Chapter Fourteen
Water Buffalos, Corndogs and Noodle Brains
(Harlow)
"I hate the home court advantage."
Sophie glowered behind us at the bleachers, as hundreds and hundreds of students began filing into the auditorium. Nearly all of them were wearing their New York University sweatshirts and a decent chunk of them had made "NYU" signs. Although I'd told her countless times before how it didn't matter where we were, I totally knew the feeling. With a great sigh, I wrapped an arm sympathetically around my dear old Soph.
"It doesn't matter where we are, Kapor," I said confidently, for what had to have been the millionth time since I'd known her. "It's how good we play. And as far as I'm concerned, we're unbeatable."
"That's the spirit, oh Captain my Captain," Kimmy said cheerfully from my left.
I grinned, giving my best attempt at nonchalant attitude. Truth be told, I was scared shitless. This was the first time since I'd joined the volleyball team, nevermind been made Captain, that we'd made it as far as Nationals. This was the first time since I was ten, in fact, that I'd been in New York. And this was the first time - ever - that I'd been about to play in front of five thousand people who were all for me losing.
This was going to be just fabulous. Ughhh.
"You think we'll win, Harlow?" Mickenzie asked nervously, peering at the crowds of people making their way into the gym. "The NYU girls look .. tough."
I don't know if tough was the word, I thought, looking over at the team opposite us. I was thinking more along the lines of -
"They're fucking giants," Jen said, grinning. "What are they feeding those girls?"
"Testosterone would be my first and likely most accurate guess," Emma muttered from the bleachers.
"Is that like a noodle?" Natalie asked Emma with interest.
"Your brain is a fuckin' noodle," mumbled Ainslee, jumping at Lindsey's sharp jab in the ribs. "Ow!"
"Stop it, all of you," I said sternly, shooting them all dirty looks. "The last thing we need before the game is all of you at each other's throats."
Sophie nodded. "I agree. We're gonna play a good, clean, fair game. And you know I mean it because I never say that. Now huddle up."
The girls all laughed appreciatively as they padded towards Soph and I. Looking over my clipboard, I made a few little scratches on it before peering over at Sophie. She quickly read over the changes I'd made, and nodded sharply.
"Alright," I said, and the team fell silent. "Natalie, you're the starting server, alright? Don't hold back, I want you to rage on that ball, got it?"
"What does that even mean?" she asked.
"Hit it hard," Sophie said in exasperation.
"Oh, well why didn't you say that the- "
"Emma, you're our middle blocker," Soph cut in, shooting Nat an irritated glare. "Show 'em who's boss. Meagan, your setting was fantastic during practice, you're on first."
The two girls nodded, jaws set in determination.
"Ainslee, I want you front and center, you're gonna be the opening spiker," I said, running down list. "Kimmy, I want you on first for libero."
"Who's her second?" Jen asked, looking slightly crestfallen.
"You'll have your chance next round, Jen," I said sympathetically. "I didn't forget about you. For now, Sophie'll be her second."
The team smiled, looking much more confident than they did a few seconds ago; they knew anytime Sophie or I played, their chances of winning sky-rocketed. A fact that annoyed Sophie beyond belief.
"Cut the confidence crap," Soph said sharply. "It's not one person who makes a team, you all better haul serious ass today."
"Stretch out," I said, peering over at the ref. "Game starts in five."
As they trudged off to the benches, sipping their water bottles apprehensively as the last seats in the house were filled, I saw Sophie turn and give me a severely irritated glare - well ... more so than her usual looks, anyways.
"He's here," she said boredly, motioning towards the far end of the gymnasium.
"He's .. oh!"
OOOH I THINK I PEED MYSELF!
I looked over to where she'd motioned, and felt my heart skip a couple of beats - Ryan! Followed closely by Heather, Katrina, Sergey, Eilfie and a tall, solid lookin' guy I'd never seen before strutting closely beside Ryan, they made their way to the seats on the very edge of the bleachers. Catching his eye from across the gym, I waved cheerfully and he waved back. Even this far away from him, I could tell he was smiling. Oh sweet boy!
"Be right back," I said to Sophie, who was glaring cantankerously across the gym at them.
I jogged as quickly as I could past the ref (who either said 'nice rack' or 'come back' - I'm leaning towards the former) and towards the bleachers, where the entire PRS team (minus the bigger guy) all waved happily.
"Hi!" I said enthusiastically, coming to a stop in front of them.
"'lo, Lo!" Heather said cheerfully.
"Hiya!"
"Hey!"
"How are you?" Ryan asked seriously, clearly sensing the tension I'd tried so desperately to hide. Damn, he's good.
"Alright," I lied. "Well, no. Scared completely shitless. But that's to be expected, I guess, isn't it?"
"Absolutely," he agreed, but smiled warmly. "You'll do great, Lo. You always do."
I flushed, but smiled in embarrassment. "Just don't make fun of me too bad if we get slaughtered .. "
"Did you notice that the entire NYU team look like water buffalos?" Heather asked brightly, as several people around looked mutinously at her.
"Er .. no, hadn't really noticed," I lied, trying unsuccessfully to hide the laugh that bubbled from my throat.
"I wanted to bring a sign that said 'DEATH TO THE NYU WATER BISONS' but Katrina wouldn't let me," Heather sighed woefully.
"My apologies Heather," said Katrina, rolling her eyes. "I just figured you versus five million angry University students wouldn't fly too well."
"I could take 'em," Heather muttered.
"Harlow, this is Chad," Ryan said, casting a dark look at Kat and Heather and motioning to the bigger, bearded guy to his right. "Chad Calek, another paranormal investigator we work closely with."
"It's nice to meet you," I said politely, smiling at the big friendly face in front of me and extending my hand.
"Likewise," he said, shaking it gingerly in his large, frickin' paw of a hand. "I've heard a lot of great things about you from the ol' Buell-meister over here."
Ryan blushed furiously, laughing awkwardly. I couldn't help but grin at that handsome, tanned face in front of me.
"As long as they're great, I've got no real problem," I said happily.
"Are you playing in the first round?" Eilfie asked.
I shook my head. "No, I might be in the second half but it depends on how we're doing. I've kept the better players on the bench this quarter, before I make an official gameplan I've gotta get a feel for the NYU girls."
"Don't get too close, Harlow, they make look cute and furry but those hooves are hard," Heather said warningly.
The rest of the crew exchanged mortified expressions, and Katrina swatted Heather lightly on the side of her head - I couldn't help laughing, regardless of the dark looks I was getting from people seated all around them.
"So when do your seminars start?" I asked casually, trying to ease the tension between those adorable little Ghost Busters.
"Four o'clock," Ryan replied, taking a peek at his watch. "It's in the Wellington Plaza ballroom, right down on Fifth."
"I'll be there," I said cheerfully. "I've been looking forward to going since you told me."
"I'm stoked you're coming," he said earnestly. "Chad and Sergey are going to be doing a special Tech service, and I'll be talking at Chip's seminar - "
"Chippy's gonna be there?" I asked excitedly.
Ryan smiled and nodded. "Yeah, he flew down from Raleigh especially."
"That's fantastic," I said, feeling happier than I had in hours. "I'm so excited - I think Sophie's gonna come along too, maybe Kimmy as well."
"I didn't think Soph liked this kind of .. stuff," Ryan said, a little apprehensively.
I smiled. "She'll come if I tell her to."
"Non-believer?" Chad asked.
I pondered this, and shrugged. "I don't know, actually ... never really cared to ask. I think it freaks her out more than anything."
"Understandable," Chad said benignly. "Majority of people who don't believe in the paranormal are simply afraid of it."
"Majority of people who do believe are afraid of it too," I said darkly, but the sharp trill of the ref's whistle caught my attention. "I'm sorry, I gotta run - thank you guys so much for coming, any support we get is ridiculously appreciated - and it was nice meeting you," I said, inclining my head towards Chad.
"You too," he said cheerfully, as I turned and began jogging back to my side of the gym.
"I'm going to cheerlead for you!" I heard Heather shout from behind me.
"No she won't!" Katrina called back even louder.
"Shut up, you two - good luck, Harlow!" yelled Ryan.
Oh, that swoon-worthy son-of-a-bitch! His voice was simply perfection.
Y'know .. I'd never tell him this, because my appreciation of him even coming to the game when I'm sure he was swamped with meetings was more than he could even imagine, but the thought of having to play and keep concentration in front of him was worse than the thought of being booed by five thousand students in every direction. How was I supposed to be on the top of my game when all I could focus on was when the next time I got to make out with him would be?
I slowed down to a steady pace, noticing the apprehensive looks on my team's faces (except for Kimmy and Lindsey, who both looked their normal cheerful selves). I padded over next to Sophie, who was standing a fair distance away from the rest of the girls.
"Why're you all red?" Sophie asked me coldly, peering over my shoulder at my small crowd of supporters opposite us.
"I'm not," I lied, ignoring her and looking over at the team.
A couple of them were following Sophie's gaze and looking slyly at Ryan and company. Most of the others were ashen faced and terrified looking. Poor little Jess looked ready to vomit.
"Chill out, you guys," I said, way more enthusiastically than I meant. "It's the Penn State Nittany Lions against those water buffalos. We've so got this - just remember your training, we're gonna get through this together!"
And as the two teams hustled onto the court, the NYU crowd cheering louder than I'd ever heard any crowd cheer before, I couldn't help the grin that slid over my face as Heather's voice carried over nearly a hundred feet to my side of the gym -
"PENN STATE, PENN STATE, WEEEEEE'RE THE ONESSSS, UNLIKE NYU WE'RE FULL OF ... ESTROGENNNN, GO PENN STATE, GO PENN STATE, GO, GO, GO PENN STATE!"
(Katrina)
"You know, personally I've always been more of a football fan - but I gotta say, that was sick."
Chad stretched his legs out in front of him, as we inched down Twenty-Third street in gridlock I'd never seen the likes of before now - my God, how do you New Yorkers do it?
We'd left the game about half an hour ago, the only ones in the entire auditorium in a good mood - in less than 45 minutes, Harlow and her team had destroyed the NYU girls, 25 to 4. Harlow had sat perched comfortably and benignly on the bench with the rest of her team, a humble albeit slightly smug look on that angelic face. She hadn't even played, there had been no need. She had only switched two people on the court the second half, and that was only because they'd been badgering her to get out their and do some damage of their own. Sophie, the tall blonde one, who I assumed was her best friend, took a seat, as did a red-headed, dim faced girl - a lanky brown girl and tall dark-skinned girl had taken their places eagerly.
Even with the home court advantage, the NYU team had been demolished - I'd almost felt bad for them. Almost. The New York University team seemed to have chosen their players based on size and strength alone - athleticism, it seemed, was not on the top of their priority list. Unfortunately for those lovely, er .. ladies, in volleyball, size didn't matter. Not one little bit. It was all talent, all skill - all about the coaching. And it was blatantly obvious - and I would've said this even if I hadn't known Harlow - that the Penn State team had girls that fit all of that criteria, and so much more.
"Ever since I watched their first match, I've been hooked," Ryan agreed, drumming his fingers in irritation against the steering wheel - we'd barely moved a foot in a minute. "I never realized the amount of skill you needed to be a volleyball player."
"Yeah, I'm sure that it was the sport that got you hooked, Ry," Chad said, big grin stretched across his face.
"He means it was Harlow," Heather added helpfully, albeit a little hoarsely - she'd been cheering and screaming so loud, trying to be heard over the NYU crowd, that she'd almost completely lost her voice.
... which, to be completely honest, none of us were too upset about.
"Got that, Tad, thanks," Ryan mumbled.
"You've really outdone yourself this time," Chad said appreciatively, pulling a cigarette out of his coat pocket. "I mean, seriously man - that girl is ridiculous. You know me, I'm a happily married man, but ... Christ. Good choice."
Ryan smiled guiltily, but nodded. "She's somethin'."
"Better than that last girl you dated," said Chad thickly, taking a long drag off his smoke. "Kate, Cathy? Katie?"
"Horseface," Heather squeaked.
Chad choked, smoke streaming out of his nose and eyes watering.
"Katie," Ryan said, rather defensively. "Not horseface, thanks."
"Don't deny it," I sighed, peering out the window. "You know she was a horseface, Ryan."
"I bet she would've eaten alfalfa out of my hand if I'd let her," Heather said, in her cheerfully hoarse voice.
"Regardless," Chad wheezed, thumping his chest from laughing so hard. "I knew from what everyone was saying she'd be a piece of work - but God damn, man - I'm impressed. How'd you nab something like that? Clearly, Buell's got mooooves I definitely didn't know about."
"Not really," Heather croaked. "More like Harlow overlooked his 'moves' and decided to give him a chance."
"Oh joy, she's getting her voice back," I mumbled.
Heather flung her arms joyfully around my neck, nuzzling her nose against my cheek.
"When I get it back, I'm going to serenade you all night and lull you to sleep with my angel's voice," Heather gurgled cheerfully.
"Speaking of lulling to sleep!" I said brightly, shoving Heather away and peering over Chad's shoulder at Ryan. "If Harlow's too busy tonight, Ryan, I know exactly who could fill that cold, lonely spot in your bed!"
"Don't even," he muttered, closing his eyes in irritation.
"Who?" Chad asked curiously.
"Denise Howell," I said happily.
"Who's that?" Chad asked.
"Only if Bri Tanner doesn't beat her to it," Heather argued croakily.
"Bri who?"
"Kyra Jones wants in, too," I reminded Heather.
Chad looked perplexed between the two of us - Ryan banged his head against the steering wheel. "Don't ask, Chad."
"I just did," he replied, looking almost greedily at Tad and I. "Who's Denise How-whatever, or Bri Tan-something, or K-something Jones? I hate being out of the loop!"
"They're members of the LGLBC," I said, grinning - Ryan moaned.
"What's the LBLGC?"
"The Lonely Girls Love Buell Club," said Heather, eyes shining. "It's Ryan's little PRS Fan Club."
"They spend every class staring at Ryan's crotch and doodling their's and his names in little hearts all over their binders," I informed Chad.
"And if they're not doing that, I expect they're formulating ways to date rape him at the open house and have their kinky little way with him," said Heather cheerfully.
Chad looked as excited as a kid at Christmas as he roared with laughter, patting Ryan heartily on the back. Ahh, I knew if there was anyone in the world who'd appreciate the Fan Club as much as Tads and I, it'd be dear Mr. Calek.
"My man!" Chad cried, eyes alight with excitement. "What a player! Your very own fan club!"
"I can't even believe they're here," he sighed, looking miserably at the road ahead of him. "It's not a PRS event, it's for A&E - why would they show up?"
"Every chance they miss to cock-watch is an opportunity wasted," shrugged Heather, lounging back comfortably in her seat. "Stay away from any bars tonight, Ryan - or if you do go, you keep your cup with you at all times."
"Imagine wanting to get in someone's pants so bad you stalk them to New York City for a seminar they're hosting?" I said thoughtfully. "Come on, Ryan - clearly Harlow's a better catch, but would she travel long distance just to be able to stare at your ass for an hour and a half? They obviously really like you. Maybe you should give them a chance!"
"They wanna get married and chase baby Buell's all over the house," squawked Taddy. "They craaaaaave your director's log."
"Ugh, shut up, shut up," Ryan mumbled, barely audible over mine and Chad's cries of laughter. "What if they try and hit on me all night? What if they abduct me and drag me kicking and screaming back to their hotel room? I've given them a million hints to lay off ... they won't leave me alone!"
"Awe c'mon - look on the bright side, man," Chad said, wiping a tear away from his crinkled eye. "They won't try shit - Harlow's here. They're not dumb enough to make a move when your girlfriend is right there."
"You don't know them," Ryan said, shaking his head sadly. "They're relentless."
"Relentless? I was thinking more psycho bitches," Heather said huskily.
"Either or, really," Ryan said. "They flew all the way to New York to stare at me - what if tonight's the night they try something? What if they find out Harlow's here, and they try and .. hurt her, or something? Or threaten her?"
I felt a little pang of guilt for making fun of ol' Buelly, so I reached over and pet his shoulder comfortingly (well, as much as I could .. I was still fighting back laughter about the intense popularity of Ryan's director's log). I could understand his concern, I suppose. Ever since Paranormal State started airing, Ryan had been mobbed by hundreds of girls on campus. Left and right, girls flinging themselves at him, sending him gifts, giving him googley eyes out in the hallways. But Bri, Denise and Kyra - the three Psycho-teers, as we called them - were the worst. Relentless really was the only word for them.
I figure if they got their chance, they'd pull a Cathy Bates in Misery on Ryan and keep him forever and ever. If they found out he had a girlfriend, no less someone as easy as a target as the tiny little Harlow, they'd have a bitchfit. Harlow was tough enough, but three psychotic nutjobs jumping you at every corner wasn't exactly a dream situation for anyone. I rubbed Ryan's arm sympathetically.
"Don't worry, Boss-o," I said sincerely. "They're relentless and they're nutjobs, but they're not gonna do anything. Not when Harlow's here backed up by her entire University league volleyball team. Denise, Bri and Kyra are just a minor inconvenience, they can't hurt her."
"I guess so," he said glumly.
"And even if they freak out because you've got yourself a little girlfriend," I said thoughtfully. "And decide they hate her and want you to break up with her. They'll either tell you off, which, not to toot your own horn or whatever, but I'm pretty sure you could take three pint-size - "
"Fat assed," Heather added.
" - little freaks," I reasoned, ignoring Tad. "And if they decide to go for the 'easier' target, Harlow - come on, dude. Honestly - would you fuck with Sophie?"
"That's true," Ryan said, looking a little less gloomy. "I just don't want Harlow to be weirded out by them or anything .. "
"I don't think she'll be weirded out," I said rather casually, leaning back in my seat. "I mean, really - it's not like Harlow would let them get away with flirting with you."
"Why do you say that?" he asked, peering at me in the mirror.
"Well it's obvious, isn't it?" I said blandly. "She couldn't take her eyes off you the whole game."
It was tremendous satisfaction when I saw the now all too common crimson erupt on his cheeks, and the slightly goofy smile spread over his face.
Damn, I was good.
(Lindsey)
"Come on Sophie, it's not gonna be bad."
"I don't want to, I don't want to, I don't want to!"
"You're - the - biggest - ow! - whiner - I've - ever - met!" Kimmy panted.
Kimmy, Harlow and I, who each outweighed Sophie by a solid five to fifteen pounds, were struggling to push her into the Hotel's lobby, garnering strange looks and rude whispers from passersby. Sophie'd flung herself against the wall of the building, clinging desperately to the tough stone archway in front of her, shaking her head furiously as we attempted to drag her away from the wall.
She could be such a drama queen.
"You said we were getting food and then sight-seeing," she grumbled. "Not coming to some weirdo convention!"
"It's not a weirdo convention," Harlow said rather defensively, yanking at Soph's waist. "It'll be interesting Sophie. Come on, let's go!"
She gave her jacket a great tug, and Sophie toppled from the wall and onto Harlow, both of them landing with a soft Thud on the ground. Kimmy and I roared with laughter, as we helped the blustering, furious Sophie up, and Harlow climbed gracefully to her feet a moment later, smiling broadly and dusting the dirt off pants.
"I always do what you want me to do," she said, wrapping her arms around Soph's neck lovingly. "I go with you to your parent's stupid Country Club dinners. I drop all of my homework assignments to help you pick out earrings. I come over and cook and clean for you all the time, even if I don't feel like it. Do this one thing - this one thing - for me!"
"I hate you. For the rest of my life, I hate you."
"That's the spirit!" I said cheerfully, grabbing her hand in mine. "C'mon, I wanna get a Ghostbusters shirt!"
Kimmy squealed merrily, grabbing her other hand. "Yes! I want my own paranormal investigator's kit! If you're a good girl, Soph, I might even buy you your own!"
"I could buy this entire hotel and everything in it twenty times over," Sophie said acidly, attempting without much success to pry herself away from our grip - no luck, bitch!
"Cool, then buy me a kit, whydontcha?" I asked.
"It's like we're asking you to pull teeth," Harlow muttered from behind us, pushing at Sophie's back forcefully. "My God, woman. Just do me this one favor."
"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you so much."
"That's all well and good but we're gonna be late, let's go!"
With an almighty lurch, we dragged Sophie into the hotel lobby and over to the golden doors of the elevator. The one good thing about having a slightly psychotic friend in a busy hotel is that not only does no one want to approach you, but they also don't want to catch an elevator with you. The elevator was completely empty, as guests and staff walked past and peered in hesitantly. Man, it's like we were celebrities, or VIP's! Well ... y'know, except VIP's aren't usually dragging tall blonde girls by the hair into elevators.
Meh. Y'take what you can get.
After our game - which may I just say, we killed - Harlow'd asked Kimmy and I if we'd like to come with her to this little ol' ghost convention. Naturally, we said yes. Not only because we both totally dug hangin' out with our gorgie Coach, but also because;
a), we were kinda interested in the whole paranormal mumbo jumbo,
b), the rest of the girls were going to drink themselves stupid at some popular NY club, and that wasn't exactly our style,
and c), we planned on taking as many opportunities as we could to check out this new sexy boy toy of Harly Bear's.
Sophie had point-blankly refused to join us on our Ghost expedition. So, being the simply fabulous liars that we were, we convinced her that we'd decided to bail out on the convention and grab a slice of pizza before heading on down to the Statue of Liberty. And, as I'm sure you can see, she didn't exactly take it well when we showd up here instead. Oooopsy daisy!
"I hate this ghost shit, you know I do, I don't wanna goooooo!"
"And I hate hanging out with all your Mum's drunk friends who try and set me up with their socially incompetent accountant sons," Harlow argued. "But I do it because I love you."
"Fine, no more Country Club banquets," Sophie pleaded. "Just let me get the fuck off this elevator!"
"Never," Harlow said, ass-bumping her into the wall.
Sophie fought valiantly against Harlow, but she was no match: she had her pinned in the corner of the elevator. Soph scrambled desperately against her, trying to pry off her hands and tackle her out of the way.
"Fourteenth floor," Lo panted, hip-checking Sophie roughly back into her corner.
"Right-o," Kimmy said jovially.
With a snap, the doors closed and the elevator began to rise. Sophie moaned, running to the closed doors and banging against them - her last chance of escape (besides a window), and we'd foiled it. WAHAHAHA, WE WIN!
"Why did I come? Why? What could've possibly possessed me to come with you assholes?"
"If something possessed you, Soph, then thank God we're going to a Paranormal Convention!" I said cheerfully.
She shot me what was equally the most terrifying and dirtiest look a person could ever have given. Yikes. What a sourpuss.
"Just behave yourself," Harlow muttered, watching the floors tick by. "Just shut up, sit still and look pretty."
"What if I don't want to?" Sophie snarled.
"By all means, kick and scream and shout," Kimmy said simply, picking at her nails idly. "I'm sure that's the first thing you want to do at a Paranormal Convention. Draw attention to yourself. Perfect. We'll allow it."
She grimaced furiously, and I saw a small smile flicker on Harlow's face: she and Sophie may be best friends, but she knew she'd be nothing in this world without Kimmy and I.
The doors to the elevator dinged open, and - arms linked tightly with Sophie's - we stepped out onto the floor. There was a large foyer, with two separate hallways. The hallway to the left looked about a million miles long, lined with doorways, and painted a bright peachy color. The other one was shorter, brighter, and housed only two large oak doors at the very end, and windows all along the east wall. A sign next to the entrance read 'A&E Paranormal State / Psychic Kids Seminars - Guests Welcome'
"Oh good, we made it!" Kimmy said happily.
"Oh fucking joy," Sophie muttered darkly, with a desperate glance at the windows opposite us - she was so not jumping out a window, not on my watch.
"Smile, Kapor!" I said, dragging her towards the bustling room ahead of us. "It's gonna be so much fun!"
"You coming, Harlow?" Kimmy called behind us.
I peered around, and saw Lo's face slightly pale and questioning - she was gazing down the opposite hallway, a perplexed look on her face. You know when someone who speaks barely a lick of English starts randomly asking you questions in a grocery store, and you stare at them and look politely confused? That was the exact expression on Harlow's face. Confused, constricted - unsure.
"Mm - sorry? Oh, yeah .. comin', sorry," she muttered in embarrassment. "Day dreamin'."
Her face snapped back to it's usual benign beauty, and she loped gracefully behind us as we made our way into the boardroom.
It was bigger than I'd expected it to be, that was for sure; about a quarter the size of a football field, with what had to have been nearly two hundred people pacing around. There were information booths, merchandise stands and food and drink vendors all around the floor, crowded against the walls, huddled in the middle, set spontaneously in little clusters all about. People were milling back and forth between the sixty plus stands, conversing happily and reading through little black pamphlets. Against the far wall, the one opposite of us, there were two doors, both propped open with little signs. I assumed that's where Harlow's boytoy was doing his presentation.
"See Sophie, there's food here!" I said, pointing at the many food stands a couple yards away. "You can get a good ol' fashioned New York .. uh, corndog?"
"Hate you, just despise you," she was still muttering from beside me.
"Ooh, look Lo! You want me to buy you that shirt?" Kimmy asked casually, pointing at a t-shirt booth a couple stands down.
Ryan Buell's face looked quite chipperly back at us, underneath the words 'Paranormal State' in some weird, albeit kinda cool font. Harlow blushed furiously, smiling.
"I think I'll be alright," she said, running a hand nervously through her hair. "Maybe you should buy Soph one, I'm sure she'd love it - isn't that right, Sophie?"
With what had to have been THE most murderous glare I'd ever seen, Sophie growled at Harlow. "I shit on that shirt."
"Grumpy gills," Lo sighed, nodding over to the lemonade stand a ways ahead of us. "Too bad they don't have a bar, Grouchy could've used a Bourbon."
"C'mon Lo, let's look around," I said, with sincere interest - there were tables upon tables I was dying to check out. "We've got another fifteen minutes before the seminars start, it's only 3:45."
"I do want a seat though," Harlow said worriedly, as the four of us made our way down the great hall. "I don't know if it's gonna fill up quick or not, I'd hate to miss out ... "
"Sincerely doubt it," Sophie said angrily.
"Grump," Kimmy said, rolling her eyes. "Alright, let's go save a spot, then we can look around before his lecture starts."
"But I won't have enough time to buy holy water!" I pouted.
"I'm sure the stands will still be open after the presentation," Kim said consolingly.
"Brilliant!"
We passed booth upon booth of Paranormal State paraphernalia. Shirts, DVD's, hats, sweaters, coffee mugs - everything with either the PS logo or Ryan's face. I kept stealing quick little glances at Harlow, who was looking rather awkwardly but with a slight grin at all the merchandise stands we passed.
"You sure you don't want a Ryan mug?" I asked her, halfway towards the doors opposite.
"Quite," she assured me, a slight twinkle in her eyes.
"Why buy the mug when you get the whole package, right?" Kimmy said cheerily.
She blushed furiously, sending Kim and I into raucous squeals of laughter - Sophie looked around frantically. Either for an escape route, to check if she knew anyone, or for something sharp so she could kill herself right there.
Ahh, she's such a pooper.
"Harlow?"
At the sound of her name, the three of us (excluding Sophie, who was keeping her head as low as it could possibly go) turned around, looking for the light voice that had just uttered her name. It came from a small girl, probably even shorter than Kimmy (who at 5'3, was a borderline midget herself), with long red hair, twinkly blue eyes, and a pale, freckled and friendly face.
"Harlow, it's me - Alina!"
Harlow's eyes widened in shock, and a brilliant smile broke across her face. "Leeney, my God!"
The two girls embraced, laughing and shrieking happily. Kimmy and I stood rather awkwardly, Sophie propped up furiously between the two of us. Harlow and the girl, Alina, broke apart, smiles still huge and eyes both watery.
"It's been so long," Harlow breathed, looking her over ecstatically. "How are you!"
"Brilliant," Alina responded, simply breathless. "Absolutely wonderful. How've you been?"
"Great, really good," Harlow responded. "Alina, these are my friends - Kimmy, Sophie and Lindsey. You guys, this is a really old friend of mine, Alina."
"How do you do?" Kimmy said brightly.
"Nice to meet ya," I said, with a wave.
"Get me the fuck out of here," Sophie muttered, casting dark looks over her shoulder.
"Oh honestly, you miserable old bat," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Excuse us," Kimmy said apologetically. "We gotta grab seats."
"Sure, great to meet you," Alina said politely, with a slightly anxious glance at Sophie - ah poor girl, the snarling Soph would've scared anyone shitless, truth be told.
"Meet you in there," I said to Harlow, who nodded, casting Sophie a furious glance.
Half dragging her with us, we both gave Sophie hard jabs in the side, and a swat on the side of the head for good measure.
"Stop being such an asshole," Kimmy said angrily, giving Sophie's arm a tug.
"You're being so rude," I tutted, as we passed through the doors.
"I'm rude? Me? You're the ones who abducted me and brought me to this freak show," Sophie said furiously.
"Shut your mouth and sit down," I said, as she plopped into one of the folding chairs near the back.
She did as she was told, although rather grudgingly.
Up at the front of the room, twenty rows of seats up from us, Ryan was deep in conversation with a bespectacled, grey haired man. The man had a rather doughy face, but a happy one, and a thick, woven scarf wrapped around his neck.
"Chip Coffey and Ryan Buell," Kimmy said, peering at the program on her seat.
"You know, I don't care what people say," I said, draping my coat over the chair next to the muttering, completely balls crazy Sophie. "I think Harlow's got pretty good taste in men."
Kimmy nodded, face bright as she peered over at Ryan thoughtfully.
"I'd let him investigate me anytime."
(Alina)
"It's been what .. nine years?"
"Almost a decade, that's for sure!"
We both laughed, but I couldn't help the monster of jealousy roaring in my stomach. I'd met Harlow in Foster Care when we were both 15 years old - back then, she'd been a pretty girl. Awkward, slightly gangly, but pretty. Hair a little too long and scraggly, skin a little spotted - eyes too big for her head. But now?
I don't think the word 'beautiful' would even have done her justice.
Just about all the men in the room who walked past us did double - even triple takes as they made their way down through the crowded throngs of people. Even people behind the booths were gawking at her. She was stunning. Like she'd just walked off the cover of a magazine. Immaculate, perfect - unreal. A girl a few feet away from us, with a rather toad like face, looked wistfully, almost angrily at her. I could feel her pain. Harlow, it seemed, took no notice of her room-wide Fan Club.
"You look amazing, Harlow," I said, rather awestruck.
"Ah, please. You're the one who's simply gorgeous," she said, with such sweet sincerity it surprised me. "What brings you all the way to New York?"
Forcing myself to look away from her radiant face for one second, I motioned to the main information booth a couple of feet away from us.
"I work for A&E," I said, rather proudly. "Got booked as a production assistant a couple years back - it's wild, really crazy. Total fluke."
"Oh I doubt that," she said, giving me a playful pat on my arm. "You were always brilliant, Leeney - I sincerely doubt there was any kind of fluke!"
I grinned. "Oh hush, you flatter. What've you been doing?"
"School," she said, rather glumly. "Fourth year in Psychology."
"No way! You study here in New York?"
She shook her head, mane of long, chestnut brown hair shimmering in the light. "Naw, I study at Penn State. I was down here for a big volleyball game - the girls in there, Kimmy and Soph and Linds, they're some of my best friends as well as team mates."
"What brings you to the Paranormal State convention, then?" I asked, with a slight smile. "Besides the obvious, I presume."
She smiled a little awkwardly, but nodded towards the large doors her friends had just disappeared through. "I'm uh .. a friend of Ryan's, actually. We were both down here at the same time, he came to my game, I came to his conference."
"Really?" I asked, genuinely surprised. "I figured you were here for other reasons, actually."
The slightly toad-faced girl standing a couple feet away from us peered over her shoulder, looking crossly at the two of us - she made me a little uncomfortable, truth be told. She'd been gawking at Harlow since we'd started talking three minutes ago. What a creep.
Harlow shook her head. "No, I uh .. I don't really practice that old, odd little talent anymore, to be honest."
"You were amazing at it," I said, almost sadly. "It's kind of .. well, no offense, but it's a waste of a Psychic talent, Lo."
Harlow jumped a little as the toad-faced girl behind her dropped a porcelain mug from her hands. Face red with embarrassment, she bent over and began to pick up the pieces, mortified. The uncomfortable knot in my stomach tightened - there was something odd about that girl .. it was like she was eavesdropping in on our conversation.
"It's behind me," she said softly, ignoring Toady behind her. "It's never really done me any favors, y'know? Some things you grow out of, or grow in to. I just don't .. I don't really want people knowing about it. You found out, but in the years since then you've been the only one I ever told."
I nodded. "Fair enough ... you've never considered following up with it, though? You could've made a lot of money, Harlow. You could've had your own television show."
She laughed, shaking her head. "I spent too much of my life feeling like a freak and an outcast. The last thing I want is to be on a billboard with 'Ghost Whisperer' next to my head. If it got out around school, I don't know what I'd do ... I mean, it was never about the money ... there's other ways to make cash."
I nodded in agreement, knowing fully well that if she'd wanted to, Harlow could easily get into any business of her choosing. With a face like that? She'd have been worth millions.
"So does your, uh - friend, Ryan. Does he know about it?" I asked.
She nodded, biting her lip anxiously. "Yeah ... I didn't plan on telling him, but by an odd sequence of events, it kind of came out into the open. Luckily he's absolutely amazing, and he's been good about keeping it on the down low."
"I've met him a couple times," I said thoughtfully, looking at a shirt with his face plastered on the front. "He seems great. Quiet, but very sweet."
"The sweetest," she said, eyes twinkling. "I adore him."
I grinned. "And does he adore you, if you catch my drift?"
She smiled cheekily, giving her shoulders a non-committal shrug. "Something you'd have to ask him, I guess."
Which totally meant they were together! Hot damn.
"It's great you found someone like him," I said, making my own blatant assumptions from her vague answers. "Someone that understands the Paranormal - someone that can really appreciate the gift you have."
She smiled rather awkwardly, but nodded. "It is .. he's the only one in all of Penn State that knows. And I just ... well, it's nice to know I can trust someone, you know?"
"Absolutely," I agreed, taking a peek at my watch. "His seminar should be starting any minute now, as a matter of fact."
"I gotta run, then," she said, looking hurriedly at the clock above the stands. "Alina - really - it was just so fantastic seeing you again."
"I've missed you," I agreed, rather sadly. "Look - take one of my cards. Call me anytime you're in the city, or drop me a text, e-mail - whatever."
I handed her one of my business cards from my back pocket, and she took it gingerly in her long fingers. She popped it neatly into the front pocket of her jeans, and grinned broadly before pulling me into a bone-crushing hug.
"I will, I promise," she said softly, as I squeezed her back - the wonderful scent of coconuts made my brain hazy with happiness.
"It's been great, Lo," I said, as she pulled away from me, hitching her bag further up her arm.
She nodded, and made to walk to the door. For a moment, she looked hesitant, eyes focused on the room ahead of her, but body frozen very still in the spot. With a bit of hesitation, she looked back at me, curiously, uncertainly.
"Hey Leen," she said quietly, mossy green eyes tentative. "You ever think of that place? Foster Care?"
"Every day," I said softly.
"Me too." She shook her head. "Ah well," she said rather jauntily, and she drifted away into the mass of people before me.
I watched her disappear from view, like I'd watched her disappear into the caseworker's dark car nearly a decade ago. But this time, I couldn't help the small smile that crept onto my face. That place, Foster Care. It was impossible not to think of, not once you'd been in it. Seen what it did, the irreparable damage it caused.
It ruined people. It ruined lives. It killed. Killed your instinct to survive, killed dreams, killed hope. It took everything that made you human, everything that made you a child, everything that gave you happiness - it took that, and so much more. It stripped you of all that made you tick. The lasting damage it inflicted onto so many thousand children every day of every year - it was almost impossible to forget. To recover from.
But sometimes - very rarely - a person came out of it for the better. One in a million, that had to have been the odds. Once in a blue moon, a person would escape from the hell that was their childhood. That was Foster Care. They would rise from the ashes of their ruined lives, like a phoenix after Burning Day. They'd escape. They'd be reborn. They'd stand above. They'd learn how to hope again. How to dream. How to find the will to live. And they became people like her - like me.
People with a chance.
With a start, I realized the toad-faced girl was still a couple feet away from me. Her beady glare was fixed on me - but there was a smugness to her face that I hadn't seen when I'd peeked at her before. There was a thrill to it, a pale shock of happiness that had replaced the fury before.
"Can I help you with something?" I asked rather harshly, peering down at the nametag stuck on her linty sweater. "Uh, Denise, is it?"
She shook her head slowly, eyes glittering rather malevolently.
"Oh no, I'll be fine," she said, her voice much softer than I'd have imagined. "Thanks, though. Thanks a lot."
And she walked away, leaving me standing in the bustling room with a rather terrible knot in the pit of my stomach.
Author's Note: Hello hello, beautiful people of the Fan Fiction community! I'm back, and ta-da! ANOTHER CHAPTER THAT TOOK ME LESS THAN 8 YEARS! I know it's a fairly pathetic accomplishment, but it's one I'm proud of :D
NOW, I must get to my many thank-you's!
Kakashis-girl90: trust me, if people think you're losing your mind when you read a new chapter, you should see ME when i read your reviews, i DOOO lose my mind. and it's almost always at an unfortunate time when i do receive them. i'm usually in the middle of the produce section. or in a library. or on a bus. and then every around me thinks i'm nuts ... regardless, you're amazing and i adore you to no end!
WinchesterAngel3389: oooh, pretty good idea who the green belongs to, do you! i'm impressed, you're even remembering the little details in the story! just for you, i shall bust serious balls in getting the next chapter out as soon as i possibly can! you're a doll, let's hold hands (L)
TemptationIsBliss: you love my story? i love YOU! i very much agree, although i don't know the dear little Buelly personally, i imagine whenever he's in a relationship, he's very much a lovey dovey cutie pie. i'm glad someone else sees it! thank you for the review, you're fantastic!
kcollins720: oooh curious about the dream, are you! there will be more questions before answers, i'm afraid - but the dream is veryveryvery important! thanks, as always, for your review! you always make me smile :D
xoxoMyRealityIsFiction: oooh my lovely lady, you're hothothot - in personal appearance (i'm sure) and about your little 'dream' hunch, i'm mightymighty impressed! your review was a cool wind on a hot summer's day, refreshing and amazing! love you long long time!
loveyoualways21: new reviewer! thank you thank you! i was addicted to you from the first letter of your review! you're wonderful, don't ever change :D and i love YOU always ... er, 21. :D
akahitoha: my love for YOU is unhealthy my dear sweet akahitoha! you're fantatbulous and i hope we'll be friends forever and ever and ever (L)
heyymelx3: YES, HELLO BFF. like, if you wanted a ryan hunting buddy, why didn't you say so? be there asap! i'll be the one standing at the airport with "ellah searching for heyymelx3" on a little cardboard sign - watch for me! dude, me and you and story ryan are all in the same dopey, lovestruck boat :( whatta feeling. blah. let's go get starbucks and pretend like we're not lovey dopes. love you and thanks for the review you beautiful god of heyymellishness!
RoselynnNoelle: i have absolutely said it once, and i will say it a million more times on top of mountain tops and from planes and from trains and everywhere! you made my week with your lovely review and pm, and i'm hoping you will accept my request to be my soul sister for life. you are simply the greatest, love forever and ever! thank you :)
silentC: my favorite little couple coining beauty! i find the plotting out thing wayyyy easier, otherwise i forget half the stuff i wanna write! i'll be halfway through a chapter and have to randomly add in like "OH BTW SHE LIKES PUZZLES" or something stupid, bahaha. you're fantastic, thank you so much for the review!
you all make my life, i adore you to pieces! again, for all that read and don't review, i urge you to! it's hard to explain how truly wonderful a review from an anonymous person 30752057023 miles away makes you feel, but 'chocolate' is the closest word i can think of.
for now, i must scamper off and continue my writing! *pushes glasses up nose*
everyone, anyone, feel free to PM me anytime with questions, comments, concerns, harassments or just to chat, because i'm so friendly i'm borderline creep (well no, not really ... alright, maybe a little).
much love! *rolls away*
love; ellah!