'So, CeeCee, you're looking particularly neurotic yourself,' I commented
upon seeing my albino friend with a flushed face, and even a hint of -gag-
lip-gloss! She was dead set against it! I almost had to double take to make
sure I wasn't imagining things, but it sure as hell was there.
'Webb, what the hell are you wearing?'
Kelly Prescott's best friend, Debbie Mancuso, had also noticed CeeCee's decision to apply gunk to her face. Because, I realized, upon second inspection, that lip-gloss wasn't the only thing that CeeCee had put on.
The full works.
A thin layer of foundation, a shade darker than her own pale skin colour, was stretched expertly across her face. Her eyes were outlined subtly, bringing out the purple of her contacts to perfection. Her hair was in a pony tail, but when she turned her head, I realized that she's gone all out, and had curled it. Her lips, although glossy, were coated with a gentle shade of ice pink, and just above her eyes, was the same colour eye shadow. A haze of light crimson rouge gave her the "flushed" look.
She looked stunning!
'Geez, Webb, who the hell are you trying to impress?' asked Kelly, rather coldly, eyeing CeeCee's outfit. It was this gorgeous black slip dress, with the skirt going safely below the knees, and a casual cowl neck. Her mules were pretty flashy too.
'Whoa,' I said. CeeCee never dressed like this. Ever. Not even at school dances. She was always the oddball, or the one to come in an artfully ripped new age dress, or a rainbow sari, if the occasion arose. But never . . . nice.
'Whoa.'
Adam had turned up. He was gawking at CeeCee's new demeanour. CeeCee eyed him anxiously. It was obvious that this whole change of image had been for him.
Adam's lips curved into a happy smile. 'You look great,' he said, sliding an arm around her shoulders playfully.
'Thanks,' she said, and they walked off. I could not stop staring. And neither could Kelly.
'What's with them?' she wanted to know. 'Freaks getting together?'
I narrowed my eyes.
'I mean, if she thinks that dress suits her, she'd better think again. Black only suits. . . well, normal people,' she said expressively, looking at me, scandalized.
I glared.
'And, what exactly, is CeeCee?' I asked coldly, cutting her off with a ' And don't say albino. That isn't a human category. You were saying?'
Kelly blinked at me.
'She's albino.'
She said it! The bitch made it out like CeeCee was some specimen of canine feces.
'I still don't believe that someone of your status would want to be friends with that-'
WHAM.
I know, hasty of me. But hey, I was pissed, okay? I mean, no one goes around, pouring crap on my best friend (in Carmel)!
'OOOH! OGH! SUZE!' she shrieked. The whole cafeteria went silent. It was a big day when Kelly Prescott got assaulted. That was why everyone had been talking about Paul's big dissing thing. I was staring at the honey blond coldly when she staggered to her feet again. I hadn't punched her. No, bitch slapping seemed much more contenting. I mean, if you don't bitch slap a bitch, who do you slap? Unless they call it the bitch slap because the clapper is the bitch.
Namely me, I guess.
So, it couldn't have hurt that much. But, today was a day I saw a side of Kelly Prescott I'd never had the pleasure (sarcasm) to see before. There I was, panting in weird satisfaction, when she launched herself at me!
I couldn't believe it! Pigs do fly. Because that was certainly what she did.
'How DARE you humiliate me!' she screamed in my face. Tugging at my hair. I'm not one to have my heart tugged at, let alone touched, and react all quietly. Oh, no. I give it back, all right. I rolled her over on the floor, and, not too hard, her being a weakling, twisted her arm behind her back. 'Maybe this'll teach you that you opinions are not wanted everywhere, Kell. Sometimes we have to learn to keep our mouths SHUT!' That word was accompanied by a vicious twist of her honey blond locks. She howled. The kids had gathered around us, looking fascinated. Doc was shaking his head angrily at me. Dopey was watching eagerly, with Debbie clinging to him, as if she was watching a really scary movie in the cinemas. (Of course, if the two of the had been in the cinema, I would bet that the scary movie would be quiet forgotten.) Kelly's mascara was running down her face. I realized that she's had enough. That was when I saw the barreling bosom of Sister Ernestine advancing on us, so I allowed Kelly to give me a hearty slap, for the purpose of incrimination. I overdramatized, and flung myself back a meter, just as the thick-skinned nun's shadow fell upon us.
She was SPITTING!
'W-W-What is the MEANING of this?!' she screeched, hauling Kelly and myself up by our collars. (Which was kind of hard, seeing as Kelly was wearing a really, really low top, and had no collar.)
'Kelly started it,' I said, pretending to look like, half-awake. You know, as if Kelly had given me concussion or something. Hehehe, I'm evil some times.
'Is this true?' demanded the Sister. Her tone was do deadly and murderous, that I felt my body shrink within my skin.
'N-N-No . . . Suze-ah, whacked me,' said Kelly through tears. I mean, what a BABY!
'She insulted me in ways you cannot imagine,' I said seriously.
'I didn't insult you! I insulted CeeCee Webb!' she cried indignantly, but promptly clapped her hand to her mouth. I grinned triumphantly. To my surprise, so did our Mission Sister.
'A confession, Miss Prescott?' she asked with a fierce pride. 'That'll be a detention, most likely. And you,' she rounded on me. 'With a detention already for breaching our dress code, this is not a good week for you, is it, Miss Simon?'
She could say that again.
'Father Dominic's office, the pair of you!' she shrilled, giving us a small shove towards the office of Father D.
'Sorry,' I said. What?! Why the hell was I apologizing? Mmm, I guess being in love with a Latino of ultimate hotness can do this to you.
She didn't answer, but was, instead looking straight ahead at her, with a kind of terrified look on her face.
I looked up too and . . . oh, crap.
Paul Slater was back.
I stood there, gaping at him. At his tall, mysterious, evil demeanour, the dark curls that toppled down his forehead in this totally cute way, (yes, even I have to admit that,) and the eyes that seemed to drill holes in me. Because that's where he was looking.
At me.
And by God, he looked cheery about something. I didn't think there was anything to be cheery about, personally. His face cracked into this huge, sexy grin when he saw me, and so I kind of pulled Kelly by the arm, into the nearest classroom.
'Kelly, I know you don't really like me at the moment, but I really don't think you should speak to Paul, let alone ask him out, okay?' I said in one breath. She stared at me.
'Why do you care?' she asked. 'I mean, just because everyone thinks he has a mental problem, I think he was only drunk that time at your brother's party. (A/N: From "Haunted," or, if you're an Aussie like me, "Grave Doubts.") And get your arm off me, Simon! God,' she yanked her arm away. I realized that I'd been holding it in a pincer-like grip, and her usually pale arm had a bright pink shadow along the top, a result of my forceful hand.
'Sorry, Kell.' I took a deep breath. Not fair! How long were suspensions supposed to last? It had only been, what, a week? He told a novice to . . . well, I'M not going to repeat what he suggested. Geez, I do have some dignity. But hey, I was so pissed off . . .
The door burst open. Damn, he saw where I'd gone. Kelly beamed sarcastically at me, and was all like, 'Well. I'll just, er, leave you two alone to, ah . . . catch up?' And she was outa there like she was being chased by a stampede of elephants. Coward.
I turned to Paul. 'I don't' know about you, but I SO don't feel like talking,' I said, avoiding those unfathomable, icy eyes that were leering at me so. I kind of shivered, and tried to get to the door, but he was too quick for me.
'I don't think so,' he said, catching my arm, and yanking me back, so hard that I fell. I squealed and looked up at him with fear from the cold tiles.
'What the HELL was that for?!' I exploded, scrambling to my feet. He grinned at me. Again, I went for the door, but this time, he- get this- DEMATERIALIZED, and MATERIALIZED back into view in front of THE DOOR!
'Holy freaking mother of God.' I swore forcefully, stumbling back onto a desk. I shook my head at him.
'What ARE you?!' I wanted to know. My voice was going way too high for my liking, but seriously, this was too much!!!
'Well, I've been practicing some new moves,' he said, looking at me suggestively. Why did that not sound good? At all?!
This was WAY major mind overload. I mean, come on, it was 8.55am, it was too early for Oh-look-I-can-materialize-wherever-I-want-now-because-I'm- super-shifter Paul Slater. I clutched my head, and he started laughing. Oh, God . . .
'That's not all I can do, Suze,' he said, chuckling at my reaction. I just gaped at him.
'I'm outa here,' I said, 'I have to go and see-'
But by then, he'd like, totally materialized right in front of me, and had jammed an arm on each side of the desk, trapping me. Geez, his face was close. Oh, shit, this was bad. I mean, I was really getting scared now.
'So, Suze. How come you didn't turn up to your shifter lesson yesterday?' he asked wryly, his breath reeking of Colgate minty freshness.
I shuttered something, I'm not sure what it was. Why was I so scared? Was he noticing?
Shit, yeah.
'Geez, Simon, chill,' he said, stroking the side of my face so gently. I began to shiver. Should I call Jesse? No. Well, at least not yet, I didn't want to be the prime suspect for homicide.
'P-P-Paul,' I managed to choke out, 'I, ah . . . I thought you were suspended.'
Oh, yeah, Suze great conversation starter. So witty of you . . .
Well, that was the point, wasn't it? I didn't want to have a conversation with him. But why was I being such a dork? My mouth opened and closed several times, till I just decided to keep it closed. What was GOING ON?
'Suze, are you all right?' he asked, frowning. 'I mean, I knew you wouldn't exactly jump at seeing me, but seriously, it takes a lot to render you speechless.' Okay, he was getting way close now. I mean, we're talking millimeters! My eyes went fuzzy.
I blacked out.
A/N: No, I'm not making Suze out to be weak, something's happened to her. Keep reviewing, luv yooz all!
'Webb, what the hell are you wearing?'
Kelly Prescott's best friend, Debbie Mancuso, had also noticed CeeCee's decision to apply gunk to her face. Because, I realized, upon second inspection, that lip-gloss wasn't the only thing that CeeCee had put on.
The full works.
A thin layer of foundation, a shade darker than her own pale skin colour, was stretched expertly across her face. Her eyes were outlined subtly, bringing out the purple of her contacts to perfection. Her hair was in a pony tail, but when she turned her head, I realized that she's gone all out, and had curled it. Her lips, although glossy, were coated with a gentle shade of ice pink, and just above her eyes, was the same colour eye shadow. A haze of light crimson rouge gave her the "flushed" look.
She looked stunning!
'Geez, Webb, who the hell are you trying to impress?' asked Kelly, rather coldly, eyeing CeeCee's outfit. It was this gorgeous black slip dress, with the skirt going safely below the knees, and a casual cowl neck. Her mules were pretty flashy too.
'Whoa,' I said. CeeCee never dressed like this. Ever. Not even at school dances. She was always the oddball, or the one to come in an artfully ripped new age dress, or a rainbow sari, if the occasion arose. But never . . . nice.
'Whoa.'
Adam had turned up. He was gawking at CeeCee's new demeanour. CeeCee eyed him anxiously. It was obvious that this whole change of image had been for him.
Adam's lips curved into a happy smile. 'You look great,' he said, sliding an arm around her shoulders playfully.
'Thanks,' she said, and they walked off. I could not stop staring. And neither could Kelly.
'What's with them?' she wanted to know. 'Freaks getting together?'
I narrowed my eyes.
'I mean, if she thinks that dress suits her, she'd better think again. Black only suits. . . well, normal people,' she said expressively, looking at me, scandalized.
I glared.
'And, what exactly, is CeeCee?' I asked coldly, cutting her off with a ' And don't say albino. That isn't a human category. You were saying?'
Kelly blinked at me.
'She's albino.'
She said it! The bitch made it out like CeeCee was some specimen of canine feces.
'I still don't believe that someone of your status would want to be friends with that-'
WHAM.
I know, hasty of me. But hey, I was pissed, okay? I mean, no one goes around, pouring crap on my best friend (in Carmel)!
'OOOH! OGH! SUZE!' she shrieked. The whole cafeteria went silent. It was a big day when Kelly Prescott got assaulted. That was why everyone had been talking about Paul's big dissing thing. I was staring at the honey blond coldly when she staggered to her feet again. I hadn't punched her. No, bitch slapping seemed much more contenting. I mean, if you don't bitch slap a bitch, who do you slap? Unless they call it the bitch slap because the clapper is the bitch.
Namely me, I guess.
So, it couldn't have hurt that much. But, today was a day I saw a side of Kelly Prescott I'd never had the pleasure (sarcasm) to see before. There I was, panting in weird satisfaction, when she launched herself at me!
I couldn't believe it! Pigs do fly. Because that was certainly what she did.
'How DARE you humiliate me!' she screamed in my face. Tugging at my hair. I'm not one to have my heart tugged at, let alone touched, and react all quietly. Oh, no. I give it back, all right. I rolled her over on the floor, and, not too hard, her being a weakling, twisted her arm behind her back. 'Maybe this'll teach you that you opinions are not wanted everywhere, Kell. Sometimes we have to learn to keep our mouths SHUT!' That word was accompanied by a vicious twist of her honey blond locks. She howled. The kids had gathered around us, looking fascinated. Doc was shaking his head angrily at me. Dopey was watching eagerly, with Debbie clinging to him, as if she was watching a really scary movie in the cinemas. (Of course, if the two of the had been in the cinema, I would bet that the scary movie would be quiet forgotten.) Kelly's mascara was running down her face. I realized that she's had enough. That was when I saw the barreling bosom of Sister Ernestine advancing on us, so I allowed Kelly to give me a hearty slap, for the purpose of incrimination. I overdramatized, and flung myself back a meter, just as the thick-skinned nun's shadow fell upon us.
She was SPITTING!
'W-W-What is the MEANING of this?!' she screeched, hauling Kelly and myself up by our collars. (Which was kind of hard, seeing as Kelly was wearing a really, really low top, and had no collar.)
'Kelly started it,' I said, pretending to look like, half-awake. You know, as if Kelly had given me concussion or something. Hehehe, I'm evil some times.
'Is this true?' demanded the Sister. Her tone was do deadly and murderous, that I felt my body shrink within my skin.
'N-N-No . . . Suze-ah, whacked me,' said Kelly through tears. I mean, what a BABY!
'She insulted me in ways you cannot imagine,' I said seriously.
'I didn't insult you! I insulted CeeCee Webb!' she cried indignantly, but promptly clapped her hand to her mouth. I grinned triumphantly. To my surprise, so did our Mission Sister.
'A confession, Miss Prescott?' she asked with a fierce pride. 'That'll be a detention, most likely. And you,' she rounded on me. 'With a detention already for breaching our dress code, this is not a good week for you, is it, Miss Simon?'
She could say that again.
'Father Dominic's office, the pair of you!' she shrilled, giving us a small shove towards the office of Father D.
'Sorry,' I said. What?! Why the hell was I apologizing? Mmm, I guess being in love with a Latino of ultimate hotness can do this to you.
She didn't answer, but was, instead looking straight ahead at her, with a kind of terrified look on her face.
I looked up too and . . . oh, crap.
Paul Slater was back.
I stood there, gaping at him. At his tall, mysterious, evil demeanour, the dark curls that toppled down his forehead in this totally cute way, (yes, even I have to admit that,) and the eyes that seemed to drill holes in me. Because that's where he was looking.
At me.
And by God, he looked cheery about something. I didn't think there was anything to be cheery about, personally. His face cracked into this huge, sexy grin when he saw me, and so I kind of pulled Kelly by the arm, into the nearest classroom.
'Kelly, I know you don't really like me at the moment, but I really don't think you should speak to Paul, let alone ask him out, okay?' I said in one breath. She stared at me.
'Why do you care?' she asked. 'I mean, just because everyone thinks he has a mental problem, I think he was only drunk that time at your brother's party. (A/N: From "Haunted," or, if you're an Aussie like me, "Grave Doubts.") And get your arm off me, Simon! God,' she yanked her arm away. I realized that I'd been holding it in a pincer-like grip, and her usually pale arm had a bright pink shadow along the top, a result of my forceful hand.
'Sorry, Kell.' I took a deep breath. Not fair! How long were suspensions supposed to last? It had only been, what, a week? He told a novice to . . . well, I'M not going to repeat what he suggested. Geez, I do have some dignity. But hey, I was so pissed off . . .
The door burst open. Damn, he saw where I'd gone. Kelly beamed sarcastically at me, and was all like, 'Well. I'll just, er, leave you two alone to, ah . . . catch up?' And she was outa there like she was being chased by a stampede of elephants. Coward.
I turned to Paul. 'I don't' know about you, but I SO don't feel like talking,' I said, avoiding those unfathomable, icy eyes that were leering at me so. I kind of shivered, and tried to get to the door, but he was too quick for me.
'I don't think so,' he said, catching my arm, and yanking me back, so hard that I fell. I squealed and looked up at him with fear from the cold tiles.
'What the HELL was that for?!' I exploded, scrambling to my feet. He grinned at me. Again, I went for the door, but this time, he- get this- DEMATERIALIZED, and MATERIALIZED back into view in front of THE DOOR!
'Holy freaking mother of God.' I swore forcefully, stumbling back onto a desk. I shook my head at him.
'What ARE you?!' I wanted to know. My voice was going way too high for my liking, but seriously, this was too much!!!
'Well, I've been practicing some new moves,' he said, looking at me suggestively. Why did that not sound good? At all?!
This was WAY major mind overload. I mean, come on, it was 8.55am, it was too early for Oh-look-I-can-materialize-wherever-I-want-now-because-I'm- super-shifter Paul Slater. I clutched my head, and he started laughing. Oh, God . . .
'That's not all I can do, Suze,' he said, chuckling at my reaction. I just gaped at him.
'I'm outa here,' I said, 'I have to go and see-'
But by then, he'd like, totally materialized right in front of me, and had jammed an arm on each side of the desk, trapping me. Geez, his face was close. Oh, shit, this was bad. I mean, I was really getting scared now.
'So, Suze. How come you didn't turn up to your shifter lesson yesterday?' he asked wryly, his breath reeking of Colgate minty freshness.
I shuttered something, I'm not sure what it was. Why was I so scared? Was he noticing?
Shit, yeah.
'Geez, Simon, chill,' he said, stroking the side of my face so gently. I began to shiver. Should I call Jesse? No. Well, at least not yet, I didn't want to be the prime suspect for homicide.
'P-P-Paul,' I managed to choke out, 'I, ah . . . I thought you were suspended.'
Oh, yeah, Suze great conversation starter. So witty of you . . .
Well, that was the point, wasn't it? I didn't want to have a conversation with him. But why was I being such a dork? My mouth opened and closed several times, till I just decided to keep it closed. What was GOING ON?
'Suze, are you all right?' he asked, frowning. 'I mean, I knew you wouldn't exactly jump at seeing me, but seriously, it takes a lot to render you speechless.' Okay, he was getting way close now. I mean, we're talking millimeters! My eyes went fuzzy.
I blacked out.
A/N: No, I'm not making Suze out to be weak, something's happened to her. Keep reviewing, luv yooz all!