ABOVE THE INFLUENCE
11:18 A.M
"What's the point if we're holding someone hostage, and not asking for things?" Stephanie looks around at all of us. "You guys have all stupid demands. Think about what you really want."
Awkward pause.
"It's sure is cold in here. They should fix the windows." Ziggy puts a hand behind his back, trying to close the tarred cloth.
"That's a demand." Stephanie grins as she picks up a pen and paper. "What else?" She raises the pen toward the roof. "Fix the pipes, get textbooks… have a career day."
"Career day. We really need that, now our futures look so bright." Lynn mutters.
"Other schools have them." Lynn only rolls her eyes. Stephanie drops the pen. "If you have all the answers Lynn, what do you want?"
"Yeah what do you want?" Rivers glances up from his work.
"What I want has nothing to do with this school, 'cause I'll only be here for a few more months."
"Where you going?" I look up from a book I snatched off the shelf.
"Fat and sick okay." Getting up she slowly walks toward the bookcases. Stephanie and I look at each other knowingly. The boys look at each other with confusion.
"Lynn you can still get an education?" Stephanie calls after her. She spins around.
"What is it with you and education? Unlike you, I can't show my tits to the principle to get into a decent school." I crack up, as Lynn disappears into the bookshelves.
"What's so funny Gwen." Stephanie shoots me a look.
"She's right." I say shrugging.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what it means. It's not like I don't know about your "heart to heart" talks with Armstrong." Stephanie gawks at me. "Everyone knows you can be a slut sometimes." I sit down on a desk.
"Slut. At least I'm not a bitch."
"Heeeh. Cat fight." Rivers stares at us.
"Bitch. You're the whore." I get off the desk.
"I'll just pretend I never heard that." She turns her back to me.
"Go to hell." I wave my hand, and go in between the bookshelves. I see Lynn reading a book about pregnancy. I slid down the back of one of the shelves facing her. "You scared?"
"No. Not really. I was at first. Then thought of the better."
"Does it hurt?"
"Just the cramps. I'm guessing it will be worth it though." I give her a smile.
"Hey." Stephanie comes over and sits next to Lynn. She peeks down at the book. "Pregnancy huh?" I ignore her gaze as she glances from Lynn to me.
"You guys want to know something." Lynn asks as she closes the book. She doesn't wait for us to answer. "All I wanted was for him to kiss me…I never got it. Instead I got knocked up." Stephanie and I look down at our hands, then at her. "Why do you guys even notice me?" Stephanie and I look at each other. "Let me take a guess. It's cause I say rude remarks about you two." She looks at us, then gets up. "Maybe that's why your friends?"
"Lynn?" Stephanie sits up on her knees.
"Listen Princess, I'm sick of pretty girls looking down on a slag like me."
"Lynn I didn't-"
"Save it for someone that cares." Turning around, she heads back toward everyone else. An awkward silence comes between Stephanie and I as she disappears.
"What if she's right?' Stephanie focuses on her hands.
"Steph. I'm sorry. I was way out of line to say those things. I'm angry at myself, and took it out on you. Can you accept a my apology?"
"Yeah, if only ya can accept mine. I shouldn't keep buggin' about education."
"Nah, you shouldn't." I give a small laugh. "Truths." I hold out my hand.
"Truths." Shaking hands, we hear a blast of electric currents, then CNN.