Chapter Seven: Bianca's Song, Ashley's Revenge
~*Craig*~
It was the start of another period in Concert Choir class. I walked in, and plopped down in my seat, dropping my book bag next to me and heaving a huge sigh. Finally, a period without Jimmy or Bianca in it. Just seeing one of them, or both of them, gave me a really bad feeling inside. Of course, this was the period I had with Ashley, but I could overlook that. Besides, singing and music was my release. No matter what problems I had, I could always get them off my chest in choir class.
Fate has a way of screwing with me.
I was in sitting on top of my desk, tuning my guitar, and in walked Bianca. I almost dropped my prized Fender strat at the sight of her in my safe haven.
"Bianca...what are you doing in here?" I asked.
"I transferred in." she replied. "You know I have to sing."
I did know, I hadn't forgotten. I looked on the other side of the room at Ashley nervously. Ashley was sitting next to her best friend Terri, just watching the exchange that went on between Bianca and I.
"You may wanna keep a low profile, though, B." I advised her as she slid into the seat next to me. She dropped her messenger bag on the floor next to her. I glanced at it. Black, with glittery blue stars all over it. Her outfit matched. She was wearing a black mesh tank top with a blue bra underneath, blue vinyl pants, and black stiletto boots. Her hair was down with a few small braids in it. She looked really bad ass and sexy, but I tried hard not to think about it. Instead, I tried to think about Manny. Her voice brought me out of my thoughts.
She raised her eyebrows at me. "Why should I keep a low profile?"
"Because Ashley's kind of the star singer in choir, and she already hates you." I replied. Bianca had a voice like an angel, and even though Ashley was a great singer, Bianca would blow her right out of the water.
"So?" she responded, and began writing in her notebook.
I shook my head and smiled wryly. She hadn't changed a bit. Even when people tried to intimidate her, she'd just smile at them and forge on ahead. It was an interesting virtue, but it tended to get her in trouble.
Later...
"Alright, who would like to try this solo? Ashley?" our choir teacher asked.
"I'll try it." Bianca said, raising her hand.
I looked at Ashley, who currently was giving Bianca the nastiest look she could muster.
'Uh oh.' I thought.
Bianca made her way up to the front, where I was already sitting with my guitar in hand, ready to play. I began strumming the song chosen, and Bianca began to sing.
You know it only breaks my heart To see you standing in the dark Alone, waiting there for me To come back I'm too afraid to show If it's coming over you Like it's coming over me Crashing like a tidal wave It drags me out to sea I wanna be with you If you wanna be with me Crashing like a tidal wave I don't wanna be Stranded, stranded, stranded So baby come back to me So baby come back to me
I can only take so much These tears are turning me to rust I know you're waiting there for me To come back I'm too afraid to show To come back I'm too afraid to show If it's coming over you Like it's coming over me Crashing like a tidal wave It drags me out to sea I wanna be with you If you wanna be with me Crashing like a tidal wave I don't wanna be Stranded, stranded, stranded Coming over you, Coming over me It's coming over you So baby come back to me So baby come back to me
This song was making me very uncomfortable, and I was relieved when it was over. However, the choir teacher, Mrs. Rosenbaum, had other ideas.
"Craig, Bianca, that was excellent! You two have such natural chemistry together! I think you two should perform this at the next student assembly on Friday.
Bianca and I glanced at each other nervously. The two of us? Ex soulmates, both with significant others, performing a love song together in front of the entire school?
This was Not Good.
~*Ashley*~
I stomped into the cafeteria at lunch, flanked by Terri, and flopped down at the table that Paige and Hazel were currently sitting at. Paige gave me a curious look.
"Problems, hun?"
"Bianca Taylor, that's my problem." I huffed. "First she went out with Craig, now she's going out with Jimmy, and now she's stolen my spot in choir!"
"I actually thought she was pretty good." Terri commented.
"Ter, that's not the point." I replied. "Between her and Manny, there won't be a single guy in school not tainted by the Superslut Twins."
Paige laughed. "Well, I know what you mean. She keeps trying to make passes at Spinner, and we all know Hazel had dibs on Jimmy first. What do you say we extract a little revenge?"
I smiled. "Ooh. This sounds good. What do you suggest?"
"Alright, this is what we're gonna do..."
~*Manny*~
I chewed my sandwich and stared at Craig, who was currently looking sullen, slumped down in his seat and staring off into space.
"Craig? Are you alright? You look like something's bothering you." I said.
Before Craig could open his mouth to tell me what was going on, Jimmy and Bianca flopped down at our table.
"Hey Manny, hey Craig."
"Hey B." I said cheerfully. Craig just grunted. I rolled my eyes. "So what's up?"
"Not a whole lot. Ashley the Awful has been giving me threatening looks all day though."
"Get used to it. I get it all the time." I replied. "Anyway, so you guys, I was thinking, tomorrow night, double date?"
"Sure." Bianca said.
"Sounds great." Jimmy said, draping his arm around Bianca's shoulder.
"Craig?" I asked. "What do you think?"
"Oh, I can't." he said. "I have this....thing...to do. For Joey. Yeah."
I gave him a Look and rolled my eyes.
"Okay, fine." I replied. "Later this week, then."
Suddenly, I heard a shriek directly in my ear. I jumped in surprise and turned my head to find Bianca soaking wet. With Ashley Kerwin directly behind her, holding a Styrofoam cup. In an instant, Jimmy stood up and was inches away from Ashley's face.
"You did that on purpose!" he said.
"Oops." She said with a smirk. "Clumsy me."
Bianca stood up and glared at her. She shook her head, and without saying anything, calmly walked out of the cafeteria, leaving me, Craig, and Jimmy glaring at Ashley.
"That was so uncalled for." I said, leering at her.
"Yeah? So was stealing my boyfriend." She snapped.
"Get over it!" I yelled. "Craig's not your boyfriend anymore! He made a choice, and he chose me. And as for Bianca and Jimmy, YOU lost Jimmy, Ashley. No one took him away. YOU screwed up. So just grow the hell up and move on." I snapped.
She looked down at me and harrumphed. "This isn't over, Santos."
"Hardly." I replied.
~*Craig*~
It was the start of another period in Concert Choir class. I walked in, and plopped down in my seat, dropping my book bag next to me and heaving a huge sigh. Finally, a period without Jimmy or Bianca in it. Just seeing one of them, or both of them, gave me a really bad feeling inside. Of course, this was the period I had with Ashley, but I could overlook that. Besides, singing and music was my release. No matter what problems I had, I could always get them off my chest in choir class.
Fate has a way of screwing with me.
I was in sitting on top of my desk, tuning my guitar, and in walked Bianca. I almost dropped my prized Fender strat at the sight of her in my safe haven.
"Bianca...what are you doing in here?" I asked.
"I transferred in." she replied. "You know I have to sing."
I did know, I hadn't forgotten. I looked on the other side of the room at Ashley nervously. Ashley was sitting next to her best friend Terri, just watching the exchange that went on between Bianca and I.
"You may wanna keep a low profile, though, B." I advised her as she slid into the seat next to me. She dropped her messenger bag on the floor next to her. I glanced at it. Black, with glittery blue stars all over it. Her outfit matched. She was wearing a black mesh tank top with a blue bra underneath, blue vinyl pants, and black stiletto boots. Her hair was down with a few small braids in it. She looked really bad ass and sexy, but I tried hard not to think about it. Instead, I tried to think about Manny. Her voice brought me out of my thoughts.
She raised her eyebrows at me. "Why should I keep a low profile?"
"Because Ashley's kind of the star singer in choir, and she already hates you." I replied. Bianca had a voice like an angel, and even though Ashley was a great singer, Bianca would blow her right out of the water.
"So?" she responded, and began writing in her notebook.
I shook my head and smiled wryly. She hadn't changed a bit. Even when people tried to intimidate her, she'd just smile at them and forge on ahead. It was an interesting virtue, but it tended to get her in trouble.
Later...
"Alright, who would like to try this solo? Ashley?" our choir teacher asked.
"I'll try it." Bianca said, raising her hand.
I looked at Ashley, who currently was giving Bianca the nastiest look she could muster.
'Uh oh.' I thought.
Bianca made her way up to the front, where I was already sitting with my guitar in hand, ready to play. I began strumming the song chosen, and Bianca began to sing.
You know it only breaks my heart To see you standing in the dark Alone, waiting there for me To come back I'm too afraid to show If it's coming over you Like it's coming over me Crashing like a tidal wave It drags me out to sea I wanna be with you If you wanna be with me Crashing like a tidal wave I don't wanna be Stranded, stranded, stranded So baby come back to me So baby come back to me
I can only take so much These tears are turning me to rust I know you're waiting there for me To come back I'm too afraid to show To come back I'm too afraid to show If it's coming over you Like it's coming over me Crashing like a tidal wave It drags me out to sea I wanna be with you If you wanna be with me Crashing like a tidal wave I don't wanna be Stranded, stranded, stranded Coming over you, Coming over me It's coming over you So baby come back to me So baby come back to me
This song was making me very uncomfortable, and I was relieved when it was over. However, the choir teacher, Mrs. Rosenbaum, had other ideas.
"Craig, Bianca, that was excellent! You two have such natural chemistry together! I think you two should perform this at the next student assembly on Friday.
Bianca and I glanced at each other nervously. The two of us? Ex soulmates, both with significant others, performing a love song together in front of the entire school?
This was Not Good.
~*Ashley*~
I stomped into the cafeteria at lunch, flanked by Terri, and flopped down at the table that Paige and Hazel were currently sitting at. Paige gave me a curious look.
"Problems, hun?"
"Bianca Taylor, that's my problem." I huffed. "First she went out with Craig, now she's going out with Jimmy, and now she's stolen my spot in choir!"
"I actually thought she was pretty good." Terri commented.
"Ter, that's not the point." I replied. "Between her and Manny, there won't be a single guy in school not tainted by the Superslut Twins."
Paige laughed. "Well, I know what you mean. She keeps trying to make passes at Spinner, and we all know Hazel had dibs on Jimmy first. What do you say we extract a little revenge?"
I smiled. "Ooh. This sounds good. What do you suggest?"
"Alright, this is what we're gonna do..."
~*Manny*~
I chewed my sandwich and stared at Craig, who was currently looking sullen, slumped down in his seat and staring off into space.
"Craig? Are you alright? You look like something's bothering you." I said.
Before Craig could open his mouth to tell me what was going on, Jimmy and Bianca flopped down at our table.
"Hey Manny, hey Craig."
"Hey B." I said cheerfully. Craig just grunted. I rolled my eyes. "So what's up?"
"Not a whole lot. Ashley the Awful has been giving me threatening looks all day though."
"Get used to it. I get it all the time." I replied. "Anyway, so you guys, I was thinking, tomorrow night, double date?"
"Sure." Bianca said.
"Sounds great." Jimmy said, draping his arm around Bianca's shoulder.
"Craig?" I asked. "What do you think?"
"Oh, I can't." he said. "I have this....thing...to do. For Joey. Yeah."
I gave him a Look and rolled my eyes.
"Okay, fine." I replied. "Later this week, then."
Suddenly, I heard a shriek directly in my ear. I jumped in surprise and turned my head to find Bianca soaking wet. With Ashley Kerwin directly behind her, holding a Styrofoam cup. In an instant, Jimmy stood up and was inches away from Ashley's face.
"You did that on purpose!" he said.
"Oops." She said with a smirk. "Clumsy me."
Bianca stood up and glared at her. She shook her head, and without saying anything, calmly walked out of the cafeteria, leaving me, Craig, and Jimmy glaring at Ashley.
"That was so uncalled for." I said, leering at her.
"Yeah? So was stealing my boyfriend." She snapped.
"Get over it!" I yelled. "Craig's not your boyfriend anymore! He made a choice, and he chose me. And as for Bianca and Jimmy, YOU lost Jimmy, Ashley. No one took him away. YOU screwed up. So just grow the hell up and move on." I snapped.
She looked down at me and harrumphed. "This isn't over, Santos."
"Hardly." I replied.
