I Just Wanted A Normal Summer Vacation

by zephyr deity

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Chapter Two:

Another One Of Those Days

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As always, my eyes were glued to the screen of my fifteen-inch MacBook Pro. Though despite my pristine impudence, that was for-a-fact always present when I was on the computer, I wasn’t alone. Both of my best friends were hanging around my room – apparently, today my house is the elite choice. It’s usually Heather’s, though today Mrs. Turner decided to do some kind of universal cleaning. I think it’s because of the arrival of Heather’s Aunt Emery.

I turned to look at Heather who was looking as jaunty as ever while singing along to the opening theme of Zoey 101, “Ooh-ooh-ooh, I’m just another kinda girl. And you wanna see my world. So come and run away...” Yup, she’s a bit immature – not to mention extremely peppy. Her aesthetic silvery blonde curls bounced off her shoulder as she bobbed her head to the music.

My other best friend, Morganza, put down her book – another one of those thick Dan Brown novels I think, and plopped down beside Heather on my bed. I shut the laptop close, making it automatically go on standby, and joined the two. Trust me, watching TV is a hundred times better when you have good company and food.

“Love your new mattress Rheese! It’s so bouncy!” Heather squealed as she jumped up and down. I had just gotten a new bed that was more on the unusual side. It was a square “headboardless” bed. I also got four antique wooden columns like those from Ancient Greece to go on each of the four edges, with silk Aztec gold sheets draped along the top.

“Late at night when all the world is sleeping, I stay up and think of you and I wish on a star that somewhere you are thinking of me too. ‘Cause I’m dreaming of you tonight ‘til…” Morgan flashed us a sheepish grin and picked up her cellphone. Heather and I exchanged all-knowing looks as Morgan spoke up. We both knew the whole state of being in a relationship has broken some barriers in our friend’s unfeeling personality.

Within eight minutes of the show, Morgan was still on the phone smiling every now and then. Looks like her boyfriend has got his work cut out for him. I always thought that Skyler would make a great boyfriend – for somebody other than me of course. Since Skyler and I were the best of friends, a relationship was out of the question.

Morgan put down her phone and flashed a perfectly toothy smile at us, “Rheesa, Skyler said he’ll be at Gamer’s Elysium from three until four. He said and I quote,” she started doing her chronic air quotes. “I challenge her to a game of Victory Lap, loser buys dinner for the whole gang.”

I rolled my eyes. This is why a relationship between us is undeniably out of the question. “He’s so on!”

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I tugged on my black slouchy breeches and loose white tee with a cute lion cub cartoon – Heather had forced me to get rid of my light blue pullovers and jersey shorts. And being the person that I am, I did as I was told.

As soon as I was done, I walked out of the bathroom and found Heather rummaging through my closet. Her white bubble camisole had a big Coke stain – you get the picture. “Wow! Never in a million years would I think that you’d own a top like this Rheese!” she held up a Montezuma brown law shirred camisole with a silly grin on her face

I knew I should have trashed that top the moment it was placed in my hands. “It’s from Charlotte, you can have it if you want.” I shrugged and took a seat beside Morgan on the Victorian fainting couch that I bribed off Grandpa’s hands. “Everything going great with you and Skyler, Morgan?”

Morgan looked up from her book looking contemplative, then she looked at me with her eyes that had an olive hue thanks to her contact lenses. Though the hue does look pretty similar to her natural eye color. “Everything’s great.” Then she diverted her eyes from me and back to the book. Did I forget to mention that Morganza is a girl of few words? Oh and she hates being called Morganza.

Heather burst into the room with a huge grin on her face that seems molecularly impossible to achieve, “Lets get going you guys!” she grabbed us by the wrist and dragged both of us out of the house.

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Gamer’s Elysium was not as packed as it usually was during the school days – how very much ironic. We found the guys sitting on a bench alongside the counter. Shawn spotted us first and much to my surprise he didn’t have his PlayStation Portable with him today. His undivided attention was generally directed towards that gadget twenty-four seven and what better way to learn a lesson than to bump into a little kid who started crying like there’s no tomorrow. Thank God we had Vesta with us, she’s so good with kids.

Once we got to them, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere. Everybody seemed to have their eyes on Skyler and Morgan, except for me of course – I was too busy analyzing everyone’s facial expressions. The outré couple have only been together for a couple of weeks so it still came as a bit of a bizarre thing to some.

“Hey Morgan,” Skyler slung his arm around Morgan and kissed her on the cheek. Well people, that’s as much PDA as you could possibly get out of these two. That I can surely tell. It’s just that they’re not the kind of people to publicly display their affection.

After five consecutive wins in Victory Lap, I got bored so I wandered around and ended up watching Taran – the repugnant jerk who I’m oh so happy to see once again…not! – end up at third place on Victory Lap. I found myself plotting to annoy him. It’s the job I was meant for ever since I was born. “Third place? That’s pathetic!”

Taran shoved his choppy bangs away from his eyes and shot me one of his death glares, to which I have become immune to. “I expected that from you, munchkin.” I knew that name would exude out of his mouth sooner or later…but to say that after my progress – I’m a whooping five feet and three inches for crying out loud! I’m just half an inch smaller than him.

Before I could attempt to punch him, Vesta pulled us apart. We weren’t even that close! I’d never be less than a feet away from that pig. “Hey, stop it you two!” Why does she even bother? We all know it doesn’t work.

“You repugnant little gremlin!” I screamed before storming off in my black Chuck Taylor slips. I just had to say that – I love my shoes! God, I sound like a girl…oh wait, I am.

I felt somebody sit beside me. Eew, it’s him – the infamous Taran Chatriand. Son of the new CEO of Vocal Zeal Records, yet another reason for him to be the egocentric self that he is. “How’s your summer so far?” So he’s not that bad but he’s still Taran.

“Great – until today that is.” Sorry but the opportunity was wide open, can’t let opportunities pass us by now can we? He nodded his head as if he totally understood why I was being bitter – he should get around to why since we’ve been at it since I came to live in Avent. In case you’re wondering why too…let me just say that he was the one who started it. He’s been nothing but his annoying self from the first time we met. He has done nothing but insult me everytime that stupid mouth of his opens. It’s either my hair, my clothes, my opinion or everything else.

I was bored and everybody seemed to be preoccupied with talking about tomorrow, the first day of summer schooling, so I just made use of what was currently available. In other words, I decided to try to have a decent conversation with Taran a.k.a. the gremlin. Hopefully it won’t feel like being in a living inferno, which is what I feel everytime I’m in his presence. “So, how’s life treating the son of the new CEO of Vocal Zeal?”

He seemed surprised, can’t blame him, but he obliged to the temporary treaty anyway. “It’s pretty good, though the life in the limelight does get pretty old. You know, with all the people tailing me constantly and stuff.” That’s surprising.

“Really?”

He bowed his head down, making his lustrous raven fringe fall over his dusky sable eyes, then the end of his lips curled into a smirk. “Nope. Not really.” I knew it. What a conceited person.

I felt like bursting in anger and I couldn’t help it, maybe I should take self-control lessons next year. “You are so conceited!” I yelled at the highest range that my vocal chords could reach. I guess that earned more than his attention cause everybody was staring at us. I sulked on the bench and hung my head, allowing my straight fringe to partially cover my face.

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“Man, I’m full!” That’s what everybody at the table kept saying, and yet Warren still managed to eat a few more slices of pizza. It was a disgusting thing to watch since I felt like barfing what with the three huge slices of pizza currently being digested in my intestines.

I looked at the tall empty glass that had previously been full of ice cold Pepsi to the brink. Next thing I know, I was at the bathroom. I buttoned up my pants and tried to open the door…note the word: tried.

I’m not claustrophobic or anything but something about the current situation I was in made me feel panicked. I fidgeted with the lock again and again but it wouldn’t barge. I tried crying out for help but nobody answered. Looks like it’s up to me to get myself out of this mess.

Standing in the stall alone, made my sane thinking go…well, insane. What if no one finds me in here and I rot to death? Oh God, no. I don’t wanna meet my end in a putrid bathroom stall. My head was buzzing with berserk thoughts – and to think that normally my head already has a lot of thoughts circulating in it.

I breathed in deeply – not my best idea. I was in a bathroom after all. “I just have to think ratonally. You can do this Rheesa,” Oh shit, I’m talking to myself out loud. This is not a good sign. I slapped my head and continued to analyze my surroundings – not much to work with to be honest.

There was a fairly decent toilet, an empty toilet paper dispenser and shelf that is probably for putting bags and such while doing one’s business. Wait a minute, maybe I could step on that to go to the other stall – there is no one else in this bathroom.

I tied my Chucks up tightly and zipped up the inside pocket of my grey hoodie. I closed the lid of the toilet and used it to get to the shelf. With much difficulty, I climbed over the wall – thank God I take those morning walks around the village area. I got onto the shelf meticulously and kicked off the toiled lid and hopped off onto the tiled floor.

I wiped some perspiration off my forehead with the end of my sleeve and sighed when I finally caught sight of Pizzeria. I practically dragged myself towards our table. Taran was the first to catch sight of my drably self and when he did, he smiled at me. It wasn’t the kind he usually gives me and it wasn’t the kind he flashed to his adoring fans. I didn’t know what his whole demeanor meant but it was a nice change from the usual jerk that he is.

My feet were planted to the ground. Actually, I felt like my legs were melting but I just watched my friends share relieved smiles and laughs as they approached me. Taran coincidentally reached me first, “You okay? You look tired.” I don’t know what sort of cosmic force pushed me to do it but I smiled and nodded. Then for a second I didn’t care if the person standing in front of me was Taran, I was tired. Mentally and physically. I couldn’t help but fall into his arms. What can I say? I was damn exhausted.

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Author’s Note: Sorry it took almost a whole month to get this second chapter done – I was thinking of a concept for the characters and stuff. Hope you like this chapter and thanks a lot to my reviewers…

lyricallies: You’re welcome…I love your story by the way and I’m glad you like mine too. If it reminds you of your own grandfather then your grandpa must be pretty cool – I’m not exactly close to my grandparents though.

Ensign Nolo: Glad you think the dialogue and the first-rate first-person description is good. I try to do my best. I’m glad you like the characters… the decision on how Rheesa and her friends are really came as a challenge. Yes, I will be telling the story from a POV other than Rheesa’s…hope you like this next chapter.

itse: Yup, you are most definitely correct and I’m glad you like the word “gauche”…I’ve been reading the dictionary a lot lately – it’s a weird craving for knowledge. Lol. Ralph is not a sophomore too, he’s a college student on his way to owning the family’s company.

the value of the hypotemuse: Wildly interesting username you got there. Anyways, thanks for taking interest in the story and yes just as you thought I’ve made a twist on friends. I guess I wanted the main character to be more in touch with everyone.

Sunne: You’re very much welcome. I’m a fan of Belleview Chronicles, especially the eccentric style. I’m glad you like Rheesa! Yey! Lol. Aww, sorry you have to take summer school. That sucks!

SolisLuna: Glad you think so. Hopefully you’ll be reading more.

Sakura Rhiannon: I’m happy you like it and I hope you think it’s more interesting. Sorry for not updating for so long.

Plugs: I’m Just A Girl, Nothing Special (other story) & Aspiring (writer’s forum: link can be found at my profile)