Chapter 3: Velvet Goldmine

Spinner came up behind me after homeroom. "I was serious what I said back there."

"Excuse me Spinner; I have to go to Calculus."

"Craig can take you," Spinner says, nudging Craig. "He's going to the same class."

I look Craig up and down and say, "See I reckon you about an eight or a nine. Maybe even nine and a half in 4 beers time."

He comes back with, "That blue top shirt top you've got on, is nice. Bit too much fake tan though but, yea you score high."

I remark to that with, "But there's just one little thing that's just really really really annoying me about you, ya see, yeah yeah like I said, you are really fit."

"But my gosh! Don't you just know it!"

And we sing in unison (in terrible British accents might I add,) "I'm not trying to pull you

Even though I would like to

I think you are really fit

Your fit but my gosh don't you know it!"

"Okay..." Spinner says.

"The Streets!" I say, pointing to Craig's shirt. Craig and I walk down the hallway alone, not saying anything.

"So is it true?" I asked Craig.

He turns and furrows his eyebrows together, like he was shocked to see me there. "What?"

"What Spinner said? About you. Was it true?"

"I'll let Spin think what he wants to think."

"That wasn't my question."

"That's my answer." He says, turning to the classroom. I see Paige and she waves me over.

"What were you doing talking to him?" she says, making the last word drip with hatred.

"I had to ask him a question. Some guy named Spinner told me something about him that I had to ask about, that's all."

"Spinner. Ugh."

"What?"

"He's my ex. We broke up during the summer because I was sick of his immaturity. I hate him."

"Tell me about this guy Craig. Why do you guys hate him?"

"He nailed a grade 10 named Manny and got her pregnant all while dating my friend Ashley. She was so heartbroken; she's tried to forgive him so many times!"

"Didn't I meet Manny earlier? The girl who's clothes look like a wannabe Paris?"

"If you can call it that. We just call it trashy. So tell me about yourself. Who are you, really?"

"I'm Leigh. I just moved here from..." What do I say? I can't say California, because then everyone will guess that I'm Katerina. Even though I am. "Seattle. If you're wondering why we moved here, it was to get away from my dad. My parents just got divorced, and he just wouldn't leave us alone." Another lie- somewhat. My parents had a fling when they were in college, and I was the result. My parents got married, my dad became a big-shot director at the beginning of my career, and my mom caught him going at it with the barely-legal star of his next film. When they divorced, the tabloids spread it about as though it was entertainment, even though I was heartbroken.

Craig comes up behind me. "Can I borrow a pencil?"

I turn around to look at him. "What?"

"Can I borrow a pencil? Leigh, right?" I nod and hand him a pencil. "Thanks."

"Velvet Goldmine, You stroke me like the rain." I sing lightly, knowing who my next prospect was.

"Paige?" She turns toward me. "I need your help." And Paige and I plan.