Update: A Certain Party
meddlesome_
Sent: Today (Sunday), 12: 52pm
To: BanksA; BradleyY; DavisA; FitzgibbonJ; GaffneyJ; GermaineG; GoldbergG; KekovichL; MendozaL; MillerJ; MoreauC; PortmanD; TylerR; ThatcherS;
Salut mes amis!
So, how was your weekend? Mine was just lovely – after that exotic little soiree on Friday night, I slept fashionably late, had brunch with a couple of my closest friends and then spent the rest of the day browsing for a few new pieces for my wardrobe...Gorgeous additions, mes amis, I must say. That night brought one memorable 21st Birthday Party for my little sister, and not to mention the elite selection of friends and family whom celebrated with her. And today, I must confess, I've done little save personalise the settings on my newest cell phone, a little gadget my ardent followers simply must acquire – I think it has quite a future ahead of it.
But what's this I hear? You don't want to hear about my weekend? Well, with such exciting news concerning what our favourite little ducklings did this weekend, I'm not surprised – they never seem to keep themselves out of trouble, do they? Then again, they are most keenly aided by some of the other members of the Eden Hall student population...
If you must know, Sophie was spotted making out with Sam (aka Scooter's all round nice guy little brother) on the backseat of a bus in front of old Mrs Hadley, our much beloved Chemistry teacher, who gave them a week's worth of detention for disgracing the school name whilst in uniform (Sam was still in his Letterman); Danni Skank was seen exiting Fitzy's room Saturday morning looking distinctly ruffled; The Velvet Hammer was heard bickering with Guy and have since been ignoring each other; and on top of all that our Little Artist has been spotted, once again, exiting another man's apartment. And how did this all happen? I think some of it may have a little something to do with a certain party on Friday night...
XOXO
Meddlesome Mademoiselle
TP POV
"Portman, whatever convinced you to buy this hunk of junk?" Fulton complained as his fellow Bash Brother lifted the bonnet of his old, slightly rusted 1970's Ford Cortina. Dean ignored him and continued to fiddle with the oil gauge. "Come on dude, you don't even have to look for the problem – it's staring right at you man! It's called 'life-span'."
"Seriously, dude, there's nothing wrong with the car. Just needs a little work, that's all."
Fulton let out a breath. "A little work? If I was referring to the fact that none of the doors are painted the same colour as the rest of the car, I wouldn't be whinging. It's just the fact that the motor is just about stuffed, you know."
"You worry too much" Portman grumbled, continuing his work. "Besides, it was a steal, and I'm not exactly rolling in cash. I was lucky that that Canadian guy was willing to sell it to me so cheap."
As the Bash Brothers carried on their argument, Joel leaned back in his seat and checked his watch. "Hmm, 9:30" he murmured. "Well, the party's hardly begun." Fulton heard him.
"Yeah, at this moment, but I wouldn't be surprised if we're still parked here, on the side of the road, in half an hour."
"Quit your whinging Fulton" Portman called from outside. Fulton rummaged on the floor and picked up a bottle.
"Well, let's not ruin the evening."
X
A few blocks away, a party raged at the Riley mansion. "Couldn't you have planned this little get together at the lodge?" the eldest Riley sibling shouted at his younger brother over the pounding of the music.
"Nah, Mom and Dad changed their own plans. Decided to use it themselves." Jock replied.
"You know I have a major paper due on Monday?"
"Well you shouldn't have come home this weekend."
The other rolled his eyes. "As I told you this afternoon, the rooms down my end are getting renovated. So, I have no choice."
"And you have no choice here either. Join in the party, or work through the noise."
"Party with high schoolers? Unbelievable."
Well then," said Jock "I guess you better get started on that paper."
X
"It's about damn time!"
Portman had finally fixed whatever problem the car had, and the three continued on to their destination, arriving at the party almost an hour late. "Sorry, dude. Car problems." Portman told Goldberg whom was standing on the front steps waiting for them.
"No probs, I've been keeping myself occupied."
"So, what've we missed?"
Goldberg paused for a moment, pretending to think. "Well, not much...except for Averman knocking himself out when he walked into a door frame by accident, and that some of the Senior chicks have been stripping for paying audiences in an upstairs living room...Oh and some other Juniors have turned up with a crate of booze, henceforth the ensuing chaos in the backyard. But besides that, it's been pretty uneventful."
The Bashes grinned. "Right on time."
With that, the two made their loud entrance, and headed for the nearest 'refreshment' table before taking control of the music and playing their favourite head banging rock songs. Joel shook his head, slightly amused, and walked off behind Goldberg who was heading in the direction of Russ. "Hey man" He greeted them. "'Sup?"
"Not much. Charlie here?"
"Nope. Going out with Audrey I think. So, since your – "
Joel shooshed his friend. "Wait, was that...?" he trailed off.
"Huh?"
"I swear I just saw her, right ove- there! She's here! What the hell is she doing here?"
Russ was seriously confused. "Who's 'she'?"
Joel's expression was one of frustration. "Audrey!"
X
"Scull, scull, scull, scull!" shouted the growing crowd as Kev drained another beer. The party was getting rowdy, and had spilled into the yard; Connie and Guy watched on in disgust as Joel's roommate emptied his stomach contents over the grass, and then the two walked back inside to rejoin their friends.
"Back so soon?" commented Sophie, who was resting her head against Sam's shoulder.
"It's gone feral out there." Connie replied. "Guy, I'm real thirsty, could you get me something?"
Guy nodded, and kissed his girlfriend's cheek. "Sure thing." He turned and fought against the crowd, heading for the kitchen – wherever that was exactly.
Connie leant against the wall and looked on as Sam and Sophie danced around with each other, laughing. She was glad her friend had found someone, although she did occasionally wonder whether if it was a little too soon...then again, that wasn't for her to decide.
"I don't believe it." Murmured a distantly familiar voice. Connie turned her head, and started with shock.
"Whoa...um...hello." She managed to say. The arrogant, yet annoyingly suave Rick Riley was standing to her left, a surprised expression apparent on his face. It had been a couple of years since she'd last seen him. Not since his graduation, in fact.
"I never thought I'd let the Ducks into my house." He commented, not sounding overly irate, but somewhat disbelieving.
Connie shrugged. "Well, you didn't. Jock did."
"True." He replied, staring at her oddly.
Connie gazed about the room for a while, wondering what she was supposed to say next. Why was he even talking to her?
"You've changed." He commented.
She raised an eyebrow. "How?"
"You're not so loud. You're much quieter than I remember you."
The girl shrugged. "Maybe so...I haven't noticed."
"I suppose you wouldn't. Not that you were that loud. I mean, not like the black kids and that pest with glasses."
Connie let out a short breath. "You mean Averman?" He nodded. "He's currently lying on one of your beds. He knocked himself out."
Rick looked at her curiously. "You have strange friends."
X
Audrey stiffened as she saw Joel heading towards her. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Why do you need to know?"
"'cause in case you've forgotten, your boyfriend just happens to be a good friend of mine. Aren't you supposed to be with him?"
"He's busy." She quickly answered.
Joel looked at her doubtfully. "Sure."
"He's got a biology paper to write. Ask him."
"I don't need to. I know he's got one. But he still made plans. What's wrong with you Audrey? You know, if you don't want to be with him, go tell him, for God's sake."
Audrey's eyes flashed. "You know nothing!"
"Then what are you doing here?"
She paused for a moment. "Burning time."
"Bullshit."
"I'm not lying. I'm just staying here til he's gotten home. 'kay?"
"He? As in – "
Audrey cut in. "Not a word, Joel! Not one."
He shook his head. "I can't believe you! I know him better than anyone, okay, so don't you think you should be taking my advice and staying clear of him?"
"It's not like that."
"Maybe, maybe not. But he wants to make it like that. You're not his first."
"We're not in any sort of relationship, Joel." She told him calmly.
"You're still flaunting yourself in front of him. It's cheap."
A quick, stinging slap landed upon his cheek, and before he could say another word, she'd darted off out of sight. Joel sat on the lounge, staring at nothing in particular, wishing that things could return to the more simple days of the year's beginning. But he supposed that was too much to ask for.
X
Connie sipped her drink as she listened to Rick tell her about the medicine degree he was working for. "And I've somehow got to do this paper before Monday."
She laughed. "Sounds a bit like high school."
"Yeah, a bit." He rested his head back against the wall. "But college parties are way better than this." He nodded his head at the drunken, chicken dancing Junior whose clumsy feet had intruded the space where they sat on the floor. Connie smothered a laugh.
"You're going to have so much fun cleaning this up tomorrow."
He groaned. "I know. I hate my brother."
"He's strange. He doesn't even like the Ducks, but he'll invite them to his parties...maybe Sam has a bit of a say in the guest list. He's a nice guy. Actually, he's with my friend at the moment."
Rick frowned. "Huh? Julie? But, she's with Scooter..."
Connie shook her head. "Not Julie, Sophie – you probably don't know her."
"No...so, how's your other friends. How's Banks?"
"He's good. He's with Linda."
He stared. "What, the Greenpeace chick?"
Connie couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, but she's a lot less radical."
"Uh, wasn't she with Captain Duck?"
"Didn't work out. He's with Audrey now – or at least, we think so."
"And so, is Banksie still star player?"
"Yeah. Why so interested?"
Rick leaned back, and let out a breath. "Well," he said "we were a bit harsh on him. He's actually a good kid." He laughed at Connie's surprised expression. "You shouldn't be so surprised, you know, I'm not exactly the devil incarnate."
The girl blushed. "I'm sorry. It's just – "
"Yeah, a lotta shit happened." Rick told her, somewhat uncomfortably. He stared about the lively room for a while, and was about to open his mouth again when another voice sounded above them.
"Connie? What are you doing?"
X
Walking unsteadily about on towering stilettos, Danni Porter collapsed onto the lounge and began massaging her feet. "You really shouldn't have worn those – they're a death trap." She looked up.
"Joel!"
"Um, hi. Are you okay?"
"Sure, just a bit sore." She smiled, feeling elated. He looked so damn hot, even if he was a touch broody. "And you?"
He shrugged. "Wishing I never came."
She frowned. "Why, what happened?"
"Got into a bit of a disagreement with a friend. But that's over and done with now. I suppose I'd best be going."
Danni panicked. "What? You haven't been here that long."
"An hour is long enough." He replied, noting the girl's disappointment. He knew she liked him, but had no idea why. "Danni...why are you interested in me?"
The cheerleader stared back, unsure what to say, and the best way to say it. "Because I am... you're not like the other guys. You're not rich, or insensitive. And you're really hot. But I guess I didn't say any of that right."
He had to smile, just a bit. A cheerleader, trying to be sincere...it was almost beyond belief. "But you don't actually know me. Danni, I appreciate it, but-"
"That's okay. It's cool."
"Danni, I think the alcohol has done some damage. You're being way too calm." He looked at her. She did look a bit worse for wear. "Here, I'll take you back to school." Picking her up, he carried her to the front porch, momentarily leaving her to call a cab.
"Joel?"
"Mmm?"
"Thankyou."
He shrugged. "You're welcome."
X
"Guy!"
"Connie, why are you talking to him?" he asked.
His girlfriend shrugged, standing up. "He talked to me, and I answered. You took a long time with those drinks." She replied awkwardly.
"I had to defuse a fight between Portman and one of the morons on the soccer team."
Connie nodded. "That was good of you. Um, have a nice night Rick." She said, looking down at where he continued to sit on the floor. She then followed Guy out of the room, walking down a long hall and eventually exiting the house. They stood silently on the porch until Connie spoke up. "Guy, honey what's the matter?"
He turned his head and gave her an incredulous look. "You were talking to Rick? I'm sorry, but have you forgotten Freshman year?"
Connie scoffed. "No, ofcourse not. He was a real prick."
"Then why?"
"I couldn't exactly be rude – it's his home!"
"But you didn't have to get all cosy either."
Connie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sitting on the floor getting stepped on by random wasted people is real comfortable. Come on Guy, you're making a big fuss over nothing. So, how about that drink?"
"Looks like you've already got one." He said, eyeing the half empty bottle in her hand.
She looked down and sighed. "He offered it to me. Guy, seriously, you're overreacting."
He shook his head. "He happens to be home from college, he happens to appear when I am gone, he happens to have a spare drink, and he also happens to talk to you without being fobbed off...he's trying hard."
"Don't be ridiculous. I think he was just bored."
"Well, I don't!" he yelled at her.
Connie took a step back, a hurt look on her face. "Then fine, think whatever you want, because if you insist on being so darned petty, then I think I need to have some time to myself."
"You go do that." Guy told her, turning away. "I'll see you when I see you."
XXX
A/N: Am currently offering virtual chocolate to all whom review. I love you, and your advice, very much! If there's no reviews, I'll begin to doubt if that anyone is liking the direction, and stop altogether.
