Yikes! Thanks Lala Lola for the heads up on the spelling of the Chapter Title in the drop down. That has now been corrected!
~Lisa.
Chapter Six - Confronting the Enemy
Excerpt from Regina J. Powell's Diary
Wednesday, September 9th 1998
Dear Diary,
I had so much fun at Stephanie's Saturday night. I think I fit in well with her family, and that they in turn view me as the perfect friend for Stephanie. I can't stand the way that Gibbler girl talks to Stephanie though. Several times during dinner I had to clench my fists under the table to prevent myself from jumping across the table and hitting her, just to make her shut up. Anyway I'm sure that I'm going to be hanging out at Stephanie's house a lot more from now on. I think Stephanie has finally accepted the fact that I am her true best friend not Gia. I mean I referred to her as my 'best friend' on several occasions Saturday, and Stephanie didn't contradict me, so it must be true!
I'll give Stephanie a call later tonight, tell her to arrange a double date between her and Dean, and Dean's friend Tate, and I. That would be the ultimate - one set of best friends, dating another set of best friends!
And I've saved the best till last – you are not going to believe this amazing coincidence! Stephanie and I have the same middle name - Judith!!! I saw it with my own two eyes, on the Junior High Graduation Diploma Stephanie has hanging on her bedroom wall. I'll say it again, it's destiny that we met and became best friends!
I wonder what Stephanie is up to tonight? I might drive by her house and find out!
Regina Judith and Stephanie Judith – Best Friends Forever!!!
Yours,
Regina J. Powell.
"Stephanie!" Regina jumped up and down, waving, causing several occupants walking the school hallway to stare at her.
Stephanie was just exiting the gym, P.E. being one of the few classes that she didn't share with Regina, only to be accosted by her outside.
Over the past several days Stephanie had received numerous phone calls from Regina, and she couldn't keep using Alex and Michelle to field the calls. It was hard to believe that a little over a week ago everything had been normal. Regina had been just a member of 'Girl Talk' who Stephanie had seen less than a handful of times over the summer. In fact, Stephanie had always considered Regina more Gia's friend than hers. Why had Regina suddenly decided to focus all her attention on Stephanie!
"I bought something for you," Regina announced gleefully as Stephanie drew closer. She held out her right hand, which was clenched tightly, opening it to reveal a pair of earnings identical to those she had worn the first Monday of school, "I remember you saying how much you liked them."
Stephanie took a deep breath, "Regina, we really need to talk." They were just passing a door to any unoccupied classroom, "Let's go in here!" Stephanie led the way through the open doorway. Regina entered after her, and Stephanie closed the door behind them, so as to block out the noise from the hallway.
"Regina," Stephanie began. "It's not that I don't appreciate the gesture, but I'm afraid I wouldn't feel comfortable accepting any gifts from you."
Regina's face fell, "But Stephanie, we're best friends, and best friends buy things for each other."
"That's the other thing," Stephanie shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but Gia is my best friend. I don't know you well enough to consider you a close friend, let alone a best friend."
Regina's face brightened, "Well that's easily fixed Stephanie. You can get to know me."
Stephanie bit her lip. She felt mean, but she needed to say this next part, "The truth is, I don't want to get to know you more than I already do. It's not that I don't like you … I do, but I think we should just stick to seeing each other as part of the band, and at school, okay?"
Regina bunched her fists at her side. "I'm just trying to be friendly, what's wrong with that?"
"It makes me uncomfortable," Stephanie admitted, her voice quaking slightly. "You've phoned my house at least once every night for the past week, sometimes three times a night. You said your grandpa had died, and he turned out to be very much alive."
"I said my grandfather on my mother's side," Regina insisted. "You misheard me."
"You screamed at your mom on Tuesday."
"Stephanie, are you telling me that you've never gotten mad at your dad, or your uncle, or that Joey person who lives in you house!" Regina sniffed.
"Not like that," Stephanie said quietly. Although once the words were out of her mouth she was recalling her reaction when she first found out Uncle Jesse was dating Kimmy Gibbler. Okay, so maybe she had been that angry before, but she had good reason to be. Regina seemed to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat!
"I can't believe you are doing this to me," Regina looked so furious that Stephanie took a step back. "You are missing out on the best friendship ever!"
Stephanie stood firm, but she was shaking inside, "I'll take my chances."
Regina glared at Stephanie, "And you can forget about the band. I'm taking myself out of the equation."
"Regina, it doesn't have to be like this … but if that's the way you want it, the band will find another keyboard player." Stephanie could tell by Regina's expression that that hadn't been the answer she was expecting.
Regina stalked to the door, turning back to Stephanie with a hurt look on her face, "I thought you were my true best friend!" and with that she was gone.
Stephanie stood for a moment breathing in and out slowly, relieved that the confrontation was over. She felt badly that the band had lost a great keyboard player and hoped Gia and Melissa would understand, but on a more personal level was pleased that Regina had decided to quit the band on her own. It would be one less place to have to see her. It was only the second week of school, so Stephanie thought she might talk to Ms. Proctor and ask to move desks in computer science. Feeling much better, Stephanie headed back out into the hall, to be quickly swept up in a crowd of students heading in all directions.
"If we do find another keyboard player, do you think Jesse will let us practice in his studio again? We've lost our practice space now." Gia took a large bite out of her tuna and cucumber sandwich. It was Friday lunchtime and Stephanie, Gia, and Melissa, were sitting under a tree, on school grounds, eating lunch. Stephanie had wanted to avoid the Cafeteria, since Regina shared the same lunch period.
Stephanie paused, about to take a bite out of her apple. She felt guilty, "You're both mad at me – you think I handled the Regina situation wrong!"
"No Steph, we're not," Gia assured her. "You did the right thing. Regina has been strange lately."
Melissa nodded in agreement. Suddenly Gia brightened, "Wait! Does Dean play the keyboard?'
Stephanie shook her head, "Nope, the guitar, and somehow I don't think he would appreciate being asked to join a band with the name 'Girl Talk'!"
Gia and Melissa giggled. "Good point," Gia admitted. "Would Gibbler practice with us again – just until we find someone?" she emphasized.
Stephanie wrinkled her nose, "Maybe! That is, if she can tear herself away from my uncle."
"Actually I may know someone," Melissa was thoughtful. "A girl in my Homeroom was asking about our band the other day, wondering if we needed a fifth member. Her name is Jennifer Cashmore, and she plays the keyboard – don't know how good she is though."
"Jennifer Cashmore! We were pretty friendly back in elementary school. She didn't play the keyboard then though – just talked constantly about hair, makeup, clothes, and boys."
"She still talks a lot about those things," Melissa laughed.
"Ask her," Gia encouraged, winking at Stephanie. "We all like hair, makeup, clothes, and boys. I don't want our band to have to split up." She spotted a petite brunette standing in the distance chatting with a couple of guys from the wrestling team, "In fact … isn't that her over there?'
"It is," Melissa stood up, brushing loose grass from her jeans. "May as well check with her now. Be right back."
Stephanie and Gia watched as Melissa made her way over to Jennifer. As soon as Jennifer Cashmore spotted Melissa the smile disappeared from her face. They couldn't hear what Jennifer was saying, but her mouth was moving in anger her expression fierce, so they knew it couldn't be good.
In fact at one point Jennifer raised her head and glared straight at Stephanie and Gia. "Uh-oh, that doesn't look very positive," Gia frowned.
"Jennifer definitely doesn't look happy at being asked," Stephanie observed. "I don't get it!"
"We're about to find out. Here comes Mel now."
"No go," Melissa moaned as she reached Stephanie and Gia. She sank down onto the grass. "She said she heard from Lana, who heard from Brittany, who heard from Megan, who heard from god knows who prior to that point, that both of you thought she was an airhead, who had no talent. And the only reason you wanted her to join the band was because we are desperate. She also added that she expected better from you Steph, given your prior friendship!"
"Well she must be an airhead," Gia muttered. "To believe a lame rumor like that."
Stephanie, who was processing everything Melissa had just repeated said, "Regina's in your homeroom right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Isn't it obvious? She must have overheard you talking to Jennifer, and then proceeded to turn her against us. Now that she's no longer a member of the band she doesn't want anyone else to be either."
"So it's true, there is nothing more deadly than a woman scorned," Melissa mumbled under her breath.
"Great!" Gia angrily screwed up her sandwich wrapper into a ball. "That's just great!"