Hello everyone!
This story is aimed to be the "Pilot episode" of a fan-work spinoff series of Recess, with every chapter representing a standalone episode (two if the episode is a special, like in "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave").
Currently, I have a list of potential episode plots that I want to use, but the episode order nor the number of them is fixed: thus, if you have ideas you have for episode plot or small in-story events, you are more than welcome to suggest them. Plus, if you like the story, I invite you all to review and comment the chapters as you read them, to share your own opinion and help me train and develop further my writer skills.
Having said that, I let you proceed with the story and wish you all a good reading!
Pilot episode 1X01 – The New Girl
«So, this is the place» the girl said, looking at school ground in front of her. The flagpole to the left and a now-disarmed cannon stood silent, mute witness of the passing of everyday, while the foreign girl studied the building's front, trying to understand who and what she was going to meet inside.
«Maybe they are not excessive as you imagine. Maybe your future school companions will be just enthusiast, energy-driven. And they will…drive you crazy with their own doings…»
The natural instinct of fear, once again, circulated in her body, making her feel nervous and afraid to go forward. Immediately, she grabbed her own head, and repeated her personal focusing mantra:
«Everything is alright, you have nothing to fear; Everything is alright, you have nothing to fear; Everything is alright…»
She repeated it a couple more of times, until she was sure her fear has dissolved for now. Then, she took a big breath, and looked upside, to the new school where she would receive her sub-sequential education. She had no idea what she could find into it, but she was sure something would have found her…
«So, this is my first day of new school and I have already goosebumps…» She smiled, somehow amused by her own clumsiness «Scandalous.»
The class of Miss Grotke was unusually normal and average today, considering class conduct average. It was just under an hour before the bell announced the long-awaited start time of Intermission, too soon for one of the already tested means of anticipating the ringing of the bell to be employed without risk of suspicion. Since it was still officially class, student-to-student conversations were not yet possible, but in fact, none of them (except perhaps Gretchen Grundler) was paying any more attention to the lesson than necessary: there were those who secretly read a comic book under their school book, those who scribbled on sheets of paper, and those who were too intent on daydreaming. Even Miss Grotke herself was so intent on reading her lesson that she wasn't paying attention to what was going on around her.
At least, until a pair of sturdy knuckles hit the classroom door with force, bringing the daydreamers and the distracted back down to earth.
«Come in» said Miss Grotke, «Who is it?»
The door opened and an elderly woman with short gray hair and dressed in a yellow dress, with a grumpy expression on her face, appeared behind it.
«Oh, Miss Lemon» Miss Grotke said « Come on in! To what do we owe your visit?»
«I'm here to escort the new addition to class» she said in a jaunty, hasty tone.
Immediately, every student present in the classroom stopped doing what he or she were doing until then, and focused on the classroom's entrance. From his own desk, Gus Griswald, the school's last addition up to that point, leaned over to see who she was now about to become, despite himself, "The New Kid" as he hated being called.
«A new student? I was not informed of it…»
«It was a surprise to us as well, but that doesn't mean we have to disobey protocol. Come on in, girlie.»
The new student walked in full view of the whole classroom and Gus could now see it was a girl with long chocolate brown hair, green eyes, and dressed in a black and white uniform-like dress with long sleeves and a skirt that came down to her knee. On her feet, she wore bed-white stockings and ebony-black shoes, and a black tie emerged from her jacket. At her left hip, just above her heart, a pocket held three pens, seemingly identical in appearance.
The girl's glare looked innocent, as she looked down on the class. And yet, Gus somehow had the impression that there was something in the new girl; something familiar, and suspicious…
«Listen: this is the class we have assigned you to. Present yourself to your new classmates, and follow everything that Miss Grotke says. Do you understand me?»
«Yes, miss Lemon,» said the girl, still unable to raise her own glare.
«Very well, I am going then».
When Miss Lemon left, closing the door behind her, the new girl turned to face the whole class and, in an awkward tone of voice, said:
«Greeting to you all, my new classmates. You can call me by my last name, Victoria: I have just been transferred to this school in order to better develop my social and interaction skills, and while I know that is quite strange for a new student to arrive in this period, I hope to get acclimated soon and get well with everyone.»
Gus realized he was not the only one focused on her: his friends TJ, Vince and Mickey were looking at her, and so were the Ashleys a few desk behind. It was then that Gus realized that the new girl's dress was quite similar and fashion-compatible with the Ashley's usual dresses.
«Very well» said, closing her book «Miss Victoria, please sit down on the empty desk to the right: unfortunately, is the only free position we currently have.»
The students in the second row leaned back, and with good reason: the place Miss Grotke had indicated to the newcomer was exactly to the left of Spinelli, the toughest girl of the class and of the whole school. Of the previous people who had occupied that desk, three asked for a reassignment after trying to socialize with her, while another one, which believed could take Spinelli head on, learned the hard way why Spinelli's reputation was so strong. The reason why that desk was still empty, in the middle of the semester, was that no one expect Spinelli's close friends or allies was brave enough to choose it and determined enough to keep it.
And yet, the new girl walked to it, without saying a world, placed her dark, business-like backpack on the chair and started to settle in, apparently ignorant of the menace close to her.
Apparently.
«I thank you for the chance of being close to you, my new classmate» Victoria said, looking at Spinelli herself «I hope we can be friends, in due time.»
«Well, fat chance, newbie» Spinelli replied with her focus elsewhere «In truth, I do not expect you to last long. Do you know that you are only the last one of a long queue to occupy that chair?»
«I did not, at least until now. Quite…scandalous, don't you think?»
Hearing the forbidden S-word, Spinelli turned around and looked at the new girl. Was the suggestion, or somehow this girl looked a lot similar to her old nemesis, the Ashleys?
She looked around. No one in the class looked having heard her last sentence, so maybe she had imagined it. But then, why this girl kept raising her alarms?
After a couple of minutes, Miss Grotke resumed the lesson, and Spinelli's doubt was temporary forgotten. And when the recess' ringtone started to sound again, she raced with her friends toward the door, without paying attention to the new presence that would sideline her in class…
«TJ, what do you think of our new classmate?» Asked Spinelli, almost without thinking her question. She and her friends, the only people she allowed getting close to her, were now away from their classroom, gathered together at one of their usual daily gathering places where, away from Miss Finster's prying eyes, they would organize pranks on other students or daring raids to retrieve confiscated candy or toys. TJ was explaining a plan to get into the cafeteria to retrieve some candy without being seen when Spinelli spoke.
«You mean the new girl?» Said TJ, turning to Spinelli «I think it's still too early before I can form an honest opinion of her.»
«That's true,» Vince said, leaning his own back against the low wall «She seems like a nice girl, at least for now. Perhaps a little strange in appearance, but...»
«You think she won't stay long?» Asked Gus, intimidated.
«To tell you the truth, I don't know» replied Spinelli, «We only exchanged a few words while she was settling in. But while he was talking, I think he said a word, which alarmed me.»
«What kind of word could she have said to alarm you?» Came forward Mickey, the school's gentle giant.
«Scandalous.»
Immediately, everyone stopped talking. Gus, Vince, and Gretchen opened their mouths wide, showing their surprise.
«Are you sure?»
«Actually, no. I wasn't looking at her while she was talking to me, and I didn't have a chance to ask for confirmation. Maybe she meant something different, and I just misheard, but if not...»
«Um, excuse me?»
A shy female voice made the six students wince, and they immediately turned around.
«You-you're...»
«I apologize for disturbing your personal privacy,» the girl said as if apologizing, «but I wanted to befriend the young lady,» she said pointing to Spinelli with her gaze, «As her desk neighbor and new classmate, it is my obligation to try to establish lasting relationships with my peers.»
The six boys looked at each other. There was something incredibly naïve about her. And she looked less dangerous than a cub kitten.
«Then maybe we should present ourselves» TJ said, walking first «My name is TJ, the playground's prince of pranks.»
«I am quite honored to meet such an important figure of this institution» she bowed her head, showing no mockery nor sarcasm in her words.
«Name's Vince, the school's best athlete and kickball player. I assume you have no much direct experience on it.»
«No, unfortunately. I used to practice tennis at my previous hometown, and in the one before that, I was a member of the local school's club of self-defense sports. Thought I would be interested to see this game with my own eyes, if I would be allowed to…»
Vince grimaced: this girl did not look very athletic, and yet, she said she used to practice at least two different sports. Was she lying? She did not seem like the type.
«I am Mickey, Third Street's resident poet and graceful helper. Want to hear my last poetry?»
«Sure!» The girl nodded, smiling.
Mickey smiled in turn, and started to recite his own verses:
"O sweet and abstract nature,
why does man think you are distracted?
More than man thou art wise and fair,
you do not rush anything.
Because you know the right time for everything,
a time for each thing, each thing its own time"
The girl listened with interest until Mickey was done, and then she started clapping.
«That was a very good verse. I could see the Whitman influence, as well as Thoreau vision of consideration toward nature and our role into it. And only someone with a stone in place of its heart would not be moved by such sophistication.»
«You… you just analyzed my poetry?» Mickey asked, dumb-folded.
«We have a library at home, and a whole shelf of it is dedicated to the best poets in our history and their verses. Every so often in the evening when the sun is about to set, I like to read a few lines and meditate.»
«I am Gretchen, and I am quite proud of my brain. Thought it is difficult to find people who can understand my way of speech.»
«This is something smart, clever people often have to face. It is painful to see people emarginate you just because they do not know that the medium distance between the Earth and the Moon is 238855.086 miles, or that the first historical document that allowed us to translate and read Ancient Egypt's hieroglyphs was found by a French soldier in 1799.»
Gretchen stood quietly, her eyes focused on the girl. Even TJ raised his eyebrows, stunned.
«Did I say something wrong?»
«How…how do you know all these things?» Gretchen asked.
«Like I said before, we have a library. And when I am alone and bored, I like to read.»
«I am Gus, and I was the newest kid here until you arrived. I transferred here because my father is in the Army, and I often used to relocate before.»
«I see» the girl replied, leaning forward as if to bow down «On behalf of me and my family, as well as everyone whose security and wellbeing comes from our brave men of valor, who fight in the shadows so that we can live happily in the light of the Sun, I want to express my sincere thanks and admiration for the hard work that your father and men like him do every day. Until the end, semper fidelis!»
«Uh, thank you?» Replied Gus, a little disoriented.
«I am the last one. I am Spinelli: this is not my real name, but everyone here calls me that, and since I prefer not being called by my real name, I would like you to call me that too. I am the toughest kid in the whole playground, so if someone have problems with my friends will have BIG problems with me!»
«You are quite an interesting person, Miss Spinelli: thought, but just. I suppose this is the reason why you said that things before, that I was only the last one to occupy that desk.»
«Well, yes. However, as long as you do not act excessively rude toward me or someone close to me, I think we could get along quite fine.»
«What?» The girls said, almost shocked «I would never try to harass someone else: lowering yourself to such things is unworthy of me!»
«Well, there are some people here who do not agree with such vision: Lawson and his goons, Gelman and Kurst, just to nominate some. We have kids spying us and reporting us to the professors, as well as some snooty spoiled brats who live to denigrate you. So, be careful on whoever you meet, Miss… Victoria, is it?»
«You can call me Vicky, if you prefer: I do not use my full name if that's not necessary.»
«Understood. So, you want us to guide you and teach you what we know on the playground, Vicky?»
«Indeed. Being able to understand how this place is would be… Scandalous!»
The mood froze and the eyes of the gang re-focused on Vicky. From her own place, Spinelli could feel her blood freeze in her own veins: so, she had not misunderstood then!
«Uh, what is it? You just remembered that you have something important to do right now?»
«W-what did you say?»
«I asked if you remembered having something important you need to do.»
«No, before that! The word you said, the one which started with the S!»
«You mean scandal-» but before she could complete the word, Mickey quickly put his own hand on her mouth, to silence her.
«Looks like no one has heard that» Vince said «And no sign of the potential presence of Randall or anyone else which could betray us.»
«I am sorry, Vicky» Mickey said «But is not a good idea to say that word here.»
«Why, professors thinks that is a swearing word?»
«No, but lets' say that such words has a… negative perception here. You see, this word is usually repeated by a small club of snotty rich brats, and they say it so often that everyone associate that word with them.»
«The Ashleys» Spinelli said, her words full of anger.
«Ashleys?» Vicky asked, curious.
«They are four girls who share the same name, every one of them having rich parents, luxurious lifestyles and rotten, haughty personalities to boot. Is not a good thing to be too close to them.»
«And they are… all called…Ashley?»
«Yep. Apparently, they believe that having that name means you are supposed to be a upper-class twit with no decency nor respect for the others.»
«They are called like me…?»
«WHAT?!» The whole gang exclaimed, incredulous to hear those words.
«Wait a second, your name is no Ashley» Gretchen said, «When you introduced yourself in the class before, you said your name is Victoria, Vicky in short for your friends.»
«That is my last and family name, as well as the name I usually prefer people to call me to. My full name, however» "Vicky" said, her face full of determination «is Ashley Adelaide Victoria.»
Spinelli's mind spun, looking at her. This girl was called Ashley too? Sure she was no obnoxious nor spoiled as the other Ashley she used to know (expect herself, of course), but she was still very similar, ranging from her dress fashion and haircut (similar, now that she considered it, to the one of Ashley Armbruster, the leader of the Ashleys and one of the person she hated most on the playground) to the tone of voice and body movement. And if she could see it, everyone else on the playground would notice the similarity and reach the same conclusions.
And that was not the thing she feared most.
She still remembered the day that Randall (that worm), while trying to blackmail her, revealed to the whole playground that her name too was Ashley. Thought she liked sharing the same name with her great-aunt the family's heroine, the fear that such name would forceful associate her with the most rotten female club and obligate her to join them was the reason she kept it hidden until then. And when her secret was revealed, the Ashley did just that, forcing her to join them with the protection of an unknown snippet in the Constitution of the Playground that did not allow her to refuse.
She still remembered the hardship she had to face, the frilly cartoons the Ashley forced her to watch, the ridiculous dresses she was forced to wear… If TJ and her friends did not find out a way to push the Ashley into letting her go, she would have still be there. And she would no more be Spinelli, the playground's toughest kid, but Ashley S., the newest addiction to the Ashley's rotten group.
She had nightmares for a couple of weeks after that, where she saw herself as an Ashley in place of herself. And now, the fact that this new girl's name was Ashley too meant that she was not safe from them either.
«Ok, Vicky» Spinelli said, looking at the girl right into her eyes «Listen me very carefully. You need to hide your name as much as possible, and let no one know it. If you do, your wellbeing will be destroyed.»
«Why? Those Ashley do bully everyone who is called like them?»
«No, they do not bully other Ashleys: they force them to join their club.»
«What?»
«It's true: there is a hidden article in the Constitution of our playground, that says that if your name is Ashley, and they invite you to join their club, you cannot refuse but forcefully join. And they make you their personal slave, and brainwash you, and try to turn you into one of them!»
Vicky (or Ashley Victoria, as Spinelli now saw her) began to tremble, fear manifest on her face. Spinelli knew that if the Ashleys got their hands on her, she would not survive the experience.
«They tried to force me to join them when they found out my first name. So, the better option you have for a good recess is no stay silent, and never let anyone find out your real name.»
«Wait, they forced you to join? You are called Ashley too?»
Spinelli grimaced. This girl was new, and she was still naïve enough to not understand when she unknowingly bothered others. Still, being called Ashley outside of official school duties or formal events was something she did not like.
«Yes» she finally admitted «I hid my name because I feared what could happen if people find out, and turn out I was right; I do not want the same things to happen to you…»
«And that is the New Rusty, the heir of Old Rusty and the centerpiece of the playground. As you can see, it is one of the most popular games of everyone, and during recess, many kids want to spend their time on it.»
«It is quite…marvelous,» Vicky said, looking all around her. She had never seen so many kids all together at the same time «Are all the kids so much energetic and vital?»
«Yes;» nodded Gretchen «However, everyone chooses to invest their recess time in the way they prefer. The diggers use their time to dig and make excavation works all around the playground; Guru Kid meditates and dispense advises to the people who ask him; Swinger Girl follow her dream to swing higher than everyone else and loop the swing set bar; Brandon likes to sing and practice with his orchestra…»
«What's back there?» Vicky asked, pointing to a palisade of long, tall timbers, with tribal-looking masks on it.
«That's» Mickey quickly answered her «It's the Kindergarten, where the little savages live. No one dares to go there, unless it is needed to.»
«Are they so bad?»
«Well, no. Both Gus and I managed to form good friendships with some of them, and we were accepted among them when the times were dire. They just are so energetic and emotion-driven that we usually do not share the same playground areas.»
«The older kids have a separated area too?»
«Not really» this one was Spinelli «Usually, they play here with us, but they keep a predominant role. Also, the King of the Playground always come from them.»
«Is your current King a decent one?»
«Our current ruler is King Bob: he may be a little over-dramatic sometime, but he's a good guy, and he genuinely looks after the good of every student.»
«It is indeed the personality of a true-born leader to care for his people and for their own wellbeing. This is the standard that separates a good, competent ruler to a tyrant. Besides…»
Vicky stopped, and looked to her right, to a very suspicious trashcan.
«Vicky, what happens?»
«I am sorry; I am sure that this is just my mind playing games, but for a moment I thought this trashcan was moving of its own…»
«Moving?» TJ said, looking behind to Vince and Spinelli. The two kids nodded, encircled the trashcan and with a single, coordinate movement turned it on its side, revealing a sneaky, slimy kid with dark red hairs and a tape recorder in his hand.
«Randall!» TJ said, his arms crossed «You can't give us not even once recess of peace? We were just showing the playground to our new friend.»
«Oh, TJ» said Randall, his classic mischievous smirk he used every time he sold out his fellow to Miss Finster «It is exactly why she's new that I can't allow to give anyone a truce. Until they know me, they are more open and happy to reveal their secrets to me, and considering that the lax I have before the new kids learn about me and starts to keep their guard up keeps reducing, I need to treasure every occasion.»
«Give me a reason why I should not knock out every tooth of your mouth!» Spinelli said, her voice resonating with anger.
«Stop! If you lay your hand on me, I will tell Miss Finster that you attacked me unprovoked, and insulted her. I'll…» But his own words stopped as another pair of hands, that until then he had never seen, grabbed him.
«You admit that you were spying on us?» Vicky said, her eyes turning cold and angry «You were reporting what we were saying, what we were doing…to sell us?»
Randall, who had actually never seen the new girl up close until now, was quite worried. The girl's dress and attire suggested someone not used to use violence or harm others, but as years of being the stool pigeon for Miss Finster had taught him, it was not possible to determinate someone just by their aspect. What if this girl was more experienced in fights than he guessed?
«You… Benedict Arnold. Ephialtes. Quisling. Mir Jafar!» Vicky said, her voice raising in volume. Randall, under effect of her penetrating glare, started to walk backwards in an attempt to get away from her, to which Vicky responded by starting to walk frontally, reducing her distance from the playground's recurrent traitor.
«For what do you sell your brother and sisters? Better food? Less homework? Access to the teacher's lounge? Or you just think that behaving like your teacher's faithful pet will give you safety and advantage in life?»
Since Randall was focusing to get away from Vicky, and at the same time, Vicky was focusing on getting closer to Randall, none of them pay attention to where they were going. And so, the two kids, without realizing, were dangerously approaching the playground construction which hosted the throne of King Bob, as well as his most trusted and efficient subordinates, and where many kids already were waiting for their chance to ask something to him.
«Facing an adversary full front is one thing; but hitting him in the back, reporting his own words after twisting them, just to frame them in the best way so the adults can punish him for his crimes, no matter if real or supposed, is nothing but what a coward, and a dishonorable one to boot, would do!»
«What's going on under here?» King Bob asked, leaning to listen to the new voice.
«Sire, it looks like Randall did something, and the new playground addiction did not like it.»
«Wait, we have a new guy?»
«Actually, is a girl, sire. And a nice one too.»
Randall felt the cold, hard touch of the metal on his back and realized he has no more space to retreat. He could not escape.
«Selling your own people, taking advantage of the others secrets, betraying the trust they put on you on such a regular basis, turning people and ruining their free time for petty gain…»
At that moment, TJ and his friends reached the area, and saw what was happening. But they also realized, that the strong emotions Vicky was experiencing were making her lose sight on what they warned her about.
«Vicky, wait!»
«Someone stops her!»
«This is beyond unforgivable, this is way more unforgettable. This…this is…»
«Don't say it!» Spinelli yelled, feeling real dread. But it was too late, as Vicky was now roaring at full lungs.
«…SCANDALOUS!» Vicky yelled, her voice so powerful and unrestricted that she was heard everywhere in the playground, and sometimes close to it too. The kids stopped playing, the diggers stopped digging, Guru Kid opened his eyes and the birds on the threes left their branches, scared away.
For a couple of seconds, no one said nothing: the playground looked like every student has suddenly turned into a salt statue. Then, just as Randall felt his legs give up and limped on the ground, Vicky realized her mistake, and covered her own mouth. Nevertheless, it was too late now, as closing the stable door when the horse has bolted.
«That…that word…» Said King Bob, the first of the many to regain his speech.
«She…she…she is…» this one was Randall, his brain unable to process the newfound information.
«She said it. She actually said it!» Sam of the Diggers said to his pal Dave.
«It happened.» Quietly said Guru Kid, still unbelieving his own ears.
«The day we always feared has arrived!» the little girl everyone knew as Cornchip Girl squeaked, quickly hiding behind another bigger kid.
Vicky stood in silence, covering her own mouth, looking at the fallout her own outburst generated. She closed her eyes, and then she did the best thing she could do right then.
She ran. She ran away, away from the others.
«Vicky?!» Mickey's voice echoed in the playground «Where are you?»
Vicky raised her head, and listened to the voice of her newfound friends who were looking for her. Although earlier she had run away, on instinct, she was actually hoping they would found her.
«I am here, boys» she said, letting them know her position. Quickly after, TJ and his gang, the persons who she was trying to befriend and establish strong social strings with, were able to find her.
«Are you ok?» Mickey asked, his tone of voice full of fear «When you bolted away, we worried about you.»
«Yes: not even Randall runs so fast when Spinelli threaten him.»
«I am… fine, at least now. It's just… I can't believe I blew myself because I was so angry with that squeaker…»
«As you can imagine, that was Randall. No one on the playground likes him, because he likes to find out whatever everyone is keeping secret and reveal it to Miss Finster, or use it to blackmail you into submission.»
«Well, the good news is that he can't do either, since everyone on the playground heard your burst…»
Annie grimaced and lowered her head again, now remembering the reason why she had run away.
«I… I am in trouble, right?»
«Not yet, but once the Ashley finds out what happened they will probably want to have a word with you, and if they find out that your name is Ashley…»
«We can't let it happen!» Vince replied «The Ashley cannot force her into their club if they cannot invite her first: we have to keep them away from Vicky, at least until school is over. Then…»
«Uh, guys?» Mickey said «It's too late for that…»
TJ and his friends (plus Vicky) turned around to see four girls, walking side by side, approaching them. One Caucasian girl with blonde hair dressed in a black and pink dress; one dark-skinned girl with black hairs and a golden-yellow dress; a red-haired girl in a sky-blue dress and brown-haired girl with chocolate-colored skin in a green grass dress.
Ashley Armbruster, Ashley Boulet, Ashley Quinlan and Ashley Tomassian. In short, the Ashleys: Third School playground's snotty and snobbish elite.
Immediately, Vince and Spinelli put themselves in front of Vicky, as to protect her, while TJ walked forward to meet the upcoming menace.
«What do you want?»
«Step aside, Detweiler» Ashley A., the de facto leader of the group, said « This is between us and the new girl of the playground: stay out of it.»
«Wouldn't dream of it.»
«Spinelli, are you ready?» Said Vince, getting ready.
«Absolutely yes: I help TJ hold off the Ashleys, meanwhile you with Mickey, Gus and Gretchen take Vicky and bring her somewhere safe, as far as possible from here. We-»
But the plan fell apart as both of them saw Vicky walking past them and their protection.
«Vicky!» TJ said, as soon as he realized she was now alongside him «What are you…?»
«I appreciate the help you gave me, TJ, and everything you were willing to do for my own wellbeing. But they are right: this is my battle, and I cannot let my friends sacrifice for me.»
Ashley Armbruster glazed all over the new girl: her dress was quite fashionable and high-class, unlike the ones of the other kids of the playground; moreover, her hairstyle was quite similar to her own, a good hint that she knew about the importance of your own hairs. Maybe the latest addiction was someone as classy as them?
«So, I suppose you are the new girl.» Ashley A. said.
«Indeed. And you are the Ashleys I've heard about.»
«So, they told you about us?»
«Yes. You're quite famous among your fellows, you know?»
«Then, we can go straight to business» Ashley B., the second-in-command, replied «From what we were able to hear, you said a word today. A word that we treasure, and that we consider part of our Ashley-heritage…»
«Ashley-heritage? You have one? Scandalous!»
«I suggest you stop joking about this matter, young miss: we don't want not-Ashley people to sully…»
«Then there's no problem. I have every right to use our word.»
«Our-what? What gives you the right to pretend to be an Ashley?»
«The fact that I am an Ashley!» Vicky said, producing a small card with her face on it «Please, check it with your own eyes.»
Ashley A. quickly take the card and looked at it, imitated by the other Ashleys. Vicky could see their eyes spun of surprise, their mouth opening of welcomed revelation.
«You-you are…» Ashley T. said, looking at Vicky.
«I believe it is time to make an official acquaintance: I am Ashley Adelaide Victoria, newcomer in this school.» She mirrored a curtsy «It is quite an honor for me to meet some fellow namesakes.»
The Ashleys looked at each other, confused. This girl was an Ashley? She looked like an Ashley, and behaved like one of them: did they found a potential fifth member of their club?
«The honor is all ours» Ashley A. said, mimicking Vicky's curtsy, still puzzled by the development of the situation «I would like to…excuse us for our previous suspects, but in our defense we did not know you were an Ashley from the beginning.»
«I too have faults» Vicky replied «for having hid my name; however, I did so because they told me there is a written rule on this playground, that whoever is named Ashley must forceful join you, if invited.»
Ashley B. and Ashley Q. grimaced. They still remembered when they used that rule to oblige Ashley S. (Spinelli) to join them in an effort to make her "one of them", and how she later used that same rule against them by inviting everyone who claimed that their name as Ashley into their club. After the ensuing disaster was resolved, the remaining original Ashley agreed to never again use that rule, to prevent new disasters, and they let out Spinelli, no more attempting to "fix her" against her will.
The rule was still there, and they could have used it in a breath if they wanted, now that they knew that this girl was an Ashley too. But they knew that if they do, TJ and his friends would play the same trick again, and they did not want a mob of plebeians ruin their club again (unless they found some loophole-proof way to stop it).
Therefore, if they wanted this new Ashley to join them, they would have been a little more…diplomatic.
«We have no intention to force you to do something against your will. However, we think we would like to discuss this situation with us. Would you like to come to visit our clubhouse?»
«Sure. Please, lead the way.»
TJ and his friends stood immobile, without saying nothing as the Ashleys encircled Vicky, leading her into their lair. Maybe they could have interfered if they have moved, or said something, but the shock was a little too much and in a few seconds, the opportunity flew away.
«This is bad…» Said Gretchen worried.
«She told them her name is Ashley, and she allowed them to bring her in their own clubhouse!» Gus panicked «She's done!»
«Like the gentlest and most innocent of the lambs, guided away from her safety right into the wolf's own den!» Mickey covered his own eyes «I can't even imagine the horrors she's going to face.»
Spinelli said nothing, her hands writhing on fists: she hesitated, and her hesitation ended up allowing the Ashleys to take the new girl away, without her even being able to put on a fight! At least, when the Ashley came to take her away, she tried to run away: it did not work, but it was something.
A dark thought appeared in her mind: what were they going to do with her? Would the Ashley subject the same tortures that they used on her on Vicky? Would she be strong enough to resist? Or Vicky would be transformed into a spoiled brat like the others Ashley were?
She knew what she had to do.
«TJ» Spinelli said, her voice full or anger «We cannot let this happen.»
«I agree» Vince backed her up «Vicky does not realize what the Ashleys have in store for her. We have to rescue her before it's too late!»
«We will» TJ replied, his own voice full of determination «Come on boys, we have no time to lose: let's work on a plan to rescue our new friend.»
«Let's hope that the Ashley are not going to hard on her already…»
«This is quite a wonderful place» Vicky (or Ashley V. as the Ashley were now calling her) said looking all around her «If I could not see with my own eyes, I would have never believed an apparently ordinary stack of spare tires would hide such a high-class place.»
Vicky was quite amazed, and for a good reason: all around her she could see a classic and refined environment, with curtains, chandeliers, high-end furniture and numerous mirrors. As much as it was a genre of furniture she was familiar with, she never expected to find such a vision in a school's playground.
«This is our clubhouse, Ashley V.» Ashley Armbruster, the apparent leader of the group said, smiling «It's a cozy place where we can be alone, away from the noise of other children, and do things together.»
«I think it's more than cozy, Ashley A.» Vicky replied «I say it's…scandalous!»
«Scandalous, yes!» All the official four Ashley echoed in unison, at the same time.
Inside her own mind, Ashley A. was quite pleased of how things were going so far. The more Ashley V talked, the more she sounded like one of them, and she grew hopeful she could be convinced to join them of her own volition.
«You sound quite close to each other» Vicky said «Have you know each other since long?»
«Yes» replied Ashley Q. «We met each other in kindergarten, and we have been friends since then. And since we all wore purple on the day we met, we agreed that on the recurrence of that day we would all wear purple to make a tradition of our fateful meeting.»
Ashley A. looked away for a few seconds. She had forgotten about Purple Day once, and although she had taken every precaution to avoid such a horrible thing to happen again, the horrible feeling she had then, when she feared losing all her friends, was still painstaking to remember.
«That's a very adorable story» Vicky said «At least you had each other to count on; I was not so lucky.»
«You have no friend at all?» Asked Ashley T., worried.
«Money can buy many things, but not everything.» Vicky replied «And true friends, the ones which stay with you even in the darkest moments, cannot be bought like a new car or jewel: You have to earn them, with determination, kindness and constancy.»
Ashley A. started to reply, before shutting herself up. Apart from the other Ashley and her close relatives or servants, she did not know anyone that she considered a true friend. Money drew a lot of people who called themselves her friends or her father's friends, but she doubted that they would have stuck around if things had been different.
And from the expressions she could see on Ashley B. and Ashley T. faces, things were similar for them too.
Suddenly, a ringtone will begin to ring, as Ashley V. (Vicky) immediately brought her own wristwatch into view.
«Oh my» she said «it's tea-time!»
Inside, Ashley A. grinned. She was an Ashley, she behaved like them, she used the world "scandalous", she was from a well-off family, she had no current friends, and she drank tea. She was perfect.
«Ashley V., what kind of tea do you like?» Ashley Q. said, approaching the official Ashley-approved tea service «We have black tea, green tea, imported English tea...»
«My favorite is Gyokuro tea from Japan. My parents get a case of it shipped to them every year, straight from Kokura.»
«Uh» the Ashleys looked at each other «We don't have any at the moment...»
«Don't worry: a true lady learns to be prepared for even the most inconvenient and embarrassing situations.» Vicky said, Pulling a small wooden box from an inside pocket; engraved on the lid of the box was a drawing representing an elephant in front of a tree as tall as he was. Vicky shook the lid, and the Ashleys saw that inside the box were numerous infusions of tea, which scented the air deliciously.
«While I do not wish to insult your hospitality in any way, I would like to offer you the opportunity to sample a tea from my portable reserve, if you will allow me of course.»
The Ashleys smiled.
«Gus, external visual situation»
«No visible activity» the boy replied «No screams that could lead back to Vicky, no suspicious sounds.»
«This silence is creeping me out» murmured Mickey «What if it's already too late? What if we can't to anything to save her now?»
«Mickey, it's only been three minutes since the Ashleys led Vicky inside.»
«Already three minutes?» Mickey held his head «Oh, poor Vicky, what have they done to you?!»
«Calm down, Mickey» Vince said « As soon as we enter and rescue her, we can remove everything the Ashley have done to her so far…»
«The plan is ready» Gretchen said, looking all over the details written in the dirt to their feet «Now, we use a ice-cream bell to draw the Ashleys out, and then we deactivate their club's security system with a ultrasonic device. We go in quickly and...»
«Uh, boys?»
«What is it, Mickey?»
«I have a little question about the plan»
«And what that would be?» Asked Gretchen.
«Where do we find an ice-cream bell?»
Silence.
«To say nothing about the ultrasonic device to deactivate their club's security system.» Added Gus.
Gretchen moved her foot to remove the plan's blueprints «Right. Plan B…»
While TJ and his friends were busy trying to figure out a new, foolproof plan to get inside and free Vicky, the interested person was currently facing…the Ashley's opinions on her personal imported tea.
«This tea is…amazing» Ashley T. said, taking another sip of the new, heavy-flavored tea that came from Vicky's wood box.
«I feel like I am reaching Nirvana just by drinking it» Ashley Q nodded «Truly, our tongues are blessed for being able to enjoy this.»
«This should be an upper-calls tea» joined Ashley B., mentally adding the note to ask Ashley V. the details, so she could press-gang her own father to buy it too.
Ashley A. said nothing, simply looking down, deep in thought.
«Uh, miss Ashley Armbruster?» Vicky said, noticing her thoughtful expression «Something's wrong?»
Almost immediately, Ashley A's hand grabbed Vicky ones, holding them strong.
«I, Ashley A, invite you, Ashley V., to join us and be our new sister.»
«Say what?!» Vicky replied, suddenly fearful. Was she forcing her to become one of them, like they told her about?
«Ashley A!» Replied Ashley Q., in her own surprise «This is not what we agreed about!»
«Let me explain,» Ashley A. replied «Ashley V., when we heard about a new girl using our catchphrase so freely, at first I believed we were facing a scoundrel who was just doing that to sullen the namesake of the Ashleys. However, after meeting you and realizing you were one of us, and seeing how so close you were to use thought we have never meet before, I am now come to believe that you're destined to be the Fifth Ashley of our group.»
«I do not know if I am good enough…» Vicky said, trying to set up some excuse to escape.
«Are you kidding?» Ashley B. said, her eyes full of glee «Even thought I would have not be so direct to invite you in our first meeting, I actually say you passed our Ashley-requirement with flying colors. You dress fashionably; you take care of you hair and your face; you behave in the correct way; you have elegant, refined tastes…you are almost more Ashley than we are.»
«This means that…you will force me to join you?»
«No» Ashley A. replied quickly «We will no force you to accept your invitation: you are free to reject it, as well as leave the group should we make you uncomfortable, the only condition is that you warn us beforehand.»
The Ashley's chance of policy was not born out of kindness: in truth, the goal of this was to avoid another "Ashley overpopulation" incident. Forcing someone to join you against their will would of course upset their friend to help, and the collateral damage that such rescue attempt generated was much more worth the result of a former playground tomboy being restored into a proper lady.
But, if a new Ashley joined them of her own free will, who would have protested? And judging from what she has been able to see, the new girl had much better behavior and acceptance that Spinelli ever had.
Meanwhile, Vicky was busy thinking about the pro and cons of the whole thing: Spinelli and her friends told her that the Ashleys would have forced her to join as soon as they found that her name was Ashley, and she would be their slave, so she was still a little fearful that they were planning something toward her; and yet, the offer was…tempting. As she had already told them she had no real close friends before today, and she really wanted to make connections with people of her age; moreover, these four girls were quite close to her in tastes and interests, so she could become a good friend with them with due time. And if what were saying was true, there was nothing to stop her to leave if she would find herself uneasy with them.
«So, you can guarantee that, if I find myself bad with you, I'll be free to go?»
«Absolutely» replied Ashley A., seizing the opportunity «Thought I doubt you will find yourself bad with us, I promise that if you ever want to leave us, you will be able to do so.»
«And I will be able to keep having friends and social interactions outside of the group?» Vicky asked, worried about some friend-deciding feud.
«You will be able to make and keep friends with whoever you consider worthy of your friendship, as long as you don't break the rules of the group and you do not take advantage of your membership to undermine us.»
«Even the girl that you know as…Spinelli?»
The Ashleys grimaced for a second «Thought we do not agree on Ashley S. life choice or behavior, and we had many skirmishes with her so far, she is still an Ashley and thus, while we do not want to reveal this to her, we have no intention of being mean to her.»
«Weren't you the ones who kidnapped her and tried to turn her into one of you against her will?»
«That's…a decision that we have come to regret ever since.» Ashley Q murmured, sheepishly.
«And from what she told me, you have a very bad relationship with her.»
«Yes, and it would be insulting to her and, like, us if we would simply forget everything she has done to us. However, she's still an Ashley by heart, and we have seen the diamond she would be once she polishes her acts; she simply doesn't realize that she could be much more of her current self, and this is why we are taking the slow path to anonymously assist and help her while keeping up the façade. And your contribution…would be invaluable into this.»
«Excellent» said Vicky, her fear disappearing behind an hopeful glee of acceptance «Then I, Ashley Adelaide Victoria, accept your invitation in your group. Please take care of me.»
Ashley A. smiled «Then it's official: you are now one of us.»
«One of us! One of us!» The remaining Ashley chanted at unison.
«And now, it is time you receive the insignia of your new social status on the playground…»
«Insignia?» Vicky, no, Ashley V. asked «You have small insignia to prove you membership to the group too?»
«Of course; and I hope you'll like them…»
«Scandalous!» The five Ashley (now including Vicky, aka Ashley V.) jolted at the same time.
«We have to move now!» Vince said «We do not know how much Vicky can still hold.»
«Very well.» TJ replied «Remember the plan: Spinelli, you launch the dirt bomb into the clubhouse and taunt the Ashleys to come outside. Once they are out, Gretchen will insert herself in the clubhouse's security system to stop its reaction.»
«If the Ashley have upgraded their security after our last break-in, we will have five minutes at most before the alarm locks and everyone inside get penned in.»
«Gus, you and Vince come with me into the clubhouse: we find Vicky, grab her and hurry outside before they realize what's going on. Mickey, you are the lookout: if the Ashley return earlier or someone else approaches, you raise the alarm so, we can escape.»
«That looks so like Mission Impossible» a voice not of them said.
«Who's there?» Spinelli said, glancing around «Show yourself or DIE!»
In a short instant, the kids realized they were not alone AT ALL. From the closest hiding spot to them emerged Cornchip Girl, Guru Kid and Hustler Kid; from the closest trashcan arose the Diggers; from the closest tree appeared Swinger Girl & Upside-Down Girl; the whole school band from behind a wall; King Bob and his whole court from ANOTHER wall.
It was as the whole school had gathered together to watch their attempt.
«What's going on?» TJ asked «Did Randall tipped you off?»
«Actually, I was here» replied Randall, emerging from under a fake rock.
«See, TJ» King Bob replied «when the new girl said that word in front of Randall and all of us, we realized that the Ashleys would have been interested on her. And when we found out that she was in the Ashley's clubhouse, we knew that you would come to break her out.»
«And you all come here for what? Assist us?»
«Well, more like watching your attempt. Besides, we have no doubt…»
However, King Bob's words were cut short as a fanfare of trumpets resounded from the Ashley's clubhouse.
«What the-?»
«That's the Ashley's hymn of triumph!» Butch gasped «No one ever heard it rang since…»
«…since the Ashley established their club.» King Bob completed, amazed in turn.
The music sounded for a good while, before stopping and a slender female figure appeared from the inside.
«Greeting, playground people» she smiled, while the other three Ashley walked outside from behind her «We appreciate that such a big crowd is here today, to witness the Ashley's newest glory!»
The four Ashley divided, Ashley A. and Ashley Q. on one side, Ashley B. and Ashley T. on the other. It was then that Spinelli realized that a fifth figure was appearing on the clubhouse' entrance.
No, no! Spinelli thought as she realized whom that figure was going to be.
«Greetings to everyone» Vicky said, appearing among the Ashley. She was now wearing a white headband, she showed a teddy bear head on her side, a bracelet on her left wrist and an A-shaped brooch «and thank you for coming to see me on my first recess of this school.»
«We, The Ashley, welcome Ashley V. as our new sister and fifth member of the association. From today on, she is one of us!»
«One of us! One of us!» The Ashley chanted again.
Spinelli could almost feel the ground crumble under her own feet. She had failed, they were too late. And now, her own fears had become real.
That's it, until she saw a pair of black, doll-like shoes stop right in front of her.
«Spinelli, can you believe it? Now I have almost as twice as friends as I had when I met you!»
«So, Ashley V. …»
«Oh, call me Vicky like you use to» she smiled «There is no need for formalities among friends, no?»
«What?» She flat-out said.
Sometime later, in the last segment of recess, Spinelli, TJ and all of their friends were with Vicky in the same place where she met them and became their friend, earlier that day.
«So, you are not gonna shun us?» Gus asked.
«Nope. Why, do you throw away your old friend when you do new ones? Friends have no amount limits.»
«And you are not going to…make fun of us or any other kids in the playground?»
«I told you three times already, Mickey: status is no excuse to prevaricate others.»
«You're not going even to have tea parties and say "Scandalous" anymore?»
«No, I am going to keep saying that word, and I am gonna participate in their tea parties. Besides, they even asked me about the tea I presented to them. But this does not mean I am going to forget about you.»
The kids looked at each other, uncertain.
«Uh, why are you all sharing that look?»
«It's just…strange. The Ashleys are always mean and haughty, so we have never been quite close to them. And you are now one of them, so…»
«So? You are seriously thinking that I am going to turn into a spoiled brat just because I am no more lonely?»
«Well, no, but…»
«Listen, TJ» she said, grabbing his hands «I am Ashley V., the newest addiction among the Ashleys, but I am also Vicky, your new friend. I am going to keep separated by world with you all and my world with the Ashleys. And I'll never let one of them mess with the other.»
«You-you can do it?»
«I think so: I'll have events with the Ashleys, but I will be happy to spend my time with you too as much as possible, if you would allow me to…»
TJ grinned, and looked at his friends «Then, Ashley V., welcome aboard. Hope you can afford the experience.»
«Thank you, TJ! And Spinelli? I hope the fact that I am an Ashley now will not ruin your opinion of me.»
«I would not join their snotty prissy club even if it was playground-mandatory, but if you feel like being part of it, I will not stop you. Just being careful.»
«Why, you think I cannot handle my membership?»
«The membership, I do not know. But since you are now an official Ashley, it means you are now an acceptable target for my dirt bombs…» She smiled evilly.
«What?» Vicky replied, realizing the situation and starting to make her run for it «Wait, Spinelli, don't do it. It's a clean dress, I cannot ruin it already. No, please stop!»