Lost In Conversation
Chapter Ten: The Beast and the Harlot (starting with Timmy's POV)
" OH. MY. FUCKING. GOD!!!! I just can't believe this!"
And so it has begun.
" I just don't believe it! Do you, Timmy?"
The bitching.
" That plan was FULL PROOF! It was perfect! What the hell could have gone wrong?!"
Oh yeah, let's just forget that this 'perfect' plan was based on the hunch that Vicky would go in the same order as always. Please.
"It's like she gets everything she wants! Like everyone covers for her!"
Yes, everyone's ganging up on poor sweet little Trixie.
" I swear the entire universe is on her side! WHY HER?! She's nothing special! She's a dweeb, a hack, A WITCH! I'm way better than she is!"
Anger doesn't excuse bad grammar.
" And you... you're not even listening are you?"
She whipped that wave of ebony hair back and glared at me with eyes as blue as a sheet of ice. I was caught off guard and nearly fell back so I grabbed the closest locker door to steady myself. Thinking hopefully a lot quicker than my reflexes, I babbled out; " Of course I am, baby."
Her glare hardened to the point where I thought shards of glass would shoot out at me at any moment. If that was any indication that she wasn't buying it.
" You are such a liar! You are the suckiest boyfriend ever! All you do is sit back and drool over that little tramp while she makes my life a living hell! And then when I try to enact some justice, you're absolutely no help!"
Sweet lord, spare me!
" You're on her side too, aren't you?! Tell me the truth!"
I've changed my mind. Just kill me.
" TIMMY! Answer me, dammit!"
This has gone far enough. " Of course not! In case you've forgotten, she doesn't necessarily like me either."
" Oh, BOOHOO! And I bet that just drives you crazy, huh?"
My eyes squinted instinctively. " And just what is that supposed to mean?"
Her eyes mimicked the motion. " Don't play dumbass, Tim, you know exactly what I mean. Every since, four eyes braceface became four eyes big boobs you've been slobbering over her like a horny dog!"
" Bullshit."
" It certainly is! You're dating me, you jackass. ME! Remember who I am? Trixie Tang, the richest, sexiest, and most popular bitch Dimmsdale High has ever held! You're fucking a queen yet drooling over a toad. It's absolutely insulting!"
" I'll tell you what's insulting, saying fuck when we haven't in months! All you've done your highness is rant on and on about that four eyed big boobed toad! So, what the hell do you expect me to do? I can't help but think about her because she's all you think about! Maybe you and I both should ask her out and have ourselves a good ol' fashioned menage a trois, then at least, that problem will be solved!"
A deathly silence. Then, my brain suddenly decides to work and point out the two things wrong with that last sentence. One, I just admitted to my girlfriend that I am attracted to another girl and two, I've just accused her of the same thing. The shade of red that Trixie's face was boiling to had long overpowered her red rogue and I had a hunch that if something were in her hands at the moment, it would've been crushed into microscopic particles... on top of my head. There was no way in heaven or hell that this was going to end well.
BANG!
I hadn't realized that my eyes were shut tightly until I clearly heard the stomping of a pair of 6-inch heels move away from me. One eye peeked open and caught a glance at the locker that had been smashed in by Trixie's well-manicured iron fist. Thanking whatever higher power out there that that wasn't my face, my feet scrambled towards the slender retreating back.
" Trixie, come on baby! I'm sorry, all right? I didn't mean it, you know I'm an idiot- I wasn't thinking about what I was saying at all. Talk to me babe, is there anything I can do for you--"
A set of five puffy pink nails signaled me to shut my ever-running mouth, and I willingly obliged. Several moments passed and I swore I had sweated a river down the hallway. What the hell was she thinking? What the hell was I thinking being in this situation in the first place? I heard a breath let out and the breath I'd been holding went with it.
" What you can do for me right now, is go get me a soda. I'm parched."
Her voice was so oddly calm and quiet, I thought it had come from someone else. Daring to move, I made my way back down the hallway and turned into the next one not once looking back to meet the hard stare I knew Trixie was giving me. Instead, I focused on doing the task given to me.
Just like a good little boyfriend.
(Trixie's POV)
Until I was sure he was down the hall and out of my sight, my eyes didn't leave his back. I thought for sure I told him to get rid of that purtrid shirt, it was making my eyes bleed! God, he was becoming such a pain in the ass. When did he suddenly decide to grow a dick anyway? And where did he get off giving me lip? Me? Six years ago, I could barely get him to stop dusting off the chairs I was about to sit down in, now, I can't even get him to open a door for me. This is not what I signed on for, where the hell did my little submissive bucktooth boy toy run off to? Or more like when...
" Alright there, Trixie?"
Surprise, surprise.
" Hm... dramatic entrance as usual, did you enjoy our little exchange then?"
Tootie gently pushed herself off the locker she was leaning on and casually walked over to me like she was queen of the whole goddamn world. Today's outfit was in her usually preppy punk fashion, a black long-sleeved sweater shirt with white cuffs and collar, a red-black plaid (ugh!) pleated skirt, black fish-net thigh highs, those god awful combat boots those punk chicks like to wear, with hand-cuff earrings and a red tie with a black cross on it (which I admit I liked) to top off the look. Her short hair which was normally pulled back by a headband was actually held up loosely by a red ribbon allowing her bangs to fall to the top of her glasses. I guess to some she might actually be considered cute.
" Didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but it's better than Physics." She stopped in front of me and leaned up with a wicked smile on her face. " I did quite enjoy being constantly referred to as a toad though. Four-eyed big breasted toad, that's definitely a new one on my books."
" Well, when it regards you, you haven't heard everything on my books." I retorted giving her a wicked smile of my own.
The mischievousness in her gaze deepened. " Hm, if I'm a toad then maybe if a prince kisses me I'll turn into a princess."
Stifling a laugh, I answered, " Sorry, but I only do the poetic crap with Timmy. Besides, if I recall correctly, it was a princess's kiss that made a frog a prince. A prince is supposed to kiss a princess, not a frog. Even so, I doubt there's a prince's kiss strong enough to make you royalty."
" Hm, then it seems my only hope is to kiss a princess." She leaned in a little more, the chilling gleam in those dark eyes admittedly shook me. It was then that my irritation subsided as I became more aware of the creature in front of me. Ghastly red lip color adorned those lips that oddly enough gave off the familiar scent of green tea and made her already ghostly skin almost transparent. Our breaths, though I held mine in as much as possible, were practically mingling. What really pissed me off was that unreadable smile on those lips... the same that took me years to perfect. Then it occurred to me how close we were...' Wait, she couldn't possibly be thinking...'
" Heh heh, looks like I need to search elsewhere..." That smile flashed something of a sneer then that head of short, black oily hair spun around as the vampire made her way up the hallway with her arms carefully tucked behind her back in an innocent manner. Stupid, cocky little bi-- w-wait, what?!
" Elsewhere? Ptfh, I'm the only princess around here you deluded little ingrate! This is my school, my kingdom, my subjects, my prince! You're nobody! Don't walk away from me, you stupid--UMPH!"
My poor face was met with the cold, grimy slab of the school floor.
Oh God, tell me that did NOT just happen.... and in front of HER!
The next few moments played out frame by frame like in an epic episode of Kissy Kissy Goo Goo. My head rose up, strands of disarrayed black hair covered my face, my ankle was throbbing, my lipstick was smeared on the floor and one of my Jimmy Choo heels had broken in half! But-b-but.... they were my favorite cherry red heels! And- *gasp*- my shiny new manicure... scuffed an--and, UN-SHINY!!!! Oh God, this is was even worse than the green thing! None of this was fixable before next period!!!
And the worst part of all, was knowing that those inhumanly black eyes (I never could figure out the true color of them behind those awful tinted specs) were on me the entire time. Gleeful. Amused. Mocking.
My slow rising halted as I sat back on my knees. My vision was still full of nothing of hair but for some queer reason it didn't matter at that moment. The corners of my eyeballs strained and then it occurred to me that I hadn't blinked the whole time. Clink Clink. I didn't have to look up or was it more that I didn't dare to...? The new veil of darkness mixing with my already pitch black locks was evidence enough of who (more like what) was in front of me. I continued to stare through my curtain of mane at the freshly waxed floor and avoided her face. I already knew what the expression was anyway. Cool, collected, smug. The kind of expression I'd have after catching some socially deficient in a public display of mortification and embarrassment. I honestly can't remember when was the last time I could muster such confidence. It couldn't of been, no, it was. My eyes were fluttered in the temptation to lift themselves up to the figure hovering over me but I pulled them shut instead.
That day... that's all it was ever referred to as.
With the many changes that happened afterward, you'd THINK a better title would be given for it but, who can expect the feeble minded to be that creative? That day, a weeping, heartbroken, and completely humiliated Tootie Wicker ran from the schoolyard but didn't return that following Monday. The girl that returned in her place certainly looked like her and sounded like her so I thought I'd grace the Tootie look alike with my presence and of course, rub my newly acquired lovesick Timmy (God, I miss him) in her pale freckled face. This new Tootie didn't even blink as I ran my fingers across his cheek, down his chest, and up his arms causing him to shiver feverishly. She barely stifled a yawn as I demonstrated how loyal and devoted my boy toy was to me as he catered to me all through the day. Then, when I finally planted a wet one on his pink boyish lips, I got no reaction at all. No smart allecky retort, no defensive brave-heart die hard speech, no crocodile tears, not even a twitch or a blink. She just turned on her heel and went on to class as if she had just gotten done watching a janitor mop the floor. I was flabbergasted. The kids whispered amongst each other: "Was she sick?" "In denial?" "Still in shock?" "An evil twin?" "Had she finally gotten over Timmy?" Or worse, was she just plain IGNORING ME? Everyone got their answer at the very end of the day when a canon of old, melted valentine's day chocolates shot out at me from my locker. Courtesy of a Miss Deep Toot.
I knew she did it then. And every time after that. There was just never any evidence. Just the smirk that played across her face every time she "happened" to be there to see it...which is ALL the damn time! But Tootie never getting caught wasn't the most important detail (though it was damn frustrating). No... what mattered was that at least I still had her attention. It was proof that I was still wort--able to be the center of someone's universe... even if the attention was negative... it was still attention ... right?
*chuckle**chuckle*
Ugh, her laughter sent freezing chills down my spine and sat in my stomach like gruggling bubbles. The kind of effect I wish I could cause. God, who the hell was I kidding anymore? The only attention I still had was the abuse of this beastly wench and the stares I'd get after she managed to change my hair or skin a new color. I can't even hold my boyfriend's interest anymore, I don't get nearly as many compliments and Valentine day presents as I used to. Veronica has almost chewed apart the leash and I'm barely on speaking terms with Tad and Chad. My subjects... my classmates... my school.... were starting to abandon me. What's a princess without her followers? Could she even be called one at all...?
" If you're through lying on the floor, you'd better get up. This lunch period is almost done."
The growl that escaped my throat sounded foreign to my own ears yet gave me just enough bravo to look up. The crimson smile was expected but it was the extended hand that threw me off. So mocking were the prostrate digits with their tips coated in black polish. So smug was that painted smile. So... so... me. Yet, not me. No, those black orbs may have carried the amusement mine would've had if the roles were reversed but at the same time they hid something sinister.... something wicked.... something that made my back erect and my palms wet.....
Pink eyes and strands of red hair metamorphosed in front of me.
That should have been the crack in the dam that broke.
But no... it was what was on top of the transformed Tootie's head that choked out the first sob.
And the condemnation that came from it's appearance that strangled out the rest.
" What is it, princess?"
I know I shouldn't have done it... it was so unbecoming of me.
" Trixie?"
But that thin strip of shimmering silver molded into strips which dipped and peaked at just the right places glittering with precious speckles of jade and emeralds.... sneered at me with-with... disdain?!?! But I'm... I.... I...
" Hey prin--"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(Tootie's POV)
Are you serious?
Are you FUCKING serious?
She was crying.
No-no-no-no--- BAWLING like a newborn spring chicken!
No. Seriously, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
This was not the scenario had I in mind when I ditched class to follow Trixie and Timmy (who I guess were skipping class as well since they had the same lunch period as I did) from the Gym and properly soak in the tantrum she'd surely throw after seeing her "brilliant" little scheme fail. As if I could POSSIBLY miss all the bragging that nitwit did to her so-called girlfriends that morning in the Girl's bathroom. COME ON. How can you be that much of a thick-headed, gossiping lunatic? She would've actually had me if her ginormous mouth hadn't betrayed her. I could have avoided the trap altogether but what fun would've been found in that? The look on both Turner's and Tang's face was beautiful when they saw Vicky ascend the rope in my place. Vicky has gotten pathetically soft (at least with me). It was pure dumb luck that Chip happened to be there though I do believe some divine involvement of the fairy kind had something to do with him getting there in time to break her fall... I'll have to ask the twins. The whole affair was a terrible diversion, if anything else. I had wanted to start planting the seeds of my nefarious plot earlier but little Miss Thrist for Revenge side-tracked me ( though I must admit that it was my own temptation that led me to grease Turner's hand, hehe). But, the sooner the seeds are planted, the riper the end results will be when I harvest them. And God, that first bite will be sweet...
" WAAHHHHH!!!!"
For the love of Poe, how I could I forget that high-heeled, superficial assault on my ears?!
" Trixie...?"
The bawling only got louder.
"TRIXIE!"
Still no change.
Time for a different tactic.
Slowly I lowered myself to the floor, flattening my skirt (out of habit to make sure no one who happened to pass would get a free peep show) and rested on my knees. Without fully realizing it at first, my hand had reached out and started pushing the long mess of black hair back out of her face. The round but oddly thin face that usually was painted from brow to chin was streaked with runs of black coal and where the mouth would be was just a long smudge of red rogue. Yikes. I leaned forward, snaked my arms around Trixie's shapely yet still weirdly rail thin torso, pulled her in and rested my chin on her left shoulder. The noise had subsided a little and gradually fell to sniffling and sobbing. A few more sniffles and a slight cough and then she was quiet. Thank the heavens and all of Fairyworld.
I pulled back and found red rimmed orbs of sheet ice unconvincingly glaring at me while tears continued to flow out of them. There was something else in those eyes.... I couldn't quite make it out though. I couldn't even figure out what had just happened. I began, " Now, what on Earth was all that about? "
The tearful eyes squinted then went wide and after going side to side fretfully, decided to lock on with mine. She licked her lips debating on a response. Normally I'm a very patient person, perhaps too patient at times but this wasn't one of those times and the situation wasn't at all normal. My fingers began tapping furiously at the floor beneath me only stopping when my already wrought out nails began to ache. When that tongue swiped across that lip for the umpteenth time, I finally spoke again. " Ok, if you don't want to tell me then fine but at least get up so we can get you prissy-fied before next period." Really, I don't want to be the one responsible for releasing this train wreck on an unsuspecting class.
The sniffling mess before me nodded and started to rise. Placing her hands on my shoulders to steady herself, we both rose up at the same time supporting the other's weight. I was then pulled in and felt a head rest on my shoulder. Did she think we were friends now or something? Pfth. My hands moved to pry her off when something struck me like a lightening bolt. This... this was perfect! A golden opportunity that had fallen right in my arms and my irritant mind nearly threw it away. If Trixie's clinging to me like this now....
My fingers stopped themselves midway and then carefully started rubbing circles in her back. Somehow, her grip tightened (I already could barely breathe as it was, damn that girl was strong!) and words of comfort flowed from my tongue as easily as any and every lie I've ever told my sister. All frivolous, of course.
"There, there, princess. Hush now. I'm here for you now." I murmured with as much maternal lace as I could draw up without sounding sardonic.
Some more sniffles. " Si- sin-since wh-when do-d you care, *sniff* what h-happens to me?" Her voice was weak with it's skeptism and I could safely say that victory was in plain sight. She loosened her grip and pulled back so we were face to face. She took the back of her hand and carefully rubbed her Rudolph nose. Her eyes... that un-nameable look was still in them and I had to admit that it frightened me a little. Just a little though.
" Tootie... wh-why does... " She cleared her throat and started again. " The way Timmy looks at you now... why doesn't he look at me like that anymore?"
Urm, duh. Because he's a horny self-centered troll that jumps on the freshest piece of tits and ass he comes across.
I kept my tongue from echoing that original thought then pieced together the 'sincerest' answer I could get out. " Aw, what're you talking about. He still loves you, believe me. Pink hat, buck tooth has a one-track mind, old habits and feelings die hard with an attention span that short."
But she shook her head vehemently. " No.... it's different... he's different now. Or maybe I'm different and just haven't realized it. But... I know for sure he's no longer interested. Like, he used to hold doors for me, pull out chairs, carry my things, brush my hair... Tootie... he doesn't even kiss me anymore or barely look at me.... a-a-and..."
Oh lord, please no more bawling.
"... a-and.... he used to tell me every single day how pretty I am. I can't even remember the last time he told me that!" Her head fell into her palms at that confession and the sobbing commenced.
Another sign left my throat and I swore a headache was coming on. " Come on... you can't really be worried over a small detail like that.." (nevermind the other major details) " You're still the prettiest girl in school regardless of how many times you're told. I know that, everyone else knows that, and I'm sure you know it as well."
She slowly lifted her eyes up to my waistline. "Really?"
"Absolutely." The strained grin that found it's way on my face hurt like a bitch. God, when was the last time I geniunely smiled...?
" Then tell me."
Huh?
" Tell you...?"
" Tell me that I'm pretty."
Was she serious?
"... you're pretty?"
"Again."
There goes that queer look in her eyes....
Then I registered that she had asked me to repeat the phrase and with godly strength, I held my tongue back from telling the bitch to shove off. It's to destroy Turner, it's to destroy Turner. The mantra helped me swallow my pride.
" You're pretty."
Her eyes... got dewy and more hazed with that emotion that I couldn't for the life of me place. Something dangerous was happening...
" One more time... please...?"
I honestly don't even want to know how ridiculous my face probably looked at that moment...
....when I realized too late what that look was...
....it was the same one that Timmy had before he kissed me.
"Hold up! I was just messing with you earlier, you dingbat! I'm not actually interested!"
My mind wanted to scream that at her but something glued my mouth shut (yes...perfect time to show restraint) and some superior force of gravity refused to allow me to move or even let me slide my arms away from her body as Trixie leaned closer.
Our lips were barely an inch apart and the only thing my lips could do was mumble those two words a final time. " You're pret--"
clank
shiiizzzzzz
A soda can rolled past us with the fizz shooting out of the bursted bottom where it had been dropped. I looked past Trixie and over her shoulder into the saucer sized eyes of the beast himself.
(Timmy's POV):
I blinked once.
Twice.
And still the hallucination wouldn't go away.
Because that's what it had to be. No way in hell the scene in front of me was actually real. Tootie with her arms around my girlfriend as she tries to kiss her? Nah. Even my wildest perverted fantasies acknowledged that this scenario was simply improbable. But... then it couldn't be a figment of my imagination. So this had to be...
" You clumsy dolt! You dropped my soda!" Trixie swung around and placed hands on hips with a cold stare in my direction.
What the hell was this about a soda? Oh...---OH! I quickly fell to the ground like a soldier dodging a bullet and grabbed for the can that was still rolling down the hallway. My arm was completely soaked by the time I caught it and made my way back towards Trixie. Tootie still stood there, eye twitching, jaw slack, and looking even more confused than I felt. Damn... even with that crazy look on her face she's still hot...
" And what took you so fucking long anyway?"
My attention was brought back to the woman in front of me and I internally cringed at the normally perfectly painted face that now favored a deranged clown. I barely had time to respond before she snatched the can out of my hand with a disgruntled look.
" Ugh, can't you do anything right? It was a simple task, go get me a goddamn soda and not only does it take you two million years to get the fucking thing, but then you drop it! Completely useless." She tossed the can into a conveniently placed trash bin and replaced her hands on those dangerously curved hips.
Stuttering, I tried the best I could to explain my delay though what I really wanted to ask was what the hell happened here. " The s-s-soda machine on this side of the school was broken so I had to go to the cafeteria. Then I got held up in the line there... t-then I realized I needed change so I had to convince the lunch lady to break my twenty, then I had to get back and line and--"
" Just forget it. Lunch period isn't that far off anyway. Let's go." She turned her back, shoes in hand (hold on, when did she take those off?), that long sable (and tangled? What the fuck?) hair swaying in the somehow always present breeze and proceded down the hallway. Tootie remained in her comical state.
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!!!
I wanted so badly to yell that exact thought but the bell rang ripping through any sound that might of came out of my mouth. Instantly, Tootie was brought back to this world. Giving me an uncharacteristically blank stare, we continued to stare at each other even as the other students began filling the halls. Perhaps it was wishful thinking, but I swear for a split moment I saw something akin to the loving sparkle that used to be ever present in those big black eyes. It was only 5 years ago when I last saw that look and yet my heart leapt with the happiness of two lovers seeing each other again after eternity and a day. Except you were never lovers... not even friends... can't really blame Tootie for that though. I know, I know. Still, I couldn't stop the slight grimace I felt my face twist into at that thought. A few more moments passed...then she turned and faded into the sea of chattering teenagers.
Trixie must have missed me by now, if she had her shoes on, I'm sure I'd be able to hear those heels clacking right now. But why was she walking around barefoot? What happened to her hair? Why was she trying to lock lips with her supposed sworn enemy? Why Tootie? Why does she seem to be the epicenter of everything remotely wrong or weird going on in my life?
And why did I have this sinking feeling like everything that had happened so far was only the beginning?
I turned on my heel and started on to class also, the image of Tootie standing there shock still with Trixie in her embrace as the latter leaned in was still fresh and the sting still strong. It's not everyday that a guy finds out that his whore of a girlfriend is actually attracted to other girls, in particular, the girl he's in love with. So many questions and I doubt anyone was going to give me the answers. One question remained, the one that didn't dare enter the forefront of my mind but lingered in my heart searching for a way to form words. Without a conscious effort, it escaped in a breath that could barely be counted as a whisper:
... was it consensual.... Tootie?
F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!
If you're happy about finally seeing this chapter, let me tell you, I can't began to describe how happy I am to finally have this thing done! This chapter has been written, lost, rewritten, revamped, re-visioned, then lost again, rewritten, then put on hold, now it's finally fineto (did I spell that right?). This chapter has given me more hell and headaches than anything I've ever written (yes, that includes my senior project, which was ridiculously easy anyway I just hate quoting sources and the like, oh, I'm rambling) and I have to thank my friend, Travis for giving me an extra push to finish it. I can only hope that you enjoyed the final product (well, not final because I still have to edit it, I'm rambling again, aren't I?). And oh god, I just realized how long it is! I think it's even longer than 'Resemblance'! Ok, let's talk about the contents of this chapter.... yeah.... did things get too weird for you? XD When the idea of Trixie's and Tootie's encounter first came to fruition, I kinda scared myself a little (I have nothing against homosexuality mind you, I was worried about if I could pull it off) But in the end, I couldn't imagine the story moving forward in any other fashion. Actually, it moved things along faster than I originally planned, so hooray for slight shoujo-ai!
As I usually be--ask, leave a review. I really want to hear your thoughts, predictions, suggestions, criticisms, pure loathing... pretty much anything but spam. I know some may think reviews are just meant to stroke a writer's ego... and they are correct. Even so, those little encouragements and criticisms really do make a difference in the long run. Many of us are just tweens/young adults with lots of free time on our hands and a head full of ideas who are just expressing our creativity with a computer and keyboard, some may actually go on to be successful novelists or screenwriters... either way, it helps to have a little push. Just remember that anytime you read someone's work on this site, they took their free time to provide you with entertainment, the very least you can do is give them that small push in return. I'm not good at this myself but I'm trying to get better at leaving reviews, I can only ask that you'll do the same.
Wow... this was a long author's note... and dammit, I rambled again!
No more rambling next time,
Ranma Matsuri
P.S. The audience has fled. The ninja bunnies are on the hunt as I speak.
[Update]:
Next Chapter: Life's Gonna Suck When You Grow Up.... It Already Sucks Pretty Bad Right Now (Starting with Chip's POV)
Another two part chapter, hopefully it'll see the light of day a lot sooner than this one did. :P