Tripping The Prom Queen
Chapter 2: Echoes
Author's Note: Hi! I'm back! Sorry for the delay… I had two choices for this chapter and couldn't make up my mind!
I'm glad to see so many people reading… and enjoying this story (especially with so many others to choose from!). Special thanks to rosecullen09, TwilightOfTheNewMoonEclipse, and Werewolvesgirl for reviewing and also to all of you who put this story on "alert" or "favorite" status. I'd love to hear from more of you as the action unfolds… and unfold it will! And in case anyone's wondering… all our favorite guys will enter the picture soon… one in the very next chapter (I've already got parts of it… and the fourth chapter written, so it shouldn't take long!)
Oh, one more disclaimer… "Tripping The Prom Queen" is actually a real, non-fiction book written by Susan Shapiro Barasch. It is a psychology/women's studies text. Again, no copyright infringement is intended.
Update; 12/15/2010: It has also been brought to my attention that the scene at the end of the chapter with Alice's sweater resembles a scene from the book "Please Don't Laugh at Me" by Jody Blanco. While the scenes are similar, they are not identical. This is most definitely an original work! But, in case anyone has any doubts, again no copyright infringement is intended!
Chapter 2: Echoes
Bella's stomach twisted as she stared at the evil trinity of cheerleaders in front of her.
"This can't be happening" she thought desperately. "What did I do?"
Awkward, silent moments passed as Bella remained frozen on the spot, unable to move forward, or retreat. Most of the other students stared, fascinated by all the juicy, delicious drama now unfolding before them.
Finally, Victoria shattered the silence.
"Exactly what part of "go away!" is too hard for you to understand!"
"Just stand there like an idiot! Like you always do"
Bella ignored her. Her brown eyes now demanded and obtained contact with those of the girl she knew had caused all this, though Rosalie had yet to emit a single word.
"Rosalie…"
"Don't be a baby, Bella." Rose finally said, dismissing her.
Knowing there was nothing else to say, Bella turned and began walking away. She had only ventured a few feet, when something sharp struck her right ankle. She lost her balance and flew through the air, finally landing flat on her stomach.
Laughter erupted all around her. Ungracefully, she struggled to her feet. Her ankle throbbed and Bella knew from experience that she had probably sprained it again.
She looked up and saw James Moore, one of the school's star football players looming over her.
"You really should be more careful." he smirked. "You might trip over something."
"Yeah, like her own two feet!" another, unidentified male sneered.
However, Bella knew that this time, her fall was no accident. Limping noticeably, she struggled out of the cafeteria. Without bothering to retrieve her belongings from her locker, or get excused from classes, Bella hobbled towards the sanctuary of her old truck. Seconds later, she was speeding away from Forks High School, as fast as the antique vehicle could take her. The horrible events of the day reverberated relentlessly in her mind.
"Everyone saw that… Everyone was laughing!"
However, these perceptions proved inaccurate. One person sitting alone in the rear of the cafeteria was not amused at all. Her obsidian eyes darkened still further as she witnessed Bella's humiliation. She had attended many schools and seen this type of scene unfold far too many times.
"Always the same bullshit!"
Often, she herself had been victimized. She closed her eyes, as the torrent of agonizing memories crashed down.
Sixth grade… We had just come back from Christmas break. Gym class was over and everyone was heading back to the locker room.
Kat and Dara, the two most popular girls in the grade came up to me. I was so excited! They had never spoken to me before. It would be sooo cool to be friends with them!
"Hi!" I smiled happily.
"Where's your pretty new sweater?" Kat asked.
"In my locker. Why?"
"Are you sure?"
I opened my locker. The beautiful and expensive new cashmere cardigan my mother gave me for Christmas was missing.
"What did you do with it?"
"Screw you!" they chorused, running away.
I looked everywhere for my sweater, finally finding it. It was under a radiator, crumpled into a dusty, wooly ball. On top of it were several open Coke cans, dripping dark brown sugary liquid onto the delicate white fabric.
The sweater was ruined.
Ruined… this girl thought again, her thoughts returning to the present. It's what these people do. They ruin lives.
She never found it easier to watch it happen to someone else. Especially when that someone was completely innocent, as Bella seemed to be.
"Just once!" she thought now. "Just once, I'd like to see those people get what's coming to them!"
Suddenly, she smiled.
"Not this time!" she thought triumphantly. "We could do it! Together!"
Of course, Bella would have to agree to her twisted little scheme.
"But she will!"
No one ever said "no" to Alice Brandon.
