Author's Note: I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed that I didn't badger to. (looks around) I think that's only a few people, though…Everyone else would like this story to just die. :P
Disclaimer: Back, by popular demand, is the request you don't sue me! Please, I really don't own FOP and (makes a pouty face), my life is bad enough as it is.
Chapter Four: What Lies Beneath the Surface
Upon stepping into her car, sixth period, Tootie nearly has a heart attack. Taped to the dashboard are her lists of assignments for when she gets hope (courtesy of Vicky) and if she completes them within a year, it'd be a miracle. Of course, Vicky wants her to complete them in time to make dinner, do the rest of the housework, blah, blah, blah.
Ever since she and Ricky got married, Tootie's become their slave, doing every whim they desire. This is why Timmy has rarely seen her outside of school, if he cared to notice. Her first priority is making Vicky happy and, if she's lucky, she gets to eat dinner that night.
In her heart of hearts, she wishes her parents would whisk her away, but now that Vicky's married and taken over the house, they want nothing to do with them. It's been so long since she heard their voices, saw their faces…it's almost as if they're dead. She wonders if they are, but decides she doesn't care. She doesn't care about anything.
Still, the note taped to the dashboard makes her care a little. If she is so apathetic on the job, she'll starve another night. Sometimes, when Vicky's in a particularly bad mood, she'll strive to do all the chores for her but, yet, she won't get fed. She's keeping her fingers crossed this doesn't happen tonight.
Laughably, Timmy has no idea. He's the only one who could possibly help her and, of course, he's ignorant. But isn't that how she prefers him, blind to the pain that's out there? He's the little boy every one wants to protect, shelter him from the rain.
No, she can't call what she's going through 'rain'. Hardly. It's more like a blizzard when you're wearing summer clothing and you slowly freeze to death.
Speaking of freezing, her emotions begin to as well. In school, if it's not academic, she could give a rat's ass. She's learned to become a total bitch, not to let anyone in, because they don't need to be informed. The only person she needs is herself, just to get through another day.
One more day, but what's the difference? She isn't going to college- Vicky needs her around the house to nanny for her three kids. She isn't going anywhere except straight to hell and back again.
She won't even try to run away, because she knows Ricky has a tracking device hidden on her somewhere. There's no place she can go that he won't follow and stop her in her tracks. She's doomed.
The only freedom she has is her car. It's beat up, looks like death warmed over, but it's a car. It takes her places, gets her out of her house for a few blissful seconds. When she's driving, she doesn't have to look at, speak to, or otherwise think about Vicky.
Unconsciously, she bangs her fist against the wheel and leans her head on it. Sixth is her free period and she can go off campus if she wishes, but she doesn't know what she wants right now. She had an appointment, she remembers distantly, with a struggling student, but if she doesn't show up, they'll find a replacement. They always do.
Veronica drove off awhile ago- should she seek her out? What debt does she owe her, to act as though she cares? Unlike Trixie, she has no real ties with her, with anyone for that matter. Why should she be a friend to someone who isn't a friend to her?
Which makes her wonder- why should she protect Timmy if he never protected her? True, he didn't know her situation, but he didn't have to lash out at her like he did. What good is love if nothing good comes of it? What did it do except make her more miserable?
A tear falls onto the purple steering wheel cover, followed by another…
----------
Wanda knows she isn't her godmother, so she should stop trailing her. But she can't, it's an obsession. She can't understand why she doesn't have a godparent, or why no one has looked into her case.
She longs to expose herself to Tootie, even if it's only for a second, just to offer her some comfort. The girl's become more and more introverted, to the point where she's not sure she could speak for longer than three minutes without completely shutting down. There is nothing, nothing at all, sustaining her.
But Tootie isn't her only concern and, besides, Cosmo doesn't like it when she leaves him for more than five seconds. Loath as she is, she must merely observe and leave, because telling Timmy simply is not an option. He will not listen.
----------
However, Timmy is not the only person who won't listen. Yet again, Trixie Tang deceives herself, glancing at the many pictures of her and Veronica and forcing herself to think she isn't attracted to her. She is straight, dammit! No matter how many times Timmy kisses her and makes love to her, just because she feels nothing doesn't mean she's gay!
Just because the school happens to believe that doesn't mean you do. Who the hell are you trying to convince, girl, them or you?
She ambles her way down to her car (sixth happens to her free period too) and passes Tootie on the way. Tears stain the leather cover and she pauses, but she doesn't know why. Perhaps Tootie's crying reminds her all too much of Veronica.
Politely, she raps on the window and Tootie glares at her. The pigtailed girl angrily rubs her eyes and shoves the door open. A fight brews…
"What the hell do you want?" Tootie spits, folding her arms across her chest. Adroitly, she steps out of the car to fix Trixie a look of pure hatred.
"It's wrong now to try to talk to someone's who's crying?" Trixie shots back, already pissed off. "I'm just trying to help, you don't need to give me attitude."
"The best way you can help is to stay out!" Her fists are balled and she longs to strike her. Stop lying, bitch.
"I didn't have to stop by here and see if you were all right!"
"That's right, you didn't. Now you can go play straight and fuck around with Timmy and wrench his heart out when he finally finds out!" Tootie screams, finally brought to a breaking point.
The next few minutes pass like seconds. Tootie launches herself at Trixie, barely defending herself; the bespeckled girl punches anywhere she can reach. They fall to the grass, luckily, as Tootie continues her onslaught. Trixie's frankly too stunned to do anything other than try to block.
Tootie kicks, punches, and elbows the cheerleader; tears blur her vision. Every attack that lands gives her such a satisfactory feeling, as though, while she can't hurt Vicky, she can hurt a disciple of hers. She can maim and scar Trixie just because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Timmy chooses this moment to search for his girlfriend. What he finds, naturally, is not to his liking.
"Trixie!"
I'm just a fucking bystander, thanks a lot. The only reason you know I'm here is because I scratched up your pretty little gay slut. And I'm not saying that to be cruel, but it's starting to really piss me off that she keeps lying to you. At least I'm true to my feelings…that isn't true either. I lie all the time too…
What makes me so different from her? My life is a lie, I go home and work for Vicky until I'm ready to drop dead of exhaustion. But I act like I'm so stuck up and priggish because I can't stand the thought of someone finding out.
And Trixie does the same thing, but she's always been like that. Does that mean she was always gay, just hiding behind a mask of popularity? We've both been lying, only for different reasons…
Oblivious to Tootie's thoughts, Timmy rips her off and attends to Trixie. Trixie sports a split upper lip, a black eye, and some missing hair. Instead of feeling sorry, Tootie feels a sick sort of satisfaction.
See, now you aren't so pretty, bitch.
"Oh, so now spreading lies isn't enough for you? You have to go after Trixie? You disgust me!" Timmy screams, shoving her aside.
"Who the fuck gave you the right to touch me?" Tootie hisses, shoving him back. Her eyes blaze with anger and she resents Timmy's interruption. If he hadn't shown up, she could have given Trixie the sound beating she deserves.
A few teachers walk out of the building and she panics, dashing into the car, backing up, and speeding off. Neither teenager has time to say 'onomatopoeia' before she's gone. The teachers scratch their head and go back in. Another fight over a boy…
----------