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Chapter 17
The locker room slowly emptied as everyone changed out of their uniforms. The loud and happy talking of the Fairfall Falcon Cheerleading Squad slowly went into a sound of quiet as the last girls remained.
Adelina peeked across the other rows in order to ensure that there was no one else left in there apart from her and the two others. Libby was stretching her legs against the locker, chatting to Addison as she switched shirts.
Satisfied that no one else was left, Adelina headed back to their bench.
"If I tell you guys something, will you swear not to tell anyone?" Adelina mimed zipping her mouth, "You'll keep it completely quiet?"
"Girl yes," Addison sounded intrigued, following Libby in sitting down.
"We won't say, we promise," Libby added, "What's up?"
Libby had founded herself hanging out with Addison and Adelina more, to the point where she and Diana were barely the twosome they usually were. Diana brought her down, whilst Addison and Adelina were always perfectly nice and fun. When she was with Diana, Libby was reminded of her mom- they both bitched about others and put her down. The other girls were kinder, much more so, and welcomed her into their little group with Deacon, Tyler and Maddie.
She was honoured that Adelina Parker, the most private and quiet person she'd ever met, would trust her with something. She'd expect her to speak to Addison, so it was great to finally be involved in something.
"Oliver and I are kind of a...thing."
"OLIVER GRANT?!" Addison yelped, "Shut up."
"No way," Libby's eyes grew wide as saucers, "Oh my God, tell us EVERYTHING."
"Well, ok," Adelina looked nervous, "So I've been going to his boxing matches recently but the other week he got all cold with me about it, then he snapped at me. You know how he is, saying I belong at some finishing school- it wasn't the teasing, it was cold. Obviously I didn't go to the next after he was rude to me. Then the next day he comes to apologise to me and because I'm not in the mood for his behaviour, I just told him what I thought. We started getting into an argument because I thought he wanted to change me to fit his ideals, which then led him to tell me he doesn't want to change me because he's been in love with me since freshman year."
"WHAT?" the girls screamed at the same time.
"What did you say?" Addison asked, leaning so far forward she nearly fell off the seat.
"I didn't say anything, because we kissed."
"Is he good?" Libby asked, "I feel he wouldn't be bad."
"Yeah, I guess so, I was too caught up in the moment to think about it, but he was very good, yes. I didn't say it back though, I just- it's not a phrase I'm comfortable with. Maybe one day, but I am really not ready for it yet. We've been out a couple of times and he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes. We're keeping it quiet for a while because you know how the rumour mill works at this school. It'd be a big deal. I just wanted to tell my best girls about it."
"I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but I have to say I'm surprised," Libby nodded in agreement with Addison, "I mean, he's Oliver Grant."
"He's not so bad. When my parents didn't come to Sectionals, he said he'd be supporting me. He invited me to his boxing matches and wanted to teach me how to do it. Oliver makes me feel good about myself. On our dates, he's been really great. It's not like he's being a faux gentleman, he's still Oliver, but he's kind to me. My parents always saw me as their china doll to bring out for their friends and I always felt that way, but when I'm with Oliver, I don't feel that way. Glee club has made me feel better about myself and so have you guys. When he puts his arm around me, I feel warm inside. He's not pushed me to do anything, he knows I'm more conservative about things like sex. All that teasing was just his way of hiding things- he'd seen me hanging out with Tyler over winter break, got the wrong idea. Yeah, I guess that's it."
"I'm glad you told us," Libby's voice was genuine, "It's what friends are for."
"It's nice sharing things with people, I guess."
"Adelina Parker getting a boy," Addison teased, "I hope you won't forget about your girls."
"I would never do that."
"Well I have an idea," Addison stood up, putting her arm around Adelina, "Us three are going to do a girl power song in Glee club this week, whatever the theme is."
Libby also stood up.
"I have just the song," she grinned.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE-
"Ok guys and girls, it's time for another week of Glee club," Tess greeted them all in Monday's Glee club slot.
"Before we start, a few of us have prepared a number we'd quite like to do," Addison raised a hand, "We really want to do it, if we can."
"You have the floor," Tess stood out of the way.
Addison, Adelina and Libby stood up, getting into position as the music started playing. Smiling at each other, they were ready to begin.
This is for all you girls about thirteen,
High school can be so rough can be so mean,
Hold on to on to your innocence,
Stand your ground when everybody's givin' in.
This one's for the girls
This is for all you girls about twenty five,
In little apartments just tryin' to get by,
Livin' on on dreams and spaghetti-o's,
Wonderin' where your life is gonna go.
The Glee club danced along as the girls showed off their perfect cheer moves. Though the choreography was perfectly in sync and the vocals matched, it was the fun chemistry between them which really made it. They were surprised that the normally tightly wound Adelina had loosened up a bit, her body moving to the beat.
'That's my girl,' Oliver thought to himself.
As soon as they were done, there was one very enthusiastic round of applause for them.
"Ladies, that was amazing," Tess cheered, clapping loudly, "What brought that on?"
"We wanted to do a girl power song about friendship and building each other up," Addison had her arms around the other cheerleaders, "A female song that isn't about boys and love."
"Well it was an amazing show- guys, this is the kind of energy and charisma we need in our performances. Sit down, sit down. Interestingly enough, this song fit the theme perfectly- this week, we're getting our cowboy hats on and doing some country."
There was a collective groan from the group.
"Guys, what's wrong with country?"
"It sucks," Amber bluntly told her.
"It's crap," added Adrian.
"It is the absolute worst," finished Hayley.
"I'm doing it to get you out of your comfort zone," Tess tried to encourage them, "We don't really do too many genres outside of show tunes, pop, R&B and some rock. I want us to explore all kinds of music. There are some country singers who have gone mainstream, like Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. You could do them or maybe, if you really want to challenge yourselves, you do something a little lesser known."
"I'll start," Jack offered, "I like country music."
Amber rolled her eyes next to him.
"Thank you, someone who wants to be brave. All yours."
Jack used his stick to get himself to the front, readying the song on his phone.
I probably shouldn't have said hello
When I saw you out with your friends
I know I should've left it alone
When I caught you looking
A little smile, a little how you been
A little touch, a little reminisce
It always starts off innocent
But after a few drinks
It's always the same thing
We find ourselves lost in conversation at the bar
A few of them moved their heads around to the song, but none of them wanted to admit liking it. It was more to do with Jack being good than anyone actually enjoying country music. The applause was quiet, if steady, once he was done.
With Tess unable to get more people to sing, they practiced vocal runs until they were done. It was going to be one hard week.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE-
Turner, Allen & Price were the best divorce firm in the entirety of Connecticut.
Albert Turner sat on one side of the table, flanked by William and Deacon Dawson. Susan Price sat on the other side, inbetween Rebecca and Hayley Dawson. The mediator, a woman named Erin Clue, headed the group.
"So we are here today to discuss initial assets and custody agreements between William Howard Dawson and Rebecca Anne Dawson, formerly Turner. The plaintiff, Mrs. Dawson, has filed a fault divorce on the grounds of the defendant, Mr. Dawson's, adultery. We are hoping to discuss financial and physical assets, as well as the custody of their two children- Deacon, aged 17, and Hayley, aged 14. It is our hope that it is sorted now so that we can avoid a court hearing. Mr. Turner, you may open your client's case."
"Thank you Ms. Clue. Mr. Dawson wishes to share the assets 50/50, and continue to work in their law firm together as partners. He wishes to keep the house, but give Mrs. Dawson the summer house in California and the winter lodge in Colorado. In terms of custody arrangements, he'd like a week-on, week-off approach with both children, and split holidays. The son, Deacon Dawson, will be able to change the arrangement once he turns eighteen at the end of the year."
"Mrs. Price, what does your client wish to put on the table?"
"Mrs. Dawson wants primary custody of both children, with monthly allotted times for both. She is fine with Mr. Dawson taking the house and wants the summer home in California, but has no interest in the Colorado lodge. She wants the majority of assets due to her husband's infidelity and wants to buy her husband out as partner of the firm."
William snorted.
"In your dreams Rebecca, there is no way you're taking over OUR firm."
"You are not getting my children for half the time."
"Ugh, I now regret offering you the summer home."
"Why, so you can buy a new one to take your dirty whore of a mistress to it?!"
"I KNEW YOU'D BRING THAT UP!"
"WELL YOU DID CHEAT ON ME WITH THAT BRAINDEAD SECRETARY! SHE CAN TYPE, IT SEEMS, BUT IT'S NOT ALL ELSE SHE CAN DO, IS IT?"
"SANDRA IS A GOOD PERSON!"
"SHE SEEMED SO GOOD WHEN SHE WAS SPREAD EAGLE ON YOUR DESK WITH YOUR-สบ
"Alright, that's enough!" Ms. Clue banged on the table, "It is really not good for you to fight like this in front of your children. Hayley, Deacon, which custody arrangement would you both like?"
"I want to stay with dad," was Deacon's immediate answer.
"I want to stay with mom," Hayley replied simultaneously.
"My client would like equal time with both children," Mr. Price told them after he'd conferred with William.
"I don't want to stay with an adulterous father," Hayley hissed.
"See! You're turning her against me."
"Mom hasn't got anything to do with me- you're the one who blew this family apart because you couldn't keep it in your pants. You don't deserve mom, or me, or even Deacon."
"That's unfair," Deacon scolded.
"I don't know how you're sticking with him, after what he did to mom."
"It's not like he's an axe murderer."
"So you're saying it's ok what he did?"
"No, of course not, just stop acting like it's the end of the world."
"How would you feel if it happened to you?"
"It's not about me; it's about mom and dad. Dad wants to spend as much time with me as he does you, so stop it with this attitude about not wanting to see him. You've had a stick up your butt ever since Ms. Chen kicked you out of Cheerios and you started hanging out with Diana Collins."
"Oh poor little Deacon."
"Alright," Ms. Clue banged on the table, "Attorneys, please take your clients out for a fifteen minute break. We're getting absolutely nowhere with all this arguing. This is a conciliatory discussion, not a courtroom disagreement. It's better that we settle this now instead of blowing up in front of Judge McGlory- and he is not a happy man. We'll return at half past."
Deacon followed his father out, feeling deeply upset by what happened. As he exited, a song popped into his head.
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill
He sounds too blue to fly
The midnight train is whining low
I'm so lonesome I could cry
As Hayley walked out, a song came in her head as well.
I've never seen a night so long
When time goes crawling by
The moon just went behind the clouds
To hide its face and cry
They sang together.
Did you ever see a robin weep
When leaves begin to die
That means he's lost the will to live
I'm so lonesome I could cry
This wasn't going to be an amicable divorce.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE-
Tess was really hoping that at least one person would sing a country song today, with the past few lessons having revealed nothing.
She was in luck today.
"I'll do something," Amber raised a hand.
"Well, ok," Tess was surprised, "Go ahead."
"Look, country music still sucks, whatever Jack and Miss. S say, but my mom always loved Dolly Parton so I have a soft spot for her. This is one of her earliest hits and I think it's got a great message. Yeah, don't all look so surprised."
Don't try to cry your way out of this
Don't try to lie or I'll catch you in it
Don't try to make me feel sorry for you
Just because I'm blonde
Don't think I'm dumb
'Cause this dumb blonde ain't nobody's fool
When you left you thought I'd sit
An' you thought I'd wait
An' you thought I'd cry
You called me a dumb blonde
Ah, but somehow I lived through it
And you know if there's one thing this blonde has learned
Blondes have more fun
They all jammed along to it. One person who had it stuck in her head was Maddie, who sang it the entirety of the drive. She'd decided to take Isabelle's offer and attend the LGBT Youth Group, wanting the companionship that Fairfall Prep couldn't offer. The only other people she knew at school who were LGBT, apart from Isabelle, were Nick and Robin. They were nice guys, but the only thing they had in common was an uncommon sexuality.
She pushed the door open and followed the signs to a large hall.
"MADDIE!" Isabelle called out.
"I'm so glad you came," she continued when Maddie arrived at the table, "So many of us have found it helpful, it's great. Everyone, this is Maddie Daniels, she's another Fairfall Prep snob like me. Maddie, meet Theo Jones, Phoebe Hansen, Grayson Perez and Hannah Rhodes."
They all greeted her as she nervously took a seat.
"So hi, erm, I'm Maddie and I am a lesbian. Had a beard for a while, but then the queen of gossip at my school somehow found out about me and I got outed against my will. I feel better that I am free to be who I am, but I really hate that I did not get the chance to do it on my own terms."
"Join the club," Theo, a short slip of a boy, spoke, "My school bully saw me looking at some images of guys on my phone and the next day, I find out everyone knows. I'm bisexual and they treated me like crap. My mom pulled me out of school and I'm part of a small home schooling group. She was ok with it, dad really isn't comfortable with it yet. My sister is trying to talk to hm."
"Oh, I'm sorry, my parents were really cool with it."
"Yeah, mine too," Grayson, a tall Hispanic boy smiled, "Grandmother was another story. She's a first generation immigrant who is DEVOUTLY Catholic, like Mass daily and all that. She hasn't disowned me, but she's praying the gay away. I love her, but I doubt I'll ever get her on side when she counts on her rosary for me to find a good girl."
"My parents are still accepting the news, but they said they love me whatever happens. It's hard for them, but it's because they're from a generation that's still learning. I love them and they love me. They've been reading magazines and articles from the internet so they know more about the community. I'm glad they're doing it for me," Phoebe smiled gently.
"Like Grayson, my parents are cool, but my extended family are all devoted Baptists- the African-American community has long strides to take, just like every community. I just hope they realise I'm the same person, but I just like girls instead of boys."
"You'll like this place," Isabelle continued, "We have a good group. Like I said, we don't know any transgender people, but we hope the community grows as people get more confident. Tonight is pizza and dancing, I hope you saved room."
"I did," Maddie nodded in confirmation.
"Good, I hope to see you on the dance floor," Hannah winked.
Maddie regarded Hannah, a pretty girl with copper skin and long, illustrious hair- she looked like a shampoo model. When Hannah smiled at her, she felt a little nervous, as she didn't know what it was like to be flirted with by a girl.
"I'm sure she'll be great," snapped Isabelle, who looked cross.
Isabelle felt a sense of dread. She'd liked Maddie from the moment she'd found out she was a lesbian, perhaps even before. If Hannah swooped in and flirted with her first, she'd lose her chance. Isabelle's hard exterior coated a soft shell, and she was damn well soft for Maddie.
Maddie felt at ease as she talked to her new friends, who were all so welcoming. It was nice to have people understand what she was going through. She felt sad for Theo though- being bullied so badly that he had to leave school was something awful. The bully still got to be there, even after beatings and verbal abuse, whilst Theo lost his chance for a fair education.
"Oh my God! Hoedown Throwdown!" Phoebe suddenly yelled as the song came on, "I remember being obsessed with this as a kid when the movie came out, every girl our age knows the moves perfectly. Come on, we have to dance."
Maddie allowed herself to be pulled onto the dance floor by Phoebe. Jammed inbetween Isabelle and Hannah, she danced along to the song.
Pop it, lock it
Polka dot it
Countrify then hip hop it
Put your hawk in the sky
Side to side
Jump to the left
Stick it, glide
Zig zag cross the floor
Shuffle in diagonal
When the drum hits
Hands on your hips
One foot it, 180 twist
And then a, zig zag
Step, slide
Lean it left
Clap three times
Shake it out
Head to toe
Throw it all together
That's how we roll
Maddie felt a tension between Hannah and Isabelle. The two had always had a vague rivalry going on- Hannah was jealous of Isabelle's rich family, whilst Isabelle was jealous of Hannah's beauty and humour. Right now, both felt more than a little interest in Maddie.
She ignored it though. Maddie felt happy in this new group, enjoying herself as she grooved to the nostalgic song. She knew that she'd found happiness and friendship already.
Hi all! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Next Time: Jay receives news that may cause him to relapse, Lizzie attempts to find a new job for her mother, and Robin attempts to play matchmaker between his godmother Cordelia and a new guy.
Questions:
Do you like that Adelina is opening up?
What will happen in the divorce case?
What themes would you like to see more of?
What do you think will happen to Jay that causes a potential relapse?
Do you ship Maddie with Isabelle or Hannah?
Thanks again, and don't forget to review so I know how you're all feeling xxx