Disclaimer: I only own Katelyn Westlake, Kyle Westlake, and Tyler Najimy. Any similarities to real people/places/or things are purely coincidences, and unintentional on my part.
AN: If you like it, leave a review. If you don't, don't leave a review.
Summary: Katelyn and Kyle Westlake are sent to like with their grandparents after parents have financial trouble. Grandparents ship them off to Waverly Academy. Austin is reluctant, but Katelyn is ecstatic. Her boyfriend, Tyler Najimy, had been sent there about 6 months ago, half-way through Somophore year. This will be the first time she'll have talked to him in person since them. But once she sees him, how long will the happy high last?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: OKAY, I KNOW SOME STUFF MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE, BUT I DON'T WANT EVERYTHING TO BE LIKE THE BOOKS, OKAY? GOOD.
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chapter 10
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The town of Rhinecliff seemed to be mostly a tourist type of town, with lots of little shops and kiosks everywhere. It went from ridiculously expensive to dirt-cheap, which worked for everyone because not everyone in Rhinecliff was rich. "What do you guys want to do first?" Brandon asked.
"Well, I was thinking we could eat before shopping..I'm so hungry and once I start shopping I don't stop 'til I literally feel like I'm going to drop..so I need fuel." Katelyn said. Jenny agreed so the girls led the boys across the street to Ritoli's.
Jenny shuddered as she entered the restaurant. She hadn't been in there since the time she came with the Cafe Society. She hoped Angelo wasn't working. The group sat down in a booth and picked up the menu's. "What kind of pizza do you girls want?" Easy asked Katelyn and Jenny, who were seated across from him, Brandon, and Tyler.
Jenny and Katelyn looked at each other. "I want Veggie." Katelyn said quickly.
"I want..well..I don't care. Veggie is fine." Jenny told them. "What about you guys?"
"Pepperoni." all three guys said together. Katelyn groaned. She DESPISED pepperoni.
Brandon noticed her disgusted expression. "Something wrong, Kate?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah..I HATE pepperoni!"
Tyler laughed. "Ahah! I totally forgot! Remember Amy's 15th birthday when they had only pepperoni, you refused to eat any and when Josh put some infront of you you pushed it in his face!"
Katelyn blushed. "He KNEW I hated it. I warned him!"
"You hate it THAT much?" Eash asked, clearly astonished. Katelyn nodded.
"Ever since my little yorkie died because my cousin left a stick of pepperoni open in his basement. We went to his house and lily found it while me and his sister were watching a movie. She ate it, got sick, and we found her dead. It was awful. I haven't eaten pepperoni for 2 years."
Everyone was dead silent for a second, then their waiter, a 20-something-but-looked-40 year old lady with fuzzy curls and a big nose, appeared. "What can I get y'all?" she asked.
"I can compromise," Katelyn announced. "Is it possible to get a pepperoni pizza with two slices of veggie? I can't eat pepperoni.."
The waitress glared at her. "We've never had that request before," she snarled. "But I suppose it can be arranged. What to drink?"
"Water."
"Pepsi."
"Sprite."
"Water."
"Coke."
"Alright. I'll be right out with your drinks."
The waitress left and came back five minutes later, nearly spilling the drink tray all over them as she set it down and left. Katelyn and Jenny grabbed their waters and simultaneously slurped them down. "You might want to take it slower and save some for the pizza." Tyler laughed.
"Guess what, Ty." Jenny said in mock-sweetness.
"What?"
Katelyn smirked across at him. "It's water. Free re-fills."
Tyler stared at her before snapping out of it and slowly drinking some of his Pepsi.
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After lunch
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When everyone was done they paid the cashier, and left. Outside was cool, but not cold, so Katelyn took her sweater coat off and shoved it into her purse. "Okay, where do you want to go first Jenny?" she asked, her eyes glazing over at the thought of being able to shop all afternoon.
Jenny's eyes twinkled. "How about we go do something really crazy!" she cried, clapping her hands together excitedly. Easy eyed her warily and the guys looked back and forth between each other.
"Great idea!" Katelyn agreed, hyperly skipping around.
"Erm..what sort of crazy thing are you girls going to do..you know it can't be anything visible, you might get suspended.." Brandon warned.
"Oh, Brandon we know-"
Brandon raised his eyebrows at Katelyn.
"Shit, you're right. Jenny what're we going to do?" Katelyn asked.
Jenny shrugged as she surveyed the shops across the street, then her face lit up as she whispered something to Katelyn. Katelyn grinned broadly. "Isn't that a fun idea?" Jenny asked happily.
Katelyn nodded vigourously. "Omigosh, I've ALWAYS wanted to do that, I just never had the courage to! Let's do it!"
"Do what?" Easy asked.
Jenny and Katelyn glanced at each other. "Er...wecan'ttellyouwe'llmeetyouinAmericanEagleinanhourseeyalaterbye!" Katelyn blurted as she grabbed Jenny's hand and they ran across the street to 'Anything You Want'.
The girls watched the guys disappear into an arcade a few stores down before they went inside.
"Hello, what can I do for yahs?" a very tattoed and pierced girl asked them. She had barbell's through the conch in each ear, two lip piercings, her nose, 3 normal ear holes, plus her tragus and forhead(don't ASK), and her hair was shaved into a dyed-black fro-hawk with electric pink tips.
Katelyn and Jenny cowered a tiny bit before stepping up to the counter. "We would like out belly button's pierced, please."
"Okay, I need you to fill out these forms then come bring them to me."
Jenny and Katelyn shuffled over to a tiny table in the corner and filled out the forms before bringing them back to the girl at the counter. "Alright. Pay now or after?"
"Now, m'am." Jenny said.
"Please, my name is Lahkeesha."
"Alright, Lah-kee-SHA. Here are our 20 dollar bills, now pierce us!" Katelyn pouted.
"Whoa, first you ladies need to pick out rings." Lahkeesha said, pulling a tray of rings from beneath the counter into their view. Katelyn chose a plain silver one with a tiny diamon encrusted heart, and Jenny chose one similar but with a butterfly.
"Okay. Go sit in those two chairs, Tyrone and Mary-Alice will be with you shortly."
"Should'nt we have the antiseptic and stuff..." Jenny asked nervously.
A look of realization came over Ms. ugly-piercings-fro-hawk. "Oh..right. I forgot, come on. Lift up your shirts." she ordered before swabbing a large portion of their stomach's with antiseptic.
A few minutes later, when Katelyn and Jenny saw a scary straight-from-the-trailer-park looking mid-30's girl and a former-miss-whore-USA looking 20 year old approach them, they squeezed each other's hands. "Ready girls?" the former miss whore USA asked with a sugary voice. Katelyn and Jenny nodded tentatively.
"Okay, I need to to breath in." the old guy said as him and the girl clamped the belly button areas of Jenny and Katelyn.
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20 minutes later
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The two girls came out of the shop, clutching their sore tummy's as they slowly walked towards the arcade store. Brandon was the first of the guys to spot them, sitting painfully at a table near the entrance. "Shit, what happened to them?" he asked the other guys. Easy and Tyler looked up from the game they had been playing. When they looked at Katelyn and Jenny's hunched over figures they lost total concentration and followed Brandon over to them.
"Well she did say they'd be sore for a while-" Katelyn whispered to Jenny.
"What would hurt? What did you two do!" Easy asked, sounding quite concerned as he sat down at the enxt table with the othre guys.
"Shit." Katelyn muttered.
"Katelyn..you two didn't get tatoo's..did you?" Tyler asked.
Katelyn blanched. "Tatoos? Gross, no!"
"What'd you do?"
"Nothing!" Jenny snapped. "Now come on, we gotta go to Ralph Lauren. Katelyn and I want to get some sweaters and things for winter."
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3 hours later
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Three hours later Katelyn each emerged from Ralph Lauren carrying shopping bagsfull of 7 cashmere sweaters, all in 7 different pastel colours, 2 wool skirts(1 in gray, one in black), 1 pair of cordoroys, 9 pairs of jeans, 5 pairs of netreul colored tights, a cute white toque, a totally cute soft black newboys cap, a black fedora, a cute black peacoat, stylish brown winter boots, and 3 Ralph Lauren coat sweaters(1 in white, 1 in forest green, and one in brown).
Jenny came out carrying bags filled with 6 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of cordoroy's, 6 different cashmere sweaters, a pair of very nice white fur trimmed beige boots, a beige white fur trimmed pea-coat, mittens, a black cashmere jacket, and a plaid newsboy cap. Even though she now had an unlimited credit card, thanks to her mum being a kept woman and her mum's boyfriend, she was raised with relatively good spending habits, so she never over-spent.
"You guys got enough bags?" Easy asked as he heaved 3 of Jenny's bags, and 1 of Katelyn's. Katelyn carried 2 of her of her own, while Tyler had three and Brandon had two.
Jenny and Katelyn smiled at each other. "Nope!" the cried, running into the small Burberry shop next door. About 30 minutes later Katelyn came out with a classic burberry coat, scarf, hat, mits, and umbrella. "Okay, we're done." Jenny cried as she swung her bag, containing the same as Katelyn's, around.
"Let's get a cab back instead of waiting for the bus."
"We'll have to take two. Why don't you girls take one with your bags, we'll meet you there and help you in, okay?" Tyler offered. Jenny and Katelyn agreed and a little while later they were unpacking their stuff in their rooms. Although most of their new clothing ended up folded neatly and nicely under their bed.
Katelyn and Jenny had been sitting on their beds, duelling it out in a game of MSN tic-tac-toe, when Callie and Brett came in. "Where have you two beeeen?" Callie cried, flinging herself onto her bed.
"Uh..shopping."
"Well we can see that!" Brett cried with glee as she examined her roommate's new winter wardrobe.
"It's not officially winter for like, another few weeks."
"Callie, honey, winter in New York can start anywhere from late-october to mid-november. Rather safe than sorry." Katelyn patted her roommate's shoulder.
"Oh, pssh. Whatever." Callie brushed it off as she tried on the Burberry scarf and hat and placed her hand on her stuck-out hip, striking a pose in the mirror. "C'mon, Brett, take a picture!" Callie demanded, and Brett grabbed her digital camera, snapped it, then stuck it bag in her purse.
"Anyway, I got alot of homework to do guys, I'm going to the library." Katelyn announced as she realized she hadn't finished her latin homework. "I'll see you later." And with that Katelyn grabbed her laptop before going to the library, thinking about the winter season as she went.
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3 weeks later
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For the first time that year it was too cold for the students to just go in a t-shirt or button-down to chapel, so Katelyn decided to finally use one of her cashmere sweaters. She pulled a pastel violet coloured one out from the closet, and grabbed her beige ralph lauren miniskirt. She pulled them on, added some white tights, a pair of matching beige uggs, and grabbed her burberry scarf. She pulled on her Waverly blazer, wound the scarf around her neck, pulled her hair into a high ponytail before slapping on her old thick-white headband. She was almost late for chapel, she knew because her roommates were already gone. So she burst out of Dumbarton, past a few lingering girls who were always late, and slammed herself down into her chapel seat as fast as she could, quickly removing the blazer and scarf. Brett, who sat beside her, leaned over and whispered;"Where were you, Kate!"
"Sorry, had a hard time picking out what to where. This is the first below-zero day, after all." Katelyn admitted.
Brett smiled and turned back to listening to the chaplain.
Katelyn tried to listen, but it was very difficult. She was in pain for some reason so she fell asleep. Thank god she sat at the back of the chapel. Heath Ferro, who sits behind her, woke her up. "Yo, Westlake, you fell asleep. Get caught doing that and you have a huge work detail."
Katelyn thanked him quickly and sat up straight. This was going to be a long day, she could tell. She NEVER fell asleep in chapel before. After chapel was over she headed to first period and spent the entire time trying not to cry. Whatever it was, hurt really bad. Finally, during third period she decided she HAD to go see the nurse. "Mr..Mr. Donovan?" she asked weakly from her desk. Her classmates turned towards her.
"Yes, Ms. Westlake?"
"May I see the nurse, my stomach hurts really bad."
"Are you sure you can't make it 'til lunch?"
"Mr. Donovan! If I was sure I could make it 'til then I wouldn't have asked you!" she whined. Mr. Donovan rolled his eyes and waved his hands, dismissing her.
Katelyn left the language labs building and headed over to the infirmary, where the grade 11 & 12 third period merged on Monday's for CPR practice. The only thing that bothered her about that, was the fact that she had to pass through the room where they were to get to the nurses station, and Tyler, Callie and Brandon were both in that room. 'Greeeat' she thought miserably as she pushed the infirmary's door open and ambled slowly down the stairs, clutching her stomach and trying to keep her eyes from watering. When she reached the door she could here the boys and girls talking to each other, completely ignoring the teacher. Very quietly Katelyn slipped through the door, but it slammed loudly. Everyone looked up, including Tyler, Callie, and Brandon, who looked at her quizically. She raised her hand meekly and kept walking as if she had a broom up her ass. It hurt THAT bad. If this was...you know..it had never hurt that bad before.
"Excuse me?" she asked the lady at the desk. "I need to see nurse Collins. It's an emergency."
The receptionst, Regina, nodded. "Yes, have a seat I'll go get her. She's not with anyone right now anyway." Regina said as she toddled down the hall and knocked on the door.
"Someone's here to see you, Mary." she told Nurse Collins, who hurried out to the waiting room.
"Oh! Katelyn, what a...surprise!" Nurse. Collins said. "What's wrong, dear?"
Katelyn stood up, clutching her stomach. "I-well, it's..I don't know." she offered.
"Okay sweetie follow me." she said as she led Katelyn into an examining room.
"It just started this morning. I don't know what it is, if it's my..you know..it's never hurt this bad."
"Oh, hmm. Lay down on the table, Katelyn."
Katelyn did as she was told. Nurse Collins poked at her lower stomach for a minute or so before telling Katelyn to go into the washroom and check. Katelyn did as she was told, and well, it WAS that. "Nurse Collins?" Katelyn asked, emerging from the bathroom. "It was..but..why does it hurt that bad. Last month's was fine!"
"Well, Ms. Westlake, it varies from month-to-month. Are you on any other medication's that I do not know of?"
"Well the rehab put me on this pill to prevent me from relapsing into anorexia..but that didn't affect October's.."
"Okay then, I'm going to give you some medication to stop the pain. If it happens again next month, let me know."
I took the pills, gulped them down, and made my way quickly through the crowded classroom, the only one in the building.
The pills had made her feel better immediately, but instead of going back to 3rd period she decided to go back to her dorm and rest until lunch time. No one would really care.
On her way in, however, she heard Mrs. Pardee, Mr. Pardee and Dean Marymount arguing behind the Pardee's door. "Dean Marymount, how do you think the students are going to feel about that! That's an entire year they're missing!" Mrs. Pardee cried.
"Angelica, please! There are only about 47 students who will be participating in this study, and we have already notified their parents, who gave us full permission! These people will do anything to better their children's education. Plus, if they do, the colleges they've applied to have agreed to give them all scholarship's when they're finished! The only people it'll inconveinence is the contractor's who'll have to build another dorm because we simply need more room, which is not a big deal!"
Katelyn had heard enough. She scurried up the stairs to room 303 and flopped down on her bed. "What was he talking about!" she wondered aloud before drifting off to sleep. About 20 minutes later she heard the bell and woke up. After removing her blazer she slipped out the room and walked down to the dining hall.
She had begun to forget about the whole conversation she'd eavesdropped on about an hour earlier, when Dean Marymount stepped up onto the stage at the far end of the hall with a microphone. "ATTENTION, STUDENTS! WILL EVERYONE PLEASE SIT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!" The students dropped into the nearest seats.
"What's going on?" Tyler whispered to no one inparticular.
"Uh..I think this has something to do with what I told you I over-heard, even though I'm not sure what it was all over." Katelyn whispered as she turned her attention to the Dean.
"WAVERLY ACADEMY HAS BEEN SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A STUDY, THANKS TO OUR STELLAR ACADEMIC RECORDS. 47 STUDENTS, 35 GRADE 12'S AND 12 GRADE 11'S HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR."
"What the hell?" the grade 12's and 11's complained.
"Shhh. Shh everyone be quiet!" Angelica Pardee hollered.
"WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL OVER THE SUMMER. THE GRADE 12'S AND 11'S SELECTED, THAT IS. THE GRADE 12'S WILL PUT OFF COLLEGE FOR 3 MONTHS, BUT WHEN YOU ARE READY, YOU WILL RECIEVE A FULL SCHOLARSHIP IN THE FIELD OF YOUR CHOICE."
"What about the grade 11's!" Heath Ferro yelled.
"AH, YES. THE 7 SPECIAL GRADE 11'S, THE ONES WHO HAVE MANTAINED STRAIGHT A'S SINCE SEPTEMBER, ARE BEING PUT UP INTO GRADE 12, AND WILL BE DOING THE SUMMER PROGRAM ALONG WITH THE REGULAR GRADE 12'S. THEY TOO WILL GET A SCHOLARSHIP OF THEIR CHOICE TO THE COLLEGE THEY GET ACCEPTED TO."
"We haven't even applied to college yet!" a straight A grade 11 girl named Laura, yelled.
"NEXT WEEK THE 7 SELECTED GRADE 11 STUDENTS, AND THE GRADE 12'S WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN SPECIALLY DESIGNED TESTS. IF YOU FAIL THAT TEST YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO STAY AND FINISH OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR REGULARLY. THE ONES THAT PASS ARE THE ONES THAT WILL GO ON AND APPLY TO COLLEGES. ALL THE COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN TOLD OF THIS STUDY, SEEING AS THERE ARE 2 OTHER SCHOOL'S. WAVERLY WAS RANKED NUMBER 2 IN THE COUNTRY ACADEMICALLY. NUMBER'S 1 AND THREE ARE PARTICIPATING AS WELL."
"Will we be going to this longer summer thing with them?" and eager grade 12 ''nerd'', Gregory, asked.
"NO, YOU WILL NOT. YOU WILL BE LIVING HERE FOR THE SUMMER."
"What about vacation!" Tara Creamer, a girl who obviously wouldn't get picked but thought she would, complained.
"THERE WILL BE 3 WEEKS ALLOWED FOR A VACATION OF YOUR CHOICE, AND 2 WEEKS AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR TO GO HOME, PREPARE, AND SEE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS."
"Our parents will never allow this!" Josh Gravey, a super-smart, super-hot, grade 12 boy yelled.
"AU CONTRAIRE, MR. GRAVEY. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED YOUR PARENTS AND OBTAINED PERMISSION."
Everyone groaned. "OH COME ON, STUDENTS! JUST THINK, NO STUDENT LOANS, NO DEBT, 3 WEEKS OF PARENTAL-FREE VACATION, ACCESS TO WHATEVER YOU WANT! AS LONG AS YOU MAINTAIN YOUR GRADES!" Mr. Pardee hollered. Everyone cheered.
"There, Marymount. Unless you want them to rebel, I suggest you leave it at that." Mr. Pardee hissed before sitting back down.
"YES, YES..WELL, CARRY ON WITH YOUR LUNCH, CHILDREN. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE, DON'T HESITATE TO ASK. THE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW DURING CHAPEL."
Everyone went back to eating their lunch. The mood at Katelyn's table had changed completely.
"I wonder if we were all selected..." Brett mused, poking at her Ceaser salad. Callie, Easy, Brandon, Tyler, and Jenny looked at each other.
"I hope so." Katelyn sighed sadly. "If we're not, I'll never see you guys again after graduation!"
Everyone fell silent. "Wow." Easy said.
"Mmm." Katelyn agreed.
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Next morning - Chapel
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"ATTENTION, EVERYONE! BE QUIET, IM GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE STUDENT'S PARTICIPATING!" Dean Marymount bellowed.
Everyone sat up straight to hear if their name was going to be called. Brett grabbed Callie's hand, who grabbed Katelyn's hand, who grabbed Jenny's hand.
"Ackerson, Maria." he called, and a tall brunette girl went and stood beside him.
"Benson, Jaret." a tall blonde senior stood behind Maria.
"Buchanon, Brandon." Brandon grinned as he strode to the front of the chapel.
"Carmichael, Tinsley." Tinsley glided up to the front and stood on the other side of Dean Marymount.
"Ferro, Heath." Heath jumped up, and Katelyn's eyes widened.
"Heath is SMART?" she whispered to Brett, who nodded.
"Yeah, he may be an asshole, but he gets good grades."
"More like his daddy BUYS them for him." Callie hissed. Brett laughed.
"True, that's true."
They stopped talking and turnerd their attention back to the named.
"Francis, Sage." Sage tucked her hair behind her ear and delicately walked up.
"Gregory, Madison." Madison, a anorexic looking red-headed 11th grader stepped slowly to beside Jenny
"Garrison, Tru." Tru Garrison, a blue-eyed blonde skank in grade twelve skipped happily up beside Madison.
"Humphrey, Jenny." Jenny squealed delightedly as she ran to the front of the chapel.
Katelyn and Callie and Brett glanced at each other nervously. "Oh gosh, I hope we all make it! Summer vacation with you guys would be SO FUN!"
They all agreed.
About 27 names later Katelyn was growing nervous, until she heard.
"Messerscmidt, Brett." Brett smiled and ran up to join the others.
"Najimy, Tyler." Tyler looked at Katelyn across the chapel.
"St. Girard, Alan." Alan bumped fists with Easy before walking up casually.
A few names later relief truly washed over Katelyn.
"Vernon, Callie." Callie glanced at Katelyn nervously before letting go of her hand and prancing to the front.
"Walsh, Easy." Easy smiled as he strode up and gave Jenny a big hug.
"And last, but not least.."
Katelyn squeezed her eyes shut and silently prayed. If she didn't get called she'd be the only one of her group NOT going!
"Westlake, Katelyn." Katelyn stayed in her spot, eyes still shut, having not heard Dean Marymount.
"Ms. Westlake?" Dean Marymount bellowed. Katelyn's eyes snapped open and she dashed up to the front.
"Omigosh." she breathed, hugging her friends. "I didn't think I was going to make it. But we ALL did. That's so bizarre!"
"I know!" Jenny cried, hugging Katelyn. The boys, who had been on the other side of Dean Marymount, ambled over just as he said;
"OKAY, STUDENTS, BACK TO CLASS. THE SWITCH WITH THAT GRADE 11'S WILL BE MADE NEXT MONDAY. NO POINT IN DOING IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK."
Everyone went back to their normal routine after that.
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After supper
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After supper Jenny, Brett, Katelyn and Callie had gathered in their room with Tinsley. "Okay, girls. I say we go celebrate." Tinsley announced, pulling a bottle of grapefruit vodka from her messenger bag.
"Not me, I mean, no alcohol for me. I don't need a hang-over tomorrow."
"You guys, she's right. If we're caught with any illegal substances we're off the special study list, and it'd be really good for the college transcript, and a resume..." Brett mused.
"Is that all you THINK about, Brett? God." Tinsley muttered as she shoved the drink back into her bag.
"Fine. I'll go find your boyfriends. They'll drink with me!"
"You stay away from them, Tins. Go get Heath or something." Callie ordered. Tinsley rolled her eyes and stomped off.
After Tinsley left the girls decided to just relax. "I wonder what the purpose of this study is.." Katelyn mused, taking her hair out of it's ponytail.
"Why don't you go ask Pardee?" Callie suggested. "We all want to know."
Katelyn got up, put her slippers on, and padded down the hall to the Pardee's apartment. She knocked on their door and seconds later it was flung open. "Katelyn, hello." Mr. Pardee said tiredly, moving aside to let her in.
"Is Mrs. Pardee here?" she asked. He nodded.
"Angelica!" he hollered. Mrs. Pardee appeared moments later.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Well, I was wondering what the purpose of this study is."
"Well, years ago middle school used to be for grades 6-9, instead of the 3 years. We're trying it out to see how the extra time will affect students of this generation."
"Um, Mrs. Pardee...we're only staying for like, an extra 3 months. And we're not in middle school!"
"Yes, but we're taking this slow. Trying it out for a few months on the students who have the rest of their lives ahead of them instead of the young ones who still have several grades to go. We're going to see if it affects your grades in a good or bad way. If the outcome is good, we'll put middle school back to grades 6-9."
"What if the outcome is bad! We'll have participated for nothing!"
"You will still get your scholarships for participating, whether or not the outcome is good. We have faith in you kids."
Katelyn shrugged and turned to leave. She got back to the dorm and explained it to her roomies before falling asleep.
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Next afternoon
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The next day way Wednesday, and the first day of the Middle Schooler's(im pretending this is a grade's 6-12 school) exams, so the highschool students got afternoon off. Katelyn and Jenny were getting ready to go riding with Easy and Tyler(who had his horses, Gandolf and Coco sent up recently). Katelyn pulled on her black belted pea coat over her pink cashmere zip-up hoodie and dark Dolce&Gabbana skinny jeans, her classic berburry newsboy cap, scarf, black fur-trimmed wedge heeled boots, and her black mittens. Jenny pulled on her berburry coat, scarf, her tiny leather mittens, and her comfy beige fur-trimmed pink Uggs. There wasn't even snow on the ground, but there was a bitter cold wind, causing them to bundle up like that.
It was a long way across the campus to the stables. The cold wind whipped at the girls' hair, mussing it up, and turning their cheeks a cold pink. "I hope they're all ready when we get there." Jenny said, her teeth chattering as she pulled her scarf up more around her face.
"I know." Katelyn moaned as she followed suit with her scarf. "God, I never remembered it being this cold mid-November before!"
Jenny scoffed. "Probably Mother Nature paying us back for the wicked-hot summer."
Katelyn nodded in agreement. They kept walking in silence, trying to keep warm my shoving their mittened hands deep in their pockets and walking close. When the stables came into view they saw the boys in the smaller of the paddocks. Easy was leading two large black horses, one black and one beige. Katelyn assumed the black one was Credo, he was always talking about her. Then her gaze shifted to Tyler, who was leading a huge chocolate brown stallion, and a gorgeous white Arabian horse, by their reins. "Hey boys." Katelyn breathed as she and Jenny slipped through the fence.
"Hey." Tyler and Easy said in unison. Jenny ran up to Easy and gave him a hug and a big kiss, while Katelyn just sort of slowly made her way over to Tyler. They weren't really "together together" again-yet. So she wanted to take it as slow as she could, considering what he did to break them up in the first place.
After Easy and Tyler breifed Katelyn on how to properly ride a horse(Jenny goes with Easy all the time, so she knew), they helped her up, got on their horses, and rode off. "Ooh!" Katelyn squealed as Coco(the Arabian horse) took off at a run.
Hours later they were leaving the stables. "Gosh that was fun!" Katelyn exclaimed as she walked wobbly between Easy and Jenny, who was helping her walk.
"You okay, Kate?" Tyler asked.
"Yeah. It was fun, but it hurt."
"Usually does your first time. It stretches your leg muscles."
"Yeah, uh-huh," Katelyn interrupted. "As interesting as this conversation IS, I'm going to have to stop it. Because if you continue talking about muscle stretching and first times, I might die from laughter, and I can't die. I'm so sorry."
Easy rolled his eyes, stole Katelyn's hat, and messed up her hair before setting the hat back on her head. Katelyn stuck her tongue out at him and kept walking. "Pssh." Easy brushed it off. Katelyn punched him in the arm playfully.
"Shut up." she told him with a teasing smirk.
-----
20 minutes later
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Brandon, who, when they all went into Rhinecliff, bought hot chocolate, had gone back to his dorm room to get it after they got back from the stables, and now Jenny, Brandon, Easy, Katelyn and Tyler were lounging on the big leather armchairs in Maxwell Hall, drinking some. It warmed them up right away, but it was also full of sugar, so now Katelyn, who never handled excessive amounts of sugar, was on a major sugar high..after her 3rd cup.
"Omigosh. Omigosh. Omigosh. It's almost CHRISTMAAAAAASSSSS!" she kept squealing, even though it was more than a month 'til they got off for the holiday's.
"Yes, Katie, it's almost Christmas." Tyler cooed, patting her back as she randomly sat on his lap. It was a habit, really, she did it to lots of people.
"I'm sooo excited. Are you guys going anywhere good for break?" she asked happily.
"Santa Barbara. My aunt got a house there." Tyler said.
Jenny shrugged. "Back to Manhatten for me."
"I'm going with her. My family is just going to Hawaii..again. So I got permission to go, and Jenny's dad wants to meet me, anyway." Easy said. Jenny grinned widely and squeezed his hand.
"I'm going home to Conneticut, to my grandparents' house in Greenwich. How FUN!" Katelyn exclaimed sarcastically, her sugar high wearing off..slightly.
"Really?" Brandon asked. "I live in Greenwich!"
"You staying there for break?"
Brandon nodded. "Yeah, my step-mother, who shall remain nameless, insists that the twins are too young to fly on a plane. For christs sakes, they're 3 years old, I have pictures from when I was 2 and my parents took me to Tokyo, because my mother was playing in a symphony for some big important guy."
"Your mum plays in a symphony!" Katelyn asked, her eyes lighting up. "That sounds so cool!"
Everyone grew quiet. "She DID." Brandon replied quietly.
"Well what happened? She quit?" Katelyn asked.
"Kate-" Easy began.
"She died." Brandon said abruptly.
Katelyn's already pale skin turned white. "Oh, gosh. I- I'm..sorry..about that..and your mum..I-" she stammered.
"Thanks, but don't worry, it's okay, you didn't know. I never talk about my family." Brandon responded.
"Okay.." Katelyn said as she shakily set her hot chocolate down. She never knew anyone who didn't have a mum. She knew people who's parents were divorced, like her best friends, Amy, who's parents have been seperated since she was about 3, and Cailin Freemont, who's parents divorced last summer. But death? Never. It scared her to think that could happen to someone's parent-even HERS.
Tinsley, who had just skipped in with Callie, walked up to them-interrupting Katelyn's thoughts. "Hey my fabulous friends." Tinsley cooed. She saw Jenny roll her eyes, and smirked, knowing that Jenny barely tolerated Tinsley. Same with Easy..and, well, everyone else. She had no problem with the girl, seeing how she barely knew her she couldn't judge her.
"Hey Tinsley, hey Callie." they chorused.
"What's up?" Tinsley asked, taking a sip of Easy's hot chocolate.
"Nothing. Just hanging out." he replied monotonously.
"Hmm," Tinsley looked around the crowded. room. "Katelyn, baby you look like you've seena ghost! You okay, girl?"
Katelyn snapped out of her daze. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Uh-huh, I'm fine." she stammered.
"You sure? You look pale." Jenny noted.
Katelyn glanced around at her friends. "I'm fine." she smiled.
"Alrighty."
-----
8:30 PM
Dumbarton 303
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After dinner Katelyn decided to just go backand relax in her room. She slipped on her black Yoga pants with her hoodie and sat crossed-legged on her bed with her laptop. She logged on to MSN to see if Amy was around to talk. She was.
.Amy. ; Katelynnn!
.:Katelyn:. ; Amyyyy!
.Amy. ; What's up, girrrl?
.:Katelyn:. ; Not much. I went horseback riding on Coco, one of Colin's horses today. He rode Gandolf. We went with Easy and Jenny.
.Amy. ; Sweet. Boarding school sounds like so much fun:(
.:Katelyn:. ; Oh, it is. But there is A-LOT of drama. You think prep school kids are perfect? Uh...no. We all have ISS-UUUUES. Anyway, enuff 'bout that. What's up with u?
.Amy. ; Well..remember how we talked about me coming to visit you..
.:Katelyn:. ; o..SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! OMG REALLY!
.Amy. ; YEAH! I donno when though, after Christmas.
.:Katelyn:. ; WOO! Omg, guess what!
.Amy. ; Omg what! lol
.:Katelyn:. ; I'm so smart, I'm being moved up a grade starting Monday! Not just me, there are some other grade 11's doing it too! Inclu. Ty and Jenny. And we're all going to be part of some new study the government is trying out. They're putting us through school during the summer-dnt worry, we get off 2 weeks early from school to go home and prepare and get 3 weeks vacation time-for three extra months. They're testing to see if extra school time will improve everyone's grades. If the 3 month study is successful, they're adding an extra year on to middle school so they can start improving grades early to better their chances of getting scholarships or wtv. And get this, whoever passes the summer course gets a full scholarship to whatever collage they get accepted to! I know what u r thinking. I havent applied yet and the grade 12's have. Well, next week that other grade 11's and I are taking a specially designed test to see if we really are capable of it. If we pass that test we will go on to apply for college and do the study. If we don't, we have to finish out our school years regularly and pay for College on our own. There are 3 boarding schools doing this in the states-we're # 2-so all the ''post secondary'' places have been notified and are willing. WOO!
.Amy. ; Whoa, Kate. That's wicked..but u do realise how much work it'll be, don't u?
.:Katelyn:. ; Oh come on, Ame. I've gotten straight A's and 2 B's so far this year, and I've never ever gotten a C in my life. Grade 12 can't be THAT much different. I even know what I want to be-a clothing designer.
.Amy. ; Oh, well as long as you know what your doing.
.:Katelyn:. ; We've been through like, 3 breifings and stuff like that with Dean Marymount in the past 2 days.
.Amy. ; Well okay then. lol. Anyway, I g2g. I'll c u after xmas break, 'kay?
.:Katelyn:. ; Im cmn home 4 xmas break!
.Amy. ; I kno, your cousin Ashton told me, but I'm going to some place in Bora Bora-where they have those glass-floored huts-with my mum and Jackson. So I won't get 2 c u til I come visit.
.:Katelyn:. ; Aww, too bad. But have fun! Lylas.
.Amy. ; Lylas.
Katelyn logged off MSN, no one else was on, just a few jerks from her old class and some bitches she hated to talk to.
Jenny was doing some Chemistry homework in the library, Brett was hanging out with Benny Cunningham, studying for a Latin test, and Callie was out with a few of her other friends, probably smoking in the woods somewhere. Katelyn closed her laptop and set it on her desk. She pulled off her hoodie and grabbed a pale lime green racer-back tank top and slipped it, and her baby blue UGG's on before pulling the hoodie back on and stuffing the excess pant-leg into the boots. She decided to go get a cappuchino from Maxwell House, an H.H. Richardson building.
After getting the drink she slowly made her way back to Dumbarton, sipping from the cup as she went. It was a cool night, and the wind whipped her hair around. She decided to stay outside to finish the Cappuchino. Katelyn sat down on Dumbarton's top step and leaned against the bricks, surveying the campus. Some students were playing a little before-light's-out frisbee, which she didn't understand the point off, some were sneaking off the go smoke joints in the woods, and some were just making there way to and from the library, or heading back to their dorms. No matter what she said, Katelyn loved it here.
The wind had picked up a bit, and Katelyn's hair was getting ridiculously messed up, so she pulled the soft pink hood over her head, not caring that it made her look like a cone-head and obscured her vision. She was about to toss her cup into the garbage can hidden discreetly off to the side of the steps, blending into the trees and bushes, when she noticed a male figure making it's way up the steps towards her.
Brandon.
"Hey." she said softly. She hadn't spoken to him since this afternoon in the lounge when she accidently brought up the subject of his mum.
"Hey, Kate." he murmured, sitting down next to her. "What's up?"
"Nothing, just needed a caffeine fix." she smiled, showing him her cup.
"Ah, I understand." he laughed, taking it from her and drinking the last little bit in the bottom of the cup before tossing it into the garbage expertly.
"Yeah." she said, tugging the sleeves over her fists, gripping them as she hugged her body. "Uhm, were you looking for Callie, 'cause she went off with-"
"No, I wasn't. I wanted to talk to you." he said.
"Oh. Okay, what about?"
"You know how you said..about..in the lounge?"
Katelyn nodded. "Mmhmm," she murmured. "I'm really sorry Brandon, I had NO idea. No one ever mentioned anything about your family before-neither did you."
"I know, it's because I prefer to not think about...well, you know..and I'd rather not be reminded of my step-mother and step-siblings. They do nothing but annoy me when I'm home, so I was wondering, since you're going to be in Greenwich too for Christmas break...if you wanted to hang out? It'd help keep my mind off my messed-up family."
Katelyn grinned. "Sure! I know what it's like to have a messed up family, trust me. You met Kyle...but you have yet to meet my parents..god." Katelyn's grin turned to a grimace as she pressed a cashmere covered fist to her forehead.
"How about we make a deal. I'll meet your parents, and you can meet my dad."
"Okay." Katelyn agreed as she glanced down at her watch. "Oh, damn. It's 9:30. I better start getting ready for bed. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright. See ya." Brandon gave Katelyn a hug before he walked away and she hurried inside.