Chapter 2: To Start a War
Their designer heels sounded with each sashay.
The teens in the atrium turned their heads, moved out the way—giving these girls the attention and respect they demanded (or rather commanded).
Heather smirked, using her shades as a headband while Tricia ran fingers through her curly ponytail, satisfied with the scene around them. Conversation died down as the two of them—with Lindsay, Gwen, and Mandy in tow—stalked about, looking for their first prey of the summer.
How strange it was knowing that, almost a month ago, Tricia and Heather had never crossed paths. They knew each other existed, both of them along with Tara Johansen being the most popular girls in the junior class and arguably the whole school, but had never bothered to hang out until that divine day at Juicy Couture's rare fifty-percent off sale. They'd grabbed the same gold and black leather purse at the same time and the rest was history…
But, right now, only Gwen and Leshawna "stood in their way."
Stepping on Gwen's boot, Heather's eyes narrowed. "Watch where you're standing, goth girl."
She crossed her arms, ignoring her foot's throbbing. "I'm sorry—I didn't know being on public property would upset you."
"Actually, your existence is upsetting, but whatever. I'll make sure you're not in my way at the party."
"What makes you think you're entitled to everything?"
"That's where you're totally wrong." Heather crossed her arms too, approaching her. "I fight for what I want."
"Including a kiss from my boyfriend."
"He's not that good of a kisser, by the way. Good thing I didn't keep him."
Leshawna stepped in. "Trent never wanted yo ass to begin with, and neither did Alejandro."
Jabbing a finger at her, she said, "Leave him out of this if you know what's good for you."
"If you don't get that twig finger away from me, you'll lose your whole goddamn hand."
"Bring it on, Shaniqua."
"Oh, you did not just go there." She began taking off her earrings. "Gwen, hold these for me."
"I swear to God if you lay a hand on me, I'll sue you, your weave, and your goth girlfriend."
Before Leshawna could throw a punch, a lone siren blared. Everyone's attention shifted to the rent-a-cop and his patrol cart, its orange light flashing.
"Break it up before I throw you all in the slammer, maggots," he called.
Heather exchanged menacing glares with Gwen and Leshawna before sashaying away. Tricia, however, had the honor of hissing the last words.
"This isn't over," she said.
The first shot had sounded in this far-from-civil war.
"Fifty bucks just to hand out flyers?" Jonesy asked himself. "More like the best gig ever."
While handing them to random people, he caught a glimpse of purple hair and grinned to himself. He knew it wasn't really her, but it was reminiscent of her all the same.
He couldn't help but think of how hot she'd looked last Saturday night in the front seat of his car, pressed against the car door. How attractive and inviting her moans were. How he wanted to make out with her for hours, never leaving the driveway. How her kisses lingered on his lips, tasting her strawberry chapstick long after he walked her to her front door.
How he replayed the moment hours and days after it happened.
He couldn't help picturing all the things they could do—would do—this summer, starting with tomorrow's party. This summer, he wanted to share the good weather, enjoy the good drinks and better parties, and live la dolce vita with her.
The way he felt about Nikki was indescribable, something he'd never experienced before. He treasured her far more than the other girls he'd dated. But maybe it was less about value and more about something else…
Holy shit, do I love her?
He stopped walking, dazed.
Whoa, this is huge. No, this is crazy. Holyshit, I need help. Where's Jude when you need him?
A skateboarder whooshed past him, then whooshed back, saying, "Duuuuude."
"Juuuuude." Jonesy fist-bumped him once he got off his board. "What's up?"
"Nothing but the sky."
"I thought you'd be at the rink by now."
"I don't have to be there today. I was gonna head to the game store for a few though." Jonesy still didn't know how Jude managed to get two of his old jobs back, seeing that Jonesy couldn't even keep one on a good day. "So, whatcha up to?"
"Passing out flyers for some July talent-show thing."
"Why?"
"'Cause I got paid fifty bucks for it."
"Sweeeet."
"I know, right?"
Once the two of them entered the game store, Jonesy lowered his voice, sounding serious. "Okay, dude, I really need to talk to you about something."
"Everything okay, bro?"
"Of course. Maybe. Sorta." He exhaled. "It's about Nikki."
Jude's eyes widened. "Oh, no. Is she breaking up with you again?"
"No, Jude, I'm—"
"You're breaking up with her?"
"Dude, if you give me a moment, I'll tell you."
"Sorry."
Jonesy took a deep breath. "I think I'm in"—he almost choked on the word—"love."
A wide grin accompanied Jude's wide eyes. "No way!"
"Yes way! She's just been running through my head and driving me crazy." He blushed. "I just need your help to, um, figure out my feelings."
"Okay." Assuming his role as a confidant, Jude tried his best to look attentive. "Tell me what you like about her."
"Everything, man. It's just the way she smiles at me. The way she laughs with that snort that really shouldn't be attractive, but it suits her anyways." He grinned softly. "She's like a fire, y'know? Hot and wild, not to mention great to look at." Rubbing the back of his head, he said, "I really like making her feel better on crappy days. And I know we flirt a lot and stuff, but I can't help holding on to her. I love her too much to let go."
He went dead silent, staring at Jude, who gasped.
"You just said—"
"No, I didn't."
"You totally did."
"It slipped."
"Our mouths know stuff sooner than we do."
"Don't you mean our minds?"
"Pretty sure it was your mouth that said you love her."
"Okay, okay, I do love her." Jonesy's heart almost stopped after saying it on purpose. "I'm in love with her. Dude, I've never felt this way before."
"So, when are you gonna tell her?"
This time, his eyes widened. "Jude, I can't tell her this yet. I don't even know if she feels the same way."
"Trust me, Nikki's crazy about you, Jonesy. I can tell by how she acts around ya."
"How?"
"I really don't know. I think ever since I got back with Starr, I developed a sixth sense when it comes to chicks." He laughed. "A chick sense."
Fist-bumping him, Jonesy said, "Nice one."
It was like Jen had never asked anyone out before, like Travis had left a blank space where dating etiquette used to be.
As long as Coach Halder remained out of sight, she would keep gazing at Nick, yearning from a short distance. But, once a customer approached the register, she had to avert her eyes to assist him.
The moment the customer left was the moment she needed to make a do-or-die decision because Brooke was right there, chatting and laughing with Nick in such a cozy, familiar way.
Taking deep breaths and putting on a brave face, she needed to interfere as soon as possible, before it was too late.
She walked to them with her mind on autopilot. "Hey, Nick, do you have a moment?"
After he asked Brooke to wait a moment, he said, "Sure. What's going on, Jen?"
He knows my name? He knows my freaking name! She grinned, but not too widely. She didn't want to scare him off. "I was hoping that maybe you'd wanna be my date to Geoff's party." Blushing, she added, "You know, if you're not already going with anybody."
"Of course. I didn't have anybody in mind but you."
Her breath hitched in her throat. "Really? Me?"
He ran a hand through his short, spiky brown hair, saying, "Yes, you. You seem like a great girl, Jen, and I'd like to get to know you."
Wow, he's really charming. "I'd like to get to know you, too."
"So, it's a date?"
"It is."
He left her with a smile, one she gladly returned.
Remembering Brooke was there, she turned to her. "Sorry about that, Brooke, but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do."
She blinked once. "Wait, what do you mean?"
"I had to ask him out before you could."
Her confusion turned into hysterical laughter. "You thought I was gonna ask him out? Ha! That would make us kissing cousins, and I so wouldn't want that."
"He's your cousin?"
She nodded. "Of course, silly! But I'm really happy you finally asked him out. He's mentioned you a couple times." Looking down at her watch, surrounded by chunky bracelets, she said, "Holy crap, I'm gonna be late for work; I can't be late! See you later, Jen!"
After waving goodbye, Jen told herself, "I've got a date. I've actually got a date."
"Why are we going to the movies again?" Lindsay asked.
"Because, Lindsiot, doing nothing is boring and Channing Tatum is far from it," Heather replied as they walked into one of the Gigantoplex's many theaters.
They walked up the steps, using the trail of lights to guide them through the dimly lit theater.
Gwen, after taking a sip of her soda on the walk up, whispered, "Hey, Tricia, is that Caitlin over there?"
Tricia peered at the row they passed, rolling her eyes afterward. "Yes. Lemon Head and Benj. Wait—Lemon Head and Benj, huh? Interesting." A smirk gracing her lips, she said, "I think I know where we can sit."
Tricia led Heather and the other girls to the row behind Caitlin and Benj, making sure her own seat was directly behind the couple. She saw Caitlin rest her head on Benj's shoulder, making a face when he placed an arm around her shoulders.
"How lovely," she scoffed under her breath. "Nice to see you've moved on, Turner."
He turned around at the sound of her voice. "Tricia, what are you doing here?"
"Aw, you don't have to treat me so mean, but, if you must know, I'm here to see Channing Tatum's abs like the rest of us."
He mumbled a "whatever" before returning his attention to Caitlin.
The two of them worked Tricia's nerves as they kissed.
"That's it—knock it off." Snatching Gwen's soda from her grip, she dumped every last drop of it on Caitlin. "I didn't come here to see you two make out the whole time."
Caitlin sniffled before tears flooded down her face, ruining her mascara in the process. She stood up and bolted out the theater.
"Caitlin, wait up!" Benj called. Before he left, he faced Tricia and her friends. "You can be a real bitch, Tricia."
Feigning hurt, she said, "And all this time, I thought you liked that about me."
Disregarding her response, he ran off in search of Caitlin.
"Um, was that Caitlin?" asked Wyatt, looking around the gang's food court table for a reply.
They looked at each other, baffled.
"I think so," Jen said.
Seconds ago, all they had seen were mascara tears and a mess of blonde locks running by them.
Benj ran by them, yelling, "Caitlin, come back!"
Seeing that she would do the complete opposite, he sat with the gang and let out a huff.
"What happened?" Jen asked.
"Tricia happened."
"Say no more," Nikki said.
Caitlin dragged herself to the table minutes later, sporting a fresh coat of mascara on her eyelashes and soda-less hair. Nothing hinted that she had been crying.
Benj allowed her to take his seat, seeing that she needed it more than him.
"Are you okay, Cait?" he asked, standing behind her chair and gently massaging her shoulders.
"I wish."
Jen asked, "What happened? You know, if you want to talk about it."
"Tricia and Heather were sitting behind us at the movies and Tricia got really mad that I was kissing Benj, so she dumped soda on me." She sighed. "Summer's barely here and she's already got it out for me."
Nikki smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't worry. I've got a remedy for that."
"Nikki, what are you going to do?" Jen asked warily.
"Please, no questions until it happens. Besides, I still have to get the help I need to pull it off."
Benj added, "I hope you make it good. Anything to get her and her friends to leave my girl alone."
Nikki nodded. "Got it."
When Benj left and she began plotting in her head, Gwen and Leshawna approached the table.
"Nikki, got a moment?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah. What's up?"
Both Gwen and Leshawna motioned for Nikki to join them at a different food-court table, so she complied.
"We need your help," Leshawna said. "Tricia and Heather are already ego-trippin' and we need to stop them before they try anything else."
"It's funny—I was just going to ask you two to help me do the same thing. Long story short, Tricia dumped soda on Caitlin for no reason other than pure bitchiness and I wanted a little vengeance."
Gwen shrugged. "I guess great minds think alike."
"Seems like it."
"So, what'd you have in mind?" Leshawna asked Nikki.
"Well, I was thinking of doing something like…"
"What was that all about?" Wyatt asked when Nikki returned to the table.
She smirked as she reclined in her seat. "You'll see soon enough."
Jen noted, "Something tells me that tomorrow will definitely be a day to remember—in more ways than one."
Catching the last part of Jen's sentence, Nikki said, "'In more ways than one'? Do tell."
"Okay, I was going to let it be a surprise but… I'm going to the party with Nick!"
Caitlin applauded her. "Yay! Congratulations, Jen!"
"Thanks, Cait. Eee, I'm so excited!"
"Good for you, Jen," Jonesy said. "It's nice to see you moving on instead of moping around and whining."
The rest of the gang cut their eyes at him, casting glares that said shut up.
"Go easy on him, guys," said Jen. She offered a small smile. "He kinda had a point."
"See," he said to them, "I had a point."
Nikki playfully stuck her tongue out at him and he gently pushed her shoulder, both of them smiling afterwards.
And Jen couldn't help but notice.
However, they all couldn't help but notice Wyatt's sudden escape.
Jen scratched her head. "Is it just me or did Wyatt just disappear?"
"He totally did." Caitlin looked as confused as the rest of her friends. "And I don't think that's the first time."
Nikki exchanged glances with everyone. "That… That's not really like him to do that."
"Yeah, no kidding," Jonesy said. "Maybe all that coffee's going to his head."
A/N: Because I'm totally evil, you won't know why Tricia's acting this way towards Caitlin and Benj for a while, but it will be this season.
And before I get questions about it, I indeed included the whole Trent/Heather kiss that happened on Total Drama Island. Felt like including it in 7teen canon.
And, yes, Jude hooked up with Starr again. Long story short—even though it might come up during the course of the story series—they were stoned at a party together and things happened. Of course.