Sabree's POV.
Shopping. Again. Mia never seems to get tired of dragging me on these shopping trips, forcing me into tiny cubical dressing rooms, handing me outfit after outfit. I really need to have a talk with her. I sigh and strip myself of the hideous outfit she's picked out for me this time. A floor length white skirt and an aqua blue tank top, paired with a white shrug to go over it. I look at the skirt and shudder. I loathe skirts.
"Sabree," she says, then knocks on the dressing room door.
I crack it open, assuming she has more horrendous outfits picked out for me. I expect another skirt, or some fancy dress that I'll never wear. Instead, she shoves a pair of designer jeans, a white undershirt, and a black tee depicting Led Zeppelin into my hand, "Um. Wow, thanks." I really don't know how to react to the outfit. She never picks out stuff I like.
I sit there for a moment, trying to figure out if this was the same Mia that took me from the foster home six months ago. She must get the wrong impression of my silence, "You do like that band, don't you? If not, than I can go exchange it for a different one."
"Oh, no. I'm a huge fan of Zeppelin. It's just, I wasn't expecting this."
"Well, I've realized that the clothes I've been picking out for you just don't fit your personality. So, I'm going with this approach. Well, how does it look?"
I come out, Mia claps her hands together. "I must admit, that does look good on you, Sabree, doll. I think we've had enough clothes for today. I've noticed you need a new pair of shoes." She glances down at my five year old ratty Converse, worn at the soles.
We arrive at a salon, with a few new pairs of shoes, for me and for her. I picked out another pair of Converse, a pair of black Vans, and a white sandal, a wedge I think it's called, that are supposed to lace around my ankle. Mia picked those out for me, and talked me into getting them. That's what I'm wearing right now, Mia says I need to so I can get used to how they walk. I'm not a huge fan of them, but I don't hate them, either. They add about three inches to my pathetic height of five foot three.
The stylist calls my name, and I follow her to her chair. I have no clue what I'm doing, so Mia explains clearly what she wants done with my hair. My hair is too dull, as Mia puts it. Dull? I, for one, never had a thought in the world that hair can be dull. Seconds thoughts start to kick in about now.
Why did I let her talk me into this? The stylist begins. I watch as she tugs at my hair, and hacks away at a few pieces with a razor. She only applies this to a few spots and leaves my hair as is in other. The stylist makes small conversation, asking me about my life, my age, what school I go to. I groan silently, squeezing my eyes shut.
"Alright, babe, are you ready to see the new you?"
The new me? Yeah, right. I nod and she turns the chair so I face the mirror. My eyes open and I stare down my reflection. Here I was sure I would hate what they've done to my hair.
They've dyed my hair an ash blonde color, a few shades darker than my original platinum blonde, and, to my request, they've dyed the under layers of my hair the color of coffee grounds. The way they styled my bangs, they styled them so the swept over my right eye in a surprisingly cute way.
"Wow," I mutter, awe struck. I can hardly believe they managed to do this to my hair, when I can hardly contain the wild locks into a decent looking bun. It was certainly a change, but I didn't think it made me a new Sabree.
"This is a good luck for you, babe. It turned out much better than I thought." Marie, my stylist, cheers, popping her gum. She asks if I want in done in any special way, but I shake my head, and request to have it slicked back into a simple half pony tail.
"Oh, my god. Marie! This is so great! She looks fabulous!" Mia giggles, and examines a piece of my freshly dyed hair. "Oh, Sabree, you look so amazing." She says then glances at her watch. "Oh, would you look at the time. We have to get you back in time for your little date!!"
I just had to say date, didn't I? Ugh. I have to learn to think about things before I say them.
Stacy's POV
Why was I here? Honestly, I don't know why I even bother to come to Tony's parties. I don't drink. I don't smoke, so why do I come? To be the designated driver for my friends. Ah, there we go. That's the reason. As funny as it can be watching them parade themselves around drunk and stoned, they end up far to wasted by the end of the party to even get themselves up. Tony and Kathy have to have the place cleaned up by at least 5:30, to avoid getting caught by their father so I guess I've found my role in the world.
"Hey, Stace!" I turn at the sound of the voice to see Tyler approaching me. It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one that sits and watches our friends.
"Hey, man." I say. Tyler leans against the wall behind him.
"Hey, bro, you seen Sabree? Her and my mom took off this morning. The old man and I haven't heard from 'em since. I figured she must've broken away and come here?"
I shake my head, "Sorry, bro, haven't seen her either." I look around, "And she defiantly belongs here."
Tyler nods, "Yeah, the party scene is defiantly for Sabree," he stops and sighs, "As funny as it is to see her stoned off her ass; it's not good for her."
I shrug, "Well, Sabe's been around this stuff all her life, you know? I mean, her own father is the one who was buying her the weed in the first place. It's almost second nature to her."
A blonde girl bounces past with Thunder Monkey. Well, not bounces. It looks more like she's being dragged along. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the girl was Sabree. But, it couldn't be. Sabree has a certain way about her, I suppose. Sabree is not your typical California girl. No one knows what it is about her, but she's just. . .something else.
Tyler manages to snag the girl by the elbow. He looks astounded, as do I. "Sabree?" he asks, his mouth agape. She smiles, and I see her cheeks turn a light pink shade.
She nods, "Yeah, wanna do something about it?" she laughs and playfully punches Tyler.
"Fuck, what did my mom do to you?"
She shrugs, "I know. I'm surprised I like it."
Sabree's POV
"Sabree? That you?" Sid's voice rings out from behind me. I love this kid. I'd have to say, I've bonded with him and Tony more than anyone else. I guess, but bonding with Sid wasn't a choice, as his parents and my foster parents would insist on us 'getting to know each other.' Like I said, I love
A huge grin appears on his face, and he twirls me around. "Damn, Mia really did a number on you." He laughs. The energy around Sid is a bit nervous, but not as bad as usual. I notice certain smoothness when his around me, a lack thereof when Thunder Monkey comes around.
"Hey, Sid." Thunder Monkey giggles, twirling a piece of jet black hair around her finger. Sid gulps, and his speech becomes all jumbled together and the poor kid is practically a nervous wreck. Oh, I get it. He likes me, but he really likes Thunder Monkey. I think it's kind of cute how jittery he gets around her.
"Oh, h-hey Thunder Monkey." He manages to stammer out. I smile, and look over at Stacy. Besides Jay, he's really the only one I haven't gotten that acquainted with. I don't know why, he's a nice enough guy. It just seems that every time we at least try to have a full conversation, something comes along and drags one, if not both, of us away. Like now for example.
Biniak comes up behind me to shove me forward lightly. But, as most of the boys from Venice, he underestimates his strength, and I go colliding into a very tall, very blonde Stacy Peralta.
"Shit, sorry, Stace." I cringe slightly, pulling away from him.
He just chuckles like it's no big deal. Which I suppose it isn't but whatever. "Nah, nah. It's cool." He says, then stands back to examine my hair some more. "I never expected this from you." He jokes.
"Yeah. Apparently Biniak didn't either." I laugh, as the half way drunken skater picks and chooses certain pieces of my hair to look at.
"Well, for the record, it looks good." I smile at Stacy's compliment and another conversation almost begins, but Tony shoves a plastic cup full of beer in my hand. I then feel Shogo press his hands against the small of my back to push me into following Tony. I look back at Stacy, shrug, then mouth out the words, I'm sorry.
"Sabe, we're just about to go smoke up. It's mandatory that you be there!" Shogo laughs, as I take my first swallow of vodka in ages. The bitter liquid burns as it slides down my throat, it's my first taste of vodka since I got put back into the foster home, so I expect it to be a little harsh.
Stacy's POV
I sigh and focus my gaze on Kathy and Jay. How could she hurt me like that? I know it was months ago, but I still feel the same pain I felt the first time Jay told me him and Kathy were a 'thing.' Jay, my 'friend.' I shake my head. I shouldn't be thinking so harshly about Jay. Despite his morals being slightly twisted around, I can truly call Jay one of my friends. He was the only one who had the guts to tell me Skip didn't want me on the team to begin with. And, to be fair, he did tell me the truth about Kath. . .
I see Sabree take the open seat next to me, and watch as little droplets of whatever she has in the two cups splatter onto the seat.
"Music, weed and alcohol; this is defiantly a Tony Alva party." She chuckles, offering me the cup in her right hand.
I look down at it, questionably. She does know I don't drink, right? "Um,"
"Don't worry, Peralta," she shakes her head, placing the cup in my hand herself. "It's just Sprite, bro."
I never expected this from Sabree. I mean, yeah, Tyler's told us of a huge change in Sabree's behavior but I didn't think she would do something this nice. Even if it was something as simple as going out of her way to get me Sprite instead of vodka. "I thought Tony wanted you to go smoke," I say, paying close attention to how my voice drifts off.
Sabree pauses, cup half to way up to her lips. She then looks at and shakes her head. "Nah. Apparently Shogo's definition of 'smoking' is to watch Tony and Red Dog have a contest to see who could drink the most beer without puking. Tony won, by the way."
I nod, taking a swig of my Sprite, "Yeah. . .that sounds like them." Again, my voice goes soft and mine and Sabe's conversation goes distant. My eyes go straight to Jay and Kathy, all cuddled up on her dad's chair.
"Stace? Stacy," Sabree's voice began to come in loud and clear. Even she could feel the uneasiness in my gaze. Someone I'd only known for a short time could even pick out I wasn't over Kath. . .
She sighs, taking a small drink of her vodka, "You can't let her get to you like that, Stace."
Her answer catches me off guard, "You heard about that, huh?"
Her eyes get big and she laughs, "Chyeah. Can we say slut?"
I give her a look. "Yeah…I tried playing nice with Kathy once. It' didn't work." She explains, tossing her head back to let the last of her vodka slide down her throat.
I bite my lower lip and turn to face her, "Yeah, well, Kathy's not the only one to blame."
Sabree nods, stacking her empty yellow plastic cup in mine, "Yeah. It's Jay's fault, too. He's an ass. Ick."
"Jay is a jackass sometimes. . .but his heart his in the right place. He really tries, you know?" I say, ignoring the rush-y sick feeling dwelling in the pit of my stomach long enough to look her in the eyes.
She scoffs, "Haha, good one, Stace. Look, all I know is that Kathy doesn't deserve this little slump she's put you in." she shrugs, and her gaze catches with mine. Her gray eyes. . .are hard to explain. They're very light. . .almost understanding. Not a distant, ugly, scary gray.
I offer her a half smile. Honestly, I never expected Sabree, of all people, to be telling me this. She strikes me as more of an 'I don't care' person, but I guess Ty was right about her-- I can see the personality change now.
We sit there for a minute or two, saying nothing. Maybe this was the moment of bonding that Tyler had been insisting we get. Maybe it's a moment where nothing needs to be said. Well, whatever this moment is, it's interrupted by Tony.
"Sabe, we're 'bout to blaze up. C'mon." he says, taking Sabree by the wrist to drag her along. She jumps, trying to shake the surprise wrist grabbing off. Her lips curve into a smile.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" she laughs. Then she did something I didn't expect. She looked back at me, I stare back at her uncomfortably. Then she says,
'I won't smoke too much,' Before Tony drags her off to some vacant room in his house.
Two hours later Sabree and Tony emerge from the room, smoke floating out behind them. They both seem more than stoned. Maybe a good amount of alcohol floating in their veins, too.
I shake my head, angered by the fact she broke her promise. To make matters worse, the next thing she does is lean in and kiss Tony. As usual, Blanca isn't aware of Tony's little escapades with other girls behind her back. Even if they are too wasted to realize their own actions, it is what it is. I pray that Tony doesn't remember this in the morning as he backs Sabree up into the wall, trailing kisses down her neck.
That moment between us, it had to be more than bonding. If it was just a moment of bonding, I wouldn't have this immense anger surging through my body. I close my eyes and try to shake it off. I give myself a little talk in many failed attempts to calm myself down. Sabree lands with a thunk on the floor. All the pot and the alcohol must have gotten to her. Tyler must have seen her pass out as he runs to her side, automatically checking for a pulse.
"Shit! Dude, what the fuck happened to her?!" He yells. He's panicked. Anyone can tell when Tyler's in a panic, his left eyebrow twitches uncontrollably.
"She drank and smoked too much." I explain as calmly as I'm able to allow myself.
"Fuck! I can't take her home like this! My parents will kill her! Then they'll kill me!"
My teeth catch my bottom lip and I contemplate my next move. "Shit...I'll take her to my house. Just tell your parents that she's staying the night at a friends' house, or something." I decide, reluctantly. I help get the poor girl onto Tyler's back.
"Thanks, Stace. I owe you one, buddy."
Sabree's POV
I awake with a start. I had another dream about my life before Tyler's house, before the foster home. The first time my father had beaten me, the first time I got stoned-- everything. Why do these dreams keep plaguing me? Ugh. I have a pounding head ache and on top of it all I don't know where I am. The walls are varied shades of yellow, the room is medium sized and surf posters splatter the wall.
Where am I? I groan, dragging myself over to a mirror. My hair is a tangled, knotted up mess. Clumps of mascara stick to my cheeks, accompanied by smeared eyeliner. I look awful. I'm normally not one to care about appearances, but I look like shit today. My eyes trail down to my neck, to an unfamiliar dark mark. I run my fingers over it and I remember. The party, the promise. Everything.
"Fuck…" my eyes grow wide. Tony. . . after we got stoned. I know we drunk a lot after that? But, what else?
The opening of a door catches my attention. It closes but I jump and crawl under the desk in the strange, banana colored room. "Stacy?"
"In the kitchen, dad."
Stacy?! I'm in Stacy's bedroom? Oh shit. I must have been pretty fucked up last night to be here. Stacy. . .Crap. Not even half way into the morning and I've fucked things up twice.
The promise of last night comes flooding back. I told Stacy I wouldn't do too much of anything. A wave of regret washes over me, as I come from my hiding spot. Am I the biggest bitch in the world? I think so. My fingers trace over the hickey once more. Great. Now I'm a bitch and a slut.
I hold my breath and wait until his dad leaves the house again. I scurry out into the small dining room, searching for Stacy. Did he leave? Oh, God. I hope not. I look around the house once more, praying that Stacy wouldn't be too harsh on me if I found him.
I hear a sigh, and see his blonde hair flicker in the wind slightly in the wind out of the corner of my eye. He's in his back yard. I take small, coward like-steps outside. "Stace?" I say his name in little more than a whisper.
He just looks back at me His ocean blue eyes are actually burning with an intense anger, almost a look of hate. I can't even begin to describe the pained look in his eyes. I don't think Stacy has ever looked at anyone with this much anger before. . not even Jay and Kathy.
"D-did I have sex with Tony last night?" The words roll of my tongue. I couldn't have. . I haven't even had a boyfriend yet.
He shakes his head, "No, but you might as well have." He snaps. His voice takes on a tone that I've never heard him speak before. His look softens up a bit, "You promised me you wouldn't smoke too much." He frowns and the scornful look in his perfect blue eyes melts away, being replaced with melancholy look of disappointment.
I nod, "I know…I-I'm sorry."
He shakes his head, "Go home, Sabree. There's only so long Ty and I can cover for you." He says, then grabs his surf board to go inside, leaving me all alone.
'You promised me you wouldn't smoke too much.' Those words keep playing over and over in my head. They're taunting me. . . I didn't think it was possible for Stacy to be so angry at someone.
'You might as well have.' Those words cut me deeply. Nothing has ever hurt me more than hearings those five words. Not my dad's regular beatings, the first time he hurt my mom, the first time I figured I was never going to have a family. For the first time since I've been in California, hot tears press themselves in my eyes. I suck.