that had helped her win and carelessly toss it over her shoulder. Amber then picked up
another blank slip of computer paper from the pile and wrote her name on it, then placed it
into the wooden ballet box. Stacey bit her lip, wondering if this was the right decision.
She had only agreed to go only with Amber's plan because well, she was Amber. Saying
no to Amber was like saying no to the President. She feared if she declined Amber's
invitation, grave consequences would arise. Stacey had seen what had happened to
innocent people that had been caught in Amber's wrath and the results weren't pretty.
Besides, if she was on Amber's good side, then maybe that'd increase her chances with the
crush of three years, Justin Timberlake. He had always been unreachable but she figured if
she got chummy with Amber, then maybe, just maybe, the hope of Justin and her as a
couple wouldn't be nothing but a joke.
"Well, I'd better, like go now. My squad is like, probably wondering where I like, went off
to", Amber announced, breaking the silence that had covered them while changing the
votes.
Was it just Stacey or was Amber's excessive use of the word "like", rather �like",
annoying?
"Ok", she replied. Amber then gave Stacey a haughty smile then turned on her heel, her
pleated cheerleading skirt spinning with her. Amber was in the doorframe when Stacey's
timid voice stopped her.
"Um, Amber?" Stacey hesitantly asked. Amber sighed and then reluctantly turned around,
fixing Stacey with a cheery but fake smile.
"Yes?"
Stacey's eyes darted downward and she began twisting the bottom hem of her shirt.
"Well, do you think now you and I are somewhat friends, we could hang out sometime?
And maybe, if it's not too much trouble, you could set me and Justin up?" she questioned.
Amber stared at Stacey in slight shock. What did she think Amber was, the Red Cross for
the Socially Challenged? She was never friends with Stacey and she didn't intend on
starting a friendship now. And hooking Stacey and Justin up? Was this girl joking? She
knew for a fact that Justin didn't date just anybody. And he certainly didn't date
goody-two shoes, K-Mart wearing, wannabe prep, Stacey Hunter. Or at least, that's what
she thought.
Amber couldn't help the harsh laugh that escaped her lips.
"Are you like, joking?" Amber questioned. Stacey's eyes slowly glanced upward and
shook her head.
"Oh my like, God!! I can't like, believe you thought we were friends! Hon, we're like, the
farthest from it. And as for like, Justin, he doesn't date losers", she informed. Her tone was
completely sugary but it was only a thin layer to cover the complete sour underneath.
Stacey sniffled and Amber hoped she wouldn't burst out into tears. Her image was already
crumbling because of Raven's stupid poster prank but if the school got hold of the fact
she'd made Stacey cry, then she could kiss her popularity and what was left of her respect
goodbye.
"Like, don't cry. You know I like, wouldn't tell you that unless like, it was true. I mean
you're a....er....like nice girl and all but like not the type Justin and I mingle with", Amber
quickly added. She silently praised herself for what she thought was an excellent use of
vocabulary.
Stacey nodded, obviously forcing back tears. Amber gave Stacey a fake look of sympathy
and then, with a shrug of her shoulders, turned back around and began prancing to the
football field.
As soon as Amber was long gone, Stacey burst out into sobs. She couldn't believe what
Amber had said. She had always thought the girl had some kind of heart but the earlier
events clearly proved her wrong.
"Oh my like, God!! I can't like, believe you thought we were friends! Hon, we're like, the
farthest from it. And as for like, Justin, he doesn't date losers."
The words ran through Stacey's head over and over again as she sank down on the
cushioned bench in front of the secretary's desks. Was it true? Was she really a loser?
{No, you're not. You may not be the most pretty or the most popular girl in school, but
you're not a loser. You have excellent grades, even better friends and that's what matters},
Stacey thought.
She finally stopped crying and sniffled, most of the hurt washed away.
"What a bitch! She so doesn't deserve the crown now", Stacey muttered. Her reddened
eyes glanced at the open ballot box. She sure as hell didn't want to see that Barbie win the
crown when she didn't earn it. A smile slowly formed on her lips.
She stood up and walked to the ballot box, which was located on the desk in front of her.
She quickly found the five votes for Amber, which all were on top of the pile. With a
satisfied grin on her face, she took each one out and tore it to shreds.
She took the six leftover computer paper slips and began writing Raven's name on them.
Stacey laughed and she stuffed all six slips into the ballot box.
As she locked the box back up, she wickedly declared to herself: "We'll see who's the loser
now!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
During half-time, Lance and the rest of the team piled into the locker room for a strategy
meeting with the coach. The sweaty football players crammed onto the narrow benches in
front of the lockers as the coach began frantically scribbling plays on the chalkboard.
Lance didn't really see the point in all this, considering the fact their team, the Patriots
were winning thirty-six to six. So he took this as the time to zone out, when a sentence
caught his ears.
"And I BET all you..."
He inwardly sighed. The bet. He couldn't believe only six weeks ago, on that fateful
Monday morning had he made that stupid bet with Justin. If only he could go back in time
and erase the moment from history. That way, he'd have one of his best friends back,
wouldn't have Amber the rest of her crew want to kick his ass all the way to Japan and he
wouldn't be in love with a girl that in approximately an hour and a half hate him with the
fire of a thousand suns and vow to never even look at him again.
Wait a minute, did he just say love? Did he really love Raven? He pondered the thought
some more. A crush surely wasn't equal to being in love with someone and he wondered if
his so-called love was only an infatuation.
But if it was only an infatuation, then why was she the first thing on his mind when he
woke up and the last before he fell asleep? Why did her laugh give him the chills and one
kiss send him floating to heaven? Why was she the only girl he could picture himself being
with?
If he wasn't in love with her, then why when he was with her, he never wanted to leave
and when he was without her, all he could think about was when they'd be together again?
Why did being with her want to make him a better person?
And finally, why, if he wasn't in love, why if she decided to never speak to him again,
(after a fight of course), he'd let her go, because in the end, all her wanted was for her to
be happy. Even if her happiness didn't include him.
"Lance, hello, anyone there?" The frustrated voice of Coach Wright interrupted his
thoughts. Lance was thrown back into reality as he glanced around the locker room. His
fair skin couldn't conceal the tomato colored blush creeping up his neck at seeing the room
was empty, without the exception of him and his coach.
"Oh. Uh, sorry coach", Lance apologized.
"Have you returned from your trip into La-La land cause if we wanna keep the lead, we
need you your full attention on the game", Coach Wright advised. Lance nodded and
snatched his helmet and began walking to the football field, the coach behind him.
He soon joined his teammates on the field, ready to begin the game.
{Tonight. Tonight I'll tell her I love her.}
He just hoped that his love for her would be stronger than his betrayal.
*~*~*~*~*
It was a few minutes before eight-thirty and Raven stared at herself in her full-length
mirror on the back of her door. She didn't mean to sound like Amber, but she was in shock
on how good she looked. The light colored dress brought out her dark eyes and made
them sparkle like the flashbulb from camera. The fabric flattered the few curves she had
but not in a cheap or skanky way. The dress was also comfortable and secure so she knew
nothing would fall out, or any straps would break.
For her hair, before she could even speak, her mom dragged her to the bathroom and got
out the curling iron. After the curling process was done, she added a touch of hairyspray.
The end result was a sea of long, frizz-free ringlets. Then, Raven had dug up a wire
headband that had rhinestones on across the top. It was a gift from her mom on her
thirteenth birthday, in attempts to convert Raven into a prep. After finding out that her
clothes had not changed the respect and love she had for her parents, her mom left her
alone and stopped buying clothes and other preppy related items.
Even though she doubted she'd ever wear it, Raven had kept the headband. After putting
on the headband, she had her mom twist the strands in the back upward and pin them to
her head with bobbypins. Mrs. Kenzington didn't pin all the hair up though and left about
three inches unpinned so that each strand hung down, over the bobby pin.
For the finishing touch, Raven took an aerosol can of silver hair glitter and lightly sprayed
it all over her hair, so that when every time she turned, the glitter would hit the light and
twinkle. She was afraid at first her hair would turn into a walking disco ball, but because
her hair was so dark, it blended in with her hair and you could barely tell it was there.
For shoes, she was wearing a pair of cream colored, heeled sandals.
For jewelry, was only wearing a pair of gold hoop earrings. All her bracelets and rings
were sitting ontop her dresser. Then, for her makeup, she had applied a few coats of
mascara, a hint of peach colored blush, which gave her cheeks a rosy glow and some very,
light blue eyeshadow to match the dress. She had decided to not wear lipstick, so applied
some HardCandy, clear lipgloss that was strawberry flavored.
Overall, it was quite a transformation.
"You look so beautiful, dear. When that Lance sees you, he'll turn into a puddle on the
floor!" Mrs. Kenzington cheerfully exclaimed, who was standing behind her. Raven
blushed and turned her back to the mirror.
"Thank you Mom but I don't think I look *that* great", Raven modestly replied. Raven
knew that she did look great but great and gorgeous were too different words. Gorgeous
was the model gracing the cover of Vogue.
Mrs. Kenzington shook her head, clearly trying to hide those My-baby's-all-grown-up
tears.
"No, it's the truth. You look absolutely beautiful. I remember like it was just yesterday;
you eating mud in the backyard", Mrs. Kenzington wistfully replied. Raven laughed and
gave her mom a hug.
"Thanks Mom. Well, he'll be here in about three seconds", Raven informed, trying to hint
she should leave. Mrs. Kenzington nodded.
"You have fun. Remember what I said about your curfew", she reminded, taking the hint.
Raven smiled.
"I will. And don't worry, I'll have fun", Raven called to her mom's retreating back. Raven
sighed happily and then waited until her mom was downstairs. She quickly dashed into the
bathroom down the hall, purse in hand or as quickly as one can while wearing a floor
length dress and then shut the door.
She quickly stuffed all twenty-four capsules into a plastic bag, zipped it up and then
stuffed the bag into her trapezoid shaped, little black purse. Just as she finished giving
herself a quick check-over, the doorbell rang. A grin formed on her face as she descended
down the stairs. Standing in front of the door was Lance, looking finer than ever. Because
homecoming wasn't as formal as prom, the guys didn't have to tuxedos, so instead, Lance
was wearing a pair of black dress pants and a collared, navy blue shirt and a pair of black
boots by Lugz. Loosely, around his neck was a gray tie and in his hand was a white rose.
He glanced up and his eyes widened, utter shock on his face.
"Woah. You look, I mean. Just. wow", he stuttered. His cheeks quickly turned pink.
Raven laughed at his speechlessness.
"Hey Lance. You don't look to bad yourself", Raven enthusiastically greeted. Thankfully,
as soon as her mom had let him in and asked a few questions, she'd gone back to her
painting in her studio. He smiled and handed her the rose.
"You ready to go?" he asked. She nodded. His hand found hers and they walked out the
door and to Lance's Benz. He opened the door for Raven, helped her in, shut the door for
her and then headed to the driver's side and hoped in.
"Did you win the game?" Raven questioned over the sounds of The Offspring. Lance
nodded, a proud grin on his face.
"Yup, forty two to twelve", he announced. Raven let out a low, shocked whistle.
"Whew, good job. Man, that other team must have sucked", she commented. Lance
laughed.
"You could say that", he replied. They arrived at the packed school a few minutes later.
They parked the car and then walked into the school and down the hall way where the
gym was. Raven rested her head on Lance's shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her
waist.
They entered the gym, which was totally transformed.
"Not to shabby", Raven replied, gazing around. When you first walked into the gym, you
walked through a white, wooden archway that had red roses still connected to the vines
wrapped around and in between in holes. In the gym itself, they had brought down the
disco ball, which was hanging in the middle of the ceiling and rented strobe lights, which
weren't turned on yet. Also hanging from the ceiling were what seemed like hundreds of
tiny, silver stars. One side of the gym was a long, table with a white table cloth, that was
overfilled with food, cups, plates, napkins, utensils and a punchbowl. In front of the food
table were groups of round tables with white, folding chairs. On the tables were cream
colored tablecloths and on top of the tablecloths were a basket of pretzels.
On the other side of the gym was a DJ booth, where DJ Skribble, from MTV would be
spinning records later in the evening. In the far back, in between the food table and the DJ
booth was a stage where the all girl, punk/pop band, The Vixens (one of Raven's
favorites), were performing for the first half of the night. They had already gotten the
party started with a more rock-influenced cover of Micheal Jackson's "Smooth Criminal".
And smack dab in the middle, of course, was the dance floor. Lance nodded, observing the
room.
"I agree. So, may I have this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand. Raven laughed and
placed her hand in his.
"Yes, you may." He lead her close to the stage, in the middle of the dancing crowd. They
began dancing, Raven feeling totally at ease.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After a few more fast songs and a slow song, Raven was tired.
"Can we sit down?" Raven asked over the roar of The Vixen's song called
"Unpredictable". Lance nodded.
"I was about to ask you the same thing", he replied. She followed him off the dance floor
and to a table with his friends Joey, Chris and their dates. She shot Lance a pleading look
but he didn't notice it. Even though Lance was technically a prep, she didn't mind. But
having to spend her time with his preppier friends was something she didn't want to deal
with.
"Hey guys, this is my girlfriend, Raven", Lance introduced as they both sat down. To her
surprise, Joey and Chris didn't give her a look of disgust but smiled. Joey was with a blond
and Chris was a red head that she vaguely knew.
"Hi, I'm Nichole", the blond greeted.
"Hi", Raven answered.
"And I'm Larissa", the red head added.
"Hey", Raven answered. So far, so good. Neither couples were giving her the famous
Loser-go-away glare Amber loved to bestow upon her.
"Hey, I've seen you around school. You're in my english class, right?" Chris asked. Raven
nodded.
"Well, *this* is the famous Raven. Lance has been telling us so much about you", Joey
replied.
"I hope it's all good things", Raven answered. Joey laughed.
"It's been nothing but. Hey, I shouldn't be asking this, but you're not mad at Lance?" Joey
curiously asked. Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Mad? Why would I be mad at Lance?" she demanded, stealing a look at Lance, who was
giving her a nervous smile.
"Well, you know after the whole be-"
"Joey, wasn't that last play at the game today awesome?" Lance sharply interrupted. Joey
glanced at Lance and gave him a puzzled look. Lance gave him an unreadable look that
only Joey understood.
"Oh, yeah that play was something", he replied, straying away from what he was going to
say. All three guys began to discuss the game, acting as though Joey's unfinished questions
never happened. But Raven knew better. Something was going on that she had no idea
about and she didn't like it. She sighed, wondering what it was. She hated to have Lance
keep secrets from her. She glanced around the room and then noticed Amber, in a
blindingly hot pink, dangerously short, tube dress that could have come from the closet of
Britney Spears. She was standing by herself in front of the punch bowl, a half-full cup in
her hand, glaring at the crowd of dancing people before her.
Raven wickedly grinned. Now was the time to put her plan into action. She stood up,
grabbing her purse and tapped Lance on the shoulder.
"I'm going to go get a drink", she informed in his ear. Lance nodded and kept talking to
Joey and Chris. Raven stiffly walked to the punch bowl, frustrated in Lance's sudden
change in behavior. She then silently squeezed into the small space behind the punch bowl,
directly behind Amber, who hadn't noticed her. She quickly but careful not make any
noise, opened her purse and got out the plastic bag of dissolving Ex-Lax pills. Amber
seemed to not like the "friendly dancing" going on between her date and another girl and
stormed off to break it up. Amber set down her half-full cup and Raven didn't waste a
minute.
She snatched the cup and dumped all the pills in the red punch. The solid pills quickly
dissolved into a powder that sunk to the bottom of the cup. Raven then grabbed a spoon
and stirred the powder until it had vanished into the punch. She threw the spoon over her
shoulder and put the cup exactly where Amber had left it. Then, she fled back to her table
just as Amber returned to her spot.
Raven intently watched as Amber took a big gulp of the sabotaged drink. Amber held the
cup from her lips, staring at the liquid. After a few minutes she shrugged, then drank down
the rest.
"Baby, what are you looking at?" Lance curiously questioned.
Raven faced Lance, forcing back her laughter.
"Nothing, nothing at all", she answered. He shrugged.
"Ok then...do you wanna dance?" he asked. Raven was about to answer when a very, very
happy looking Stacey Hunter raced up the stage and declared into the microphone:
"It's time to announce your 2002 Homecoming queen! And the nominees are...."
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