Mipsy sat silently at the lunch table that she, Courtney and Miranda generally gathered at, "well aren't you going to eat your sandwiches, Miranda?" Courtney asked. Miranda popped open the tub and took a small bite out of one of the triangle cut sandwiches, "it's good…" she said, as if answering a silent question, in an unenthusiastic way.
(Mipsy's P.O.V)
I hate this, just sitting here not having anything to say! I want to ask Miranda why she seems so down today but I can't, because where not really friends…not really. Courtney is acting strange as well but I've always thought Courtney was a little on the eccentric side anyway but she seems agitated, more high strung then her usual Courtney-normal. Courtney-normal…that sounds like something a friend would say about someone. It implies that I've learned all her odd little idiosyncrasies and I've just come to except them as the way she is, that I made a personal and emotional connection with her, and vice versa.
I stare longingly at Courtney and Miranda, wishing I could have what they have. Courtney smiles warmly at Miranda and Miranda responds by curling the corner of her lip slightly, subtle, real empathy and understanding. I can't ever have that, I only notice their discreet silent 'conversations' because I'm watching them so closely. And why shouldn't I, they've been my ideals since kindergarten!
It wasn't that I wanted to be popular, I mean I did, but I wanted to be liked more. Back then I had this idea that being popular was the same as being every bodies best friend, you where the person people liked the most, the one with the most friends. So I did what I had to do to be popular, I acted like Courtney and Miranda and it worked! I became part of the in-crowd, I even became considered the third most popular girl in school…I think. It's always been Courtney first and Miranda was a close second, I suppose I rate as a distant third with several close competitors.
That's how it was, technically that's still how it is as far as the freshmen classes go but obviously there are older girls that fill those positions with respect to the entire school. Still it doesn't matter, I was wrong about being popular I don't have any friends. Not real friend that like me for who I am…then again it's hard to like someone for who they are when they don't be themselves.
I'm not complaining, I know I did this to myself and I've got no one to blame except myself, but I guess I just need to deal with this stuff today. I don't know why but everyone seems a little on edge, though most people are just shrugging it off. I'm dealing by evaluating my life. I'm a freshman in high school, I have an opportunity to reinvent my self. Not just change my look but stop playing the stuck-up brat and find out who I really am!
I glance over at the table Ginger and her friends are siting at, Ginger seems to be feeling the bad vibes as much as I am. I look over at the 'jock table' and see some cheerleader with Ginger's boyfriend, "hmm, why do I get the feeling that's a bad day waiting to happen" I think out-loud.
(Narrative)
Courtney glanced over at Mipsy then back at Miranda who was getting up to leave, "I'm going to the bathroom…" she muttered when she saw Courtney move to follow. Courtney watched Miranda walk out the double-doors of the cafeteria with a slightly hurt expression, Miranda's tone had been a little harsher then usual. Courtney gave each girl at her table a passing glance, noting that they where all engaged in idle chit-chat except for Mipsy who seemed to be lost in thought. Courtney groaned quietly as she looked over at Ginger's table, Ginger and her friends didn't seem to be having any real conversation so she decided that now was as good a time as any to speak with Ginger.
Courtney hesitated before standing up and walking over to Ginger, "hello Ginger…Dodie…Macie, how are you all?" she said as sincerely as she could. Ginger gave Courtney a confused look, "ah, hi Courtney. Are you feeling alright you look a little tired?" Ginger asked, "well actually I was wondering if I could talk to you about that Ginger…in privet?" Courtney responded.
Ginger glanced at Dodie and Macie who indicated that they didn't mind if Ginger left, "sure Courtney, ah where?" Ginger asked, slightly confused as to why Courtney would want to discuss her trouble sleeping with her, in privet no less.
Meanwhile, Miranda splashed a hand full of cold water onto her face and examined herself in the mirror. She leaned on the sink and glared close to the mirror, her reflection suddenly flashing a wide sharp-toothed grin at her, 'miss me?' the reflection asked playfully. Miranda fell back with surprise, "wh-what do you want?" Miranda demanded as she picked herself up.
The reflection chuckled lightly, 'my eyes, I wanted to show off my latest…development! So, what do you think?' She asked, pointing to her eyes. Miranda considered the reflection's eyes, the whites had changed to a dark green and the irises and pupils where blood red, "the green clashes with you skin-tone a little and red? Come on, that's sooo over done" Miranda said snidely. The reflection scowled at her, 'nice try Miranda, but you can't keep secrets from me. I now I'm getting to you and you're just putting up a tough front! It's kind of sad, all that posturing is what pushed Courtney away from you…not that you care!' she stated mockingly.
Miranda growled, "that maybe true but Courtney stuck by me and I'm going to be a better friend than I've ever been!" Miranda snarled. The reflection scoffed, 'better friend then you've ever been? Like that's hard! Besides, it's too late you've already forced her out for good! As we speak she's already looking for a new friend and I think she found her!' The reflection's grin grow slightly as Miranda forced back a tear.
Miranda choked back a sob as she glared at the twisted image of herself; "YOU'RE LYING! Courtney would never abandon me, she's my best friend…forever!" Miranda screamed as she through herself into one of the stalls. She slammed the door closed and curled her legs into her chest as she sat on the seat, "it's not true…it's not" she whispered to herself as she rested her head on her knees and covered her ears.
Five minutes had past when Miranda heard Ginger's voice; "well all the stalls are empty. I guess this isn't the most privet place in the world to talk. But hey, at leased where guaranteed that half the student body won't bother us" Ginger said to whom ever else was with her, a slightly forced chortle told Miranda it was Courtney. Miranda cracked the door open and listened quietly to Ginger and Courtney's conversation, "sigh, I don't exactly know where to start…you see I've been having trouble sleeping because, I have this crush on someone. Now I know a crush isn't exactly a big deal but you see it's not a conventional crush. That is to say…I have a crush on another girl!" Courtney blurted out her explanation and braced herself for Ginger's reaction.
Ginger cleared her throat uncomfortably, pausing for a moment to take in the situation, "Courtney I…" she hesitated. Ginger's expression softened slightly, "…it's nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. I want you to know how honoured I am that I'm the first person you've told" Ginger rested her hand on Courtney's shoulder reassuringly. Ginger smiled "I think I know who this girl is and I think she feels the same way" Ginger said softly.
Courtney through her arms around Ginger and rested her head gently against hers, "thank you Ginger! I feel so much better now, getting that of my chest. Oh look at me, getting all emotional" Courtney said as she let Ginger go and wiped a tear from her eye. Ginger smiled warmly at Courtney, "it's ok. Listen, I'll keep this between us" Ginger stated, "I trust you Ginger" Courtney replied as they both walked out of the bathroom.
Miranda opened the door of the stall and fell to the floor on all fours, "Ginger and Courtney? It can't be…it can't be" she sobbed, desperately trying not to cry. Miranda forced herself to stand up and looked at the mirror, 'your best friend and the girl you love? Hmm, that's gotta sting! Look at you, so proud, so dignified in the face of such a crushing blow. Tell me, when you're all alone and when not even I'm with you…will you let yourself cry then?' the reflection taunted. Miranda took a deep breath and exhaled shakily, "former best friend…" she stated sternly before walking purposefully away.
Meanwhile, Carl and Hoodsy sat eating their lunges between plotting to reclaim their property, "…so why can't we just sneak into his tree house and swipe the eye?" Hoodsy asked. Carl sighed, "because Hoods, as hard as it is to believe, Blake isn't a complete moron! The tree house is the last place he'd hide it! No, I have a feeling young Mr Gripling is going to make us work for our prize, and besides we're not swiping anything…where reacquiring seized goods" Carl explained.