Things really shaped up after the talk between Jazz and Amy. As a result, the two had been closer, almost joined at the hip if they didn't have separate classes that is; and Amy had kept her word to Jazz. She wasn't uncomfortable around her friend at all, since sharing what she had. Jazz had had slight fears for a few days after that talk, but when she realized that Amy had been sincere in all ways about what she had said, she relaxed again and was back to her chirpy self as always.
Classes seemed to be flying to Amy. The workloads were hard but it helped her stay busy. She hardly had any bad dreams over these last couple of nights since she was too exhausted to dream about anything it seemed; and while that meant her dream diary assignment suffered for it, she would rather have taken these kinds of nights over dreams any day, even if it meant her mark suffered slightly. Jazz would always complain about dancing hippos in her dream and Amy would just snort at this continuing with whatever she was working on, or reading.
It was late October now, and Halloween was quickly approaching; Jazz was particularly excited about this, constantly reminding her nonstop as the days slowly ticked by. More and more, her friend would be buzzing around the dorm, putting out a small jack-o-lantern here and there.
"Oh come on Amy! It's HALLOWEEN!" she exclaimed exuberantly, "you know, the holiday where people are forced to feed me candy so that they don't feel guilty." Jazz was hopping around Amy as they made their way back from their classes. Today their classes were practically right next door to each other, which in turn meant she had the pleasure of witnessing her friend's hyper mode full force a whole 15 minutes early.
Amy laughed and turned to her friend. "And your how old? Jeez even I have a better excuse than you do!"
"Awesome, then I'll just make you go up to the door and say "Trick or Treat" for me? How's that sound?" Jazz beamed up at her. "What your only 15, right? You can get away with it."
"How about not happening." Amy smiled and continued following the crowd.
Jazz pouted and stuck her bottom lip out. "Jeez you're no fun." She sulked then as she kicked the toe of her shoe against the tile.
"Besides Jazz, who in their right mind would ever give you candy?" asked Amy.
"Well there is this old lady down the street that always-"
"I'm sorry I asked," Amy cut her off before she could go into more detail.
Jazz smirked at her friend and they walked in silence for a little while. Suddenly, a familiar blond head and chattering voices broke through the fall din, as they came outside of the building they had just been traveling through.
"Oh no, blond bimbo at 12 o'clock," muttered Jazz. By now, Amy had become used to her friend's insults of Missy; and now knowing the whole back-story between them, she couldn't really feel sorry for the girl.
Speaking of the devil, Missy sauntered up with her other wannabe's and gave Jazz a once over.
"If it isn't the geek squad stinking up my air again," sniffed Amy as if her air really did smell foul, "favorite holiday coming up for you two I bet, I mean you can go out dressed just the way you are and no one would be any the wiser."
Laughter twittered around Missy at her insult to Jazz and Amy. Amy wanted to roll her eyes at the callous way Missy had presented that, but she could feel her little friend practically humming with energy beside her, and bit the inside of the cheek. Jazz probably wouldn't thank her whatsoever for ruining this most opportune moment for her.
Jazz gave Missy an extremely haughty look. "Oh so what are you going as Missy? A blonde headed, bullying, bimbo? Jeez, your costume looks fabulous by the way! Oops! My mistake this is you, everyday!" countered Jazz laughing stupidly at her own joke to mock the other girls around Missy. Amy couldn't help the snort that made it past her as her friend continued mocking the girls in front of them. Sometimes, or all the time, she really had to love Jazz.
Missy scowled at Jazz and took a threatening step forward. "Watch your mouth you little tramp or I might just-"
"You might just do what exactly?" countered Amy completely over riding what Missy was saying. "And I don't think you have the right to call anyone a tramp with how you walk around this school."
Missy stared at Amy, as the other girls gasped and tittered to each other, clearly no one, including herself, had been expecting anyone to say anything. Never before had Amy stood up to Missy, or any bully for that matter, this was all new ground to her.
"Oh now you're brave all of a sudden?" hissed Missy.
"Yeah, I am Missy! You can't boss or bully me around anymore, and we don't like rude people around us so if you have nothing to say, don't say anything at all!" exclaimed Amy. "So back the hell off. Because I feel the exact same way about you, you're stinking up my air as well!"
A small group of students had stopped to stare at the confrontation taking place with the group of girls. Missy seemed to have noticed that to, for her eyes started to dance around and she seemed to be losing her cool. It seemed like when things weren't working out how she planned them to she fell apart under the pressure. Suddenly, Missy snapped her eyes back to Amy and gave her a hard glare.
"You're only brave right now because there are witnesses," hissed Missy lowly.
Amy stuck her chin up higher in the air and leveled her own glare at Missy, whose eyes widened ever so slightly at this. "Anytime, anyplace, anywhere Missy, and I'll always tell you off until you get the message," Amy said confidently; her knees were shaking but she hid that as best she could in front of the blonde.
"We'll see about that," Amy huffed and walked away, her legion of doom following close behind.
Jazz and Amy watched the hags from hell walk off; then Jazz turned to Amy, a look of bewilderment shining in her eyes. "Whoa," she said, completely awed.
Amy looked at her and then collapsed onto the bench that was conveniently placed there. Had it always been there? Amy had to wonder to herself as the crowd of people broke up around them, and shambled off in different directions. She sat on the bench breathing heavily and her heart beating a thousand miles a second. That was more nerve racking then she had anticipated she admitted to herself, but at the same time, it felt invigorating. Jazz started to laugh at her and Amy aimed a glare up at her friend doubled over laughing on the sidewalk; she had tears streaming from her eyes, as she tried to clutch her stomach. Then unexpectedly, both girls heard clapping. They looked up and standing there, not five feet away, was Gabe.
"Gabe!" Amy shouted completely forgetting about her nerves at seeing her ever-elusive friend. She hadn't seen him in weeks!
"Hello, my fine little friend!" said Gabe walking up to the two girls, "you must be Amy's friend, am I right?"
Jazz blinked at Gabe stunned for a second. "Yeah how did you know that? My names Jazz by the way"
Gabe shook her outstretched hand. "Gabe." He looked at her then putting his hand inside his jeans pocket. "Amy mentioned you before you know," Gabe said pointedly, "besides I've seen you around before, good comebacks by the way."
Jazz seemed still taken aback by this stranger then seemingly recovering her composure, she smiled brightly at him. "Thank you! I'm glad you think that! I'm sorry that we've never met before, I don't remember seeing you around before now…"
Amy thought this was strange, as Gabe had told her that he had been here for 6 years already and Jazz had been here for a year…Was it possible that her friend just had never run into him before? Amy shrugged and decided to ignore it. It was possible, she made herself believe.
Gabe laughed good-naturedly and scratched the back of his head. "I get around girl, and it's a pretty big campus."
"That it is."
"So nice work Aims telling Missy off," said Gabe offhandedly, "not many people have enough balls to just do what you and Jazz did, so props to you two!"
Jazz gave a mock bow to Gabe saying, "Thank you, thank you, I'm here all year!" Gabe laughed again at her; but thanks to Gabe bringing that back up Amy felt the familiar fluttering in her stomach. It felt like millions of butterflies were just bursting to be free and her palms became sweaty. She shook that all off though and instead smiled at her two friends.
"Thanks Gabe, but I have to admit it was a bit nerve racking to be perfectly honest," she admitted sheepishly.
"Ahhh!" exclaimed Gabe waving a hand at her, "you'll get used to it girl, their just dicks anyways, and believe me I've dealt with enough of them in my lifetime."
Jazz immediately became more interested in Gabe. "You have? How do you deal with them?"
"Me? Oh I just sometimes pull a prank on them it works every time." Gabe smirked at that.
"Gabe!"
"What?" Gabe frowned at her outburst. "I get a good laugh, they get taught a lesson and seem to never repeat their mistakes again, it's a win, win situation don't get your panties all bunched."
"That must be one hell of a prank to change a dicks' ways," said Jazz to Gabe in an I-agree-with-your-approach-way that left Amy looking at her friends almost rolling her eyes.
Gabe's eyes seemed to light up and a wide smirk crossed his face. "You have no idea girl." He seemed to stare at Jazz for a few seconds, as if lost in deep thought; almost like he was studying her. 'But that can't be right…right?' Amy thought to herself. Of course not, Halloween is literally right around the corner; her imagination was just running wild now.
"Hey you guys, Halloween is right around the corner, you hear of the big party that's happening at that same house as the first party a couple of weeks back?" asked Gabe, it was as if he had read her thoughts about the upcoming holiday.
"Oh yes!" exclaimed Jazz, starting to bounce on the sidewalk again from enthusiasm, "it's Lance's party! If you thought his normal parties were off the hook wait till you see this one, his Halloween parties can scare the shit out of you!"
Gabe looked at Jazz an amused gleam in his eyes. "I know that, it's probably going to be one hell of a party."
Amy was lost in thought; but when Gabe said that her interest was piqued. "Wait you're going Gabe?"
Gabe looked at her and winked. "Of course kid, why wouldn't I?"
"Well I don't know…maybe because your how old, and how does Lance even know you?" she asked in bewilderment.
"Believe me Aim, when you get to my age, it's just a number and means jack squat; besides I've helped Lance out of a few tight spots before, and he kinda owes me so he's repaying me by letting me come to the party," Gabe finished in a smug manner smirking at Amy.
"So you're gonna be there?" asked Jazz excitement just dripping out of her voice.
"Yup," said Gabe the 'p' popping out of his mouth.
Jazz squealed and hugged the man, Amy blushed somewhat at her friend's actions.
"That's awesome Gabe! We'll see you there, and I can't wait to get to know you more!" squealed Jazz loudly. Amy thought to herself that any louder and her eardrums would burst; but Gabe took it well and slapped Jazz on the shoulder, gently.
"Wait, we?" asked Amy; she had been thinking that after the last, somewhat party fiasco, that they would maybe lay low for a bit; but it seemed like Jazz was taking no, no's for an answer, or an excuse.
"Of course were both going Amy, so let's get our asses in gear and get a move on, shall we? We also need costumes! Halloween is only a week away and we have lots to plan!" said Jazz. She hooked her arm around Amy's arm and started to drag her off.
"Hey! Wait!" Amy started to splutter but she couldn't break her friends grip. Instead, she just looked at Gabe apologetically hoping he wouldn't be mad at their abrupt departure. He smiled and nodded to her in understanding and Amy breathed a sigh of relief.
"Nice to meet you Gabe!" Jazz shouted back.
"Likewise!" Gabe responded back in kind.
"I like him," said Jazz as if making her mind up about Gabe right on the spot. Amy just nodded her head, rolling her eyes secretly. Of course, Jazz would love Gabe, I mean, those two were practically peas in a pod, and if it wasn't for the age difference, they could pass for siblings…or maybe they were…huh. Not in looks, just in general personality.
Now she had to worry about Halloween. Moreover, what new problems would await them on that day? She couldn't shake the terrible feeling that seemed to creep deep in her stomach, and since her life hadn't really been that quiet here yet, who was she to ignore these fluttering's of instincts?