A girl walked across the wasteland, silently following the two rebels. The wasteland really wasn't her domain, but she wanted to see what that boy, her boy, was doing with that girl, and where they were going. A sly smile spread across her face as she saw them separate, but it rapidly changed to a look of disgust as the boy quickly ran after the girl, following her into the scrap heap. She cursed, stamping her foot, in a childish display as she lost her temper at losing the two. Then, she squealed girlishly as her foot slipped on the mud, landing her foot in a puddle. She hated the rain, anything that would, could cause any damage to her normally immaculate appearance. As a thought came to her, a malicious grin spread across her face, 'Well Mr… Figaro… You don't get away that easily.' She laughed out loud, cruel and high pitched, a girlish giggle with undertones of calculating and spite.
She ran a perfectly manicured finger through her sleek blonde bob with new pastel highlights, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. With a final glance towards the scrap heap she turned back towards the city, plan rapidly forming in her mind. She didn't want the boy, no, she'd never even be seen dead with him, but she would not let him treat her as he had done, abandoning her for that girl. She would have her revenge, and with a grin, she realised she knew exactly how to get it. She knew the girl, they had even been childhood friends, until Sally had chosen the other way of life. It had been on one of their evenings out in the bar that they had seen the boy, and, for a while it had looked as if she had won the game.
Sally and Shania made their way through the buzzing central part of the city, arms linked, talking excitedly. Neon lights flashed over their heads, announcing that the club they were passing was the newest, hippest one in town.
'I know you're just gonna love this new bar, it is THE place to be. And so many cute guys!' Shania giggled, unaware of her companion's disinterest.
'Yeah…' Sally muttered, wishing Shania would shut up. She really didn't care what they did. She just wanted to go home. She grinned brightly, putting on the image that she knew the world was expecting – two young girls out for the night together, having fun.
'I heard about on this website my mum told me about – she heard about it from someone in The Club.'
'Oh…'
'Don't sound too enthusiastic babe, what's up? Anyway, we're here, look, let's go to the loos and we can fix your make up, and you can tell Aunty S all about your problems.' Shania took her friend by the wrist and led her into the club, pushing past the other clubbers, 'Outta the way! Girl with problems coming through!' She made her way to a small, unobtrusive door that led to a flight of downward stairs in the back of the club, and led Sally downstairs into the bathroom, out of the blaring noise of the programmed club music that was coming from speakers set into the walls.
The bathroom was large and air-conditioned, with plush two-seater sofas to one side, opposite a row of large, white, marble sinks. Shania sat Sally down on one of the sofas, and sat down next to her, rummaging through her hot pink plastic handbag, 'Right… sit still, I'll fix this.' She pulled out various tubes of eye makeup and foundation, and began to expertly 'do' Sally's face. A couple of moments later she abruptly finished, 'All done.' She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow and looked expectantly at Sally, finding herself receiving no reply she began, 'Now, what's the problem?'
Sally fidgeted, 'There's no problem. I'm fine.' She surveyed the bathroom with interest, 'Nice place. Very well chosen.' She smiled brightly, 'So, if we're all done, shall I get the drinks in?'
Shania noticed the smile, but mis-interpreted it as genuine, 'Sure! Just a sec, I need to redo my lips.' She got up, and walked over to one of the sinks, inspecting her face in the mirror that stretched the length of the wall, glancing down, she rummaged in her bag a second time, and produced a tube of lip gloss, and proceeded to apply a generous layer. She smacked her lips together, 'Perfect.' She smiled at her reflection. 'Oh, one more thing.' Replacing the lip gloss in her bag she produced a small spray bottle, and squirted some of the contents in her mouth, running her tongue over her teeth to remove any residue. 'Breath freshener,' she explained, winking at Sally, 'just in case. You want?'
'Oh, no, I'm good thanks.'
'Let's go then!' Shania led Sally back up the stairs, 'Right, you get the drinks in. I'll find some guys. Oh, Sal! I'll have my usual!' she called back.
Sally made her way to the large bar in the centre of the room, worming her way through the other clubbers, girls in their plastic pastel GaGa mini skirts and cropped tops, and the boys in their white trousers and t-shirts. Once at the bar she punched in the codes for a strawberry daiquiri and a double rum and coke, and shoved her card into the slot provided. The slot beeped and she removed her card, and waited the obligatory two seconds for the drinks to rise from below the bar surface. She put her card back into her bag, letting the bag dangle from her elbow, and taking the drinks she glanced around the crowded room, trying to locate Shania. She wasn't hard to spot – she was the only girl in hot pink; the colour of the next week, and surrounded by five members of the Boyzone. Sally sighed, and made her way over to her friend, 'Here,' she said, handing Shania her drink.
'Thanks babe.' She took the drink and took a dainty sip, 'Let me introduce you. Sally, these are Luke, Josh, Matt, Ben and Will' she said, gesturing to each of her companions in turn. 'Boys, this is my friend, Sally.' The boys regarded her with interest, looking her up and down, before turning their attention back to Shania. 'So boys, I wonder if you can tell me, who's that cutie in the corner?' Shania smiled at them, oblivious to their scowls.
Luke took the role of spokesperson for the boys, 'Are you serious? The guy in black in the corner?'
Shania nodded, 'Yeah. He's cute. Looks like the strong, silent type.' She turned to Sally, 'he's got his jacket on now, but before he didn't – and his biceps! And before he sat down… his bum! Nice.' She giggled, seemingly more oblivious to the deepening scowls of Luke and his cronies.
'You really think he's cute? No way. Babe, he's a FREAK. I really mean it, he's a freak. Strong and silent, more like dangerous and weird. I wouldn't go near him.'
Shania giggled again, 'I'm glad.'
Luke scowled still more, if that was possible, 'He's a freak. I don't know what he's doing in here actually, he has no friends, and everyone who's ever had the misfortune to meet him, hates him as the freaky weirdo he is.' His voice was low and menacing, as though he were about to attack them, or the boy in the corner.
A girl had approached their group, unnoticed by all but Sally. She tapped Luke on the shoulder, 'Um, excuse me. Sorry to interrupt you, but my friend over there,' she gestured to a large group of girls clustered around a table behind her, 'wanted me to tell you that she thinks you're really cute. Oh, and she asked me to give you this.' She handed him a scrap of paper, 'She apologises if it's smudged, but she only had lipstick to write it with.' The girl flicked her hair and smiled at the boys, 'Bye boys!' she giggled and gave a slight wave, before walking back to her friends.
One of the boys clapped Luke on the shoulder, 'I reckon you've pulled mate. Go over and say hi. See if she's got any cute friends.'
'Erm, did you SEE the one who came over? Of course she's got cute friends.' One of the others answered.
The boys laughed, and Luke glanced at Shania, 'The freak in the corner's all yours, babe. See ya.'
'Well, that got rid of them. So, the one in the corner, an opinion?' Shania laughed.
'Yeah, he's cute. Ask him over. He looks lonely.'
Shania grinned, got up, smoothed down her skirt, tossed her hair behind her and walked over to the boy, returning a few moments later with him. 'Sally, this is Gordon, this is my friend Sally. Sit down. Can I get you a drink?' The boy was dressed oddly, or at least in comparison to the rest of the boys in the club, the traditional white Boyzone clothes had been replaced by black jeans, a grubby white t-shirt and black leather jacket. He looked nervous, not as confident or as self-assured as the other boys in the club, like he was wholly aware of his incongruity and confused by it.'
'Um, n-n-no thank y-you.' The boy sat down next to Sally, earning a glare from Shania for doing so.
Sally noticed the glare and laughed, 'I think she wanted you to sit next to her,' she whispered. Gordon did not move, but smiled nervously.
Shania ignored it, 'So, Gordon, tell me about yourself.'
'W-what do y-you want t-to k-k-know? I'm at the v-virtual high, and e-everyone t-thinks I'm a f-freak.'
'Well Gordon, I don't think you're a freak. I think you're lovely. The virtual high? No kidding!? That's where we go!' she said excitedly. Shania smiled encouragingly at him, 'Are you sure I can't get you a drink?' The boy shook his head, 'No t-thank you.' Shania smiled, well, I'm getting another, Sally?'
'No thanks, I'm still working on this one.'
Shania sighed, 'I'll be back in a bit.' She took off into the crowd, pushing past the dancers that crowded the floor.
'Sorry about her, she's a bit… pushy.' Sally smiled softly at Gordon, she liked him, was drawn to his individuality. 'So… Gordon… you don't look like a Gordon… Where'd you get your stuff from? Is it the latest fashion?' she smiled at him again and gave a light laugh, 'I gave up trying to be fashionable. Don't think Shan noticed though.'
Gordon looked awkward, 'I don't feel like a Gordon. You can call me G-galileo if you want.' He flushed, 'But, could you keep it secret, not tell your friend? I don't really like p-people knowing, and I don't think she'd understand.' He bit his lip, changing the subject, 'N-no, I downloaded them. And they're not the latest fashion, I don't really l-like that stuff. I'll give you the site address, there's some cool s-stuff on there,' he looked around for a piece of paper, 'Erm, d'you have-'
'Here.' Sally handed him her Electronic Organiser, 'just type in the URL, it'll save automatically.' Gordon smiled at her and typed it in, then handed it back to her. 'Thanks.'
'I'm ba-ack! What did you find to talk about without me? I hope you behaved yourself Sally.' Shania laughed, 'She's not as bad as she seems,' she said to Gordon. 'So-'
She was cut off mid sentence by a loud and furious bleeping from Sally's WristWAP. 'Sally?'
Sally swore softly, 'Sorry guys. My parents. Curfew. I've got to go.' She looked at Shania, 'You coming?'
'Yeah, I might as well. Need my beauty sleep. You got an organiser?' She said to Gordon.
He shook his head, 'No, s-sorry.'
'No matter.' Shania produced a piece of paper and pen from her bag, 'Always handy,' she laughed, and scrawled her email address on the piece of paper and handed it to him. 'That's my email address. Email me sometime… if you want. I'll take these back,' she gathered up the empty glasses, and stood up. 'Bye Gordon!' She waved and disappeared into the crowd, returning a moment later, 'Come on Sally! It's your curfew!'
Sally smiled and got up, 'Bye Gordon!' she said, then whispered so only he could hear, 'Nice to meet you, Galileo.'
Then, almost overnight Sally had changed, and become like him. And he had finally made his choice, and chosen her. Though she would never show it he had broken Shania's heart, and she had become cynical, malicious, scheming, cunning, cruel.
As she neared the city Shania turned away from her intended direction, a new, better plan forming. Hit them where it hurts. She had heard from her own parents how Sally's were despairing of her and her association with 'that boy'. No doubt they didn't know their little girl was out on the wasteland with him. It was getting late, and the city was only marginally safer than the wasteland at night, particularly the south west side. She automatically jabbed at her wrist-WAP, punching in the code for automatic transport. In a matter of seconds a black cab pulled up in front of her, and she hopped in, 'West Side, North West District, The Penthouse, Block 454A, 57614 Avenue.' The door glided shut and a blue light lit up, signifying that the door was locked.
'Thank you. Processing your request.' The automated voice response replied. 'Please enter 129 Mall Dollars.' Shania slid her card into the slot provided, and quickly withdrew it, knowing as soon as the process finished, the sooner her plan would be put into action. The transaction was over in seconds and the cab whipped along the monorail route, halting abruptly at the destination she had specified. 'Thank you for your custom.' Shania got out, and walked quickly through the double doors that slid open as she approached. Glancing furtively around her she punched in the elevator code, the doors pinged open and slid closed behind her. She held tightly onto the metal hand bar, shutting her eyes, as the elevator rose to the penthouse suite. The whole journey through the city had taken under two minutes, in which time Shania had fixed her hair and makeup. Looking immaculate she strode up to the door of the apartment and pressed the bell.
