Chapter Three: The Look of This

SEPTEMBER SIXTH TUESDAY WESTCHESTER HIGHSCHOOL, HR 911 7:30 AM

After Dylan Marvil had finished touching up her eyeliner she turned around in her seat to face Claire. She expected her head to flat on the table but instead she was wide awake, reading her notebook, and she even had a smile on her face.

"I never knew notebooks could be so amusing." Dylan said flipping her long red hair.

Claire smiled. "It's not mine. It's some guy I ran into yesterday. We accidentally swapped notebooks."

Dylan snatched the notebook out of Claire's palms. "Will Chad Ray?" Dylan thought for a moment. "Ohmygawd, I know him."

Claire's face lit up. "Are you serious? How?"

"I met him at one of my mother's holiday parties. His father does sound and lighting for her TV show." Dylan said. She knew EVERYONE that walked the face of this planet because she was the daughter of Merri-Lee Marvil, famous talk show host. "He's a cutie, Claire."

Claire smiled. "Do you know where I can find him? I've been trying to get ahold of him."

"Sorry for eavesdropping. But are you talking about Will Chad Ray?" A slender girl with gray eyes and jet-black hair said. She was wearing a dark blue tanktop and a silver skirt with matching stiletto hills. Dylan looked at her outfit in disgust. She looked like a hooker.

"Yeah? You know him?" Claire asked.

"Do you I know him? He's the hottest guy that goes here." The girl gushed. She wore a gold nameplate that said 'Lila'. "But, you better watch out. He's Anais Gertrude's man."

Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Anais Gertrude?" Apparently, she didn't know everyone.

Lila explained to them about the whole Beautiful Quadruple story and how they're supposed to pick a freshmen this friday. "I have no chance at all though. It's probably going to be you guys or Massie or Alicia or Kristen."

Dylan rolled her eyes turning her back on the LBR and Pretty Committee / Beautiful Quadruple wannabe. "That sounds so stupid."

"Who? Anais and Will? I think they're a cute couple. And you know who else? Olivia Ryan and Chris Plovert." Lila said running her hair over her smooth hair.

"Okay, can you SHUTUP? We obviously don't give a crap." Dylan said. She didn't want to hear it because she knew it should be Chris Plovert and Dylan Marvil, not Olivia Ryan.

"Olivia Ryan? That stick? Gosh, she's so skinny. I'm sooo jealous of her." A nearby girl said. Lila and her continued gossiping and forgot about Claire and Dylan.

"Hm.. well, anyway. So can you get me in touch with Will?" Claire said. She was still happy despite the fact the news about how he had a girlfriend.

Dylan didn't answer. She suddenly felt uneasy. Did Chris really like Olivia because she was skinny? Was Dylan too fat for him? Why couldn't she be hot like Olivia?

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SEPTEMBER SIXTH TUESDAY ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL 5:05 PM

Kristen Gregory entered the huge church forgetting to bless herself. She hated her mom for doing this.

Apparently her mom was worried that highschool would 'change' her into doing bad things like drinking and smoking. To prevent this, she enrolled her in St. Mary's 'Teens for Christ' which was a youth prayer group. She had to travel all the way to Queens for THIS.

She walked slowly in her black and white Addidas and Juicy Couture sweatsuit towards the front of the church where everyone was sitting. She knew she had to be about 30 minutes late because of the time wasted arguing with her mom that she did not want to go.

"How nice of you to join us." A short nun said. She pointed for Kristen to sit in the fourth pew next to a guy with dreads and baggy pants.

"Whatsup?" He said.

Kristen crossed her arms in reply.

"Welcome to the very first session for 'Teens For Christ'." A second nun said. She wore Reboks under her habit. Kristen found this funny.

"What's so funny?" Dreads said.

Kristen rolled her eyes. She was probably the most innocent-looking person in the room of middle class girls and boys from the tri-state area but she knew she was the meanest. But for once, she kind of felt included since she wasn't surrounded by rich people. She felt too much pressure around them.

Dreads didn't back down. "You dat girl from Westchester, right?"

Kristen sighed wondering how long he was going to talk. "Yes, I am. And who are you, my stalker?"

Dreads laughed. "Ha, I like your attitude. Nah, it's just that my mom is head of Teens for Christ and I was looking through the addresses. You must be the richest one here."

Kristen's apartment compared to Massie's huge house popped into her head. "You have no idea."

"I'mManny McPherson by the way." He held out his left arm since his right over was stretched over the pew.

"Will the peanut gallery in Pew 4 please be quiet?" The nun said looking straight at Kristen and Manny.

"Look what you did."Manny joked.

Instead of rolling her eyes, Kristen smiled. "I'm Kristen." She whispered shaking Manny's hand.

She heard a girl in the pew in front of her say, "Hey, Heather, look like someone's getting your sloppy seconds." A girl with red hair, a sparkly shirt that said 'Adorable' and jeans. Her outfit saidConway all over it. She leaned in toward a girl with Apple Bottom jeans and a matching shirt.

Apple Bottoms turned her heads toward Kristen. "Ew.. valleygirl? What's her deal anyway? Everyone here knows everyone. She like popped out of nowhere."

Kristen said under her breath, "It's like they think I have no ears."

"Don't worry about them."Manny said. "Their whores. I hate them. I used to go out with the brunette. Worst relationship of my life."

Kristen perked up. "Oh really?" She had never been an actual relationship before. Her mom was too strict.

"Yes. You should stick with me. All these girls will just end up backstabbing you."Manny said sincerely.

Kristen sighed. "Well, it's no different back home. You should meetmy friends. I love them to death but sometimes it's frustrating. Constantly fighting over boys and clothes and who's prettier and who's skinnier."

Mannypatted her knee to show he understood.

Kristen looked around. Apparently there weren't many people who had signed up. As if she was reading her mind Nun #2 said, "Unfortunately, this year we don't have much youth members. Only 18. But hey, it's still okay." She said adjusting her glasses that were slipping and had nearly fallen off her nose. "I am Sister Sophia. And this is Sister Linda. And Ms. Mcpherson." She pointed to the two ladies.

Ms.Mcpherson stood up and cleared her throat. She wore gray sweatpants and an Disneyworld sweatshirt which made her think of Claire. "To start off this year, I will be dividing each of you into two groups. 9 and 9. Your mission is to each write a magazine. Don't worry, we'll give you more than enough time and we'll even give you time after worship." She started handing out papers. "Included, we want articles about you're own personal relationship with God and interviews with people that go to your school. You may include little articles, but it must be Teens for Christ related."

Mannyrolled his eyes. "Forgive my mom. She likes to make up little games for us."

Kristen shrugged. "I like games. Especially sports."

"Really? You do? My game is basketball." He said pointing to a plastic bag hiding under the pew. Inside was the bouncy orange ball.

"Heh. I'm not too good at that. I play soccer." Kristen said taking out her cellphone. Attached was a cellphone charm that had a miniature soccer ball on it.

"Whatev, man. Basketball's the sport. But I bet I can beat you in soccer anyday."Manny said punching Kristen's arm.

Kristen swiveled her head so her long blond ponytail would slapManny in the face. "Oh yeah? Well I think you're so butt is so busted that even though I'm a little rusty, I could beat you in basketball."

"Let's make a deal. We'll play one game of soccer and basketball. If I win in soccer, you have to ... go in front of the church one time before Teens for Christ ends and shake your little blond butt in front of EVERYONE." Joel said completely ignoring his mom as she explained more about the magazine.

Apple Bottoms was the last one in the pew in front of them so she was responsible for passing back the stack of papers.

Kristen courteously stood up and grabbed the papers. Apple Bottoms gave her an evil look. Kristen stuck her tongue out at her when she turned around.

"Oh yeah? Well if I win basketball, you have to tell your little girlfriend there that you want to go back out with her." Kristen smirked. "And then dump her." It was mean, but hey, that was Kristen for you.

Mannygrinned. "Easy as cake." The two of them shook hands for the second time that day.

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NEXT CHAPTER: JOSH HOTZ ASKS OUT ALICIA. MASSIE HAS ANOTHER RUN-IN WITH THE BEAUTIFUL QUADRUPLE. DYLAN DISCOVERS A NEW TRICK THAT MAY MAK EHER DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR. IS THE PRETTY COMMITTEE CRUMBLING?

PLEASE RR BECAUSE THEN I WON'T FEEL MOTIVATED (. THANKS ).