"Erica. Hey." said Paige.
Erica was at her locker waiting for J.T. to arrive. Drinking a bottle of Faygo. "Hey Paige. Whats' up?"
"Nothing. I never got the chance to thankyou. For the song you wrote. It's alot better than the song that Ash wrote. And I also wanted to say congrats on making the band."
"Thanks. It's going to be fun joining a band. And even better now that Dean isn't part of it anymore."
"Yeah, thats what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm taking Dean to court. And whether the jury believes me or not. I'm going to fight till the end and Dean will pay for what he did to me."
Erica gives Paige a hug." I am so proud of you Paige. I wish you the best of luck."
"thanks."
After Paige left Erica at her locker waiting for J.T. Emma arrived there and leaned on the locker next to Erica, and said. "These past two weeks has been a wee bit too dramatic."
"Tell me about it." Erica replied. "I say we go partying tonight. We should go to a rave."
"Why don't we just go to The Exotic Rose. Chris premiers tonight."
"So, Liberty did give him that job. That's good. Are we going for casual or rave glam?"
"Casual. Looky, it's J.T. himself."
"Erica, I wish you would quit stealing my clothes when you comeover." said J.T.
"Well good morning to you too." she hugs him. "And besides, if you would quit rushing me up to your room everytime I come over, I wouldn't steal stuff out of it."
"Hey, J.T. are you coming with us to The Exotic Rose. Chris starts DJing today. It's going to be his first day." said Emma, she seemed to be promoting his appearance.
"sure. You going Erica?" replied J.T.
"Yeah. And this time you are going to dance." replied Erica, slapping his butt
They went to class, as soon as Erica walked in, she saw Michael. She nodded and went to her seat. Meanwhile...
"Erica, got the part in the band." said Ellie. "That's amazing. I hate the fact that I missed her performance. I heard it was phenominal in a revenge sort of way."
"It was. SHe pissed Dean off. He wanted to hit her." said Ashley. "He was like 'you little bitch, I should slap you' and she said 'go ahead. It can't be any worse than raping someone'. It was amazingly brilliant."
"That Erica has alot of balls to do that. So, you going to The Exotic Rose, tonight?"
"Yeah. Emma wants alot of people to go because it's Chris' premier."
"Interesting. I'll be there."
Manny passed a note to Erica:
"hey. whats up?"
"What do you want, Manny?"
"I wanted to know if you are going to be at The Exotic Rose tonight."
"Yes. Why?"
"No reason, I was just wondering. I guess I'll be seeing you there."
"What are you trying to plan?"
"Well, I still hate you. And I know I'm better than you. We should have a dance-off."
Erica mumbled under her breath 'you've got to be fucking kidding me' but she wrote back ."Let me think about it."
After class. Erica started joking around about how Manny wants to have a dance off with Erica at the Exotic Rose tonight. Erica was going to decline until she thought, 'why not. I only have one life to live. And it'll be a great laugh.' After school Erica walked home by herself, when Michael caught up to her. She told him if whatever he had to say didn't have to do with the band, she didn't want to talk to him. He asked why. Erica said because everytime they talked, you always ended up making out with me. He said thats not true. Erica seemed to disagree with Michael. Then she asked when was rehearsal or whatever. He said every tuesday and thursday. Erica nodded and went into her house.
"Father! It's me! Erica! Do you remember me? Your one and only child!" she said jokingly
"Erica, quit being an ass." said her dad
"oh well my school day was great thank you."
"any plans tonight?"
"Exotic Rose. Why?"
"You don't go to Raves anymore?"
"Yeah, sometimes. It's just that Chris has his debut tonight and me and Emma and Spinner and J.T. and a whole shitload of other people are going to be there."
"Oh. And you're part of a band now."
"The Automatics. Indeed. I'm going to dye my hair with multi colors. Do you mind?"
"Nope. Not at all. And I just wanted you to know that I got you a job as a bust boy at The Dot Grill. You have an interview tomorrow."
"What? I'm only 14. WHy do I need a job?"
"You'll be 15 in two weeks. You will need a job, instead of partying all the time."
"I'm going upstairs to download music illegally while listening to The Secret Machines, knock if you need me."
"okay."
Erica really wasn't downloading music illegaly, she was listening to The Secret Machines, another band Toby suggested, but she was choosing out what to wear. Then Emma called. Telling Erica hse would not believe who just stopped by. Erica asked who. SHe said Liberty herself.
"you kidding me?" said Erica. "What did she want?"
"She wanted to know where you lived."
"And you gave her my address!"
"Yeah... But I think she wants to know what to wear to Exotic Rose."
"Fine. are you going to come over also?"
"In a few."
"Okay. Got to go."
While Erica was getting ready and dancing all around her room to the Secret Machines, Manny, Hazel, Lily and Candy were listening to the NOW 16 cd while having some pore tighting mask on, getting ready for Exotic Rose. Even though it was about 6 hours or so until it would be open. Manny mentions the fact that the only reason why Erica got the lead singing deal was because she lived right next door. Hazel suggested that Michael probably has this huge crush on her. They all seemed to agree on that theory. Then Manny started singing along to Jessica Simpsons cover of Berlins 'Take My Breath Away'. She sounded really good. But nothing compared to Jessica Simpson.
Part 37....) There's a sound of a doorbell ring, it's Erica's doorbell which plays Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze, her dad chose it out himself. He's obsessed. Anyway, Erica hops down the steps and there stands Liberty herself, still in her professional clothes, with a bag in one hand and a make-up case in the other.
"Emma said I would be able to find you here." said Liberty
"Wow. Out of all the places, she's good. Didn't expect you to find me here. In my own house." Erica replied sarcastically
"ha ha very funny, are you going to help me or not?"
that's when her dad yelled into the living room. "who was at the door, Erica?"
Erica yelled louder than neccessary. "LIBERTY. SHE WANTS ME TO HELP HER GET READY FOR THE EXOTIC ROSE! DID YOU KNOW THAT HER MOM FOUNDED IT?"
"Okay Erica. No need to yell." he mumbled something about driving him insane sometimes as Erica showed Liberty to her 'office'. When they got to her door. Liberty asked who the guy was on her door. Erica just stared at Liberty as if she were the dumbest person ever and told her that it was Jim Morrison of the Doors. When they went inside Liberty asked what Erica was listening too. Erica told her the Secret Machines, and that if Liberty asked any more questions she was going to go crazy. Liberty sat down in a chair and started pulling out three different outfits. Erica just stared at these clothes.
"What the fuck is that?" she asked
"clothes. I don't know what to wear and thought you could help me." replied Liberty shy-like
"You're shitting me right. You going to a club or to a teen council meeting?
"uhm. A club"
"Well then, these clothes won't do." Erica picks a plaid looking skirt containg the colors blue, green and purple. "But this will. And I have the perfect shirt for you"
That's when the doorbell rang again. Every since they got that doorbell last week, It's been bugging the hell out of her. She loves Jimi Hendrix, sure, but all of a sudden everyone is coming around and the next thing you hear is Purple Haze.
Anyway, It was Emma at the door Emma came upstairs and said hey to everyone, she asked who Erica was listening to, Erica told her the Secret Machines.
"Hey, Emma." said Liberty.
"Hey Liberty, Erica helping you choose out an outfit?" replied Emma
"Yeah, she only approved of that skirt in her hand."
"Only because I gots purple chucks to go with it. Just have to find that Gorillaz shirt. It's green. But trust me, your outfit will clash, okay?" said Erica
"Okay, fine. Let's get this over with already."
Erica searches her closet for her Gorillaz shirt. The shirt is green with white lettering in their custom font. While looking through her closet, Emma is looking for the purple chucks in Erica's shoe box, Liberty is just sitting their all innocent looking and confused, When Michael throws something at Erica's window.
"Did you just throw a Faygo bottle cap at my window?" asked Erica
"Yeah, I wanted to tell you that we got a new guitarist, her name is Theodora, she's my step-sister... my newly found step-sister." Michael replied
"You're mom's engaged?"
"Yup. But not the point... What are you doing?"
"Getting ready for Exotic Rose. And helping Libbie choose out an outfit. Are you going to go?"
"You'll see. Rehearsal's Tuesday afterschool."
"Yeah. okay then."
SHe went back to her scavenger hunt, and finally found the Gorillaz shirt. She gave it to Liberty and told her that we are going to have to straighten out her hair. Emma said she would straighten out her hair while Erica did her make-up. Liberty asked if Erica was such a tomboy, how did she know how to put on make-up and do all this girly stuff. Erica simply just said Rave buddies. Erica's raves buddies taught Erica how to do her make-up and how to match colors together and such, although Erica doesn't dress like that all the time, and just wears whatever she wants whether it matches or not. She feels that she can primp herself up once every two blue moons.
The phone rang and it was J.T. stating that he was going to meet Erica at the Exotic Rose. Erica said okay and got back to what she was doing, Liberty asked if she was going to have to wear contacts, Erica replied with a simple no. Liberty let out a sigh for her relief. When Emma was finally done straightening Liberty's hair, she pulled half of it back into a pony tail and told Liberty to look in the mirror.
Within just 1 hour and 22 minutes, Liberty looked great.
Manny and company just washed of their pore tightening mask and are dressed, They are all standing infront of the mirror doing their hair and make-up.
"Wonder who's all going to be their." said Lily
"People from our school." said Manny. "But alot of people are going this weekend because it's Chris' premeir weekend."
"What about your dance-off with Erica?" said Hazel. "Do you have some pacific dance moves or is it all going to be improvise."
"Improvise, most likely. I just don't practice dance moves."
"Tonight is going to be so much fun" screamed Roxanne
Erica, Liberty and Emma are just hanging out now. Basically saying how dance-offs are stupid. Erica said she's just doing it for the laugh and might even let Manny win just to satisfy her tastebuds. The time arrived and they headed their way to The Exotic Rose.