Chapter 7 - Don't Go Breaking Her Heart

(...Dimmsdale High...the next morning...)

The students lug their books and chatter excitedly while making their way to their classes. Among them are Chester and A.J.

"...don't know why you're still hung up on this, Chester."

"Come on! It's perfect! Just think of the headlines: 'McBadbat Buys Baseball Team'. It'd be hilarious! And not only that, but my dad would be so proud."

A.J. couldn't help but roll his eyes a bit.

"Sure, Chester. Sure."

"Go ahead and scoff. There go your season tickets."

"It's just that my mind's occupied right now and I don't have time to hear about your crazy pipe dreams."

"Occupied with what?"

"I just heard from my guidance counselor that there's another candidate for valedictorian."

"So?"

"Do you know how hard I've worked for this?!" His tone shifts from hysteria to lament. "At this rate, I might only end up with a salutatorian award."

"Yeah. That would be tragic", Chester said, wholly unsure as to how to react. "So, who's the other candidate?"

"Some girl; Virginia Flanagan. I've never seen her around. Have you?"

"Nah."

Walking out of a classroom, Timmy spots his friends and walks up beside them.

"Hey, guys. What's up?"

"Not much. Just that the smartest of us might not be so recognized."

"Someone else might be named valedictorian."

"Wow." Timmy rubs the back of his head. "Yeah."

A.J. glares at the brown-haired lad. "Thanks for cheering me up."

Timmy breaks off upon seeing Tootie walking the other way.

"I'm sure everything will work out. See you guys later", Timmy replies hurriedly.

"How's my favorite guy?"

Timmy shrugs. "He's doing all right."

She kisses him on the cheek.

"Now he's doing great!"

"I thought that would help."

"You're pretty smart. Have you heard anything about the valedictorian award? A.J.'s pretty down 'cause he might not get it."

"Yeah, I've heard something."

"There's another candidate."

"I know. It's me."

Timmy stares for a moment.

"Now, don't get all happy for me or anything."

"Sorry, but it's kind of a shock. We kinda expected A.J. to get the award."

"I'm aware of that. I can't help it that I'm so smart."

"Well, you picked me. You must be doing something right."

"Ha. So, I'll see you after school?"

"Of course."

Tootie walks away, leaving Timmy at his locker. He takes a couple of folders from it and puts a book inside. He closes the door and right there behind it is Trixie. A warm smile graces the rich girl's pretty face.

"Hey, there, Timmy."

"I see you managed to remember my name. What do you want?"

"Well..." Trixie rubs her arm with her hand and glances away. "I just wanted to apologize for what happened between us and I was hoping we could, you know, be friends?"

"I don't know."

Trixie gulps a bit. "Please. I don't want this on my conscience. Can you forgive me?" The brunette kneels and grabs Timmy's hand for effect; she never was one for groveling. Usually, other people were begging her.

"Uh...sure, Trixie. Why not?"

Her face lights up as she rises to her feet. She wraps the young man in a tight hug. Without as much force, he returns the gesture. The embrace lasts for nearly a half-minute.

"I think you passed apology a few seconds ago. Now we're on a date."

"Oh, sorry, Timmy."

"That's all right--" Timmy is cut off by the ringing of the bell. "Oh! I got to get to class. Take care, Trixie." He runs down the hall.

"I most certainly will", Trixie sing-songs. "At least, I will now", she follows sotto voce.

(...outside Dimmsdale High...that afternoon...)

The final bell pierces the air. The students rush out. One of them is Tootie, who looks around nervously.

"Timmy! Where are you?"

(...a classroom...)

These words can barely be made out by a young man sitting at a desk - Timmy. He peers out the window and sees his girlfriend search the grounds.

He cursed himself for not getting to tell Tootie about his detention; so much happens in a school day that something like detention seems like an afterthought.

Timmy wanted so much to leap from his seat and scream out for Tootie, but that would result in further detention time, and he didn't have that much time to waste. Also, the instructor overseeing the day's delinquents looked like he had a pretty bad day himself. Begrudgingly, he returned to his notes.

(...outside Dimmsdale High...)

Tootie tears up a little as she wanders the property. Her eyes widen at the sight just outside the front gate: Vicky leaning against her car.

"Need a ride?"

The bespectacled young woman takes one last look.

"I guess so." Tootie wipes her eyes and opens the passenger door.

Already at the driver's side, Vicky gets in. The engine starts and the car disappears down the street.

(...outside Dimmsdale High...an hour later...)

Timmy shuffles down the school's front steps. He stops on the last step and sits down. His backpack hits the ground and he opens it to check for his necessary books.

The bag check is interrupted by a pair of hands covering his eyes.

"Guess who?"

"Oh. Hi, Trixie."

She runs around to face him. "Correct! For getting the answer right, you get to drive me home."

"That's a prize?", says Timmy as he stands up.

"It sure is."

The young man walks away. "I'm not sure. I just got out of detention and I really need to get home and study."

Trixie blocks him. "You'd rather study than hang out with your friend?"

"Sorry, but yes", Timmy states as he continues to walk. Trixie follows him. "By the way, what are you doing here so late?"

"A teacher wanted me to stay after and talk about a chemistry exam." Trixie stops to scoff. "Like I'm ever gonna need that in life. So will you do it?"

(...Vicky's car...)

"Vicky, I thought we were going home."

"We are, just as soon as I finish my errands."

The redhead grins devilishly as she turns down the street, back to Dimmsdale High.

"Uh, Vicky, this is the way back to school."

"It is? It's just that I've been gone for so long", Vicky lied; she knew the streets like the back of her hand.

Tootie glances out the window, but it soon becomes a stare: her eyes fix on the sight of her boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend holding hands. Vicky looks over at her sister as her eyes narrow behind her glasses. She folds her arms and silently fumes. The redhead faces front and smiles.

(...outside Dimmsdale High...)

As it turns out, Trixie is holding Timmy's hands. He slips them away and walks toward the front gate, followed by the rich girl.

"Fine, Trixie. I'll take you home."

"Oh, thank you, Ti--"

He turns to her, his finger outstretched. "But understand this: we are not, not going out."

Trixie smiles nervously. "Fair enough."

Timmy turns back around, the look on his face screaming, 'How the hell did I get myself into this?'

(...Dimmsdale Mall...an hour later...)

The Flanagan siblings sit at a table in the food court. Vicky tears into her double cheeseburger with bacon, while Tootie stares down her plate of orange chicken and fried rice.

"This sure doesn't look like home to me."

Vicky puts her burger down. "Come on. After having to deal with what the lunch ladies courageously label food, I figured you'd be happy."

"I...it's...I appreciate this, but...I just want this day to end as soon as possible."

"Can't you allow yourself some enjoyment once in a while? After putting up with the twerp, I figure you'd be starving for it."

"Vicky, why can't you give him a chance?"

"I don't see why I should."

"Well, I'm sorry, but the two of us are going to be together for a long time."

(...lower level of the mall...)

"If you can't accept that, too bad."

Trixie walks around gleefully.

"I love the smell of clearance in the afternoon. Don't you?"

Behind her seemed to be a group of tote bags that had come to life. Trixie lifts one of the "monster's" bags, revealing Timmy's face.

"This sure doesn't look like your home to me."

"Home, second home, no matter. Ooooh. I must have that." Trixie runs off in another direction, leaving the bag to flop down and obstruct Timmy's vision. For his luck, he (and the bags) collapse on a marble bench where he struggles to catch his breath.

(...the food court...)

"But there are so many other guys out there. Why settle for that one?!"

"Sometimes, there's just this...magical connection between two people. Mom and Dad have it. Timmy and I have it."

(...the lower level...)

Trixie grabs Timmy and runs to a store - We Got Pants. She takes a pair of pants off the circular rack just outside the store.

"Wow. These are really nice. Do you have them in green?"

(...the food court...)

Vicky hears the line from downstairs and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a pen and tosses it away.

"Oh. My pen!"

Tootie stands to her feet. "I'll get it."

The pen manages to skirt the edge overlooking the lower level. Tootie grabs it before it falls. Her face sinks at seeing Timmy and Trixie together a second time. She starts to whimper a bit as she walks back to her table.

(...the lower level...)

Trixie walks through the crowd, followed by Timmy carrying her bags.

"Why do you even need this stuff?"

"For college. One needs to be prepared."

"Why are we even here?"

"What? Friends don't shop together?"

"Female friends."

Timmy stops walking. "Now I can understand the new clothes, but why do you need new underwear? Or new perfume?"

"Like I said, 'be prepared'. Besides, it simply wouldn't do to make a bad first impression", Trixie titters.

(...Tootie's bedroom...that night...)

The dark-haired girl sits on her bed and looks at the phone. Her hand reaches out to pick up the receiver, but stops short. She repeats the move, throwing down her hand in defeat. As she lays down, the door opens.

"Knock, knock", Vicky jokes as she walks in. "Is everything all right?"

"No. Timmy was with...Trixie."

"Oh. Who is she?"

"This girl that goes to our school. Timmy used to have this big crush on her."

"What did I tell you? You can't be too careful. Didn't he fall for you after your little makeover?" Tootie offered no verbal response. Instead, she let tears fall down her face. "It seems to me that he was, and always has been, thinking with the little twerp."

"Vicky, this is the last thing I need right now!", Tootie cries out.

The redhead walks over to the bed and sits down.

"I wouldn't have come back for your graduation if I didn't care about you. Everything I've ever done, I've done because I care about you."

"You mean like doing your chores?"

"Well, yeah. To teach you about responsibility." Tootie snorts.

Vicky gets up and walks to the door.

"Just think about what I'm saying."

The door closes, which leaves Tootie with a sad look on her face.

(...Dimmsdale High...the next day...)

Tootie walks down the hall, her books clutched close to her chest. Timmy sees her and runs up to her.

"Hey, Tootie. How..."

At seeing the young man, the brunette speeds her stride. Timmy stands in the hall, completely taken aback at what's happened.

(...Dimmsdale High...a few hours later...)

Throughout the day, Timmy tried to talk to his girlfriend, but she would do her best to avoid him.

At one point, the halls were jam-packed with students, making movement a chore. The estranged lovers were forced together.

"Tootie..."

She turns away, but the movement of someone behind her turns her back around.

"Hello, again. What's going on?"

"I think you know. I saw you with Trixie yesterday."

Timmy starts laughing.

Tootie folds her arms. "I don't see what's so funny."

"Are you sure those glasses are working? There's nothing going on between us. She actually apologized to me, and called me 'Timmy'. Me and her, we're just friends, maybe less than that."

The bespectacled girl looks away ashamedly. "I guess I got a little carried away."

The two of them embrace. "I guess so. See you after school?"

"Absolutely."

Just as Timmy and Tootie let go of each other, the crowd disperses.

(...Timmy's car...that afternoon...)

"You know, I feel much better, Timmy. To think that you...and her..."

"Nothing but a distant memory. You are the only one that matters."

The vehicle stops in front of the Flanagan's house. Tootie reaches for the handle when her nose catches an unusual aroma. She sniffs faster and harder.

Timmy gets out of the car. "What's wrong?"

"There's a weird smell in here." Tootie glances at the rear-view mirror and spots something sticking out of the backseat; something pink.

The bespectacled brunette whips her head back and sees a pink pair of panties wedged between the cushions. Her face twists into a grimace as she steps out of the car.

She calmly walks to the driver's side and grabs Timmy by the arm.

Tootie spins him to face inside the back window. "What in the hell are those?"

Timmy leans in. He squints a little, then faces Tootie. "They look like a pair of panties."

"I know they're panties. What are they doing in your backseat?"

Timmy gasps.

(...Dimmsdale Mall...yesterday afternoon...)

Holding a small number of bags, Timmy waits outside a store. Trixie waltzes out holding a small bag. She pulls out a pair of pink panties.

"These are so beautiful. I'm so glad I decided to get these."

(...outside the Flanagan's house...)

Timmy turns to his angry girlfriend.

"Now I remember. Trixie--"

"Trixie?! You said there was nothing going on!"

"There isn't."

"Then what do you call these?!" Tootie clutches the panties and takes a cautionary whiff. "God, they even stink of her!"

"I'm telling you, nothing happened. Let me explain."

"There's nothing to explain." Tootie storms to the front door. Before she opens it, she turns around. "You know, it's funny: I thought you outgrew this crap."

She opens the door and goes in. Timmy rushes after to the door, but is stopped by Vicky.

"I'm sorry, but we're not taking any guests this evening."

"Get out of my way, Vicky, or you're gonna get hurt."

The redhead stares down her former charge. "And what, in our history, makes you think you'll win that fight?"

Timmy backs down...for a few seconds. He tries to leap into the house, but Vicky grabs him and throws him out.

(...the Flanagan's house...)

Vicky watches as Tootie runs up the stairs. This is followed by a slam and muffled crying.

The phone next to the living room couch rings. Vicky picks up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Did everything go according to plan?"

"It sure did. That twerp won't show his face around here again."

"That'll teach him to mess with us. I'll see you around, Vicky."

"Oh, you can count on that, Trixie."