Can't Touch This: Chapter 11
Katrina confidently lead her girls onto Brighton Academy campus. "Ehmagawsh! I can't buh-leive we're actually here!" Hallie squealed. Katrina rolled her emerald green eyes, acting bored; as if she interacted with boys on a daily basis, which was so nawt true, otherwise her stomach wouldn't have been fluttering with a million butterflies. "Heyyy there." Katrina teased a cute boy with light floppy brown hair and turquoise-blue eyes. He widened his eyes to see if she was actually speaking to him. "Hey. So, I haven't seen you girls around here often." He joked casually. "You're Katrina right? Yeah, I got an invite to the party. By the way, I'm Darren, Darren Walsh." The cute boy stuck out his hand to Katrina, who hesitated; then casually shook his hand. Katrina bit her lower lip to stop from grinning like an idiot.
"Hey Darren! Who's the hot chick you're flirting with?" A blond guy with shaggy hair and a playful flicker in his clear blue eyes strolled up to Darren and punched him in the shoulder. Darren blushed, and Katrina mentally noted how cute his blush was. Ehmagawd! She was actually thinking about this? That meant she was totally in crush mode, Version 1.0. "Sup, I'm Jared." Blondie waved, and Katrina waved back with a half-smile. "Uh, can I get your number?" Darren asked shyly. Katrina's grass green eyes widened. "Sure. Just hand me your phone and I'll program it in. My number's a bit hard to remember." Katrina said smoothly. Behind her, Rayna and Hallie giggled. "Hey, I'm Jared." Jared stuck his hand out to Rayna and blushed. Rayna smiled and blushed too. "Rayna." She giggled. Perf! Now only Hallie needed a cute guy.
Darren handed Katrina his wafer-thin iPhone and blushed. Soon, another friend of Darren and Jared's walked up. "Hey Darren, Jared. So, are you guys back on the lacrosse team? Season's not gonna be right without you two troublemakers." The new guy said. He noticed Hallie and smiled softly at her. Hallie blushed, crimson spreading across her pale cheeks. "Hi, I'm Joshua. But you can call me Josh." He said. "You must have already met the captain and star goalie of the Brighton Academy lacrosse team, Darren and Jared. They also happen to be my best buddies and total idiots." Darren and Jared glared at Josh and both slugged him in the arm. "I'm Hallie." Hallie smiled. "Uh, do you want to hang out sometime tomorrow?" Darren asked Katrina shyly. Ehmagawd! Coyly, Katrina tapped a finger on her high-glossed lips.
"I'd love too." Katrina said. Darren sighed in relief. Jared looked at Rayna. "Hey Rayna, I'd love to go out sometime, can I get your number?" Rayna giggled excitedly and told Jared her number. Katrina grinned. Now Hal was the… Nevermind. When Katrina turned around, Hallie was exchanging phone numbers with Josh. Katrina breathed a sigh of relief. She snuck a glance at her Coach watch and squealed. "Ehmagawd! We're gonna be late! Sorry guys, gotta go! We'll call you guys later!" Katrina grinned and turned on the heel of her riding boots and speed-walked to the exit with Rayna and Hallie trailing close behind. She stole a glance back at the guys, and was pleased to see dumbstruck smiles spread across their faces.
"Ehmagawd! I am soooo in crush mode right now!" Katrina squealed in the limo as Marcus tried to find a spot in the drop-off zone. "GIRLS! Hurry up and get out or you'll be late!" Marcus shouted. Giggling, Katrina, Rayna, and Hallie scrambled out of the limo and speed-walked to their classes. "I wonder if Alexia's here today…" Katrina pondered. "Nah. Probably not. I mean, would you show up after you were humiliated in the hands of the CTT? I sure wouldn't." Rayna quipped. "Good point Ray. Very good point." Katrina nodded. "Text me with deets if you see her, kay? Bye now." Katrina ordered as she marched off to art.
While Ms. Soprano droned on and on about the color palette for a stupid watercolor painting they were doing, Katrina thought about Alexia. 'Should I tell Alexia the actual theme? Nah. But… I already destroyed her reputation, I think humiliating her again would be going too far.' Katrina mentally decided. She reached into her purse and discreetly pulled out her white iPhone. 'Remember to get a purple iPhone case with glitter.' Katrina made a mental note. She looked around and typed up a text for Alexia.
Katrina: Srry I hurt you so much. Don't worry, we're even. But you should know… the theme is actually fairytale ending. I didn't want to hurt you anymore. Welcome back. Meet me at my house, 3:05 plz.
Alexia: No, I deserved it for ditching you guys. Srry about that. 4given. C ya at 3:05.
Katrina: Great! Thx x10.
Alexia: x10.
Alexia instinctively stiffened at the beep! of her iPhone. Was it Katrina and the CTT? Coming back to haunt her? Alexia tentatively fished the phone out of her purse and tapped on the message. It was from Katrina. Alexia's heart beat quicker as she read Katrina's text. Katrina's forgiving words filled her with happiness! By now, Alexia didn't even care about revenge. She was just glad Kat had finally forgiven her. Katrina usually wasn't the type of person to apologize, so this was special. Tears slid down Alexia's cheeks, only this time, they were tears of joy. She was back in! Yes! Alexia walked to her closet with renewed hope and confidence. She and her best friends were no longer at war with each other!
Katrina's fingers trembled above the keypad. Saying sorry was NAWT her thing. Accepting apologies was more like it. But this was Alexia. Katrina's freshly manicured index finger hovered over the send button. What would Alexia say? Would she shun her? Never talk to her again? Only one way to find out. Katrina took a deep breath and hit send. A slight satisfied but happy half-smile spread across her face. The iPhone vibrated in Katrina's warm palm. Bringing the phone close to her face, she rushed to read Alexia's response. Yes! They were back together! Katrina sighed happily. Things were returning to normal, the way they were supposed to be.
The day went by in a blur. Before she knew it, it was 3:00. The last bell rang, signaling the students that classes were over for the day. Katrina's phone vibrated. It was Darren.
Darren: Hey Katrina, I was wondering if you wanted to meet me at Starbucks tomorrow.
Katrina: Luvvv to! What time?
Darren: How does 5:00 sound?
Katrina: Perf!
Darren: Then it's a date. C ya there.
"AHHHHHH!" The girls screamed in the limo as they went to pick up Alexia. "He asked you out!?" Rayna shrieked. "Yup." Katrina smiled smugly. "EHMAGAWD! Will miracles ever cease?" Hallie yelled. Marcus glared at them and raised the soundproof glass partition. "We're picking up Alex." Katrina mentioned casually. "WHAT?!" Rayna and Hallie screamed. "How? WHY?" Hallie demanded. Katrina smiled sheepishly and showed them the texts from Alexia. "EHMAGAWSH!" Rayna and Hallie screamed again. "Yay! Now the CTT is back together!" Rayna cheered. Katrina nodded, keeping her cool, but internally, she was running around in crazy circles and jumping up and down and screaming; celebrating that she and her best friends were reunited. Soon, the limo pulled up on the driveway of Alexia's estate, like it had just a week ago before they fought. The girls squeal-screamed when they saw Alexia and hug-squeezed her when she slid into the limo. "Gawd. It's like you haven't seen me in a week!" Alexia joked. The sparkle returned to her bright Tiffany-box blue eyes. Katrina hugged her best friend extra hard. "Let's get going!" She called to Marcus. "We have damage control to do."
Alexia had never been happier in her life. As soon as she walked out the front door, the girls had hug-tackled her; Katrina in the lead. "AHHHHH! Get offa me!" Alexia cried playfully. Finally. The CTT was back, and now they could dominate 7th grade, alpha-style. And Alexia would be apart of it again. Rejoining the CTT would mean an end to the jokes, teasing, and barrage of hate-texts. It would mean a chance to redeem herself, not only in the eyes of the CTT, but to everyone who witnessed her being totally and utterly humiliated. That would become gossip of the past, her past; and she would dive into the future with the CTT, full-speed ahead. Alexia couldn't wait. She got a chance at a clean slate, and this time, she was determined to keep it clean.
"…And, that's why I have a date tomorrow!" Katrina squealed as she told Alexia about Darren and their date tomorrow. "EHMAGAWD!" Alexia shouted. She hasn't been this cheerful, since… Katrina shook her head. She'd rather not think about their bitter feud. "I will totally become your servant tomorrow. You must look your best for your date. I pinky-promise, that you will look drop-dead gorgeous for your date, or my name isn't Alexia Kristiana Duristan!" Alexia declared. Katrina giggled. It felt good to have her best friend at her side again. "And of course, we'll help you find a new dress on Thursday! We'll shop at BCBG. Hallie swears they work miracles." Katrina said. Hallie nodded assent. Katrina sighed happily. Life was returning to it's normal pattern, but now; it was even sweeter. Because now, she had a boyfriend to deal with. And lucky for her, Katrina had an army of highly fashionable, smart, funny, and ah-mazing BFFs to help her. And Katrina was determined never to let go of that.