" and it will feature a little "Oh La La", references to Fast Times At Ridgemont High, football tryouts, a dirty race, and an ending to leave you in want.
Side note: In case any of you are reading them I just wanted to let you guys know that I am working on all my other stories as well and I do plan on updating them as soon as possible.
Thank you for reading and PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you thought!
Hope you enjoyed!
-Hopeless Romantic 86