Fan Fiction: A Throwback Story- HSS in 1996, part 4
As Payton continued driving, Mia greeted Katherine near the fountains.
Mia: How was your first day?
Katherine: I loved it. Everyone seems really nice here.
Mia: So, um, you wanted to talk…
Katherine: Yeah, I am having one issue. I don’t have a clique yet.
Mia: What do you mean? Didn’t you fill out the paper work?
Katherine: Sort of. I tried filling out the paper work, but they didn’t have the clique I wanted. I tried to start a new one and the woman in the office wasn’t having it.
Mia: Well, what kind of clique did you want to be in?
Katherine: I think I started telling you over the summer, I’m an emo.
Mia: Oh right, that emotional rock or whatever.
Katherine: That’s part of it…but there is a lot more to it. I write poetry, I am very in tune with my emotions and the emotions of others, I like to dress a certain way and yes…music can be a big part too.
Mia: So why can’t you just be one? I swear we have a new clique form somewhere.
Katherine: She said I have to be a student here for three months before I can start a petition for a new clique. But it’s just hard to be something else, it’s what I am, you know? Who wants to be something they are not? She tried to force me into the rebel clique with a side clique of punk rock or goth, but she doesn’t get it, it’s just not the same. She said a student who graduated last year tried to start an emo clique but didn’t get enough signatures. That doesn’t surprise me. We are not totally mainstream yet. I feel like some day we may be, but even if we never are, I don’t care. It’s me. She told me if the petition would have been successful that the clique would have been labeled slacker and artist. So she then suggested I just be a slacker until I reach the three month mark and can start the paper work. But I can’t just be a slacker and nothing else, my parents won’t find it acceptable. What should I do Mia? That’s why I came to you. Besides knowing the ropes, you were kind of my rock all summer long.
Mia: Um, you are allowed to change cliques. Once every year within the first month, but if a new clique comes to be then any student can change into it no matter what month it is. So you just need a temporary clique. Once you are here three months I KNOW I can help you get all the signatures.
Katherine: That would be great Mia, thank you. But what should I be?
Mia: Well, you did say you like to write poems right? Well how about a writer? This way you could work on your poetry. And since writer is a side clique your base clique would be prep. I’m part prep so we would have something in common.
Katherine: Mia, you’re brilliant!! My parents love when I work on my poetry. This sounds like a totally awesome plan. Thank you so much!!
Katherine: I need to book it before the office closes for the day, but see you tomorrow?
Katherine scurried towards the office while Mia watched her walk away. She was more confused then ever about her feelings.
Meanwhile, Payton pulled into her driveway. Both her parents were working late. She had the house all to herself. Excellent. She unlocked the door and immediately ran to her room. She furiously starts going through her CD collection. Usually when a girl was upset over a guy she felt she had to be sad, but last year a woman took the music industry by storm and she taught girls it was okay to get mad instead. Screaming did seem more therapeutic then crying at the moment. Finally…she reached the correct case. She took out the Alanis Morissette CD, Jagged Little Pill. She put it into the player and immediately went to track number two, You Oughta Know. She put the volume as loud as the boom box went, the house was vibrating. As Payton screamed the lyrics at the top of her lungs. She started destroying her room.
Payton: AND I’M HERE, TO REMIND YOU OF THE MESS YOU LEFT WHEN YOU WENT AWAY!! IT’S NOT FAIR, TO DENY ME!!
As she continues to sing and shout she kicks her waste basket and tosses her stuffed animals all over the place. She starts ripping the cover off of a notebook that said “Payton and Julian Forever” on it. She then runs over to the bed and furiously starts jumping up and down.
Payton: YOU SEEM VERY WELL!! THINGS LOOK PEACEFUL!! I’M NOT QUITE AS WELL, I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW!!
She turns and looks at her wall of hotness.
Payton: AND EVERYTIME I SCRATCH MY NAILS DOWN SOMEONE ELSE’S BACK I HOPE YOU FEEL IT!! WELL CAN YOU FEEL IT??!!
With barely any breathe left in her she tears the wall of hotness in half with one swipe. When the song ends she can barely breathe. If even for just a moment she felt invigorated and powerful and great. Then she looked around at her newly destroyed room. Whoops. Maybe she got a little too carried away. The pain started to return to her heart as she cleaned. She was able to tape most of the wall of hotness back together, but Joey Lawrence didn’t exactly make it. She opened up her new issue of Bop and replaced his face with a picture of Brad Renfro. She wrote her parents a note saying that she already ate dinner and not to bother her because she had a migraine. She took her room line off the hook and curled up in a ball on her bed. She wished morning would never come.
The next day at school Mia, Koh and Autumn stood around in a circle. Mia wore a metallic pink pleated mini skirt with a cream colored, cropped ribbed sweater. She had on baby pink heels and white lacey socks. She assessed what the other girls were wearing which was one of her frequent habits. Koh wore the same Doc Martens as yesterday with spider tights and dark denim shorts. She finished off the look with a black tank with a red and black, open flannel shirt over it. She looked good, but way too grunge like for Mia’s taste. Autumn had on yesterday’s Skechers, this time with khaki overall shorts with a cloud print baby tee under it. The baby tee was actually kind of cute, but she wanted to throw the khaki overall shorts out the window. After what seemed like an eternity of waiting Payton approached the group with a fake smile plastered across her face. She wore fit and flare Mudd jeans and a white baby tee with a yin-yang on it. She had a pair of chunky, black box heels on her feet.
Mia: Thank you for joining us, Payton.
Payton: Um, I’m only five minutes later than usual.
Mia: You were missing all last night. I called your room line like 20 times and it was totally off the hook or something. I called your cell phone and it was off. And a lot of good your beeper did you. I beeped you 07734, 911, 343 and 943. Do these important codes suddenly mean nothing to you? You never got back to me. You could have been kidnapped by a serial killer and none of us would have known.
Autumn: I called you three times too Payton.
Payton: Um, um I’m sorry. It was a crazy night. My dad had work to do and totally hogged up the house line and my mom well she belongs to this dorky cooking chat room now and they have like these chat meetings like once a week. So my mom decides to come in my room and sign on to AOL using my line!! And I couldn’t use my cell phone in front of her, it’s supposed to be for emergencies only.
Mia: Ew. So like wait…your mom hung out in your room like the whole evening just so she could be in some weirdo chat room? What an invasion of privacy.
Payton: Totally. It was humiliating and I mean what is the point of having my own line if she is just gonna hog it?!
Mia: Maybe you guys need three lines. Everyone knows you guys can afford it.
Just then Kallie approached the group. She is wearing a super long and loose floral dress with white Keds. It reminded Mia of something a teacher would wear. The worst part was her backpack. It was shaped like a panda. Payton was very happy to have the attention taken off of her.
Mia: Um, Kallie what on earth is that critter on your back?
Kallie: Mia, it’s a mini backpack. You wear a mini backpack.
Mia: If you haven’t noticed, mine isn’t shaped like anything that belongs in a zoo.
Kallie: But, but I got it at the mall. I thought you said the mall was cool?!
Mia: The mall itself is cool, but those animal bags are for like middle school girls. You are sixteen now Kallie. You gotta act like it.
Kallie: I’m sorry, Mia. There are so many rules.
Autumn: It’s okay Kallie. Besides, I think it’s kind of cute.
Mia and Autumn shoot each other dirty looks.
Autumn: Anyway Kallie, what happened last night? Did you get to talk to Melissa?
Kallie: Yes, but it didn’t go too well. After dinner I asked my parents if Melissa and I could go to Carvel together since we had no homework. They let us go as long as we promised to be home before dark. While we had ice cream, I told Melissa I knew about her clique change and everything else. I asked her why she was doing it and she told me to mind my own business. She said that she had every right to enjoy her one year of real high school and I better not stand in her way. She said if I told mom and dad I would be sorry. I can’t believe how she is acting, we used to be best friends. Then because there was an hour til dark, she wanted to make out with Holden and I couldn’t go home without her because then my parents would ask questions. So that’s how I wound up shopping at the mall.
Autumn: Kallie, that’s terrible. I am so sorry.
Payton: It must be awful to have a sister turn her back on you.
Autumn: But we are here for you. Don’t get too discouraged, okay?
As the girls comfort Kallie, a waving Julian walks past and says hi to Autumn who blushes. Once he passes Koh chimes in.
Koh: So, did Romeo call last night?
Autumn: Yes!! I was so happy.
Koh: Waiittt…a minute…you, Mia, one of the school’s biggest gossip queens doesn’t understand why I just called him Romeo?
Mia: I have my own life too Koh. I can’t always be concerned with every little detail of this place.
Koh: Since when is Julian asking Autumn to the welcome back dance considered little?
Mia: What? He asked Autumn? Oh, um congratulations.
Autumn smiled from ear to ear. Mia looked at Payton. Her eyes were filled with sadness.
Mia: Well, Payton and I need to book it to the ladies room before class. We’ll catch you guys at lunch.
Mia starts dragging Payton into the school.
Autumn: I still think something is wrong with Payton.
Mia and Payton finally reach the bathroom. Mia makes sure all the stalls are empty.
Mia: Your mom wasn’t in a chat room was she?
Mia: You took your phone off the hook because Julian asked out Autumn?
Payton: Yes. What am I going to do? She’s supposed to be my friend. But it’s killing me inside.
Mia: So tell her the truth and demand she cancel the date.
Payton: Mia, I can’t do that. Guys ask me to dances all the time. No one has ever asked Autumn. I can’t take this away from her.
Mia: But YOU liked him first.
Payton: Yeah, in secret. It’s different. If she would have known and still said yes, SHE would be the bad one. But she didn’t know and now I’m being a big baby about it so that makes ME the bad one.
Mia: I still think you should say something. Even if you wanna be a big softie and let her keep the date, you should tell her how you feel. At least this way she won’t rub the date in your face.
Payton: The whole reason I didn’t want it getting out that I liked Julian to begin with was because I was scared of humiliation if he didn’t like me back. Don’t you think this would be even more humiliating now? Not only does he like someone else, he likes one of my besties.
Mia: I don’t know Payton. But try to solve it before Friday. I don’t want my first sleepover of the year to be awkward. It’s Katherine’s first time attending. I wouldn’t want any drama going down in front of her. She may feel uncomfortable.
Payton: Alright, I will think about it okay?
Mia: We gotta get to class.
Payton: I’ll meet you, I need to grab a new notebook from my locker. Something happened to the old one.
As Payton sorted through her locker, suddenly Julian appeared next to her.
Julian: Pay…can I talk to you?
Payton: Sure, Julian. What’s up?
Julian: Not much…listen…so I’m buggin over the dance next week. I really want to impress Autumn. I haven’t liked a girl this much in a super long time. Do you think I should get her a corsage?
Payton: Julian…it’s not a prom or a formal. You will make her look silly.
Julian: Oh…okay…I just wanted it to be special.
Payton: Wait. I have another idea. Instead, you should just bring her some regular flowers, a bouquet. Not roses though. Red have become a tad cliché and yellow will confuse her, she may think you only like her as a friend. You need something exotic. Maybe tiger lilies. I’m sure she would love that.
Julian: Really? Thanks, Payton. You’re the best. I don’t know what I’d do without a best friend like you.
Payton: Yeah…best friend…
Later at lunch Koh, Kallie, Payton, Mia, Autumn and Katherine sat together in the quad. They were discussing the sleepover Mia was having on Friday.
Katherine: I am so excited!! I can’t wait to get to know you ladies a little better.
Autumn: Are you excited Kallie?
Kallie: I, I…I’m not sure if I’m invited.
Autumn: Of course you are, right Mia?
Mia: Fine. You can come Kallie.
Kallie: Wow. A real party.
Mia: It’s not really a party. A party implies boys and dancing and maybe some booze. This is just a bunch of girls wearing pajamas, eating ice cream, doing make up and watching movies. Your parents don’t have any rules against videos or nail polish do they?
Kallie: No, it should be fine. They will probably be happy my first outing with school friends is all girls. Koh, are you going?
Autumn: Koh has a standing invitation, but it’s not really her scene.
Koh: Yeah, anywhere makeovers take place is typically not my scene.
Kallie: I hope you change your mind. It could be fun.
Koh: Don’t hold your breathe newbie.
As the girls chat and giggle a hot boy named Jimmy approaches the table. He’s a junior and captain of the baseball team.
Jimmy: So you probably heard about the big dance next week. I was wondering, would you want to go together?
Payton: Um, um…I’m not sure. I don’t know if I am going to go yet.
Jimmy: You miss a party? Payton, if you don’t like me, just be honest. Don’t lie and pretend you don’t even want to go to the dance.
Autumn: Payton, what was that about? He is gorgeous.
Payton: I wasn’t lying. I am not sure if I want to go.
Autumn: Payton, you’ve never missed a dance. I even remember when you had the chicken pox in the 6th grade you snuck out of the house and went to the dance for 10 minutes. You are acting really strange.
Kallie: You are lucky Payton. I wish a guy that cute would talk to me.
Autumn: Well, you better be there. I am sure another guy will ask you. Lots always do. I need you for emotional support. What if I get nervous around Julian? It’s different to be on a date instead of just being friends.
Mia: Katherine, are you taking anyone special?
Katherine: Well, no one has asked me yet, but I don’t really know any guys that go here that well yet. Actually, since I used to go to an all girl school I don’t know many guys at all.
Kallie: You are super pretty, I am sure someone will ask you.
Koh: Otherwise, just go stag. Any of us who don’t have dates can just go as a group.
Katherine: Yeah? No one will call me a dateless wonder?
Koh: It’s not 1989 anymore. We are liberated women approaching the millennium. We can go to dances alone if we want to.
Mia: It’s true. Even us popular people have a rule: formal or prom you need a date, but regular dances you can go alone if you want to.
Katherine: Cool. It will be fun. At Athena Academy we always had to bring dates, but I guess at an all girl school it’s really the only way to get any boys there.
Suddenly, they hear a ruckus behind them. A crowd is forming and they can’t see. All they hear is a lot of chanting, cat calls and cheering. Koh stands on her seat to find out what is going on.
Koh: Um, Kallie…you are NOT going to like this.
What’s happening in the crowd? Who will ask Katherine to the dance? Will it make Mia jealous? Will Payton keep crying over Julian? Or does fate have something better in store for her? Keep reading to find out.
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