"Is this pudding?" asked Lizzie, poking the brown gel-like substance on her lunch tray with a plastic spork.
"What else would it be?" asked Skye.
"I don't know." Lizzie stuck her fingers in the substance and peeled off a brown sheet from the top of it. "But it has skin on it."
"Oh, then it's probably not pudding."
"Maybe it's supposed to be a pudding ball," said DeMarcus, Lizzie's beautiful black boyfriend.
Lizzie gasped while smiling. "Maybe that's what it is. You're such a genius."
"You give me brain fuel, baby."
Skye looked at Madeline for a reaction. But Madeline was staring into thin air with a shocked look on her face.
"What's up with you?" Skye asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost... having intercourse with another ghost."
Lizzie gasped without a smile. "Did you?"
"No," answered Madeline. "But I am a bit traumatized."
"What happened?" asked Debra.
"Do you guys remember Jerry?"
"Terry?" said Andrea.
"No, Jerry."
"I don't know a Jerry."
"Was he that dork who kissed you at that masquerade dance sophomore year?" guessed Skye.
"Yes!" said Madeline. "And he did it again."
"He kissed you at another dance?" questioned Lizzie.
"No, he kissed me at the fair."
"Wait," started Debra. "Weren't you at the fair with Homer?"
"That's correct."
Andrea gasped. "Madeline, no vivas que baja la vida."
"I'm not living that low life, Andrea. He kissed me and it wasn't long."
"Did Homer see it?" asked Debra.
"No, thank God."
"Thank God?" repeated Andrea. "Does he know?"
"Well, no."
Andrea groaned. "Madeline, no vivas--"
"I'm not trying to live the low life!"
"You got to tell him, man," said Skye.
"I know. I'm afraid."
"How can you be afraid?" Lizzie questioned. "If he really likes you, he should understand."
"I know."
"Just be straight with him," said DeMarcus. "You can do it, girl."
"Besides, if Jerry kissed you first," started Skye, "then there's nothing you should be ashamed of. Other than the fact that you're hiding this from Homer."
"Not helping, Skye," said Madeline.
"You got enough help."
"You can take back your lunch, DeMarcus," said Lizzie, sliding the tray over to his side. "Looking at it is making me lose my appetite."
"Come on, babe. You got to eat something. I don't want you to starve."
"Alright. Give me those orange slices."
DeMarcus looked down at his tray. "That's carrot soup but okay."
Monday, August 1, 2016
It Was Just a Kiss (Chapter 1)
"I'm so glad we're celebrating our three month anniversary at the place that we first met," Madeline confessed to her boyfriend, Homer.
"Well, how else are we going to celebrate the time of our relationship?" asked Homer.
"I don't know. A candlelit dinner at a five-star restaurant, maybe a yacht or--"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry I haven't thought of that. But I'm not rich and experienced like you."
"Oh, honey, it's okay. Although you're poor and inexperienced, I still like you."
Homer chuckled. "You're such a smart aleck."
"Oh, smart I am."
"So you want me to buy some cotton candy before we start this thing off?"
"Gladly. Make sure it's pink."
"Anything for you, sweetie."
Madeline grinned at Homer before he went off to find the cotton candy stand. Madeline looked dreamily into the air while waiting for her generous boyfriend. She got out of dream state when she heard a guy call her name. She shot a look of confusion, thinking it was Homer. She turned around and saw a teenage guy approaching her. The closer he got, the more familiar he looked. But she could not put her finger on who he was.
"Oh, my goodness," he said, smiling. "It is you."
"Oh, my God," Madeline said, goggling at him. She finally remembered who he was. His black, fuzzy hair. His piercing blue eyes. His lankiness. The way his cheeks reddened like apples when he smiled. That guy was Jerry, the boy she met at the Masquerade Ball about two years ago. The boy who kissed her then got away. "Jerry, is that you?" she asked.
"Yeah! I'm so glad you remember me. All I do is think of you."
"What?"
"And my family moved back here so we can finally be together like you wanted."
"What?"
Jerry was so excited that he grabbed Madeline by the face and plant one right on her lips. Madeline did not kiss him back for obvious reasons. Her eyes were wider than ever. When Jerry let go of her, her wide eyes were staring straight at him out of shock.
"What?" all Madeline could utter.
"Well, how else are we going to celebrate the time of our relationship?" asked Homer.
"I don't know. A candlelit dinner at a five-star restaurant, maybe a yacht or--"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry I haven't thought of that. But I'm not rich and experienced like you."
"Oh, honey, it's okay. Although you're poor and inexperienced, I still like you."
Homer chuckled. "You're such a smart aleck."
"Oh, smart I am."
"So you want me to buy some cotton candy before we start this thing off?"
"Gladly. Make sure it's pink."
"Anything for you, sweetie."
Madeline grinned at Homer before he went off to find the cotton candy stand. Madeline looked dreamily into the air while waiting for her generous boyfriend. She got out of dream state when she heard a guy call her name. She shot a look of confusion, thinking it was Homer. She turned around and saw a teenage guy approaching her. The closer he got, the more familiar he looked. But she could not put her finger on who he was.
"Oh, my goodness," he said, smiling. "It is you."
"Oh, my God," Madeline said, goggling at him. She finally remembered who he was. His black, fuzzy hair. His piercing blue eyes. His lankiness. The way his cheeks reddened like apples when he smiled. That guy was Jerry, the boy she met at the Masquerade Ball about two years ago. The boy who kissed her then got away. "Jerry, is that you?" she asked.
"Yeah! I'm so glad you remember me. All I do is think of you."
"What?"
"And my family moved back here so we can finally be together like you wanted."
"What?"
Jerry was so excited that he grabbed Madeline by the face and plant one right on her lips. Madeline did not kiss him back for obvious reasons. Her eyes were wider than ever. When Jerry let go of her, her wide eyes were staring straight at him out of shock.
"What?" all Madeline could utter.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Rumor Has It (Chapter 5)
The next day, the girls agreed with Madeline’s plan. They waited until lunch to see the plan in progress. The Cow Belles had the same lunch period as the girls so it was perfect. When Pamela got up to get a snack from one of the vending machines, Madeline approached the sole Mauricia, who was nibbling on her lunch.
“Hey, Mauricia,” Madeline greeted her politely, putting her hands behind her back.
Mauricia looked up and was immediately disgusted. She rolled her eyes before standing up. “What do you want, ex-friend?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“I wanted to tell you how great you look in that outfit.”
Maurica flipped her short, dark hair. “I know. Why are you kissing my butt cheeks?”
“Look, I’m sorry that I used to be your friend and now I’m not your friend. I’m only friends with those... basic girls just so they could get off my back. You know how jealous people be jocking us.”
Mauricia giggled. “You’re right. You’re right about that.”
“I just want to be friends with you two again. You girls were fun, a riot. Like I am so jelly about how close you two are. I bet you guys never lie to each other about anything. I mean, anything!”
“Well, that’s not totally true. But we’re super duper close. Like, super duper.”
“You guys can’t be super duper close if you’re lying to each other.”
“Well, I don’t know if Pamela lies to me but I am def’ guilty.”
“Listen, I can’t be besties with someone who lies to their bestie.”
“Okay, what if I tell you my lie to make you feel better. Huh? Would that make you feel better?”
“Uh, it def’ would!”
“Okay. So one time, I was supposed to go over Pamela’s house to watch a movie or something. But I called her that night and told I couldn’t come because I stubbed my toe. Actually, I didn’t stub my toe. I went out to dinner with Patrick Monaghan. The reason I didn’t tell Pamela was because Patrick was her crush for four years since seventh grade.”
“Ooh! You bad girl!”
“I know, right? I mean if she wasn’t going to date him, why can’t I? It’s like the pursuit of happiness, you know?”
“And did you ever see him again?”
“Ah, a few times, but it was nothing serious.”
“You go, girl.”
Afterwards, Pamela walked up to Mauricia with a little bag of vegetable chips. She had a face of complete confusion mixed with anger.
“Uh, Mauricia, why are you talking to the skank of Laguna?” she asked.
Madeline rolled her lips inside her mouth and tried to ignore that comment.
“It’s okay, Pamela,” said Mauricia. “She wants to be one of us now... again.”
“Really?” asked Pamela before looking at Madeline. “You want to be friends with us again?”
“Uh, no,” Madeline said, shaking her head and crossing her arms.
“No?” repeated Mauricia. “What do you mean? You said you wanted to be friends with us.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“We just had a whole conversation.”
“I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember. What are you, dumb?”
“No, you are.”
“Hey!” said Pamela, stepping closer. “Don’t call my sister dumb.”
“I’m not sure she’s your sister with all the lies she’s telling you.”
“What are you talking about? Mauricia never lies to me.”
“Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that.”
Madeline stuck her hand inside her shirt, grossing out the Cow Belles. She eventually pulled out what seemed to be a tape recorder. She started pressing the buttons on the side of the recorder, causing a rewinding sound. Then the recorder started playing audio of Mauricia speaking.
“So one time, I was supposed to go over Pamela’s house to watch a movie or something. But I called her that night and told I couldn’t come because I stubbed my toe. Actually, I didn’t stub my toe. I went out to dinner with Patrick Monaghan.”
Pamela gasped with her jaw dropping as low as it could. “You went out with my Patrick Monaghan on our movie night?”
Mauricia giggled nervously. “You never went out with him so I thought it would be okay.”
“If you thought it would be okay, why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“Uh, I forgot?”
“No, you didn’t! You knew I liked Patrick and you’d gone out with him?”
“I’m sorry! I just bumped into him one day and he looked good. He was glistening like some god.”
“I don’t want to hear about that! You lied to me!”
“I was gonna tell you someday.” Mauricia then looked at Madeline and uttered through her teeth, “And why did you tattle on me? I told you all that in confidence.”
“When were you going to tell me? Because I know it had to happen more than a year ago.”
“Seriously. A tape recorder? What are you, a cop? You’re such a ho... and a cop. You’re like—What was that movie Pam Grier was in? Foxy Brown. You’re Foxy Brown. Wait, was Foxy Brown a cop?”
“This is no time for movies. You had a chance to watch a movie with me and you blew me off for Patrick Monaghan!”
“Why would you do this, Madeline?”
“I don’t know,” shrugged Madeline. “I guess I’m a two-timer.”
Madeline strutted away as Pamela and Mauricia continued to argue. She walked towards her friends like a hot woman working at the office while her girls were laughing and cheering her on. When she was close enough to her table, she dropped the tape recorder on top. The girls flinched and leaned away from the small machine.
“Ew, nobody wants to touch your boob recorder,” said Skye.
“Hey, Mauricia,” Madeline greeted her politely, putting her hands behind her back.
Mauricia looked up and was immediately disgusted. She rolled her eyes before standing up. “What do you want, ex-friend?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“I wanted to tell you how great you look in that outfit.”
Maurica flipped her short, dark hair. “I know. Why are you kissing my butt cheeks?”
“Look, I’m sorry that I used to be your friend and now I’m not your friend. I’m only friends with those... basic girls just so they could get off my back. You know how jealous people be jocking us.”
Mauricia giggled. “You’re right. You’re right about that.”
“I just want to be friends with you two again. You girls were fun, a riot. Like I am so jelly about how close you two are. I bet you guys never lie to each other about anything. I mean, anything!”
“Well, that’s not totally true. But we’re super duper close. Like, super duper.”
“You guys can’t be super duper close if you’re lying to each other.”
“Well, I don’t know if Pamela lies to me but I am def’ guilty.”
“Listen, I can’t be besties with someone who lies to their bestie.”
“Okay, what if I tell you my lie to make you feel better. Huh? Would that make you feel better?”
“Uh, it def’ would!”
“Okay. So one time, I was supposed to go over Pamela’s house to watch a movie or something. But I called her that night and told I couldn’t come because I stubbed my toe. Actually, I didn’t stub my toe. I went out to dinner with Patrick Monaghan. The reason I didn’t tell Pamela was because Patrick was her crush for four years since seventh grade.”
“Ooh! You bad girl!”
“I know, right? I mean if she wasn’t going to date him, why can’t I? It’s like the pursuit of happiness, you know?”
“And did you ever see him again?”
“Ah, a few times, but it was nothing serious.”
“You go, girl.”
Afterwards, Pamela walked up to Mauricia with a little bag of vegetable chips. She had a face of complete confusion mixed with anger.
“Uh, Mauricia, why are you talking to the skank of Laguna?” she asked.
Madeline rolled her lips inside her mouth and tried to ignore that comment.
“It’s okay, Pamela,” said Mauricia. “She wants to be one of us now... again.”
“Really?” asked Pamela before looking at Madeline. “You want to be friends with us again?”
“Uh, no,” Madeline said, shaking her head and crossing her arms.
“No?” repeated Mauricia. “What do you mean? You said you wanted to be friends with us.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“We just had a whole conversation.”
“I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember. What are you, dumb?”
“No, you are.”
“Hey!” said Pamela, stepping closer. “Don’t call my sister dumb.”
“I’m not sure she’s your sister with all the lies she’s telling you.”
“What are you talking about? Mauricia never lies to me.”
“Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that.”
Madeline stuck her hand inside her shirt, grossing out the Cow Belles. She eventually pulled out what seemed to be a tape recorder. She started pressing the buttons on the side of the recorder, causing a rewinding sound. Then the recorder started playing audio of Mauricia speaking.
“So one time, I was supposed to go over Pamela’s house to watch a movie or something. But I called her that night and told I couldn’t come because I stubbed my toe. Actually, I didn’t stub my toe. I went out to dinner with Patrick Monaghan.”
Pamela gasped with her jaw dropping as low as it could. “You went out with my Patrick Monaghan on our movie night?”
Mauricia giggled nervously. “You never went out with him so I thought it would be okay.”
“If you thought it would be okay, why didn’t you tell me about it?”
“Uh, I forgot?”
“No, you didn’t! You knew I liked Patrick and you’d gone out with him?”
“I’m sorry! I just bumped into him one day and he looked good. He was glistening like some god.”
“I don’t want to hear about that! You lied to me!”
“I was gonna tell you someday.” Mauricia then looked at Madeline and uttered through her teeth, “And why did you tattle on me? I told you all that in confidence.”
“When were you going to tell me? Because I know it had to happen more than a year ago.”
“Seriously. A tape recorder? What are you, a cop? You’re such a ho... and a cop. You’re like—What was that movie Pam Grier was in? Foxy Brown. You’re Foxy Brown. Wait, was Foxy Brown a cop?”
“This is no time for movies. You had a chance to watch a movie with me and you blew me off for Patrick Monaghan!”
“Why would you do this, Madeline?”
“I don’t know,” shrugged Madeline. “I guess I’m a two-timer.”
Madeline strutted away as Pamela and Mauricia continued to argue. She walked towards her friends like a hot woman working at the office while her girls were laughing and cheering her on. When she was close enough to her table, she dropped the tape recorder on top. The girls flinched and leaned away from the small machine.
“Ew, nobody wants to touch your boob recorder,” said Skye.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Rumor Has It (Chapter 4)
Throughout that whole school day, the girls were furious. Everyone was spreading rumors about them, calling them names from "two-timer" to a "witch". They knew that everyone was going to refer them as such for a long time because the Cow Belles would remind them. So the only way for the rumors to stop was to confront the Cow Belles and convince them to stop running their mouths. Therefore, after school, Andrea looked for the Cow Belles like some crocodile hunter. When she found them, using all of her strength, she dragged the two girls through the halls into Room 230. The room was empty but the rest of the girls were waiting inside. Andrea closed the door menacingly then walked over to her friends so they could all confront the Belles together.
"What did you bring us here for!" asked Mauricia, Cow Belle #1.
"You're, like, a psycho!" said Pamela, Cow Belle #2.
"We're psycho?" asked Skye.
"Yes, Puny McShort-shrimp," said Mauricia.
Skye scowled.
"You started nasty rumors about us," reminded Madeline. "You made everyone think I am some two-timer."
"Everyone thinks I'm bulimic," said Lizzie. "I eat food. And when I do, I keep it in. Unless it wants to come out the other way but sometimes, it doesn't want to so--"
"T.M.I., Liz'. T.M.I."
"You told everyone I wear butt pads," said Andrea. "And that's not true. Everything is a hundred percent natural, honey, okay?" She waved her hand over her butt cheek.
"You said that I practice sorcery," said Skye. "And now, everyone thinks that I'm gonna put voodoo on them or something, which is so stupid. Everyone believes in the zombie apocalypse and now they want to believe in magic? Magicians aren't real, people!"
"And you told everyone that I'm a stoner," said Debra, "which is not new. I've been called a stoner many times before. But I'm not!"
"So what if you're not who people think you are?" asked Pamela. "People will still think so."
"That's because you're gonna keep telling them," said Skye.
"Oh, gosh, you know us so well," smiled Mauricia.
"Stop the rumors," Madeline demanded.
"No," answered Pamela.
"Okay, I'm gonna ask again. Stop the rumors."
"No," Mauricia answered this time.
"Pretty please with sugar on top?!"
"No way," scoffed Pamela.
"People are loving us right now," mentioned Mauricia.
"And it's because they have no reason to love you."
"So everyone is going to think that you're two-timers."
"And everyone is going to think that you have butt pads--"
Andrea screamed in fury. As she screamed, she ran towards Pamela and took her into a chokehold. Pamela screamed as Andrea bent her back, squeezing Pamela's neck with her arm. Pamela held onto Andrea's arm, trying to pull it off but she was too weak. Andrea was stronger, looking like a mad ape.
Mauricia ordered, "Get off of my friend, you--"
Andrea dropped Pamela and screamed like an ape would. Pamela laid on the floor, helpless on her back. Andrea charged after Mauricia and clotheslined her, knocking her over by striking Mauricia in the chest using her arm. Mauricia fell hard on her back. The girls even flinched when they saw how hard Mauricia fell.
But Andrea was not done yet. She grabbed Pamela by the expensive clothing and picked her up. Then she chucked her on top of Mauricia. After that, Andrea began attacking the Cow Belles at the same time. Madeline thought that Andrea had done enough and decided to break up the mess. She ran over to the trio and stuck her arms under Andrea's armpits. She lifted Andrea up in a struggle then successfully dragged her over to their friends.
The Cow Belles, in pain, tried to help each other get up. They wobbled a bit as they stood but soon found their balance.
"Why are you always hurting us?" shouted Pamela.
"Because I feel like it," Andrea replied.
"Listen, all we are asking is for you two to stop spreading rumors," confessed Debra.
"Yeah, so stop spreading lies or we'll report you to the principal," threatened Madeline.
"Uh, if you do that, we'll report you to the principal," said Mauricia. "And we have the bruises to prove what you did."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. So I guess we won't tell on you."
“We’re going to remember this,” promised Pamela. “And because we’re going to remember this, we won’t stop spreading rumors.”
“So we’re gonna leave, go home and ice our backs,” added Mauricia.
Pamela put her hand on Mauricia’s back to lead to the doors. When the Cow Belles exited, the girls looked at each other for references.
“So what are we going to do?” asked Lizzie. “Since beating them down didn’t work.”
Madeline snapped her fingers then pointed. “We can go to Calvin.”
“No, we cannot go to Calvin,” said Skye.
“He helped us with the Cow Belles before in the past.”
“So what are we going to say to him? Start a rumor about the Cow Belles?”
“Yeah, you don’t know what he could do for us. He loves me.”
“But if we start a rumor about them, they’ll make up another rumor about us,” Debra figured out. “Then it will start a pattern. We don’t want to be a part of a pattern.”
“Do you know what pattern we won’t be a part of?” asked Andrea. “Me socking them ‘cause they don’t know how to fight back.”
“You can’t keep socking them, Andrea. Okay, we need another plan.”
Madeline began to nod. “Okay. Okay, I got it.”
“What do you got?” questioned Skye. “Because we can’t read your mind. We’re not Carrie or Spock or whoever reads minds.”
"What did you bring us here for!" asked Mauricia, Cow Belle #1.
"You're, like, a psycho!" said Pamela, Cow Belle #2.
"We're psycho?" asked Skye.
"Yes, Puny McShort-shrimp," said Mauricia.
Skye scowled.
"You started nasty rumors about us," reminded Madeline. "You made everyone think I am some two-timer."
"Everyone thinks I'm bulimic," said Lizzie. "I eat food. And when I do, I keep it in. Unless it wants to come out the other way but sometimes, it doesn't want to so--"
"T.M.I., Liz'. T.M.I."
"You told everyone I wear butt pads," said Andrea. "And that's not true. Everything is a hundred percent natural, honey, okay?" She waved her hand over her butt cheek.
"You said that I practice sorcery," said Skye. "And now, everyone thinks that I'm gonna put voodoo on them or something, which is so stupid. Everyone believes in the zombie apocalypse and now they want to believe in magic? Magicians aren't real, people!"
"And you told everyone that I'm a stoner," said Debra, "which is not new. I've been called a stoner many times before. But I'm not!"
"So what if you're not who people think you are?" asked Pamela. "People will still think so."
"That's because you're gonna keep telling them," said Skye.
"Oh, gosh, you know us so well," smiled Mauricia.
"Stop the rumors," Madeline demanded.
"No," answered Pamela.
"Okay, I'm gonna ask again. Stop the rumors."
"No," Mauricia answered this time.
"Pretty please with sugar on top?!"
"No way," scoffed Pamela.
"People are loving us right now," mentioned Mauricia.
"And it's because they have no reason to love you."
"So everyone is going to think that you're two-timers."
"And everyone is going to think that you have butt pads--"
Andrea screamed in fury. As she screamed, she ran towards Pamela and took her into a chokehold. Pamela screamed as Andrea bent her back, squeezing Pamela's neck with her arm. Pamela held onto Andrea's arm, trying to pull it off but she was too weak. Andrea was stronger, looking like a mad ape.
Mauricia ordered, "Get off of my friend, you--"
Andrea dropped Pamela and screamed like an ape would. Pamela laid on the floor, helpless on her back. Andrea charged after Mauricia and clotheslined her, knocking her over by striking Mauricia in the chest using her arm. Mauricia fell hard on her back. The girls even flinched when they saw how hard Mauricia fell.
But Andrea was not done yet. She grabbed Pamela by the expensive clothing and picked her up. Then she chucked her on top of Mauricia. After that, Andrea began attacking the Cow Belles at the same time. Madeline thought that Andrea had done enough and decided to break up the mess. She ran over to the trio and stuck her arms under Andrea's armpits. She lifted Andrea up in a struggle then successfully dragged her over to their friends.
The Cow Belles, in pain, tried to help each other get up. They wobbled a bit as they stood but soon found their balance.
"Why are you always hurting us?" shouted Pamela.
"Because I feel like it," Andrea replied.
"Listen, all we are asking is for you two to stop spreading rumors," confessed Debra.
"Yeah, so stop spreading lies or we'll report you to the principal," threatened Madeline.
"Uh, if you do that, we'll report you to the principal," said Mauricia. "And we have the bruises to prove what you did."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. So I guess we won't tell on you."
“We’re going to remember this,” promised Pamela. “And because we’re going to remember this, we won’t stop spreading rumors.”
“So we’re gonna leave, go home and ice our backs,” added Mauricia.
Pamela put her hand on Mauricia’s back to lead to the doors. When the Cow Belles exited, the girls looked at each other for references.
“So what are we going to do?” asked Lizzie. “Since beating them down didn’t work.”
Madeline snapped her fingers then pointed. “We can go to Calvin.”
“No, we cannot go to Calvin,” said Skye.
“He helped us with the Cow Belles before in the past.”
“So what are we going to say to him? Start a rumor about the Cow Belles?”
“Yeah, you don’t know what he could do for us. He loves me.”
“But if we start a rumor about them, they’ll make up another rumor about us,” Debra figured out. “Then it will start a pattern. We don’t want to be a part of a pattern.”
“Do you know what pattern we won’t be a part of?” asked Andrea. “Me socking them ‘cause they don’t know how to fight back.”
“You can’t keep socking them, Andrea. Okay, we need another plan.”
Madeline began to nod. “Okay. Okay, I got it.”
“What do you got?” questioned Skye. “Because we can’t read your mind. We’re not Carrie or Spock or whoever reads minds.”
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Rumor Has It (Chapter 3)
"Look at this," Madeline demanded, flattening out the school newspaper on the girls' lunch table. "Just look. Look at this."
Madeline stood up straight as the girls observed the inside of the paper.
"Mads, it's a newspaper," Lizzie noted.
"I know what it is!" said Madeline. "I'm talking about the top of page six."
"It's a picture of you," said Skye. "Big whoop."
Madeline sat down in her usual spot. "It's not just a picture of me. It's a picture of me hugging Jackson under 'Laguna's Loveliest Lovebirds'."
"Oh, that's what you're upset about," noticed Debra. "You're still seeing Jackson?"
"Yes. I mean no!"
"Then why does page six imply that you're with Jackson?" asked Andrea.
"I don't know! But I'm not with Jackson."
"Then why were you hugging him?" questioned Debra.
"Because we're friends! Can a girl hug a boy?"
"Sure," replied Skye, "if a girl doesn't mind that the boy's only hugging her just to feel her breasts on his chest."
"That is not why Jackson was hugging me. He was thanking me for helping him pick flowers for Priya, who thinks I'm cheating on my 'boyfriend' with my boyfriend."
"I'm not following," admitted Lizzie.
"Then follow this. All of Homer's friends keep coming up to me, giving me dirty looks and calling me a two-timer. I am a one-timer, thank you very much. That's supposed to me and Homer on page six."
"Well, who took the picture?" asked Skye.
"I don't know. That's what driving me so crazy!" Madeline banged on the table. "Someone must've seen us hugging and snapped a picture successfully because our eyes were obviously closed. I don't know if it was one of Jackson's friends; I know it's not you guys. But whoever it is, it's gonna go down."
"Please. You can't even hurt a fly. Flies hurt you."
"Does it say who turned in the picture?" asked Andrea.
"I don't know," responded Madeline. "Let me see." Madeline lowered herself closer to the paper and read the italic note under the text, "Photographs provided by Sady Zealand, Geoff Fowl, and... Pamela McAdams." She growled as she furiously slapped the paper.
"Figures," said Skye. "Figures, figures, figures."
"Tramp, tramp, tramp!" Madeline uttered, banging the table three times.
"Why do those freakin' Cow Belles always have to ruin our lives?"
"It's not our lives. It's my life."
"Oh, then we're good."
"This is some bull crap," commented Andrea. "Do you want me to Picasso their faces up?"
"You will do nothing to their faces," commanded Debra. "Madeline, this is just one newspaper article."
"Yeah, but it gives out all these intimate details about me and Jackson that just aren't true. But everyone believes it because it's in here. This is changing my life."
"It's just one rumor. Don't worry, it will go away."
After Debra said that, two girls slowly walked past the friends' table. They captured a glimpse of the girls and start gossiping to one another.
"There goes the two-timer," said one of the girls.
"And look," the other girl started, "she's friends with the Latina with the butt pads."
"And the bulimic and the black stoner."
"Don't forget the pink-haired witch."
"Oh, yeah. Let's hurry up; I don't want to walk into some voodoo."
The two girls sprinted away with the friends watching them go. Then the friends started making shocked faces to themselves. They just couldn't believe what seemed to be everybody was talking about them, especially in the wrong way.
"I'm about to Picasso four girls," admitted Andrea.
Madeline stood up straight as the girls observed the inside of the paper.
"Mads, it's a newspaper," Lizzie noted.
"I know what it is!" said Madeline. "I'm talking about the top of page six."
"It's a picture of you," said Skye. "Big whoop."
Madeline sat down in her usual spot. "It's not just a picture of me. It's a picture of me hugging Jackson under 'Laguna's Loveliest Lovebirds'."
"Oh, that's what you're upset about," noticed Debra. "You're still seeing Jackson?"
"Yes. I mean no!"
"Then why does page six imply that you're with Jackson?" asked Andrea.
"I don't know! But I'm not with Jackson."
"Then why were you hugging him?" questioned Debra.
"Because we're friends! Can a girl hug a boy?"
"Sure," replied Skye, "if a girl doesn't mind that the boy's only hugging her just to feel her breasts on his chest."
"That is not why Jackson was hugging me. He was thanking me for helping him pick flowers for Priya, who thinks I'm cheating on my 'boyfriend' with my boyfriend."
"I'm not following," admitted Lizzie.
"Then follow this. All of Homer's friends keep coming up to me, giving me dirty looks and calling me a two-timer. I am a one-timer, thank you very much. That's supposed to me and Homer on page six."
"Well, who took the picture?" asked Skye.
"I don't know. That's what driving me so crazy!" Madeline banged on the table. "Someone must've seen us hugging and snapped a picture successfully because our eyes were obviously closed. I don't know if it was one of Jackson's friends; I know it's not you guys. But whoever it is, it's gonna go down."
"Please. You can't even hurt a fly. Flies hurt you."
"Does it say who turned in the picture?" asked Andrea.
"I don't know," responded Madeline. "Let me see." Madeline lowered herself closer to the paper and read the italic note under the text, "Photographs provided by Sady Zealand, Geoff Fowl, and... Pamela McAdams." She growled as she furiously slapped the paper.
"Figures," said Skye. "Figures, figures, figures."
"Tramp, tramp, tramp!" Madeline uttered, banging the table three times.
"Why do those freakin' Cow Belles always have to ruin our lives?"
"It's not our lives. It's my life."
"Oh, then we're good."
"This is some bull crap," commented Andrea. "Do you want me to Picasso their faces up?"
"You will do nothing to their faces," commanded Debra. "Madeline, this is just one newspaper article."
"Yeah, but it gives out all these intimate details about me and Jackson that just aren't true. But everyone believes it because it's in here. This is changing my life."
"It's just one rumor. Don't worry, it will go away."
After Debra said that, two girls slowly walked past the friends' table. They captured a glimpse of the girls and start gossiping to one another.
"There goes the two-timer," said one of the girls.
"And look," the other girl started, "she's friends with the Latina with the butt pads."
"And the bulimic and the black stoner."
"Don't forget the pink-haired witch."
"Oh, yeah. Let's hurry up; I don't want to walk into some voodoo."
The two girls sprinted away with the friends watching them go. Then the friends started making shocked faces to themselves. They just couldn't believe what seemed to be everybody was talking about them, especially in the wrong way.
"I'm about to Picasso four girls," admitted Andrea.
Rumor Has It (Chapter 2)
Next week, it was another normal day at school. The bell rang so every student walked out of class to go to the next. Madeline walked through the halls alone that time. As she walked, she saw Homer coming her way. She smiled at him, trying to catch his eye. When she approached him, the couple stayed close to the lockers.
"Hey, babe," she said. "How was your day?"
"Don't you 'hey, babe' me," Homer said, a bit angry.
"What?"
"You don't think I know?"
"Know what?"
"How about I show you?"
"Please."
Homer took the strap of his deep blue backpack from his arm so it could hang like a purse. He unzipped the bag and jammed his hand inside. He yanked out a folded-up newspaper and unfolded it to look for a page. When he got to it, he showed Madeline what he was angry about.
"Babe, that's a newspaper," said Madeline.
"I know that! I'm talking about what's on page six."
Madeline looked closely at the sixth page of the paper. And there it was. There was a picture of her, along with a few more pictures, hugging Jackson in black and white. And above that picture was the big-as-day title: Laguna's Loveliest Lovebirds.
"Okay, 'Loveliest Lovebirds' is not that clever of a title," Madeline commented.
"Madeline!"
"Relax! I'm not dating Jackson."
"Oh, so you know his name?"
"If I didn't know his name, why would I be hugging him?"
"Well-- Well, I don't know. But why were you hugging him?"
"Because he was thanking me for picking out flowers for him to give to Priya Najimi, the girl of his dreams."
"Oh. I didn't know."
"Yeah, you didn't."
"But this article says you guys are in a long-term relationship."
"So you're gonna believe a piece of smelly paper over your girlfriend? Look, Jackson and I have been friends for a while. And whoever wrote the stupid article probably knew that. But nothing ever happened between us. And nothing is ever gonna happen between us because I'm with you... idiot."
Homer put the newspaper down and did some thinking. "Okay, so what you're saying is... if you weren't with me, you'd be with Jackson?"
"No. What-- No! No! I don't want to be with Jackson! He is a friend. Can't you understand that?"
"Okay, okay. Sorry. It's just that the paper said you were with somebody and I almost lost my mind."
"Uh, almost? But you're right. Don't feel bad; you had every right to be angry. So once I find out who wrote this, I'm gonna kill them."
"You go do that."
"Thank you. And just know that no one can ever steal me away from you."
"Aw, thanks, babe."
"I feel bad for Jackson, though. He probably hates me now if he ever saw this picture."
"Well, if he's a true friend, he'll understand."
"Thank you, Homer."
"So I got to get to class. Chat later?"
"Sure."
"Okay." Homer took Madeline's head with both of his hands and pecked her on the forehead. "Bye, baby!" he said as he sprinted away.
"I miss you already," Madeline shouted back with a smile.
When Madeline turned to walk the other way, she was face-to-face with a girl. The girl had light tan skin, dark hair as long as a night, and a slightly bony body. She put her fists on her hips and stared at Madeline with the eyes of a tiger.
"You ain't no good," the girl said.
She then walked away, strutting down the hall like some model.
Madeline turned her head and shouted, "You're the one with my peonies, Priya!"
"Hey, babe," she said. "How was your day?"
"Don't you 'hey, babe' me," Homer said, a bit angry.
"What?"
"You don't think I know?"
"Know what?"
"How about I show you?"
"Please."
Homer took the strap of his deep blue backpack from his arm so it could hang like a purse. He unzipped the bag and jammed his hand inside. He yanked out a folded-up newspaper and unfolded it to look for a page. When he got to it, he showed Madeline what he was angry about.
"Babe, that's a newspaper," said Madeline.
"I know that! I'm talking about what's on page six."
Madeline looked closely at the sixth page of the paper. And there it was. There was a picture of her, along with a few more pictures, hugging Jackson in black and white. And above that picture was the big-as-day title: Laguna's Loveliest Lovebirds.
"Okay, 'Loveliest Lovebirds' is not that clever of a title," Madeline commented.
"Madeline!"
"Relax! I'm not dating Jackson."
"Oh, so you know his name?"
"If I didn't know his name, why would I be hugging him?"
"Well-- Well, I don't know. But why were you hugging him?"
"Because he was thanking me for picking out flowers for him to give to Priya Najimi, the girl of his dreams."
"Oh. I didn't know."
"Yeah, you didn't."
"But this article says you guys are in a long-term relationship."
"So you're gonna believe a piece of smelly paper over your girlfriend? Look, Jackson and I have been friends for a while. And whoever wrote the stupid article probably knew that. But nothing ever happened between us. And nothing is ever gonna happen between us because I'm with you... idiot."
Homer put the newspaper down and did some thinking. "Okay, so what you're saying is... if you weren't with me, you'd be with Jackson?"
"No. What-- No! No! I don't want to be with Jackson! He is a friend. Can't you understand that?"
"Okay, okay. Sorry. It's just that the paper said you were with somebody and I almost lost my mind."
"Uh, almost? But you're right. Don't feel bad; you had every right to be angry. So once I find out who wrote this, I'm gonna kill them."
"You go do that."
"Thank you. And just know that no one can ever steal me away from you."
"Aw, thanks, babe."
"I feel bad for Jackson, though. He probably hates me now if he ever saw this picture."
"Well, if he's a true friend, he'll understand."
"Thank you, Homer."
"So I got to get to class. Chat later?"
"Sure."
"Okay." Homer took Madeline's head with both of his hands and pecked her on the forehead. "Bye, baby!" he said as he sprinted away.
"I miss you already," Madeline shouted back with a smile.
When Madeline turned to walk the other way, she was face-to-face with a girl. The girl had light tan skin, dark hair as long as a night, and a slightly bony body. She put her fists on her hips and stared at Madeline with the eyes of a tiger.
"You ain't no good," the girl said.
She then walked away, strutting down the hall like some model.
Madeline turned her head and shouted, "You're the one with my peonies, Priya!"
Rumor Has It (Chapter 1)
It was a regular, sunny day at Laguna Beach High School. Students were scrambling up and down the halls to transition into their next classes. The morning was slowly approaching the afternoon and Madeline was chatting with a friend. Not one of her girlfriends, a boy friend. It was Jackson Lowe, her former crush since sophomore year. Even though the two once had feelings for each other, they still remained good friends. Madeline saw through Jackson's pleasant body odor and ravishing good looks as she was enamored with her longest-term boyfriend, Homer Anderson. Nevertheless, Madeline walked with Jackson through the hallway of the second floor, shooting the breeze.
"Are you sure I can't use baby's breath?" asked Jackson.
"Positively, absolutely, you cannot," answered Madeline.
"I'm confused why I can't use baby's breath."
"It's a bad flower."
"Says who?"
"Carrie Bradshaw."
Jackson chuckled. "That's bogus. But you're right: peonies are good flowers. Peonies are pretty flowers."
"It's true. I've been called a peony before and let me tell you: it was not an insult."
"Do you think Priya would like them?"
"Of course. It's romantic. It's a romantic gesture. You're giving someone flowers that are just as pretty as they are. Girls love flowers... except for baby's breath."
"Ha, you might be right. I just want her to say yes to the date."
"Jackson, she will say yes. I mean, look at you. You are such a catch. Look at your luscious hair, your mesmerizing eyes, your adorable smile-- Hold on, I'm getting breathless."
Jackson laughed, which made Madeline laugh, too. "Thanks, Madeline. You've been so cool about helping me find the courage to ask Priya out."
"Of course, of course. I love helping people ask people on a date. Dating is so much fun. I love dating! I used to date different guys, like, all the time. Sorry, I hope that didn't make me sound like a whore."
"Oh, it's fine. You're not a whore."
"Thank you! You know what? I think 'not a whore' is the best compliment to give somebody."
Jackson laughed again. "Thanks for everything. You know, you are, like, the only friend I have whose a girl whom I like in a platonic way."
"Aw! I like you in a platonic way, too."
The two stopped so they could hug each other. While they were hugging with their eyes closed, a flash went off. The two let go of each other, smiling at one another, never even noticing the burst of light.
"See you, Madeline," said Jackson before walking away.
"Bye, Jackson," Madeline waved. "Remember: peonies for Priya. Baby's breath, see ya!"
"Are you sure I can't use baby's breath?" asked Jackson.
"Positively, absolutely, you cannot," answered Madeline.
"I'm confused why I can't use baby's breath."
"It's a bad flower."
"Says who?"
"Carrie Bradshaw."
Jackson chuckled. "That's bogus. But you're right: peonies are good flowers. Peonies are pretty flowers."
"It's true. I've been called a peony before and let me tell you: it was not an insult."
"Do you think Priya would like them?"
"Of course. It's romantic. It's a romantic gesture. You're giving someone flowers that are just as pretty as they are. Girls love flowers... except for baby's breath."
"Ha, you might be right. I just want her to say yes to the date."
"Jackson, she will say yes. I mean, look at you. You are such a catch. Look at your luscious hair, your mesmerizing eyes, your adorable smile-- Hold on, I'm getting breathless."
Jackson laughed, which made Madeline laugh, too. "Thanks, Madeline. You've been so cool about helping me find the courage to ask Priya out."
"Of course, of course. I love helping people ask people on a date. Dating is so much fun. I love dating! I used to date different guys, like, all the time. Sorry, I hope that didn't make me sound like a whore."
"Oh, it's fine. You're not a whore."
"Thank you! You know what? I think 'not a whore' is the best compliment to give somebody."
Jackson laughed again. "Thanks for everything. You know, you are, like, the only friend I have whose a girl whom I like in a platonic way."
"Aw! I like you in a platonic way, too."
The two stopped so they could hug each other. While they were hugging with their eyes closed, a flash went off. The two let go of each other, smiling at one another, never even noticing the burst of light.
"See you, Madeline," said Jackson before walking away.
"Bye, Jackson," Madeline waved. "Remember: peonies for Priya. Baby's breath, see ya!"
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