This choice: Suggest Samantha's table • Go Back...Chapter #11Reaching for the Star(let) by: Nostrum   Jimmy’s right – you're spoiled for options. Leah’s right there, ready to be taught a lesson. You could slip inside Jacob, the guy she’s crushing on hard, and destroy her hopes with an off-hand comment. Or just make her look bad. You’re sure that’s Jimmy’s plan.
But Kelly’s presence makes you reconsider. Any mistake, and she could unmask you (literally!), putting you in a world of trouble. You could slide into her, of course, but how would you explain it to Jessica?
Your best – and safest – bet is to hit on Samantha’s table. You’re not sure if she recognizes you, but her friends certainly don’t. Not just that – the image of her friend’s doe eyes still haunt you, and you’re curious as to how they’d look on you – on a mirror, of course.
You lean towards Jimmy, muttering. “I think we should go with Samantha’s table.”
“I thought you wanted to go for Leah. What made you change your mind?”
“Kelly!” you hiss. “I don’t want anything to do with her! What if she--?”
“Yeah, yeah, she’ll tell Jessica and she’s gonna leave you ‘cos you’re a pervert.” You leer at him, and he snorts. “You want to put on a girl’s skin, dude – how's that not being one?”
“Are you trying to guilt-trip me?”
“No. Just making you embrace what you are. Don’t think I didn’t saw you drooling for the brunette.”
“Well...” You try to contain your nerves, jittery as they are. “She’s cute!”
“Then? In a couple minutes, you’ll be her! Or the redhead – seriously, have you seen her?”
Prompted by him, you take a glance at the table, focusing on her. She’s got very delicate features – slim, with an oval face and a sharp look from her hazel eyes. She gives you the feel of an aristocrat, accented by her attire.
“How about it?” he asks.
“I dunno...” Your nerves turn into cold feet. “You think you’ll be successful?”
“Like I told you,” he says as he points at the bathroom. “I’ll catch one of them on the bathroom. Then, I’ll work out a way to get one of them for you.” He takes a boastful sip of his milkshake, sliding it back on the bar. “Just you wait.”
--
It takes ten minutes of idle conversation before one of the girls makes her move. Samantha slips towards the bathroom, and Jimmy double-checks the pens before making his. “See you in a while. Or not. That depends.”
As he leaves, you finish sipping your own shake. You’re afraid that Samantha will come out, terrified, accusing you with her friends while calling the police. (And all of this for two silly pens.)
You check the phone constantly, glancing at the girls’ table in case one of them moves. Your heart seeks to dig through your throat as you see a woman stepping in, but it ends up a false alarm. It’s not enough to satisfy your nerves, for neither Jimmy nor Samantha have stepped out.
Then, she steps out. You have the chance to see her in detail – the sparkling green eyes sunken within her round, porcelain-fine face, with small, pouty lips, with her blonde hair flowing like a waterfall upon one side while the other half was neatly tucked behind her ear. She flashes a soft, sweet, delightful grin as she reunites with her friends, apologizing for her delay.
“Sorry, girls. Had a little... inconvenience.”
“I was going to check on you,” her friend said. “What happened?”
“I’ll have to take an antigas on the way.” She huffs, rolling her eyes. “Laurie, you should take one too. I’m sure Giles and Billy must’ve pushed some cheese on the treats they gave us.”
“Was it that bad?”
“Well, I had to be inside for over fifteen minutes.” Samantha gently pats her friend on the shoulder, grinning confidently. “But it’s alright. I think I got it out of my system.”
“Those assholes!”
“Yeah, but, like, fortunately I just took one, so it shouldn’t be so bad. You,” she says to her friend while digging her finger, “pigged on it. So you better take an antigas, y’hear?”
“Remind me to tell those two to fuck off.”
You see a very familiar gleam in Samantha’s eye, but it swiftly dissipates. “Don’t worry. They’ll get what they deserve.” She lays back, flipping her hair. “Say, Rory – did you end up kissing Armand...?”
You glance at the bathroom, wondering if Jimmy got cold feet. You look at the table, noticing nothing strange about Samantha’s interaction with her friends. You know – or at least suspect – that just as one of the pens lets you turn a person into skin to disguise your body, the other pen should let you disguise your mind. If so, are you seeing Jimmy act exactly like Samantha Reynolds?
It can’t be, you think to yourself after watching for a while. You only know her from your brief interview, but from what little you do, she’s acting just as you’d expect. You wonder how someone as sweet and approachable as her isn’t hounded by boys – probably, because she’s already taken.
“Hey,” you hear from behind, and your blood freezes. “Aren’t you Jess’s boyfriend?”
You turn, and to your misfortune, Kelly’s prodigious breasts are the first thing that meets your eye. You snap back, eyes wide open. “Uh, yeah. I’m here with my friend Jimmy, though.”
“Yeah, I know you were here with someone.” You gulp, as she sounds rather pissed. “I thought you’d be here with her, though.”
“I...” You stammer, trying to maneuver your way out. “Jimmy invited me to have a walk.”
“And where he is?”
You realize the only way to deal with this situation will be to drag him down. “He said he’d go to the bathroom, but I guess he bailed out.” You grab your empty milkshake glass and groan. “And he said he’d pay for the shakes, but he’s leaving me with the bill.”
“You know, I heard Jess telling me about it. Why are you two friends?”
“He’s been my friend since elementary.”
“I see. Do you mind if I give you some advice?”
“Uh...” You shrug, snorting. “Sure. I’d appreciate it.”
“I know he’s your friend, but you should tell him to grow up. The girls at the squad hate him, and for good reason. You know how many times he’s tried to check us out?”
“Yeah. He can be a bit... wild.”
“It’s not ‘wild’. It’s harassment. We’ve all decided to ignore him. But if he keeps hounding us, we’re gonna sic the boys on him. And we’re not gonna do anything to help you if you’re with him.”
“Believe me,” you tell her, half-heartedly. “I’ve tried.”
“Jess speaks volumes about you. And you seem like a nice guy to me. He’s a bad seed.”
“Excuse me,” you hear again from behind, and as you turn, you see Samantha’s angelical face before you, addressing you timidly. “You’re the guy from the school newspaper, right? Uh, David?”
“Y-yeah!” You titter, unsure whether to smile or grimace. “Th-the one that interviewed you.”
“Thank you for that! The guys read it and thought it was amazing.” She looks at Kelly, opening her eyes. “Oh, you’re his girlfriend? He told me all about you.”
“Oh no, I’m...” Now it’s Kelly’s time to sweat. “Not.”
“Such a shame. You’d make a cute couple.” Samantha studies her, tilting her head. “You’re with the cheerleaders, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she says between snickers. “I am.”
“Oh my god! I was there with my friends at the Buffalos vs. Sharks game! You girls are awesome!”
“Thanks! Say, I’ve seen you somewhere.”
“Maybe on his article,” she says while patting your shoulder. “I’m with the EME.”
“Oh, the glee club! No wonder.”
“Well, we’re not exactly popular like you guys. Maybe if you could help us promote our next recital? If that doesn’t bother you, that is.”
“You’ll have to talk to Sonya for that.”
“Yeah, I suppose...” She snaps straight, looking afraid. “Was I interrupting you? I was going to ask him a couple things.”
“Oh...” Kelly giggles, shaking her head. “It’s alright. I told him what I needed to. I won’t interrupt you.”
“Thank you!” Samantha grabs the cheerleader’s blouse, scanning her from top to bottom. You fear Kelly will retaliate, but her response was disarming. “I love the outfit! Where did you buy it?”
“At, uh... Save-Mart.”
“It’s alright,” she tells her. “I buy clothes there. These are second-hand, by the way. There’s a thrift store at Tyneside that sells really cute jackets like this; maybe if you give me your number, I could tell you.”
“Don’t worry. And I won’t bother you; I only wanted to tell him something.” Kelly grabs Samantha’s hand, shaking it timidly. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too! Bye!” As you see the cheerleader return to her table in defeat, you hear Samantha’s tone switching to one eerily familiar, even if her voice remains the same. “Did I win an Oscar for that?”
You turn around, staring in horror. You can see the shapes of Jimmy’s cocky grin in Samantha’s face. “No way...”
“Even her cousin doesn’t suspect a thing,” she confesses. “Dude, it’s so easy to dupe them!”
“Wait, wait – who's her cousin?”
She points at the redhead discreetly. “Her. Aurora Masters. Rich bitch, studies at St. Lenore, but we--” She giggles, covering her lips. “They know each other since kids. Their moms are sisters, and one of them married an old blood from Tyneside. I’m wearing a jacket and boots she wore last year, and I get her normal clothes for when she escapes.”
She then points at her brunette friend. “You’re salivating over Laurie. That’s Lauren Doherty, my bestie – almost like a sister. And Rory’s friend is Philippa Pennyworth – also rich, but has no spine.”
“And you’re telling me this because...?”
Samantha – or rather, your friend Jimmy – draws the pens from her purse, waggling her brows. “What do you think? Telling you your choices. Or do you want me to get Kelly for you?”  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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