A/N: Here is Episode 2! I love this story, more than I usually love a story, because it combines one of my favorite movies and one of my favorite TV shows. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: T-Bone's breaking up with me? In a...text-message?--Ruthie Camden
I don't own Black is Black by Beverley Mitchell, or iPod, or Chutes and Ladders.
HSM Heaven,
When I see their happy faces
Smiling back at me
HSM Heaven
I know there's no greater feeling
Than the love of a family
Where can you go
When the world won't treat you right
The answer is home
That's the one place that you'll find
HSM Heaven
Oooohhh
HSM Heaven
Beverley ran down the stairs, flying through the kitchen and grabbing a bagel and her backpack on her way. Gabriella looked after her, noticing the iPod earbuds plugged into her ears.
"Well, at least she's probably listening to Beverley Mitchell," Gabriella said, hoping that she was, instead of some pop song with rude lyrics. Lilly nodded.
"She's her favorite singer. She also loves it that they have the same name."
Outside, Beverley started singing out loud with the song in her earbuds.
"Black is black, white is white
Wrong is wrong and right is right
There ain't no room for compromise
Let your conscience be your guide
Mama said, always try
With every choice you make in your life
You'll know when you know it's right
Just follow, follow your heart
Follow your heart…"
Beverley sighed and turned off her iPod as she listened to the lyrics of one of her favorite songs. Shaking off the feeling that she was doing something wrong, she skipped toward the corner bus stop. Hannah Lewis was already standing there. Beverley stopped skipping and walked towards her.
"Hey, Hannah! What's up?" Hannah shrugged and glanced at the iPod, still in Beverley's hands.
"Not much. What were you listening to?" she asked. Beverley smiled, a genuine smile where her face lit up with joy.
"It's my favorite singer, Beverley Mitchell. Do you like country?" Hannah's eyes widened.
"Uh, no. Not cool. But that's okay…if you want to hang out with me, I'll show you what good music is." She smiled, but it was a fake smile, unlike Beverley's earlier smile.
Beverley thought about what had just happened. The only thought that kept running through her head was, I'm not changing the kind of music I like for someone else. Was this what Zahiya was talking about? she asked herself.
Just then the bus pulled up, and both girls climbed on. Beverley looked around for anyone to sit with besides Hannah. She caught a glimpse of cloth covering someone's head and walked towards it. The other girl looked up and Beverley's face lit up again.
"Zahiya! What are you doing on the bus?" she asked as she slid into the seat. Zahiya smiled.
"My mom wants me to take it this year. I don't know why. But now we can sit together every morning!" Beverley nodded eagerly, then caught notice of someone waving her over. Glancing back at the person, she realized it was Hannah and her friends.
Beverley glanced helplessly between Zahiya and the other girls. She got up to walk over, then sat back down. At just that moment, the bus started to move.
"Well, I can't move now," she said, a hint of relief creeping into her voice. Zahiya sighed.
"Why do you like them so much? I bet she's already told you that you have to change at least one thing about you to be her friend," she said, glancing backwards at the popular girls in all their pink-glitter glory. Beverley sighed.
"You're right. She says I have to change what music I like. She says Beverley Mitchell isn't cool. She says…" Beverley and Zahiya both started giggling.
"See what I mean, Bev? If you're her friend, you have to do what 'she says'. I don't think you can do that!" Beverley nodded, still laughing.
"You're probably right. My parents can't even get me to do what they say!"
Just then, the bus pulled up next to the school. Beverley and Zahiya piled off with everyone else. As they walked towards the front door, Beverley jerked off to the side as someone pulled her arm.
"Hey! What are you doing?" she asked. Hannah stepped in front of her.
"I told you can't hang out with that Zahildah girl if you want to be my friend. Who's it going to be?" Beverley gasped.
"First of all, her name is Zahiya, not Zahildah. Second, I shouldn't have to choose. Third, do we have to do this now? It's only the second week of school!" Hannah nodded, her face cold.
"You do have to choose. I'll give you one more week. By then, you'd better know whether you want to be popular or a social outcast for the rest of your life." She turned on her heel and stomped away. Beverley rolled her eyes as Zahiya came back up to her.
"What just happened?" Zahiya asked. Beverley sighed.
"I hate having to decide. I can't be both your friend and her friend. Help me, Zia!" Zahiya cocked her head.
"I heard and saw at least a little bit of that altercation. You really want to be friends with someone like that?" Beverley looked down at the ground. "Well, never mind that now. We've got to get to homeroom."
Back at the Bolton house, Lilly was lying on the couch with a cool cloth over her eyes. Right after she had gotten out of bed in the morning, her head had started pounding. She didn't often stay home from school, but migraines always kept her couch-ridden for a day.
Just then, Gabriella walked into the living with a bowl of soup. "Lils? You feel any better?" Lilly took the cloth off her eyes and nodded.
"Just a little. Thanks for a soup." Gabriella smiled and left it on the table. As she started to leave, Lilly called her back.
"Mom? Can I tell you something?" Gabriella came back over and sat down on the table, next to the soup.
"What's up, Lilly? Is something wrong at school?" Lilly shook her head.
"No. It's Jake. Have you noticed how he always wears wristbands now?" Gabriella nodded. "Well, he has scars on his wrist that he doesn't want you or Dad to see. He…cuts…his…wrists…" Gabriella gasped.
"I thought they were just some eleventh-grade fashion! Cutting his wrists! How long have you known, Lilly?" Lilly looked down at the coffee table.
"Since the beginning of August. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but he swore me to secrecy! Are you mad at me, Mom?" Gabriella shook her head.
"No, sweetheart! I'm glad you told me. Do you feel up to playing a game with Vanessa and me?" At that moment, as if on cue, Vanessa walked into the room, carrying the Chutes and Ladders board.
"No! I just want to play with Mommy!" Gabriella and Lilly looked at each other in confusion.
"Why, Nessa?" Gabriella asked. "Don't you want to play with Lilly?" Vanessa closed her eyes and nodded.
"Okay. But just one game!" Gabriella shook her head at her oldest daughter. Understanding five-year-olds was a challenge sometimes.
…To be continued…
