Title: The World through the Eyes of A Basket Case
Author: TWBasketcase
A/N: Just like to say thanks to everyone who reviewed…and thanks for leaving me stranded at 99 reviews…that was very nice…thank you…JERKS! LOL j/k I love you! Anyways, this chapter is probably more of a filler to keep the plot going. So I hope you enjoy it anyway and feel free to let me know your thoughts.
Chapter 21 – The Race Begins
The past week has been a little more relaxing for me as I've been able to spend a little more time alone and think over everything. I'm still not too hot on having my dad getting hitched to his air head woman; her and her devil children have been spending a lot of time at our place lately and I'm not liking this new family thing one bit. So I've gone back to drawing a lot again and thinking about getting a job just to get out of the house a little more. Claire had come over to hang out for a while and took a peak at my sketch book; now I'm officially the poster designer for Michelle's prom queen campaign. So here I am sitting in Claire's large bedroom on the floor drawing bubble letters and sketches.
Michelle grinned broadly, "This is looking so great so far, Ally…you're really talented."
"Thanks…I've been drawing a long time."
I glanced to Claire who was polishing her toenails, "What's up with you?"
She looked up at me and shrugged nonchalantly, "Nothing, I'm just wondering how Ashley's campaign is going."
Michelle rolled her eyes, "She is probably just snapping her fingers at everything with a penis around her to get it done," she paused and let out a small laugh, "like she would do anything herself."
Claire and I let out simultaneous laughs because it was so true; Ashley had everyone around her at her feet. I still don't understand why someone so mean and bitter could be so popular and 'attractive'. Funny how things work I guess.
Claire gave a shrug, "I don't know guys, she's getting really competitive; I wouldn't be surprised if she pulled all the stops to beat you, Mic."
Michelle rolled her eyes again, "It's just a stupid title though; I'm only doing it for fun. I've never ran for anything before so I figured I would give it a try…if I don't win it's not the end of the world. I wanna go and have fun with Brian and the rest of you and that's what matters."
I smiled at my friend; she really is a cool girl. I wonder how she was ever friends with Ashley in the first place…she is just a genuinely kind person, "So how have things been with you and Brian so far?"
She smiled and sat up excitably, "He is so cute!" Me and Claire chuckled, "Serious guys! We went on our date Friday and he was just so nervous and polite; I think that is the first time that I actually went out with a guy and felt relaxed…not so disturbed at them trying to get laid."
Claire rolled her eyes, "Brian is the last person in the world that would act that way! He really likes you and I am so happy that you guys hit it off."
Michelle blushed slightly and wiped a loose strand of brown hair from her forehead, "Yeah he is really excited about the prom too…what about you guys? Are you excited yet?"
I shrugged, "I got my dad's woman to buy my dress."
Claire widened her eyes, "How did you manage that? Or should I even ask…"
I gave her a crooked smile, "You should probably have a good idea…"
She laughed and put her nail file down and sat with us, "You and your damn head trips!"
The two girls laughed at me playfully but I just smirked as I continued to draw, "I got the dress though, didn't I?"
Michelle nodded, "Yes hun, I will give you that."
I let out a snort and looked at my posters; they were on purple and pink pieces of Bristol board. I had the words, 'Vote for Michelle Manning as your Prom Queen of 1984' scrawled down the middle in girly yellow bubble letters, there were vines with roses and thorns bordering the poster and stars dotting the I's. Behind the letters in the background I drew a picture of the Earth with different people around it joining hands as a signal of unification amongst the cliques. It was kinda of fazed out by the words but it still was visible. I smiled at my handiwork as I pushed the latest poster to the pile of the other finished ones. I glanced at my two friends who were still well into a conversation. I listened quietly and crossed my legs.
"So anyways I called John yesterday," Claire said thoughtfully with her brows furrowed, "We actually started out with a decent conversation."
I raised my eyebrows; that was definitely something nice to hear. Michelle gasped excitedly like a gossipy school girl – which she was but whatever, "So what happened?"
She blinked, "Well he was kinda surprised that I called but we made small talk. He seemed a little awkward though; kinda like he was asking himself 'what am I doing' or 'is this for real?' I tried to ignore it but then he accused me of beating around the bush."
I furrowed my brow; Michelle folded her arms, "What do you mean?"
She sighed over dramatically – a patented Claire sigh – and shook her head, "He said that I must have called because I wanted something. He said he was suspicious because I'm too stubborn to be calling just to make small talk." I remembered the conversation that I had with him last week and how he didn't know how to think about her anymore. He was just confused and hurt, not bitter.
I rolled my eyes, "Well you guys have been fighting for like two weeks now! I would have wondered what you were calling for…except I probably wouldn't have been as blunt…" I trailed off.
Claire shook me off and continued with her story, "Anyways, so I asked him if there was any problem with me calling and he said no. So I asked him why he was so quick to pass judgment and insult me while I wanted to say sorry…and then…"
Me and Michelle groaned loudly, "You got into an argument!" We both finished for her at the same time. She scoffed, "Well I tried didn't I?"
"This is getting so old…" I muttered under my breath.
She narrowed her eyes at me, "Well I'm sorry that things aren't as perfect as you and Andy!"
I rolled my eyes, "They aren't perfect Claire…he is moving to B.C. in like four months and Ashley is making it a huge thing that she had him first. There is always tension…we actually just care enough about each other to work around it. Besides, we are just a little less pig headed than the two of you!"
Claire rolled his eyes, "Well fuck, every time we are in the same room things blow up!"
"I wonder why…"
"End of conversation…" Claire held up a hand in the air and pursed her lips together in a thin line. Michelle and I just rolled our eyes and finished up the posters. She was adding little stickers around the letters and I finished up the last few lines. When we completed the final one we both broke out in triumphant smiles.
"Let me see," Claire said.
I held up the poster and she formed a huge grin, "Let the games begin!"
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I walked through the hallways towards Michelle's locker the next day. She was already there waiting for me with Claire and Brian. They all gave me a wave as I approached; Andy was training for the day; his big meet was in less than three weeks and his dad was starting to crack down on him hard, and John, well it was school and it wasn't a rare occasion if he didn't show up.
"Hey Allison!" Brian greeted, "Let me see the posters!"
I handed them to him and watched as he analyzed them with bright eyes and an approving grin, "Good job!" he complimented.
"Thanks…now what do you say we get these things up…"
The others nodded and we started to tape them to walls and our lockers. We were working on our second hallway when we saw Ashley at the other end with one of her friends, Jack, and Greg. She appeared to be hanging up her posters as well; well it was more like Ashley was barking orders and they were hanging them up for her.
"And it starts again…" Claire sighed.
"Just ignore them," Michelle ordered gently, "No sense in starting anything."
Me and Brian let out simultaneous snorts and snickered, "As if that would happen!"
She shook her head at our antics and continued picking out good places for her 'campaign ads'. Ashley walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder, "Nice posters, this is a prom queen campaign not Amnesty International."
Michelle rolled her eyes, "And what do yours look like…a picture of your face up close with the words, 'vote for this spoiled princess to be your queen…well you better or I will fuck your life up!'?
She rolled her eyes, "Actually I did choose a very nice picture of me if I do say so myself, right Jack?"
He nodded his head unenthusiastically. I chuckled at his lack of passion and care.
"That's great, Ash…now why don't you let us get back to what we were doing…"
Ashley tossed her hair over her shoulder and shifted her weight to her other foot, "Why, you fear the competition?"
I glanced back to Michelle who was keeping her cool but just looked clearly annoyed, "No I do not fear the competition Ashley I'm just not looking for another confrontation."
"Why, didn't like the last one?" She gave me an evil grin. The last time we stood in front of her I got the worst mental image I had ever seen…and trust me that's saying a lot.
"You don't faze me at all Ashley," I replied to her nagging.
"You say that now, but next time you're going down his pants just remember…"
"Shut up!" Claire, Brian, and Michelle yelled covering their ears. They seemed horrified at the thought; I guess I give people scary mental images too! Ha!
I looked back at Ashley and shook my head, "Get over yourself."
She sneered and looked back to Michelle, "It's going to be a long month, guys. A long month of you guys trying so hard and then failing miserably when they announce my name as prom queen!" She squealed rather annoyingly at the thought.
Michelle shrugged, "Whatever, may the best lady win. I'll be focusing on having fun with my date and my friends."
Greg snorted from behind Ashley and Jack, "Who that dork?"
Michelle smiled, "yeah that dork, why not?"
He raked his hands through his dark hair and widened his equally dark eyes in disbelief, "Look at him! He's scrawny, weak, and…and…a nerd!" Brain shifted around nervously and glanced quickly back and forth between Michelle and her former beau.
Michelle folded her arms over her chest - not fazed at all -and shifted her weight, "Why are you jealous? Your girlfriend broke up with you and then started dating someone who is actually smart?"
His eye twitched slightly and he clenched his fists; his 6'2" figure tensing up completely, "No my girlfriend and I broke up and she fell back with the losers. I feel bad for her."
She smirked, "Well feel bad about this," she spun around and planted a long, passionate kiss on Brian. I let out a whistle as Claire burst out laughing. Ashley looked traumatized and Greg looked homicidal. She pulled away from Brian looking satisfied - Brian looking completely delusional - and looked at him with perfectly made up eye brows raised for a response. When all she got was a grunt she gave her former friends a nod and walked away with her arm through Brian's and continued down the hall to put up the rest ofher posters.
I looked at Claire who looked shocked out of her mind and I turned to Ashley and smirked, "My have the tables turned…who is the one standing here stunned and looking like an ass now?" With that I grabbed Claire's arm and we chased after our friends down the hallway.
TBC
A/N: Again sorry about the filler. Just wanna make a shout out to Billy Crazy, UnicornPammy, Ailcia, KushelKitten, Jenifer, Lazaefair, Bravewolf, Katydid7186, Santafelover, DragonBlade5, Moonjava, and all the rest of my faithful reviewers; Thanks all!
TWBasketcase