Surviving High School: Cliché Cliques
A/N: So much positive feedback! My heart feels all warm and fuzzy. Thank you pixie sticks.
Chapter 6: Honesty is Overrated
"Stop avoiding me." I sigh when I hear the red head's voice.
"I'm not avoiding you." I know she rolls her eyes without even looking.
"You suck at lying. You make sure we don't sit together, arrive and leave work early, and turn around when you see me coming towards you. That's like the definition of avoidance."
"So what if I am avoiding you. I have a good reason to."
"Oh yeah and what is that?"
"I don't want you to be a part of my life anymore." I ignore the flash of hurt in her brown orbs and close my locker then head to my class.
"You don't mean that, do you Rocky?" No. In all honesty I want you to be with me every second of every day. Fear's a bitch.
"Yes I really do CeCe." All of a sudden I'm being pushed into an empty classroom. The click of the lock scares me shitless.
"What do I have to do?"
"I-I don't understand what y-you're asking." And I stutter. That's convincing. She growls in frustration and enters my personal bubble. Her eyes soften at the obvious fear written on my face.
"I'm not trying to scare you. I just want us to be…" She sighs, looks down, grabs my hand and entwines our fingers together.
"Like we used to be?" Her eyes flick up toward me.
"Yeah. Exactly." There's this intensity in her eyes that makes me nervous.
"We can't CeCe. Believe me when I say I would love to go back to what we use to be but it's just not gonna happen. We're too different from what we used to be."
"I know. Maybe change is good. You know acquaintance to friend, friend to best friend and best friend to….." She trails off and brushes her lips against mine.
T-T-To sister." She immediately freezes and pulls back with an offended look.
"What?"
"That's what comes next after best friend. You become family." I say sliding out of her grasp.
"No, I'm pretty sure romantic feelings get involved after best friendship." She tries to pull me back towards her but I'm good at being evasive.
"I guess it kinda depends on the relationship." I can't stop the murderous words that come out of my mouth. Basically I dug myself a deep hole. CeCe smirks catching on to my realization to.
"So what type of relationship do we have Blue Bear?" Internally I moan at CeCe's husky voice and seductive prowl.
"A complicated one." CeCe's seductive look turns into a soft smile.
"Yeah, it is complicated." She fiddles with the necklace around her neck. It's a heart with a musical note engraved on it. She then reaches up and unsnaps it, hesitates for a moment before stepping forward and putting it on me. "I want you to have this."
"Why?" It probably has a secret camera on it designed to torture me with blackmail.
"I want you to understand just how much you mean to me. You know my dad died 8 months ago," she chokes a bit on this. She swallows thickly. I can't help it when I grab her hand and lock our fingers back together. I know exactly how she feels on that subject since her dad had died right around the time when my dad had left. We were each other's rocks. "This was the last thing he gave me. My last Christmas present." I gape at her.
"No CeCe I can't accept this. It means so much to you. "
"You mean so much to me. I want you to understand that this is real. You are my everything and I'm so sorry it took me this long to realize it. I love you Raquel Blue. So you can try to get rid of me all you want but I won't give up on us. Not again." I am speechless. So many emotions are swirling in my stomach that it feels like it's on a rollercoaster ride with the turbulence its moving in.
"How-," I can barely manage the small word. "How can I trust you again CeCe? I've literally dreamed about the moment where you come and sweep me off my feet to some magical care free happy land. But things are a bit more difficult than that. I never really thought that through though. You know all the obstacles; the reality of it all."
I walk toward the window and look out. It's raining. The sky is dreadfully gray. How funny is it that the weather can perfectly mirror your mood? In fact it's so funny that I let out a chuckle and a small smile. "And the worst part of it all is that I don't blame you, for any of it. I want to, I want to so badly but I just can't and it scares me." I turn to face her and see the pained expression on her face. I'm trying to remember when tears started falling down my face. "It scares me to death because this-this feeling inside me is something I can't control and I hate not having control of things. And I realize it's you and only you can do this. You can break me so easily and I can't control it. Everybody use to joke and say that I'm a control freak but they don't know how true that is. My therapist told me that I have problems with giving up control. When I do I start to panic. Then when I panic I…" It's hard but I push the word out. "Cut." By now I'm practically hyperventilating.
"You went to a therapist?" She questioned softly.
"Yeah. I'm more messed up then either of us thought."
"Everyone has problems Rocky. You're no more messed up then the rest of us."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" The humor in my voice lightens the mood considerably.
"Yes and I now realize that was not the best way to say that you're past everyone on the amazing scale. If there's any abnormal thing about you it's that you shine brighter than everyone else." She's walking closer and it's that moment where you have to decide if this is worth the risk or not. Her lips are almost to mine when I turn so they meet my cheek. I feel her sigh against it.
"Rocky I'm trying here. You're gonna have to meet me halfway." I'd meet you all the way in a heartbeat, a millisecond, at the snap of your little fingers.
"I know you are." I murmur so lowly that she might have not been able to hear it had she not been so close. And it is that exact closeness that makes me notice the bruise on her collarbone going to her shoulder. My fingers lift to trace it causing her to take a big intake of breath. "What happened?"
"I might or might not have been in a fight this morning."
"With who?" So I can go to their house while they're asleep and shank them. Prison style.
"Just this chick that thinks I stole her boyfriend." I look closer at the bruise and make out a rather large hand print.
"She has really big hands." CeCe chuckles.
"That's funny that you said that because I called her man hands just before she knocked me out." My eyes bug out of my head.
"She knocked you out?" I exclaim.
"Mhmm. I was out like Ellen." For a minute I just gape at her before I start to snicker. It makes CeCe smile. "What? I admit that my ass got kicked. I own up to my shit." I only start laughing harder and CeCe joins.
"You're impossible." I breathe out once I've caught my breath.
"But that's why you love me." She whispered softly. I gulped.
"Yeah. That's why I love you." It hurts. That one little word hurts me to my core.
"I didn't get the chance to wish you a happy birthday yesterday. Happy birthday Rocky." She kisses my cheek then the bell rang and I left without another word.
-X-
"Guess who?" I smile when I feel Ashley's hands over my eyes.
"Is it that beautiful girl that I'm fortunate to have met?" She gasped dramatically.
"How did you know?" I turn around to meet her stunning blue eyes.
"Lucky guess." She smiles at me and my heart stutters.
"Oh, before I forget here." I look down to see a little black box.
"What's this?" I ask flashing her a confused smile.
"A little birdy told me it was your birthday yesterday." She replies coyly. My smile widens as I unwrap the ribbon and open the box up. In it was a silver band. Engraved on it was Rocky Blue Entertainer Kind Lovely.
"Ashley this must have been really expensive."
"Don't worry about it. My dad's loaded." She answers with a shrug.
"Even so, you don't have to give this to me." I try to complain.
"I know but I want to. You're the first person I've met here who seems genuinely compassionate. That's a rare find now a days." Her raspy voice makes my stomach warm. I know what she means. It is hard to find compassionate people. I think high school is a blatant fact to that statement.
"Thank you Ashley. I love it." She beams brightly and takes the ring out of the box then slips it on my middle finger. "It's beautiful." I say looking up at her.
"Just like you." She purrs before pecking my lips. It feels like there's liquid heat in my veins. The moment is shattered by hooting jocks making there.
"Hot girls, very hot. Maybe let me get in the middle to make a Wayne sandwich." He winked suggestively. Ashley glared and I kinda wanted to find the nearest blunt object to bash into his skull. Is it normal to have homicidal thoughts on a daily basis? If you were me, it probably is.
"I'm sure these girls don't want to internally bleed from that barftastic idea." Dina says pushing Wayne out the way. Deuce was trailing behind her with his arms crossed and a pair of sunglasses on his face.
"Jealous Dina? I'm sure we can fit you in to." Deuce steps in front of Dina and pushes Wayne back some more.
"You should back off. Now." Deuce's voice has gotten deeper. Whether it's from puberty or the fact that someone is hitting on his girl I don't know.
"Really Martinez? Are you sure you should be talking so big after Ty completely messed up your face." He thundered taking off Deuce's glasses letting me for the first time see what Ty had done. There's a big discolored bruise just around his eye. Something inside me shifted when I saw my once friend injured. I snatch the glasses back from the now cackling jock. He seems surprised for a whole second until his grin comes back.
"See Martinez, the girls like it." Before Deuce can try to take on this guy twice his size I interfere.
"Oh yeah we like it just about as much as we like cancer." He stops laughing when I say that and you can hear his friends still laugh.
"Come on honey I was just trying to-"
"Make yourself look like an ass? Congratulations because you did." This feels really good. The people behind me help me with my confidence because I know somewhere in my heart they have my back.
"What's your deal?" He demands angrily.
"My deal is that you're messing with my friends and I don't take to kindly to that. So I suggest if you don't want your arm to be broken right before the big football game then you should walk away." It surprises me when he starts to raise his hand to hit me. I'm even more surprised when I laugh right in his face about it. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. It's a lose, lose situation."
"How is that?"
"Well if I win you got your ass handed to you by a girl two times smaller than you but if you win then the big bad jock beat up a small defenseless girl." I feign innocence as I say that.
"How about I let Ty handle it then? I mean you know he hates you after you broke your parents up." Snap. That's the sound of my resolve.
My fist connects with his nose sending his head swinging to the right. I raise my leg and my foot impacts with his groin and he's on the ground. True to my word I spin his arm then crack. That's the sound of his now freshly broken arm. I would have done more damage but there are arms around my waist stopping me from doing so. Everything seems so hazy as I try to get back to the jock and rip his head off. I can honestly say I haven't had a more peaceful moment. Words are breaking through though. Soft soothing words.
"Rocky I got you calm down. Calm down he isn't worth it Blue Bear." Suddenly killing the boy writhing in pain on the ground isn't as important as it was just minor seconds ago. Curling up into CeCe's shoulder and crying was. So I did.
-X-
"Did you hear Wayne Bajarski got messed up by Rocky Blue?"
"What? She was always such a sweet girl though. Then again Wayne is so scummy. He deserved to get beat down."
"I know right?" Buzz, buzz. That's the sound of the gossip that swept the school at lightning speed. I'm the most interesting thing the rumor mill is churning out. CeCe is waiting outside the office for me. I bet Principal Lone will be thrilled to see me in his office again. Another prisoner is set free then another one is sent in. The seat next to me is suddenly filled with a body. A glance told me it was a bloody nosed Deuce. He looked at me with a small smirk. Despite myself I gave one back.
"Went back for more?" I asked him.
"Yep. Apparently people don't like it when their tires are slashed." My eyebrows raise in a silent question he nodded his head yes. So now not only does Wayne have a broken arm but slashed tires. I like that.
"Miss Blue?" The principal sighed. Oh yeah he is thrilled to see me again.
"Stay strong soldier." Deuce rumbled with his fist in the air. My mood lightened a little more.
"Aye, aye sir." I salute him. We both chuckle and I head into the devil's throne.
"Do you want to explain why the star quarter back was rushed to the hospital, Rocky?" I can tell it's a rhetorical question but I answer more out of spite than trying to explain my actions.
"Because he was harassing me and my friend." The principal's eyebrows rose.
"How so?"
"He made crude comments and was about to hit me when I threw them back at him. I broke his arm out of defense."
"And nose." Principal Lone grumbled.
"Excuse me?"
"You broke his nose to." I don't care that I'm probably about to get expelled because that statement right there brings a smile to my face. I even see the corners of Mr. Lone's mouth curve upward. "Since there are seemingly no witnesses to these events and it happened where a camera was broken down, I can't reprimand you for this. Though that doesn't speak for how Mr. Bajarski's parents are going to handle it. Now run along. You have detention." Giddy with pride I do just that.
"How bad?" Deuce questions.
"No punishment." I grin.
"Wow. I guess you still have that charm." He laughs.
"What charm?"
"The one where it's hard for anybody to be angry at you."
"If that were true than Ty wouldn't hate me." I answer.
"Ty is a hateful, soulless person. I bet he kicks kittens." Deuce's face is so serious and set in a pout. We make eye contact then burst out laughing.
"Believe me Deuce I don't have that charm anymore." I say after our giggles subside.
"You always did on me. But you already knew that." His voice is lower when he says this.
"Actually I didn't." He turns to me with a truly confused expression.
"Well you should. It was in the letter I wrote you."
"I never got a letter." I'm pretty sure I would have remembered a letter like that.
"I asked CeCe to give you it."
"CeCe never gave me anything."
"She told me she did. It was after the surprise birthday party you threw her. You know the one to cheer her up?" I nod in agreement. "When you kissed me because you thought I was my cousin, I got a little crush on you. I was actually thinking about leaving Dina to be with you. In the letter I talked about that and how I was there for you if you wanted to talk about your dad. When you didn't mention it I assumed you didn't feel the same and wanted to forget. It worked out for the best though. I've never been happier with anyone like I am with Dina." There's a content smile on his face that shows the sincerity he feels about that statement. But I'm still confused about the letter I supposedly got. I guess I need to have a chat with a certain tiny red head.
"I'm happy you're happy. I'll see you around Deuce." I get up trying to think why CeCe would lie like that.
"I hope so Rocky. I really want to rebuild our friendship." He says seriously. I just nod.
"So what did old snore fest dish out?" CeCe inquired as soon as she saw me.
"Nothing."
"That's great! But you aren't smiling." She has a questioning look on her face.
"Why didn't you give me the letter Deuce wrote me?" CeCe immediately froze.
"What letter?" She asks trying to mask surprise.
"That's what I should be asking you." I scowl searching her eyes. Then I see the answer clear in guilty chocolate pools. "I cannot believe you." I utter in disbelief and walk away from her.
"No Rocky let me explain myself!" She called out to me.
"Explain what CeCe? How once again your selfishness ruined another good thing in my life." CeCe just stands there trying to form a sentence "I could have used that letter CeCe. Knowing that someone, anyone was there for me would have helped!"
"I was there! You couldn't see that if you were-"
"Happy? If I was happy I wouldn't need you? Well newsflash CeCe you were the only one who did make me happy. But now? You're the one that's breaking me down." She's sniffling now, tears flowing slowly.
"That is not what I was going to say." She said with her voice teary. "I didn't want some hormonal teenage boy like Deuce taking my friend away. It was a mistake I admit that Rocky but I was jealous okay? I just couldn't lose you to Rocky. I couldn't lose you to."
"Rocky!" Ashley jogs to me then encases me in a hug. She pulls back and glances at CeCe. "What's up with her?" she asks. I glare at my former best friend.
"What isn't up with her?" She flinches, Ashley flinches, Deuce who joined the audience a while ago flinches, hell even I flinched. Do you know that nice girl named Rocky Blue? No I do not. Not anymore.
-X-
Ashley is taking me to our date spot. I'm trying to be excited. I swear I am. It's hard though.
"If you want to go home I can take you." Ashley said as we kept walking.
"No. I want to be here with you Ashley. I really do." I answer. She looks at me and nods with a small smile. We come to a seemingly closed gate. Ashley pulled back a corner and gestured for me to go in. I do and start to walk where I hear soft music playing. There's a half pipe with graffiti on it. But the thing that catches my attention is the table with a checkered cloth on it with candles lit.
"I know it's really cheesy but I didn't know what type of girl you were, if you like picnics or movie dates." I turn to her smiling.
"It's amazing." She smiles back and grabs my waist and pulls me to her lips. I reciprocate the kiss with hesitance.
…
"This was great." Ash holds my hands and I cuddle further into her neck. As soon as we sat down she had pulled me into her lap and instantly a feeling of security washed over me.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself." She says kissing my forehead.
"How'd you know I was a vegetarian?"
"I noticed you only ate vegetables and never any meat when we had lunch."
"You're so perfect." She laughs at that. I entwine our fingers.
"And you're very sweet."
"I'm really glad I met you." I murmur into her shoulder.
"Me to love." We watched the stars for hours before she walked me home.
-X-
It's been a week. One week since I last saw CeCe in school. I wish I didn't care. I really do but it's impossible. Every time I hear the teacher call her name and don't hear her say 'yep' while annoyingly popping the 'p' I get a sick feeling. Even Dina noticed CeCe was gone and she hates the girl. Maybe I should have gone easier on her. If I did she'd probably be here now. To whoever's listening please let her be okay. Please.
"Are you praying?" I turn to my left to see the girl I was just freaking out about. Her cheek is busted, there's neat butterfly stitches in it. A small cut resides on her lip. I look down and see a bruise the size of Texas on her arm.
"What happened to you?" I exclaimed rushing over to her. Gently I touch her stitched cheek. She winces a bit.
"You still care?" She asks softly.
"Of course I do. You have a split lip, cut cheek, and you're bruised." I say grabbing her arm carefully to examine the bruise.
"The chick I told you about came back for more. It's no biggie."
"Who is this girl?" So I can take a flame thrower to her face. Yeah these homicidal thoughts ain't goin nowhere.
"I don't remember. It doesn't matter anyway. She doesn't go here." She shrugs. I don't really care if she doesn't go here. I'll find her and go all ninja assassin on her ass.
"Next time she comes around tell me." I demand, grabbing her shoulders.
"I thought you didn't want me in your life." She says with her eyes downcast. This is a way out. I can say 'Hey you're right for once. Bye bitch.' and walk away happy as can be. But since I'm such an obvious masochist dangerously in love with pain (uh oh uh oh uh oh a no no no no) I stand right there.
"You misunderstood then." I purse my lips as she looks up at me. "I don't want stranger CeCe in my life. I want my best friend CeCe in my life." I whisper. She smiles teary eyed and hugs me tight. For once I let her and return it.
-X-
A/N: Now there are a thousand excuses I can feed you guys but let's be real. You really don't want to know how I was redecorating my house with my mom. And now school has started back up and I will try to at least get 3 updates per month since I haven't exactly figured how long I want this story to be yet. With that said here are shout outs!
Alyrox12- Thank you for reading! :)
Serena/Ringlette/Curly Fries/Baybee- I appreciate your 3 long reviews. Long reviews make me smile. :) See?
E.A- It wasn't soon but here it is. :)
Raven Wolfbane13- You didn't say anything wrong believe me. You said everything right my dear. As for not believing CeCe could be so mean that's the point I was trying to make. I'm showing just how much Rocky and CeCe have changed so CeCe usually wouldn't say anything mean but she's very different now. Why is that? Well you'll have to tune in and see. Thanks for reading. :)
redneck rock-a-holic- I WAS PAINTING AND MOVING IN NEW FURNITURE! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED! :)
MUTEDbutnotSILENT- I hope this was up to your liking. :)
That Random Writer- You are truly wonderful. Thanks for the kind words and motivation. :)
Geekheart998- Sorry it wasn't ASAP but here it is. :)
Cadule246- I will keep going. :)
aka the girl crying inside- Thank you here's that update. :)
ParaWhore2514- Did this chapter make you happy? Because believe me they will get together in the end (or will they? Maybe). And loving the Glee reference, I'm obsessed with Lea Michele (and Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, and mmm Dianna Agron. Thanks for reviewing every time. I smile all goofy when I read them. It's kinda like this. :D
SIUfan14- It is a ReCe story. Just be patient. :)
dakota dawg- Sorry this wasn't as fast as last time but hope you enjoy. :)
Baby. BooLoVeYa2- It wasn't soon but it was as fast as I could. Thank you for your review. :)
And that's all. Again if you want a shout out give me a name other than anon or guest to call you by. Until next time lovelies.