Chapter 7: Bullies and Ballroom Dancing

Wednesday, October 4, 2006, classroom, 1 pm, 5 min break before gym

Guess what, diary? I am now the proud recipient of Bitches: Rumors and Lies, by Kimiko the Hater (it was an old thing that we made up together. Whenever she felt like hating on someone, she'd say BRL Bitches, rumors and lies and stalk her pray. Who knew she'd use it on me?). Isn't that wonderful? We can all have a party and eat cookies while Kimiko and my old friends whisper and talk about me in their "Whisper-but-I-want-you-to-hear-it" tones.

They're not even trying to be subtle in anyway! I could practically hear their lip-gloss coated lips saying awful things about me. Like, Aimi once said, "Did you hear? Her hair is dyed! Can't you see the roots in her hair?" She knows full well I have never dyed my hair. Not even once. My mom had the exact same hair color as me, and they've all seen my mom before she died (pardon the pun).

Isn't all this ironic? I always thought that people CARED for me. Now look; I'm the center of attention negatively. What's worse is that Kenny and Tyson are too wrapped up in their data for them to notice. I should just run away, maybe to Hollywood, where I'm bound to meet people like Kitty. Then, I'll just act like Kitty so that I can fit in better. After all, Kitty is my alter-ego. We're one in the same, even though Hilary Tatibana is way different.

I feel like bursting into tears right now. Seriously; I have tears stinging the back of my eyes. But I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break down. Besides, they are the ones that are wrong. If they liked Tyson so much, they would know that he wouldn't ask me to MARRY HIM! That's totally…against the laws of …the way Tyson works. Yeah, that's it. They don't deserve to be Tyson fan girls. So there!

"Well, I heard that they made out on the roof once." I heard Izumi say, in a loud whisper voice. I practically choked on my rice ball when I heard that! Me, and Tyson, making out! That'll be the day; the day pigs fly and Tyson is actually full for once. Ha-ha…

"Not only that," Kimiko said, in the same tone as Izumi, "they had 'it' at his house!"

Okay, that was it. THE FINAL STRAW! Even Tyson looked appalled, and he stared at me with wide eyes. How could they be so cruel when they don't even know what's happening!

So in response to that, I got up from my seat and looked Kimiko in the eye squarely. "You don't even know what's going on. I never kissed Tyson, let alone had 'it' with him." I said, letting bottled up anger slip through my voice. Tyson was now by my side now, I think in an attempt to support me.

"Lucky Tyson." Replied Izumi, giving me a filthy look. I can't believe any of this is happening. What about the phrase, 'Friends are forever, boys are whatever'? What about the three musketeers! I bet they didn't fight over a girl. Although, I doubt any of them got engaged before they died, still, you know what I mean.

I rolled my eyes at Izumi. She didn't even like Tyson; her interest was in Kai, the 'hot lone wolf'. She loves that whole bad boy thing, especially his looks, which is kind of why she's so shallow. "Izumi, you don't even like Tyson, so please butt out,"

Aimi stepped in, defending her friend (apparently, I don't count as a friend. Or, even a former friend). "Well, whatever. We're not your friends, so there." Aimi said, getting to the point just like always. What I've always liked about her is that she never beats around the bush. Now, I don't think I like it as much.

Tyson stepped in front of me, as if he were shielding me from their words. "Calm down, guys. We didn't want to get engaged anyways. You can't blame her." Tyson said defensively, stopping in a dramatic pause, before continuing. "Blame our dads."

In unison, their eyes sort of did this lovey-dovey thing, something that always happens whenever the World Champ addresses them. Kimiko shook it off first, and looked Tyson in the eyes. "So…you didn't ask her to marry you?" she asked, with slight hope in her green orbs. Oh god, they can't be serious…

Tyson laughed nervously, his face as red as a tomato. "Me, ask her! Ha, that's funny! I wouldn't ask her, the witchiest witch around!"

That actually hurt. I thought that after all the times he's been, you know, making me feel special, maybe he kinda…liked me? As funny as that sounds, I did get that impression. Why would he be so caring if he thought I was such a witch? I don't even understand Tyson half the time, so it's really no surprise he said that.

I narrowed my eyes at Tyson, letting all my anger show. "Like I want you to be my fiancé anyway." I replied to him, not even showing that he hurt my feelings. Guys are such pigs! They never understand what they do wrong.

Tyson scoffed. "Whatever, Hil." He simply said, thus breaking my heart. I don't know why it did though, but I did feel it sink a bit. 'Whatever' has usually been one of Tyson's phrases of choice when talking to me; by saying this, it ends our conversation, making it plainly obvious he doesn't want to talk to me anymore.

The Checklist of my Basic Teen Necessities

By: Hilary Tatibana

Familycheck

Friendsmissing

Sheltercheck

Schoolcheck

Foodcheck

Mallcheck

Boyfriendmissing

Fiancé who obviously doesn't love and may want to dump me in a hole full of stinky thingscheck

Same day, girls' locker room, after gym, 2pm

Gym is my absolute favorite class. Sort of, anyway. I mean, on the one hand, it's a class that has no writing assessments in it at all (unless you have a crazy gym teacher, then you are v. unlucky), but on the other hand, it doesn't really matter if you get an A in it, because it's all marking your athletic ability.

But, sometimes you have those days where even you're favorite class can't help your mood. The days where you feel…emotional. This is the kind of day that I'm having now. Miss Kincaid says that ball room dancing will help the class get out of the 'funk' that we're currently stuck in.

Before my mom died when I was about 7, she took me to a ball room dancing lesson, which then lead to a debutante ball. I was debutante for that one year, but I didn't come back, because it was a haunting memory of my mother (I always wanted to know who won after I did, since I heard that they cussed at me the year that I won). Sure, dancing like this made me feel like a princess, but I didn't want to feel, you know what I'm saying. I just…didn't want to. So, I stopped dancing.

The class was made into two groups, then we formed 2 circles, the first group on the inside circle, and the second group on the outside circle. Izumi, Kenny and I were part of the inside circle, meaning that after every 5 minutes, we'd go to the person on the outside circle to our left side, and Tyson, Kimiko and Aimi were on the outside circle, meaning I had to dance with them at least once. Great….

First off, I started to dance with Mark, the funny Korean. I love that kid; he's the one that makes me laugh. If Miss Kincaid really wanted to get me out of my funk, she should have locked me in a room with Mark, instead of making me remember of my mom.

"You're really pretty, Hilary," he whispered into my ear, making me blush all over my face. Not like I like him or anything. It's nothing like that; it's just whenever guys compliment me, I get all flustered.

"Th-thanks…Am I really?" Mark chuckled at me nervous reply, and his hands that were placed on my back went down a little lower to my hip. My blush was deepening immensely, and I felt Tyson's eyes on me, even though he was dancing with Izumi right beside me. From the look of it, she's in her own little world, not even aware that Tyson isn't even paying any attention to her.

"Yeah." Mark breathed, and before I knew it, his hands were lowering down. I tensed. I always sort of knew he was a bit of a perv, but since he was so charming, I ignored that fact. But now…I feel like I'll be danced-raped! What would Kitty do in this situation…! She'd probably laugh it off and let his hands wander or something. Hilary Tatibana isn't capable of that!

I took my hand from his neck and was about to give him a five finger salute on his cheek, until Miss Kincaid commanded, "Time's up! Switch partners." ringing the bell in her hand. "Adieu." Said Mark, before gently letting me go over to my next dance partner, which happened to be Tyson.

"You seemed to be having fun with Mark." Tyson said angrily, once I was in his arms. And if that wasn't weird enough, I think I like it in his embrace. Even though I'm positive he'd rather dance with a hobbit than me, I feel…kind of safe. Like, if some random thing comes flying at me, I knew he'd save me.

I rolled my eyes at his ignorance. "Yeah, actually, we were." I reply, placing my hands around his neck. Not that I wanted to (actually, I kinda did, but he doesn't know that, and I am sure not going to tell him), but because Miss Kincaid instructed us. God, how come he gets all jealous whenever I am talking to a guy, yet he expects me to let him be followed around and loved by almost 20 of the female population in Tokyo? Japan, maybe! How much can I take?

"Well, have fun then."

"Fine, I will. Have fun with your girlie stalkers."

"Okay."

"Good."

"Whatever."

I sighed and gave him a tired look. "Look, it was all one-sided, okay? You didn't see me groping him, did you?" I asked him, already knowing the answer.

He opened his mouth to say something, until Miss Kincaid rang her bell. I released my hold on Tyson, and glided gracefully over to my dance partner-

Which was Izumi.

I groaned inwardly, and stood in front of her expectantly, and when she noticed me, she rolled her eyes, and groaned loudly. "Let's just get these 5 minutes over with." She said, putting her hands on my back disgustedly. I placed my arms on neck, and we danced to the upbeat, classy music.

"Why do you hate me? Kai is the one you like." I asked Izumi. She thought for a moment, before shaking her head.

"I don't hate you. Kimiko does, but not me. Although, since you guys didn't willingly hook up, I don't think she should be mad at all." She answered me, giving me a half smile. I half smile back, happy that finally somebody gave me a chance. But, I still kept my guard up.

"So…are we friends?" I ask, not even bothering to hide the hope in my voice. She smiles at me, and winks slightly. "Half friends." She said, in a playful manner.

Diary, you probably think that this is the end. You know, a happy ending. Well, you're dead wrong. I, Hilary Tatibana, am not at all as lucky as the women in Snow White and the Princess Diaries. I am a normal, teen girl who undergoes pain, suffering and happiness. Mostly pain and suffering.

But, I will give you a nice feeling and end my entry here. For once, I want to give myself a sense of joy; happiness, so to speak. Well, laterz.

Same day, my room, 9:45 pm

I have no privacy.

Seriously, none at all. Nobody respects the fact that I have my own problems, and I do not need people looking through my stuff. When I enter my room, everything is a mess. My underwear is all over the floor, my homework is spread furiously on my bed and my desk, and don't even get me started on the condition of my closet. It's enough to make a neat freak like me throw up.

"All right, who trashed my room!" I cry angrily in the hallway. Everyone is in their rooms at around 10, since our TV programs are finished, and there's nothing else to do.

Sora comes out of her room, with a lollipop in her mouth. She takes it out and says, "I did. I thought you had my blouse."

I snorted at her. "And why would I have your blouse?" I ask her sarcastically. Ever since I found out she sold me out to the tabloids, I haven't spoken a word to her and my dad, expect for the absolutely unavoidable questions like, "Pass the corn." Or "Get out of my room."

She shrugs coolly, popping the lollipop in her mouth. Wait a minute, isn't that my…"Sora! That's my lollipop!" I exclaim, but she had already entered her room and closed the door behind her. Since I hate being ignored, I charged into her room, and stood in front of her, as she slumped onto the bed.

"Look, Hil, calm yourself. All I did was look around a bit, ok? Besides, you hate strawberry lollipops." She explained, taking the lollipop out of her mouth once again.

I gaped at her; completely lock jawed that she can't remember that STRAWBERRY IS MY FAVORITE FLAVOUR AND SCENT! ALL I PRACTICALLY HAVE IS STRAWBERRY LIP GLOSS, AND I LOVE STRAWBERRY CANDY! HOW CAN MY OWN SISTER NOT KNOW THAT!

She put her hands up in her defense. "Ok, I totally trashed your room. Now, if you don't mind…" she pointed to the door, as she put MY lollipop in her mouth.

So, here I am. Writing my diary in a messy room. How unlike Hilary is that? Maybe I'm becoming more like Kitty everyday. In fact…

I thought of something. A plan; how to get people to know that they need Hilary Tatibana. I could act like Kitty and pretty soon everyone will know how much they miss me and what I mean to them! Oh, I am so smart!

Anyway, I will start Operation BLK (Be Like Kitty) tomorrow. Right now, I have a room to save.