After Noel was done cleaning the whole house Ginger was just finishing dinner with Lucas setting the table with much help from Karen.
"So Lou when am I getting my pony? I mean it's got to be soon seeing I need to practice riding before I go for my riding lessons" Karen said setting forks on the side of each plate.
"Kare I wish I could get you a pony I really do, but mommy and daddy will tell you the same that there's no room here for a pony they need a stable to sleep in" Lucas said with Karen giggling at him.
"I was just kidding Luke, I know a pony can't live here but with my riding lessons comes a pony of my very own that I'm going to name Copper".
"It's nice to see Noel's bad attitude didn't wear off on all the siblings in the house Lou, one way or another Noel's going to see her bad attitude is nothing but a curse" Ginger said setting a plate of chicken, a plate of corn on the cob, and a bowl of mashed potatoes on the table.
John was on his cell phone when he reached the table and Ginger had a stern look on her face seeing him breaking his own rule.
"Mike I have to go dinner time is family time but maybe we can play phone tag tomorrow buddy" John said hanging up as Ginger reached her hand out for his phone.
"All right I know no phone means no phone but this is ridiculous Ginger, I mean that was a business call with none other than Mike Santiago the CEO of the company, and if you want Karen to have riding lessons then I have to put my nose to the grind".
"I don't know what you're complaining about John it was your rule in the first place remember? We were all seated around the kitchen table for a family meeting to make rules for the new house and you said no cells including ours at the breakfast, lunch, or dinner table".
"I understand that, I just thought we could make one exception because I have a very important meeting Monday that I'm far from prepared for" John said as Karen sat next to him.
"If it'll make you feel better dada I'll quit talking about riding lessons, I don't even need them that much, I just thought it would be fun to try before I died" Karen said staring hungrily at the rolls in front of her.
"Care Bear it's not just the riding lessons we have to pay for, we have a mortgage, the phone bill, electricity, heat, water, cable, the food budget, and of course there's the riding lessons which you won't be giving up but it was a nice thought".
"And why the sudden before you die talk Karen? I mean you're only four there's at least ninety years to think about before you die" Ginger said ruffling Karen's hair.
"Noel told me to get my affairs in order because once she was done cleaning she was going to strangle me, and I don't know much but isn't get your affairs in order code for I'm going to kill you?" Karen said with Noel trudging into the kitchen and throwing herself into the nearest chair.
"All right I know you didn't tell Karen to get her affairs in order right? I mean if you were going to kill her you would have done it by now" John said as Noel shrugged staring at all the food.
"Maybe I did and maybe I didn't, but so what if I did? I mean it's not like the little runts going to take me seriously" Noel said reaching for the chicken and a slap by Ginger on her hand met her.
"Getting the munchies are we? Well you're going to be served last due to the behavior you're exhibiting lately young lady" Ginger said passing the food around as everybody hungrily grabbed at it.
"All right Noel looks like you're up middle child, and maybe next time you'll think before beating people up, drinking, and smoking pot".
Noel grabbed the rest of the food and attacked it with everybody else just staring at her wondering how she could eat food so fast.
"All right I'm not an animal in a zoo so stop staring you lookie loos, I mean geez don't you guys have anything better to do?" Noel asked her mouth full of chicken.
"I wasn't staring on purpose I was just wondering how a human can eat like a T rex devouring a tiny dinosaur" Karen said going back to eating her food.
"Yea I mean there's a reason the dinosaurs are extinct Noel, they didn't chew their food and they choked to death" Lucas said as Karen stifled a giggle her mouth full of lemonade.
"Very funny Lucas you're a riot, but if you smoked as much pot as I have then you'd be eating like a T rex too, but then again the golden boy would never smoke a joint if you paid him".
"Well maybe if you didn't smoke a pound or more of pot you wouldn't be so hungry Noel, I mean you had to know the side effects to smoking pot before you did it" Lucas said looking at Noel's clean plate.
"Man Noel you must have really been hungry girl, I mean even Pixie leaves a bit of crumbs in her bowl to show she ate it all" Karen said scooping up more potatoes.
"And FYI the dinosaurs didn't die from choking to death they died because a meteor shot down to Earth and destroyed every last one of them".
"Noel can you please pass the chicken or what's left of it seeing you devoured half of it by yourself?" John asked as Noel held her mouth and ran for the bathroom puking what food she just ate as Karen made a disgusted face.
"I suddenly lost my appetite mama, may I be excused and quick before I barf next?" Karen asked running off before Ginger could answer.
"I don't care how much she throws up because this is the best dinner we've had in the longest time and I'm not going to let her ruin it by getting what she so rightfully earned by acting stupid" Lucas said piling more chicken on his plate then passing it around.
"You know Lou you're going to make a great father someday buddy, now how about you talk about how Future Students Of America President and you are doing" Ginger said gnawing apart another piece of chicken.
"Well Future Students Of America President and I have hit rock bottom, she broke things off with me because Noel and Heather told her that if she didn't she'd have to answer to them and Natalie may look tough but she's not".
"I'm sorry Luke and I'm sure Noel and Heather are too, if you want I could call Hope's parents and make Heather come home".
"No worries mom I'm too young for all the dances Natalie wanted me to go to, as for her Summer Bash well let's just say I'm uninvited and that's fine by me".
Ginger's smile had a prideful look for Lucas because she knew that he was never going to change who he was for anyone.
At Hopes house we see all the girls in Hope's living room sitting around pizza boxes and cans of soda giggling.
"All right Heather Truth Dare or Triple Dare? And you need to pick Triple Dare at least once in the game or you'll be issued one after" Hope said as all the girl's giggled.
"All right Truth Hope ask me anything and I'll answer it, and I mean anything in the world so no holding back" Heather said as Hope grinned and looked her in the eyes.
"Is it true that you think your tomboy sister is annoying, mean, and stupid at times? I mean she's not exactly ladylike very much is she?"
"Of course I think Noel is annoying, mean, stupid at times, and very unladylike, If it wasn't for her I never would have been in Mrs. Grippling's office as much as I was this year.
"All right Heather your next you get to pick anyone you want and ask them Truth Dare or Triple Dare and then the person either answers the question you ask or do the dares set upon them".
Noel spied a girl in red hair with pigtails, freckles on her nose and a stout as an easy target in this game.
"You Pigtails Truth Dare or Triple Dare and you need to pick Triple Dare at least once in the game or you'll be issued one after".
"All right the names Julie for one and for two I'm not playing this dumb game or any other dumb game this retard has set up for tonight because I'm not here because I want to be I'm here to avoid detention with Mrs. Grippling just like you" The red head said as everyone gasped hearing the R word.
"Fine be a party pooper if you want but FYI we're going to have problems later because nobody and I mean nobody talks to my friends like that".
All the girls screamed yea in unison and Julie wished she had never called Hope a retard as the party guests advanced her.
"Oh Please the retard knows that nobody's here to have fun, we're all here to avoid getting into trouble with her mama and daddy who own our school".
Hope grabbed Julie's arms with Heather smirking at Julie pinned against the wall never seeing the fighting side of Hope before.
"Now my BFF Heather asked you a question Truth Dare or Triple Dare?, and you better pick one soon or I'll chose for you seeing this is my party and nobody leaves without doing a Triple Dare winkity, wink, wink" Hope said with Julie struggling trying to escape her grip.
"Fine Triple Dare just let me go you stupid retard, I mean how bad could a dare by a retard be anyways?" Julie asked as Heather slapped her across the face leaving a red mark on it.
"Heather go get the Triple Dare hat and quick because the sooner she gets her torture the better this party will be".
Heather dashed to the kitchen and found an All American hat then she dashed off to the living room with Mr. and Mrs. Masterson following her.
"Good see that's what I need in a friend someone who's there when I need them and will get me what I ask, when I deserve it of course now let's find your name".
Heather rummaged through the hat until she found Julie's name written in red ink because it reminded Hope of her hair.
"Heather go get the Triple Dare torture for Julie please, it's in the fridge and it's labeled Julie, and I'm sorry for asking so much of you tonight but it's a big help if that means anything" Hope said as Heather smiled and saluted Hope.
"See everyone at this party was mean to me at one point or another in my life and it's the Triple Dare that I'm using to get even with all of you".
Heather opened the fridge and saw a cup with Julie's nametag under it as she sniffed it and made a disgusted face knowing all too well what this was.
"Here's the Triple Dare Torture you asked for Hope, and Julie good luck because this is fourth grade all over again".
Hope sniffed the cup and then held it away from her nose as all the girl's including Julie gagged from the smell.
"Your Triple Dare Torture is drinking expired milk left in the sun to bake, you made me drink it when we were in fourth grade and Mrs. Simms caught you cheating on our spelling test".
The girls backed away knowing that sooner or later Julie was going to barf from the taste of the expired milk.
"I like you did way back then expect every clump and liquid to be gone because if not you don't leave" Hope said handing Julie the cup and she coughed because of the bad smell in the cup.
"My advice drink it quick and the bathroom's right across from you because you'll definitely need it after drinking rancid milk believe that much".
Julie chugged the milk down and got green in the face dashing for the bathroom and throwing up as the rest of the girls except Heather had a fearful look on their face.
"Bye Julie so glad you could make it fourth grade bully, maybe next time it'll be under better circumstances".
Julie dashed out of the Masterson mansion with Hope walking towards the other girls hat in hand and a smirk on her face.
"All right Gretch Truth Dare or Triple Dare? And of course we all know you want to leave you need to do the Triple Dare".
"But I never did anything to you Hope sweetie, I mean we've been friends since Pre K and I fought against all the kids who made fun of you" Gretchen Saunders said as Hope smirked waving the hat in her face.
"As I said everybody's here because they hurt me in one way or another, you will only know what you did to me if you say Triple Dare" Hope said with Gretchen gulping knowing what she did to Hope.
"Hope you don't have to do this girl, Heather Foutley should be getting tortured too I mean her sister and her beat you down".
"Heather has proven herself worthy of my friendship by helping me out a lot tonight, writing a very sufficient two page apology, and cutting the strings her sister Noel had her on".
"But that doesn't make what she did right Hope, I mean you looked pretty bad after that fight, and Heather and Noel just laughed at you" Gretchen said her whole body shivering with fear.
"Oh and I suppose talking behind my back, spreading rumors about me, pretending to be my friend, and turning your back on me was right?" Hope asked ripping Heather's name out of the hat and throwing it in the air like confetti.
"Fine Triple Dare and I hope you have a good one because it's going to take a lot for a person like you to make a person like me cry".
Hope pulled Gretchen's name out of the hat and Gretchen saw a black composition book with the word Slam written on it in purple glitter.
"Everyone this is Gretchen's Slam Book, and in it you'll find what she's said about every one of you including some people who aren't here tonight but no worries this will be blogged on the school's website tonight".
The girls all gasped as they read what Gretchen was saying about them and when the book came back to Hope Gretchen had tears in her eyes.
"I wrote that in confidence and nobody was supposed to read it, Hope you and I are so not friends anymore" Gretchen moaned running from the house as Hope walked up to a blonde ponytailed girl next.
"Suzy Truth Dare or Triple Dare and I found if you get the Triple Dare done quickly you can still keep your dignity" Hope said writing the pages of Gretchen's Slam Book on the School's Website.
"Hope this is ridiculous you can't punish us for punishing you when we were kids, it's not right and I think everyone here can agree with me on that" Suzy Jenkins said with the other girls excluding Heather nodding.
"If you refuse the Triple Dare I'll rearrange anybody's face who does, I mean geez what did you think she was going to do with all her penned up aggression?".
Suzy's hands reached for the hat as Hope held it out of her reach knowing all too well that Suzy couldn't be trusted with anything this big.
"And Suzy's Triple Dare is to stay locked up in a dark closet for a full 10 minutes just like she did to me on her seventh birthday party and I cried and pleaded to be let out because of my fear of the dark back in those days".
"Wait you can't lock me in a closet for 10 minutes I'm claustrophobic and I'll faint if I'm even in there for 1 minute" Suzy said as Hope opened the closet and Suzy got pushed in by Heather.
"If you survive 10 minutes you can go home and whimpering will get you nowhere Suzy, I was so traumatized by the closet that I had to sleep with a nightlight for a full 2 years before I could trust the dark again".
"Please let me out Heather, I mean we used to be friends and you know how enclosed spaces scare me, I can't even stand being in the elevator at the mall, I need to take the stairs".
Heather losing all hope for Suzy locked the closet as Hope approached the last girl of the Triple Dare Challenge who squealed in fear with Hope grinning.
"Becky Chalmers what to do with you? I mean you were Gretchen's shadow and convinced her that hanging with me was poor on the coolness scale, anywho your name was hard to choose a torture for because there were so many things to choose from" Hope said as Suzy banged on the closet door.
"It's only been 2 minutes Suzy you have 8 more to go, and FYI the dark plays tricks on you, so just remember that while you're in there".
Heather snatched Becky's name from the hat as Hope and Heather both sneered and Becky gulped knowing she wasn't going to like it.
"As I said very hard for me to find one for you Becky, but lucky for you I had Heather here to help me and she made me see there was one torture above all the rest that I didn't deserve, can you guess what it is?"
Becky shook her head no as Heather pulled out clippers and scissors and Hope had a spray bottle and a comb.
"We're going to play hairdresser just like you played with me in 5th grade and you chopped all my hair off and made everyone laugh at me" Hope said as Becky made to leave but Heather held her down and Hope positioned the scissors over Becky's ponytail first.
"Wow that ponytail looks like it takes a lot of maintenance, snip oops looks like my fingers slipped and cut your ponytail off, oh well it'll grow back now let's work on your bangs next".
Hope buzzed the clippers over Becky's bangs and her eyebrows joined the bangs on the floor with Heather cackling at how ugly Becky now looked without her hair.
"Please can I come out it feels like the walls are closing in on me Hope, I never should have locked you in the dark and I'll never do anything to you again!" Suzy screamed with Hope looking at her watch.
"6 minutes down and 4 to go, you should have thought about not locking me in the dark the I don't know the day you did it" Hope said buzzing more of Becky's hair off.
"I had no idea that Heather Foutley would turn on me and the rest of the girls that did things to you Hope, if you like I could tell you Heather's worst fear".
"Enough bellyaching and take your 4 more minutes like a woman or I'll reset the watch and you'll need to stay in there 10 minutes longer" Hope said as Suzy screamed like a person from a horror movie with Heather beaming.
"Hope I had no idea you could be so devious girl, I mean in one night you took the popular clique apart and saw what made them tick" Heather said as Hope shaved the rest of Becky's hair off and pointed to the door.
"Away with you Heather and I have a BFF sleepover to start and a closet torture to finish, and FYI your hair will never be the same again at least mine wasn't for the longest time, it grew in clumps and I had to brush it a million times a day to make it grow smooth again".
Becky bawled running from the house as the watch on Heather's wrist beeped and she opened the door to a hyperventilating Suzy.
"Well what do you know looks like you lasted 10 minutes now away with you because my BFF Heather Foutley and I have a sleepover with little or no sleeping to have" Hope said shoving Suzy out of the house and slamming the front door.
"Come on Heather I'll show you where to put your things, then we can do damage control on the fight we had before we became friends and eat junk to a Twilight movie marathon in the movie room".
Hope led Heather to her room where a puppy and a kitten dashed out to greet her.
"This is Max And Ruby and yes I know it's a kid's show but you have to love the little kid in you sometime right?"
"I think their cute Hope, so where did you get them and where can I get one?" Heather asked scratching behind Max the puppy's ears.
"Max sort of fell into our laps, see he was on the football field one day at school which is conveniently where I've taken to eating my lunch and up Max trotted his tongue hanging out and stealing half my sandwich in the process".
"So after the lunch thing it became a ritual of me sitting at the bleachers eating my lunch and feeding Max another sandwich I made my mom make me every day" Hope said giggling as Max laid on his back as she rubbed his stomach and his paw danced a mile a minute.
"So after much begging and a little pleading my mom and dad said I could keep Max on two conditions, A I become responsible for him and B I find Max a playmate and in walked Ruby from a rescue mission not far from here".
"Cool so again let me apologize for the fight Hope because I saw what you can do and I don't want it at all, I mean did you see how fast the popular girls ran when you got revenge?" Heather asked as Hope looked her dead in the eyes and grinned.
"You're fine Heather I'm not going to do anything to hurt you because you apologized, just tell the puppet master to watch her back because I'm coming for her next".
"Hope I really like that idea so let me help you by doing whatever I can to get you and Noel on the same path, I could lead her to you just like I did with the popular kids".
"I think I would really like that seeing you and Noel are sisters and she no matter how mad at you she is trusts you and the popular clique are probably going to recruit her now" Hope said grabbing the Twilight movies and leading Heather to the movie room where a screen and recliners met her.
"We have a popcorn machine and a candy counter too, my parents made this room because they know how much I love going to the movies, I mean besides school, homework, and teachers movies help me relax".
Heather chose a middle seat and Hope sat next to her the both of them eating their weight in candy, popcorn, and Coke giggling because they were both glad that they finally had friends they could trust with anything.
Well that's it for now so please R&R and I'll write more