Chapter 3: Meet the Cliques
"Who are you!" a boy around Rachel's age asked. He was tall, slender, and his hair was a light red fixed into a very cool hairstyle. He was wearing a green polo and baggy jeans. Rachel cocked an eyebrow.
"That's for me to know and you to find out", she said in her monotone voice. From the way Jenna described everyone, she knew this had to be Roy. Richard and Victor were right behind him, naturally. Though, Rachel expected Richard to be in the front.
"Hey! You're that girl on the phone! Ronnie!" Roy yelled.
"Right. Actually, it's Rachel and let me guess. It's the three dimwit cronies…Richard Grayson, Roy Daniels, and Vic Stone", she muttered.
"How'd you know that!" Richard asked, finally stepping to the front before his posse.
"I have my sources", Rachel said.
"Who told you?" Roy asked.
"A friend…hopefully the only friend I'll be making this year. From what I've seen, I don't want to make any more friends", Rachel said and smirked.
"Well, it's not like anyone would want to be your friend anyways!" Roy shouted.
"Rachel Roth, huh? You know who rules this school and stuff, right? Jenna told you, I expect", Vic said. It was sort of awkward to hear him talk since he kept quiet on both the phone and here. Unlike those two dweebs, he was dressed in a jockey and black sweatpants. By his figure, you could tell his was built.
"Yeah. She did", Rachel said.
"Well, then. That settles that. You know not to mess with us…or any of the girls", Roy said.
"Exactly", Richard added. 'Some leader of his pack', Rachel thought and rolled her eyes.
"VIC! HEY! HEY, VIC!" shouted a voice. All three boys rolled their eyes.
"Hi, Garfield", Vic muttered.
"Dude! You mean Gar! So, what's chillin' dudes! Oh! And dudette!" Gar said happily. Rachel could tell he was a nice guy. He wanted to fit in and he was totally annoying. He also tried to be hilarious…which he wasn't…well, maybe…she didn't know and she didn't intend to stick around with these dorks to find out.
"Listen, you little pipsqueak. We only put up with you cause you're Vic's old friend and you're in our grade. Otherwise you'd be way gone", Roy said. Gar frowned.
"Oh…uh…I'll see you later, then…" Gar said walking off. Rachel glared at the boys and went after Gar.
"Hey, you", Rachel said.
Gar pointed his finger at himself, wide-eyed, as if asking 'Me?'
"Yeah. I'm talking to you. What's their deal with you? How come they ignore you?" Rachel asked.
"I dunno. DUDE! LOOK AT THAT RIDE! IT'S SO COOL!" Gar yelled. He held his red cap on the top of his head. He was wearing a skater outfit: A green AC/DC shirt and tan cargo pants.
"You have a short attention span, don't you?" Rachel muttered.
"No! I'm just—have you ever seen Saturday Night Live?" he asked smiling.
"Thought so", she said and started to walk off.
"Wait! I'm all alone and really bored and if I stay by myself, Roy and Richard will pull my underwear UP MY BUTT!" Gar shouted nervously waving his hands frantically in the air. Rachel put her hand on his shoulder.
"Alright. Just on one condition", Rachel said, "You can't tell anyone that I hung out with you at midnight on a Sunday".
Gar looked confused, but smiled and nodded.
"Oh…and please lose the energy", Rachel said.
"Don't worry, Rae. I'm cool. I'm groooovy", he said and winked at her. She rolled her eyes as he blabbed on about a ton of video games and stupid movies.
The next morning Rachel woke up to find herself back in her room. She didn't know how she got there but she did. Jenna was standing over her.
"Hello, Rachel", she said and smiled.
"Ugh…I'm going back to sleep", Rachel said.
"I wouldn't. If you're not in class, Mr. Don comes around and dumps water on your head. It's annoying. That stupid, sickly money", Jenna muttered.
"Nice. But I wouldn't mind a bit of water. It won't bother me", Rachel said.
"Did I mention it's a HOSE he brings around?" Jenna said smirking. Rachel groaned and jumped out of bed.
"So, how was your date last night?" Jenna asked. Rachel froze.
"Date?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah! Gar came by and dropped you off. He said you fell asleep in his room after he was talking to you about space aliens or something", Jenna said.
"It wasn't a date. I was merely keeping him company", Rachel muttered.
"Right, Rach. Well, don't worry, I won't tell anyone anyways. Get dressed soon. We have to report to the Hall for breakfast. We have ten minutes until we have to be there. See ya then", Jenna said and walked out the door.
"I am going to kill Gar", Rachel said.
Suddenly, she heard someone knocking on their door.
"Who is it?" Rachel asked.
"IT IS KORI ANDERS! I AM HERE BECAUSE YOU HAD INVITED BOTH KAREN AND I TO ATTEND THE BUCKS OF STARS WITH YOU THIS MORNING!" Kori shouted.
"YO, RACHEL! GET YO BUTT OUTTA YO BED! COME ON, GIRL!" Karen screamed. Rachel moaned. Her friends were the most annoying people ever—hang on. Did she just say friends? Oh boy…
"I'll be right there", Rachel said through the door.
"YOU BETTA BE!" Karen shouted and both she and Kori began giggling.
Rachel slipped on her black shirt, her gray shorts, her blue sweatshirt, and her black sneakers. She grabbed her navy blue book bag, shoved everything she needed into it, and walked out the door. Her first reaction, in her head, was WOAH. She knew what Jenna was talking about. Kori was so pretty. No wonder Richard liked her. She had shoulder length scarlet red hair, bright emerald green glittering eyes, and smooth tan skin. She also had a beautiful smile.
"New friend Rachel, it is GLORIOUS to see you!" Kori exclaimed and gave Rachel a huge hug.
"Ow…" Rachel muttered.
"Hey, Rae! What's goin on? Ya ready for Starbucks?" Karen asked.
"Actually…I thought we were supposed to go to the Hall", Rachel muttered.
"Yes, we are supposed to report to the Hall in which we dine for our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Although, friend Rachel, afterwards we are able to fulfill our desires and attend any place we wish for approximately forty minutes. Therefore, we shall go to the Hall and then focus our thoughts on the glories of hot chocolates and steaming coffees of beans!" Kori said quickly. Rachel and Karen both stared at her.
"I am also new here. I read the manual fifty two times", Kori said and blushed.
"And where do you come from?" Rachel asked.
"The—er—country of Tamaran! It is a wonderful place where many different assortments grow and we have our own native language: Tamaranian!" Kori said, jumping up and down.
"Right. I'm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You?" Rachel asked Karen.
"I'm from here. NYC, baby! That's where it's at!" Karen said and smiled.
"This 'NYC'…it must be some sort of code I am unaware of", Kori whispered.
"Uh, no, Kori…it's a city…New York City", Karen said.
"Oh…NEW YORK CITY! This is fun to exclaim! It is a sort of word that rolls off of the tongue muscle!" Kori said.
"Mmhmm…you think that, Kor, and it might just come true", Karen said and looked at her strangely.
"DUDE! RAE!" a voice shouted. It was none other than Gar Logan, Rachel's own personal stalker.
"Hello, Garfield! It is wonderful to see you!" Kori shouted.
"Right…who is this chick?" Gar asked Rachel.
"Kori…meet Gar Logan. Gar…meet Kori Anders", she said.
"DUDE! YOU'RE KATIE'S SISTER!" Gar shouted.
"No…really?" Karen said sarcastically.
"Hey, Karen! Wassup!" Gar asked.
"Nothin…What's up with you?" Karen asked.
"Nothin but the ceiling, baby!" Gar said.
"I have also known that the ceiling is above us! Please, friend Gar! Tell us more!" Kori asked excitedly.
"Uh…the walls are around us?" Gar said sort of confused.
"I HAVE ALSO KNOWN! MORE!" Kori shouted.
"The floor is beneath us and in our ears. Come on, let's go", Rachel muttered and they began to walk off.
"I had no idea that there were floors inside of our ears! You are truly the 'cool', Rachel!" Kori said.
"I was being sarcastic, Kori", Rachel said.
"Sar-cast-ik…it is a silly word!" Kori said and giggled.
Rachel sighed. Long, long day ahead of her.
"Yo, Roth goth!" a boy shouted.
"Great…just my luck", Rachel muttered.
"Who's your friends? Didn't know you hung out with losers!" Roy said and most students around them snickered.
"In my opinion, I'm not the one hanging around with losers", Rachel said and they hear 'oohs!' and 'eeps!'.
"Smooth, Roth. You know you're a loser", Richard said and smirked.
"Although, Richard, I think friend Rachel is correct. I don't think 'losers' get straight A's or are kind to others unlike you and your friends", Kori said. She gave them (more to Richard, though) a 'Hmph!', crossed her arms across her chest, and walked off.
"Kori! Wait! Listen, I didn't mean it that way! Kori!" Richard called and ran after her.
"RICHARD! SHE DOESN'T DESERVE AN APOLOGY, MAN!" Roy yelled.
"So true, Roy Roy", a blonde said, smiling evilly.
"Hey, Kitters", Roy said and smiled.
"Where's Richie poo?" Kitten asked.
"He's running after that Kori Anders. No offense to you, Kates", Roy said as Katie walked up next to Kitten along with Tara.
"No offense taken, Roy. Um…what are you geeks doing?" Katie said and made a face as if they were covered in dog crap.
"Uh…we were just leaving. Sorry! Bye!" Karen said grabbing Gar and Rachel, but Rachel wouldn't move. She stood her ground and glared at Katie. Katie sort of backed down.
"You must be Kori's older sister…Katherine", Rachel said.
"It's Miss Katie to you, goth", Katie said.
"Don't think so", Gar said heroically. Rachel couldn't help it. She rolled her eyes.
"Look, Roth! You got yourself a boyfriend!" Roy said. You could hear a ton of snickers around the room.
"Roth? That's your name?" Tara asked. She laughed.
"Pa-thetic", Kitten said.
"It's Rachel Roth. His name is Gar Logan and her name is Karen Beecher. There's also Kori Anders and Jenna Smith. They're my friends. Something you'll never be", Rachel said.
"Thanks, but no thanks! We'd never be friends with you dorks anyways", Tara said but Kitten was suddenly serious.
"You're friends with Jenna Smith?" Kitten muttered.
"Best friends", Rachel said just to bother her more.
"She said she'd never be friends with anyone ever again…" Kitten whispered.
"Well she is", Karen said, suddenly brave enough to speak.
"Later", Gar said and dragged the two girls away.
"That was AWESOME!" Gar shouted.
"Yeah! No one has ever stood up to Kitten and her gang ever before…other than Jenna, I guess…", Karen said.
"Well, I just did", Rachel said.
"OH MY GOSH! WE ARE SO LATE FOR THE HALL MEETING! DUDE! WE ARE SO TOAST!" Gar shouted.
"We ain't that late, Gar. Just enter in casually and—", Karen opens doors to see that Principal is talking. He stops to let them come in.
"Get embarrassed in front of the entire school", Karen whispered.