Viva Forever
Chapter 2- Paige
I open my eyes to bright sun rays shining across my face. It's the beginning of another beautiful, and busy day. I sit up and stretch. I've been having a hard time sleeping, I can't stop thinking about University. I've promised my mother I'd make a perfect resume that will make it impossible for Banting to refuse my entrance. It's not like it really matters, because her bestest friend just happens to be the head admissions officer. I promised I'd do it anyway, because she expects the best from me. I expect the best from me.
The problem is, cheer leading isn't exactly a business related reference. I've spent all these years running the Spirit Squad, and only now do I worry about how worthless my time there was spent. Just great, isn't it? Those aren't the right kind of thoughts to start a morning off. I need to get my head into gear. I take a quick morning shower, letting a jolt of cold water bring me completely to my senses. I change into proper attire for the day, because everyday is a good day to look your best. I give myself a smile in my mirror. Yes, that's the image of Banting's newest acceptee. I have nothing to worry about, look at me. That makes me giggle a bit, I feel far more confident. I walk down the stairs.
My mother is getting ready to head off to work, my dad is already gone. She has breakfast made for me, so I sit down. It's an omlette with sausage, and a cup of coffee. Brain food, it'll give me a good start to the day. I have to figure something out with that resume. We've been at school for almost an entire week and I still haven't even started. I'm such a slacker sometimes.
"I talked to Elizabeth this morning." My mother says. Elizabeth is her friend, the one over at Banting. I know where she's going before she even get to the point. I knew it was going to come back and bite me in the derrier, typical. That feeling of confidence is fluttering away again.
"The resume is coming along great, mom." I assure her, "I'm going to have Mr. Simpson look over it today."
"Good." She says. I can tell she doesn't believe me, it's a warning. I've got to be perfect princess Paige, or I'll let everyone down. I can't let everyone down, that's clearly not an option. I'll get the resume done, and I'll figure out a way to make it even better than she or Mrs. Myers, Elizabeth expects. "She says she looks forward to reviewing it. You are going to make an excellent business woman my dear, I'm so proud of you."
I am going to make an excellent business woman. I'm going to be one of the best ad executives there ever was. My mom's an ad executive, she graduated from Banting. My dad's a Lawyer, he graduated from Standford. Dylan is the family odd-ball. Our parents have accounted his lack of true ambition to his sexuality. I don't exactly agree, I think Dylan just has talent for other things. I'm sure he'd slaughter my father at any sport. Dylan could give dad a tip or two on his wardrobe too. I miss having Dylan around all the time, he really balanced out my home-life.
The day at school is going by faster than I want it to. I'm only sort of paying attention in class, my mind is on more important matters. I've convinced Hazel to make up her resume with me, so she has a good chance at early acceptance as well. Sure, she isn't going to Banting, but she does want to go to University. All my friends do. College is very important to having a successful career in life. College is everything. That is why I need to get a head start and get this resume put together, and soon.
Marco hands me a folded piece of paper. He would normally tell me whatever it is in a whisper, this note passing thing is so Grade 2. I give him a look, letting him know how silly I think note passing is. Although, the last note that was past to me was from my boyfriend. He had good reason. I miss him more than I miss Dylan. I unfold the note, and read what he has to say.
Ashley is staying is London, she met a guy.
I feel sick. It's like a rock just landed in the pit of my stomach. I glance over my shoulder at Craig, who is right behind me. He's taking notes, or writing a song or whatever Craig does during class. He doesn't look upset. That must be the explanation of the immature note passing, Craig doesn't know. I know I wouldn't want to be the one to tell him. Luckily for me, it's not my job. I scribble a note back trying to express how appalling that is. So what if it's only four words long? It expresses enough.
That is so wrong.
Marco nods his agreement to me. Yeah. Ashley is a complete bitch. I've told people this, but no one listens to Paige. She's a known back-stabber, people have got to learn to guard against these things. See, I know Hazel is hovering with that knife right behind me, and that is why I don't tell her everything. I mean, look at what she did to me when she found out about Matt. Yet, she is still my best friend. That's because friends are very vital, a popular girl like me is no one with out a posse of friends to back her up. Did that sound shallow? Oh well, I keep losing my train fo thought. I have four years of Spirit Squad, one year at the theater concession stand, and an acting role in Kevin Smith's movie. That just doesn't seem like enough. This is business school here. What else can I add on?
Hazel and I planned to work on our resume building after school. Plans kind of change when you are informed that it's one of your friends birthday's. Hazel and I are getting the pitch from Ellie, who just inofrmed us about a suprise party at the Dot.
"Please be there Paige." Ellie is almost begging me. I can't help it that I'm busy, and that makes me unsure. I need to get this resume done. It is Craig's birthday though, and if there was ever a reason to procrastinate a little more, this is it. Hazel is leaving it up to me, like she usually does. She's waiting for me to agree. How can I not agree? It'll just have to be one more day before I have the resume ready. Friends are more important than deadlines that aren't really deadlines anyway.
"The Dot, in two hours. We'll be there" I say with a smile. She visibly sighs with relief. She is very uptight about something, I think Ellie here has the hots for the music man. He is so not my type, but I guess I can see where the attraction could be. Maybe. Especially for a girl who dated an obviously gay boy for over a year. Yeah. Ellie could use some help with the do's and don'ts of dating. She's Ashley's best friend, that's almost as wrong and Ash dumping Craig on his birthday. Wow, dumped on his birthday. He walks by and Ellie leaves us to go join up with him. She so has a thing for him, it couldn't be more obvious. He so knows too, he's such a flirt. They walk off smiling and joking with one another. He sure is taking the news well, he doesn't look upset at all.
"So it's true right? Ashley is staying in London?" Hazel asks me. I didn't tell her, but Hazel is more of a gossip queen than I am. That she knows doesn't suprise me in the least.
"Yeah. Dumped on his birthday, we so have to get him a gift." I say to her with a smirk. She grins back at me. We're on the same page. A little gift for Craig, a couple gifts for us. It's shopping time.
We go to the mall, I can always find the perfect gift at the mall. For Craig we find a moderately priced pen set. It's something universal, and I'm sure he doesn't already have one like it. Okay, I know not everyone appriciates pen sets as gifts, but I think it's a gift that shows how we're growing up in the world. Shows how we're graduating from adolescent teenagers to professionals, you know? Plus, everyone needs pens, you have to write with something. Hazel buys herself a new bracelet, and I find this spectacular pink scarf that I just have to have. We make all of our purchases, leaving us with a little less cash and a little more style.
On the way out I drop by the theater, I know Alex is on shift alone tonight. She looks bored out of her mind. I know I hate shifts alone, time can't drag any slower. What could it hurt to giver her a quick hello? That's what friends are for, they cheer ya up when you are down. I walk up to the counter, and she sees us coming.
"It can't be that bad" I tell her. She barks a laugh, followed by one of her typical sarcastic remarks. I roll my eyes at her, at least she's smiling now. I like to see Alex smile, it suits her far better than that grouchy Alex glower. Maybe she'll wear the smile for a while after we leave too.
"We're going to be late." Hazel reminds me. I know. Time is running short, and it's not like the Dot is right across the street or anything.
"You on shift tomorrow?" I ask Alex, ignoring Hazel.
"Yup." She shrugs. I wish I could stay and talk longer. I really want to, but I have somewhere to be. I have schedules to keep. I can tell her all about the Ashley and Craig gossip tomorrow when we're on shift together. I like to get her take on the gossip, it's so different, like down to earth and real. I don't really get that from anyone else in my life. I think it's because she's so cynical and angry. She does it in a tasteful way though, unlike Ellie. Ellie has that, what would you say? Angst? Alex is just telling it how she sees it. Who would have thought I'd prefer her take, and her advice, over my best-friends. Life is so weird like that, you find friends in the strangest people and places.