Hi, hello, how are you all? Hope everyone is enjoying their summer (which, have I mentioned, I'm not particularly fond of?) and their vacations and their breaks and seasonal flings and all such loveliness. I know this story doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but I actually do have a plot for it and hopefully it will begin to make itself known within this chapter. I have actually been trying to make subtle hints throughout, so maybe when it's over you will reread it and say, "oh, that's what she meant! What a CrAzY girl that kelly is!" Well now, enough of my random babbling, and on with the show. Or story. You know what I mean.
Disclaimer: Uh-uh.
Read, enjoy, review...in that exact order.
Big, fat fucking drops of rain, plopping out of the sky and spattering against my window.
Big rolling crashes of thunder, exploding in the distance and carrying all the way over to me in my bedroom.
Big flashes of lighting, illuminating the blackness and completely ruling out any possibility of getting out and going swimming.
Stupid gosh-darned weather.
My nose is pressed up against the water-streaked glass of my bedroom window and I am staring out into the pitch-blackness of the night sky. Presently, I am feeling A: quite sorry for myself, B: disgusted with myself for feeling quite so sorry for myself, and C: like I really have to pee, but am much too busy moping to get up and go to the bathroom. I know that one of these problems is quite easily solved, but I don't want to and I can't help it, it's all that water.
Stupid, fucking water.
You see, I really do like the rain, as totally emo and cliché as that may seem. Truly, I do, but the thing is that Craig and I always go swimming on Tuesdays after group lets out and on Thursdays when Joey takes Angie out for a late-night father-daughter movie. It's an unspoken tradition of ours that for some reason I have come to look forward to with nervous anticipation throughout the week. But here it is, a Thursday night and I'm cooped up in the Nash residence, surrounded by water, but not the right kind. Water that makes me have to pee, water that won't let me swim, and water that I know the earth desperately needs for things to grow and all that logical shit, but that's not the point. The point is that I hate Mother Nature with the utmost possible abhorrence.
Skank-ass bitch.
Because it's her fault that I am sitting here, inside, with my nose pressed up against the glass, sulking like pre-homosexual Paige Michaelchuck after some pretty boy denied one of her demands. I'm horribly bored of the sight of the four walls of my room, but I'm far too scared to step out of their safety. Downstairs, my mom is scrubbing the guest bathroom to a ridiculous sheen in order to keep her mind off of how badly she wants, needs, has to have some liquor in her system. Given the alternative, I'm happy about it, really... but I also know that if I dare to venture anywhere near her she will enlist me to scrub the toilet with a toothbrush or something equally absurd. Moping sucks, but cleaning is worse. I think I'll stay up here.
But evidentially, Mom has other plans.
"Eleanor!"
I groan like a spoiled toddler, and slump down onto my bed, pulling the rumpled covers up around my chin.
"Noooo!" I plead, dreading what cleaning duties she no doubt had in store for me. She's been in a polishing mood lately, and Pledge is definitely not my friend. Better make up something quick. "I'm too sick mom, I feel horrible."
She either didn't feel any sort of maternal sympathy for me, or saw right through my pitiful faking, because soon I heard footsteps making their way up the staircase to my room.
"Mom, please, no. I'm cramping really, really bad."
The footsteps hesitated, then resumed. This flooded me with a rush of encouragement, and I started up again.
"Ahhh! It hurts so bad! My poor uterus! Would you please go to the store and get some midol and tampons for me?"
The footsteps stopped at my door, and anticipating her entrance, I curled up in a ball and screwed up my face in a painful grimace. The door began to open slowly, and I let out a mournful whine.
"Ooohhh-Craig?"
The brunette boy eyed me cautiously with a look halfway between disgust and bemusement.
"Hey Elle, your mom let me in. She tried to call you, but obviously, you were in way too much agony to respond. "
"Shut up."
"It's okay, you don't have to be ashamed of the natural cycle of you body. Now about those tampons, did you want regular or super?"
A pillow smacked him in the face and honestly, I have no idea where it came from. Oh yeah, behind my head. Oops, sorry accident. Blame it on my hormonal imbalance.
"Seriously Craig, eww. Don't ever talk about my period again, it's revolting. And just so you know, not that it's any of your business of course, but I was faking."
"Yeah, I kinda figured you were making excuses to get out of something after you mom answered the door smelling like bleach and clutching a dirty toothbrush."
I grimaced at the toothbrush comment. That lady is crazy, but better her than I.
"What are you doing at my house anyway Manning? If you hadn't noticed, it's raining today, so no can do on the swimming."
"Aww, come on, the rain's the rain, some air would be good for you!"
"Yep, and so would be getting struck by lightening in the middle of the night while trespassing. I can hear the eulogy now..."
"Do you think of everything in terms of death?"
"Do you think of everything in terms of sex?"
"I didn't say anything at all about sex!"
"Sure...But why would you have gotten all flustered when I asked you about it unless it was true?"
"Think whatever you want to little girl, but I am about to head over to the Dot, and being the true gentleman I am, I though I would ask you to come along. However, if you continue to berate me in such a way I just may have to retract my offer."
"Oh yes, because without Craig Manning my life would have no meaning."
"So that's a no?"
"Give me a second, I have to pee."
His car stunk from the rain, like stale air and moldy carpet, but it was dry and warm and the music was loud so I can't complain. The old sedan wasn't his own, though, just a loan from Joey's lot because of the storm. I made fun of the fact that out of every car in inventory, he for some unknown reason had to make this selection, but he only retorted with a rude comment about my little performance earlier, so we both spent the rest of the ride in comfortable silence just listening to the music and watching the rain. Well, he watched the road too (at least I hope).
The Dot was crowded, as seemingly every kid still in town for the summer had decided to come inside to seek shelter from the onslaught of the rain. Well, that and let's face it, this is Degrassi and it's not as if there is any place else to go. No place except for forbidden pools. Ugh, I don't think I have ever felt such a vengeance for the forces of nature before. We got our drinks, (two coffee's, black,) and chose a table near the back of the place. I took a hesitant sip of from the paper cup, knowing for a fact that it would be too hot and, sure enough, burning my tongue in the process. As usual, my taste buds are now all swollen and I won't be able to enjoy the rest of my cup, but for some reason I never learn and I do it every time. Creature of habit I guess.
"Ridiculous how much I look forward to these nights you know," Craig began, staring absentmindedly out the windows as I continued to take scalding sips, "I got so pissed when I saw that I was raining, that I think Joey was afraid I was having a bipolar episode."
I smiled sweetly, setting down the steaming cup and mentally chiding myself for not letting it cool.
"Aww, come on now Manning, let's not waste time blaming the rain. You know it's really just the pleasure of my company that you enjoy. Why else would you come crawling to my door in the rain?"
"Oh yeah, that's right! I totally forgot the part where I am now obsessed with you! Silly me...hey, I thought you were supposed to have low self-esteem or something? Because you're sounding pretty damn cocky to me right now."
"Shut up, you're the cocky one."
"Am not"
"Are you seriously going to try and start this? No, I am not going to dignify your childishness with a response." I told him, raising my nose in the air haughtily.
Hey Elle," his eyes were gleaming again as he changed the subject, "Your hair is curly."
I blushed. Deep, bright, burning red, from my neck to the tips of my ears. Ear's that were just covered with wisps of burnt orange curls. I'm not sure why I didn't straighten my hair after I got out of the shower this morning, but it certainly wasn't in any way due to Craig's comment a few weeks ago. Ha! Please, I just didn't want to take the time to mess with it is all. Really.
"Don't flatter yourself, my blow-dryer was broken." I snipped. The little voice that was my conscience hissed 'Liar,' at me, but I skillfully ignored it.
"Uh-huh, sure..."
"Manning, wipe that smirk off your face. You had nothing to do with the break-down of my hair drying electronics, I assure you."
"Ellie, let's not kid ourselves. Behind all the sour faces and screamo, you are secretly a girl." He drawled, pointing an accusing finger in my direction.
"Uh oh, you've found me out! How will-"
"Lemme finish here, okay lady? Now, as I was saying, you, Eleanor Nash, are a girl-(insert me scoffing and rolling my eyes)- and unbeknownst to the outside world, you like being complimented just like any girl does. Even if you do try to deflect such words of praise when they are offered in utmost sincerity by dashing young gentlemen, I know that deep down inside you a little redheaded girl is smiling."
Insert awkward pause where he smiles a little bit too widely and I raise my eyebrows.
"Umm, not gonna lie Craig, that was a little creepy."
"Just sayin' you look nice is all."
"Yeah, I'm sure. I think it's time to shut up now you jackass." I hissed at him before grabbing my cup and taking a burning gulp of coffee... but on the inside a little curly headed carrot top was running through sunflowers with a smile on her face.
Oh shit.
Hmm...(I left a little meaningless tidbit of something in there for y'all. If you know what it is I will love you forever!)
