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Printed from https://shop.writing.com/main/interactive-story/item_id/1510047-The-Book-of-Masks/cid/2596289-The-Different
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by Seuzz Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 18+ · Interactive · Fantasy · #1510047
A mysterious book allows you to disguise yourself as anyone.
This choice: Group 4  •  Go Back...
Chapter #47

The Different

    by: rugal b. Author IconMail Icon
Right now? Is in right now? As in right this very instant now? You text back as much and the response is both expected and disconcerting.

yes. work to do. need time to do it.

It's incredibly brusque though that's unsurprising. Given how much you were needling her you wonder if you've pissed Maria off. However you avoid actually asking her about it and think that it's better to give her time to cool off.

They need an answer now? Well you'd narrowed it down to four and hadn't really had the chance to really weigh the pros and cons of each one. But there was one person that had taken a lead, even if it was a small one, as you were in the final stages of whittling down that list and now being put on the spot with no real time to think... well, there's nothing wrong with them you suppose. So you type in the girl's name and send it to Maria.

you sure? she asks and your response is confirming that yes, this is who you want. ok we'll get to work, she says before following it up with another text. meet us at top shelf around 10.

That certainly confuses you. Ten o'clock on a school night? y so late? you ask.

have to set things up + other reasons, comes the terse response. is that too late?

Ten will really be pushing it and though your curfew's at eleven you know that your dad will grumble and give you guff if you come strolling in after ten. But still, you think you can manage it so you text back an affirmative. it'll be fine, you send and that nets a confirmation from Maria.

So ten o'clock out at a studio in a storage facility on the edge of town. Oh your parents would definitely have fits if they knew where you were going. But they won't, or they shouldn't. So the important question becomes less about how you're going to play off where you'd been and more about what you're going to do in the intervening time?

* * * * *

Your choice is made for you as you hang around the school entrance trying to think of just what you can do to kill time. "Yo," comes a voice which, when combined with a poking sensation at your back, causes you to jump a bit. You look to see Dorothy, that girl from this morning, wearing an amused expression. "I didn't know you were so jumpy," she says.

"You just surprised is all," you respond trying to play it off as cool.

"Uh huh. Okay, so do you just, like, really like school too?" she asks. "Usually everyone's looking to get out of here."

"Well no," you reply. "I'm just kind of looking for something to do. I just want to kill time until... well, just to kill time I guess."

Dorothy's eyes light up at that. "Well, I was just gonna hang out with some friends," she says as she grabs you by the arm. "If you're looking for something to do then come with me and keep me company."

"Wha--?!" you exclaim as she drags you off. "But I mean if you're hanging out with friends then you don't really need anyone keeping you company right?"

"I didn't say I wanted anyone keeping me company did I? Where's your car by the way?" You say nothing but take the lead instead because if she's going to insist... "Anyway, I want you to keep me company."

You keep walking but cast a glance backwards. "Why?"

"'Cause," is all she says as she continues to follow you. She doesn't say much more until you get to your truck and she lets out a whistle. "Didn't think you drove something like this. It's nice."

"What's that supposed to mean?" you ask.

"I dunno," she answers as she gets in the passenger's side. "You know where Nancy lives?" she asks as you take off out of the parking lot and onto Borman.

"Who?"

"Guess not. It's out by Hochstetter Park so I'll give you directions when we get there." Dorothy's quiet for a moment, her arm propped against the door and her head resting in her hand. But you notice her lips curl into a smile. "Sorry for lying," she finally says.

"Huh?"

"Yesterday. I kinda lied to you about it, sorry."

You're still a bit confused as to what she's talking about but you play along anyway as if you know. "Oh, well, it's fine," you tell her. Vague enough that you're fine avoiding specifics.

"It's not," she replies. "Hey, can we stop at the park for a minute before we go to Nancy's?"

"Uh, I guess?" you answer. "Any reason?"

"I dunno if anyone will be there, like, right after school ya know?" she responds while laughing a little bit. "Killing time while we wait to kill time. Pretty funny, eh?"

"Kind of," you say. You're still not really sure what to say to her and the way she's dragging you along...

Her demeanor is laid back, almost lazy, yet at the same time there's something very decisive and forceful about it. You're not really sure what to make of her but hanging out seems as good a way as any to give yourself the opportunity to figure it out. So you hook a left onto Hoover and not long after pull into Hochstetter Park. It's a small park and one without a good reputation; a place you don't want to be around at night. But thankfully it's the afternoon so it won't be near as bad. Hopefully.

"Hey, so what do you--"

You're cut off by Dorothy quickly hopping out of the truck and around up into the bed. She knocks on your back window and though she says nothing the intent is obvious: she wants you to join her. So you make your own way out of the cab and around into the bed where you take a seat next to her, both of you sitting against the back of the cab.

"I was a little mad at you," she finally says after a period of silence. "That's what I was lying about. I could've gotten back to you whenever but I got mad and didn't."

"You, uh, don't really strike me as the kind of person who gets mad," you tell her.

"Well I do and I was," she replies. "You know, we spent a lot of time together at the Warehouse."

"I spent time with a lot of girls there, apparently," you say and immediately regret it. "Uh, what I mean is--"

"I get it. You were trashed," she cuts you off. "I was too but still, I kinda wanted more. But you were with those other girls before school and I just thought... I dunno. So I ignored you."

That takes you aback. Dorothy was actually hurt by you being with some other people? Hell, a girl period was actually feeling jealous regarding you? But why? "Well, sorry I wasn't trying to be a jerk," you tell her, "but I just got drunk and made out with you. With lots of girls. I don't even remember half of it."

"Guess not," she says and there's disappointment evident in her voice.

"Sorry," you apologize, "and I mean it's not like we're dating."

"Why not?"

You're taken aback by that and even more when she grasps your arm and leans over to rest her head on your chest... right on top of a heart that's probably now doing a thousand beats per minute. "You're, uh, joking right?" you ask nervously. "Just messing with me?"

"I want a boyfriend," she states. "A serious one. Not just the... boyfriends I've had before. Those were just for fun but I want something real."

* * * * *

"Holy shit, seriously?" Cindy says when you meet her at Starbucks a little afterwards. "What'd you say?"

"I didn't really say anything!" you insist. But very sheepishly you add, "Okay, well, uh we kind of made out a little bit because she was all 'I'll show you what being my boyfriend is like' and shit but, uh, I just said it was a lot to take in and I'd have to get back to her. Then I dropped her off at her friend's place and came over here."

"You pussied out."

"I didn't!" you declare. "What the fuck was I supposed to say?"

"Well, Dorothy does have a reputation I guess so I can understand if you're cautious about getting involved with her," Cindy states.

"A reputation? What's that supposed to mean?"

"You don't know about..." Cindy trails off as she eyes you with surprise but it quickly turns to amusement. "Well, I guess you'll find out eventually. Guess I shouldn't be surprised that she'd be that fucking straightforward though. Dorothy's kind of a different girl than most. Jeez, whatever. More importantly are you ready for this?"

"For my beta you mean?"

"Right. Remember, be there around ten. Maybe a little earlier but everything will be set up by then."

You reiterate that you will and then head home for a bit of dinner. What Cindy had said is right. Dorothy's directness certainly sets her apart from others. She's a different sort of girl than the ones you'd been dealing with so far and that does excite you a bit. Well the fact that who you've decided on as your beta is going to be someone a little different. You'd been a little doubtful about it at first but that encounter with Dorothy, as much as it knocked you off balance, has affirmed that something like this will be a good direction to take.

It's gives you an excited thrill to know that you'll soon have a beta of...

You have the following choices:

*Noteb*
1. Dorothy Harmon

*Noteb*
2. Peyton Morrow

*Noteb*
3. Scarlett Bard

4. Kristy Carlson

*Noteb* indicates the next chapter needs to be written.
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