The Rich and the Not So Famous

Summary: When Tori Tyger's mother decides to send her to a new school, Tori isn't too irked about it. She was used to moving. The thing is, the day before she transfers, her mother finally reveals that her new school is a private Catholic school. Tori had two problems with that. One, she wasn't Catholic. Two, her childhood enemy goes to that very same school. Ironically enough, he didn't hate her as much as she thought he did. And she thought that the fact her name was a nice example of alliteration was bad enough...

Chapter One: Mondays are the Best…Not

I rolled over to my side, and began a staring contest with my alarm clock. After what I guessed to be a full two minutes, I gave in and blinked. I sighed. Every day, I lost to the damn thing. It never seemed to just stop and freeze time. I would love it if it did that--no school for that day. I relished that idea. No school on a Monday was the best thing in my book.

Suddenly, my stomach growled for food, and I thought of breakfast. Maybe breakfast was a good idea. I mean, food always cheered me up in the oddest way. Yeah. Breakfast sounded pretty good right now. My stomach growled again in response.

I got out of bed and staggered to the bathroom that was just next to my room. I wished that my mother could just demolish the wall in between and give me my own bathroom. I snorted every time I thought of that. It was hardly likely that she would do it anyway. One, she was not a handy when it came to renovating the house, and two, she was too busy with her company job to actually pay attention to the house. Three, was also too busy trying to make sure that my father never showed his face at the door step. She never told me why, though.

As I reached the bathroom, I closed the door behind me. I stripped of my clothes and stepped into the shower, turning the water to hot. I couldn’t stand cold water in the shower. As I let the water hit my face, I sighed. It was way too early to be up. In all honestly, seven thirty in the morning was about four hours too early. That’s right. Four hours. That is why the weekend are my gods. I knew they were going to turn into my nightmare when finals came around.

I finished my thought along with my shower. I reached out and grabbed my towel from the stand. I wrapped it around my slim figure, and I stepped out of the shower. I got my hair tie and put my hair up in a messy bun. I knew I should have waited until my hair went dry, but I really didn’t care how I looked. Besides, it was Monday. I had a good reason, didn’t I?

As I stepped into my room, I realized that I had spent all too much time in the shower when my eyes landed on my clock. It was seven fifty. School started in ten minutes. It took me ten minutes to get to school. Crap, crap, crap! I rushed as I threw on my clothes, complete with jeans and a black tank top with a light sweater. I grabbed my bag, my keys, and my cell phone from the table in my room, and I headed out.

I ran out the front door, got into my silver Lexus, and sped off towards the dreaded prison people call school. So much for that breakfast. I received another growl from my stomach. More than anything, I wanted to tell it to shut up. A senior telling her stomach to shut up…what a thought.

I pulled into the parking lot and parked my car. The only space I could find was really far, and I could that this was going to get worse and worse. I got out of the car as soon as the bell rang. I bet you I could beat a star cross country runner with the way I ran past everyone. I hated that I couldn’t eat breakfast. I hated that I was late. I hated that my first class was on the other side of the school and the farthest away from the parking lot. I hated Mondays.

I dashed down the hall, ignoring the fact that I should slow down. I might run into something soon enough. Oh, would you look at that. I just did. I hit a wall. Wait. The wall grunted. Huh? I looked up and was face to face with Evan Fuller. Evan was about 6’3’’ with brown hair and brown eyes. He also happened to be the bane of my existence at Walton High. I wished that I was just out of this miserable place. It might make it a bit easier.

“Running late, Tori?” He asked, his eyes laughing. I swear to you, they were!

“No. I’m just frantically running around, trying to make it to Physics,” I retorted sarcastically. Then a thought struck me. “What’re you doing out of class, Fuller?” I asked. My moment of temporary craziness was gone as I talked with Evan. This was wrong. I had a habit of not having my priorities straight when I got side tracked…like now.

“I told Burns that I needed to go to the bathroom. Didn’t think I’d end up getting run into by a mad woman,” he responded dryly.

I rolled my eyes and continued to make my way to Physics class. Evan followed me, seeing as he was headed to the very same class. Burns was the Physics teacher, and one of the more laid back ones. I was thankful for that . Hopefully, I wouldn’t get a detention. As I walked in, all of the heads snapped in my direction, and I had to keep myself from cringing. Mr. Burns just smiled wryly and waved me towards my seat.

Evan walked in towards me, and I think I just saw the female population of the room, excluding me, swoon. I rolled my eyes. He was just some star football and basketball player with a 4.0 GPA. I wasn’t jealous at all. Okay, okay. So I wanted that 4.0 GPA, but I swear that’s all I wanted from him!

I opened my bag and pulled out my Physics book as Burns kept going on with the boring preaching that he did every day. What a great start to a terrible day. The worst part of class wasn’t even Burns’ droning. It was the fact that every time I stole a glance at the extremely slow clock, I felt that Fuller was sneaking glances at me. Ugh.

The day wore on and by fifth period, my stomach was very hungry, and I was very, very grumpy. At least my lunch period was indeed fifth period and I was in line to grab the hot dog lunch. Contrary to popular belief, Walton High had really good lunches. I wondered how many preservatives I was eating though. However, I didn’t really care as long as I got to eat. When I got to the pay line, I groaned. I realized that I forgot my money on the kitchen table. That’s great. Just great.

I considered getting money from someone, but I never got the chance. Someone tapped my shoulder. I whipped around to find none other than my best friend Hanna Ray behind me. She had five dollars in her hands…just enough for the both of us.

“Hanna, you have no idea how much I love you right now,” I said with a grateful smile.

“You just owe me,” she replied, flicking her blond hair over her shoulder gracefully. I never got how girls could do it like that. It looked like I was in distress every time I tried it. “So, I heard that you walked into Physics late with Evan this morning,” she said, a wolfish smile on her face.

And this is what happens when you have a gossip girl as your best friend. “Nothing went on, I assure you,” I said dryly. She was far too hopeful. You see, she’s been trying to get me on a date ever since we met freshman year. She was always the one with dates, and I was the one with a book in my hands.

“But that’s the problem,” she protested as she paid for our lunches. We walked over to our usual table and she sighed dramatically. “You never get any dates and whenever someone does notice you, you don’t do anything.”

“That’s because I don’t want anything to happen!” I said weakly. “I don’t want attention from guys. Or girls,” I said as an afterthought.

“I don’t see why,” Hanna told me, taking a bite out of her hot dog. “You have a gorgeous body and you’re not ugly. I’ve seen guys that look like they just want to ravish you.”

I rolled my eyes, and didn’t reply. I didn’t want anyone ravishing me. I wanted to change the subject away from boys and away from me. “So, how are you?”

“I’m okay, I guess,” she said. The tone of her voice told me otherwise.

“Okay my ass,” I said. She knew what I meant by that.

“Well, you know Jordan Fraiser?” I nodded. “He asked me out.”

My mouth dropped. Hanna’s always liked Jordan, but she never really made a move on him. She said it was because he wouldn’t do anything about it. And she calls me scared of commitment? Pfft.

“So, what’d you say?” I asked.

“I haven’t answered him. I don’t know what to say, Tori,” she said quietly.

“Say yes,” I said simply. “At least give it a try.”

“Give what a try?” someone asked behind us. We turned and I saw Evan behind us. I groaned inwardly. I didn’t want to deal with him right now.

“Nothing,” I answered. Hanna stayed quiet, looking from me to him. This was not going to end well.

“Oh,” he replied halfheartedly, as if he didn’t really care. “Well, how about you try and go on a date with me Friday night?” he asked.

“Uh.” I blinked. I then looked to Hanna for help, who was smiling like she just won the lottery.

“She’ll be ready at her house at seven, ready to go,” Hanna told him.

Evan smiled and nodded. “Thanks, Hanna, and see you then, Tori.” He then walked away, and I was left to seethe. I told you it was going to end badly.

When Evan was gone and out of our sights, I turned to Hanna and smacked her on the arm. “What was that for? I ask for help, not a date.”

“Trust me, hon, that was help,” she told me. With a smile firmly set in place, I was left to deal with the rest of day, and to dread the coming so called date.

“But he’s cocky and infuriating!” I mumbled. He was cocky and infuriating, but all guys were so I don’t know how valid my argument was.

“Yes, but he can be nice and caring. Plus, he’s hot and smart,” my best friend countered. “And those good qualities override the bad ones, so therefore, he is a good date. At least give it a try.”

Damn her. She was using my line on me! I gave an incoherent reply and just stuffed my face with the remaining hot dog I had. I couldn’t wait to get home. That was my goal for the day. Hopefully, I’d reach it alive.

--

By the end of seventh period, I was relieved that the Monday at school was over. I carried my backpack to my car as I fished out my keys from my back pocket. Hanna was supposed to come over, but then her mom called and she had to baby sit. Our plans were foiled by her two year old sister. Lovely.

I got into my car, threw my bad into the passenger seat carelessly, and drove towards my house. I hoped my mom was home. She usually bought Chinese takeout on Mondays. When I arrived, I saw that the garage was open and my mom’s car was parked inside. Yes! Food!

I grabbed the ever present backpack and headed inside as I locked the car. I smelled sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. Yum. I dropped my backpack onto the floor and smiled. I sat in front of my mom, who was eating with a pair of chopsticks.

Instead of her usual greeting of, “Hi, how was school?” I got a, “You’re transferring.”

I wasn’t smiling anymore.

Author’s Note: So, here it is. The first chapter of the story that I promised you guys. I hope you like it. This first chapter kind of makes me want to throw up. Why? One, it’s not edited. Two, it’s too short. Three, the title is crap. Four…I want to rewrite it. Kind of. But I won’t rewrite until after this madness is done and all. Review please!

-Kae