The Aislin Chronicles
Part VI
A/n: Yay, Part VI! I know what you're thinking: it's about time. Yeah, I thought so too. And let me guess, now you're probably wondering how I knew what you were thinking. Ooooh. I'm "special." Haha. Um. Okay…
Oh hey I forgot to mention this last time- Sydney is not related to Aislin. The end of Part IV was purely symbolic. Sorry for the confusion.
1-22-03
3:34 PM
We presented our projects in Social Studies today. A bunch of people decided to do Egypt too, Jess included. It's rather boring hearing the same information over and over again. But not everyone made posters, which helps. Kathleen made a plate. That was cool. Her country was Djibouti, like Ja-Booty. That was really funny. She tried to say it as many times as she could throughout her presentation. Mr. Richards didn't think it was that funny but we all did.
Sydney picked me up from school today and yesterday, that was nice. She's still getting over her cold, but she says she'll probably go back to work tomorrow. We talked a little about school in the car, and it really wasn't that awkward. I wish I could talk more… I just can't sometimes. I don't know. I want to talk to her. I think I'll go see what she's doing.
1-24-03
3:59 PM
Oh boy, journal, have I got stories for you. Well. Sort of. Anyway, today was a half day because it's the end of a marking period. We're supposed to get our grades next weekend. I'm pretty sure I have all A's considering I haven't been here for very much work and I've done well on the things I have done.
After school Kathleen's dad picked us up and took us ice skating. So me, Jess, Dee, and Fini piled into the back of his big blue and silver van and Kathleen sat up front with him. He's older, like a lot older than Vaughn. Mr. Moorland was really nice and funny, but I got the feeling Kathleen was slightly annoyed or embarrassed or something. Whatever. We all liked him. He's got silvery gray hair and wears gold rimmed glasses, and has a big round stomach. I can't imagine Dad like that, older, I mean. It's just strange.
Well first Fini slid open the door and exclaimed, "Mr. M!" really loudly in her crazy voice.
"Hey there, Fini Weenie. How's it going?" he asked, quite friendly. Fini didn't reply, but hopped into the car and ran her fingers along the edge of the window next to her. I got in and headed for the back, and Jess came and sat in the back with me. Dee sat in the middle with Fini. Kathleen introduced me to her dad. And when she said I was from Ireland he didn't ask any questions, just said hello. Impressivo, ¿no?
On the way there Fini and Dee and Kathleen chatted with the occasional intervening comment from Mr. Moorland. They eventually came to a silence about half way there, though. Mr. Moorland asked, "So where's Adam?"
Jess's head snapped towards the front, I noticed. "He's going out to lunch with his brother and then meeting us there," Kathleen explained.
"Why couldn't Matt just take us all out to lunch?" Jess asked, rhetorically, I believe.
"Did you want me to take you out to lunch?" Kathleen's dad asked her.
"No, we want you to take us ice skating," she replied, glancing back at Jess briefly. I raised my eyebrows. Then I wondered why her dad didn't ask where Danny was.
When we got there and inside we paid the skate rental fee and got our skates. And then we all walked onto the ice together. And then we all fell.
4:07 PM
Which, by the way, really hurt.
4:08 PM
We laughed and got back up, of course. None of us had ice skated in about a year, so it took us a while to get used to it again. Eventually we all linked arms and skated in a row.
"I wonder where Adam is." Jess said somewhere in there.
"Looks like he's right there." Dee pointed across the rink where he waited for us girls to come around to the rink entrance.
Seeing him reminded me of Danny. "Why isn't Danny coming skating with us?"
"Because Danny doesn't like physical activity," explained Kathleen. "He prefers his violin."
"Really? I just thought he hated ice skating," said Fini.
Adam jumped onto the ice and skating next to us. "You guys look all weird skating in a line like that." Gee, what a happy greeting.
"Shut-up," Jess threw at him, releasing her link around my arm to be free of the line. Dee, Fini, and Kathleen sped up, so I was dragged along with them. They went really fast and Fini managed to hold me up despite my stumbling over the ice.
"Okay, so what do you think they're talking about?" Kathleen asked, staring at them from the other side of the rink.
"I don't know," Dee added with sarcasm, "we would know if we had stayed over there."
"You started speeding up before I did!"
"What? Oh, whoops."
"So I kissed Lou," said Fini, rather randomly.
I, for one, was shocked. "Really?" I asked in awe. Oh, and who was Lou?
"Twenty second frencher, baby." I couldn't help but notice Dee and Kathleen spilling over with laughter. "He let me hold his winky. It's pretty."
Um… What? "She's lying," Kathleen said finally. "Lou Petroni is this kid she's had a crush on since like first grade. Nothing's ever happened between them. I don't think Fini's even talked to him before."
"Nuh uh," Fini said meekly.
"Yuh huh!"
"Kit-kat!"
"Feen weens!"
I wonder if I'll ever get to be like that with them. I mean, okay, it's been what, like a month, but still. They're my friends, I suppose, but will we be best friends? Kathleen, Dee, and Fini have known each other, like, forever. They met Adam in second grade, Jess in third, and Danny moved here two and a half years ago.
But Jess is still my best friend, right? I feel like I could tell her anything. Well except of course all about Father and Sydney and whatnot, but everything else. All the other stuff in between the lines. I feel like that's what matters for us.
4:16 PM
This was about ice skating, wasn't it? Bloody hell.
So Fini and Kathleen were bantering with Dee skating in between them and chuckling, completely used to it. I scanned the ice for Jess, she was already looking at me. So of course exactly at that moment Fini and Dee stopped paying attention and ran into some poor little kid in front of us.
He started crying, so we helped him up and tried to get him to stop crying, which he wouldn't. Jess and Adam caught up to us then, and eventually some parent came and hauled the crying kid off.
I don't really remember what exactly happened next, but somewhere in there Kathleen, Jess, and I were all walking to the concession stand to get hot chocolates for everyone. I guess we decided we'd had enough skating. So we were waiting in line, and Jess kept glancing back at Dee, Fini, and Adam (though I'm guessing mostly at Adam now).
"Why did you guys skate away from me when Adam came?"
"That was all Dee, we were just following so we didn't fall over."
"Is there something going on?" I finally asked.
Jess raised her eyebrows. "I think I like Adam." Kathleen didn't look surprised, and I imagine I didn't either. "Hello? Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, we heard you, I'm just glad you finally admitted it."
Jess raised her eyebrows. "Well," I said, "you do flirt like mad."
"Whatever, Ais."
Hehe, she knows she does. She smiled the tiniest of smiles then. We got the hot chocolates and went back to the bench the others were sitting at. We had like ten minutes to drink them though because Kathleen's dad was coming soon, as were Roxy and Matt. Kathleen's dad was going to give me a ride home because she lives closer to me than Jess does.
"Kit-Kat, where's your pops?" Fini asked, her head tilted far to the side.
"I don't know, on his way?"
"Where's your mom?"
"Work."
"Where does she work?"
Oh, I asked that, not Fini. "Arcadia High School. She teaches there."
"Why don't you live there?" That was Fini again. That girl is crazy.
"Because we aren't rich like Jessica the Ever Spry."
"I'll show you spry."
"I'll spry you!"
"I'll spry your mom!"
"Well you aren't poor, Kathleen the More Beloved." Jess slurped the remains of her hot chocolate. I was busy swirling the last bit of mine in circles. "Aislin, where does your dad work?"
"Mine? Oh, he works for a, um, a bank. Sydney works there too."
"Ooooh," she remarked.
Before I could work up more extravagant lies, Mr. Moorland came so me, Kathleen, Dee, and Fini all got rides home. Apparently they all play softball together in the spring. Jess used to, but she quit after fifth grade. I think that would be fun to play with them.
But Jess likes Adam. Finally. I think he likes her, but I know if I tried to tell her she'd disagree with me. Hmm.
Oh yay, someone's home. Good bye, journal!
1-25-03
10:00 AM
Mmmm, Saturday morning. Both Syd and Dad have the day off today. I bet one of them will want to go do something, but the other will want to stay and lounge around, like I want to do. But I think we should all go do something together. Breakfast now? Breakfast indeed.
10:31 AM
Good news: we'll be lounging today. I think Weiss is coming over for supper. Darn, that means I'll have to change out of pajamas. Ah. Oh well.
I wonder what would happen if I just stopped doing math homework. Or if I dropped math completely. Honestly, when am I ever going to use order of operations other than in math class? Never, that's when. I don't need to be advanced in math anyway. I don't know what I want to be, but I won't do anything in mathematics. I'll probably
Oh dear…
It's night! And 1-17, just so you know ;)
Aislin! How cute, you keep a diary! Keep your socks on, I didn't read any of it. I just flipped through and opened to an empty page. So Jessica the Ever Spry says hello to Aislin the… you need a name. Kathleen is "the More Beloved." Krissy is Kristina the Mildly Feisty. Tell me when you read this and we'll give ya one babe. You're talking to your dad right now. Mwahaha. I'm writing in your diary. Tonight was fun but I know you'll be back soon so adios!!!
Jessica L. Silko
10:43 AM
I'm going to kill her, I swear. At least she didn't read any. I mean, she said she didn't, but I believe her. If she had she'd totally flaunt it. Or confront me, at least, if it had been something related to Father…
Perhaps I should hide this better? What if Dad were to find it? Or Syd? That would be weird.
10:44 AM
Teehee, I'm getting a name!
2-3-03
7:46 AM
Oh goodness! I hid you after that last entry and then I forgot where I hid you! Poor journal, I'm so sorry! Oh I love you I love you I love you! I won't lose you again, I promise! Um… Happy February! Sydney and Dad take their trip to France soon. They leave the twelfth, I believe. We still don't know what we're doing with me. I heard them have a conversation about it the other day.
Well. I heard it from the pen, and didn't have anything to do with it. I was giddy; my hands were all jumpy. What would I do without you, journal? I can't take news like that without telling you, my darling. Anyway…
Sydney had asked me at dinner if I was sure that I didn't want to come, and I told her I didn't want to intrude. Dad said I wouldn't be intruding, but I know better. Then I made up some crap about school, like I had a test or project or something like that. That at least got them quiet about it.
After dinner, they were washing dishes, and Vaughn said, "I really want her to come."
"Me too, but she's so insistant on not intruding on our trip."
"She's being stubborn."
This part was golden. Oh man, it was so good. Short silence, followed by, in unison, "You're rubbing off on her."
"What!? You're the stubborn one, Syd."
"Oh, well, you're just as bad, if not worse."
"I'm not stubborn."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!" In a little kid sounding voice he continued. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!"
Then they started laughing, and hopefully, making out. Aw, look what I did. Little matchmaker me. Face it, they'd be lost without me.
7:51 AM
Wait. I'm still not going to France with them, though. I'll probably just stay with Francie and Will and that will be the end of it. I'm going to school now.
2-7-04
6:03 PM
Hey, journal, ol' buddy. Today is a very good day. And do you know why, journal? Because, well, for one- it's Friday. Two- I got an A on my math test. Three- we're going to start a big research paper in English (shut-up, I know what you're thinking, and I'm excited because we were supposed to start today but it's postponed until Monday and we just went back and read our old papers instead). Four- both Syd and Dad are home, and they have the day off tomorrow. Five- they're cooking yummy dinner right now. And finally six- Jess is spending the night! Wahoo!
She's going to be here in like ten minutes and then we'll eat dinner and watch movies and go online and talk and have all sorts of fun. But alas, journal, I may have to hide you from her. I cannot allow her to surf through you again at will, even though she didn't exactly do that the first time. It's not something I'm willing to risk.
Oh dear, now I'm thinking about that research paper. I'm not really worried about it, we get like the whole week in the library finding our information, and all class time to write the rough draft and edit it too. But I don't know what I'm doing it on. Hmmmm. I'll ask Jess what she's planning to do. Or maybe I'll ask Sydney.
6:07 PM
Oh, and by the way, my new name is Aislin the Brilliantly Bold. Cute, isn't it?
12:00 AM
Gosh, I'm tired. Why am I still up? Oh right. JESS. No surprise there. She's doing God knows what on the internet. I think now she's playing cards and chatting with people she doesn't know and telling them lies about her. In this room she's a 22 year old college student from Massachusetts.
Mum was from Massachusetts. I've always wanted to go there to see what it's like… I want to see her old neighborhood, her house, her school. I mean, she only lived there until she was seven, but I want to see what little American-ness she had in her. I really
12:03 AM
Sorry, I just rolled off the bed there. Jess is laughing at me like I'm an idiot, so I better stop writing soon. I was just saying I really wonder about her life sometimes.
2-8-03
1:22 PM
What a morning! Vaughn made pancakes for us, but since we didn't go to bed until 4 in the morning, he sent Donovan go wake us up around 10:30. We thought it was funny to be greeted with a big wet lick, but also a little grossed out.
We finally all got ourselves to the table and started eating. About halfway through a slightly too large bite of pancake, Jess asked, "So, you guys work at a bank?"
I froze. Oh God, oh God, she did not just ask that… My eyes darted to Dad's. He didn't even blink. "Yeah, we do."
"It's boring," Sydney winked.
How do they do that? Just go along with lies so easily? They're amazing. And yet I can still trust them with everything. Funny how that works. I swallowed the rest of my pancake.
"Is that where you met?" Jess kept asking.
Sydney and Dad nodded. "About a year and a half ago," Sydney stated. "When I started working there."
Okay, I thought, this is all right. She's asking safe questions. As long as she doesn't ask questions about where they got me we'll be okie dokie. So I went to take a sip of water and had the glass to my lips when she asked, "So you planning on getting married any time soon?"
Needless to say, I choked a little on my water and spat half of it back into the glass. And then I only closed my eyes. In shame. That Jess…
When I opened my eyes Sydney and Dad were looking at each other with little half smiles on their faces. "Um," Vaughn started, glancing at me before turning back to Jess, "I'm not sure."
Sydney looked at me. "You okay?" she asked, referring to my little choking incident.
"Yeah. Fine." I coughed again.
After that she didn't have any more questions (thank God). But that was how my morning went. Jess left like an hour ago. We talked about how she's in love with Adam, and now since she has a crush she's convinced I need one. She started naming boys I didn't know that were okay to crush on. She's crazy. But we had tons of fun despite the embarrassing breakfast scene.
1:30 PM
And I still don't know what I'm doing my research paper on.
A/n: I definitely had to do he research paper in seventh grade. I did the FBI, but I don't think that's right for Aislin… Got any ideas? Because I'm feeling lazy. What should she do her report on?
Anyway, please review. The next part is Syd and Vaughn's big trip!