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Alicia scrolled through Instagram on her way home. The whole Brad-Rose-random-girl thing was all a bit awkward, so she drowned it out in social media.
A ding went off indicating a text notification. It was Trixie asking if she wanted to come over. It all seemed good and lighthearted until she added, we need to talk
Shivers went down the poor girl's spine. Those four words would make anyone anxious. She was tempted to give her an excuse on why she couldn't come. But knowing Trixie, she was going to find some way to talk about whatever it is eventually. Plus, Alicia already texted sure!
As slow as she could, Alicia made it to Trixie's home. She hesitated on knocking and stood there contemplating all the things she could've done wrong to deserve this "talk". Suddenly, Trixie opened her door and pulled Alicia in.
"How'd you know I was here?" she asked, stunned.
Trixie laughed. "I could see you standin' in front of the door from my window."
Alicia felt dumb. "Oh."
"Why didn't you knock? Are you scared?" she teased.
"What- Me? Scared? No! It's just a talk."
Trixie walked to the living room and sat on the couch. "Just a talk."
Alicia swallowed hard. "Yup."
She tapped the seat next to her lightly with her right hand. "Come sit."
Alicia swore she felt her legs tremble as she sat. "Sooo what's this talk about?"
"You did something horrible."
Alicia sank into the couch. "I did?"
"Yes. And you're gonna pay."
She squeaked, "I am?"
Trixie bursted out laughing. "I'm playin'! You shoulda saw the look on your face!"
Alicia sat up and awkwardly laughed along. "Heh."
"Nah, we gon talk 'bout you and Spud."
Alicia sank back into the couch. "That's equally as scary."
Trixie pulled her up. "C'mon! What's so scary about Spudinski? He's like a . . . a slug. Y'know, just there chilling. Plus, he's slow like one, too."
Alicia's face grew serious. "He's more than a slug. He's a butterfly."
Trixie stared at her blankly. "Weird. You're weird for him? You must really like him."
She looked away. "Maybe."
"Then why don't y'all get together already? Makin' it difficult for no reason at all."
Alicia raised her voice, "It's different, okay?"
Trixie leaned back, amazed. "I didn't know you were capable of being rude."
"Sorry! Oh my gosh, I didn't mean it!"
"Aaand she's back." Trixie couldn't help but smile. "Tell me the real reason you are so afraid."
"I really don't know," her shoulders slumped, "I wish I knew. Trust me, I do. Then I could at least start from there."
"Maybe you do know. Just not yet."
"Huh?"
"What are the difficulties in your life?"
"What are you, my therapist now?"
Trixie repeated, "What are the difficulties in your life?"
No avoiding this one. Alicia sighed, "My mom, I guess. I mean, what she does."
"What does she do?"
"Move me around a ton and leave me for her business thingies."
"But she's here now."
Alicia played with the ends of her skirt. "Yeah, for now. I know she'll be gone soon, though. Always happens."
"I know why."
"Already?"
"Yeah, we're similar in that way when it comes to our moms."
Alicia understood that. Trixie was like her in that aspect, despite the two basically being polar opposites. "Then what is it?"
"You're afraid Spud will leave you, like your mom does. Or that you'll move again. Away from him."
"So I am afraid of getting attached, huh?" Alicia said to herself.
Trixie patted her shoulder. "Mommy issues at its finest. Welcome to the club."
The next morning Alicia set her mind to make it a mission to confess to Spud. She didn't know exactly how it would go but she knew it would be sloppy; she supposed it was better than nothing. Though it was school and the day just began, the girl wanted to get it over with as soon as possible while everything she wanted to say was fresh in her head.
Out of the four, she was the last one to show up to school. Alicia marched up to Spud and tapped his shoulder. His back was turned away from her. "Spud, I really need to talk to you alone before class." He didn't move, seeming to be officiated on something. "Spud?"
Jake shook his head and mumbled, "I can't believe it."
Alicia leaned towards him and whispered, "Can't believe what?"
"Stacey's back."
She raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Jake pointed to the blonde girl in the hallway, her skirt short, her hair long and fluffy. She was beautiful. Everyone stared at her, especially Spud. He was practically drooling.
Trixie filled in, "She moved schools awhile ago. Guess that didn't work out."
Jake chuckled, "What kind of school would benefit from an airhead like her anyway?"
"Hey! That's not nice," Alicia objected. "She seems sweet, I'm gonna say hi."
Jake commented under his breath, "Okay, but you won't like her soon." He looked at Spud, who was lucky Alicia hadn't figured out this revamped crush of his.
Alicia was usually shy around people and was never the one to make conversation first, but she was also stubborn. Resulting in this stubbornness was her feeling the need to "prove" the girl was nice and say hi. Everyone else seemed to be staring at Stacey from afar. No one was approaching her, almost like they were afraid or unsure. She seemed to be oblivious to it all, though.
Alicia waved. "Hi, I'm Alicia, you can call me Cia. I heard you've been here before?"
Stacey closed her locker, looking Alicia up and down. "Nice outfit," she said sarcastically before swaying her hips to walk away.
Alicia looked down at her outfit self consciously. She knew she always dressed a little strange and people did occasionally comment about it, but no one really flat out insulted her like that. She gripped the hem of her lavender skirt in anger. One hand released slowly, waving its index finger. Wind gushed from beneath Stacey's skirt, flying in the air to expose everything. People gasped. Some boys whistled. Stacey quickly fixed the skirt and continued walking. Alicia was surprised and slightly annoyed she was so unbothered. The witch turned back to see Jake's face red and Spud looking about ready to pass out.
Trixie walked up to her. "How was the little convo?"
"Uneventful," was all Alicia said. Jake dragged Spud along to follow the girls.
"Uneventful wasn't the word I'd describe for what's under homegirl's skirt!" Trixie laughed.
"Those were the most beautiful pair of lacey panties I've ever seen," Jake stated dramatically.
Trixie scoffed, "Those are the only pair of panties you've ever seen."
"You don't know that!" She gave him the side eye. Jake huffed, "Be more nice like Cia."
Trixie asked Alicia, "Girl, girl did your skirt not go up, too?"
Alicia paused. "Guess I just got lucky."
Jake nodded. "Lucky indeed. I know someone would've love to see that." He elbowed Spud playfully.
Spud ignored the comment. "You think it'll happen again?" he asked Jake.
"Let's hope!"
Trixie groaned, "So immature."
Alicia was taken aback that Spud would say something like that about another girl. Sure, they weren't dating. That's her fault for pushing him away. But it still hurt the girl since she thought he was into her only.
At lunch, Rose continued to stare at Jake's table. Him and his friends looked like they were having a lot of fun, laughing and being themselves. When you're a pretty, popular girl like her, there's only so much of yourself you're allowed to show. Rose knew she wasn't having any fun at all.
Rose did love talking about fashion and makeup and girly things but the people whom she spent her time discussing it with made her somewhat dislike it. The girls she hung around ever since she came back were so shallow and mean. Stacey joined them today and fit right in. That girl put the icing on the cake for reasons Rose should just leave.
Before she got up, she peered back at Lilly. Lilly looked miserable as well, quiet with her head resting on her hand. Rose knew she couldn't just leave her. Lilly was the only girl at that table she could consider a friend.
The blonde walked up to Lilly and whispered, "I'm gonna sit with Jake. Wanna come?"
Lilly cringed. "You mean the skater kids?"
"Yeah."
"What's the point in that?"
Rose shrugged. "I know it's way better than sitting here bored all lunch."
The black haired girl hesitated, then nodded. Giving in, she got up and followed Rose to the table. Rose was nervous about sitting there since she hadn't patched things up with Jake yet. She didn't even know if Jake and her could go back to the way things were. Jake seemed very happy without her, sitting with him might ruin the process of healing.
Rose walked up to Jake and pointed to the seat next to him where Spud previously was sitting. "Is this seat taken?" she asked with a soft smile on her pink lips.
Jake was stunned. He blinked multiple times to confirm it wasn't some hallucination. He silently shook his head no, even though it was Spud's seat. Rose sat next to Jake and Lilly sat next to Rose. Across from them was Trixie and Alicia. Trixie looked confused, wondering if she missed a few chapters. Alicia awkwardly waved at Rose.
"Lilly! Whatchu doin' here?" Trixie said, trying to lightened the atmosphere.
Lilly smiled. "Rose insisted we'd leave those girls."
Jake looked at Rose. "Really?"
Back at Rose's previous table, Spud was shamelessly trying to talk to Stacey. Asking how has she been and mentioning how it's been awhile. During all of this, Stacey ignored him while her new friends snickered.
Spud didn't give up. He kept talking. The blonde started to get agitated and finally made eye contact with him. "Look, I know you're obsessed with me but you're gross." She shooed him with her hand. "So get away."
Spud actually felt some embarrassment flush over him. He never gets embarrassed. He realized this was humiliating. Several other tables were even looking at him. He covered it up, "Stacey I'm not obsessed."
"Hm?"
"I was saying hi and checking up to be nice. Ever heard of that?"
She giggled. "Look at him getting all defensive. It's kinda cute."
Spud lit up. "It is?"
"Of course not!" Her and her friends laughed loudly. "See? You're undeniably obsessed with me."
"I'm not! How could I be obsessed with you when I, um . . ." He thought for a moment and saw Alicia making her way quickly to him. Bingo.
Alicia was racing to him to confess. She couldn't wait any longer. The more she saw him with Stacey the more it ached her. She had waited too long. She hoped she wasn't too late as well.
Spud smiled confidently and continued, "How could I be obsessed with you when I have a girlfriend?"
Stacey rolled her eyes, partly not believing him. "There's no way someone would date you."
"Oh really?"
Stacey could believe someone would date him. Through the past few years she's been gone, Spud grew handsome. She couldn't lie he was attractive to her. Of course, her pride got in the way. "I'll believe it when I see it," she said.
Spud looked back at Alicia who was nearing him. "How about now?"
Stacey pressed her lips together nervously. She watched Alicia enter her view of Spud. Alicia began to mumble words that was supposed to be her confession. Spud interrupted with a kiss. A kiss in front of everyone.
Alicia melted into the kiss. It was surreal, like a scene in a coming of age movie. She kissed back, in love with every second of it. As if it was their first kiss. They released and she looked at him filled with infatuation.
Spud looked at Stacey with a satisfied grin. Stacey stood, unimpressed. "You think that's gonna impress me?" She looked Alicia up and down. "Well, I guess that is good for someone like you." She walked away.
Spud scowled. He began to realize she was really just a pretty face and that's it. Alicia looked at her, then him. Finally, she connected the dots. She pushed him away violently. Spud gasped and looked at her in shock. All eyes were still on them. Everyone knew this scene was far from over.
"You only kissed me to make her jealous!" Alicia yelled.
Guilt shot up Spud's body. He didn't know what to say. He wanted to object but it wasn't like she was wrong. "Cia, no! I-"
"Yes. Yes you did. Was I just a second choice while she was gone? Someone to settle with?"
"You don't understand, Cia-"
"Don't call me that. Call me Alicia."
Spud grabbed her wrist. "Cia-"
"Alicia." She yanked her hand away. "Look, I'm sorry I've been distant but what you did was fucked." She blinked back tears and stormed off.
"I wouldn't- I mean, I didn't mean it. I love you, Alicia."
Several students began to chatter but for the most part people were silent, trying to hear. Alicia looked back at him before walking out of the cafeteria. "No you don't."
Lilly crossed her arms. "Would you look at that, Rose. The skater kids are interesting."
Rose elbowed her. "Not the best time, Lil."
Jake insisted to Trixie that he'd comfort Spud on his own after school. Trixie agreed to talk to Alicia.
Jake and Spud sat at the skatepark in silence for awhile. It was empty, thankfully. Jake didn't really know how to start a "comforting" conversation except for maybe "it's gonna be okay, man" which is really overused. But did he have any other ideas? Nope.
He rubbed Spud's back and told him, "It's gonna be okay, man."
"I really messed up," Spud said in his hands.
"Hey, I'm the king of messing up with Rose, but she sat next to me today. Who would've thought?"
"But you have good luck. You're a dragon."
"I don't think that's how it works."
Spud looked up at his friend. "Did you not see what I did earlier?"
"Yes, it was bad. But the thing I did was worse."
"Which thing?"
"Everything I did to Rose was worse."
Spud shook his head. "I don't think so."
Jake sighed, "Yeah. It is."
"Are you really arguing with me about this?"
"I'm just sayin' it was pretty bad."
Spud stood up. "You suck at this." He took his skateboard and skated home.
Jake sat there. He wasn't even surprised at himself anymore. He mumbled, "Yup. I'm the king of messing up."
"Go away!" Alicia yelled at her mom and Trixie in her room, throwing stuffed animals at the two.
"Is that any way to treat your friend?" Carol asked sternly. Soon after getting a teddy bear to her face.
"I said leave! I don't want your help!" she said in between tears. All her remaining stuffed animals raised in the air with her magic. "I said get out!" Every stuffed animal came darting at the door.
"Quick!" Carol called to Trixie before pulling her into the hallway and slamming the door just in the nick of time. "Sorry about her," her mother said. "It's just that she mostly uses her magic only when she's furious."
"Yeah. I got that," Trixie said out of breath.
Carol sat on the floor with her legs crossed, catching her breath as well. "You must've pissed her off. What'd you do?"
"It wasn't me, believe that. It was a boy."
Carol lit up. "A boy? Tell me!"
Alicia opened her bedroom door with a fire in her eyes. Literally. There was a fire ascending from her sclera. She was still angry-crying. Acid fell from her sockets. "Stop talking about me like I can't hear!"
Carol calmly rolled her eyes. "Alicia-baby, stop getting Acid all over my rug."
"Leave. Me. Alone!" More stuffed animals that were left on the ground began to rise.
"Run," Carol stated. The two ran down the stairs as fast as they could, dodging the cute but scary plushies. They sat in the living room, safe.
Trixie was terrified. Alicia did not look like Alicia. "She looked like a whole monster!" Trixie cried.
"You get use to it. You should see her on her period. Now that's bad." Carol leaned over like an excited teenage girl. "So."
"So . . . ?"
"Fill me in!"
Per usual, I hope you enjoyed. I have a new fanfic out from a popular show: Miraculous Ladybug! It already has favorites and I just released it a few hours ago lol. Perks of writing for a more recent fandom. Don't worry, it doesn't mean I don't love writing American Dragon fanfictions any less. Hopefully you guys are into that show too and can check it out.
And no, I am not writing at a ridiculous time for once. It's 8:35pm. True character development. See you soon!