Chapter 07: Work Hard, Party Harder

A/N: Got a long one for ya! :D

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Allison – Day Seven

The council woke everyone up at 6:30 in the morning, and gathered everyone at the job board after breakfast made by the Yellows. Nah, I'm just kidding, my district made breakfast.

Jimmy was still very sleepy from yesterday, so I had to lead him to the board.

"Hey Aly." Little Alex greeted with a toothy smile.

"Hey." I greeted the boy, giving him a smile of my own.

"What happened to Jimmy?"

"I'm sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy." Jimmy said, groaning. "Hi Alex." He yawned.

Alex smiled. "Hi Jimmy. Hey, do you wanna hang out later?"

Jimmy smiled. "Sure." He said, and walked with Alex to the front of the crowd next to the job board. As I closed in on the board as well, I felt a presence rest beside me.

"Hey Michael." I smiled up at the figure.

"'Sup." He greeted back, smiling as well.

"Alright, here's our job board, and as you see there's been a few changes." Anjay said.

"Yeah, Blue is Upper Class, Red are the Merchants, Yellow are the cooks –" groans. "and Green are the laborers." Mike said, giving us a sympathetic look.

"We have an announcement." Greg said, and went up to where the council was with Blaine. "So, listen. It's been a week since we got here, and we're thinking about throwing a party tonight in the Saloon to commemorate." He smiled.

Everyone agreed, and we cheered.

"So, yeah, we're gonna need donations and all for the drinks, so if you could, please forward your donations to either me, Blaine, or Jesse. Thanks!"

"Let's go! Get to work!" The council shouted with enthusiasm after the announcement. Us Greens whined, then eventually started.

"Hey Aly," Eric said, catching up to Michael, Hunter, and I. We were going to the supplies to get the things we needed for hauling water.

"Holy Fruitcakes." I muttered under my breath, spinning around to face the boy. "What do you want?" I questioned, and caught Michael and Hunter snicker.

"Switch with me."

"What?" I asked, looking skeptical.

"Switch jobs with me."

I squinted my eyes in slight anger. "Why would I do that for you? Of all people, and all the jobs a laborer can offer, why you and your job?"

"Because, Aly, hauling water needs strength. Manpower. And cleaning toilets are for girls like you." He reasoned.

I saw Michael make a move to stand up for me, but I didn't want his help. "Excuse me? I am strong. I am a cheerleader and a runner. Cheerleaders and runners are athletes. Athletes are strong." I said, explaining the ways of nature.

"Oh, come on, you know that I can haul more water than you."

"HOLY FRUITCAKES, ERIC, SHUT UP!" I shouted. "I'm not switching jobs with you." I said. "And, wait. What do you mean by girls like me?" I tested.

"Weak. A sissy, princess. You know, like that."

"Hey!" I said, lunging for him, only to be held back by Michael and Hunter.

"Ok, seriously, dude, just leave." Michael said, staring him down.

Eric shrugged and left, and Michael and Hunter released me.

"What an asshole." Hunter muttered.

"Language," I scolded, relaxing. I smiled and walked ahead to supplies.

Michael – Day Seven

"Ok, seriously, dude, just leave." I said, staring him down so hard, warning him to back off.

Eric shrugged and left, and Hunter and I released Aly.

"What an asshole." Hunter muttered under his breath, still audibly though.

"Language," Aly scolded, finally relaxing. She smiled sadly, then walked ahead of us towards supplies.

Oh, Eric.

"So, Aly…" I said a little awkwardly as the three of us headed to Green Bunkhouse 1 after three trips of hauling water. "What's with your expression? 'Holy Fruitcakes'?"

She smiled, obviously still bothered by the whole Eric incident. "Nothing, really. I just say it 'coz no one else does. Makes me unique." She said, half-smiling.

Almost everyone from our district was in our bunk. They combined all the girls' 'beds' and sat on it in a circle, inviting us over. Aly lay down on her respective 'bed' after kicking off her shoes, and rested flat on her front. She pulled me down, and I sat beside her next to Morgan.

"So where are the others?" Hunter asked referring to Eric, Laurel, and Sophia.

"Toilets." Kennedy said. "They should be back soon, though-"

The door opened and in came the aforementioned.

"Hey." Eric said, sitting next to Kennedy and Hunter. At the sound of Eric's voice, Aly snuggled closer to my side, and I stroked her beautiful hair.

Laurel tried to sit next to me, but as I said, Aly was glued to my side and Morgan was whispering something in my ear. Thank God. Laurel sat at Morgan's other side, instead.

"What's wrong with Aly?" She asked, gesturing to the /wonderful/ mess next to me, whose head was buried in her pillow.

"Eric kind of bullied her awhile ago." I replied, keeping my voice down.

She looked shocked, and looked back and forth between the two. "Eric bullied a girl?"

I explained what had happened earlier, and she looked even more shocked. "Wow. Eric's an ass." She said.

"Yeah, that's what Hunter said." I continued stroking Aly's hair as conversation went on, and soon, she stood up and went to the mirror, pausing discussions.

She brushed her curly-wavy hair, twisted her side bang and clipped it in her signature style. She grabbed her guitar and put her shoes on, then walked out of the bunk and to who-knows-where.

"What's with her?" Eric exclaimed just after she walked out.

"Shut up, Eric." I said, standing up to go after her, but Laurel grabbed my ankle, almost making me trip.

"Stay, Michael. Leave her. Girls want to be alone sometimes, you know." She said, sounding like she almost cared. Almost.

Normally, I would've ignored her and went, anyway, but her hold on my ankle was pretty strong.

I looked at her eyes. They seemed so… lustful. I thought. I shook my head as well as my leg, and left to look for Aly.

I asked some of the cameramen where she would be, and they said that she was using her private hour. I decided to look for her where I found her last time: the edge of town where the animals are.

Apparently, a feud between Emilie and a few others just happened in the Chicken Coop, because they all just left the place.

I found Aly behind the Goat Stockade.

"Why do you keep looking for me?" she said as I approached her.

Whoops. Maybe she did want to be alone. "Sorry. I got worried about you."

"I'm not a baby." She huffed.

"I didn't say you were!" I said, keeping my voice lower than hers so I wouldn't anger her further. "Aly… I care about you. Please don't act this way." I said, kneeling down in front of her as I did before.

She looked at me, then leaned down and hugged me. I sat down beside her, she still latching on.

"I miss my family." She whimpered, pulling away so we were face to face.

"I do, too. But don't you think that we're your family, too?"

Her arm still around my neck, she removed it and clasped her hands together. The warmth I felt rushed out of me. She thought hard.

"Well, yeah…" She choked out as she started to cry.

I took her in my arms again, and she laid her head on my lap, lying down sideways on the bench we were on, setting her guitar on the ground.

I stroked her hair again as she began to cry. I hated seeing her like this, but sometimes, crying is the best way to let it all out.

We just sat in a comfortable silence, no words needed, for a pretty long time. But it was nice. She finally sat up and looked at me, and took my hand into both of hers.

"Michael…"

"Yes?" I said, wanting to hear what she had to say. I like you. A lot.

She smiled to herself, and looked at me straight in the eyes again. "You're an amazing…" What? Guy? Person? Please say you like me like I do, you.

She stopped for a minute, thinking.

"…friend." She finished, hugging me. Friends. Yeah, that's all we'll ever be. I felt a tear roll down my cheek – my world is crumbling down right now. I hugged her very tightly, treasuring it. Just a friendly hug. Not romantic in any way. Even if I did feel sparks.

"Pioneers, gather up! Time for the town hall meeting!" We heard Jonathan call from a distance.

We walked to the barn – or, town hall, as he calls it – together with my arm locked to her waist. We sat together on the second bench with Aly in-between Kennedy and I. Jimmy was with Campbell and Hunter on the bench behind us.

"Hey guys." Kennedy greeted from Aly's right. "Where have you two been?"

"Talking." I slightly choked, remembering the pain I felt earlier.

"Yeah. Michael's a great listener and advice giver-person-thing." Aly giggled, making strange hand gestures.

"Oh yeah, I rock." I said, proudly, making her laugh more – her happiness the only thing I want.

Kennedy chuckled. "You guys are like, inseparable. Like, made for each other."

Aly smiled up at me. "Yeah, Michael's an awesome bestie." She said.

"Ha-ha, yeah." I said a little sadly, listening to Jonathan.

"By a show of hands, how many of you approve of the job the council is doing?"

I saw a lot of people raise their hands – Greg raised up two – but not exactly everyone did.

"How many of you don't approve?"

Savannah from Blue, Sophia, and Aly raised their hands.

"Three people." Jonathan said with slight surprise. "You guys again, Aly and Sophia."

"I'm gonna say what I said last time: Taylor, I think you really should be pushing your team a little harder in getting them into the kitchen."

"Well, we're trying to get up as early as we can it's just the today, we freezed our butts off."

"Froze, not freezed." Aly inwardly commented, making me smile.

"But the Greens were there in the kitchen." Savannah countered. "Why can't the Yellows do it?"

Some Yellows were raising their hands trying to have a say, but Laurel piped up, "Green is in the kitchen not only doing our own jobs, but doing Yellows' job as well."

"We tried our best to get out of bed…" Taylor started quietly.

"That is not true. That is not true!" Aly argued.

"Okay, okay, listen! Just calm down!" Mike said.

"We're the youngest people…" Taylor began.

"Oh, my God. Here we go again." Aly said, nuzzling her head into my shoulder.

"I know, right. They're not trying at all." Kennedy said.

"We don't have the great cooking skills. We're trying our best. If you don't like it, then sorry, you're just going to have to starve."

At this point, Aly shot her head back up, her mouth hanging open.

"Uhm… I just want to say that you know, Sophia and Allison are just helping you out. I just wanna say fix your disrespectful little mouth because Green district is doing a lot more than you're doing." DK stated, earning a hoot here and there.

Now, everyone was trying to give their opinions, and the council was trying to make them shut up. And just like what I always expect when all hell breaks loose, Aly was massaging her temples and trying to block out the noise. I think I even saw a tear slip.

Once things finally quieted down, Taylor said, "We tried our best because we are the youngest group."

"You guys can't keep using being young as an excuse-" I started.

"But, still, we are the youngest ones. We're cooking for forty people!"

"But you guys have the potential. Aly and Sophia can't just be the ones doing everything. I know all of you guys have the potential-"

"Stand up." Aly whispered to me and I did so.

"It doesn't matter age or whatever. We're here to prove that we can actually run the world and all. I know all of you have the potential, you just have to work a little harder and believe in yourself so don't blame your age, please." I said, the words just coming out, which earned another round of applause.

Aly smiled at me and leaned in. "You did it again, Superman."

I chuckled. "Let's just hope that this time, it actually gets through her head."

"Okay, council you've heard what the districts had to say. Now I have a question to ask and I'm gonna ask this in every town hall meeting. Does anybody wanna go home?" Jonathan said after the clapping died down.

A little while passed. I looked at Aly, and she looked back. 'Do you?' I asked, making a face.

She shook her head smiling.

"Wahoo!" Everyone cheered, happy to still be complete and all.

"And I'm really happy that you all decided to stay, because the next thing is really important. The council is going to award a Gold Star to one very deserving kid, and this is a big decision. A twenty thousand dollar decision." He said, pulling out another one of 'em from small burlap sack.

I tilted my head to get a better view. "I know you'll get this one, Michael." Aly told me.

"Why, has the council told you?" I asked.

"No, I just feel it." She smiled.

"This two-pound star is worth it's weight in gold. Literally. Twenty thousand dollars. And, when this experience is over, you and your parents can decide on how to use the money." Jonathan said. "Anjay, Mike, Laurel Taylor, who is the next Gold Star pioneer?"

I watched very intently, and noticed Aly slip her hand into mine. I squeezed it, and she did, too. She really wants this for me.

The council took forever to talk about it, and I was so antsy. Then finally, Mike got up. "So this was a lot harder decision than last time. There's a lot of people who kinda stood out for us." He said, prolonging the anticipation I was getting.

"Michael, chill. Your hand is sweating." Aly said, still holding on.

"Oh, sorry." I blushed profusely, and after wiping my hand onto my jacket, she grabbed it again.

"This person is really working hard for the town. We decided that we'll give the Gold Star to Michael."

I looked up from the floor to face the front, then to Aly. Roaring applause.

"You won! You did it! Oh, I knew that you were totes gonna get one!" She said so rapidly, and hugged me, soon joined by everyone else within a five-feet radius.

I stood and went to Jonathan to get my trophy. "Congratulations, Michael!" he greeted, shaking my hand and giving me my Gold Star.

"Thank you, thank you." I said, so happy. "I think that there's a lot of people who deserve this star just as much as I do. All of you can get this – all of you have the potential. Thank you so much, guys."

Cheer.

"So Michael, what are you going to do with twenty thousand dollars?" Jonathan asked me, smiling.

"I think my parents deserve it." I said, pursing my lips to keep from tearing up.

"Yeah, Michael!" Blaine shouted, leading another round of applause.

"Well, Michael, here is the key to the only building in Bonanza City with a phone. Why don't you call your parents and give them the good news." He said, handing me the little black key.

"Definitely." I replied after marveling at the little object.

"Right on. Do it, brother!" Jonathan urged, giving me a pat at the back.

I walked through the aisle, and as I passed Aly, she mouthed 'Good job.'

'Thanks.' I mouthed back, smiling, and as I passed Jimmy, he gave me a quick hug.

"Hello?" I heard from the receiving end.

"Hey, mom, it's Michael!" I said.

"Oh, Michael! It's so good to hear your voice."

"Yeah, you too. I've got a surprise for you. For extra special hard work today, I was given this Golden Star and it's worth twenty thousand dollars."

"… Oh, my gosh, Michael, that's an honor."

"Yeah, it's been great here. I've been hauling water and cleaning toilets."

I heard her laugh on the other line. "Oh honey, I miss you so much! Do you wanna talk to your dad?"

"It's a Monday, shouldn't he be at the office?"

"I guess destiny made him have one of those special days where he can work in the man-cave." She said, giggling. "Hold on, I'll go fetch him."

I waited for a minute until the other end picked up.

"Paul, I told you a billion times already, I do not want to handle that Jefferson case!" I heard my dad exclaim, frazzled.

"Dad, chill. It's me." I said, smiling at how easily stressed he gets – a pro and con for his career.

"Michael? Oh, son, I'm so sorry I did not know that was you." He sighed, relaxing.

"It's fine, dad." I said, just happy to hear his voice.

"How are you? I am missing your little afro."

"I'm great. I guess mom didn't tell you that I won twenty thousand dollars worth of gold."

"Wow. Michael… that is big."

"I know. I've been working really hard, dad."

"You always do." He said, sighing happily. "Congratulations, son. I am so proud of you."

I smiled at this. "Thanks."

"So what have you been up to? I was bored the whole weekend not having anyone to play some catch with."

"Hauling water, cleaning latrines, dad." I said as I explained to him the system of the showdowns.

"Well, that sucks. You Greens have to win someday, though, right?"

"Hopefully." I said.

"Any new friends?"

"Yeah, everyone's nice here. Maybe not so much Greg – the second eldest here – but yeah, they're great. Like a new family." I said, remembering Aly, but not mentioning her.

"You are not hiding something from me, are you?" he said after a short pause.

I looked to the cameraman, asking him for some privacy. He nodded and exited the little building.

I directed my attention back to the call. "There's this girl, dad. I like her – a lot. I thought that she liked me back, but then she said that I was a great friend." I said, putting way more emphasis than necessary on the word friend.

"And what is wrong with that? One step closer."

"Yeah, but everyone knows that once you're in the friend zone, there's no going beyond that."

"You have seen enough movies and television shows to know that that's not true."

"They're movies, dad. Not real life!"

"Take your Aunt Millie, for example. She and your Uncle Richard have been best friends since high school. Fourteen years later, they got married and had your little cousin Noah."

A/N: Aunt Millie, Uncle Richard, Cousin Noah, and all those names which you do nut recognize are all fictional, okay? Just making sure. :)

"But that's different."

"How?"

"We live in Washington and she lives on the other side of the universe."

"Why, where is she from?"

"Georgia." I said slowly. "Other. Side. Of. The. Universe." I stated again.

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah." I said, running my hand through my hair.

"It could work out." He said. "What is she like?"

"Definitely not like Astrid." I said. Astrid is this girl who has this huge crush on me. She obnoxious, self-centered, and bratty. She's been chasing me since second grade, and her parents even wanted to set up an arranged marriage. I'm only in high school, for Pete's sake.

"So, what, she is a selfless and down to earth girl who actually eats? Is she pretty?"

"Dad, please, don't." I warned, getting protective.

"Sorry, sorry. So, how is she?"

"She's amazing, dad. She's very nice to everybody, especially to the younger ones. She's beautiful. Her hair and her eyes… They look like God made them Himself. She is incredibly talented. She can sing, she can dance, she can… she's great at everything, really. Best part is that she's an amazing cook."

"Well, she sounds like a winner!" He stated, chuckling. I laughed as well. "Michael, you really sound like you truly care about her."

"A full week with her can do a lot."

"I can tell." He said. "Michael, you know that I do not like that girl Astrid… If this girl, what's her name?"

"Allison Isabella Hawthorne Mitchell." I said dreamily.

"Ok… If this Allison girl is all that you say she is, and she makes you really feel this way, then, I totally approve."

"Thanks dad." I said, blushing. I hate when I turn into a girl.

"Sure. I'm proud of you, son. She sound amazing. Go get her, tiger." He said. "But for now, I must get back to my paperwork. Bye, Michael, it was great hearing from you. Here's your mom."

I heard the phone move as it was handed to my mother. "Michael! You didn't tell me you fancied someone!" she squealed.

"Dad'll tell you." I said.

"Oh, honey. You're really growing up…" she said. "I love you, and we're really proud of you. But I gotta say, the best part is just being able to talk to you on the phone."

"Yeah, that's the best part for me, too." I said, and stood there in comfortable silence. "I love you, too. Gotta go. Bye mom."

"Bye Michael. Stay safe."

"Of course. Bye." I said, and hung up the phone. After my little interview afterwards, I went to the Mess Hall for early dinner. The Party would start after.

Allison – Day Seven

I was so proud of Michael. I mean, of course I knew that he would get it. He's amazing. And he totally worked very hard. And he totes deserved it.

I waited on the steps of my bunk to walk with him to go to dinner, when I saw Campbell arrange some barrels in the middle of town.

He walked on the lying kegs, and hopped off at the end, doing a little dance of satisfaction. And he did it again and again until Jimmy came along, and they walked together to the Mess Hall.

I decided to do the same, and finally, Michael sat beside me. "Your parents must be so proud of you – keeping you on the phone for that long."

"Yeah, well. The only things I've won are medals and certificates, which you can't really cash in." He said, making me laugh.

"You must've talked about something else. Did you say anything about me?" I asked, eager to hear what he had to say.

"Of course. Like, you're my best friend and all." He said, and I hurt, just a little. I did say that he was a great friend. BIG MISTAKE, Aly.

"Yeah. Buds." I said, 'playfully' punching his arm.

"Alright, guys, this has been a really tough week, we've all worked really hard, we've all accomplished a lot! This party is for everyone to have fun!" Greg announced, chugging a Bonanza Bomb with Blaine and Jesse up on the counter.

"Woohoo!" We all cheered. I was standing next to the speakers. The producers were nice enough to allow me to use my iPod for music – my playlist was very extensive.

A/N: Let's just say that they were allowed to bring gadgets and all but only allowed to use them during lights out and breaks and all. :D

I played "I Gotta Feeling" by BEP, everyone beginning to act all high.

"Thank you Blue and Red District for donating the most money. Thank you Green District for paying half of their money to make this all happen. And Thank you Yellow District for paying some money." Laurel said, chugging a Bonanza Bomb as well.

I set my iPod on shuffle, the playlist containing majority of BEP, LMFAO, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, and other house music.

"Nice playlist." Michael commented as we united, him wearing his grey hoodie, khaki cargo pants, and rubber shoes, while I wore a fedora, dark grey camisole, a black vest which I left unbuttoned, black shorts, and my sea green converse.

"Thanks." I said, proud of myself.

"Nice outfit, too."

"Thanks, again." I replied, smirking.

The night was a blast – I danced until my feet hurt, I mingled, and chugged sodas to my hearts content – earning the title "Chug Champ."

Eventually, like all good things Earth has to offer, the party had to come to an end.

At 3 AM the next day.

A/N: Well, dur you go. Hope you liked it :3

Review! Eet's noice to heer prom yo peoplez. :)