Saved by the Bell: A New Generation

Chapter Twelve

"They're amazing," Sierra said. "I forgot how good Indefinite are."

"Yeah, they're awesome." Ariana craned her neck to see down the long line outside the bathroom. Unlike this night, this night sucks.

"So, Claire," Sierra bounced up on the balls of her feet, grinning. "What's up with you and Tristan?"

Claire spread a smile across her face. "I don't know," she said demurely. "He's kind of cute."

"You've been flirting with him all night," Ariana pointed out, inching forward in the line.

"I have not," Claire responded, giving Ariana a playful shove. "And besides I'm not the only one who's been checking out the eye candy. What about you?"

"Me? What about me?" Ariana asked like she didn't know what they were talking about.

"Oh, my god, you are so right Claire," Sierra pointed out. "Ariana, you have been eyeing off Chase all night. The both of you have so why don't you do something about it and go—"

"Hey Sierra and everyone else," Kayla exclaimed, sauntering towards them and baring a grin upon her face. "Are you surprised that I'm here?"

"Of course you are," Kayla said, waiting for no one to reply. "But I'm here and now we can all hang out together."

Kayla acted all giddy though Ariana could tell it was all an act. Like she'd really be happy to be around her for the night and to be honest, the feeling Ariana got that Kayla despised and disliked her was mutual.

Chase and Luke were walking by the line and strolled over to them and noticed Kayla alongside them.

"Kayla, you're here. How'd you manage to snag tickets?" Luke asked.

"Oh, you know, I convinced my mum into persuading my dad to get me a ticket like it was a matter of life or death," Kayla explained while playing with her hair.

Persuaded? It was probably more like begged if it meant that she'd be at the same place as Chase and I, Ariana said to herself.

"You guys have already been to the bathroom?" Sierra asked. "Being a girl is so unfair."

"We were just going to get something to drink before Simple Plan comes on," Chase said.

"Do you guys want anything?" Luke asked.

"Chase, you know what you could get me?" Kayla purred, laying one hand against his chest. "I would love a snow cone."

"Okay," Chase said, backing away slightly. Ariana felt her stomach turn. Was Kayla so fraught she had to outrageously flirt with Chase in front of her? Maybe she should save face and tell her to stop before she became social suicide.

"Ariana, do you want anything?"

Ariana shook her head.

"You sure? I don't mind," Chase said.

"I'm sure she's fine. If not, then she can always get something else for herself later, right Ariana?" Kayla symphonised, answering for Ariana in the nicest way she could sound.

"No it's cool, I'm not really thirsty," Ariana replied with a direct smile aimed for Kayla. "But thanks for asking."

"Okay." He smiled at her.

"Let's go dude," Luke said, starting to walk off.

"You can get me a coke!" Sierra called after them.

"And I'll have a diet coke!" Claire called after them as well.

Luke lifted a hand in response.

"Jeez," Sierra began. "I'm like, inviso-girl around you. Is it always like this Ariana?"

Ariana looked at Claire who laughed while Kayla looked on, obviously insulted that she wasn't being talked about.

"Well, according to Ariana, it's the story of her life," Claire responded.

"I'm sorry," Ariana said, glad the tension was broken.

"Whatever," Kayla broke in, feeling ignored. "This line is boring me to death. I'm crashing the men's room. Who's with me?"

"I'm there," Sierra said.

"I don't think so guys," Ariana said.

"Why? You chicken?" Sierra teased lovingly.

"You too scared to even contemplate dashing to the men's room?" Kayla shrilled to her, meaning every word she said unlike Sierra where her teasing was friendly teasing. "Don't tell me 'Little Miss Perfect' plays by the rules every single time?" Kayla stepped closer to Ariana. "You've never been inside a men's room before and you're afraid by what you might find. Is that it?"

And I'm sure you've been inside a men's room time and time again.

Ariana hated to think Kayla had overpowered her yet she didn't dare to think she wouldn't stick it to her either. She had guts and sure, Kayla had been right. She had never actually been inside a men's room but this concert was her first so tonight was a first for everything.

"Alright, I'm in," Ariana finally said, looking at Kayla the entire time. "Let's go."

Meanwhile, Chase and Luke were standing at the bar counter as they waited to be issued their beverages they had previously ordered a few minutes beforehand.

"So, Chase, my man," Luke began casually. "What's up with you and that Ariana chick?"

Chase looked at his friend with despair. "What about her?"

"Don't give me this 'what do you mean' shit, dude. You're forgetting that I've known you long enough to know how you work with girls. I haven't been turning a blind eye all these years since you discovered girls or tonight for that matter. So c'mon, fill me in."

"There's nothing to tell," Chase dismissed his friend. "She's in my math class. That's all."

"That's all? Dude, she's hot and what, you don't see it?" Luke asked, surprised by his friends' lack of interest in Ariana. He thought that Chase of people would kill to hook up with this girl. He had never wasted any time with the other conquests he had been with.

"I'm not blind Luke. I can see that she's hot but I don't care…" Chase shook his head roughly.

"So, you're not interested in scoring with her?" Luke questioned with increased concern.

"You say it like she's some sporting event," Chase changed the subject in order to ignore his friends' comment. He was not in the mood to discuss his love life or rather lack of love life to his friend who was no better than he was when it came to the ladies.

Luke laughed Chase's remark off and raised his eyebrow like he meant business. "So she's single?"

"Yeah, but only barely, having only just broken up with her boyfriend."

"But, she's single," Luke implied without question. "Which means if you're not into her then you won't mind if I were to ask her out."

"Here you go, man." The macho guy behind the counter placed their order of drinks in front of them.

Picking up the tray of drinks, Chase turned to make his way back to the others. "Since when do you ask me if it's alright for you to ask out a chick?"

Without waiting for a response from his buddy, Chase began to weave his way through the crowd of people that was forming around the bar.

"We're like bro's dude. I'd never date a girl my bro likes," Luke finished, patting Chase on the shoulder. "But I am stoked that Ariana isn't one of the many girls you've got a thing for, 'cause I'd hate to lose out to another guy."

Chase remained silent. He didn't necessarily state he didn't like Ariana but it got Luke off his back. And Chase wasn't one hundred completely sure he was committed to beginning something with a girl who had only just come out of a relationship. He didn't need that kind of baggage in his life. He didn't need someone else's baggage when he had enough of his own to deal with.

For the moment, this year his only time to have his eye on the prize was football and leading his team to victory in order to strive towards the championships. It was the only way to know that he'd get his much deserved football scholarship to college because with his grades lacking credentials, it was the only way he'd even call himself a college student.

"Alright, we bring drinks for all," Luke exclaimed to everyone as he and Chase returned with food and drinks.

"Here you go," Chase locked his eyes onto Ariana as he passed her a cup of lemonade.

Ariana's brow creased. "Oh, thanks. You didn't have to get me anything. I didn't ask for anything."

"Actually, Luke got it for you."

"Figured I'd buy you something now so you won't have to buy one later on when you're thirsty," Luke stepped in with a smirk.

"How'd you know I'm going to need a drink later on?" Ariana asked.

"Ariana, it's a concert. You'll be singing along to the songs so much that you're going to need a drink to quench your thirst because you'll find your throat feeling dry and sore," Luke smirked.

Ariana took a swig of her drink. "You know me so well." She smiled back.

Chase turned the other way from Ariana and gave her Kayla her snow cone.

"Thank you," she replied, taking a bite only to have the after effect showing around her mouth.

"Uh, you've got flakes of it around your mouth," Chase said.

"Oh, really?" Kayla asked like she was surprised. Her fingertips went to the corners of her mouth. "Did I get it?"

"Here, let me get it for you," Chase said, leaning forward and gently wiping away the crumbs around her mouth. "There you go."

"Thanks," Kayla responded flirtatiously. "I would have looked like an idiot if I continued to wear my snow cone on my face for the rest of the night so you're my hero."

Chase withdrew back. "I'm no hero, just doing you a deed to spare you the embarrassment."

Both Ariana and Claire rolled their eyes with nonchalant appraisal as they turned their attention to the stage at the front of the arena.

They didn't really want nor did they need to see the show Kayla was putting on when they had never paid to see her show, instead attending for the music rather the engaging attire of Kayla.

Ariana blinked and stayed silent, choosing to ignore the distraction around her. Fortunately, within minutes she'd be able to concentrate on Simple Plan rather than Kayla's hollow hard work to pursue Chase.

An hour and a half later, the concert had come to an end and Ariana and the others had made their way out of the arena and into the foyer where Ariana began to roam the gift shop, searching for a memento to remember her first concert. Setting her eyes on a black t-shirt with the words 'Simple Plan' scrolled across the front of the shirt; she smiled, suddenly knowing she needed to buy one.

She rummaged through the rack until she found her size and then pondered over whether she'd buy one for her brother. Theoretically, they'd most likely not acquire a size right for Jackson but Ariana knew he'd love something his big sister brought home for her—even if it swam on his small body. He'd be able to wear it to bed and at least he'd be warm and cosy.

Finding a t-shirt marked the smallest size available, Ariana made her way to the cashier to pay for the t-shirts, where there was a line of two other people waiting to be served. After she paid for her items, she returned to Claire, Luke and Tristan who were by the side of the gift shop and exit as they waited for Chase, Sierra and Kayla to come back.

"You're getting two t-shirts?" Luke asked with a smirk.

Ariana shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm also getting one for my little brother. He loves receiving things from me."

Luke raised his eyebrow. "Despite the fact that it's not going to fit him?"

Ariana giggled. "Well, he can wear it to bed. It wouldn't be the first time he has worn an oversized piece of clothing."

"Fair enough," Luke agreed, digging his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. "You're a nice sister."

Ariana felt herself go red in the face and looked to the floor.

"Guys, I've got a great idea. Why don't we all go to the beach and just chill out to end the night?" Sierra asked, breaking the silence as she returned with Kayla and Chase following behind her.

"Yeah, I'm in," Luke said with a wide grin.

"Me too," Chase said, his hardened eyes focused to the ground.

"I'm in too," Kayla interjected. It was obvious to anyone there that she had only said yes for the sake that Chase was going.

"I'll come," Tristan said who looked to Claire as if asking if she'll go too, giving a nod to respond.

"What about you Ariana?" Luke asked, looking hopeful.

Ariana looked to Luke who bared a smile and then to Chase whose gave out no real emotion what so ever. Ariana was incredulous. She wasn't sure if she should go too. She had an Eleven O'clock curfew and sure, it wasn't even near there yet but how long would it take to get to the beach and how long would it take to get from the beach to her place? It wasn't like she was travelling alone.

She was in Chase's car. She couldn't very well insist they leave early because she had to get home in time for her curfew. They might think she wasn't into playing it dangerous, which she was but she hated to disobey her parents. She had never disobeyed her parents in her sixteen years of existence. She didn't want to start now.

"I don't know," she hesitated. "I mean, I have an eleven o'clock curfew. Maybe you should just take me home first."

"I'm sure we've all just about got a curfew," Sierra replied. "I know I do and I'm not going to miss it but I'm going to have some fun too before I go home."

"I promise I'll have you home on time," Chase said, kicking the ground with his feet.

"If Ariana doesn't want to go then she doesn't have to," Kayla threw in to the conversation like she really didn't want her coming.

Luke ignored her comment. "C'mon, what do you say? It'll be fun."

Glancing over to Kayla who showed a haughty smirk, Ariana answered. "OK, I'll come."

"Awesome! This is going to be so much fun to end the night!" Kayla exclaimed, linking arms with Chase.

Chase pulled away and turned to Kayla. "So, we'll meet you at the beach, okay?"

Kayla looked to Chase like she didn't understand him.

"You came in your own car so we'll just meet you there."

"OK," Kayla muttered.

As Kayla turned and walked the other direction they were going, she gave a sour looking expression to Ariana as if she was ruining her fun. Ariana discreetly showed a smile. Maybe she said yes just so she could stick it to Kayla but there was no way she was going to let her have her way all the time. Ariana didn't work that way. She was never overpowered by anyone. And it was about time Kayla knew she didn't submit to anyone.