Chapter #33The Pixie or the Tomboy by: rugal b. "So, you've made a choice," Fairfax asks as you take a seat at the table where he's chowing down on a box of (leftover?) Chinese food. Keith is already there.
"Yeah, I think so," you say as you search through your book bag and pull out the list. You shove it over to Keith and Fairfax who both take a look at it. "Look for the check marks."
"Amanda Ferguson, Mia DeWitt, Catherine Muskov, Tara Weston and," Fairfax stops to re-examine the list, "Jamie Bornholm?" He takes a moment to readjust his glasses and when he speaks it's with something close to the tone of a disappointed father admonishing his child. "I said I wanted a choice, Will. You said you had a choice. These are options."
"I have one I'm leaning towards but I figured it would be best to get together to finalize it," you say diplomatically. You then take your finger and point at a name.
"Mia," Fairfax says and there's a slight questioning tone. "I only really know her as a name though."
"We've got her for second period," Keith chimes in. "Really, really short girl with a nice, uh, backside."
"I think I know who you're talking about then," states Fairfax. "She's part of the drama program with Mike and Carlos although I don't really know much beyond that. You would probably to ask them yourself." He gets a more thoughtful look on his face. "We probably should because if they know her that might mean getting her out to the storage unit would be a lot easier," he says. "But what's the appeal for you? Does she connect to one of the cheerleaders is she?"
"I don't think so," you answer. You can feel a pit growing in your stomach. Is he going to reject this? "She's not listed like that on your diagrams and I can't imagine any of the cheerleaders hanging around the artsy people."
"So then --"
But you cut him off. "But -- and Keith can back me up here and probably Mike and Carlos too -- she's kind of got this whole free spirit, go where the winds take you kind of attitude."
"Yeah, she flirts with a lot of the boys in class," Keith grins. "Even Will got it from her a week or two back."
"But I don't think she really means anything by it," you quickly add. "I think that's just how she is because I've never seen her with or even mention a boyfriend."
"So outgoing, carefree," Fairfax says as he taps his chin. "That means she's not tied exclusively to the Bohemian clique and could probably move around a bit."
"Right I was thinking the same thing," you tell him. "So she might not hang around the cheerleaders now but, say, if she wanted to start hanging around with Eva and Jessica..."
"It wouldn't look too out of place," he completes your thought. "That would make staying in contact with one another easier and it would mean being able to slip around and gather info in ways someone like, say, Maria might not be able to."
"You make it sound like it's some kind of spy movie," Keith says.
Fairfax actually chuckles a bit at that. "I suppose I do," he says, "but in a sense it is right?"
You can't really argue with that.
"Alright so... Mia DeWitt. If that's who you want then I suggest you text both Carlos and Mike to make sure they're on the same page," Fairfax explains. "How to get her out should be obvious from there and we could probably get her before Eva or Jessica. Speaking of, did you figure out anything there?"
"Crap," you exclaim as you smack your forehead with the palm of your hand. "I was so absorbed in narrowing down the list that it slipped my mind. What about you Keith?"
"I didn't even give it any thought," he says bluntly. "They don't like me so I don't think it'd work."
You can tell that's irritated Fairfax a bit so you try to placate him. "Well Jessica has this lunch period too and if I can't find her then Jenny has fifth lunch too so I can ask her to talk to Jessica for me and see if she can send her my way or at least convince her to come out to the storage unit."
You're not quite sure how well it works but Fairfax simply nods an approval. You promise him that you'll try and find Jenny and get that worked out and with a quick goodbye to both him and Keith you practically sprint out of the lab and towards the cafeteria.
* * * * *
You don't really have far to run though because no sooner do you round the corner that leads to the hall between the outside walkway and the library do you see Jenny coming from the other direction. "Hey," you call out happily, "just who I was looking... for..."
That jovial expression is replaced by a more concerned one as Jenny is headed your way (which is good) with a pretty sour expression on her face (which is not so good). "That's nice and all but you're not who I'm looking for," she says as she walks up. "Though maybe you'll do."
"You pissed about something?"
"Carson and James dipped out on lunch," she says with frustration in her voice. "They've been flaking out a lot on me, James especially, and I've about had it."
You note that it's James that's really sticking in her craw due to the fact that she likes him. So you try to reassure her. "They've probably got good reasons," you say. "They've been going around talking about chemicals and stuff right? So maybe it's related to school?"
Jenny laughs in your face at that. "Like hell they are, not if I know them," she says. "No, if I know them they're up to some dumb shit prank or something childish and when I find them I'm kicking their asses for it." She sighs and seems to have calmed down thankfully. "Anyway, you said you were looking for me?"
"Oh, yeah, I just wanted to know if Jessica was with you at lunch today. I need to talk to her."
"Obviously not if I'm marching around the halls looking for those two idiots," she replies. "There's nothing today so she doesn't have any reason to come over. What'd you need to talk to her about though?"
"Yeah. Mike Hollister and Carlos Montoya have their video thing right," you say to her.
"I've heard of it from the Two Man Idiot Squad," she replies.
"Well, they're working on one today, Bring It On or something like that I think," you tell her. This is all going to be one big lie of course but if you're lucky it's a lie that'll work. "So because of that they want a cheerleader to show up. Not to say anything but like a silent walk on cameo or something."
"You want me to talk to Jessica about doing it," she asks. "I mean if you need a cheerleader I'd have better luck with Yumi."
"They were kind of insistent on it being either Eva or Jessica," you quickly counter. "Something about how they're filming from the neck down to conceal the identity and that Eva and Jessica have that classic cheerleader look. I guess they figured they'd have a better shot going to them than they would going to Cindy or Chelsea."
"Chelsea would probably drive her car into the river before she agreed to do that. Hey, maybe we should ask her then," Jenny jokes. At least you think she's joking. "I've only got study hall third period with Eva but I've get Jessica in eighth so I can talk to her there for you. I can probably convince her."
"That's great," you exclaim. "You're a life saver Jenny, thank you!"
"And you can pay me back by telling me if you've seen the dipshits," she responds.
You shake your head at that. "I'm as in the dark as you are, sorry," you tell her.
She grunts at that and bids goodbye. As she's saying it though you're struck by a thought. Jenny seems pretty upset with James ignoring her for... whatever it is he's doing and you wonder why? What could be more important than spending time with a cute girl that likes him?
Because yes, Jenny Ashton is cute. Even with the rough way she talks or the fact she'd probably sooner do some hiking in the forest than go shopping. In fact, it's that tomboyish nature that may be one of her biggest selling points. You find yourself comfortable around her and she very much puts you at ease. After dealing with the vague indirectness of Lisa, Jenny's direct nature is refreshing. Others must find it refreshing too because despite being a "dork" Jenny gets along well with lots of people, as Fairfax's charts attest to.
And again, it doesn't hurt that she's cute. You've always thought so and have, more than once, thought about asking her out but her having eyes for James has always killed that. You like the way her hair, straight and brown and short, curls behind and under her ears. You like her bright smile and the way her eyes light up when she hits back with the banter.
There's the farmer's tan she has due to time spent outside. Her chest isn't the biggest but you like the way her shirts always give off just a hint of what lies under them. As she walks away you like the way her jeans hug her cute little ass.
You think about how you want that. How you have to fight down the urge to call out and tell her that James is no good and that you'll treat her right. She'll laugh, call you a stupid jackass and then smash her soft lips against your own.
So maybe it's the fact your brain is going into overdrive that makes you want to call an audible, call out to her and ask if she wants to come out to the storage unit too. Because if you can't have Jenny Ashton as a girlfriend, maybe you can have her as your new home. indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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