AN: I apologize for the poor ending to this chapter. I'm currently facing a huge writer's slump, in which I have very little energy for writing, and have to force myself to complete a chapter. Basically, I wanted to get this story finished soon, especially since there's only one more chapter to go, and I have a million ideas in my head for other RENT stories that are itching to be put onto paper.
In an related story, please be sure to visit my profile, since time is running out for the current poll I have up. I'm planning to close it and reveal the results at the start of next month. If you haven't taken part in the poll yet, be sure to do so now. Plus, be sure to take a look at the upcoming RENT projects I will be starting once this story is finished, which are also listed on my profile. I'll have a new poll related to them on April the 11th. Thank you for your time, and enjoy this chapter.
The high school cafeteria on Thursday afternoon was packed, just like every other school day, but there was a difference at one particular table located in the corner. Usually, this table only was occupied by three people, namely Zack, Rodolfo, and Alvin. Today, they were joined for the first time by one other high schooler, Zoey Rabe.
"Looks like you've got it good today, Zoey," Alvin said, looking over the girl's new schedule. "You're even in our math class next period. You'll like Mr. Pierre. He's a pretty cool guy."
"So, how do you like your first day here so far?" Rodolfo grinned, glancing down slightly as he spoke, taking note of the fact that Zoey and Zack had positioned their hands on the table in such a way that they were slightly touching, as if they wanted to hold hands but were unsure if they should.
"It was…very nice," Zoey replied, momentarily catching Zack's eye before they both looked away in shy embarrassment.
"Um," Zack cleared his throat, searching for something to say, finally settling his eyes on their lunch trays. "You should try the fruit tarts tomorrow. They're very good."
"I'll do that," Zoey smiled. Once again turning away with a blush forming, the teen girl managed to gather enough courage to turn her hand so her palm faced upward. Catching on to the subtle invitation, Zack finally took her hand, entwining their fingers.
Rodolfo and Alvin's good-naturedly smug grins faded when they spotted a group of girls passing by their table. To their immense displeasure, Tracey was at the head of the group, talking to her friends.
"It's all set," she was saying. "I called up Kris before leaving for school today. She'll be meeting us by the flagpole after school lets out, and we'll head back to the mall. She's going to need a lot more clothes, and we might be able to introduce her to actual music. Can you believe she's never listened to anything cool? Nothing but bluegrass!"
Scowling, Rodolfo slammed his milk carton onto the table, slightly splashing the white liquid onto his hand.
"I take it they're not friends of yours?" Zoey blinked, noticing the reaction the boys were having to Tracey's presence.
"She's only a brainwashing friend-stealer," Rodolfo mumbled, glaring at Tracey as she sat at her usual table, surrounded by her usual clique. For the rest of their lunch period, Alvin and Zack told Zoey all about Kris, and how drastically she'd been changing under Tracey's influence, while Rodolfo continued to glower at Tracey.
After school, the four friends exited the building together, with Zack and Zoey taking up the rear, holding hands. Zack was just working up the courage to offer walking Zoey back to her apartment when Tracy passed by them. Immediately, Rodolfo stopped in his tracks and watched with narrowed eyes as Tracey stopped in front of the school's flagpole where Kris was waiting, dressed in a floral blouse and beige skirt. For a moment, Rodolfo was rooted to the spot, his hands closing into fists, but then he started striding forward.
"Whoa, Rodolfo!" Alvin called. "Where're you…?"
"Well, if we can't talk sense into Kris, then confronting Tracey is our only chance, isn't it?" Rodolfo replied over his shoulder. Sharing a momentary glance, Alvin, Zack, and Zoey followed their friend to help, and possibly to keep him from loosing his temper.
"Well, good afternoon to you, Rodolfo Davis," Tracey greeted with an irritating smile. Kris, however, looked away, and it was hard to tell if it was in anger or awkward embarrassment.
"Cut the act, Tracey," Rodolfo ordered. "Why are you palling around with Kris, anyway?"
"Don't start this again, Rodolfo," Kris rounded on him.
"Kris came to me, in case you've forgotten," Tracey frowned. "She wanted to have friends that were girls. As shocking as it might seem to you, Kris is a girl."
"We know she's a girl," Alvin rolled his eyes. "We don't need you to tell us that."
"Apparently you do, if you have such a problem with her acting like a girl," Tracey shrugged.
"Since when does acting like a girl mean you're allowed to make plans with your friends, and then blow them off at the last minute to get a haircut, and who knows what else you got Kris to do last night?" Zack spoke up. For a brief moment, Kris looked guilty, but Tracey cut her off before she had a chance to say anything.
"Did it ever occur to you that Kris deserves better friends than a bunch of guys who constantly criticize their choice in girl friends?"
"When those girl friends go out of their way to turn Kris into something she's not, we have every right to speak up," Rodolfo snapped. "Just look at her, Tracey. That's not who Kris is. The real Kris would never dress like that, or go to the mall for makeup and shoes, and whatever else she's been doing with you. I mean, do you even know anything about Kris? The real Kris? For example, what's her favorite animal? What does she like on her hot dogs? Have you even asked her things like that?"
"I've been a little more worried with more important things," Tracey sighed heavily. "A friend is someone who's willing to help their friends, and that is just what I'm doing with Kris, by helping her learn how to be a proper girl. That's what she wanted to know when she came to me in the first place, and that's what we've been doing."
"You sound like my father," Zoey suddenly whispered, causing Zack and Rodolfo to start. They hadn't expected her to enter this conversation, especially not by bringing something like her father up.
"I sound like who?" Tracey fixed Zoey with an offensive stare.
"From the moment I was born," Zoey went on, "I had to live by my father's expectations of how a girl must behave. I wasn't allowed to speak to anyone, unless they spoke to me first. I had to learn everything a girl was supposed to know, and nothing else. The only reason I was allowed to attend school at all was because my father wanted me to know how to read and write, and understand simple math problems. But I wasn't supposed to know much more than that. Science was always my worst subject. My father made sure of that. And if I ever made a mistake, or did something that wasn't suitable for a girl to do, I would be…reminded of my place. It was very easy for me to keep my father's rule of never wearing something inappropriate for a girl, and keep most of myself covered at all times; it was the only way I could hide the marks and bruises.
"So, what about you, Tracey?" Zoey looked the curly haired girl straight in the eye. "What do you think being a girl is? You think being a girl is just about wearing the right clothes and makeup? If so, how does that make you any better than my father?"
The next few minutes was met with complete silence, with Zack instinctively squeezing Zoey's hand in quiet support and comfort. No one who had known Zoey during the events of last year's incident with Peter Rabe would have ever expected her to mention her father in such a straightforward way. Finally, Zoey slowly turned and walked away, with Zack at her side and Alvin soon following their example. Rodolfo was the last to leave Tracey and Kris at the flagpole. Before he left, however, he glanced back at Kris, who momentarily met his eye before looking away with an unreadable expression.
Back at the Condo, Zack was sitting on the floor next to Zoey, who had gotten permission from her grandparents to have dinner with the Cohens that night. Deciding to postpone the task of homework until after dinner, Zack was taking the time to teach Zoey how to play Super Mario Brothers 3.
"Oh, Zoey, quick!" Zack cried with a laugh. "Hurry, grab the leaf!"
"Yes! I got it!" Zoey exclaimed with a large smile. "I love when I get the raccoon tail!"
As Zack and Zoey laughed, Rodolfo reclined back on the couch, watching them play. While he didn't intend to admit it, the brown-eyed teen was glad Zoey was back in the city. Zack hadn't exactly been a zombie after she'd moved to Iowa, but there still had been a noticeable difference in the way he laughed and smiled. Most people might not have noticed it, but Rodolfo wasn't Zack's 'cousin' and best friend for nothing. You couldn't share a room with someone for your whole life without being able to notice that Zack hadn't exactly been the same since meeting Zoey, but now that she was back, Zack was probably happier than Rodolfo had ever seen him.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Not wanting to make Zack and Zoey interrupt their game time, Rodolfo pulled himself up from the couch. Upon opening the door, he was surprised to see Kris standing there, smiling nervously.
"Kris?" Rodolfo was frozen for a moment, his mouth slightly open, but he quickly cleared his throat and took up a indifferent stance. "Aren't you supposed to be trying on shoes with Tracey at the mall?"
"Well, actually…." Kris shrugged, looking like she was feeling extremely awkward, "I was just wondering. Is….did you know Tracey and the girls don't go to the arcade? They say the arcade is a place for guys. And they don't like bluegrass, either. They won't even go out to see a good zombie movie. So, what I'm asking is…. That offer you, Zack, and Alvin gave me, about spending time at the arcade together. Is it still open? Because…I think…I'd like to play skeeball with you."
"Well," Rodolfo paused, looking back at Zack and Zoey, who had paused the game to come and join them at the door. "It's really not up to me, Kris. I think Zack and Alvin deserve a vote in the matter. And now there's also Zoey to voice her thoughts."
"Rodolfo, quit the act," Zack grinned. "Are you going to let Kris come in or not?"
"Yeah, come on, Rodolfo," Zoey agreed. "Besides, I think you and Zack still owe me that girls vs. boys game from the last time I was here. How about it? You and Zack using Mario and Kris and me playing as Luigi?" Chuckling to himself, Rodolfo stepped aside, gesturing for Kris to come in, returning her grateful smile.
"Just one thing, Brown Eyes," Kris began, meeting Rodolfo's eyes as Zack returned to the start screen to begin the girls vs. boys run of Super Mario Brothers 3. "About what you were asking Tracey at school today, about her knowing anything about me?"
"Your favorite animal is the sea horse," Rodolfo replied, automatically knowing what she was going to ask. "And you like hot dogs with mustard, and a sliced pickle tucked into the bun."
"Thank you, Rodolfo," Kris smiled placidly. "It's good, having you for a friend."
"Likewise, Kris," Rodolfo agreed, once again returning her smile.
