Stress – Thanks goilie! That means a lot, cuz I love your writing too.
Aki – Wahoo! Thanks. More is here.
Braces – Thanks for the review! Your chappy with Blink is coming up soon… I think… LOL.
Morning Dew – :D Thanks dear. And you'll find out what Spot thinks of the switched armbands in this chappy…
Lucky aka Raider – Yay! Thanks hun! Yeah, I like writing for Spot. He makes me laugh.
Pegasus – This chappy is all yours, hun. Thanks for being a great email buddy! LOLOL and we must banish TARK for stealing the Mush cookies…
Drama-Queen – I'm not sure when more Jack is coming, but rest assured, for he WILL come… he's gotta. LOL.
Gypsy – Ahhh, I must start reading the sequel to Broken Rules… cuz you just COULDN'T leave everyone happy, could you?! No, no, no… you had to ruin their lives… *sigh* So I WILL finish returning the favor soon… and I love you in Jester's story, hehe!
Moody – Heya Moods! Yeah, I kinda made Swifty like the guy that I want… like the persona of the guy I want to find someday… unbelievably sweet… I think Skitts is kinda the same in this chappy, but so sue me… I'm a romantic. What can I do?
Misprint – Can't blame Shade there, I love motorcycles too… like I just told Moods, Swifty in the last chappy is like the embodiment of what I someday want in a guy… motorcycle and all… *sigh* Who can blame me?! **Mondie steals blue pipe cleaners from your review and waves them back** GET OVER YOUR WRITING BLOCK! I NEED MORE ECLIPSE! WHAT HAPPENS TO ME AND MUSH?!?!?!? LOL I'm dying here with anitici … pation. ((Sorry, had to throw in a little Rocky Horror for ya there.))
ashley – Thanks!
Holiday – Thanks goil! Your story ((the title escapes me at the moment, I apologize)) is WONDERFUL!!!
jsgirl2005 – Worthy of DAVID?? I feel special… wow… I have never been so highly complimented before! Thank you!!!!
sobealizard – Heya Sobes! Thanks for reviewing! You're such a sweetie. WRITE MORE IMMEDIATELY!
Mist – Thank you!!!!!
kimimay85 – AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING TOGETHER AT THE ORCHARD TREE!!!!!!! **happy dance** Okay, and as for your review… (Lol) Of course I kept them safe. I was gonna have them without helmets cuz it's much more romantic, but I wanted to teach safety within my story. LOL. And I made everyone safe. Don't worry, no one's dying… yet. Oh, and you are *not* bigger than me. :P So there.
rumor – You crack me up, too. Yeah, I know I'm dogging on Mush, but it's only because I love him and because I'm not gonna get him in this story since ::ahem:: I'm not in it. LOLOL. I still think he's adorable though!!! Can't pimps be cute? And are you so sure that Spot's gonna turn head-over-heels for Relic? Hmmm?
Doll Face – Thanks!! That's so sweet of you. I wrote more, I promise!!! LOL.
Blinks-Tiger – Thanks hun!!!!!!!!! I know, last chapter ~was~ an all-out awwwww-fest, wasn't it? LOL! This chapter kinda is, but not as bad… as you'll see, Relic is up to her usual mischief… and Spot's not too happy about it…
Dragonfly – The bowler is coming! I promise I promise I promise! LOLOL.
Stripes McKee – Thanks!! The Crimson Love Gang… I like it! Hehehe.
Anne K. Letoile – WOW! Thanks for the super review!!!! I'll post that under "Things To Read When Your Ego Needs Inflating". LOL!
Ali – Thanks for the review!! I hope you come back and read more.
Shade – You're just awesome, dear. Thanks for coming to check this out!!!!!! YOU AND MIS MUST UPDATE NOWWWWWWWWWWWWW! LOLOL.
Court Jester – Thanks hun! Yup, Jack's an artist… I know… hehe **Mondie giggles too** But you'll see, I've got BIG plans for Jackie Boy… And who cares if others think you're insane? I know you're not. LOL. ((BTW, thanks for updating Rent. It's wonderful! I'm just a little confused… you'll get me when you read my latest review.)) I love quoting musicals too!!! :D Thanks for all the reviews, babe.
Taffee – Yup… Spot's not gonna be one happy duck… then again, he isn't a duck, so if he WERE a happy duck, I'd be frightened…
Untouchables
Chapter 5
Early the next morning, Skittery pulled his Jeep into the parking lot and sighed. Spot had told the Crimson Gang to come early to get their parking places back, and apparently the Clover Gang had figured that out, because they were there too. Cars were parked every which way haphazardly, with no regard to actual spaces. Spot Conlon, wearing his all-black ensemble with his dark red ribbon, was the easiest to pick out. He was clutching a can of red spray paint in each hand.
He was facing off with that brown-haired girl who was in charge of the girls' gang. Skittery parked his Jeep and joined the fray.
He elbowed his way past most of his friends, right to the front of the groups. Spot's eyes were narrowed and he was screaming at the girl. She was holding two cans of her own green spray paint.
Skittery noticed something and his mouth dropped open. Spot's front was covered in dark green sparkly paint. It hadn't been evident from his Jeep, but now that he was next to his leader, it was impossible to ignore. No wonder Spot was so upset. Not only was he nearly at the snapping point over this Clover Gang already, but his outfit was ALWAYS impeccable.
Skitts now looked to the girl, wondering what was going through her mind. How could she possibly have done such a stupid thing?
Her face, however, was the opposite of Spot's—calm. Happy, even. She had the same look in her eyes that countless girls had when they looked at Spot: adoration.
"You whore! You evil little bitch!" Spot shouted, his eyes now bulging with anger. Skittery tuned into his words, and shook his head.
"Spot…" he said, eyeing his leader with doubt.
At the same moment, a girl looking at her own leader said, in the same warning tone, "Relic…" Skittery looked over in surprise, and smiled when he saw how pretty she was. She looked over too, and jerked back her head so that her dark wavy hair flew out of her eyes, revealing a flash of chocolate brown. She gave him a shy smile before turning back to her friend, Relic.
Spot had stopped yelling at Relic, but now he was eyeing Skittery with disapproval. "Just… let it go," Skittery said, trying not to laugh at the green paint.
Spot gave a short bark of a laugh. "I don't think so, Skittery," he said in disgust. Then he turned back to Relic. "YOU BITCH…"
Everyone was interrupted by the gunning roar of a motorcycle. "Hey, who's riding with Swifts?" asked Cowboy, shading his eyes as the motorcycle came into the parking lot with two riders.
Relic forgot the situation with Spot at hand as she watched Taffee climbing off the motorcycle with Swifty. They took off their helmets and linked hands, smiling into each others' eyes. Unaware that thirty-two pairs of eyes were watching them, Swifty whispered something in her ear. She giggled back, and then they shared a quick kiss.
All the members of the Clover Gang shared a collective sigh.
The happy couple reached the big skirmish, and smiled greetings to their friends.
"Hold on," Spot said, his eyes narrowing again. "Swifty, what is on your arm?"
Everyone's eyes flew to Swifty's left arm, where tied over the sleeve of his plain blue t-shirt was Taffee's dark green ribbon.
"You know how it is, Spot," Swifty said, trying to sound carefree. However, his shifting nervously from foot to foot betrayed his fear. "Taffee and I are together now."
"EEEEEEK!" screamed Relic, pushing Spot out of the way and rushing over to Taffee. She pulled her best friend into a hug. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Taffee laughed and squealed a little too. Swifty watched with a grin on his face. Until Spot marched his way over. He grabbed Swifty's arm and pulled off the green ribbon. Waiting until everyone's eyes were on him, Spot pretended to deliberate over what to do with it. Then, malice glinting in his eyes, he threw it on the ground and stomped on it, twisting his foot to mash it into the asphalt. Then he grabbed Taffee's arm and untied Swifty's ribbon, then thrust it back at Swifty.
Swifty stared at him, but slowly tied the ribbon back around his arm with his right arm and his teeth. Then he put his arm around Taffee, who was looking at Spot with hurt in her eyes. Everyone stared at the face-off.
Then Swifty thrust his leg forward and kicked Spot in the shin.
Spot wasn't expecting that, to say the least, and stepped backwards with the kicked leg. The ribbon which had been under Spot's heel was now lying unguarded. Swifty bent and picked it up quickly, then handed it to his girlfriend. His black eyes glared at Spot as he guided Taffee through the groups of gangs and into the school. Neither he or she looked back.
"…Wow," breathed a voice near Skittery. "Did that just happen?" He looked over and saw the dark-haired girl from before. She looked at him too, then blushed and turned away, walking quickly back towards her friends as if embarrassed.
Skittery stared after her. There was something familiar about her…
She was in his thoughts all day long. Her brown eyes captivated his mind, and her beauty captivated his heart. His friends in the Crimson Gang noticed his flightiness, but no one commented, because they were still in shock about Swifty's attitude that morning. He was still in the Gang and still ate with them at lunchtime and everything, but things were subdued around him.
Finally, it was the last period of the day. Skittery sighed in relief. One more class, and he'd be free to go home. He'd already had a horrible day, because his thoughts couldn't stay on his studies… they were up in the air with Her. His teachers had gone nuts on him, and if he weren't a member of the Crimson Gang, he would have had detention for the rest of the week.
A smile crossed his face as he made his way through the crowded hallways, though. He loved eighth period. Debate class.
He'd joined the class his freshman year, because he had had three study halls a day and the counselor had insisted he take some electives. The school's debate team had been a bit of a joke before then, and he'd thought it would be a class to sleep through. Then he'd gotten in there.
Mr. Chausser, the teacher, was hard, but fun. Skittery had found he really belonged there, and had soon become the star debater. He almost always won. He could debate until his face turned blue, whether in fact he was actually in favor of whatever he was arguing for, or not.
He took his seat in his desk. There were only six other people in the class. They were the "varsity" debate team. The "JV" debate team met third period. The third period class was a lot bigger, because it was all the freshmen who took it, and any upperclassmen who a) had been cut from varsity, b) didn't have eighth period open, or c) hadn't taken it before.
"As you know," Mr. Chausser said, "Tomorrow is our big match against Poulet Rouge High. As you well know, it's during the school day, so don't forget to bring your permission slip and a sack lunch. To get us in spirits for the debate, I've invited the third period class to come up and have a little debate with you all."
"Mr. Chausser?" Charlie, a kid with glasses and a long, sloping nose (which meant he was constantly shoving said glasses up said nose) called, waving his arm in the air. His flailing arm hit Skittery in the head several times. Skittery hated sitting next to Charlie.
"Yes, Charlie?" Mr. Chausser said, turning to look at the scrawny boy.
Charlie shoved his glasses up his nose before answering. They immediately slid back down again. "I can't make it tomorrow, I've got a huge math test I can't miss. I tried to get out of it, but to no avail. Can a JV kid go in my place?"
"We'll ask when they get up here," Mr. Chausser answered. At that moment, as if planned, the door opened and in stepped a few girls from third period. Soon about twelve kids had gathered in the room.
Skittery's mouth dropped open as he saw Her standing there. He must've seen her in the JV class, at one of their matches where both teams went or something… he smiled to himself.
Mr. Chausser was speaking with her in low tones, then turned and clapped. When the noise dropped off, he smiled. "Charlie, I've talked Vivien here into coming along. So you're off the hook."
Vivien… Skittery said her name to himself. Beautiful.
"Mr. Chausser!" she giggled. "My name isn't that anymore."
"Oh, sorry, Viv!" Mr. Chausser answered. He laughed too. "I keep forgetting about that little group you're in that rivals Spot's little group." Skittery cringed to himself, glad Spot hadn't heard the comment about his "little group". "All right, I apologize. Pegasus will be joining us tomorrow."
Charlie slid out of his seat, shoving his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. Pegasus took his place. She turned and smiled shyly at Skittery, then turned forward again.
"Hey, Peg," he said lightly, as Mr. Chausser turned to the JV team to split them into a group to rival the varsity team. She turned to him, raising her arched eyebrows. "This is stupid of me, but would you like to hang out this afternoon or something? I've got a bunch of movies back at my house…"
Pegasus could only gape at him. It had never been so easy with a guy before, ever. Skittery had never even noticed her until she'd tried to get Relic to stop egging Spot on that morning… did he somehow know that she had a crush on him?
He took her silence as a no. "Well, you could at least have the decency to answer me," he said, his face turning to a scowl. "Sorry I asked." He turned to Josh, on the other side of him, and began to talk.
Pegasus was about to correct him when Mr. Chausser finished. "Okay, let's get started!" he said, his eyes lit up.
Skittery had never debated with such fire before. Pegasus' refusal had spurred him on. Even Mr. Chausser, who was used to Skittery's skill, looked impressed.
"Skittery?" Pegasus asked shyly when the class was almost over. "I'd love to hang out with you this afternoon."
He looked at her skeptically. "Why, because I'm a good debater?" he asked, his voice rich with sarcasm.
She shook her head. "No. I was just… shocked earlier, that you'd want to hang out with me and all. I've kinda been trying to get you to notice me for a while, actually…" She began to twirl a piece of her hair around her finger.
Skittery grinned. "Really?" The bell rang, and he slung his backpack over his shoulder. She did the same, and they fell into an easy step as they walked together down the hallway, talking.
She followed his car to his house, and when they got there, it was empty. "My mom works, and my brother's at college," Skittery explained. He picked up a note lying on the counter. Pegasus read over his shoulder:
Marcus, please fold the laundry that's in the drier. And can you make some dinner? I'll be home at six. Dan's at the office til 9 tonight, so it'll just be the two of us. Love, Mom.
Pegasus smiled at his name—Marcus—then focused on Dan. "Who's Dan?" she asked, looking up at Skittery's tousled brown hair.
"Mom's boyfriend," Skittery mumbled. "C'mon, let's go pick out a movie." He led her into the living room. Against one wall was a huge bookcase, but it was filled with movies. "Pick whatever you want, I hafta go get the laundry."
Pegasus surveyed the collection, before finding one of her favorite movies, Almost Famous. She took it down and put the tape in the VCR. She fast-forwarded through the previews, then stopped it to wait for Skittery. He came in soon, a mound of clothing in his arms. He had to backtrack to pick up some socks and such that he'd dropped. "What'd ya pick?" he asked.
She told him, and he smiled happily. "That's one of my favorites," he said.
"Mine, too," she agreed. They looked at each other and grinned. She settled onto one end of the couch. He dumped all the clothes on the other side and began to fold them.
As the movie's beginning played, she leaned over and helped him fold some of the clothes. It was evident that they'd both seen the movie a lot, because they quoted along with it—often—and always at the same parts. Soon the laundry was done, in neat piles on the floor. Skittery then took its place on the couch.
He spent the movie inching along the couch towards her, and by the time they got to the part where Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" plays on the tour bus, he was right next to her. She surprised him by leaning her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her. They sang along when the band began to sing, and he liked how he could feel the vibrations when she sang. "I need to go home," the two said along with William.
With Penny, they replied to themselves: "You are home."
Skittery leaned down and kissed Pegasus.
…They didn't watch the rest of the movie.