Fast Times at Clairemont High

“Who?” I asked, snapping out of my temporary haze.

“Joseph Bishop,” Jaime repeated, as if saying it a second time would have the impact it was supposed to the first. “Most popular junior douchebag in school. You two have just been graced by his presence.”

“Fucker,” Ellie muttered, patting uselessly at her stained shirt.

“What’s with the accent?” I said, meeting Jaime’s eyes again.

“Just what you’d expect,” he said, pulling a napkin out of nowhere and handing it to Ellie. “Moved here from England freshman year. Thinks he’s the greatest shit on the planet.”

“At least one part of that’s right,” Ellie sneered, taking a glance back at the boy in question.

“You learn to stay out of his way,” Jaime told us, grabbing two beers from off the table behind him and passing them to us.

“To the painful and sudden demise of Joseph Bishop,” he toasted, raising his own red plastic cup to the air.

I drank to that.

A few minutes later, Jaime ended up making room for all three of us to squeeze in on a red leather couch not far from the entrance.

“This is the tackiest piece of furniture I’ve ever seen,” I commented, scooting away from Jaime who was situated in the middle.

“Welcome to the ‘burbs, sweetheart,” he said. “Where people have enough money to buy food for entire colonies in Africa but instead buy leather couches.”

“Who’s house is this anyway?” Ellie asked, steering the conversation.

“My buddy Tony’s,” Jaime replied. “His parents are loaded and never around.”

“Story of my life,” Ellie laughed. “We just moved in yesterday and mine are already prancing around with their new rich ass friends.”

“So, what you’re saying is party at your place next week?” Jaime joked.

“Sure, if I want to get killed,” Ellie snickered.

They continued with their banter, and I mostly stayed out of the conversation, per usual. Old habits die hard. Soon enough though, Jaime had to leave to go check on this Tony character.

“See you guys around,” he said, saluting us before retreating up the steps.

“He’s sweet,” Ellie laughed, moving to fill the space on the couch before some creep tries to shove between us.

“Seemed into you,” I noticed, shuffling my hands around.

“Jaime?” Ellie nearly spat out her drink. “Nah, he’s the biggest flirt I’ve ever met. And that’s saying something. He’s hilarious though.”

“Agreed,” I replied with a half smile.

“Okay up, sad face,” Ellie said, standing and pulling me up by the wrists. “If we’re going to be friends, I am getting you out of this funk.”

“Funk?” I asked, having no idea what she’s talking about. And what about friends?

“You know, the ‘never speak unless spoken to’ crap,” she said, pulling me out toward the center of the living room filled with sweaty bodies dancing. “I am getting you out of that shell of yours.”

“I don’t have a shell,” I tried to argue, but we both know I’m virtually a human walnut.

She pushed our way through the crowd and we end up in the middle of the dancing clump. I stood there.

“Come on,” Ellie groaned. “Don’t tell me you’ve never danced before.”

“I’ve never danced before,” I said, exasperated.

“Fuck then, you’re learning,” my now ‘friend’ sighed, setting down our drinks where we both knew we wouldn’t pick them up again. “Okay, just feel the music.”

She started moving her hips to the beat. I attempt to do the same, but the look on her face suggests I was not successful.

“You really haven’t done this before, have you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Can’t say I didn’t warn you,” I shrugged, reverting back to awkwardly swaying.

“You’ve never been to a school dance?” Ellie said, now looking sad more than anything.

“Nope,” I replied. “That involves time, money, and dedication. Oh, and a social life.”

“Geez, no wonder you’re in a funk,” she commented. “Hey-”

Whatever she was about to say was cut off by strong hands around her waist.

“Hello, love,” a familiar British voice rang out. Aw hell.

“Get away from me, dickhead,” she said. Should I be calling the police or something?

“I’m fine just where I am,” Joseph slurred, tightening his grip. This is going downhill fast.

“I said, get away,” Ellie growled, attempting to wriggle free, but he remains. Fuck it, I’m going in.

“Hey perv!” I yelled, making the first decision that popped into my head. I jumped on the boy’s back, closing my arms around his neck.

It only took half a second to realize what a shitty situation I have just gotten myself into. Here I am, Cara Fitzgerald, on top the most popular junior in school riding him like a bull during rodeo season.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” the boy bellowed, releasing his handle on Ellie to try and fight me off.

Well, at least I did that much. At this point I saw only two options, either get off and let him pummel me to death or go down swinging. I hung on for dear life.

“Get this bitch off me!” Joseph hollered, shaking me off in one swift motion. God, I need to start working out.

I end up sprawled across the dirty floor, the tall figure hovering above me. Shitshitshit. He’s winding up for a punch. I flinched, bracing for impact.

“Woah, buddy!” I heard a voice call. I looked up to see a guy between me and my attacker. He was cute to say the least. He had brown hair barely brushing his shoulders, muscular arms that lead into a lean torso, and the largest brown eyes I have ever seen. If I weren’t currently dodging a beating, I’d silently hope he’d talk to me.

“What’s your problem?” Joseph questioned. He seemed disoriented enough to forget his motive.

“You need to leave,” the long haired boy demanded pushing Joseph away.

“Whatever,” he replied angrily, storming away from the scene. “Shit party anyway.”

He made his way out the door, making sure to slam it hard enough for all to hear.

“Are you okay?”

It took me a minute to realize the cute one was talking to me.

“Yeah, fine,” I stuttered, starting to push myself up before the boy took my arm and raised me to my feet.

“That’ll teach you not to mess with that one, eh?” he laughed, letting his fingers hover over my wrist before letting go. “I’m Vic, by the way.”

“Cara,” I replied, nervously winding a curl around my finger. “Thanks for the help.”

“No problem,” he said. I noticed his eyes giving me the up and down. I’m suddenly hit by a wave of self consciousness. Good God, I realized. He just witnessed me straddle a British man.

“Cara!” Ellie yelled, appearing by my side. “Dude, that was crazy.”

“You’re telling me,” I sighed, tucking a hair behind my ear. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“Pure genius,” Vic laughed, meeting my eyes. “Anyone who jumps Joseph Bishop is fine by me.”

I smiled at the ground.

“Oh God did he do that to you?” Vic said, pointing at Ellie’s stained shirt.

“Earlier, yep,” she rolled her eyes. “It’s alright, I’m over it.”

“No, no, I’m sure Tony has a t-shirt you can borrow or something,” he insisted. “Follow me.”

Oh, the allusive Tony. He led us up the stairs and into a bedroom at the end of the hallway.

“Hey Vic,” another boy greeted us at the door.

“Hey Tony,” Vic gestured. “This is Cara and…”

“Ellie,” my friend said, flashing her California smile.

“Hi,” Tony grinned back at her. “Come in.”

“Ellie needs a shirt,” Vic explained. “Bishop spilled on it earlier.”

As we walked into the room, I noticed Jaime sitting on the bed with guy who looked younger than he was, avidly conversing about something involving fireworks.

“What about fire?” Ellie asked, sitting next to Jaime.

“Oh,” the younger one stumbled. “It’s nothing.”

“She’s cool Mike,” Jaime said, gesturing at the younger one. “The guys and I were planning a little surprise for Bishop and the rest of his crew at the end of this quarter.”

“Really?” Ellie leaned in. “Getting back at that douche? Ha, we’re in.”

“Wait-” I stammered, but Mike cut me off.

“Woah, we can’t tell anyone else,” he said. “We can’t risk ruining it.”

“Why not?” Vic asked. “They could be helpful.”

He catches my eye again. I looked away.

“Yeah,” Tony replied, t-shirt in tow. He tosses it to Ellie. “We could use a few extra hands.”

“That settles it then, majority rule,” Jaime called. “Welcome to the team, ladies.”

An hour passes. Then another. Then another. We discuss our ideas on how to exact revenge. I mostly sit there playing with my hair. I’ve never been one for plotting, but it seems I have gotten myself in trouble and school hasn’t even started. Wait. School. Shit.

“Ellie we have to go,” I looked at her frantically.

“What, Cara?” she replied, giving me a questioning look.

“School starts tomorrow,” I told her. “God, my dad is going to be so pissed.”

“Oh,” Ellie sobered upon hearing about my dad. “Yeah, we better head out.”

We both got up to go.

“Bye guys,” she waved.

“Bye,” they replied in unison.

We pulled up to my house around midnight. I thank Ellie and told her I’ll see her at school tomorrow. She asked if I’ll be okay. I nodded. With a sigh I stepped onto the pavement. Her car drove away. I embarked up the steps to my house and knocked on the door. I am greeted with a hard slap on the face.

Notes

Alright guys, chapter three! Hope you guys like it. Be sure to subscribe and comment what you thing, it's going to pick up really soon. :D

- Katie