Chapter 22: Beethoven's Fifth

February 14, 2008
Time: 3:49 PM
Mood: Vengeful
Username: adhasnovds

Ashley Davies' Private Entry:

I only have two words…

Revenge. Tonight.

---

Kyla came over the other day to help me plan out my Valentines date for Syd. She was all excited that Cal had finally asked her out. I wish I could say I had something to do with it, but then I'd just be taking credit for someone else's work.

I'm definitely not one to plagiarize.

I did tell her that I grilled him before he asked her though, she wasn't too happy. But that contagious smile of hers came out a few seconds later as she tried to get me to spill about his super secret plans.

I rarely lie to her, and when I say rarely I mean there's a damn good reason why I'm not telling her the truth.

Thankfully he wouldn't budge in telling me what was set up, so I had a clean conscience. She didn't believe me of course. Oh well, what are you gonna do?

I told Kyla my ideas and she shook her head to each of them. She said they were way too extravagant and would probably scare the poor girl off. I guess a hot air balloon ride followed by a moonlit picnic on the beach surrounded by an assortment of candles and flower petals was a bit much…

What can I say? I'm a die hard romantic. But I guess that was more along the lines of like, a marriage proposal or something.

She helped me scale it down from epic proportions and I agreed that her idea was much better suited. It would be quite a test for me, but I had faith. There was always the back up plan anyway.

After a while we ended up on the subject of her home life, per the norm really. She couldn't exactly talk about it on the phone, Spencer and her Idiot Brigade were always around.

Apparently Spencer and her BGFE (best girlfriend ever, *gag*) had been acting weird ever since their stupid party the other night. Kyla, unfortunately, was locked in her room all night trying to study for an upcoming test that we had. She didn't get much accomplished though, thanks to all the noise from downstairs.

"Yeah, her 'oh so perfect' boyfriend was being incredibly obnoxious. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but it was enough to make her stomp up the stairs and slam her door shut," Kyla said while she lay on my bed on her stomach, as she carelessly flipped through the newest issue of Wired. "I was actually tempted to go in there and see if she was ok, but a little while later I heard the door open and close again. I figured another member went to check on her or something."

I clicked submit on Sydney's present order and turned back around, "You're way too nice Ky."

"She's been acting really weird Ash. Like, whatever happened in that room that night changed…something."

Now I'd always thought Spencer was weird, as she did of me. There was always a great deal of contempt; it was nice to know that it was mutual. Otherwise I might have felt bad…

Might have being the operative words.

"She's always been wei-"

"No Ash, like…even more so than your 'normal' standard for her. She's really jumpy and stuff whenever Gretchen is over, and they spend a lot more time in her room."

I loved that even Kyla referred to them with their Mean Girl names. But ok, so she was right, that was a bit more than weird, even for Spencer standards. I thought back to the picture message Cal sent me. Could she be…

"Maybe they're hooking up," I shrugged. I hadn't let Kyla in on the dirty dancing her sister had been doing; it was best I kept that to myself. She wouldn't let me do anything to avenge her for the diary incident if she knew.

"Pft, HA! You realize we're talking about Spencer, right? She hasn't got a gay bone in her body; not even bi-curious," she snorted.

She could be pretty naïve sometimes, but she did have some good gaydar. Maybe Spencer wasn't doing extracurricular activities with her bff, but it wouldn't hurt just to make sure. I stole a glance at the new flash storage camera sitting on my desk. I'd yet to try it out, this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

"Yeah, you're probably right," I said placating her. "The day your sister is gay is the day I say I'm in love with her."

I added an eye roll in for further effect and she snorted again. Little did she know the wheels were already turning in my head, and a devious little plot had already begun to unfold.

"So Damien, you gonna help me get ready for my big Valentine's date?" she asked me sweetly. I hoped she would ask; it would give me the perfect opportunity to set my plan into motion.

I grinned at her; both because she made it that much easier for me, and because I was truly excited for her, "It would be my pleasure."

That's what led me here.

I've never actually been in her room before. I've never actually seen the inside of it until now either. Her door is always shut. Such a friendly little bitch she is…

It doesn't smell too terrible in there. I'm surprised when I wasn't bombarded by twenty different nasty smelling perfumes. You know that effect I'm talking about. Just go to any big department store like Boston Store or something and walk through the Fragrance section, you'll vomit in no time and have the taste stuck in your mouth for a good hour afterward.

I'm shocked again at the band posters on her wall. She has pretty good music taste, I have to give her that. Even though it hurts to admit it. A part of me wants there to be a Dreamstreet poster or something of the sort, but alas. Doesn't mean there isn't other physical evidence of such things. Hello, CD collection?

She has a large one; three bookshelves packed to the breaking point of different cases spanning different genres and eras. I would take time to look through all of them, but Kyla's notoriously fast in the shower. Spencer'll be home soon too, and if she caught me in here everything would be ruined.

I scan the room quickly, looking for the best vantage point for the camera and spot some bookshelves attached to the wall above her desk. They were pointed directly at the bed; it was like God himself telling me that this had to be done.

The sound of the shower turning off startles me into moving at warp speed. I shift a few books and nic nacs, not so much that she would notice, but enough to fit the camera.

I changed out the regular batteries and put in some super charged ones before I came, and the memory card I put in has plenty of storage space on it for hours of recording. I don't want to miss out on anything that might happen.

I push the record button and step back from the lens and smirk, "Payback's a bitch isn't it queen bee?"

I snuck back to Kyla's room just as she opened the bathroom door. The front door slammed closed a minute later, and the high-pitched squealing let us know the President and Vice President of the Idiot Brigade were back. We just rolled our eyes and started getting ready.

***

At 5:59 Kyla was pacing the front foyer while I leaned against the family room archway. There wasn't really anything I could say to calm her down, so I just let her have her freak out.

Dumb and Dumbest stumbled in from the kitchen, giggling about God knows what. We exchanged death glares until they set their sights on Kyla. It was easy to see they were shocked at how good she looked; they weren't used to seeing her all dressed up.

"Hey Spencer, look at your sister," Taylor said as she looked Kyla up and down. "Someone went all She's All That on her ass and gave her a makeover."

I clenched my jaw and bounced myself off the archway to stand in front of her, "Wow, I didn't know STD's could walk or talk."

She set her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow at me, "That's funny; I wonder when you'll get tired of picking up my leftovers. Or did Sydney not tell you?"

No fucking way. She had to be messing with me. There was no way she-

"Hey guys, let's not. Taylor just be mature for once. Come on. We don't need a huge smack down." Spencer interrupted, uncharacteristically trying to be peacekeeper.

How dare she disrupt my inner musings…

"Who the hell was talking to you queen bee?" I snapped. What? I hate when my inner musings get interrupted…

"Ash, please. Not tonight." Kyla groaned.

I did feel bad; this was her big night. I shouldn't ruin it with a throw down with her sister. But damn it, it needs to be done. No one else was going to put them in their place.

"Taylor, come on let's just go. Kyla you look really pretty, by the way."

Hmm…where have I heard that before? Oh yes, from the original Regina George. And we all remember how truthful her compliments are.

"Uh...thanks Spencer?" Kyla was just stunned that her stepsister just complimented her without being sarcastic.

I didn't trust it though; I didn't trust her. Something was off. It was like she was abducted by pod people or something.

The doorbell rang and Kyla squeaked. I had to stifle a laugh; she was cute when she was nervous. If she weren't like my sister I'd hit on her.

She opened the door to a nicely cleaned up Cal. He was cute in that nerdy way. Adam Brody-ish and all. The thick-rimmed glasses he normally wore were replaced with very thin, chic frames. Actually, they kind of reminded me of Sebastian's from Cruel Intentions. They made his green eyes sparkle and his features softer.

His slightly curly, light brown hair was neatly groomed. And if my nose was working correctly, I think he was wearing cologne.

He had on a black pinstriped button up shirt with a white t-shirt underneath. Khaki pants and black dress shoes completed his ensemble.

The smile he had on his face when he saw her lit up the room.

"Wow," they said at the same time.

"You look," Cal started.

"Great," Kyla finished.

They stared at each other for a short while with stupid smiles on their faces until he realized they were on a tight schedule that night.

"So, uh, should we go?"

Kyla nodded shyly and took his extended hand.

"I don't want her home any later than midnight, got it bub?" I told him in jest. "No keeping her out all hours of the night sexin her up!"

I got them both to blush at that, but Kyla sent me a look that said 'I'm gonna kill you tomorrow'. Woops.

The door shut softly behind them as they left and I stared at it for a little while. A feeling of…pride I guess washed over me. And a small smile played on my lips. I heard a faint whisper come from Spencer who was still behind me.

"He was cute. In a nerdy way."

I rolled my eyes for what was probably the billionth time in my life and turned back around.

"Why do you have to give her so much shit at school, but act like a normal human here?"

Spencer gaped at me incredulously, "Excuse me?"

"You heard me!"

Her face contorted in anger, "Did someone tell you you were allowed to stay at my house when your free pass is gone? Cuz she just walked out, I suggest you do the same."

"You know what Spencer, one day you're going to get what's coming to you. You're going to know what it feels like to get made fun of, talked about constantly. And no one is gonna be able to do a damn thing about it," I said through gritted teeth.

"That sounded like a threat, Davies. Too bad you can't deliver, but I guess Sydney already found that one out," the Gretchen clone said with a smug look plastered on her face. "I'll be upstairs Spencer, come up when you're done dumping the trash on the curb."

Oh what I wouldn't do to just knock her the hell out one time.

I glared at her as she climbed the stairs, "Keep fucking talking Kline, you really want that picture to get out don't you?"

She didn't stop; she just shook her head and chuckled. I was astonished at my ability to stay downstairs and keep my anger somewhat in line.

"No she doesn't, and neither do I."

She'd said it in such a soft and vulnerable voice that I almost felt bad for having even brought it up.

Almost.

I looked at her, in those cerulean blue eyes of hers; eyes that maybe, if she were a different person, I could get lost in. There was a hint of sadness in them, and something else. Something she was keeping hidden from everyone.

"Keep your bulldog in check then, Carlin."

And then those cerulean blue eyes changed, so quickly they changed, to ice.

"She isn't a dog. God, you know you say you hate us because we judge people. You don't even know us! You're just as bad as me."

"At least I can admit my faults. God forbid you ever admit to doing anything wrong, right queen bee? God forbid you look anything less than fucking perfect."

"Do you want me to prove to you that I don't have to be perfect Ashley?"

"Oh would you? Please?"

I don't even know why I was fighting so hard with her; it was really pointless. But I just couldn't stop. I had to do this, every fiber of my being was telling me to.

"I'm far from perfect. I'm a person just like you are. I get scared and I get hurt just as easily. But I can hide it away behind make up and clothes that I think are perfect. But inside," she sighed softly. "I'm terrified that for a second someone is going to see who I am and not like me. God, I'm just a kid. And I screw up."

Her eyes and her voice held that vulnerability again. Either she was being serious and actually bearing her soul, or she was a damn good actress. I went with the latter. This is Spencer Carlin we're talking about; she doesn't have a soul to bear. And if she did, she sure as hell wouldn't be doing it in front of me.

"Cry me a fucking river. I have to go spend Valentine's with my girlfriend. If you or your little bitch give Kyla anymore shit, for any reason, that picture will be plastered all over the school."

"Maybe I don't even care if it is," she said while she dropped her head, almost seeming defeated. "I know that I haven't treated you or Kyla right in the past, but I am honestly sorry. And I want to try to make it up to her and to you," she looked me in the eye and ran a hand through her blonde locks. "I want a chance to at least be nice to you without you going all Carrie and killing me at prom or something. It's hard for you to see, but I'm changing and I'm not the person I was."

I looked at her for a little while and attempted to read her. I couldn't though; I couldn't get a read on her. She had her walls up, so in natural fashion I had to knock them down. Or at least try to.

"I don't what your game is, but I'm not falling for it. As far as I can see, you're still the same cold hearted bitch that you've always been."

She sighed again, "If that is who you want me to be to you, then I can arrange that. But I won't be treating my sister that way anymore. And no one I know will be treating her badly either. But if my wrath is what you want..."

There was no malice in her voice when she spoke, but my body acted of its own accord and I found myself nose to nose with the queen bee herself. Again.

"Bring it on," I challenged through clenched teeth.

Her breathing had sped up, probably in fear that I'd haul off and smack her or something.

"You have five seconds to get out of my face," she said in a half whisper.

I might've been hallucinating, but I could've sworn I saw her eyes flicker down to my lips. Just for a split second.

"What?" I started to walk backwards to the door. "Scared you're going to catch gay? Jesus Christ." I turned and reached for the knob and started to turn it.

"I am gay. How about that?" she spat. A few seconds later she continued, "You know what? Go fuck yourself Davies, I'll see ya later."

I heard her run up the stairs and slam her door shut. My eyes were glued to the front door. Did she really just say what I think she did?

I glanced to my left to a collage frame of pictures that hung on the wall. I picked out Spencer in a more recent trip they'd gone on and locked eyes with her.

I shook my head after a long pause. I had no time for straight girls and their head games. I had a date to get ready for.