Gossip Column:
OMG, it's FRIDAY! You know what that means, don't you?
IT'S HOMECOMING TODAY!
:)
Are you all excited for this? I know I'm bubbling over.
So the big question is... Who did MassieBlockpick as her date? Well, she didn't pick ANYONE! GASP! But she did say that whoever asked her to go to the dance 'will surely get a dance with me'.
Gag me.
Another big question for this Homecoming - Will the head cheerleader Nikki Dalton and her boyfriend, the steamy hot football captain quarterback Cam Fisher win Homecoming Queen and King, or will somebody - or another couple - knock them off their throne? I can't rightly tell you, but I know it will be an interesting fight for the throne.
In other news, Kiley Patterson and Riley Newjuee have gotten back together, just in time for the big dance (oh joy), and I can only imagine how the first slow dance will be for them. Either happy tears, or break up tears. It's a 50/50 shot. And might we see the end of the fight between Chris Polvert and Cam Fisher. Things have been heating up between the two from the very first run-in, to Wednesday when Cam 'accidentaly' knocked Chris's books out of his hands. Gawd, I can't WAIT for this dance. And the infamous player Alicia Rivera was said to have been making the moves on Dune Baxter on Monday morning in the art room. Did her reported lover Cam know? And a cat-fight seems to be brewing between the new girl Skye Hamilton and Nikki. They were said to have been fighting in the Cafe on Monday, and have a little spat in 7th period Study Hall on Thursday afternoon. Could this boil over at the dance too? And lastly, Massie Block was seen running out of the Cafe in tears on Monday, but seemed to be fetter after talking to Dylan. No one knows what their conversation was about, nor do they know why Massie was crying. But at least I know one thing.
This Homecoming will be interesting.
TTFN!
LoveLoveLove.
-Olivia Ryan, investigative gossip.
"Gawd, I cannot wait to get out of here." Nikki said, looking at the clock again. She was currently sitting in homeroom, tapping her pencil against her blank Algebra2 notes. But it wasn't because she had a song in her head. More like she was planning
"Ugh, I know. I have to go and make sure Jakkon is ready for me. It's going to be like, a three hour appoinment with him and-"
"And you know why?" Nikki innterupted Massie.
"Why?" Massie asked politely. She could hold her problems in for now.
"Because of that idiot Skye. I don't know why you took her in. And the worst part? Olivia noticed, so now the whole school knows, and Skye will just think that she has a chance of beating me. That means I have to take her down harder than planned. And it has to be tonight. I can't let her confidence build too much." Nikki continued to look at the white brick walls. Her dark eyebrows were knit together in concentration.
"Uhm hmm." Massie replied, looking out the windows at the almost-empty trees. She never trash talked any of her friends.
"Hmm... I wonder if I-" The bell went off, signaling the end of the day and cutting Nikki off.
"Niks, I gotta go. Jakkobs expecting me in fifteen. Love ya'." Massie said, throwing her backpack over her shoulder and racing out of the room. Nikki glared after her, then slowly gathered her stuff and left the room. She pulled out her new iPhone4 - how could she not have one? - and sent a message to Alicia.
Nikki: meet me out by my car in 5.
Nikki had only walked twenty feet before she got a reply.
Alicia: srry, i cant. hookin up w/ danny r. in 2... ;p
Nikki rolled her eyes and stuffed her phone in her pocket. Since when did hot punters and hair appointments beat alphas?
Claire hated the end of the day. It meant she had to go home.
Claire slid into her Nissan Z and put it into reverse, backed out of her spot, and slammed on the gas. Sure, she didn't want to go home, but a burn out was always fun. And by the hoots and hollers coming from behind, the students liked them too. Claire grinned, then reached into her backpack and pulled out a joint. Always better high and home then not. Claire lit the tiny roll, and smoked it 'till her fingertips were burning on the end. By then, she was already rolling down her long driveway, pulling into the shed for her car and turning off the engine. Claire took one last hit, then threw the joint in the trashcan and reached into her bag again. Vodka, sweet sweet vodka. A few swigs and she was ready to go. Claire put the bottle back into her bag and finally exited the car, her Gucci purse slung over her shoulder.
"Goddamn it!" Claire's father, Jay shouted from the house, followed by a loud snapping sound. Probably the belt, Claire guessed before throwing her purse onto her balcony and climbing up the hidden ladder she had. Running into her father while he was in mid-anger mode was not a good idea. She'd made that mistake before.
"Jesus Christ, keep it the fuck down!" Claire's mother, Judi shouted back at him. Big mistake, but Claire's mom had done that thousands of times. She never learned.
"What the fuck did you just say to me, you little bitch?" Jay hissed, but Claire could hear it, loud and clear. The downside to pot for Claire was that it heightened her hearing. Strange, but true. Claire threw herslef down on her king-size Temperpedic bed and looked out the window.
"I said, keep it down." Judi hissed back, but Claire could hear her voice wavering. Claire picked up her Temperpedic pillow and stuffed it over her face. She wanted it all to end.
"You never speak to me like that again, do you hear me? Never." Jay said, and Claire could imagine the death-grip he had on her mother's arm. He then followed his statement with a smack. Probably across the face. Then a punch. Probably to the gut. Even with the pillow smashed down on her head, she could hear it all. Crystal clear.
Claire looked at her doorway, then back out the window. Her life was so fucked up, yet so cliche. What would anyone want to do with her? Massie? Claire knew that Massie was just nice to everybody, loser, freak, popular, burn-out, you name it and Massie could find a way to connect with you and make you feel special. Chris? Nah, he was like her, only minus the drugs. He just wanted to get away from it all. Kristen? Jesus, the girl had no brain. She didn't know shit. Kemp? Oh, well... Kemp.
Claire sighed. Kemp was different to her. It was like he actually wanted to talk to her, connect with her on so many different levels, and Claire didn't understand him. He was always finding a way to talk to her, try to make her laugh. Claire wanted to understand what it felt like to be loved, but she couldn't. Kemp was going to have to be pushed away. He didn't want someone as fucked up as her.
"Hey Claire," A tiny voice whipsered from beside Claire, interrupting her thoughts. She rolled over to come face-to-face with her younger brother Todd.
"Hey Toddy," Claire grinned at him. Pot always made her nice to Todd, not that she wasn't already. Just super nice, instead of nice.
"How was school?" Todd asked, wincing as a tiny yelp came from downstairs.
"Fine. How about you?"
"Good. What are we going to do for dinner?"
"I dunno. Ask Macy to make you some grilled cheese."
"Yeah, that sounds good, but how am I going to do that without running into, yah' know, him?" Todd asked, glancing at the doorway then back at Claire.
"Use the intercom. Dad had them updated last month so we can call one specific room, re-mem-ber?" Claire rolled her eyes.
"Right. By the way, you reek of smoke."
"I don't care. It wouldn't make a difference if I smelled like fucking roses."
"True," Todd admitted, walking over to Claire's intercom, "Hey Macy?" Todd waited for a few seconds before he got a reply.
"Yes Mister Todd?" Came a soft voice from the other end.
"Can I get two grilled cheeses up in Claire's room, please?" Todd waggled his eyebrows at Claire when Macy said 'Mister Todd'.
"Yes Mister Todd. They'll be up in twenty." Macy replied, and Claire could already hear the refrigerator door opening before the intercom went out.
"Todd, go get my laptop, please," Claire asked, looking at the spinning trees out the window. Todd went into Claire's closet, knocked over a few shoe boxes and pushed aside her rack of dresses and sweaters before comingout with Claire's MacBook Pro.
"Thanks babe." Claire grinned at Todd, and turned on her laptop, waiting for everything to load.
"Claire! Come down here!" Jay yelled up the steps.
"Shit." Claire mumbled, then climbed off her bed and walked out into the hallway. She walked down their marble spiral staircase slowly, trying not to make to much noise.
"Tomorrow, you mother has to go to some gala with her girlfriends. You're going with her, and you're going to be good. No drugs, no alcohol, nothing tonight. Got it?" Jay said to Claire, no even giving her a hello. Claire glanced at her mother, who was sitting at the bar, smoking and sipping gin. Other then the hand print on her right cheek, she appeared to be scratch less. One of Jay's fingers was pointed in Claire's face, and Claire wanted to push it away.
"Got it?" Jay repeated, almost shouting at Claire. Claire looked at her father's Rolex watch - a gift she'd given him when she was young, when things were bearable - then at the finger again before answering.
"Yes sir." Claire said, trying to keep the venom out of her voice.
"Good. Now go." Jay waved his hand at Claire, then marched out of the room. He'd been out of the Marines for fifteen years now, but he still acted like he was the Major of everything. Claire watched him leave, her fist's clenched.
"You've been dismissed." Judi grinned dryly at her daughter, touching her 14 karrot diamond necklace, "Worthless piece of shit." She mumbled under her breath, probably thinking that Claire couldn't hear her, but she could.
Crystal clear.
"Krissie! Look at this tie!" Josh pointed to a sky blue tie by Calvin Klein. Kristen raced over, wrestling with her shopping bags the whole time. Since she'd made him go into Ralph Lauren - the store he absolutely hated - she agreed to go help him get his formal wear for tonight.
"OMG, Joshie, that's super ah-dorable. You could wear it tonight if you wanted!" Kristen clapped her hands together. Tonight was going to be amazing. She already had her dress from Emilio Pucci, she already had her pedicure and manicure, and her hair was being done in half a hour.
"I know! Oh, and by the way check these jean's out! Like? I got them last night. They're Diesel. And only like, four hundred dollars!" Josh stuck his left leg out for Kristen to observe.
"Once again, ah-dorable! Okay, let's go check out, then we can go get some fro-yo. Besides these bags are killing my arms!" Kristen rolled her eyes, then plopped down in a leather seat nearby.
"Okay. Just gimme a sec," Josh walked over the the counter and put his tie, sunglasses and polo on the counter.
"Is that all?" The woman with the bad nose job asked from behind the counter.
"Yes," Josh said, and check his phone while she was scanning his purchases. One from Landon, and one from Cam.
Cam: yo dude, were pickin up the grls at 7. b readround 6:30ish.
Josh sent a quick 'k' reply, then checked Landon's message.
Landon: 2nite, u thinkn? or is it 2 early?
Josh looked at the pants display for a second, trying to decide. Sure, they could ruin him tonight, but it might be to early... What about-
"That's $314.40." The woman said, and Josh handed over his AmEx. She swiped his card, bagged his things, then handed them both over.
"Have a nice day," She called to him, but Josh was deep in thought.
What to do, what to do?
"Hey! Thanks for meeting me here on a short notice!" Massie waved at Derrick, who was looking way to uncomfortable in the salon's waiting area.
"No problem. You mind telling me what we're doing?" Derrick fidgeted.
"I'm getting you a haircut. Jakkob said that he would give me a special, to bring a friend and have their cut for free, so I brought you!" Massie almost laughed at his expression.
"Me? Why me?Why not one of your girly friends?"
"Because silly, you need the cut, and we can spend some time together!" Massie giggled, sitting in the leather salon chair. Derrick's heart flew when he heard Massie say 'together', so he sat down in the chair next to her, trying to avoid the stares he was getting.
"So how've you been?" Massie asked, putting her elbows on the arm rest and resting her chin on her connected fingers.
"Other than ignored, fine," Derrick looked wearily at Massie, "What about you? I've read about some of the drama."
"Ugh! I just want it to end, ya' know? It's a pain. I was just trying to be nice to Skye, 'cause I know what it's like to be the new girl, but Nikki feel's threatened and ruins everything, plus Alicia's sleeping with the entire school... It's not good." Massie sighed.
"That is one perk to being invisible; no one gives you the time of day!" Derrick joked, causeing Massie to crack a grin.
"Oh stop! I'm giving you the time of day, aren't I?" Massie slapped Derrick's arm, "Plus, I probably would've gone to Homecoming with you, if, ya' know, there wouldn't have been a big deal about it."
"Really?" Derrick asked, his heart practically jumping out of his chest.
"Duh! You're like, my best guy friend! But I give you a special slow dance tonight. If you're good, maybe two," Massie winked at Derrick, and Derrick tried to keep his face upbeat.
"Oh, yeah,"
"Mah-zzie!" Jakkob said, coming out from the break room.
"Jakkob! It's nice to see you!" Massie jumped up and gave Jakkob a big hug before sitting back down.
"I know! It'z been like, what, zixz monthz? Zez-vin?" Jakkob said, his awkward accent slipping into the words.
"Well, it's been a while since a big event, ya' know?" Massie shrugged her shoulders.
"I know, money'z tight, you have to zave zome money," Jakkob nodded, understanding Massie's dilemma.
"Yup. And Jakkob, this is my friend, Derrick. I was thinking like, a Chase Crawford cut, ya' know what I'm sayin'?" Massie waved her hands around Derricks head.
"Oh yez! Mah-zzie, you're brilliant! So Derhh-ick, pleaze go wiz Mandy over there, zhe will wazh your hair, and after I finizh wiz Mazzie, I zhall do your hair," Jakkob explained, whisking Massie away from him. Derrick sighed, and walked over to a redundant brunette. This could be a long hair cut.
"Dylan, please help Jamie find her hairspray," Merri-Lee Marvel said, poking her head in Dylan's bathroom. Her mother had no respect for privacy in their tiny rancher house.
"It's not my fault she's decided to kill the environment, why should I have to help her find it?" Dylan asked, tossing down her eco-friendly make-up.
"Just help her, please." Merri-Lee said, walking back to the kitchen. Dylan rolled her eyes, then got went into her sister's room.
"What do you need Jamie?" Dylan folded her arms and leaned on the door frame.
"Can you help me find my hairspray? I know you hate it that I use that stuff, but I really need it. Colin and I have a big date tonight," Jamie whined, poking her head out from under her desk. Dylan sighed, then walked over to Jamie's dresser and opened the second drawer. After shuffeling through a few of Jamie's t-shirts, Dylan pulled out Jamie's Aqua Net.
"Here," Dylan tossed Jamie the can. No matter how many time's Jamie lost something, she never realized that it always ended up in that drawer.
"Oh thank you Dyl!" Jamie gushed, spraying her hair.
"Whatever," Dylan rolled her eyes again, then went back to her bathroom to finish getting ready for Homecoming. She didn't know why she continued to go to the school events, but she did. Definatley not for the boys, that's for sure.
"Dillard, you want something to eat before you go?" Merri-Lee called to Dylan, using Dylan's old nickname.
"Just an apple, please!" Dylan replied, applying a thin coat of lipstick before turning off the light in her bathroom. She glanced at her reflection, smoothed her green dress - green for the earthly color, and the fact that it was made out of recycled fabrics - and nodded. She looked perfect.
"Thanks Mom," Dylan said taking the apple out of Merri-Lee's hand.
"You're welcome sweetie. Have fun at the dance, okay?"
"Yup. I love you," Dylan leaned into kiss her mom's cheek.
"Love you too." Merri-Lee replied, watching Dylan walk out the door. She slid into her Nissian Leaf and turned it on. Dylan gripped her stearing wheel and grinned. Tonight was going to be a good night. She had a feeling.
Dune sighed and put down his poetry book. He looked at his watch, then out the window, then to his painting. Homecoming started in an hour. He needed to get out of the art room in ten minutes, but something was holding him back. And he knew exactly why.
His painting. It needed... Something. Meaning. At the moment, it was just a thing, a picture of Dune had seen. Dune squinted at his painting, trying to think of the meaning of his painting.
Was the boy looking for himself? No, that wasn't it. Far from it. Looking for something he'd lost? Nope.
Maybe it was the boy, the outcast, misunderstood and trying not to let it affect him. Maybe the boy was relating himself to way things were outside, cold and lonely. Dune sat up. He was onto something. It was the boy, looking at the way of everyone else and looking at the way of himself, and realizing how cold his was, but also realizing how he was too far in to stop things. Yes, that was it, or at least close. Dune glanced at his watch. Three minutes. He had plenty of time to do what he needed to.
Chris peeked around the corner of the school again. Why he was sitting here, he really didn't know. Maybe it was because he knew he had to settle things between him and Cam, tonight. Maybe it was because he was to cowardly to sit on the main steps, or maybe, just maybe it was because he didn't want to be caught here.
"Hey," Chris jumped when he heard a voice from behind him. Chris turned around to see Kemp Hurley leaning on the wall, about twenty feet away from him.
"Hi," Chris barely grunted. He wasn't in the mood for talking.
"Do you ever wonder why girls are so distant?" Kemp asked Chris. Chris didn't reply, so Kemp continued, "I mean, you try to be nice to them, to help them, but they just push you away. Hell, I don't care if you're 'damaged goods' or any of that shit. If I want you, I obviously want you, ya' know?"
"Does this stupid conversation have a point?" Chris turned around again, his fist half formed.
"Sorry man, I was just thinking aloud. Why are you here though?"
"Why does it matter to you?"
"Sorry again, I was just wondering. This is where I always come to think, so it kinda suprised me when I saw you here, that's all." Kemp backed off, "But dude, think about those words. It'll make your head hurt," Kemp walked away, and Chris shook his head. What was with the kids at this school?
"Massie, Nikki's here!" Kendra Block shouted through the apartment, "She'll be right down Nikki," Kendra turned back to the intercom, releasing the button before Nikki could reply.
"Thanks Mom," Massie grinned at her mother before giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"No problem. Have fun tonight and be safe," Kendra winked at Massie, before shutting the apartment door behind her. Massie walked into the elevator and hit the button for floor one.
"Finally. Remind me why you live in a damn apartment building again?" Nikki snapped at Massie.
"Come on Niks," Massie said quietly, walking to the limo with her best friend. It's not like Massie was poor, but they weren't necessarily rich either. And beside's Massie loved the charm her apartment had.
"Fine, whatever. Let's just go," Nikki said, sliding onto the leather seat, and Massie followed.
"Hey Mass!" Alicia laughed at her, hanging off the arm of Landon Crane.
"Hey Leesh!" Massie giggled back, even though the sight of Landon in the car made her eye's go wide with suprise. Massie glanced around the car, at Cam and Nikki and Kristen, before turning to Josh, who was sitting next to her.
"What's Landon doing here, not that I mind," Massie whispered to him.
"Cam's giving him a ride, that's all. Alicia's just, ya' know, being herself." Josh winked at her, before turning back to Kristen to continue their conversation about leather shoes. Massie grinned at Landon, trying to make him feel more in-place.
"So are you guys ready to kick some ass tonight?" Cam grinned at everyone, and they all cheered back.
"We are so going to be king and queen," Nikki gushed, kissing Cam, and Massie couldn't help but notice the way he and Alicia glanced at each other after the kiss. But she wasn't going to do anything. Drama wasn't really her thing.
Skye grinned wickedly. 'Joining' the Prom Committee was the best thing she'd done this year.
"Thanks for filling the boxes with confetti Skye! It'll be so cute when that falls on the king and queen!" Nina Callas gushed to Skye, hanging off her boyfriend, Griffen Hastings arm.
"No prob Nina, but I didn't do it. All I did was hang them up. Kiley filled them up." Skye smiled at her. She couldn't help it. Yes, Skye had filled them, but everyone would believe her over Kiley. And yes, box one was full of colorful confettii. But box two wasn't. And if Nikki was the queen, then Skye would deffinatley press the button to release box two all over her, proving that Skye was the winner. But if not, only box one would go off. Skye bit her lips to stop the laughter from coming out.
Tonight was going to be perfect.
YAY, I updated! :)
okay, so what do you guys think about some of the stuff. what will Skye release? what is Dune's painting about? who will be queen and king? will Landon and Josh come on top? will Syke? and what about all the drama unfolding?
review with your thoughts!
xoxo, join. me. in. the. thunder