Hey, guys! Josh back at you after a (and I apologize greatly) long, long hiatus. A lot going on.
Between starting a business and a lot of other personal development things I really needed to go through, I decided now would be a good time to return and update you guys. I've written out a bit more of the story and I'm still adding more as I go.
To make up for making all my faithful, loyal readers wait so long, I made this chapter especially longer than normal, I think.
I apologize, I won't be responding to the last reviews I may have gotten. It's hard for me to go back through to see which ones I haven't responded to yet. But if you drop me one in response to this chapter, I'll be able to track the new ones from the old ones with the ones I get in from this chapter. I get email notifications when one comes in.
Thanks for being so patient and understanding! Just know this story is NOT dead, it is in the works of being completed and it will be completed.
And now, on with the show!
The end of the current song was winding down as Bonnie was driving home from school.
"Okay, that was Britina's new hit song, "Too Good for You" from her latest album she put out just last weekend, "Perfection"." The radio host announced. "Her album has already made double-platnum and is #1 on billboard..."
Bonnie wasn't really listening. She had turned on the radio to help her get her mind off the situation going with the cheer squad, currently. However, her plan to calm her nerves by turning on her favorite radio station and hearing her idol, Britina, did nothing to help her. It only added to the racket going on in her world.
Bonnie gripped the steering wheel tighter. She had no idea what she was going to do with Cora. On the one hand, she could just get rid of her. But that would only raise even more problems.
She knew Cora was well-liked among the members of the squad, even if she was a klutz of a cheerleader. However, her bubbly personality had a way with several of the members that made her lots of friendships. Add onto the fact that Bonnie was now being compared to Kim, and she knew it. Not only by others, but by herself.
Everything she did, she compared to what Kim would do in certain situations.
On this front, she was very, very self-conscious. She was always one to want to one-up Kim and out-do her in everything. She always wanted to look better in other people's eyes in comparison to her. She was obsessed.
The point was, if she just let her go, would the others on the team look at that and say, "Kim wouldn't have given up that easy"?
That's what Bonnie wondered. But she could pose a real problem for the squad if she didn't get her act together by the cheer competition.
The cheer competition.
In just a few short weeks, all the squads from around the state of Colorado would meet to compete for the state cheerleading championship. This was why she did this. All those years in cheer, this was the prime reason she cheered since she was a little girl. To win a championship.
Why?
Connie and Lonnie. Her "sisters", Bonnie snorted to herself. More like the two biggest pains in her butt, one for each cheek.
All those years growing up, Connie and Lonnie would excel in cheer and were even on a few championship-winning teams in high school back in their day. Something they held over her where she had yet to be a part of one. And boy, did they rub it in.
Bonnie almost missed the turn onto her street so deep in thought. She turned on her blinker and took a swift left, and got to the gates of her family's estate. Reaching over the door frame, she punched in the code that activated the gate's locks and they slowly opened.
Her convertible pulled up into the driveway and she made her way to the front doors. Once there she pushed on of the beautifully decorated doors open and entered the foyer before shutting it behind her. No one was there to greet her. For this, she was relieved.
Bonnie got to the staircase before she heard a familiar, whiny voice come from the adjacent living room.
"Look who's home, Connie!"
Bonnie groaned before deciding she was just going to go upstairs and not dealing with their mess.
"It's little "Bon-bon"! We should go over and say 'hi' to the lesser sis!" Connie sneered.
"Stop calling me that!" Bonnie snapped from the staircase.
Two, tall, long-legged, tanned beautiful women walked into the foyer, looking up at her. One brunette and shoulder-length hair, the other, blonde hair of about the same length, with wicked smile adorning their plastic faces.
"Aw, what's the matter Bon-bon? Oops! I mean, Bonnie?" Connie smirked. "We just wanted to know how school was."
"Yeah." Lonnie said this time. "Don't be a lil' bitch."
"I am not being the bitch, you bitch! And don't call me a bitch! You're the bitch you fucking whore!" Bonnie shouted.
"Hey! You don't talk to your superiors like that." Connie said.
"Yeah, you're our bitch until we say so." Lonnie said, crossing her arms with Connie doing the same as they stopped at the rail. "Yeah, or until you prove you're not the weak-link in our family."
"Hey, Connie?" Lonnie looked over at her.
"Yeah, Lonnie?"
"Are you sure she's our sister? You know... our "actual" real sister?"
"Hm? What do you mean? Do tell!" Lonnie said, enjoying their playing off each other at their sister's annoyance, while watching Bonnie's face. It was delectable.
"Well, mom always said there was a mix-up at the hospital and she may have brought home the wrong baby..."
"She did not!" Bonnie roared. "She said she had accidentally mixed me up with one of the others in the ward when she was going home and dad had to do a u-turn to go back and get me back!"
"Shut up, bitch. Don't interrupt." Lonnie sneered, waving her off, non-chalantly before continuing. "Do you think she actually did bring home the wrong baby?"
"Hmm" Connie feigned contemplation, "Probably!"
Both sisters broke out in laughter. Bonnie's shoulders slouched slightly, but stiffened her muscles to regain her posture. She was determined to hold her ground agianst them. Determined not to brake in front of them.
This was a skill she developed very well over the years from their torture. She knew how to take on anyone's criticisms, not be shaken in the midst of it, and dish it right back. For this she was proud, but boy did their words hurt like damnation.
"Yeah.. there's no way this little bitch is really a Rockwaller." Connie said. "Rockwallers excel and win in everything. She doesn't have any trophies or banners hanging in her room like we do in ours."
Bonnie crossed her arms, glaring at them even harder. "I will this year."
Lonnie snickered. "Uh-huh. What makes you think you will?"
Bonnie smirked. Now it was her turn to turn the tables on them. "Because we have a secret weapon. We have a new girl at our school who is going to put Middleton back on top and you are going to eat your words!"
"I bet she sucks." Lonnie turned to Connie. "Yeah." Connie whispered back.
"Nope. Know of a girl named Tara Summers?"
Their faces froze.
That was it. She knew her sisters hadn't left the world of cheer entirely and still paid attention to the cheer world so they knew who she was. Especially since they had gotten, what they would call, the "luxury" of getting to watch Bonnie and her group get the floor wiped up with them every year by this girl. She had won their verbal exchange.
"She came from Upperton and is now going to cheer for us."
"No way.." Connie said.
"Way."
"Isn't she the girl that has literally kicked your ass year after year?" Lonnie said in shock.
"Yes, but not this year. She's better than either of you ever were and together she and I are going to win it all."
"This is B.S.!" Connie shouted. "Okay, there is no way thee Tara Summers is actually going to cheer for Middleton High of all places. She's like one of the best in the world and she can go anywhere she wants. Why would she want to cheer for the team she constantly beat and cheer with you?"
Bonnie shrugged. "I don't know and it doesn't matter! All I know is we are the odds on favorite to win it all. And no, I didn't get those numbers from any betting places or jockies but when you have this girl, you don't stand a chance."
"Well, you better win it this year, lil' bitch." Connie said. "Because you are a senior this year. And if you don't as captain then you will always will be looked back on as a failure. At least we were able to win one each as captain."
"Besides," Lonnie said, "People know we're associated with you. This is your last chance to bring honor to the Rockwaller name in the cheerleading world and if you don't, your legacy will tarnish our family's name in the community. And then you really won't want to deal with us. We have a reputation. Don't ruin it for us."
"Is that a threat or something?" Bonnie asked.
"Oh, that's a promise! We'll haunt you!" Lonnie quipped.
"It's almost like you want me to win." Bonnie smirked this time.
"Look! We're just looking out after the family name, okay?" Lonnie said.
"But that would involve me personally, having to win, right? Isn't that what you're rooting for, Lonnie?"
"Hey, I- you! I didn't- I don't want!" Lonnie stammered.
Connie grabbed her sister. "Don't confuse Lonnie like that!"
Bonnie shrugged. "I didn't. She did that to her self, the poor dumb blonde. I got homework to do, choa." She teased.
On her way up the steps, she smiled as she heard Lonnie rail against her downstairs. When she got to her room, she shut the door to drown out the noise and walked over to her dresser where she kept her cd player and turned it on so the room filled with the sound of Britina.
She sighed as she plopped down onto her bed with her bag next to her and pulled out her American Literature textbook and notebook to get started on the day's assignments.
Just then, her cell rang. She looked frantically around for it before she realized she was sitting on it. Bonnie groaned having to lean over and pull it out of her back pocket and answered it.
"Hello?" She said.
"Hey, Bonnie."
"Brick! Hey, baby! Mwah! Thank GOD you called! You won't believe the day I had..."
"Hey, yeah, that sounds great, but listen I was calling you because I needed to talk to you."
"Oh... okay." Bonnie said realizing what he needed to talk about must have been serious. "What is it?"
"Um.. see, the thing is, I can't really talk about that on the phone... you know... right now."
"Okay?" Bonnie said.
"Do you think we could... you know... get together and something like that?"
Just then, Bonnie's whole world brightened up.
"Brick, that would be wonderful! I haven't seen you since this past break. You must have been working super hard to not even come so much as to see me... once." Bonnie said through gritted teeth.
"Heh... well, yeah. I guess so. So is Saturday good with you?"
"Saturday." Bonnie confirmed.
"Alright, super. Oh and Bonnie?"
"Hmm?"
"Be ready for anything."
Just then he hung up.
Confused, Bonnie set her phone down onto the mattress.
Be ready for anything.. What could that mean?
No.
Nu uh...
"Shit! Could he be asking to marry me?!" Bonnie screeched.
"Hold on! I've got to call Hope!" She said as she jerked her phone back up and speed-dialed Hope's number.
"Hello?"
"Hope! You got to listen to this, I- Wait, are you busy?"
"Uh, no. I was just working on a little bit of homework but I've got time. What's going on, B?"
"Okay, well, I just got off the line with Brick..."
(Meanwhile at Ron's house)
Ron and Tara were sitting on his bed with papers galore, everywhere, all over the sheets. But for Ron, it was more like he was laying flat on his back, clutching his stomach.
"Come on, Ron. Get up, we got to keep taking notes. Remember, we agreed I'd write down the most important stuff from the first half of Chapter 7 in bullet points and you'd do the same for the other half and then we'd study what we collected, exchange notes and then, finally, quiz each other."
"Uggghhh..." Ron groaned. "Can I have a minute? I think... I think I ate a bit too much Bueno Nacho before heading home."
Tara giggled. "Poor Ronnie. Serves you right. That's what happens when you choose to pig out on the night of a big test."
Ron let out a loud, prolonged belch.
"Ronald! What did I tell you about letting out burps like that in my house?" Ron's mother shouted from downstairs.
"Sorry!" Ron sighed.
Tara sighed and closed her book. They had come back to Ron's an hour ago and her brain was now at the point of fatigue. She collected all the notes they had written so far into a pile so they could get back to them later.
Ron looked up at her sitting on her side of the bed. She was looking down and picking at her nail.
"Penny for a thought?"
"Huh?" She snapped to.
Ron smiled. "Penny for one thought or multiple? How many are you having? That might cost more than one penny now that I think on it. I'm not sure."
Tara laughed and relaxed a little, looking down again and shrugged. "I don't know... I'm just... I'm just still feeling a bit bad about what I said earlier to Cora."
Ron listened on, intent to let her just speak her mind.
Tara sighed and climbed onto the bed and laid down a few inches away on her back from Ron. "It's just that sometimes people expect a lot out of me, you know? I'm supposed to have all these answers or whatever, like somehow I can answer all of life's questions and problems and make everything right. And I try to do that because I feel like it's my obligation to do that."
"That's a lot of pressure to put on yourself." Ron said.
Tara looked at him. "It is... but at the same time, how do I not? Everyone, including myself, has always seen me as a leader. That's just what I've been used to. Leading a group of girls to titles and being world-known, world-famous in my field and idolized for all these accomplishments and accolades and I just..."
Ron looks at Tara when she paused.
"But now I'm not in a position of leadership. Bonnie is and yet people still look at me like I can do anything and everything since I'm thee Tara Summers. There's a responsibility with the reputation you hold, you know. And I guess, maybe Cora may have been looking for answers from me about what she should do and I thought it was my place to give her advice and make her a promise that I couldn't keep, that she'd stay on the squad and I take my word very seriously, Ron!" Tara groaned.
Ron turned over on his side and grabbed her hand. Tara clenched his in return, pent up and close to hyperventilating. "Look, Tara, you can't beat yourself up, okay? I know you were just trying to encourage her, because that's who you are, right? You hate to see people fall and fail and I know what your heart is. You have a good heart and you have no ill-intent. So your words may not have been the most appropriate for the situation. So what? You can help her so that way, Bonnie won't oust her from the squad."
Tara ran her thumb, unconsciously, over his hand holding hers. "Really? How?"
Ron smiled. "Work with her. I'm sure she would just love to be schooled and coached by none other than the great! the fantabulous! The amaaaaaaziiiiiing Tarasummerrrrs! Yaaaay!" Ron playfully said pumping his fist in the air.
Tara smiled wide and shook her head holding back a snort but ended up giggling. "Oh stop! I'm not."
"Yes you are." He smiled at her. "To me you're all those things, plus more."
Tara's heart melted at those words. Ron really was one of a kind.
The two shared a comfortable silence just looking into the other's eyes. Tara began to giggle.
Ron smiled and started to laugh, himself. "What?"
She smiled. "What would you're mother think if she came in and saw us right now?"
Ron shrugged. "I don't know what you mean, honestly."
She kept that smile. "Well, you're laying on your side, with me on my back, facing me, while holding my hand. What would she say to seeing two single people like us doing that in your bed as we gaze into each other's eyes?"
For Ron it suddenly clicked and he started to grow a smile himself thinking about it. "She would freak."
Tara giggled. "Yeah, maybe."
"Sorry." Ron said rolling onto his back and began pulling his hand from her's.
Tara felt a little disappointed at that, blushing mad. "Sorry I had to kill the mood like that."
Ron shook his head. "Nah, nah, you didn't. I mean, it's like you said, right? We're just two single people, albiet unlucky in the romance department. It's not like we're actually gonna end up falling in love and ending up together, right?" He joked.
Tara looked at him with a brief unsure pause. "Uh.. sure."
However, Tara was still uncertain. She couldn't help but wonder if there actually was going to end being anything between the two of them... or not. Was this a close friendship and that's where it was going to stay? Did she want that? Did she want more? What about Ron? Would fate change to where they couldn't help but end up together? Maybe with something just pushing them... motivating them... needing them to end up as something more than what they were right there and then.
She didn't know. But she was more than willing to let life play itself out and just let the chips fall where they may. She didn't want to force anything and lose him. Time would let them know how they feel about each other and what they actually were.
However, somewhere during this prolonged silence Tara's ring tone sounded. She sat up and picked up her cell. It was Kelsey.
"Hey, Ron? I'll be right back, okay? I've got to answer this. It's Kelsey."
"Alright, all good. I guess I'll get back to the notes." He shuffled himself up into sitting position.
"Yeah, good, do that. I placed your notes underneath mine in our stack."
"Kay"
Tara exited the room, slowly pulling the door closed behind her as she stepped out into the dark hallway. She answered. "Hey, Kel."
"So? How's my Tar-bear doing?"
Tara smiled. "Gooood."
"I'm glad. Hey! Listen, did our talk from the other night help?" Kelsey said, fishing for information about her and Ron.
"Yeah. It's all good now. You don't have to worry. I totally took care of it. I remember, perfectly what you said and I'm going to slow it down and just be friends."
"Oh.. still friends?" Kelsey said, disappointed. Kelsey had wanted to make Ron sound to be a bad and very risky proposition for her, and hoped her advice from the other night would negatively effect her opinion of him by getting her to fear of being hurt again by a man, among other things why things with them might not have worked. Kelsey hoped it would influence her to maybe stay away from him and give it up. That was the best case scenario.
Clearly, that didn't happen. So now she was going to have to keep chipping away, trying to break him off of her, completely.
"Yup. I mean, I guess I needed a little time and space from Ron to, you know, think about what you said about rushing into things too fast and I realized I did need to sorta categorize all my thoughts and stuff. But I came to realize I'd rather have Ron in my life than not so we're friends."
"Oh... wooow, Tara.. that's... that's good. I'm happy for you, girl."
"I wanted to thank you, though, Kelsey. You really helped me from possibly ruining my relationship with Ron. If you hadn't hit me with some hard truths, the day-dreaming, hopeless-romantic side of me would have totally distorted my mind from the reality of our situations and our relationship could have been completely over just like that."
"Mhmm..." Kelsey gutted out, mentally beating herself in the face.
"Ron's a really, really great guy and I just wanted to thank you, personally. You can't possibly know how grateful I am toward you. You really are a great friend looking out after a sister. I love you." Tara said.
Kelsey gulped. "Uhhh.. yeah, I mean, you got it, T! That's what we girlfriends do. And I love you, too."
Shit. Shit Shit. Kelsey cursed.
"Right! Well, I was just calling you to see how you were."
"Oh, I'm fine. I'm just over at Ron's house studying with him."
"Woah!" Kelsey said. "Hold on! You're at his house?! You mean... where?!"
"Oh, up in his bedroom."
There was a silence on the other end. Kelsey felt she was going to have a heart attack.
Tara giggled. "No, you silly mother goose! It's not like that! We have this big test tomorrow and this is kind of a big one. We're just taking notes and studying. I promise!"
"Huh?!" Kelsey said still in shock from all this news. "Oh, right! Well, I should let you go then, night, T."
"Night and Kelsey?"
"What?"
"Thanks again."
Then the line was disconnected.
Kelsey hung up and sat in silence. Just then she chucked her phone at the wall across her bed.
"Damn it! Fuck! FUCK!"
She was beyond pissed. Kelsey never intended having it, where telling Tara to slow things down with him and telling her all those things about how their relationship could be more damaging to her than not, would actually help solidify their connection, even if only platonic, for now.
For now.
Yeah! And that it would later turn into something different. Something more! She couldn't have that.
She wouldn't.