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C︎hapter 2
Back to School
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Monday came much sooner than Adelaide liked. Although, she was excited to see all her friends and go back to school, it was school after all.
Rolling over with a sigh, she hit snooze on her alarm for the third time before reluctantly dragging herself out of bed and moved over to her wardrobe. After ruffling through clothes, many of which she hadn't seen for months, she decided on black and white check pants paired with a white top. Finishing off the look with a black denim jacket and her favourite pair of platform boots. (Above image)
She said a silent reminder to herself to go shopping at some stage, going to a performing arts school the dress code was extremely lenient and Adelaide wouldn't dare be stuck wearing the same two outfits. This was her opportunity to experiment with her look, something she hadn't been allowed to do due to contracts.
Simply brushing through her waist-length hair, which fell in gentle waves thanks to her styling it the night before. Anything she could do to make the task of getting ready in the morning quicker she did, all for the extra sleep.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car horn out the front, followed soon by her Mum's voice, "Adelaide! Jade's here."
"Coming!" she responding, running downstairs to meet her Mum at the bottom. "Bye, love ya."
They shared a quick farewell before Adelaide was out the door and on her way back to Hollywood Arts.
"Hey," Adelaide smiled, sliding into the passenger seat of Jade's car. Usually, the goth girl would get a lift with her boyfriend, Beck. But since it was Adelaide's first day back and she was the only one who knew she was coming back, she insisted, more like demanded, on driving her to school.
"Hey," Jade simply responded, pulling away from the curb. "So, how long are you sticking around for this time?"
"Jade," she warned.
"No, I'm serious. Is this a permanent thing or are you going to book a gig and fly to another country without notice again."
Adelaide sighed, when they had both gotten accepted into Hollywood Arts they were thrilled and she knew that when she left only a few months later it hurt Jade. She was fourteen and offered the lead role in a tv show, of course she let her excitement get the best of her. One week she was at Hollywood Arts and the next she was boarding a plane to her new life.
"Firstly, I let you know," she said, ignoring the eye roll from Jade, "And secondly, I missed everyone here. Set life is crazy and I want to have fun with my friends and just be a teen before we're all not together anymore."
"You say that until your agent calls, 'Oh, Adelaide! I found the perfect role for you. It's in Australia and the plane leaves tomorrow.'" Jade dramatically said, pulling into the parking lot of Hollywood Arts. Both of them spotting Beck standing at the front with a coffee cup in hand.
"Geez, you're crabby before you've had your coffee," Adelaide said, swiftly hoping out of the parked car as Jade harshly glared at her. "Beck, Beck, Beck." She ran up to the unsuspecting teen and threw her arms around him. He returned the hug to the best of his abilities, being mindful of the coffee in his hand which was their saving grace for a slightly less moody Jade.
"Whoa," Beck chuckled, "You look familiar. Do I know you?"
Adelaide stepped back from the hug and slapped his arm, responding, "Just admit you missed me."
Dramatically rolling his eyes, he said, "Fine. I missed you."
She grinned at him as Jade walked up to them, Beck greeting her charmingly with a kiss. "Here's your coffee."
"Whatever," Jade said taking the coffee and walking into the school.
"What did you do?" Beck asked the girl, narrowing his eyes accusingly.
"Nothing!"
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Having collected her locker number and schedule, she made her way back out into the halls. Thankful, that the bell had rung so class was in session and only a few students lingered in the hallway.
Walking over to her locker she grinned noticing that it was below a black one with scissors covering it and if she knew anything about her best friend, it was guaranteed that that one was hers.
While putting her newly received textbooks in her locker she faintly heard a gasp in the quiet hallway. Turning to the noise just in time to see a blur before she was tackled, both falling to the ground.
"Addy!"
Smiling, she grinned returning the tight hug. "Cat!" Even though they constantly video called the past year, this was the first time seeing each other in person.
"You're back for good good?" Cat questioned, refusing to loosen her grip on the other girl.
Adelaide patted her back responding, "Yeah, Cat. I'm here to stay."
"Yay!"
"Alright, we should get to class," she said, lifting herself and Cat up off the ground. "What do you have?"
"Stage fighting at the Blackbox Theatre," Cat responded.
"Lucky, that's what I have too."
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"Hey," Adelaide said, casually walking into the classroom with Cat wrapped around her like a monkey. "Can anyone help me dislodge a Cat?"
She smiled thankfully when Beck moved forward to help pry Cat off. "Come on, Lil' Red. Let the girl breathe," Andre said, him too, gently prying Cat off of her.
"You're Adelaide Connors!" Tori exclaimed, instantly recognising the new girl once she was free from Cat.
"Congrats, Vega. You can see," Jade snidely commented, ignoring the glare that Tori threw her way.
Adelaide chuckled, "Man, I missed you Jade." Throwing her bag down next to the spare chair on Jade's right.
"Why is Adelaide Connors in our school and why is no one else freaking out?" Tori questioned confused, looking around at the class who had gone back to doing what they were before the interruption. Though, some were whispering to each other while side glancing at the girl.
Jade, Adelaide, Beck, André, Tori and Cat formed a circle of sorts in the centre of the room. André explained, "Addy's one of us. She used to go here until she got her dream role that landed her on the big screen."
He casually draped his arm over her shoulders. "André," she said smiling, returning his side hug warmly. "How's your Grandma?"
"Still crazy," André stated shrugging. She chuckled before turning to speak with Jade and Beck.
Tori interrupted the group, who were making casual small talk to ask, "Again, why is she here?"
"You must be Tori," Adelaide said, focusing on the girl she had yet to meet but heard much about thanks to Jade.
"Yeah...how do you know who I am?" Tori asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Hmm," Adelaide sighed and turned her back to her, taking the seat to the right of Jade. She vaguely heard Tori ask André the same question.
She knew she probably shouldn't be so harsh to the girl she had never met, but her respect for her dropped when she found out she used an improv exercise to kiss Beck in spite of Jade. Though, Jade had conveniently left out the events that took place on the previous day, which almost led the girl to drop out on her first day.
Once everyone was seated they turned their attention to the front of the room where Russ and Cat stood ready to demonstrate stage fighting. However, they were interrupted when the door's to the black box theatre slammed open, an annoying voice resounding out that instantly made Adelaide cringe.
"There she is!" Trina Vega shouted, her along with the group of students behind her erupting in screams. Their approach into the classroom was abruptly stopped as the teacher stood in front of them. Adelaide sighed, sinking down in her seat trying to ignore all the eyes on her.
"Alright!" The teacher spoke up over the noise, "I know everyone's excited to have Adelaide here, but she's here to learn just like you are. So please, go back to class."
He ushered the group out the door before locking it, saying, "Russ, continue."
"Hold on a second," Adelaide held up a finger, smiling apologetically at the teacher before getting up and approaching Cat holding her hand out. "Cat, give me your phone."
The red head pouted slightly, reluctantly placing her phone in the outstretched hand and sighing, "Sorry."
"I know," Adelaide said, slipping the phone into her back pocket on her pants and returning to her seat.
"Now, if I throw a punch at Cat, like this," Russ continued with the lesson demonstrating a clear swing at Cat's face, his fist narrowly missing her.
She screwed her eyes shut waiting for the hit that never came. "It's easy to see that my fist didn't connect with her face."
"Thank you," Cat smiled relieved, causing Adelaide to let out a brief chuckle.
"But if we stage it from a different angle, then..." Russ said moving Cat and giving her a nod, "like I showed you."
Cat nodded as he checked, "Sound effect, ready?"
"All set."
"To the audience or camera, it'll look like this," Russ said, demonstrating a punch that even made Adelaide impressed, mainly that Cat managed to pull it off.
"I'm okay, everyone!" Cat exclaimed, everyone applauding the performance.
"Alright, I'm gonna pair you guys up," the teacher said moving to the front of the room, "each team will work with Russ this week to prepare a fight scene."
"I thought his name was Steve," André interrupted. Adelaide rolled her eyes as the class argued about what his name was, she hardly saw how it was important if he was a Russ or a Steve.
"My name is Russ!" he exclaimed, finally ended the discussion.
"Okay, and on Friday, you will all perform your fight scenes here in front of the class," the teacher continued, "Now, the pairs will be: Beck and Cat, Andre and Adelaide, Darren and Jess, Tori and Jade -"
"Tori and who?" Tori asked, quickly sitting up. Adelaide glanced over at Jade who smirked smugly at Tori.
She sighed knowing Jade was going to enjoy scaring the new girl, who in her short time at the school, had already managed to become a target to Jade.
"Uh, wait, I'm not comfortable with my partner," Tori said to the teacher who dismissed her distracted.
Jade walked up to Tori, saying, "Hey, partner. Can't wait for our fight..." she paused before adding, "scene."
Beck and Adelaide rolled their eyes at Jade's antics, following her out the door.
"Must you terrorise her?" Adelaide asked.
"I must."
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"Ugh, I don't know what to do with my locker," Adelaide complained, dropping her bag before throwing herself dramatically down next to Jade at the blue circle lunch table.
"Just do what you did freshman year," Jade shrugged, continuing to push her food around on her plate.
"But that was 14 year old me, not 16 year old me," she sighed, "I want to do something that reflects my past year in Canada."
The two sat in silence, Jade eating her lunch and Adelaide staring at nothing, lost in her thoughts.
"Hey, hey," Beck said, placing his food down and sitting on the free side of Jade, swiftly giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Naw, you guys are too cute," Adelaide teased purely for the glare that Jade sent her way, she knew one, of the many things Jade hated, was being called cute.
"You're lucky I like you," she said.
Beck turned his attention to Adelaide asking, "So, how's your first day back at Hollywood Arts going?"
"Good, except I'm completely lost on what to do for my locker," she sighed.
Shrugging, Beck responded, "You'll think of something."
"Gee thanks, you're a huge help."
"Alright, schedule," Jade said holding her hand out waiting for Adelaide to place the piece of paper in it. A small smile taking over her features when she saw they had nearly all the same classes. "Thank you for saving me from working with any idiots for script writing."
"I should be thanking you," she said, "It astonishing how many people, who have never cared for me in the past, are begging to work with me."
"I've always liked you," Sinjin spoke up from next to her, his sudden appearance startling her.
"Leave." Jade held her glare as he hurriedly scurried away.
Adelaide stared at his retreating figure before turning back to the two, commenting, "Please tell me that was a hallucination and he doesn't still go here."
Jade scoffed, "I wish."
"Great," Adelaide mumbled, dropping her head down on the table with a thud.
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André and Adelaide were at the black box theatre after school, rehearsing their fight scene for Friday. Russ standing by providing input and ensuring that neither of them actually got hurt doing any stunts.
"No, I wanna throw you into the table," Adelaide said, a slightly whiny tone creeping into her voice. They had worked out the majority of their scene, but came to a road block at the ending of their scene which was one of them getting thrown into a breakaway table.
"But I'm...and you're," André said gesturing between them.
"I'm what?" she asked, crossing her arms defensively glaring at him with a single raised eyebrow.
"...Short," he weakly defended.
She scoffed, uncrossing her arms challenging, "I'm only a foot shorter than you. I could totally take you."
"Alright," Russ spoke up, stepping between the two teens. "No real fighting, please."
"You're lucky I don't want to break a nail," she sighed, looking at her black freshly manicured nails. "But, I'm still throwing you."
She held a finger up silencing him, saying, "It's a good political movement, now shush and let me throw you." André sighed, finally giving up the fight and the two went back to rehearsing their final scene.
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A/N: OMG! Thank you to everyone who has fav/followed/commented on this story or simply just given it a read! I honestly can't believe how many have read this and I've only posted the first chapter. Thank you thank you thank you!
I listened to a song the other day and it inspired love interest for Adelaide so that will come into play very soon. Hint hint it's a OC. So don't get excited thinking I'm gonna pair her up with one of the mains...Although, not saying that there won't be little crushes. If ya want, comment who you'd want her to be paired up with.
Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter :)