Day 22: "Have you heard?"
Stringing Along
Kitty Bubai considered herself to be the queen bee of the camp. There wasn't anything that she didn't know. She knew all the relationship drama, all the in-fighting among friends, and she stirred the pot to make it fit in her favor. She observed everything from her throne, girlfriend sitting next to her, as she giggled down at the masses who couldn't raise a single finger against her reign.
There had been previous challengers. Lili used to be one of them. She stepped in whenever Crystal or Dogen was being extorted or mistreated. But recently, Lili stayed to herself, alone as always. Kitty almost thought she was sad. They had used to be friends, but Lili was a little proactive for her liking, and Kitty was quick to move on when the fun and her usefulness had stopped like a car hitting the brakes.
Phoebe was a persistent thorn in her side. She tried playing peacekeeper. With her therapist shtick, it got annoying fast. Kitty was swift to sink in her claws into Phoebe's best friend, who already had quite the obvious crush on her. It was simpering, but Kitty thought he was cute and wanted to drag out his feelings for the rest of the summer just to make Phoebe fume.
Maloof had taken a stand against her, but his efforts were nearly in vain. Kitty was fast to smooth over the hurt she and Franke had caused him. They came to a mutual understanding, just as she had done with Bobby regarding the arrowhead business. Staying in their respective lines was the conclusion that led to Kitty continuing her toll bridge charge with Maloof and Mikhail having special clearance to pass. (There would also be no more dress-up sessions with Maloof, much to Franke's bemoaning.)
Anyone else was hardly a threat. They were either too much of a loser or too kind to stand against her. And it wasn't as if she would go down without a fight. She'd never lower herself to a physical level, but her confusion abilities were the best in the camp. Everyone feared what she would do if they really angered her. (The new kid was lucky. He had the nerve to insult her weight. While she had shrieked, she jabbed him with a dig about his family's poverty. She called them even but reflecting on it, she would've liked to make him awkwardly flirt with Lili, who so obviously stood in hiding and watched as Kitty and Franke made their bracelets.)
But as she stared at the bulletin board, reading the daily memos posted by her fellow PSI cadets, one sticky note was odd. She read it a few times over. Then, she re-read slowly aloud. She made sure to whisper every word to herself, folding her arms and tapping her index finger against her elbow.
"Kitty, Franke and I have decided to elope. I know this is true because Franke said it to me at Make-Out Cave. I was wondering if you'd be the bridesmaid for our wedding. Don't tell anyone because it's a secret. Okay? Vernon. Oh, and can you take this note down? We don't want anyone seeing it. Remember, we're eloping. Not even our parents can know. Thanks. Vernon. Again."
Slowly shaking her head, it was obvious what had happened. When Kitty learned of Vernon's crush on Franke, Kitty suggested she entice him just as she was doing to Quentin. Franke was eager to have, in her words, a "boy toy to do things for her." But Franke was a sweet girl, who, despite her efforts at meanness, wasn't the best at manipulation. Kitty reminded herself to help bring out Franke's full potential in cunning, but for now, she'd have to untangle the web Franke had been caught in before the spider Vernon could spin her around further.
"Hey, Kitty."
Oh, jeez.
She didn't bother hiding her aggravation. Vernon was the dullest, pushiest boy in summer camp. He was even worse than Benny, who tended to plod after her like a lovesick puppy when she gave him the time of day.
Vernon was coming out of the woodwork. But it was clear that he came straight from the seagrass underneath the rickety stairs. He must've been lying in wait, similar to the mongooses he loved. Despite his flat, monotonous voice, he spoke with a rare eagerness. "Did you hear? Or rather, did you read?"
"Yes, Vernon. You were eavesdropping as I was saying it." Kitty pinched the note and tore it off the bulletin board. "It's…interesting. What exactly did Franke say to make you believe this?"
"Oh, well, first she said-"
"No, no, no." She shook her hand. "Just give me the exact details. I don't have time for a long-winded - I mean, oh, forget it, a long-winded explanation."
Vernon frowned, a flash of annoyance in chocolate brown eyes. "Well, I was going to give you a wonderful story about our blossoming, hot love-" Kitty shuddered. "-but Franke said we were going to elope after we were alone in Make-Out Cave."
"Did she now?"
"She did."
Kitty poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue. She was definitely going to need to teach Franke better guile. Franke wasn't one for quick thinking, and even if her sincere silliness won Kitty over, it would continue to make problems for both of them.
"Well, you can't elope," Kitty slowly said, pressing her hands together.
Vernon's head lifted. "Oh, yeah? Why?"
He challenged her directly. Kitty smirked, her fuschia-painted lips curling into her rouged cheeks.
"Because Franke told me she's shy. She isn't one to jump the gun. I'm sure whatever happened in that cave is because she was telling you what you wanted to hear. You know, because she cares so much for you." Kitty's voice was like velvet, smooth and inviting. She approached Vernon, staring deeply into his eyes. "You wouldn't want to make Franke uncomfortable, would you? You don't want to push her into anything like that, right?"
She pushed him herself. She felt the connection with Vernon's thoughts, grasping them like an iron lock. Vernon gasped, then his eyelids grew heavy. He slowly nodded, mumbling his agreement.
"So, this 'elope' comment never happened. It never happened, Vernon. Okay?" When he nodded again, she touched his cheek, severing the connection. As Vernon jumped, blinking in wonder, Kitty crumped the note behind her back and scowled. "Ew. Your breath smells."
"That's not true. I used a peppermint toothpaste this morning and-"
Kitty hurried off before Vernon could run his mouth. It was painfully easy making simple-minded boys like Vernon accept her commands as the truth. Slinking into their minds, twisting their ideas into her own, she was like a parasitic bird. She shoved what she disliked out of the nest and rested her own ideas in their mind before flying off to her next target.
And as she raced up the boardwalk, she found Franke running her way. She was flustered, face redder than her hair. Kitty grasped her shaking hands and shushed her, her expression falling into one of pure concern.
"Oh, my God! Kitty, I just saw what Vernon wrote on the bulletin board in the parking lot!" she cried, holding up the note. "I mean - I mean, I didn't even know what elope meant until he said it, and I went along with it! I'm such an idiot! I don't wanna marry-!"
Kitty shushed her again, pressing her brow against Franke's. "It's okay, baby. I already handled Vernon."
Franke swallowed hard. "You…you did?"
"I did. He won't mention it again. Just forget all about it, okay?"
She wasn't nudging Franke, not when Franke smiled so sweetly at her. Franke bobbed her head in agreement, her joy a constant comfort. Taking Franke's hand, she guided her up the boardwalk, enjoying the peace she had created for Franke. As long as their fingers were entwined, Kitty continued her leisurely rule across Whispering Rock.
"Kitty, you're the best," Franke murmured, leaning into her.
"I know, Franke. You're the best, too."
And although Kitty wove lies, she, more often than note, told Franke the truth.
