AN: What is this? An updated chapter? Maybe. I apologize to my readers for this terribly long waiting-span for this chapter. Unfortunately, the horrors of writer's block struck, there were continuous internet problems, and I am over-all rather bad with my updating schedule. However, excuses aside, please enjoy the chapter, as much of a little blip as it is, and I'm already started on the next chapter, which will be much quicker and actually plot-stimulating. Anyways, onward J

Chapter 4 – Surprise

There was no warning or mercy for Jazzy that morning. She had been dreaming of it for years, but also dreading it as the day came closer. With nail-biting tension she had watched that calendar as the day slowly crept closer, knowing that her days of freedom were so close…but it was going to be a painful cost.

"Jazzy! Wake up!" The pillow came down with unrelenting force. WHOMP.

Jazzy jerked awake quickly, then groaned. She pulled her own pillow over her head for protection. "Go away", she mumbled.

"Oh c'mon, get your big, lazy butt out of bed!" WHOMP

Big, lazy butt? She's one to talk. Jazzy sighed and slowly drew her pillow away to glare with bleary eyes up at her attacker. "Shasta, what do you want?"

Shasta smirked widely while she held the pillow ready for another hit. "It took you long enough to wake up." She rolled her eyes and turned away. "I want to borrow your blue tee-shirt."

"I thought you still had it." Jazzy muttered while snuggling under her covers again. One glance at the clock told her it was still way too early to get up, especially when it was only a school day.

"I don't know. You put it somewhere when you went on that cleaning-spree a few days ago." Shasta snorted. "Honestly, you can be such a clean-freak."

"Mhm."

"Are you even listening to me?" Shasta wandered back over. "Come on, Jazzy, you have to get up and find that shirt for me."

Jazzy sighed and peered out from beneath the blanket. She rubbed her hand over her eyes then through her hair. "Why do you want it so bad?"

"Well, I want to look good for the party after school I'm sure you, Zac, and Taddie have been planning for me." Shasta glanced over her shoulder with a knowing, coy smile.

Jazzy blinked for a moment when the realization dawned. The eve of the day had arrived. She looked at her blankly anyways. "The party?"

Shasta's smile widened. "Don't play dumb with me, Jazzy. I know that you guys have been planning my birthday bash for awhile, right?" Her eyes gleamed brightly with excitement. "Isn't this exciting? I'll be turning in just one more day, finally!"

"Really? That was today?" Jazzy asked while raising an eyebrow.

Her sarcasm was met with an incredulous stare, which turned to a glare. "You had better not have forgotten, Jazzy." Shasta growled.

Jazzy fought to hide a grin, and stared at her roommate with a serious expression. "Shasta, I would never do that." She pushed back the covers and swung her legs over to rest her feet on the floor.

Shasta gave her a look before turning away with a hmph.

With a smile to herself, Jazzy walked towards the bathroom. "The shirt is in my top drawer, by the way." She tossed over her shoulder before closing the door behind her.

I can't believe that it's already her birthday…just one more day, and this room will be mine. Jazzy took a moment to dance a happy-jig across the bathroom before stopping to look at her reflection in the wall-screen for the morning scrutinizing.

A scream suddenly pierced the quiet air, echoing from the other room. Jazzy's gaze snapped over to the door as she whirled around and abruptly lunged to it, throwing it open. "Shasta?"

"Jazzy! Help me!" Shasta screamed while she frantically fought against two black-clad young men who were in the middle of wrapping her up in a blanket.

"Hey, quit hitting", the taller boy complained while grabbing her arms and pinning them to her sides. The other attacker continued bundling her into the fabric until she represented a plaid sausage.

"Got her, let's go."

"Hold it", Jazzy commanded while she stepped towards them. "What are you doing?"

"We're taking this ugly and going. Don't you dare try to stop us", the taller boy warned while picking up the squirming mass, draping her over his shoulder.

"Actually, we'll take her with us, we can't risk any witnesses", the other young man stepped towards Jazzy before she could respond, grabbing her and throwing her over his shoulder with practiced ease.

Jazzy grunted quietly at the pressure on her ribcage. "I won't tell anyone, I promise. Let me go." She grit her teeth and struggled in his hold.

"Quiet. There's no use in arguing." He said coolly, tightening his hold around her torso to keep her steady. He glanced over at his partner and nodded before turning and stepping out of the room, steadily leading the way down the hallway.

Jazzy shifted again but decided against squirming in her captor's hold, the idea of plummeting face-first into the floor below wasn't all too appealing. Fortunately, the escape down the hallway and through the academy dorms wasn't long enough to cause too much humiliation.

Her captor dropped her down on the grass with unexpected gentleness once they had reached the outside, and were hidden from view around the back of the building. She looked over as Shasta was plopped on the grass non-too-gracefully due to her squirming.

"Leff me gwof!" Shasta screamed with a muffled voice while flailing violently in the blanket. She finally managed to kick the blanket away and threw it off of herself while sitting up. Her hair stood up on all ends and her face was flushed from both the exertion and anger. "What is wrong with you idiots?!" She shrieked while lunging to her feet and looking at the two young men.

"Calm down, Shasta", one of the boys started, but was cut off when she reached out and abruptly snagged the black mask on his face, ripping it off.

Jazzy grinned widely at her roommate's bewildered face as the other culprit pulled off his mask.

Shasta stared open-mouthed. "Tad…Zac?"

They both grinned and then laughed.

"Who did you think it was? Actual kidnappers?" Zac asked while chuckling. His smoky eyes twinkled mischievously.

"She probably wished we were some pretty hunks" Tad joked, before howling with laughter at her outraged expression and attempt at hitting him.

Shasta sputtered before whirling around to look at Jazzy. "You knew all about this?" She growled.

Jazzy bit her lip while holding back her laughter. "…surprise?"

"This is not the birthday surprise I had in mind!"

"Calm down, Shasta. It's only begun." Tad said casually. His brown eyes gleamed deviously.

"He's right." Zac agreed while stepping away from the group. He stepped over to the nearby bushes and pushed through the branches. They rustled and snapped back as he passed through and disappeared for a few moments. He soon re-emerged with his hands behind his back. He smiled.

Jazzy grinned knowingly while watching him. She looked at Shasta as the other girl crept closer to her.

Shasta watched him suspiciously. "What do you have, Zac?"

Zac casually held out draping pieces of fabric, which he spread out to display them to be a dog and a cat costume. "I was able to get these specially made." He grinned.

Shasta's eyes widened in horror, "I am not wearing one of those ugly things!"

"It's fitting", Tad chirped, only to be silenced by a menacing glare.

"Come on, Shasta, it's an initiation." Jazzy joked while giggling.

"Yes, but no person should have to do something this humiliating alone." Zac announced. "As you can see, there are two costumes."

Jazzy paused and looked at him, and then at the costumes, there was indeed two…then the realization dawned on her. Oh no, you must be kidding.

"Wait…that wasn't part of the plan."

"Plans are always spontaneous", he said while tossing the kitty costume to her. "Besides, you'll be making a lot of people's days." He grinned while throwing the dog costume to the sputtering Shasta.

Jazzy sighed and looked at the furry, fabric face of the cat. Well…if you can't beat them…join them. She grinned faintly and slid her bare feet into the feet of the costume and pulled it up over her shorts and tee-shirt. After squirming for a moment against the scratchy fabric, Jazzy pulled the cat head into place and peeked through the eye-holes at the shocked faces of the boys. "Well, hurry and zip me up."


"Run, Shasta!" Jazzy shrieked while laughing. She skidded through the door of the classroom and sprinted down the hallway. The angry shouting of the professor and hysterical giggling from the littlies echoed behind them.

Shasta ran after her, desperately trying to catch her breath while giggling. "I told you that dancing the chicken-dance on the teacher's desk would get us in trouble!"

"I know, but it was so worth their faces", Jazzy called over her shoulder. She scrambled to keep her footing on the slippery floor while she flew around a corner and dove into a nearby closet. She shuffled over when Shasta zipped in behind her, and then both girls collapsed onto the floor while panting.

"You know, it really was", Shasta said while reaching up and unzipping her costume slightly in order to pull off the dog-head. Her face was flushed again, and her hair was even more frizzy and sweaty than earlier, but her eyes shone brightly from the excitement.

Jazzy pulled off the kitty-head and ran her hand through her hair while resting back against the cool wall. She could feel the heat burning on her cheeks and was certain that she looked like a mess, but she grinned. "I think we've almost managed to run into every classroom in this building."

Shasta nodded in agreement. She took a deep breath and rested back against the wall. "I think so, too. We might be pushing our luck, though."

"Luck schmuck. Today is your last day, Shasta", Jazzy smirked and closed her eyes. "Besides…it's about time you did actually did something fun?" She mumbled teasingly.

"…Mm."

Jazzy opened her eyes after a moment and looked through the dark to the other girl at her unusually quiet tone.

Shasta shifted after a moment and fingered the fabric of her costume. "…I never knew that things like this could be fun." She murmured. "I had always thought that only being a pretty would be fun."

Jazzy tilted her head slightly. An odd quietness and sympathy tugged in her chest. Isn't that what they all thought? Even herself was always thinking about how much better life could be when she was a pretty…that was all that an ugly lived for, anyways. "Shasta…there are still fun things to do while being an ugly, too…but, you won't have to worry about that anymore…" She stopped when she sense the sudden change over the other girl.

A soft sound escaped Shasta, a sob. "I know! I just wish I would have thought…I never wanted to do anything with any of you…but really, I did." She bit her lip while trying to stifle another sob. "Jazz…I'm scared. I'm so scared about turning; I don't know what will happen…I'll be alone." She turned her gaze to the other girl, her tears gleaming in the faint glow from the light set high above on the wall.

Jazzy stared at her roommate. She felt bewildered, confused, she had never considered Shasta to be anything other than her snobby, self-centered, obnoxious, and essentially ugly self. I'm so blind. She chided herself silently, while shifting closer to the other girl. "Shasta, it'll be okay."

Shasta burst into tears and moved closer, burying her face into Jazzy's shoulder. Jazzy sighed softly and put her arms around her roommate. No, not just her roommate, she admitted to herself, but her friend. She knew that in spite of their differences, and constant fighting, she was going to miss the mess-making, annoying, but lovable girl at the other side of her room.

"Shasta, you won't be alone, not for long." Jazzy murmured soothingly, tightening her arms comfortingly around the girl.

Shasta sniffled and drew away after a few moments, looking up at her. "Jazz, promise me that you'll come and visit me, even when I'm a pretty."

Jazzy paused for a moment as the words struck her. The very thing I made Zac promise…Jazzy smiled faintly, sincerely. "Even if you're a snobby, bubble-headed pretty, I'll make sure to come and visit you. I'll even clean up your room."

Shasta giggled quietly through her tears and nodded. "You had better, I'll just mess it up, again." She sniffed and reached up to wipe away the tears with a doggy-paw.

Jazzy smiled again and went to reply, but stopped when the door suddenly opened, shedding light into the room. She winced and looked up quickly. "Zac? Tad?"

"Finally, we were looking for you two everywhere", Zac said while looking down at the two girls.

"We were hiding from the teacher, after Jazzy had the brilliant idea to jump around on his desk." Shasta rolled her eyes. "What took you two so long, anyways? I'm sick of this stinky costume and want my normal clothes", she complained while getting to her feet.

"Yes, little puppy, you can run off and get dressed", Tad smirked. He paused and waved a hand dramatically in front of his face. "Whew, maybe grab a shower, too, even though you already smell like a sweaty, wet dog."

Shasta glared at him and reached over to whack him roughly. "Speak for yourself, you always stink."

Zac looked down at Jazzy. He studied her closely for a moment while offering his hand and helping her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

Jazzy looked at him and smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine, in spite of being stuck with the whiney puppy for a good few hours." She muttered and stepped past him as dignified as possible. She glanced over at Shasta and caught her smile, which she returned before looking back to Zac. "Come on, let's get out of here. The birthday bash will be starting soon."

"Oh yeah, I forgot that there was more." Tad chirped while scratching his head. He glanced at Shasta.

Shasta's face lightened up. "Really? A party?" She squealed and threw her arms around the taller young man in glee before turning and grabbing Jazzy's arm. "Jazzy, we have to get ready! I'm so doing your hair!" Without waiting for a reply, she turned and started running happily, and dragged Jazzy after her.

Jazzy groaned and looked over her shoulder to send a pleading look to the boys. They both simply shrugged and grinned. She sighed and looked back to stumbling after Shasta.

Again…if you can't beat them…join them. She smiled to herself.

The trees whipped past, their branches just grazing the smooth sides of the hoverboard and the two passengers aboard it. Jazzy shifted her foot and directed the board to weave around the trees. She glanced back at Shasta, who was gripping onto her waist for dear life.


"Shasta, calm down."

"I am calm!" Shasta squeezed her eyes tightly shut, refusing to allow them to tear-up from the wind. She had taken Jazzy's earlier threats of being dumped in a bur-bush seriously and had kept as quiet as possible the entire ride.

Jazzy grinned faintly. Not everyone could get used to the feeling of a board. She turned her focus back to the familiar pathway and increased their speed. The hide-out soon came into view.

With a quick movement, the hoverboard banked at her command and skidded to a stop outside the cave entrance. Jazzy looked back at Shasta, who slowly peeked at her. She offered a smile. "Maybe I'll teach you how to ride someday."

Shasta snorted. "Yeah, right. We might get along with some things, but I refuse to ever ride one of these by myself." She stated while stepping unsteadily off of the board. She stumbled for a step, but was caught by the strong hands of Tad as he seemed to appear out of the dark to meet the girls.

Jazzy smiled to herself at the sight of the two as they paused for a moment. Her smile widened when he kept his hand around hers and the two of them walked towards the entrance together. Well, I won't be the only one missing her these next few weeks.

"Jazz? Are you daydreaming, again?" Zac's familiar voice broke into her thoughts. He looked at her with a faint, knowing smirk. "Come on, the party has already started."

Jazzy blinked for a moment and nodded. She stepped down from the board, and then picked it up to hide it in the bushes with the rest. Zac waited for her calmly before turning and walking with her towards the entrance.

The two of them entered together and looked around. Jazzy smiled widely at the colorful decorations hanging from the ceiling, and draped around the beanbag chair, which was assumingly the seat-of-honor. She glanced around at the snacks and drinks set off to one side, which were already being dug into by eager uglies. "Aw, Zac, you two outdid yourselves."

He smiled widely. "Isn't it fitting? In spite of how much of a pain she is, we're all going to miss Shasta."

Jazzy laughed and nodded in agreement, and then the sound of Tad's voice drew her attention.

"Pipe down, everybody; it's time to toast the birthday-girl." His voice rang out over the mumbling voices of the uglies and littlies, who hushed and turned their attention to him.

Tad paused for a moment and then smiled. "For five years I have known Shasta, and each of those years have proven to be both painful and special." He grinned at her scowl, and then continued. "However, tomorrow will be the day that she will be turning sixteen, and then leaving us." His voice quieted after a moment. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that Shasta has been a meaningful part of our group and that she will be missed...that is until we all meet again in New-pretty town."

"What I want to say is…Happy birthday, and congratulations, Shasta. You will soon be a pretty…though I think you already are." Faint color crept over his face at that point, but he continued valiantly. "So, join me everybody in saying, Happy Birthday Shasta!" He held up a cup of fizzing soda and smiled widely.

Jazzy laughed as she and Zac clapped and cheered along with the rest of the group. She felt her smile widening across her face as Shasta leapt up and hugged Tad tightly, and Zac broke into cat-calls.

The fear has faded for the night, let's just celebrate for now and just be ourselves…The changes of our lives can wait until tomorrow. Happy birthday.