Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Annabelle, her family, Bailey and her
family. Psh, do you think I'd be here if I owned Seth Cohen and Ryan
Atwood? Please, baby.
... ...
The watercolors bloomed on my canvas as I swept and dotted them, occasionally splashing water to really make the colors bloom. Art was my favorite class of the day. The teacher, Mr. Jacks (though he's let's us call him Daniel), is the nicest teacher I've ever had. He let's us do anything within reason. Which is good, because I'm always eating while I'm painting. Colors from food give me inspiration, I swear!
I stepped back and looked over my work. To the untrained eye, it looked like just a bunch of wet and swirling colors. But I had always been abstract and to me it felt like my experiences here in Newport. We had been here a week and things were already getting dramatic. This Oliver guy had been wreaking havoc with Marissa and Ryan and I couldn't stand to see Ryan so distraught. Contrary to popular belief, he was nicer than he looked. But that could be because I had been over at their house after school everyday since I met the kid. And we shared for a strange love for old school Journey.
Mr. Jacks came over and surveyed my painting. He smiled and nodded silently, placing a happy hand on my shoulder before moving on. He wasn't one of many words. I nodded and dipped the tip of my brush in the bottle of pink paint and swept it widely across the top of the canvas and took my fine brush and dunked it in the water then swept it over the pink, making it bleed a bit. That was the pain of leaving New Zealand.
The bell rang, much to my chagrin, and everybody put their canvases away to dry and left the room. I sighed and put my own canvas away too and gathered my things and left the room, only to see Seth standing outside the door. I raised an eyebrow and smiled, slipping my arm into the crook of his. He smiled down at me.
"So what do you have next? Orchestra, right?" He said, walking away from the Art room and I nodded. That painting had tugged at heartstrings and I felt I would cry right then and there from homesickness. But, thankfully, Anna met us in the courtyard and I quelled my sorrow.
I had met Anna the day before and I could already tell she had a major thing for Seth. Of course, I was the only one at this school who didn't understand why anyone wouldn't. But then again, she was his girlfriend. They were sweet together. So when Seth and I came up to her, I smiled and she smiled back but I could see a hint of jealousy in her eyes. She obviously didn't like me always with her man.
"Hi, Bailey. How was Art?" She asked politely, taking Seth's other arm while I let go. It was going to be weird enough for Seth to be walking around with two girls on his arm, but think about how it would make me feel. I shrugged and sighed.
"A little sad. I'm really attached to this one painting and it describes all the things I've been experiencing since moving here from Welly." I explained and she nodded. Seth stayed silent and I glanced up at him then looked down, holding my books in front of me and my brows furrowing in thought. This did not feel good. Anna had been going with Seth before I got there, yes, but still... I felt like she was horning in on my man.
I looked at them and smiled softly, gently inclining my head towards the music building. "I gotta... get to orchestra. Call me after school, okay Seth?" I told them and nodded firmly when he smiled and nodded. I then took my leave. It was hard enough to think about all my friends over in New Zealand while painting and the life I left over there, but to see one of the one things that gave me happiness taken away, was something I couldn't bear. I thought about just skipping the rest of the day and taking my Jag to the beach and doing some thinking but then again, Orchestra was always one of my favorite classes. Or at least, the other one.
I could take a practice leave and just play sad songs or really angry songs in the practice room all day. But then Annabelle would see right though me and know what was up.
... ...
"Bailey Bell, what the bollocks is wrong with you today?" Annabelle scolded as we made our way to my car. I dug my keys from out of the front pocket of my bag and shrugged, pressing the unlock button at the top.
"Just one of those days, Boppo." I sighed and unlocked the doors, taking off my messenger bag and throwing it in the backseat as I slid into the driver seat. Annabelle slid into the passenger seat, buckled up as I started the engine and let the top down. I revved the engine a bit, just checking to make sure it was working properly, and pulled out of the school parking lot slowly, looking around for Seth and maybe Anna. 'Maybe I could accidentally run her down.' I thought maliciously. I smiled a bit at the thought, and then shook my head.
"I need my Beatles." I groaned, leaning down to turn on my cd, 'Let It Be.. Naked'. The sounds of Paul's voice began to just croon, floating away from the stereo and out the car. Annabelle sighed and looked out the window as we got out of the school parking lot, and I just drove.
After a long pause, Annabelle looked at me as I turned onto our street. "Is it Seth?" She asked, looking at me head on. My brows furrowed and I simply turned the music up louder. Annabelle groaned and turned it down as I pulled into our drive. "Bailey Bell, just tell me." She stated. I sighed and cut the engine.
"Uh huh." I mumbled. "Look, Annabelle, I don't want to talk about it. I don't think I could say anything without... making my face all red and blotchy."
Annabelle nodded and sighed. "Whatever, Bails. We're sisters now. And sisters confide in each other." She said icily and got out, slinging her messenger bag on her shoulder and unlocking the front door. She walked in and slammed it behind her. I sighed sadly and leaned my head on the steering wheel, careful of the horn. Just thinking about him made my head throb. There was only one person I could talk to and, hopefully, not end up breaking down and crying.
... ...
"Hey... Marissa." I said softly, shoving my hands in my pockets. She looked at me incredulously.
"Bailey? Hey... what're you doing here?" Marissa asked, leaning against the door gently. I mustered a small smile and shrugged. "I was hoping I could talk to you. Do you mind?"
Marissa shook her head and opened the door wider so I could walk in. I did and bit my lower lip, looking around a bit. "It's a nice place, Marissa. " I said, nodding gently. She smiled and leaned against the back of her couch. "So what did you need to talk about?"
"Hey girls... oh, you must be Bailey." Jimmy Cooper, Marissa's dad said, walking in from the kitchen. He smiled to me and held out his hand. "I'm Jimmy Cooper, Marissa's dad."
I shook his hand gently and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper. I'm Bailey Wood, the new girl from New Zealand." I said, chuckling a bit. He nodded and looked at the stack of bills in his hand. "Well, I better get to these, Maris. Nice to meet you Bailey." He said, and left. Marissa sighed and smiled back at me. "Anyway... so what's up?"
I swallowed hard and tucked a strand of hair behind my head, blushing slightly as I thought of the perfect things to say. And the only thing I could think of sounded too weird, but I had to say it anyway.
"Seth Cohen is a pimp."
Marissa laughed softly and shook her head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Anna likes him, Summer likes him, and I think I do too. Either he's a pimp or he, like, drank some irresistibility potion or something. I don't know..." I explained, sighing. I shook my head and laughed softly at the notion. I was too obsessed with... magic, sometimes. Marissa quirked an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Irresistibility potion? I don't think I even need to ask..."
I laughed and shook my head again, twisting a bunch of hair in my index finger.
"I know... sometimes I just don't think about what I'm saying. Sorry. Anyway... I don't know what to do because Anna obviously doesn't like me because I've been spending so much time with Seth and Summer and I never talk anyway. She talks more to Annabelle than to me and it's not that I mind or anything, I just need to see where everybody stands on this whole thing. It's this big mess in my head and really, you were the only one I could think of that would at least understand and maybe you could talk too about Ryan and Oliver... I mean, if you want to. I'm rambling, aren't I? "I said. It all came out in a big rush like in the movies when one of the characters just keeps going and going. I tend to do that when I have a lot on my mind. It would've been a lot longer but then I saw Marissa blinking in confusion. And my emphatic hand gestures during the spiel didn't help. Marissa kept her eyebrow raised and smiled. "Wow... someone's been doing her thinking."
I sighed and nodded. "It's been on my mind since after 5th period. Seth came and walked me out to the courtyard and then we met up with Anna and I don't know... there was this look in her eyes that she really didn't like me. And I just met her yesterday!" I explained. This was crazy. Marissa nodded again and got up from leaning on the couch.
"Do you want anything to drink? After that speech, you've gotta be parched." She offered and I nodded, mustering a small smile. "Coke would be great."
Marissa nodded and walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of Coke for me and a Diet Coke for her. I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as I waited and looked around again. Her dad's place was modest enough, but then again... he was still getting back on his feet. At least, that's what I had heard. But my dad had always taught to not believe anything until you know that it's true from the source. That's why I had never been a really big religious person.
Marissa came back and handed me the Coke, which I took thankfully. I popped the tab and took a gulp, smiling as the cool sweetness ran down my throat. "Mm... yum. Thanks, love."
She nodded, popping open her own Diet Coke and taking a long gulp as well. "So... is that all you needed to get off your chest?" She said, holding her can at her waist. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes in thought, then nodded. Marissa nodded back and took another gulp of her Diet Coke.
I scrunched my nose and nodded gently. "So, is there anything you need to talk about? I mean, it's the least I could for you listening to my spiel."
Marissa bit her lower lip and looked down. She sighed and looked up again, her nose scrunched lightly, like mine. "Here... come on upstairs to my room and we can have some privacy."
I nodded and took a small swig from my coke, slipped off my flip-flops, and followed her up the stairs to her room. Well... it wasn't much of a room. More of a... closet. Or carport. Still full of boxes. I found a clear spot and sat down, setting my coke on my knee. I smiled good-naturedly and looked around. Marissa laughed lightly and sat down across from me. "You don't have to say anything. I know it's not the best place."
"Okay. So what's up with this Oliver guy?" I stated, rather than asked. Marissa sighed and closed the door. "He's just a friend of mine that Ryan seems to think is in love with me. I mean, he could be." She said and I nodded.
"Well, how long have you known him?" I asked.
"Since Christmuk- Christmas." She said nodding, smiling. I smiled and pointed at her lightly. "You were just about to say Christmukkah! That's that holiday Seth made up." I said, giggling. Marissa laughed and threw a stray pillow at me.
"Shut up, Bailey! I was not going to say that!" She protested and I ducked, throwing another pillow at her. "You were too, don't deny it Coop!" I said, smiling and taking deep breaths to stop the laughter.
"So anyway, you met him on Christmas, right? And then what happened..." I asked. Marissa smiled and brushed some hair behind her ear.
"We hung out some. I met him at therapy so it's kind of weird to still hang out with him. But he transferred to Harbour so we've been hanging out more. Ryan doesn't like him because he's just jealous. But now Luke doesn't like him either and I could understand Luke but not Ryan. It's just so..." Marissa left the sentence open and her hands raised up to try and find the word but dropped needlessly.
"Complicated? I know exactly what you mean, love."
... ...
The watercolors bloomed on my canvas as I swept and dotted them, occasionally splashing water to really make the colors bloom. Art was my favorite class of the day. The teacher, Mr. Jacks (though he's let's us call him Daniel), is the nicest teacher I've ever had. He let's us do anything within reason. Which is good, because I'm always eating while I'm painting. Colors from food give me inspiration, I swear!
I stepped back and looked over my work. To the untrained eye, it looked like just a bunch of wet and swirling colors. But I had always been abstract and to me it felt like my experiences here in Newport. We had been here a week and things were already getting dramatic. This Oliver guy had been wreaking havoc with Marissa and Ryan and I couldn't stand to see Ryan so distraught. Contrary to popular belief, he was nicer than he looked. But that could be because I had been over at their house after school everyday since I met the kid. And we shared for a strange love for old school Journey.
Mr. Jacks came over and surveyed my painting. He smiled and nodded silently, placing a happy hand on my shoulder before moving on. He wasn't one of many words. I nodded and dipped the tip of my brush in the bottle of pink paint and swept it widely across the top of the canvas and took my fine brush and dunked it in the water then swept it over the pink, making it bleed a bit. That was the pain of leaving New Zealand.
The bell rang, much to my chagrin, and everybody put their canvases away to dry and left the room. I sighed and put my own canvas away too and gathered my things and left the room, only to see Seth standing outside the door. I raised an eyebrow and smiled, slipping my arm into the crook of his. He smiled down at me.
"So what do you have next? Orchestra, right?" He said, walking away from the Art room and I nodded. That painting had tugged at heartstrings and I felt I would cry right then and there from homesickness. But, thankfully, Anna met us in the courtyard and I quelled my sorrow.
I had met Anna the day before and I could already tell she had a major thing for Seth. Of course, I was the only one at this school who didn't understand why anyone wouldn't. But then again, she was his girlfriend. They were sweet together. So when Seth and I came up to her, I smiled and she smiled back but I could see a hint of jealousy in her eyes. She obviously didn't like me always with her man.
"Hi, Bailey. How was Art?" She asked politely, taking Seth's other arm while I let go. It was going to be weird enough for Seth to be walking around with two girls on his arm, but think about how it would make me feel. I shrugged and sighed.
"A little sad. I'm really attached to this one painting and it describes all the things I've been experiencing since moving here from Welly." I explained and she nodded. Seth stayed silent and I glanced up at him then looked down, holding my books in front of me and my brows furrowing in thought. This did not feel good. Anna had been going with Seth before I got there, yes, but still... I felt like she was horning in on my man.
I looked at them and smiled softly, gently inclining my head towards the music building. "I gotta... get to orchestra. Call me after school, okay Seth?" I told them and nodded firmly when he smiled and nodded. I then took my leave. It was hard enough to think about all my friends over in New Zealand while painting and the life I left over there, but to see one of the one things that gave me happiness taken away, was something I couldn't bear. I thought about just skipping the rest of the day and taking my Jag to the beach and doing some thinking but then again, Orchestra was always one of my favorite classes. Or at least, the other one.
I could take a practice leave and just play sad songs or really angry songs in the practice room all day. But then Annabelle would see right though me and know what was up.
... ...
"Bailey Bell, what the bollocks is wrong with you today?" Annabelle scolded as we made our way to my car. I dug my keys from out of the front pocket of my bag and shrugged, pressing the unlock button at the top.
"Just one of those days, Boppo." I sighed and unlocked the doors, taking off my messenger bag and throwing it in the backseat as I slid into the driver seat. Annabelle slid into the passenger seat, buckled up as I started the engine and let the top down. I revved the engine a bit, just checking to make sure it was working properly, and pulled out of the school parking lot slowly, looking around for Seth and maybe Anna. 'Maybe I could accidentally run her down.' I thought maliciously. I smiled a bit at the thought, and then shook my head.
"I need my Beatles." I groaned, leaning down to turn on my cd, 'Let It Be.. Naked'. The sounds of Paul's voice began to just croon, floating away from the stereo and out the car. Annabelle sighed and looked out the window as we got out of the school parking lot, and I just drove.
After a long pause, Annabelle looked at me as I turned onto our street. "Is it Seth?" She asked, looking at me head on. My brows furrowed and I simply turned the music up louder. Annabelle groaned and turned it down as I pulled into our drive. "Bailey Bell, just tell me." She stated. I sighed and cut the engine.
"Uh huh." I mumbled. "Look, Annabelle, I don't want to talk about it. I don't think I could say anything without... making my face all red and blotchy."
Annabelle nodded and sighed. "Whatever, Bails. We're sisters now. And sisters confide in each other." She said icily and got out, slinging her messenger bag on her shoulder and unlocking the front door. She walked in and slammed it behind her. I sighed sadly and leaned my head on the steering wheel, careful of the horn. Just thinking about him made my head throb. There was only one person I could talk to and, hopefully, not end up breaking down and crying.
... ...
"Hey... Marissa." I said softly, shoving my hands in my pockets. She looked at me incredulously.
"Bailey? Hey... what're you doing here?" Marissa asked, leaning against the door gently. I mustered a small smile and shrugged. "I was hoping I could talk to you. Do you mind?"
Marissa shook her head and opened the door wider so I could walk in. I did and bit my lower lip, looking around a bit. "It's a nice place, Marissa. " I said, nodding gently. She smiled and leaned against the back of her couch. "So what did you need to talk about?"
"Hey girls... oh, you must be Bailey." Jimmy Cooper, Marissa's dad said, walking in from the kitchen. He smiled to me and held out his hand. "I'm Jimmy Cooper, Marissa's dad."
I shook his hand gently and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper. I'm Bailey Wood, the new girl from New Zealand." I said, chuckling a bit. He nodded and looked at the stack of bills in his hand. "Well, I better get to these, Maris. Nice to meet you Bailey." He said, and left. Marissa sighed and smiled back at me. "Anyway... so what's up?"
I swallowed hard and tucked a strand of hair behind my head, blushing slightly as I thought of the perfect things to say. And the only thing I could think of sounded too weird, but I had to say it anyway.
"Seth Cohen is a pimp."
Marissa laughed softly and shook her head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Anna likes him, Summer likes him, and I think I do too. Either he's a pimp or he, like, drank some irresistibility potion or something. I don't know..." I explained, sighing. I shook my head and laughed softly at the notion. I was too obsessed with... magic, sometimes. Marissa quirked an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Irresistibility potion? I don't think I even need to ask..."
I laughed and shook my head again, twisting a bunch of hair in my index finger.
"I know... sometimes I just don't think about what I'm saying. Sorry. Anyway... I don't know what to do because Anna obviously doesn't like me because I've been spending so much time with Seth and Summer and I never talk anyway. She talks more to Annabelle than to me and it's not that I mind or anything, I just need to see where everybody stands on this whole thing. It's this big mess in my head and really, you were the only one I could think of that would at least understand and maybe you could talk too about Ryan and Oliver... I mean, if you want to. I'm rambling, aren't I? "I said. It all came out in a big rush like in the movies when one of the characters just keeps going and going. I tend to do that when I have a lot on my mind. It would've been a lot longer but then I saw Marissa blinking in confusion. And my emphatic hand gestures during the spiel didn't help. Marissa kept her eyebrow raised and smiled. "Wow... someone's been doing her thinking."
I sighed and nodded. "It's been on my mind since after 5th period. Seth came and walked me out to the courtyard and then we met up with Anna and I don't know... there was this look in her eyes that she really didn't like me. And I just met her yesterday!" I explained. This was crazy. Marissa nodded again and got up from leaning on the couch.
"Do you want anything to drink? After that speech, you've gotta be parched." She offered and I nodded, mustering a small smile. "Coke would be great."
Marissa nodded and walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out a can of Coke for me and a Diet Coke for her. I shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as I waited and looked around again. Her dad's place was modest enough, but then again... he was still getting back on his feet. At least, that's what I had heard. But my dad had always taught to not believe anything until you know that it's true from the source. That's why I had never been a really big religious person.
Marissa came back and handed me the Coke, which I took thankfully. I popped the tab and took a gulp, smiling as the cool sweetness ran down my throat. "Mm... yum. Thanks, love."
She nodded, popping open her own Diet Coke and taking a long gulp as well. "So... is that all you needed to get off your chest?" She said, holding her can at her waist. I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes in thought, then nodded. Marissa nodded back and took another gulp of her Diet Coke.
I scrunched my nose and nodded gently. "So, is there anything you need to talk about? I mean, it's the least I could for you listening to my spiel."
Marissa bit her lower lip and looked down. She sighed and looked up again, her nose scrunched lightly, like mine. "Here... come on upstairs to my room and we can have some privacy."
I nodded and took a small swig from my coke, slipped off my flip-flops, and followed her up the stairs to her room. Well... it wasn't much of a room. More of a... closet. Or carport. Still full of boxes. I found a clear spot and sat down, setting my coke on my knee. I smiled good-naturedly and looked around. Marissa laughed lightly and sat down across from me. "You don't have to say anything. I know it's not the best place."
"Okay. So what's up with this Oliver guy?" I stated, rather than asked. Marissa sighed and closed the door. "He's just a friend of mine that Ryan seems to think is in love with me. I mean, he could be." She said and I nodded.
"Well, how long have you known him?" I asked.
"Since Christmuk- Christmas." She said nodding, smiling. I smiled and pointed at her lightly. "You were just about to say Christmukkah! That's that holiday Seth made up." I said, giggling. Marissa laughed and threw a stray pillow at me.
"Shut up, Bailey! I was not going to say that!" She protested and I ducked, throwing another pillow at her. "You were too, don't deny it Coop!" I said, smiling and taking deep breaths to stop the laughter.
"So anyway, you met him on Christmas, right? And then what happened..." I asked. Marissa smiled and brushed some hair behind her ear.
"We hung out some. I met him at therapy so it's kind of weird to still hang out with him. But he transferred to Harbour so we've been hanging out more. Ryan doesn't like him because he's just jealous. But now Luke doesn't like him either and I could understand Luke but not Ryan. It's just so..." Marissa left the sentence open and her hands raised up to try and find the word but dropped needlessly.
"Complicated? I know exactly what you mean, love."