Chapter 6- All's Fair
Note: Jessica and Whitney are really close friends.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, except Christy,
Mindy, Ali ( sometimes I spell it Ally), Stacey, Justin and Chris.
All the others belong to JER. I also don't own any of the
storylines. They belong to Francine Pascal. I love the SVHSY series,
so I know a lot of the books by heart, and thus, much of the wording
may be similar to those books. Especially from this chapter, I took
a lot right from the book Can't Stay Away. On to the chapter...
All's Fair In High School
Chapter 6
Whitney paced back and forth though her room. This was not
possible. It couldn't ACTUALLY be happening. How did Chad Harris end
up LIVING with her?
She was just so confused! Sometimes he repulsed and annoyed
her to a point that she never even thought possible.
And the other 90% of the time, she just really wanted him...
How did things get so messed up?
Simone Russell's Fall Fashion Editiorial for the Harmony High
Newspaper
Fashion is important. People judge you on what your wearing.
So listen up, guys and girls, I've got a few things to say.
First off, skirts and boots do not belong in the same
outfit. You don't see Tyra Banks trying to pull off the whole sexy
cowgirl act now, do you? Take a hint. And don't wear white after
Labor Day. I don't care how hot it is outside! You just can't do it!
And don't believe all the hype about knockoffs. If you can't afford
the real thing, then forget about it.
For the amazing large number of you who think 70's fashion
is cool, I have some shocking news for you. It's not. I don't want
to see any more bell-bottoms. Put away those pathetic double knit
shirt-- in fact, thrown them away; they won't be coming back into
style anytime this lifetime. Here's a phrase that's easy to remember
: Polyester is never okay.
A special word to you girls who hang out on the upper field
during lunch: the Gap is not the only store in the world. I know it
sounds scary, but there are alternatives. Try another store. I know
you can do it.
And I'm afraid that there's only one thing to say to you
guys in the Star Trek shirts who sit in the right hand corner of the
caf during lunch: seek help immeadiately.
Real style takes work. If you're going to be hip, you've got
to commit yourself. Go to the mall everyday and look at sales (that
is, if you need to buy stuff on sale). Read fashion magazines. Or at
least look at the pictures.
I like to pick out what I'm going to wear the next day
before I go to bed. That way, the next morning, I'm not rushing
around. You might want to all follow my lead in that department.
I've seen people at Harmony High that look like they put on the
first thing their hands hit in their closet in the morning. Believe
me, it shows.
That's all for now. Don't thank me yet. Thank me later, when
the halls of Harmony High are no longer a fashion nightmare.
( Hehe... I just wanted to show you how singularly snotty and single
minded I picture Simone as!!)
" There they are," Charity murmured to Mindy and Emily,
steering them through the skylighted corridor of the mall.
It was 7 o'clock on Thursday evening, and Simone and Ali
were standing in front of Bebe's studying a pair of leather pants.
Charity was relieved that it had taken such a short time to find
them.
" Simone, Ali, hi!", Charity called brightly.
The two girls turned around. Simone looked a little
surprised at Charity's friendliness.
" So are you guys getting ready for the big night?" Charity
asked easily. " The leather pants are very cool, by the way."
" That's what I think." Ali said, shooting Simone a
satisfied look. " We were just arguing them over."
" I say go for it." Emily suggested.
" Listen, we're heading over to the Aveda Day Spa to get
manicures and pedicures," Charity explained, " but I'm really glad
we ran into you. A bunch of us are getting together for a predance
thing on the beach by Mariner's Point. It's kind of a Castleton
tradition.
" Justin and Chris made a point of asking whether you two
would be there." Mindy added, naming Miguel's two best friends, both
extremely desirable.
Ali's face glowed. Charity knew that she would be a simple
target. A few well place words would make a personal slave out of
Ali. It was Simone's face that she carefully studied. Simone would
suspect more ramifications.
" Sounds like fun." Ali chirped, "What time?"
" Seven-thirtyish?", Charity suggested.
" What about you Simone?", Mindy pressed.
Simone slung her leopard print bag over her shoulder. " Am I
right in guessing that Kay Bennett isn't invited?"
Good for you, Charity thought, I'm impressed.
Charity had been keeping her expression impassive, but maybe
a tiny smile would do some good. It was a moment of confidence.
" I'm sure you understand why Kay isn't my favorite person
right now, So no. I'm not going out of my way to invite her."
Charity said evenly. The last part was simply for Ali's bebfit, a
little balm for the girl's conscious, should it ever appear.
Simone remained silent. She was holding out. That was fine.
" We've really gotta run. But we'll be at Aveda is you need
us.", Charity said, no sight or care in her voice of face.
" So we'll see you at the beach?", Mindy asked.
Charity sent Mindy a telepathic thank-you. She had been
dying to ask Simone the very same question, but didn't want to make
herself look desperate for their friendship. Because she wasn't.
Simone thought for another moment. She obviously saw the
answer to this question would mean. Instance acceptence into the
Castleton crowd, or destroyed social status.
" I'll see you there." Simone answered finally.
Good answer, Simone, thought Charity, Good answer.
Simone Russell
The landscape of Harmony High is changing fast, anyone with
a brain can see that. My friend, Kay Bennett, seems to have
temporarily put her brain on ice.
Reese is gone. His absense has left open the most important
postion in the entire school. The school's social leader. The word
is, with Reese gone, the Castleton QB is primed to take over. Honors
classes and school societies are fast filling up with Castleton
people. Even in the first week of school, the Castleton elite is
throwing raging parties and only inviting a select one or two
Harmony people.
And then there's Charity Standish. She is one to watch. And
don't be fooled by her fragile look. She's so sharp, it's almost
scary.
This is the part where I get to Kay. She doesn't realize how
much trouble she's getting herself into. And even if she did know,
she wouldn't see Charity as a major threat. But I've spent too many
years of country club butt kissing not to recognize who's got power
and who doesn't.
And I know this sounds horrible, but you don't know Kay like
I do. She hasn't stolen your boyfriends, borrowed, ruined or lost
half your closet, or charmed your parents completely so that they
say things like, " That Kay
works hard at her job; reminds me of when I was in high school" in
my father's case or, " Please ask Kay to come shopping with us
today. She has such an eye." in my mother's. It's pretty nauseating.
Kay and I have an understanding: only the fit survive. She
doesn't need my help, and I never expect hers. Kay is a survivor,
she'll find a way out of this mess.
Either way, it's not my problem.
Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald's Rants and Raves Article
Why is it that people think that in order to be a feminist you have
to be into guy things? You have to be a jock. You have to be a
career woman. You have to wear the pants. Staying at home to raise
the kids is out. Wearing pink is TOTALLY out. And being a
cheerleader? Don't even do there.
I consider myself a feminist. I'm also a pom-pom wavin,
cartwheel turnin' varsity cheerleader. And I'm damn proud of it.
Whitney stared into her closet. There was the short, pale
yelloe mini-dress with the spagetti straps. The long navy linen
skirt with the matching tank top. A black mini-skirt. A long-sleeved
silky, flowered blouse. She was leaning toward the miniskirt. The
yellow mini-dress wasd definantly out. Chad Harris would think she
was a total dork.
Wait a minute- since when did Chad's opinion of her affect
how she dressed? Since when did Whitney let a guy affect her image.
The last time she did that, she dressed up as a horse so that Alex,
her neighbor, could be the mighty and mysterious Zorro. She grabbed
the yellow dress and pulled it over her head and went to study her
appearance in the mirror.
Truth was, she did look dorky. The dress was way too
conservative, even with it's short length. She pilled it off and
left it in a heap on the floor. Whitney reached for the black
miniskirt and pulled it over her hips, admiring the cut. Chad
probably wouldn't even be there. But if he was, it wouldn't hurt to
look drop-dead gorgous, right?
Suddenly she had an idea. She searched he closet for a black
silk camisole. simone had gived it to her last Christman, and
borrowed it several times since then, but Whitney had never worn it.
She slipped the weightless fabric over her head and turned back to
her closet. She found a sheer, slightly shimmery, wine-colered
blouse. At the time, she's hadn't known what had possessed Simone to
buy it. But it was perfect for Whitney's current mood. Sophisticated
and Sexy. With a pair of black open hole sandles and a little
burgundy lip gloss, she'd be set.
And if Chad Harris happens to like this outfit, that's not
my fault, is it?
At the beach, Charity smiled to herself. This was too
perfect. With Miguel's strong arms wrapped around her, she felt
safe. Safe from anything at all...
As she looked around at new newly invited guests, she
smiled.
Simone was engaged in an old-fashioned lip lock with Justin.
And Ali was sitting by the fire, talking to Chris, who
looked very intrested in her.
She just couldn't wait to get to the dance. To show Kay
Bennett not to ever lay her dirty little eyes on Charity's boyfriend
again. Ever.
Kay walked into the school. She decided to make a quick run
to the bathroom before she made her grand appearance at the dance.
She opened the door and gave everyone a bright, " Hi!"
Of all the 6 girls standing there, none even gave her a
second glance. They just all ignored her, or gave her a dirty look.
" Hi Sophie!" She said to one of the girls, recognizing her
from her french class.
" Uh, hi, Kay.", Sophie whispered, not looking directly at
Key.
" Ookay.", Kay said, wondering what was going on with these
people.
She quickly checked her relection, admiring the way her
gorgous red dress hugged her body.
She left hurriedly and ran to the gym, ready to have a
fantastic time without Miguel. Who needs that loser?
As she got there, a slow song began, and she looked around
for Jessica, to see who she was dancing with.
She saw a very cute guy standing in front of her. She slowed
down her pace to allow him to ask her to dance. She didn't quite get
the reaction she was hoping for. All he did was nudge the guy
standing next to him and laugh.
She brushed it off and went further into the gym.
" Nice Zipper, Kay! Easy access!", some sleezy guy whistled.
" Yeah, it's sure gonna get a workout tonight, huh?",
another guy reponded with a cruel voice.
Kay ignored them and kept walking. But she had a sinking
feeling in her heart. What was going on?
Whitney looked around the gym. She had been scanning it for
the last 10 minutes, but Chad had been a no-show. She didn't see him
at her house getting ready or anything. She had just assumed that he
was going.
Why am I so disapointed?, she asked herself, Okay, so he's
hot. But I've only known him for, like, a week!
But if he means nothing to me, why do I keep wishing he was
here, dancing with me?
Chad Harris
You wanna know why I didn't go to the dance tonight? Because
I actually wanted to go. And that scares me.
I wanted to see Whitney, I know I'll see her constantly,
we're living together for God's sake! But it really would have been
fun to dance with her, to talk to her, to hold her...
What am I saying? This is all crazy talk...
Kay kept weaving her way through the crowd. Miguel. She
froze. She should have turned away. For her own good. But she was
frozen in place. His arms were wrapped protectively around a slender
blonde girl.
Oh god. It was the girl from cheerleading tryouts. The one
with the cold brown eyes. And they were focused on her. But this
time, there was pure hatred in them, and Kay couldn't stand it
anymore.
She felt like her heart had been ripped out. How could
Miguel have done this to her? How could he have been so ruthless, so
horrible, so... heartless?
She took off running before anyone could see the tears
streaming down her face.
Kay Bennett
I'm in my bed crying. And my red dress is on the floor. So I guess
it really wan't a dream. It was real. Who am I kidding? I was a
dream-- a nightmare. But I have a feeling that I might not be able
to wake up from it.