A/N: Next chapter of Hollywood Rivalries. Sorry for the long wait. You know. Stuff happens. I will fast-forward this story about two weeks, but everything they did after the club will be used in flashback. Songs used are not mine. Thought we'd get that straightened out. So Vanessa has been at PCA for a total of two weeks. I think this story will have about 30 chapters and a sequel of the next year. I already have title. So in this story… the gang is in grade 11. Lola left after sophomore year to get started on her acting career and Dana came back. This story is one year after the current season.
Anyway. On with story. The drama unfolds.
Chapter 21: Settling In and A Pillowfight
Two weeks at Pacific Coast Academy have been awesome. I have to say this. Mr. Bender is the coolest teacher ever! He's so funny, and apparently down to earth. Yes, he's watched my movies, so he was surprised when he met me…now he can say 'I taught Vanessa Stevens'. I'm sitting in the lounge watching Laguna Beach. Damn, this is boring like hell. There's nothing on, and this biology homework, Mrs. Crenshaw piled on isn't helping.
A little nap wouldn't hurt, right?
I walked into Mr. Bender's class late. Well, I kind of overslept because the homework was piled on. Mrs. Crenshaw, our biology teacher is terrible! I hate her. I wish she'd like fall into a vat of hot acid or something. You never mess with an Irish girl…well, I'm one third Irish but you get the idea. We have leprechaun magic… don't mess with that!
"This is Mr. Bender's class, right?" I asked. I wasn't sure.
"Yeah, you're late."
"Uh, sorry…"
"That's fine. Just don't let it happen again," the teacher said. I love this teacher already. I was going to take a seat beside Michael when Mr. Bender stopped me. "Hmm, you look vaguely familiar. I didn't catch your name. What was it again?"
"Oh…I'm Vanessa Stevens," I said, shooting Zoey a kind of worried look. Chase looked at me, and mouthed 'why are you late?' I gave him a look that said I'd tell him later. He nodded in understanding.
"Vanessa Stevens as in actress and teen model Vanessa Stevens?"
"Um, yeah. My father's James Stevens," I answered. Mr. Bender broke out into a grin as he shook my hand. Wow, I don't know whether to be flattered or scared. I'm most likely flattered because Mr. B wouldn't hurt a fly. I smiled, as he let go off my hand.
"Oh, gosh. It's an honour to have you in my class. I'm such a fan of your work! If it's not too much trouble, would it possible to have an autograph?"
"Sure. Mr. B. I'm glad you're a big fan."
He handed me a piece of paper and I got a Sharpie out of my bag. I don't carry those backpacks, just a stylish bag large for my binders and laptop (and maybe my make-up bag). I have a very large collection of bags, and they always match my outfits. I was wearing red and a bit of pink (because Nicole insisted and wouldn't shut up about it) today. A red low v-neck top, and red and pink and black plaid mini-shirt. I finished the look with a cute ruby necklace, and heart-shaped earrings. My hair was worn up, with a fake red rose in my hair. I wasn't in the mood for heavy make-up, so just pink eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara…and my lips were painted a glossy dark red.
For footwear, my lucky red Converses.
I signed my autograph, and gave it to him.
"Thank you, Vanessa… you can take a seat beside Michael now."
I nodded, smiling, and walked to my seat besides Michael. I'm not sure if we're boyfriend and girlfriend, but we hold hands, and we tease each other and stuff. It's fun. Logan and I aren't friends but we aren't enemies either. Weird how that works, but he's too busy pissing off Dana to care about me right now.
I sat next to him, as he gave me a small kiss on the cheek, "Hey…"
"Hey yourself," I answered, getting out my laptop and turning my sound down.
"You smell good."
"Thanks, so do you," I flirted, playing with his fingers. I was waiting for my laptop load up.
"Hey, why were you late?"
"Work…that's why. I had to figure out which shift and days I was going to work," I answered, with a sigh. I love working a Sushi Rox, but seriously, this school is like split down the middle between the normal kids and the freaks. "I'm working on Thursday, Friday, and maybe Saturday. Kazu said he was going to check to make sure."
"Okay…" and when no one was looking, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips.
We said nothing to each other the entire class but there was hold holding, and Michael silently flirted with me. Chase, Zoey, Logan, Dana, Stan, Nicole, and Michael were in media class and homeform with me.
My laptop was loaded up, and signed onto Instant Messenger. Chase, Zoey, and Nicole were on. I got an alert, and was asked to join a conversation. I clicked yes.
BabyVee has joined the conversation.
Chase32: why were u late?
BabyVee: work. that's why. i had to see when i was working. i might be working thurs, fri, and maybe sat. kazu said he'd check.
Chase32: aww, man. gotta do that after class.
ZoeyB101: hey chase. hey vanessa.
Chase32: hey…even though you're rite beside me.
BabyVee: 'sup zo?
BabyVee: hey zoey. why didn't u wake me up this morning?
ZoeyB101: we tried, and nothing worked. u looked tired too.
Chase32: Crenshaw, rite?
ZoeyB101: gawd, she's evil. how far did u get on that homework?
BabyVee: like number 15 or was it 16. too sleepy to check.
Chase32: around there too.
ZoeyB101: yeah, me too. quinn'll know what to do. i wish her and matt would just date already.
Queen of Mean666 has joined the conversation.
BabyVee: hey dana. what's up, chica?
Queen of Mean: nothin 'much. hey zoey. hey chase.
ZoeyB101: logan being annoying?
Queen of Mean666: yes! want to kill him.
Chase32: at least u don't have to live with him.
Queen of Mean666: well, mr. thomas isn't here so we have a sub for history, you guys!
BabyVee: YES!
Chase32: i second that.
ZoeyB101: oh, yes!
Chase32: i've made a realization.
ZoeyB101: what?
Chase32: me and drinking equals no-no.
BabyVee: chase, that was three days ago.
Queen of Mean666: gotta admit. u're funny when u're wasted, chase.
ZoeyB101: u and vanessa went through the top five reasons why ireland rocks.
Chase32: oh gawd. kill me now.
BabyVee: lol, i so remember that. and even though i'm sober, i stand by them. do 'em with me, chase.
Chase32: do I have to?
BabyVee: yes.
Chase32: how about you list then and i agree?
BabyVee: sure…fine. ireland's rainbow have gold on the end of each of them, the leprechaun on the Lucky Charms box is actually pretty nice when u meet him.
Chase32: yeah, and on our flag has orange AND green. america has the red and blue and i think our flag's beautiful, but orange and green can't be beat.
Queen of Mean666: i think you guys are slightly drunk still, and it's been three days.
BabyVee: okay, but we weren't the ones doing the mexican hat dance, hun.
Queen of Mean666: funny, very funny.
ZoeyB101: come on dana. u know we love ya.
Queen of Mean666: sure, i know that. gotta go. see you guys in gym and english.
Queen of Mean666 has signed off.
ZoeyB101: lol, reasons two and one are…
Chase32: we were one of the first to invent whiskey.
BabyVee: …and without the four-leaf clover, u'd be screwed. clovers come from ireland.
Chase32: amen
ZoeyB101: im british. its all good. so which part of ireland are u from anyway, 'nessa?
BabyVee: dublin…all the way!
Chase: no way. u're from dublin? I'm from dublin.
BabyVee: sweet! (does virtual high-five)
ZoeyB101: aw, man. class is almost over. gotta go get ready for home ec with nicole.
BabyVee: have fun :)
ZoeyB101: i will. see you guys in gym third period.
BabyVee: if we're gonna die because of coach keller…we might as well do it together, right?
Chase32: true. see you in third zo. love ya.
BabyVee: love u too, zoey lol
ZoeyB101: lol. love you too, chase. right back at cha, vanessa.
ZoeyB101 has signed off.
Chase32: then there were two.
BaybVee: yep
Chase32: so what class do u have after bender?
BabyVee: dance class. today we finally do hip-hop. yes!
Chase32: nice. u're pretty good at it considering on the Stingray Step Squad.
BabyVee: yeah. what class do u have, chase?
Chase32: physics. it's pretty hard but i get it.
BabyVee: oh. well, better get ready for dance, then torture with keller.
Chase32: what fun. i think he likes when he works us like pack mules. laps on the track. yay.
BabyVee: nope. in the pool this time. stupid asshole. but lunch afterwards.
Chase32: we're swimming this time?
BabyVee: yep. i gotta run to the dorm and get some swimwear on.
Chase32: same. bye.
BabyVee: wait.
Chase32: what?
BabyVee: stop by kazu and see when u're working, 'kay?
Chase32: right. thanks.
BabyVee: no problem :) gotta jet, chase. later.
Chase32: later vanessa.
I closed the conversation window, and signed out.
BabyVee has signed off.
I sighed, closing the laptop.
"Okay, review your notes on the definition of propaganda, and the devices of media…and there will be a small quiz next class," Mr. B said. Oh crap. I'll just borrow Zoey's notes, and copy them. We all stood up and I put my laptop and binders in my bag. The dismissal bell rang. "Ok, get outta here, you crazy kids."
We all walked out of Bender's class. The eight of us walked out, and Nicole was freaking out over gym.
"Oh my God. You mean we have to…run in a pool?"
"No, baby. We're swimming… a bunch of times so in a sense, we actually are running," Stan said, kissing the back of Nicole's hand. Aww. That's freakin' cute.
"Aww, man… I'm gonna be sick…"
Dana rolled her eyes, "Oh, suck it up. Just water. Swimming won't kill you."
"Okay, the minute you puke in the pool, I'm out…"
We all laughed. It was funny when Logan said that…but when you actually think about it… it's kinda um, gross.
"Eww. I'm not swimming in a pool full of chlorinated water, and Nicole's puke," I said, making a grossed-out face. I turned to Nicole. "No offence."
"Can you believe it? Next year is our last year…"
"Yeah, Zoe! I'm gonna miss this place. Aren't you? I'm totally gonna miss it!"
"Calm down, Spazerella! When we graduate then you can freak out, kay? 'Kay," my best friend snapped. I already had my dance clothes with me, but I had to go back to our dorm to get a bikini. We were walking to next class until I heard someone call my name. I looked over and it was Callie Johansen. I had made friends with the people on my dance squad too.
Cheerleading squad.
Dance squad.
See the difference? Besides, Dana's bound to pick a fight with them anyway. By them, I mean the cheerleaders.
I turned to everyone, "Gotta go. Dance squad thing."
I said goodbye to everyone. With a kiss on the lips for Michael, I was gone. I was going to be late for class anyway.
"Hey Vanessa!" Callie greeted. She was overly nice, and a really good locker. I mean, the girl can really pop n' lock…but she's small about 5'3.
"'Sup Callie?"
"Nothing…hey, um, you think you can show me those hip hop steps Miss Lisa was teaching us? I didn't quite get it?"
I smiled, "Sure. I think there's about twenty minutes before class starts, so let's go, ok?"
"'Kay," she answered. "…and thanks. We can practice our routine for the next basketball game since the season will end, right?"
"Of course. Get everyone together and we'll see."
We walked into the dance studio with fifteen minutes to spare. Life at PCA was good, but I'm cringing to know what Coach Keller has planned for us. He can't even say 'sushi' right? But he can become a teacher?
That's messed up.
"Vanessa!"
A voice brought made me jolt awake. Must have fell asleep watching TV in the lounge. I did all my biology (that was a miracle), media (a five page report. I forget what), history, a bit of English that's not due until next week. I made a mental note to get Chase to help me with that (Othello confuses me to a certain extent). I still kinda sore from gym AND dance class. I think I locked too hard. Keller made us do like a billion laps in the pool.
If I get yelled at like that, I have hit men on him. I swear.
"Come on, hustle, Stevens! Come on, my mother can swim faster than that! "
"Faster, Crowe!"
"Hurry up, Bristow!"
"Move it, Brooks!"
I got out of the pool. I'm frustrated. Biology is a bitch, and the routine isn't going the way I want it! Now I have Colonel Dumbass over here down my neck. I'm Vanessa fucking Stevens for God's sake. My hair dripped wet, and I crossed my arms with my bikini and all (which was in green camouflage by the way. Pretty hot if you ask me.)
"Listen old man, and listen good. I'm sore…you know from dance class, which you probably wouldn't be able to do!" I screamed, red in the face. I knew I shouldn't have been yelling at Coach Keller even though he's as dumb as a post…but once I started I couldn't stop. Long story short, I snapped. "I have to write a five page report on natural selection! Who the hell knows that much!? You try to choreograph a routine that going downhill! You teachers like working us, don't you?! I—"
A hand was clamped on my mouth. Zoey's hand actually. I needed that honestly.
"She has no idea what she's saying. She's, uh, delirious…she had a fever a couple of days ago. Vanessa was just getting better enough to swim. It's hard to get into the swing of things when you've been sick for a couple days. It won't happen again…" my roommate lied. Wait, what? I didn't have any fever! What is she—?
I removed her hand from my hand and faked a cough. I even made it sound like I lost my voice.
"I'm sorry," I added another cough. "Guess I won't be working for a while."
"Huh, what?" Chase asked, stupidly. Zoey gave her boyfriend a look. "Oh…right because Vanessa's sick. Kazu's short on staff too, so I guess no sushi tonight."
"Matthews! Stevens! There'd better be sushee!"
"It's 'soo-shee', sir," Stan corrected.
"Crowe! Are you giving me back-sass!?"
"Uh, no… ok, fine. 'Sushee' it is then…"
"Alright then! Brooks, Stevens! Back in the pool! The rest of you I wanna see splashing when you dive! Cruz, Reese! Show 'em how it's done!"
I sighed, as Zoey and I smoothly dived into the deep end of the pool. Dana raised an eyebrow. We swam over to where everyone was.
"I have to… dive with him?" Dana questioned with her famous glare.
"It's fate, baby. We can make more than a splash together later in my dorm…if you catch my drift."
Dana retorted, "Not in this lifetime or the next."
"This is going to be a long class…" I muttered to no one in particular.
"Yoo-hoo…Vanessa?"
Someone's waving their hand in my face. I slowly opened my eyes again, and my green eyes focused. I sat up, still sore in some places. It was Quinn.
"Hello…"
I rubbed my eyes and stifled a yawn. I even got up to stretch, and my hair was clipped up.
"What's up, Quinn?" I asked with a tired, but small smile. I pick my biology books strewn out on the table, and scooped them in my arms. Quinn let out a small squeal. What happened while I was asleep? "Quinn, you look like you're about to burst."
"I'm full of euphoria at the moment. Oh my God. I can't believe this happened to me! Come on. Let's go to the dorm. Everyone's in there."
"Whatever will get me to bed quicker."
We walked into my dorm with Zoey, Chase, Nicole, Michael and Stan already inside. Wonder where the dynamic duo was? Probably going all Mr. and Mrs. Smith on each other. Usually I'd be all for it, but now I just don't care. I'm tired. I want to sleep. Luckily, I took a shower right after class and changed into comfortable clothes to sleep in. I put my books on the already messy desk the four of us shared. When I moved in, our room was renovated. I brought in a big-screen TV with a stereo system (really expensive one too). It's all good. It was about seven in the evening. I walked, and opened the mini-fridge, getting myself a Blix.
"Anyone else want one?"
"Toss me one, please?"
"Here," and I threw the bottle to Zoey. I walked over to Michael, sitting on his lap. I wasn't heavy, and he wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Hey."
"Hey beautiful…" he answered, as I stared into those warm brown eyes that made me weak in the knees. I was slowly waking up. Before, I was fully awake by now.
"It's about time you woke up," Chase said, as Zoey played with his fingers. I shrugged not wanting to say anything for now. I'm still in wake-up mode. "You look dead for a minute there…"
"Yeah, I fell asleep watching Laguna Beach… MTV is losing its touch."
"True," Quinn added. We all gave her questioning looks. Since when does Quinn have the time to watch MTV? I thought she'd be watching something educational or whatever. "What? I like Billie Joe Armstrong. Green Day is very infectious when you think about it."
"Uh, Quinn… you don't really think when you listen to music…" Nicole's boyfriend pointed out. That's true. Good ol' Stan.
"Yeah, I mean, just like dancing for me… I don't really think. I just get up and dance, you know?"
Quinn looked up in thought, "I just had an idea for an experiment."
Oh, great. The rest of us shot each other worried looks. Oh…man. I haven't been the target of her experiments and I don't plan too. I need all of me to continue my acting career and my dancing, so no. She spoke up again, and a smile grew on her face.
"Oh, guess what?"
"One of your experiments did explode, didn't it?" Nicole asked, with a worried expression on her face.
"I don't think so… but anyway, you know Matt Keller, right? The one I met at the club we went to, right?"
"Yeah… he's in my physics and chemistry class with Chase and me. I like him. He's cool when you meet him. What about him?"
Yeah, I wanted to know too.
"Well," she started. "…he asked me on a DATE for Friday!"
Oh my God. Finally. I've seen them together, and trust me, they look adorable in a twisted kind of way, but a good twisted. I think. Nicole went to hug her. What the hell? I hugged her in congratulations too. Maybe this date would give them a push in the right direction. I'm happy for her, seriously. I climbed on my top bunk, lying on my belly… My arm hung off the side of the bed and Michael kissed my hand. I noticed Quinn was back to wearing glasses. They look nice on her. Studious but stylish.
"We so have to help you!" Nicole squealed.
"Sure, that'd be nice," Quinn replied, before looking at her watch. "…Oh, I'd better go. Coco said something about a new roommate and she should be arriving around 8:30. Better go prepare. Bye guys."
"Bye Quinn," I said, with a lazy wave.
She smiled, leaving my dorm with a click. Just when I think it's quiet, I hear two voices. We all let out a collective groan, knowing who those voices belonged to. I knew best, since I dated one and grew up with the other.
Yes, story of my life.
"Now, now…don't be a sore loser, Reese. I'm the Queen of Fooseball," Dana teased.
"Whatever. Fooseball isn't even a really sport, ok? Now if it were basketball that would be a whole different story."
Zoey jumped in, "Are you implying what I think you're implying?"
"If you're saying that I'm implying that I can kick your asses in basketball, anytime, anywhere and any place, then yes."
Oh, someone's head grew a bit too big this morning. Then again, that's old news.
"Dude. I don't know. The last time we played against them, we lost…"
"Terribly," Stan added after Michael. Yeah, that's right. Zoey, Dana and I beat them with 25-23. Just two points, but numbers don't lie.
"Oh, puh-lease. Just two points…"
"Oh, ok fine, Logan. You're on. Me, Zoey, and Dana against you, Michael and Chase. Stan and Nicole can keep score since Stan played last time. It won't even matter if you put four guys in because we can beat you…so you in, are you going to chicken out?"
"Me? Chicken out? I'd rather not. I don't want to make you cry…"
I turned to Zoey, Dana and Nicole, "He's chickening out."
"Okay, fine! Basketball court. Saturday! Prepared to be destroyed, ladies," Logan said, with a smirk. Dana sat on her bed, and Logan spoke again. "Um, you know practice is on Sunday against that home game against the ECA Eagles the following week, right?"
Aww, man. I totally forgot about that. I was on the basketball team. Yes, I was number jersey 10 and it had STEVENS on the back. That's my lucky number and I have a bright green wristband that I wear to every game. If I don't have it on during a game, my balance will be thrown off. Call it superstition by it works. I never wash it or the luck will be washed off. Yes, I'm weird. Shut up about it.
"Oh, great. Coach Keller again…" I sighed.
"Oh no… it's not Keller this time. It's…Coach Phelps this time," Chase informed us this time. I buried my head in my pillow.
"Are all these men are coaches or run-away psych ward patients?" I asked, exasperated. Coach Phelps is an annoying pain in the ass that yells at us while he sits on his wide load reading comic books all day. Yeah, that's really encouraging.
"Dang, I have football practice on Friday too," Stan said. "…with uh, Coach Keller. I don't get it. How come he can't say 'sushi' but he can become a coach? There's something wrong there."
"Welcome to Pacific Coast Academy, home of the Stingrays, where landscapes are beautiful but coaches are crazy," Chase said, with a narrator's voice. That was so funny, but so true. "Outbursts courtesy of the beautiful and talented…Vanessa Stevens."
"Not funny, Chase," I said, with a smirk. I unclipped my hair and the tresses came up. It smelled like vanilla and peaches. I had to borrow Zoey's shampoo since I ran out. I'll buy some later. I smirked my friend and picked up a pillow. I threw it at Chase but he ducked and it hit Zoey instead. Uh oh. "Uh. My bad…"
"Yeah, I'm sure…" and she picked the same pillow and threw it at me. I jumped and it hit Michael.
"Oops…" Zoey said, shyly. Michael stood up, with Logan laughing.
"Haha! Michael got hit and—oof!" Logan got a pillow at his head, courtesy of Michael. Logan narrowed his eyes, and tried to retaliate but hit Chase and Dana at the same time.
"Ok, it is so on," Dana declared, standing up.
"PILLOW FIGHT!" Nicole screamed, as the eight of us tried to hit each other with pillows. Feathers went flying and I knew Coco was going to kill us, and none of that mattered. It was fun to just be with friends (I even included Logan in there). Screams and giggles were heard and look at that Logan and Dana are even being civilized for once.
To hell with class.
I giggled as a pillow was coming my way.
We were all trapped in a rainfall of white goose feathers, but hey, this was too much fun to pass up. Life at PCA is good…for now.
So, this is PCA. Interesting.
I looked at the sky as my strawberry blonde hair was pulled back by the wind, my hazel eyes observing the sky. I found it beautiful…but I don't have the time to stop and smell things. I'm on a mission.
A mission that I have been trying to finish since I was twelve. I'm sixteen now. It may seem like a fruitless and pointless thing to do. Call it whatever you want. I don't care.
Everybody look at me, me
I walk in the door you start screaming
Come on everybody what chu here for?
Move your body around like a nympho
Everybody get your necks to crack around
All you crazy people come on jump around
I want to see you all on your knees, knees
You either want to be with me, or be me!
I walked around the campus, looking for a place called Brenner Hall. I heard that this school used to be just for guys until they started letting girls in. I'm ready to make my mark, and complete what I came here to do. Anyone that stops me will be taken care of.
"Hmm, Brenner…Brenner…" I said to myself. I stopped walking when I spotted a bronze signing saying 'BRENNER HALL LOUNGE'. I made my way up the steps. Okay, this school has too many steps. And my parents decided to send me to California for boarding school.
I love them too.
I sighed, as I made my way to Brenner Hall past the lounge where a few girls still hung out. I was staying in Room 102…with Quinn something. I can't be bothered to remember.
Maneater, make you work hard
Make you spend hard
Make you want all, of her love
She's a maneater
Make you buy cars
Make you cut cords
Make you fall, real hard in love
She's a Maneater, make you work hard
Make you spend hard
Make you want all, of her love
She's a maneater
Make you buy cars
Make you cut cords
Wish you never ever met her at all!
I walked up to the room where I'd be staying and opened my compact mirror. Okay, make-up perfect. Clothes perfect. I lightly rapped on the door, and it opened.
"Oh, hello…I'm Quinn Pensky. You must be my new roommate. Pleased to make your acquaintance," she said, extending her hand. I sighed, and put on the fakest smile ever. I was smirking on the inside. Get ready, Pacific Coast Academy. I'm ready to flip this place on its ear. I fake-smiled, and shook her hand.
"Chelsea Myers."
A/N: Okay, so there's chapter 21. Half of next chapter will take place after the pillow fight, and half will take place the next day. The first flashback with the IM is a summary of what they did when they were drinking so read that. The flashback happened like three days after the club outing, so if you read then you'd pay attention. My birthday is in exactly one week from today so I will be accepting birthday wishes all this week. Thank you. Seventeen…I'm getting old. Anyhoo, please review this. The drama is just starting.
Check out my new oneshot: Catch Me When I Fall (it's Lola/Michael). Love's Power: Rediscovered is updated with a jumbo-sized chapter, so please review those. I'm currently working on RockaBye Chase and Eternally Yours, so thanks for your patience.
REVIEW!
-Erika