[Tuesday, August 31, 2004.] [Once upon a time, there was class. That time is not now! School's out for- the day! Yes. The day.] [Anyway, the last bell of the day rang, and students are streaming out of the hall and into the still hot and humid August weather. Fortunately, September is right around the corner! Unfortunately, there's no telling if the weather will listen and finally rain.] [This is where we find our protagonists: in the process of leaving. Chances are, they're just getting out the door, though their mileage may vary.] [It's cloudy!] [Session Start.] * Krista isn't outside yet! She's inside. Yep. Getting things from her locker. * Ivy goes to her locker too! Though she doesn't stay there long, not really grabbing any homework, it seems. She then heads to Jeremy's locker! Whoo! I'm sure this is a routine. * Charlotte gathers her things, greeting people if she sees them. Today's fashion consists of her leather jacket, blue jeans and a white shirt. Ooo. [Jeremy's at his locker, just closing it up as Ivy nears. "Hey," he says with a grin as he slings his backpack over his left shoulder (his right arm still being bandaged and all). "Ready to go?"] * Ivy gives Jeremy a smile and nods. She heads out when he starts walking! * Veronica walks to her locker and gets her stuff, rubbing her hair. "Whew, finally." She waits around just in case Christy show's up.] [Jeremy does start walking! The crowd of students is THICK AND OVERPOWERING. Seriously, there are a lot of them.] [Veronica doesn't see Christy, but she does see Krista! That's... kind of like the same thing... right?] * Ivy grasps Jeremy's hand so she doesn't lose him in the VERY SCARY crowd. * Krista pushes her glasses up and pulls her bookbag, absolutely bulging, out and up onto her shoulders. * Veronica deflates a little. Now who's she gonna hang out with after school? No, Krista's not that great of an option. * Charlotte gathers her things and heads for home! [A pair of girls walk down Veronica and Krista's hall. Veronica recognizes them as Ivy's friends from gym: one looks like a darker skinned Pacific Islander, with her black hair to one side and held in a clip. The other's white and blond, with perfect teeth and blue eyes. Both are wearing designer clothes.] [The blonde spots Krista - at least it's probably Krista - and whispers something to the darker one. She giggles, the blonde snickers, and the first thwaps her in the arm saying, "Stop it!" This only makes the blonde laugh harder.] * Krista doesn't look at them! She's not looking down, at least... at least until the comments, then she shifts her backpack again and hurries a bit faster. [Krista starts to overtake Charlotte! It's a race to the exit!] * Charlotte is a horrible racer and goes the same steady pace, so she loses. [The girls in question fall behind. Aw. Outside, it's hot and muggy and cloudy. And Christy's sitting on the stone pseudo-railing leading up to the front doors. She probably isn't noticed, since nobody's looking for her, but she yells, "KRISTA!" as Krista leaves the building. This is followed by her yelling Charlotte's name when *she* leaves. Yeah, she can grab attention.] * Veronica turns her face to look at the two walking out and eyes them for a while. [Jeremy and Ivy pass Veronica next! Jeremy eyes our favorite tomboy, much like she was eyeing the pair.] * Charlotte looks over that way. * Krista jumps and looks over at Christy, caught halfway to grabbing her keys. "W-what?" * Veronica doesn't notice the eyeing because she's too busy eyeing herself! [Christy's there, platform shoes somehow not touching the ground from where she's perched (she *is* short) and waving her copy of Hamlet with a big grin.] * Ivy looks around at all the new, but known, faces. She doesn't stop though, she keeps walking with Jeremy. * Charlotte walks over. "What's up?" [Christy swings her feet. "Hamlet's what's up! And I wanted to see if I remembered your names. But the play, mostly."] * Veronica finally heads out of the place, having lost interest in the two jokers. * Krista 'Oh's and finishes getting her keys. "What about it? I mean, there's quite a bit of the play... even if we haven't gotten through too much in class." ["Oh, I was just talking to Matt... he's kinda cute, you know? Matt, I mean. Not Hamlet." She spots Ivy and Jeremy leave and yells, "JEREMY! IVY!"] * Ivy freezes in place, her body hunching slightly as she hears her name at such a loud level. After a moment, she slowly moves her head Christy's way. * Krista pushes has the vague hint of 'what?' still on her face and glances towards the cars. Cars are safe. [Cars are also backed up as everyone tries to leave school at the same time.] [Jeremy's curious, too, and he approaches Christy. Don't do it, Jeremy! It's a trap!] * Ivy walks hesitantly after Jeremy. ["What's up?" Jeremy asks. Pause. "You're Veronica's friend, right?"] * Krista glances over to Ivy and Jeremy, giving Ivy a small smile. It... could be more confident, yes. ["Yup!" Christy chirps right when Veronica leaves the building, and she yells, "RIIIIIIICAAAAAAA!" Jeremy blinks and shakes his head, as yeah. Loud.] * Ivy backs behind Jeremy as Christy starts yelling again. She's really not paying attention to her surroundings aside from the screaming girl. [Jeremy glances back at the hiding Ivy. He's taller than her. Therefore, good hiding place.] * Veronica blinks and looks at the loud yell. "Gah. Geez, Christy, whatya trying to do, scare me?" She then manages to notice her surroundings and walks forward, looking at each in turn. "What is this, a convention?" ["Yes!" Christy says triumphantly. "D'you think Matt's cute?"] * Krista winces slightly. Loud, and ends up looking away from Iveremy to Veronica. "She wants to talk about Hamlet." Beat, quieter. "Or maybe romance." [Jeremy rolls his eyes, and then his cell rings. He picks up and puts it to his ear. "Hello?"] Who? Matt? Uh, which one's Matt again? [Christy gives Veronica an I-can't-believe-you-don't-know-this look and says, "He sits in the back and got Mr. M to promise us hot dogs."] * Veronica snaps her fingers. "Oh, hotdog boy. Eh...he's alright." She glances at everyone else. "So what's everyone else doing here?" ["Uh, really? Are you sure?" Jeremy says into the phone, paying no attention to the girls.] * Ivy glances up at Jeremy, face curious. * Krista doesn't look over at Rica. Nope. She already answered. ["He had a great idea," Christy says, clapping her hands. "Like, Hamlet's going to be showing at the dollar theater in a coupla days, and maybe we can take the class... I mean, I dunno if we could get a field trip to fly with Mr. M or anything, but after school or something?"] * Krista blinks and says cautiously, "Theater? A movie?" [Christy nodnods at Krista. "The ninety-six version, I think. I'd need to check."] * Veronica asks the all important question. "Who's in it?" [Jeremy looks a little upset, still paying no attention. "But I don't have a bus-" He shuts up and listens some more.] * Ivy peeks around the side of Jeremy so he can see her and gently squeezes his arm as she notes him getting upset. ["Uh..." Christy thinks. "I know Kate Winslet's in it. And Kenneth Branagh..."] * Krista mms a little and smiles. "That does sound like a nice idea. I think." * Veronica looks at Krista oddly. "Really? I thought you'd be against cheating like that." ["Anyway, it'd be fun. I'm trying to get everyone together so it'd be *like* a field trip but not actually a field trip, but I dunno who'll actually go, because it's almost like school or something." She perks. "Maybe we can get extra credit!"] * Krista looks taken aback. "Cheating? It's just a movie. About a play." You know some people are gonna try to take their reports straight from the movie, right? [Jeremy sighs. "Yeah. It's okay, Mrs. Thorne. Yeah, it'll be fine. We can take the late bus or something."] * Charlotte rubs her neck. "I don't know..." ["You don't *have* to go. If it's just me and Matt, it'll be kinda like a date." She pauses, then adds, "Just not a group date."] * Krista makes a face and says, raising her head a little higher, "Or they could use Cliff's Notes." * Veronica EYES Christy. "Does Matt KNOW this is going to be a "date," Christy?" ["It's cool. Good luck with that, okay?" Jeremy laughs a little. "Yeah, I know. We will. Bye." He hangs up and starts paying attention to whatever's going on.] ["Aw, you know I gotta start slow, Rica. Otherwise they get intimidated by my awesome femaleness."] You and slow aren't in the same sentence. Heck, I doubt if they're even in the same *universe*. * Ivy notes the name that should be quite familiar to her, and gets a good idea of what's going on. She lets go of Jeremy's arm and listens to the chitter- chatter. * Krista sniffs and swallows nervously. The held-high head goes back to normal as the conversation goes back to boys. [Christy pouts and then looks at Krista and Charlotte. "Betrayed by own best friend," she says to them. "No faith in me at all."] * Krista smiles nervously and keeps her mouth very shut. * Veronica folds her arms and looks at Christy dryly. "Yuh-huh. You should *be* an actor in that. Everyone knows you're the drama queen." * Charlotte shifts her weight. Wooo.... [Jeremy looks for someone to ask about what's going on and just gets... uh, Ivy and Veronica. Okay, that won't work. Instead he says to Ivy, "The car broke down."] * Ivy frowns, looking a bit worried. I think I'm going to skip it... I've got a lot to do this week. I don't think I'll have time. ["I sure am. I'm gonna get the leading part this year in... hey, that's right. You guys are in my drama class. Huh. Anyway, when we figure out when we're gonna do it, you guys wanna be told or- oh, that sucks."] [Christy looks crestfallen. Aww.] * Krista nods. It does suck. She says with her nice voice, "Do you have another way of getting home?" * Charlotte sighs helplessly. "Sorry." [Jeremy blinks at Krista, then he shakes his head. "Uh, no." Pause. "What are they talking about?"] ["It's okay," Christy sighs, swinging her feet.] Romance and drama and apologizing. * Veronica looks at Charlotte for a second. "Busy with what?" * Krista smiles weakly. "They go well together." * Charlotte glances at Veronica. "You know. Stuff." ["Oh." Jeremy looks just as clueless as he did before Krista's explanation.] Yeah. Stuff. * Ivy glances over to Krista, eyeing her. Right. ["God, you're almost as nosy as I am, Rica. What kind of stuff?" she asks Charlotte cheerfully.] * Veronica then glances over at Jeremy, tearing her eyes away from Charlotte and frowns. "Wait, what happened?" * Veronica hisses Christy quiet real quick, giving her a slight glare. * Charlotte blinks. "Nothing. I'm just busy, is all." [Christy looks a bit taken aback and makes warding signs at Veronica's glare.] [If Veronica were a vamp, she'd be REALLY SCARED. Maybe not.] ["Uh, Mrs. Thorne's car broke down," Jeremy says, clearly not expecting Veronica to have asked.] * Veronica gives Christy a brief "I'll talk to you later" glare before turning back to Jeremy and rubbing the back of her neck. "Ah geez, that's not good. I'd offer a ride but I think Krista already did." [Christy just looks confused and about to fall off the railing.] * Krista blinks at Veronica, "You--" she pauses, then looks back to the inseparable duo, saying, "O-of course I would give you a ride." ( Damn. Why didn't I think of that?) ["Oh." Jeremy smiles at Krista. It's a cute smile on a cute boy. "That'd be really cool, if you wanna."] * Ivy gives Veronica a small smile and then gives Krista one similar, though a bit softer. * Veronica grins at Krista. * Krista smiles nervously at Jeremy, shifts her eyes to Ivy for a sec, then back at Christy. "Um... if you could find out when the movie is, or do you know...?" ["Sure!" Christy says happily, and she looks at Jeremy and Ivy. "How 'bout you guys?"] [Jeremy shrugs. "I like movies." He looks down at Ivy to see what she thinks.] ( . o O (I like bagels. Will there be bagels?)) * Ivy looks slightly confused, but she slowly nods her head as if she's really not sure if she wants to be nodding her head. You know I'm game, Christy. Just...uh...don't try to set me up again, alright? You know what happened last time... ["But it was fun!"] Yeah. For you, maybe. [Christy starts fishing a piece of crumpled notebook paper out of her backpack and a pen. This is followed by her scribbling things on it - probably names - and poking holes through the paper and into her knee, because that's what she's writing on.] * Charlotte moves away. "I better go. See ya." [Christy looks up and waves with her pen. "Bye Charlotte!"] * Veronica frowns and looks around, as if just noticing all the people being there. * Krista looks confused for a second, but doesn't move quite yet. She might be writing something helpful! [Jeremy glances at Charlotte but doesn't say anything.] * Charlotte escapes! (You made your roll!) ["Oh, you can go now, if you wanna," Christy says, not looking up. "I'll let you know in class."] * Krista nods and looks to Jeremy and Ivy. "I--ah, we, should go." ["Huh? Oh, okay." He waves at Christy. "See ya around."] ["Bye guys," Christy says, not looking up from her awful handwriting.] Yeah. Take care. * Ivy nods and takes a step toward Krista, ready to follow her when she's ready. She gives Christy a small, uncertain wave though. * Veronica stays behind. * Krista smiles a little at Ivy again, as if she were a skittish animal (which isn't that surprising) and turns and starts walking away... * Ivy walks along with Jeremy as she follows Krista! * Veronica watches Christy for a while and sighs, putting her hands on her hips. "So what's the deal? You inviting the whole class?" ["Maybe."] * Veronica quirks an eyebrow at Christy and folds her arms. "And what's the deal with the half answers, hmm? You know I hate that." [Christy looks up and grins. "Okay, so I pretty much am."] Yeah... though listen. I don't know if that's such a good idea... [Christy stuffs the notebook paper away and pulls out a pack of bubblegum. "Why not?"] * Veronica frowns slightly and looks off to the side, drawing her fingers through her hair. "I don't think I entirely trust Charlotte, to be honest with ya." ["Oh. Wanna take some gum and talk about it? It's Bazooka."] It's hard to talk with gum in your mouth. * Veronica frowns some more. "Besides, I'm being serious." ["Me too. It really is Bazooka." She takes a piece of gum, unwraps it, and pops it into her mouth.] * Veronica glares at her. "Christy!" Come on, first she's spreading rumors about me setting Camila on fire. Now she tells Jeremy it was Ivy... and... gah, I can't take this. [Christy blinks. "She's what? Whoa, she told Jeremy it's Ivy? It's not Ivy, right? I had no idea."] Look, the girl's a little weird, I'll give you that. But she's got no reason to go after Camila. Ivy's theory's equally as far fetched. * Veronica sighs. "Okay, so I'm over reacting on the rumors about me. She was using that to prove a point. That's not what bothers me though." [Christy makes a bubble that steadily gets bigger. "Okay," she somehow says around it.] * Veronica frowns at Christy and sighs. "Look, she says she regrets it. But... I don't know. A lot about her right now seems fake. Especially since her friend--" She cuts herself off and frowns more. [Christy pops the bubble, bringing it back into her mouth easily enough. She chews quietly for a few seconds before she says, "You are so not okay."] * Veronica stares at her and rubs her head. "No. No I'm not. Look, things haven't really made sense since the club, but I tried to deal with it. Well, things are making even less sense with Camila..." ["It's not the same thing, is it? I mean, you didn't faint or anything."] No. But since when have you had someone just go up in flames like that? And what's worse is everyone's accusing each other. I mean, Ivy even thinks Mister Mendel did it." [Christy blinks. "Mr. M? Nah, he's way too goofy to be an evil criminal mastermind that's combusting people." She pauses, then brings one hand up to rub at her chin. "Then again, it could be a front..."] * Veronica throws up her hands. "Gah, Christy. You know... I like you and all, but sometimes I wish I could talk to you for like 5 seconds on a serious note." ["What? It totally could! Besides, you're the one who's getting all freaked about some dumb rumors." She pops her gum.] * Veronica growls and slams her hands down on both sides of the railing. "It's not THAT that's bothering me. I told you that!" [Christy makes warding signs again.] * Veronica rubs her head. "Look, I think Charlotte's in with the Ravens. You remember? That means I don't have a clue what her game is and why she's been trying to get in nice with me and everyone." ["The Ravens? ... Oh." Christy sobers up. "Yeah, okay."] (GANG WAAAAAARRRRR.) Yeah. That. ["But that... uh, never mind. I gotta think about it a little."] * Veronica keeps watching Christy, giving her a steady look. "Uh-huh?" ["I mean, unless she's trying to sell drugs, it's not like the rest of *us* are in gangs or anything."] ["... I think."] What are you getting at, Christy? That "Oh, well, that doesn't matter". It'd be fine if I'd found out from her... she's clamming up about it. She's hiding something. [Christy shrugs. "I dunno. I just don't ask, usually."] * Veronica frowns. "Yeah. I know you don't." * Veronica sighs and picks up her backpack. "Look, I probably should get going anyway. You doing anything tonight? I feel like I need a break from all this shit that's going down." [Christy shrugs. "Not really. I have some math homework, but I usually do that right before class anyway."] [Veronica spots Charlotte approaching! Oh no.] * Veronica frowns as she notices that. "Alright. Maybe I'll give you a call later. Unless you got a place in mind..." ["Sure, that'd be cool. I'll bring nachos!"] * Veronica snickers as she slings the pack over one shoulder. "Yeah, I'll bet. Extra cheese right?" ["Melted, hombre." Christy pops her gum again.] (Poor Spanish language.) * Veronica grins and then waves, heading off towards her car. Yay for transportation! (Hehe.) [Christy waves!] * Charlotte approaches Christy more than Veronica. [Christy switches targets and waves at Charlotte. It's like two in one. Sorta.] * Charlotte waves back. "Hey. Sorry about that. I had to catch a friend before she left." ["It's okay," Christy says. She slides down from her perch and picks up her backpack. "So you're not going?"] * Charlotte shakes her head with a helpless smile. "I don't have the time. But that doesn't mean I don't think it's a good idea." [Christy nods. "Yeah, okay." She shoulders her backpack. "I dunno if I'll try to put something together like this again, though. Just so you know."] * Charlotte nods. "Okay." [She grins. "Okay. I gotta go pick up a late bus pass. I'll see you in class tomorrow, okay? Drama!"] * Charlotte nods. "Sure. See you." [Christy salutes. "You can count on it." And then she heads back into the school. Blessed air conditioning!] * Charlotte waves, then goes home! [Session End.]