Different Live ~ Part Two =O

I walked into school knowing zip. A girl with dark brown, curly hair approached me and slung an arm across my thin shoulders. “Hey, there,” she said.

I wanted to ask who she was, but I assumed that she might have been my best friend, Summer. I decided to take a risk. “Do you know where Annie is?”

“Yeah. I just saw her over talking to Summer by the fountain not too long ago,” the girl answered.

Obviously, this was NOT either of them. Who were the remaining two? Lisa and Kendra? Ok. Got it.

I was about to take another risk and ask where Lisa was, but then a pretty dark brown haired girl came up and said, “Oh, Lisa! Chad Michaels is doing push-ups in the gym if you wanted to see.” She smiled.

‘Lisa’ quickly went with the other mystery girl. Maybe that was Kendra? I was so confused. Before I could even move, someone trapped me there with his lips. I tried to scream and wiggle away, but the guy had a tight grip. He grabbed my butt and that’s when I totally lost it. I kicked him in the place it hurt and took off running down the hall. I ran into the ladies’ room to hide. Kerstin was in there applying make-up in front of the large mirror.

“Hey, how’s it going?” she asked when she finished.

“I just escaped a complete maniac!” I said all out of breath.

Kerstin looked pained. “Um, yeah. Sorry, but that was your boyfriend, Nick.”

“My…my…my,” I couldn’t get it out.

“Your boyfriend,” Kerstin repeated slowly and steadily.

“I kicked my boyfriend in the nuts!?”

“You did!? Oh, boy!” Kerstin said with a small squeal of excitement.

I just stared at her. “How can you be happy about this?” I demanded.

“I’m not happy, just interested.”

“Oh, really?” I put my hands on my hips.

“Yes, really,” Kerstin said with a small laugh. “I got to go now, but you might want to go apologize to your boyfriend, Ash.” Then she disappeared. That was really getting old fast.

I walked out of the bathroom and went straight over to Kendra, I guessed, and said, “Where’s my first class?” I laughed like I was an idiot. “Gosh, I, like, woke up this morning and I couldn’t remember my schedule at all. Isn’t that crazy?”

Kendra didn’t look fazed. “Kinda crazy. Ok, Ash. Come ‘ere. I’ll write out your schedule for you. Do you know your locker combination?”

I shook my head. “Dang it! I’m forgetting everything!”

“Well, you did have a crazy weekend.”

I did? Obviously I wasn’t going to remember that, whatever it was I did. I followed Kendra over to her locker where she fished out a piece of paper and wrote out my classes for me. “And this is your combination,” she said, giving me the paper. I wondered why she knew what my combination was. Wasn’t that almost like a password on the internet? “Oh, hey. What did you do to Nick? He raced into the bathroom, like, really fast!”

I gently shook my head. “Um, yeah. I kinda kicked him.”

“Kicked him? Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess I just freaked out or something. Well, thanks for the schedule and locker information. I guess I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Yeah, see you at lunch,” she said. The bell rang and I hurried to homeroom. Whatever that was.

Homeroom was just calling attention to our selves by saying ‘here’ when your name was called. Then next came English and then Geometry. Spanish and then lunch. Finally. I walked into the cafeteria, got my food from the lunch line, and spotted a beautiful blonde-haired girl frantically waving me over. I wondered if that was Summer or Annie. I walked over to the table and sat next to her.

“Hey, you,” she said. “Have fun this weekend?”

“Definitely,” I said, although I had no clue what I was talking about. “How about you?”

“Perfect. Jack Nicolson is such a good kisser.”

I smiled. I guess she’d spent the weekend with a guy.

“Kendra, are you going to eat that?” a red-headed girl asked. She was sitting on the opposite side of the blonde girl.

“Nah, you can have it, Annie,” Kendra said. Ok, so that was definitely Kendra and the red-head was definitely Annie. Lisa was sitting on the other side of the table with Kendra.

“Summer,” Lisa said.

“Hmm?” Summer asked, distractedly. I noticed that her attention was focused on one of the guys on the other side of the cafeteria. Probably this Jack Nicolson person.

“Summer, who’s Jack? I thought you were still hooked with Clay Lopez.”

Summer waved her small hand. “Psh. So long gone. I unhooked it.” She gave a big smile. “Now my eyes are on that boy.” She pointed discreetly to Jack. I looked around for Nick. I wondered if he was ok.

“Ok, look,” Lisa squealed. “There’s Chad Michaels!” She sighed.

“Go talk to him,” Summer said. Summer was definitely the leader of this group.

“I can’t do that!” Lisa exclaimed.

Kendra stood. “I’ll go talk to him,” she said.

“No, don’t!” Lisa whispered urgently.

Kendra walked away. She went right up to Chad who was surrounded by other guys.

Lisa leaned across the table toward us. “Word is: he’s still a virgin. Can you believe that?” She squealed again. “So pure.”

I couldn’t help, but smile. Kendra stayed with Chad and talked for a few minutes before she came back. Lisa looked hopeful. “Sorry, Lisa, he’s gay.”

Lisa’s mouth dropped onto the table, I swear. “What?” she asked.

Kendra shrugged. “That’s what he told me.”

Lisa scowled. “Aww, that explains the whole virgin thing.” Summer and Annie laughed.

“Hey, kid,” a voice whispered behind me.

I whirled around and there was Nick, the guy I’d kicked in the nuts. I bit my lip. He kind of smiled. “You seem a little jumpy today,” he said.

“Um, yeah,” I stammered. This guy was totally hot. He had long dark brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Beautiful. Sheesh, I’d kicked this guy? Pathetic. “Um, sorry for kicking you. I didn’t realize-.”

He cut me off. “Don’t worry about it, babe. I’m ok.” He paused. “I hope.”

I giggled. “Well, I am sorry.”

He nodded. “It’s ok. Just please don’t do that again. It really kills a guy’s sexual appeal.” He kissed my cheek and walked away. Kills a guy’s sexual appeal? Interesting. I’ll store that information for later. I might need it.

“I will,” I said.

“I have a thing,” Kendra said.

“Who with?” Lisa asked.

“Cameron,” she answered.

“O’Connor? You two are still together?” Annie asked.

“How long have you been going out?” I asked.

“Two years from next month,” Kendra said.

“Can’t believe he’s stuck around that long,” Summer muttered.

“We love each other,” Kendra said simply.

“Well, I love Jack,” Summer said with ignorance. Kendra said nothing.

“I love Chad,” Lisa said hopelessly. “Maybe he’s not really gay. Maybe he just doesn’t like me.”

“I doubt it,” Annie said. “What’s not to like? You’re hot.”

Lisa moved away from her. “Stop that.” I was beginning to wonder if maybe Annie wasn’t as straight as I’d have liked to think.

Annie smiled and shook her head. “I’m not hitting on you, Lisa.”

Lisa frowned. “Maybe I’ll call him later.” She was still stuck on the whole Chad business.

“What about you, Ashlyn?” Kendra suddenly said. She was my favorite of my so-called friends so far. Annie didn’t seem exactly straight, you know? Lisa was boy crazy and a little whiny. Summer was just stuck up and thought the world revolved around her. Kendra had a boyfriend who’d been with her for two years. She seemed a little nicer than the rest.

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said in response to Kendra’s question. “Maybe hit the mall with Summer.”

Summer flashed a smile at me. “We’ll shop till we drop, babe.”

I smiled. “Sounds good.” I never really liked to shop in former life, but this time I figured I’d give it a shot.

Kerstin caught up with me again once I got home. “Hi, honey,” Mom said to me.

I glanced over at Kerstin and she made a ‘slit your throat’ motion with her hands. “We’re going up to my room for a while,” I said before I could stop myself. Kerstin’s mouth dropped.

“We’re?” my mom asked.

“Um, me. I’m. I’m going up to my room now.”

Mom nodded slowly. “Oh ok. Have fun.”

Kerstin and I galloped up the stairs giggling. “Can’t believe you said that!” she exclaimed.

“Me either!” I fell onto my bed.

“So, how’d it go with Nick?” she asked, getting herself comfortable in my pink bean bag chair. I didn’t like pink at all before, but I guess I did now.

“He was actually very forgiving,” I told her.

“Isn’t he a hunk?” she said very bluntly. I laughed.

“I’ll admit, he’s hot.”

“And he’s your boyfriend,” Kerstin pointed out. “Gotta love that, huh?”

“Totally,” I said. “So, tell me stuff.”

“Like what?” Kerstin asked with a shrug. She looked over at the small table next to her and picked up some black nail polish.

“Well, how about Annie?” I suggested.

“Retarded lesbian,” Kerstin said without looking up.

I raised my eyebrows. I suspected as much, but hoped it was wrong. Oh well. “Ok then,” I said quietly.

“Yeah,” Kerstin said as she painted the nail polish onto her pinkie and stared at it. “She’s hardcore, although she doesn’t mess with friends. Unless someone gives her a push.”

“Nice,” I said sarcastically.

“It is, isn’t it?” Kerstin said with a smile.

“Well, then how come she said something to Lisa about her being hot?”

“Maybe she was speaking the truth. She sometimes likes to tease you guys. It means nothing.”

“Does she have a girlfriend?” I asked and shuddered at the thought.

Kerstin smiled sneakily. “Well, not right now. You were at one point.”

“Huh?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“Yeah, but it was only for, like, a week or something. You were better off friends.”

“Sick,” I murmured.

“Mhmm,” Kerstin said. She resumed to painting her nails.

“Well, what about Kendra?” I asked.

Kerstin shrugged. “Her first boyfriend was Cameron and he’s been with her ever since.”

“That’s awesome,” I said.

Kerstin shook her head. “Not when Cameron’s been cheating on her for some time now.”

I was shocked. “How long?”

“Ah, they were about six months into the relationship when Cam started. Kendra’s caught him not once, but twice, kissing another girl. Kendra’s a really nice and sincere girl. She just stupid.”

“She’s not,” I stood up for my friend. “She just loves Cameron.”

“Ok, move on,” Kerstin said, moving to paint her toes.

“Um, oh! My cat. Where’s my cat?”

Kerstin smiled. “Well, you don’t have a cat, Ash.”

“I don’t?” I asked.

“The reason you got a cat before was because your mom thought it’d be nice for you to have a friend. You don’t really need a friend right now.”

“Oh,” I said sadly. “Well, how about Nick? Is he cheating on me?”

“No,” Kerstin said, clearly happy she didn’t have to report bad news. “He’s actually probably the best pick in the whole school.”

“Really?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Mhmm.”

“Wow. How about Lisa.”

“Just a whiny baby. Warm for Gay Chad’s form.” Kerstin giggled. “Hilarious.” I smiled. It was kind of funny.

“How about Summer?”

“Plain slut,” Kerstin said. She picked up some eye shadow and a mirror.

“Slut? Why?”

“She’s slept with half the guys at school.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Uh, huh.”

“Are you here to talk to me or play dress-up with my stuff?” I asked.

“Sorry. Just bored.”

My cell phone rang from the table next to Kerstin. She picked it up and tossed it to me. “Princess Slut,” she said.

I opened the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, girlie. It’s Summer time! Want to meet me at the mall?”

“Ok. What mall?”

There was silence and then, “Aha! You’re so funny. ‘What mall?’ Ha! You kill me. Ok, see ya in a few, babe!” Then she hung up. I still didn’t know what mall. All I knew was that Summer was an airhead.

“California Park Mall,” Kerstin said casually. She was applying lipstick now.

“That’s the one?”

“That’s the one,” she repeated. I was beginning to like her a lot. She burst out laughing all of a sudden.

“Oh, I almost forgot, Ashlyn! She said ‘meet me there’, right?”

“Uh, huh,” I answered slowly.

“So, you get to drive!” Kerstin exclaimed, jumping straight up.

“Drive!? I can’t drive!”

Kerstin skipped over to my purse and pulled out my wallet. “Tell that to this,” she said.

I peered closer. My driver’s license was staring back at me. I grabbed it. “Whoa, baby!”

“Uh, huh. You can drive in this world, Ash.”

“But I seriously don’t have any clue. The most driving I ever did was parking the car in the driveway when I was ten!”

“Well, live and learn!” Kerstin said. She grabbed my hand. “Come on! Let’s have an adventure!”

“We’re going to the mall,” I shouted to my mom as Kerstin and I raced past her toward the front door.

“We?” Mom questioned again. Oh, darn. I did it again.

“I meant, me and Summer are going to the mall. I’m meeting her there.” I grabbed the car keys to my car and ran out the door.

“Be home by midnight!” my mom hollered.

“Midnight?” I asked Kerstin.

“She’s flexible in this life,” she said with a shrug. Then she threw back her head and laughed. It was a riot.

We hopped in the car and I felt out of place sitting behind the wheel. “Put the keys in the ignition…” Kerstin coached.

“I know,” I snapped. I put the keys in and turned it. The car sputtered to life and I jumped.

“This is exciting!” Kerstin yelled. She put down her window and screamed really loud. I wished I could do that and not get embarrassed. Kerstin could do whatever she wanted; nobody could see or hear her except me.

I pushed on the pedal and eased out of the driveway. “You’re too cautious,” Kerstin said.

“You want to dive?” I asked. “I’d gladly hand it over.”

“I can’t,” Kerstin complained. “I would if it wasn’t going to look too weird with you sitting in the passenger seat and the car driving itself.”

“Ha!” I laughed. It was silent for the first few minutes of me driving. I was still getting used to it. After a while, I felt as if the ability came to me automatically.

“So, tell me something,” I said to Kerstin.

“Keep your eyes on the road,” she instructed.

I sighed and glued my eyes on the road. “Um, what did I do last weekend?” I asked.

“You went to a smashing party,” Kerstin said. “Got drunk out of your head, and then slept with Brock Meyers.”

“What?” I asked, horrified. “Wasn’t I hooked with Nick?”

“Yep,” Kerstin said. She was frowning. “Nick doesn’t know.”

“He doesn’t? Wasn’t he at the party?”

“Nope. He was at home hanging out with his best friend Jesse Skylark. They were playing basketball in the dark, while you got it on in a quiet bedroom.”

“I’m terrible,” I murmured.

“You were terrible,” Kerstin said.

“I have to fix my life,” I said.

“That what you’re here for,” Kerstin said.

I looked over at her and then back to the road because I knew she was going to tell me to keep my eyes on the road again. It wasn’t for her life, but mine. She couldn’t die. I could. Easily. “Are you going to follow me around the mall?” I asked.

Kerstin shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll shop around. Kind of follow you. I want to be there just in case Summer asks you something that you don’t know the answer to.”

“That’s good,” I said. “Thanks.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” she said with a smile.

It did not take that much longer to reach the California Park Mall. I parked the car away from the others. I was so not risking hitting the other cars. Kerstin and I got out and walked toward the mall entrance. “Hey, do you know where you’re meeting Summer?” Kerstin asked.

“No,” I admitted.

“You’re both airheads,” Kerstin muttered. “I know exactly where she is, but it would probably be better if you called her.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because then it won’t look like you knew exactly where she was the entire time.”

“Oh,” I said and fished my cell phone out of my purse. I hit redial and waited for Summer to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me. Ashlyn. Where do you want to meet?”

“Are you here?”

“Yes.”

“I’m in Victoria’s Secret. Can you just come over there?”

“I guess. Sure.”

“Good. See you in a few!” Then she hung up. At least she didn’t call me ‘girlie’.