"Hey football head, are you going to order a damn drink or not?"
I blinked, just realizing that the last tape had ended and had left me in a booth at Big Al's. "Huh?" I stammered, looking up at the owner of the harsh, scolding voice. I have only been called Football head by one person...
"Criminy Football head! Are you high or something? I asked if you were going to order something," said the blonde waitress, throwing her hands up with exasperation. I was surprised to see it was someone that I knew.
"O-oh... Uh... Helga? I didn't know you worked here," I said with an awkward cough. I pulled off the headphones and pushed it and the player aside. "I'll have a hot chocolate?"
Helga looked at me and for a short second, her expression softened before returning to her normal scowl. "No offense Football head, but it looks like you are better off with a regular coffee with an extra shot of expresso," she said.
"I guess I'll have that then."
"Got it."
I watched her walk away and wondered... What happened to the little girl in the pink dress? Helga had apparently traded that in for a leather jacket and combat boots. But it somewhat warmed my heart to see that she was still wearing a pink bow in her hair. At least some things never changed.
After a couple of minutes, Helga returned with a hot mug and said, "A hot coffee with a shot of expresso for Football head."
I pulled the wallet out of my pocket and asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"On the house," she said, walking away with a wave of her hand.
"What?"
"For being an old friend."
"T-thank you, Helga!"
"Shut up, Football head!"
I took a sip of the hot coffee and winced. It was rather bitter and strong, but it was also warm and helped wake me up. It kind of reminded me of the girl who gave it to me. I took a deep breath before taking out the tape and putting in the next one.
"Harold, you probably could have guessed that you were next. If you didn't... well, even you aren't that clueless, right? Anyway, welcome to your tape.
You know? You and Rhonda never told me how you guys started dating. But I do remember how it ended: Your list.
And it was such a little thing. And you all can think that I'm just some stupid girl who freaks out over the little things. But have you heard of the butterfly effect? That one butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world can cause a hurricane in another? Well that list was your little thing, but it became my hurricane. "
The next day, I found Harold in the hallway. "Hey, can we talk for a minute?" I asked, grabbing him by his backpack.
"What do you want, Arnold? I have to get to football practice," he groaned, but his eyes looked wary of me.
"Just one minute," I said as firmly as I could manage.
"Fine."
So we walked to an empty classroom to talk for a minute. There was an awkward silence until I broke the ice by asking, "Why did you do that to Rhonda and Lila?"
"Do what, Arnold?"
"Make that stupid list. Put Lila's name by 'Best Ass' and Rhonda by 'Worst Ass'? I thought you loved Rhonda," I pressed calmly.
"I did love her... I might even still... But who cares? It's just a stupid list!"
"Why did you do it?" I asked again, in a more forceful tone.
"Because Rhonda wouldn't sleep with me."
"Dude-"
"I know, I know how awful that sounds. But I already told the guys that I did it and I thought she would do it for me but she didn't. So, I got mad, embarrassed, whatever. I didn't even make the entire list, the guys were just pressuring me to write some names down. I just wanted Rhonda to ... suffer a bit like I did."
"That's messed up," I said, still not being able to believe what I had just heard.
"No," he said, walking up toward the wall. "What's messed up is this fucking school. And these fucking posters." He then proceeded to take one down and rip it apart. "Don't kill yourself? We should make posters that say 'Don't be a fucking dick' instead!"
Before I could stop Harold from taking down more of the posters and ripping them, Curly popped his head into the classroom. "What's going on fellas?" he said with a mischievous grin while holding his camera up.
"Go away, Curly. And you better not be taking any pictures or I'll pound you!" Harold threatened.
"I just wanted to know what the fuss was all about," Curly said, unfazed and still wearing his Cheshire-like grin. But he soon left as quickly as he came.
Curly's sudden appearance seemed to get Harold to stop ripping up posters though.
"...It was a stupid list... and I wish everyday that I never took part in it..." he said softly and walked out of the classroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts and some more questions.
"Some girls were complimented for making the list for having the 'Best Eyes' or 'Best Hair.'
Other girls like Helga Pataki who got 'Worst Face' were laughed at whenever they thought she wasn't looking.
But me? Winning 'Best Ass' made it open season for all boys to catcall me and take a grab at that 'perfect ass'. I could see the other girls looking at me with disgust while the boys stare at my butt.
The butterfly effect. It started with Sid and then on to you, Harold. And then the rest of you. Who knows? Maybe these tapes will have a butterfly effect of their own. Everything affects everything. "
Author's Note:
Sorry for the slow update. It was midterm season and now it's finals season. I actually wrote the first part of this chapter a few weeks ago, but I never had the time to finish it. I'm thankful still for all the reviews I've been getting from you all. And in case you didn't get it from this chapter, Guest, R thought L was sleeping with H because H made a major diss on R by placing her as 'Worst Ass' and L as 'Best Ass' because R wouldn't sleep with him.
Anyway, I hope you all have a great holiday season and I'll try to update as frequently as I can!