Mondays were always full of energy at Hollywood Arts High School. The universally dreaded weekday brought a large amount of vitality to the school's musicians, actors, and creative prodigies. It's always to the surprise and perplexity of visiting district employees when they note the school as being in a constant state of wakefulness. Foregoing the usual anticipation that came with listening to friends' weekend escapades, the facility never failed to bustle with the sounds of guitars being strummed, melodies being hummed, and bizarre activities being largely ignored by peers as if they were commonplace.
Some attribute HA's peppy atmosphere to its laid-back, unconventional learning environment. Others maintain that the unique array of students keep the appeal of the school. Regardless, frequenters of the performing arts academy need only to cite Mondays as proof that Hollywood Arts is truly something extraordinary.
If Jade West had the power to alter the course of the world, she would personally seek the entity that created Mondays, stuff them into a butter churner, and spread their remains overtop raisin toast. Oh, and she'd probably do the same to the lowlife who invented raisin toast. That guy deserves to suffer for their crimes against humanity.
But unfortunately, Jade West doesn't yet have the absolute authority to terrorize omnipotent beings. So, intimidating the students of Hollywood Arts who have the gall to be so lively on a Monday will have to do.
"There she is! Jadey! Hey, Jade! We're over here discussing something random! Come join us!" Cat exclaimed from across the hallway, red velvet hair ("Like the cupcake!") framing her glowing face. She gestured to a cluster of three other teenagers who were also chatting animatedly. As soon as they caught sight of Jade and her signature black roast coffee, they offered a friendly wave.
Of course. Of course the group of students that can withstand Mondays with little less than a smile is also the only group that she actually tolerates at this school. What are the odds?
"Hey muchacha! How's it hanging?" André asked. The rest of the gang also chimed in with their own personalized greetings.
"It's about to be hanging pretty soon. All this peppiness is already driving me up the wall," Jade grumbled, stirring her warm beverage moodily. "So what were you guys blabbering on about?"
"We were just talking about the Autumn Jubilee that's happening in a few weeks. We were considering setting up a stand for decorating pumpkins," Robbie supplied.
"We're going to give all the pumpkins cute faces!" Cat interjected after clasping onto Robbie's shoulder eagerly, causing the teen to effectively clam up. "It's going to be so much fun!"
Jade's head subtly tilted to the side in a display of interest. Her gaze lingered questioningly on Beck, who rushed to clarify.
"We were going to invite you too, of course. We know that this kind of thing isn't usually your jam, but…" Beck trailed off.
"Really? You thought sticking sharp objects into fruit and spilling out their guts wasn't my jam? Come on, Oliver, I know you know me better than that," Jade grinned slyly before addressing the entire squad.
"I'll be there if only to see the kind of train wreck this event becomes. And frankly, I don't trust any of you to handle knives unsupervised anyway, so-"
At that remark, Beck, André, and Robbie's eyes shot up in alarm. They shook their heads pleadingly, but the damage had already been done. Cat's lip began to quiver and her brow scrunched up in denial.
"Who said anything about needing knives?"
"Well, you are going to be carving the pumpkins, aren't you?" Jade probed. She cringed as the redhead's expression flickered with visible panic.
"Who said anything about carving the pumpkins?!" she emitted a shrill cry.
"Little Red, it's okay, we're not going to be hurting the pumpkins. It's just… well, we're going to be…" André offhandedly pleaded for backup from his friends.
"Face surgery!" Robbie piped up suddenly.
Beck sent a dubious look to the ventriloquist but went along with the frantic statement. "Yeah, yeah, it's only a bit of… face surgery."
"I'm sorry, what's this about face surgeries?" Jade's frenemy-Tori Vega-intercepted the conversation, her flowing curls lightly bouncing around as she hopped over to the group.
"Nothing that concerns you or your unnaturally high cheekbones," the goth wisecracked under her breath.
"Now is that any way to treat someone who's armed with baked goods?" Tori quipped back. Naturally, this caught the attention of the confectionary addicts of the gang (which is to say, everyone). Their eyes were comparable to saucers as the singer conjured greasy brown paper bags, each embellished with a Double Dutch Donut Parlor logo.
"Wooahh, looks like somebody made out with a lot of dough," Beck commented.
"Only the best!" she chirped in response. "Got the officer discount from my dad as well. These only totaled five bucks and some change."
"Dang, chica! No wonder you're in such a good mood," André remarked. The brunette nodded enthusiastically.
"Jelly-filled for Robbie, maple-iced for Beck, dulce de leche for André, red velvet for Cat ("Like my hair!"), and glazed chocolate cruller for Jade," Tori announced with a triumphant grin as she distributed the delicacies to each member of the group.
They each accepted the treats graciously, save for Jade, who seemed ready to press it (and probably Tori herself) into the ground before stomping it to a pulp.
"I don't take handouts."
"You'll take this one, and you'll like it," her rival glared back with a hint of amusement, challenging her to carry through with whatever twisted plans she had for the friendly gesture.
Seeing that Tori's resolve had not been shaken, Jade snatched the bag from her hand and sent a withering look in her direction.
"I'm only going to eat this because I skipped breakfast this morning," Jade mumbled while viciously tearing open the bag as if it were one of her unfortunate adversaries.
Tori elected to ignore the sense of pride that bubbled up within her at the small victory.
"Wait a second," André hesitated while uncrumpling the packaging. "Why do I get the feeling that we're being bribed?"
"What? I can do something nice for my friends without asking for something in return!" Tori ascertained. "...But, uh, unfortunately, today's not that day."
She tallied several of her friends' sideway glares and hastened to scrape up a better explanation.
"Okay, so I promised my Aunt Sonya that I would house sit for her over fall break while she went to install some of her artwork in a museum in Chicago. She was planning to stay over there for about two weeks while I took care of her pets in Oregon. Of course, that was before my basket case of a sister got her car wrecked while out at a college party. And now, I'm sort of out of a ride."
"I know you guys are probably really busy and I'd be asking for a huge favor, but… Would anyone be willing to take me there and back?" she finished hurriedly.
The squad eyed her wearily.
"You realize…" Beck began slowly. "That the drive from here to Oregon is a solid ten or so hours, right?"
"Yeah, I figured that would be a turnoff," she grimaced. "But! I am willing to reward anyone who rides up there with me handsomely in the form of bottomless treats!"
Tori fished through the front pocket of her backpack and revealed a golden token with a gaping hole in the center. Traces of cream filling could still be observed on the outermost edges of the coin as if someone had licked it off speedily. As the object glistened in the singer's hand, the squad burst into a frenzy.
"You didn't!"
"-an absolute madlass!"
"How did you even find that?!"
"They stuck the token inside of my Boston Cream Doughnut. I almost choked on it when I went to eat it in the car with my dad. As much of a hazard as that was, getting free donut holes for a month is definitely a plus. Anyway, I haven't turned this in to the store yet, so I thought I could give this to the person who makes the trip with me," Tori elaborated.
"Well, that certainly sweetens the deal," André noted.
"Wait, I'm still confused. Why would your aunt make you go all the way to Oregon to house-sit when she could just get a neighbor to check in every once in a while?" Jade crossed her arms, her right hip slightly protruding in a signature nonchalance.
Something unreadable passed over Tori's face. "My aunt's dogs are, uh, very finicky and overbearing. I love them to death, but even I can acknowledge that they're a hassle for anyone who isn't already familiar with their antics. I just happen to be one of the few people who can manage them."
Jade's eyes narrowed at the response, but she opted not to comment on the issue any further. She peered over to Beck to find the actor's features flashing with conflict. Eventually, he let out an inaudible sigh before speaking to Tori directly.
"I have been wanting to take the RV out for a trip outside of California. I guess now would be as good a time as ever to follow through with that."
"You'd do that?" Tori started tenderly. Jade swore that the pupils in the Latina's eyes seemed to expand and shimmer with a newfound appreciation. "Thank you so so much! There are not enough donut holes in the world to express my gratitude."
"It's not a big deal. Once we get there, I can spend the night in the RV and drive back in the morning. Just let me know about some specifics before fall break."
"If you're—um—going to be taking the RV with you, why don't we make this a group...thing?" Robbie butted in.
"Yeah, that would be incredible! We can visit all sorts of funky attractions together! Oh, did you know Oregon is home to the world's largest corn dog?! We should go see that! I can bring all the condiments!" Cat insisted as she practically vibrated in place.
"As much fun as that would be, it's Tori's and her aunt's call, remember?" André asserted. The musician directed his attention to said girl. "Would that be cool with you, Toro?"
"It should be. If you're not going to get your license like a normal teenage girl, then at least let your only chance at a ride bring along some guests." Jade stated while offhandedly chipping away at her nail polish. The brunette responded with a hollow look.
"By all accounts, I never said anything about bringing other people along-"
The goth glared pointedly at her ex-boyfriend.
"Not that I wouldn't though!" Beck finished defensively.
"I mean, theoretically there'd be enough room for everyone in the cabin," Tori bit her lip. "I'll have to check in with Aunt Sonya about it, but otherwise… I don't see why not."
The way that the melodic screeching of the school bell halted the conversation felt something akin to a sitcom. At the way-too-chipper sound, the group deposited the remnants of their pastry packaging and migrate to their Improv class. The occasional light-hearted jab would be administered and returned with an equally playful shove, and all the while chatter would cascade throughout the already lively halls.
As Jade reclined back in her chair, listening to Sikowitz sermonize about dramatic irony, thoughts of the adventures that they could have in Oregon filled her with semi-sweet sensations. In the recesses of her mind, she also wondered what would happen to her worldview if there were more to Mondays than what meets the eye...
