Fate 13
A/N: Hey, thanks to all my reviewers.I realize (as I'm sure you do, too) the Prom signifies as the beginning of the end. and with that in mind, realise the end is near. That's all.
Oh, and I feel like a script writer or something. I've already thrown out like 10 ideas for this chapter.
Special note: If anyone you know is a biogenetic engineer or something like that, give them a hug and tell them that you don't care if they're company goes under, you just don't want to be infected. But don't let them kiss you. And beware the black swarms. Sorry, I just finished Prey by Michael Criton, and I'm scared out of my mind. I can't sleep, so here I am.
D: See note after chapter.
*~*~*
Andrew smiled into the mirror. He cleaned up well. The classic black tuxedo stood out in razor-sharp contrast to his moon white shirt. He was perfect, complete down to his golden cufflinks. All this trouble and he didn't even have a date. His gaze broke as he caught a box in his peripheral vision. It sat next to his digital clock, silently screaming at him to move his butt. Andrew grabbed the box, his keys, and left.
At that same instant, 20 miles away, Ella was also primping in front of the mirror. The dress was as high style as could be had without importation, and fit flawlessly. She could have had a gorgeous purple one for free, but since she was given it for modeling it in a magazine, then someone else could be wearing it. How dare they match. And besides, she liked the blue dress she was wearing much more. The event was even sweeter because Joey was her date. At the last minute, she slipped between the cracks and stole Joey for her own. She couldn't believe how lucky she was in that. Then she smiled, sure that it was her charm. As the doorbell rang, she left the room and glided downstairs, ready for her close-up.
As Ella went downstairs, Kat was traveling up in sweats and jeans, calmly sipping her double-mocha. As much as she wanted to banter about Ella's overdose of perfume or make-up, she couldn't. Kat was off in her own world and was content to wallow in self pity. The slight satisfaction gained from dissing her stepsister would be fleeting and not worth leaving the world she created. Truthfully Ella was wearing a respectable amount of both. So Kat continued up the stairs, down the hall to her bedroom, closed the door, blasted her music, put the liquid caffeine on the nightstand, and blindly fell back on her bed. Oh yes, Kat loved prom.
Bianca LOVED prom. The intoxicating rush of hair spray, perfume, and excitement swirled in a wonderful aroma around her room. And thoughts of Tom Cruise. She, on the other end of the house from Kat, was quietly playing the "Mission: Impossible" soundtrack. Her dress was all black, which was a wonderful coincidence. She half expected one of the James Bonds to open the door for her as she muted the music and slipped out of the room. AS she slithered into Ella's intentionally empty bedroom, she smiled at the thought of being a Bond Girl. Spying her prize, she wordlessly took out black, to-the-elbow gloves from her purse and placed key objects into her purse, careful not to leave fingerprints. As silently as she entered, she was gone. No one knew, and that was just how she liked it.
*~*~*
"Kat? Kat can I come in?" Bianca knocked softly on the door. Even though the music was loud, she knew Kat could hear. Years of experience taught her how long the wait would be. In the music was soft, then Kat was doing homework, and would welcome any excuse to stop. If the music was a shade louder than comfortable, then Kat was painting, cleaning, or reading. The wait would be a minute, until her sister found a good stopping point. If the music shook the paintings on the wall, like now, Kat was pissed. She would not answer to one knock. Knock again, and Kat's anger would be concentrated on you. At that point, Bianca usually didn't want Kat to answer.
Usually. This time she needed her to. "Kat!" She knocked again, louder.
"What?" The door opened in a flash, and Kat managed to fill the entire doorway. She oozed of contempt.
"Want to go to the prom?" Kat slammed the door. Bianca tried again. "Please Kat, I really want to go. Joey dumped me for Ella and I.I.don't want her to think she's better than me." Bianca sighed sadly. "I can't go without a senior or junior."
The door opened a crack, but Kat refused to stir from the bed. "So you want me to take you?"
There was a pause. "Yeah." Another pause. "You don't have to stay. I just need a way in. And you already bought a ticket. Please?" Bianca stretched the word into two syllables.
The door closed. When it opened again, Kat was in a stunning, spaghetti- strapped red silk dress. As she walked down the stairs, she called to Bianca. "I hate you."
Bianca smiled. "Good thing you hate Ella more." She dialed a number on her cell phone. "The cardinal is leaving the nest. Repeat :The Cardinal is leaving the Nest." She couldn't resist the urge to whisper, "This message will self-destruct in ten seconds."
Kat was in the car waiting. "You are going to pay me fifteen dollars for my services before I even start the car." Bianca slumped and handed over the money. Satisfied, Kat continued. "We are also going to listen to my music and you are not allowed to roll your eyes." She smiled. "No other rules." Bianca smiled back, made a silly face, and put on her seatbelt.
*~*~*
Kat had to park in a nearby gas station to drop her sister off. The entire school parking lot was full. As if to annoy her further, it began to rain as soon as Kat cut the engine. She pulled out her car umbrella and was thankful that the rain was just an annoyance, and didn't cause her to slosh and ruin her dress. She paid a mint for it and did not intend to ruin it the first time she wore it. Especially as dumb of a reason as dropping her sister off at a dumb school dance. She rolled her eyes as the ticket-taker did his job and went inside.
The room was dark, and barely recognizable as the cafeteria. Gold and silver balloons blanked the ceiling. The room was modeled after the Elizabethan Era; the DJ played upon a small scale "Globe Theatre"; the photographer waited behind velvet draperies with 'Throne Room' stitched in gold. The rest was a grand ball room, with great gothic towers in each corner. As soon as Kat and her sister entered, a light projected onto a blank wall and the DJ called out to the dancers, "This next one goes out to Ella Leigh."
Ella froze in the middle of the dance floor and could have sworn the room grew colder. The light on the wall changed into a sign that simply read "Love, Andy" Her eyes expanded and darted around the room. But every one was looking at the wall. A series of photos sequenced in a power point presentation.
Ella with a boy. Then another boy. Another. (Little dates in the corner of the photo revealed them only a day apart, and caused some jeers.) Ella putting on her cucumber mask in the morning. Ella asleep, with a little stream of drool creating a waterfall onto her pillow. Ella trashed, dancing on the bar. From another angle. And yet another. More pictures followed with increasing embarrassment, until one came up with Andrew, Bianca, Joey, and David all sitting casually on Ella's front porch.
Ella turned to her date, Joey, and gapped. He smiled innocently. "You know, the camera adds ten pounds." She screamed and ran towards "Ye Olde Powder Room". Joey was suddenly swarmed with at least a dozen guys, many of whom were distinctly those of the first set of pictures. All clapped and congratulated him. Bianca appeared at Joey's side, and he hugged her. No one noticed when the wall changed once more.
No one except a chaperone, Mr.Moore.
It read:
" Love is blind and lovers can not see-
Lord what fools these mortals be:
By moonlight at her window sung
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung.
The edge of that day's celebration
I have offended reputation
By the dead and drowsy fire
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love.
What is done can not be undone
Pray now, forget and forgive
So will I grow, so live
I love nothing in the world so well as you
The course of true love did ne'er run smooth"
*~*~*
Andrew left the image on the wall and smiled. Nonchalantly, he walked over to the punch bowl and began to fill a cup. As he did, someone to his right asked, "So should I give you a zero one your sonnet project for plagiarism or ten extra points for not only comprehending the assignment, but at least five other Shakespearean plays?"
Andrew took a sip of his punch. "How about an A and we'll call it even?"
Mr. Moore smiled. "No one seems to notice it." The music began again, and everyone had gone back to dancing. "Although they all ate up the pictures proceeding it."
"The pictures were meant for one person." Andrew shrugged. "I think she stuck around long enough for my 'thank you' for employing me this past month or so."
"And I'm sure the poem was strictly to impress me."
Andrew didn't respond for a moment. Mr. Moore took it as his cue to leave. Andrew scanned the room and sighed. "It was supposed to impress."
"Do you plan to make a display EVERY time you screw up?" A voice behind him facetiously asked.
Andrew turned to Kat and smiled warmly. "Only if you save me from suspension afterwards." Kat pretended to be annoyed, then agreed. As they began to dance beside the punch table, Joey, David, and Bianca joined them.
Kat stopped dancing. "So you all planned this behind my back?" When they nodded, she asked, "How did you pull off the overhead?" Joey smiled and nodded to the chaperones mixing punch.
Four Library Ladies suddenly looked busy exclaiming over a mysterious cord that plugged into an outlet beside them. Then they shared a smile and went back to making drinks.
*~*~*
AWWWWW. That was nice. Now for my disclaimer.
I compiled the poem from a bunch of The Bard's plays. Here is the list: Merchant of Venence, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Timon of Athens, The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, MacBeth, King Lear, and Much Ado About Nothing. How many did you recognize?? Hehe. Tell me, okay?
OF MORE CHAPTERS, I don't know if there really needs to be another one. What do you think? I have a stupid/funny epilogue already written, but it is mostly pointless and was written about a year ago when I was bouncy off of sugar. Tell me if you want it. Tell me if you want more chapters.
Thank you for your patience with my horrible lack of updates. As with my last chapter, I hope this was worth the wait. : )
~ MandELLA
A/N: Hey, thanks to all my reviewers.I realize (as I'm sure you do, too) the Prom signifies as the beginning of the end. and with that in mind, realise the end is near. That's all.
Oh, and I feel like a script writer or something. I've already thrown out like 10 ideas for this chapter.
Special note: If anyone you know is a biogenetic engineer or something like that, give them a hug and tell them that you don't care if they're company goes under, you just don't want to be infected. But don't let them kiss you. And beware the black swarms. Sorry, I just finished Prey by Michael Criton, and I'm scared out of my mind. I can't sleep, so here I am.
D: See note after chapter.
*~*~*
Andrew smiled into the mirror. He cleaned up well. The classic black tuxedo stood out in razor-sharp contrast to his moon white shirt. He was perfect, complete down to his golden cufflinks. All this trouble and he didn't even have a date. His gaze broke as he caught a box in his peripheral vision. It sat next to his digital clock, silently screaming at him to move his butt. Andrew grabbed the box, his keys, and left.
At that same instant, 20 miles away, Ella was also primping in front of the mirror. The dress was as high style as could be had without importation, and fit flawlessly. She could have had a gorgeous purple one for free, but since she was given it for modeling it in a magazine, then someone else could be wearing it. How dare they match. And besides, she liked the blue dress she was wearing much more. The event was even sweeter because Joey was her date. At the last minute, she slipped between the cracks and stole Joey for her own. She couldn't believe how lucky she was in that. Then she smiled, sure that it was her charm. As the doorbell rang, she left the room and glided downstairs, ready for her close-up.
As Ella went downstairs, Kat was traveling up in sweats and jeans, calmly sipping her double-mocha. As much as she wanted to banter about Ella's overdose of perfume or make-up, she couldn't. Kat was off in her own world and was content to wallow in self pity. The slight satisfaction gained from dissing her stepsister would be fleeting and not worth leaving the world she created. Truthfully Ella was wearing a respectable amount of both. So Kat continued up the stairs, down the hall to her bedroom, closed the door, blasted her music, put the liquid caffeine on the nightstand, and blindly fell back on her bed. Oh yes, Kat loved prom.
Bianca LOVED prom. The intoxicating rush of hair spray, perfume, and excitement swirled in a wonderful aroma around her room. And thoughts of Tom Cruise. She, on the other end of the house from Kat, was quietly playing the "Mission: Impossible" soundtrack. Her dress was all black, which was a wonderful coincidence. She half expected one of the James Bonds to open the door for her as she muted the music and slipped out of the room. AS she slithered into Ella's intentionally empty bedroom, she smiled at the thought of being a Bond Girl. Spying her prize, she wordlessly took out black, to-the-elbow gloves from her purse and placed key objects into her purse, careful not to leave fingerprints. As silently as she entered, she was gone. No one knew, and that was just how she liked it.
*~*~*
"Kat? Kat can I come in?" Bianca knocked softly on the door. Even though the music was loud, she knew Kat could hear. Years of experience taught her how long the wait would be. In the music was soft, then Kat was doing homework, and would welcome any excuse to stop. If the music was a shade louder than comfortable, then Kat was painting, cleaning, or reading. The wait would be a minute, until her sister found a good stopping point. If the music shook the paintings on the wall, like now, Kat was pissed. She would not answer to one knock. Knock again, and Kat's anger would be concentrated on you. At that point, Bianca usually didn't want Kat to answer.
Usually. This time she needed her to. "Kat!" She knocked again, louder.
"What?" The door opened in a flash, and Kat managed to fill the entire doorway. She oozed of contempt.
"Want to go to the prom?" Kat slammed the door. Bianca tried again. "Please Kat, I really want to go. Joey dumped me for Ella and I.I.don't want her to think she's better than me." Bianca sighed sadly. "I can't go without a senior or junior."
The door opened a crack, but Kat refused to stir from the bed. "So you want me to take you?"
There was a pause. "Yeah." Another pause. "You don't have to stay. I just need a way in. And you already bought a ticket. Please?" Bianca stretched the word into two syllables.
The door closed. When it opened again, Kat was in a stunning, spaghetti- strapped red silk dress. As she walked down the stairs, she called to Bianca. "I hate you."
Bianca smiled. "Good thing you hate Ella more." She dialed a number on her cell phone. "The cardinal is leaving the nest. Repeat :The Cardinal is leaving the Nest." She couldn't resist the urge to whisper, "This message will self-destruct in ten seconds."
Kat was in the car waiting. "You are going to pay me fifteen dollars for my services before I even start the car." Bianca slumped and handed over the money. Satisfied, Kat continued. "We are also going to listen to my music and you are not allowed to roll your eyes." She smiled. "No other rules." Bianca smiled back, made a silly face, and put on her seatbelt.
*~*~*
Kat had to park in a nearby gas station to drop her sister off. The entire school parking lot was full. As if to annoy her further, it began to rain as soon as Kat cut the engine. She pulled out her car umbrella and was thankful that the rain was just an annoyance, and didn't cause her to slosh and ruin her dress. She paid a mint for it and did not intend to ruin it the first time she wore it. Especially as dumb of a reason as dropping her sister off at a dumb school dance. She rolled her eyes as the ticket-taker did his job and went inside.
The room was dark, and barely recognizable as the cafeteria. Gold and silver balloons blanked the ceiling. The room was modeled after the Elizabethan Era; the DJ played upon a small scale "Globe Theatre"; the photographer waited behind velvet draperies with 'Throne Room' stitched in gold. The rest was a grand ball room, with great gothic towers in each corner. As soon as Kat and her sister entered, a light projected onto a blank wall and the DJ called out to the dancers, "This next one goes out to Ella Leigh."
Ella froze in the middle of the dance floor and could have sworn the room grew colder. The light on the wall changed into a sign that simply read "Love, Andy" Her eyes expanded and darted around the room. But every one was looking at the wall. A series of photos sequenced in a power point presentation.
Ella with a boy. Then another boy. Another. (Little dates in the corner of the photo revealed them only a day apart, and caused some jeers.) Ella putting on her cucumber mask in the morning. Ella asleep, with a little stream of drool creating a waterfall onto her pillow. Ella trashed, dancing on the bar. From another angle. And yet another. More pictures followed with increasing embarrassment, until one came up with Andrew, Bianca, Joey, and David all sitting casually on Ella's front porch.
Ella turned to her date, Joey, and gapped. He smiled innocently. "You know, the camera adds ten pounds." She screamed and ran towards "Ye Olde Powder Room". Joey was suddenly swarmed with at least a dozen guys, many of whom were distinctly those of the first set of pictures. All clapped and congratulated him. Bianca appeared at Joey's side, and he hugged her. No one noticed when the wall changed once more.
No one except a chaperone, Mr.Moore.
It read:
" Love is blind and lovers can not see-
Lord what fools these mortals be:
By moonlight at her window sung
A poor unmanly melancholy sprung.
The edge of that day's celebration
I have offended reputation
By the dead and drowsy fire
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love.
What is done can not be undone
Pray now, forget and forgive
So will I grow, so live
I love nothing in the world so well as you
The course of true love did ne'er run smooth"
*~*~*
Andrew left the image on the wall and smiled. Nonchalantly, he walked over to the punch bowl and began to fill a cup. As he did, someone to his right asked, "So should I give you a zero one your sonnet project for plagiarism or ten extra points for not only comprehending the assignment, but at least five other Shakespearean plays?"
Andrew took a sip of his punch. "How about an A and we'll call it even?"
Mr. Moore smiled. "No one seems to notice it." The music began again, and everyone had gone back to dancing. "Although they all ate up the pictures proceeding it."
"The pictures were meant for one person." Andrew shrugged. "I think she stuck around long enough for my 'thank you' for employing me this past month or so."
"And I'm sure the poem was strictly to impress me."
Andrew didn't respond for a moment. Mr. Moore took it as his cue to leave. Andrew scanned the room and sighed. "It was supposed to impress."
"Do you plan to make a display EVERY time you screw up?" A voice behind him facetiously asked.
Andrew turned to Kat and smiled warmly. "Only if you save me from suspension afterwards." Kat pretended to be annoyed, then agreed. As they began to dance beside the punch table, Joey, David, and Bianca joined them.
Kat stopped dancing. "So you all planned this behind my back?" When they nodded, she asked, "How did you pull off the overhead?" Joey smiled and nodded to the chaperones mixing punch.
Four Library Ladies suddenly looked busy exclaiming over a mysterious cord that plugged into an outlet beside them. Then they shared a smile and went back to making drinks.
*~*~*
AWWWWW. That was nice. Now for my disclaimer.
I compiled the poem from a bunch of The Bard's plays. Here is the list: Merchant of Venence, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Timon of Athens, The Tempest, Antony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, MacBeth, King Lear, and Much Ado About Nothing. How many did you recognize?? Hehe. Tell me, okay?
OF MORE CHAPTERS, I don't know if there really needs to be another one. What do you think? I have a stupid/funny epilogue already written, but it is mostly pointless and was written about a year ago when I was bouncy off of sugar. Tell me if you want it. Tell me if you want more chapters.
Thank you for your patience with my horrible lack of updates. As with my last chapter, I hope this was worth the wait. : )
~ MandELLA