"RITA!" I cry as the doors open, and my godmother and cousin come through the front doors. I throw my arms around her and she hugs me awkwardly. For a minute I'm scared my jeans might have shown when I jumped, but mama didn't say anything, so I'm guessing she didn't see. I step back, and Rita looks gorgeous. She has straight, thin blonde hair that falls less than an inch over her shoulders, and big brown eyes. She has a good figure, unlike me, and she is strong too. She's wearing a lovely light blue skirt with lacey little things at the bottom edges. On top she wears white shirt with an undershirt that matches her skirt, and plain black flats on her feet complete the look. Anita hugs my mama, and I notice how small and frail my mother looks compared to her. Anita is wearing a green and pink skirt with a bright hot pink shirt. She looks worried though, and I study her face for a moment before Rita catches my attention.
"What are we doing today?" She asks, implying that she wants to go say hello to the gang.
I smile. "We could go get some ice cream?" I look over at my mama for permission, and she gives me a nod. I squeal slightly, grabbing Rita by the wrist and leading her out the door. I fly down the stairs to the ground level of the apartment building, and I am about bouncing with energy as she follows me slowly. "Come ooon!" I whine teasingly as Rita makes it to the bottom. "They're waiting!"
Rita rolls her eyes and sighs. "I'm coming, Risky!"
I'm glad she didn't call me Olivia like she always used too. She agreed to call me Risky when I let her get a gang name. All of the boys know her as Rita, but they call her Angel.
"ANGEL ANGEL ANGEL!" Dodger calls out with a smile, cracking a peanut shell between his fingers as he sees us coming. He seems happy enough, but there's a sort of tension in the air. Red's head lifts immediately from what he's doing. He stands and grabs my arm and leads me aside, as Rita joins the rest of the guys and says a few nervous hello's.
'What's up...?" I ask him warily, my heart rate quickening.
He sighs and hesitates a moment before meeting my grey blue eyes with his turquoise green ones. "Penguin got jumped." He mutters sadly.
"What!?" I cry, the color draining from my face.
Red picks at his fingernails. "They tried to hit Grease earlier, that's how come he had blood on his shirt that you saw. I guess he sent 'em running, and they didn't like that too much, so they went after Penguin about half an hour ago.
"He okay?" I ask, almost frightened of the answer.
Red just shrugs. "He's at Donnyboy's, we haven't heard anything'."
I let out a breath long and slow, running my fingers through my dark hair.
Red nods, and then turns on his heel. "Angel!" He calls, breaking the tension like a bubble.
"Hey!" Rita calls, giving Red a hug.
Red blushes and pats her back awkwardly. I give him a thumbs-up and he rolls his eyes before Rita pulls away.
Dodger chuckles. "Oh, you know what, fine, give him a hug. You don't even have to say 'hi' to me or anything." He teases.
Rita smiles. "Hello Dodger."
He grins. "Hi Rita."
I smile; glad my god sister is fitting in for once.
"Hey hey hey, check it out!" Grease hollers, holding a poster up over his head.
The print on the poster reads "Dance in the gym, 6:00" and todays date.
"Oh my gosh." I laugh incredulously, looking around at the gang, my eyebrows up.
"Revenge!" Grease cackles, wringing his hands mischievously.
I tell my mama I'm going to the dance, and at first she's skeptical. Then I use my imaginary boyfriend as an excuse, and tell my mama "Ricardo" is taking me to the dance. She smiles proudly, and she and Rita help me pick out a dress. I twirl in front of the mirror in a light blue sequined piece.
"I like it!" Rita smiles.
My mother looks puzzled, and then it suddenly clicks. "It's perfect!" She whispers happily.
I smile to myself. Rita pulls out a blue and green flower hair clip that I use to pull my hair back away from my face.
Angel wears a pink, fluffy dress with lace and a matching ribbon/headband. She looks gorgeous, and I resist the urge to sweep those pretty white shoes out from under her with my own scuffed up, worn out black flats.
I'm sure Red will be impressed… I think to myself with a giggle.
Rita and I meet the boys outside the gym. From the second I see their faces, I know something is wrong.
"Livvy…" Rita warns using an old pet name of mine, as if I can't already see something's up.
I immediately snap at her, and then feel sorry for it afterward. "Risky." I growl through my teeth, giving her a concerned glance. I try to force a gentle smile. "Angel."
Red immediately steers Angel away, glancing over his shoulder at me, gesturing with his eyes for me to talk to the remaining members of our gang. Donnyboy and Penguin are still absent, but the rest (Grease, Red, Dodger, Angel and Myself) are all present. It hits me then what a small "gang" we are, and how noticeable one missing person becomes.
Grease stares at me, as if I've done something wrong, as if I'm guilty.
Dodger hands me a sheet of paper.
I read it carefully and slowly, partly because I'm not the greatest reader, and partly because I am terrified of the words on that paper.
"Stab, heart barely pumping-
DO NOT GO TO DANCE
-Don"
I throw the paper onto the ground and sprint to the nearest trash can.
"Risky." Grease growls over the sound of my being sick.
My breath comes in ragged, chocked sobs.
"What the hell are we doing…?" Dodger sighs, holding his head.
Red comes back with Angel, and it looks like he told her an understated version of what's going on, just from the look on their face. I nod to him reassuringly.
I clear my throat and look at the scared faces of my gang. My gang.
"We should listen to Donnyboy." I begin.
"But, I'm sorry, I'm not going to."
And with that, I burst through the doors and find a full-fledged Check attack party waiting for me.
The entire dance was a set up.
I suddenly feel very awkward in a dress.