THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter fifteen: Truth or Daring)

Chapter Fifteen

Truth or Daring

     Ryan looked at him incredulously.

     “I can’t believe you’re standing alone, Darcy. California Girls are hot.”

     “Says who?”

     “The classic song, for one. Mate, if you don’t pull your head out of the clouds and stop sulking we’ll never have a senior year to remember, let alone a junior one.”

    “Never mind, we’ll probably get to repeat it in Australia if my father has his way,” Darcy added sarcastically.

     “Not if we get involved and get good grades and start meeting women,” Ryan added optimistically. “There are so many fine looking girls here...”

     At this point Paige and Coco were standing almost directly behind Darcy and Ryan, but the boys seemed oblivious to this.

     “You have been talking to the only girl I’ve given a second glance to all night.”

     “You can’t be serious. What about her sister? I just saw her somewhere around talking to her friend...” At this point, Paige and Coco were silently listening on the balcony above the throng. I was standing by the punch bowl giggling with Honey as we made notes on our cell phones. It was impossible not to overhear the boys talking in their hot Aussie accents above the din.

     “Paige Bennet is one of the most obnoxious girls I’ve ever encountered. I was in debate class with her a few days ago and her attitude really sucked. Plus, she was seriously pushy. But apart from her personality – which left a lot to be desired – I wouldn’t give her “looks” a second glance. In a roomful of attractive girls, she’s somewhere in the middle. I have no idea how a girl, with two such trampy younger sisters (as he said this, Rebel was being swung around on the dance floor, shrieking), can be so pleased with herself.”

     “Shut The Front Door!” Paige said loudly, climbing down the stairs, staring at Darcy and brushing past him in disgust. 

     Darcy could not have misunderstood her meaning, although most of the other people at the dance were way too interested in what they were doing to notice Paige and Darcy. We – Honey and I – raised our eyebrows and busily punched notes into our cell phones.

     Ryan immediately excused himself to get some punch for Mackenzie. Besides, he wanted an excuse to see Shiloh again.

     If Darcy thought that Paige was going to stand next to him, or even near him, much less talk to him again, he was severely mistaken.

    “C’mon,” Paige said, taking Coco’s arm, “The Princesses are expecting us at their table.”

    Darcy, once again was left bristling, red-faced and speechless.

    It was clearly keyed in by me: He’d never encountered such an exasperating person as Paige Bennet. She didn’t even give him a chance to explain himself.

     Wednesday added: Paige regaled the senior Princesses: Shiloh, Wednesday and Coco with the entire tale, while we freshman Princesses sat and listened and whispered in awe.

     Meanwhile… Mackenzie was busy infiltrating the Praise & Worshipfuls – a prayer group she also maintained popularity with - on the other side of the room. Darcy could tell by the way the entire table of fashion forward Princesses looked down at him, that he’d been misquoted. He turned his back on us. As if he cared what a bunch of gossiping females thought!  

     The truth was, he’d thought very highly of Paige. Too highly. After he’d let her win in debate class there was no way he’d let her get the best of him socially.

      I wrote: I think, Paige is way too much for Darcy to handle but he’d never admit it or let her get the upper hand, like she just had. She’s bested him publicly, twice already. What does he expect her to do next? Tell everyone how hot she thought he was? Before she changed her mind?  

    “Besides, what on earth do you say to a pretty girl, who’s already smart? I mean, you can’t tell her she’s pretty,” Ryan wondered quietly to Mackenzie after he’d talked to Shiloh but she’d acted like her usually reserved self. Mackenzie just smiled over her punch and shrugged. Mackenzie was far more interested in who Darcy was interested in because it clearly wasn’t her.  

   “That’s where Darcy goes wrong,” Honey stated. “He should have complimented Paige. Taken the high road and all the rest could never have happened…” Honey and I were eating ice-cream at my place later that night, reflecting.

    “Never mind, Darcy,” Mackenzie Bingley whispered as she walked over to Darcy. “I’m finished making small talk for the night with those girls who think they are it. Besides, I’m getting quite fond of the Praise & Worshipfuls.”

    This was a table full of students who held daily prayer meetings. Mackenzie was keen to infiltrate them as they held a lot of sway over the vote in all things student related. Basically, they held the power balance at Sunrise High School.  

     As long as Mackenzie was ‘stuck’ at Sunrise High School she intended to own the place. Besides, she believed in Jesus and doing unto others, didn’t she?

     “Remember Darcy,” Mackenzie said, “Paige Bennet will never best you. Trust me; she’ll reveal her inadequacies very soon. The truly classless always do. God doesn’t give with both hands.”

     Darcy looked at Mackenzie as if she’d just inhaled glue.

     That night, when Honey and I were being driven back to Honey’s place for a sleepover, I texted before bed (to remind myself of what we had to add in the morning): What Mackenzie really meant, of course, is that the qualities she identified in Paige and her sister Shiloh were ones she herself lacked (and therefore envied).

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter fourteen: After the game)

Chapter Fourteen

After the game

Sunrise won their first game in a semester (Ryan scored the winning goal) and students and family members crowded into the school gym, swiftly decorated for the occasion.

    The two youngest Bennet sisters were the first girls on the dance floor.  

    Mackenzie, seated with her brother and Darcy and a few of Darcy’s new friends from the basketball team were busily spiking the fruit punch. Some members of the  team started laughing when Rebel grabbed the Rys Wickam and tried to force him to dance with her.

    Mackenzie, who’d promised her new Princess friends she’d be over to join them in “Just a moment”, couldn’t resist a few snide words to Darcy who looked on, bored.

      “Have you ever seen a girl make such a stupid spectacle of herself, Darcy?”

      “Not really, but this is the first time I’ve been forced to attend one of these lame homecoming dances.”

     It was true. Darcy’s father had called and warned him that if he didn’t “fully integrate himself in school activities,” it would affect his decision to fund his college applications. Darcy knew he had no power until he turned twenty-one and could release part of his trust fund and take over the property in New South Wales.  Ryan and Mackenzie’s situations were similar, so they had to “put up” with the school socials and rules. They took a few selfies on their iPhones and texted them to their parents as proof of their attendance. I guess it’s, “Put up but not shut up”  Mackenzie whined.

     Mackenzie was busily picking some lint off Darcy’s shirt after she’d posted her fake smile on Twitter.  

     “Oh well,” Mackenzie said, “I suppose I should grace those irritating little fashionistas with my company. Perhaps I could teach them something about mixers.” Mackenzie had already started to live up to her reputation as the haughtiest mean girl that had ever graced a school notorious for mean girls. (note: Pride & Princesses - the prequel to this story!)

      But returning to my novel… Darcy thought Mackenzie was generally quite funny although he knew Ryan wouldn’t be pleased by his sister’s open snobbery.   

     When Mackenzie walked over to our table, Shiloh and Paige dutifully made room for her. Or really, Paige made a move. Already she couldn’t stand Mackenzie’s falseness, but she was always polite and the fact that one of Paige’s best friends, Coco Madison (who Paige had known since grade school) had just arrived was all the excuse Paige needed to excuse herself and go over to the table where ‘refreshments’ as the Princesses had labelled them, were available.

     “Oh Coco, I’m so happy to see you”

     “Me too, Paige. I missed the game. You know, I have my baby brother to sit and my parents are going through the whole separation thing and I had to stay until dad got in. It’s all right though, I think they’ve sorted out custody and things like that.”

   “What a nightmare, I’m so sorry Coco.”

    Coco was a dance major who did debate as her elective. She and Paige were now officially in charge of the scenery for Spring Awakening.

   “You know, it’s really fine. I’m just glad they’ve both found a way to stay in the same area so I can keep coming to Sunrise and keep being a founding member of the Princesses,” Coco laughed, “though it all seems to have gone a bit pear shaped since we let Mackenzie in.”

    “Wonder which one of the new guys Mr Sparks will choose to play Moritz,” Coco whispered to Paige, flicking her blonde bangs off her face. Mr Sparks had been teaching drama in New York but decided to return to Sunrise on secondment. He’d taught at the school over a decade ago and was way cray cray. But in a good way. He took a lot of medication for his anxiety but he was never short on enthusiasm for his own productions and I should know. I’d been in a few of them during elementary school when they needed some ‘real kids’ to make up cast numbers.  

    “I don’t think the newbies do creative studies,” Paige replied.

    “Oh, well, we always need guys. I’m sure they’ll be lured by the promise of extra credit. Hey, I heard all about the grumpy looking one,” Coco gestured to Darcy, who was glancing over at them and frowning.

    “What did you hear?”

     “Only that you bested him in debate club and he’s still getting over it.”

    “Oh, that. Well, the truth is he was going pretty well, I think he might even have won, then he just stopped. I have no idea why.”

    “Well, maybe we’ll find out. Quick, he’s coming this way.”

    At this point a lot of seniors and juniors and some dance electives had taken to the floor. Because Sunrise was a Performing Arts School many of the dancers were very impressive.

    Although Paige’s younger sisters may have started out looking like a joke they were now partnered with two of the schools best guy dancers and were leading the way and appearing to have a very good time as the DJ played some dated music from the turn of the century – classics from 1999-2009.

    So many people were on the dance floor and the atmosphere was so good, that Paige and Coco were slightly obscured from view by the time Darcy had been joined by Ryan – who’d managed to wander over to talk to Shiloh – under the guise of actually talking to Mackenzie.

    It was Ryan’s problem, really, Darcy thought. He was just way too backward in coming forward. Of course, Darcy wouldn’t hesitate to talk to a girl he really liked but there was an oversupply of pretty girls here. In his eyes, Paige was the prettiest tonight, but it was easier to remain aloof.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (Public Snubbing)

Chapter Thirteen

Public Snubbing

The evening of homecoming dance, Shiloh and Paige piled into the SUV with their sisters. There had been a lot of racing between floors of their house in Sunrise with the younger girls (particularly Rebel and Sia) screeching over a lack of bathrooms (the Bennets only had two). As usual, Shiloh had showered quickly and gone to her room to fix her hair and Paige soon followed.

    “I still can’t decide what to wear,” Paige said, pulling out a stylish jacket. Both sisters had modest but fashionable wardrobes but their youngest sisters had theirs stuffed with many clothes of the cheaper and slightly gaudy variety.

    Shiloh sighed, she knew she had to look out for Rebel. As the youngest child she should have been the easiest to control. It just wasn’t the case. And Sia followed everything Rebel did with Senta “tut tutting” behind them.

    “Oh, I smell something delicious coming from the kitchen,” Senta could be heard saying dreamily, as she walked through the hallway, her nose in her latest music score. 

     It was true that Mrs Bennet had whipped up her best fried chicken and mashed potatoes because she always insisted the girls have something to eat before they went out.

     “Finally, I’m ready. How do I look?”

      Shiloh, had her blonde hair piled in a side braid with a few sprigs of diamonte jewels to set off her knee length dress, inspired by pictures of movie stars from another era which she had set about her dressing table. Pretty pink fingernails and a bag shaped in the style of a sea shell ensured that Shiloh, as always, looked a dream.

     “You look perfect.”

     Paige still had her dark locks wrapped around a curling iron and wore no blush or gloss, though Shiloh had hinted some would look good on her. She wore a plain pencil skirt and her Dad’s old letter jacket for warmth.  

     “I think you should wear the ice blue dress I chose, Paige. It suited you so much when you tried it on yesterday.”

    “Done,” Paige said, she couldn’t be bothered arguing with her sister when there were so many other important issues going on in the world.

     “I better go and see if it’s possible to talk Rebel out of whatever trashy outfit she’s decided to wear,” Shiloh stated matter-of-factly.

      

      Paige smiled. Moments later, Paige looked at herself in the mirror and was reasonably satisfied with the result. She looked slim and strong (she’d joined the school gymnastics team in eighth grade and never stopped going). Her hair was tonged into curls and her clothes were unfussy, just the way she liked them. To keep her older sister happy she added lip gloss and blush before she left the house. Oh, and mascara because Rebel once told her it, “brings out your eyes,” and even though Rebel was wrong about most things, Paige thought she was right about this one.  

   

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter twelve: Opening Statements)

Chapter Twelve

Opening Statements

Paige was ready bright and early the following morning. She tried not to look too happy when Darcy arrived late to class with shadows under his eyes, looking as if he hadn’t bothered to shower.

     While Paige got up to speak first, it was clear Darcy was still texting under his desk (even though cell phones in class were banned). Paige smoothed her new plaid skirt over her long knee socks, covered by her sister’s best knee high brown boots and walked to the podium anyway.

     Paige had wanted to look her best today and Shiloh had insisted on her borrowing the boots even though they had cost Shiloh her entire month’s pay working at the ice-creamery in Century City on Saturdays. Paige also smoothed her pony tail because she knew her hair had a tendency towards flyaway unruliness. This, according to Teen Fash Wow!, was not fashion forward.

    Try as he might, Darcy sneaked a peak at Paige’s stunning new look. Her dark hair was in a high ponytail down her back, her entire outfit was freshly steamed and color co-ordinated. She clearly wore mascara to, “bring out her eyes.” She looked hot. But how could that be? He was the only hot one.

     Darcy looked away because he didn’t want her to think any more highly of herself than she already did. Darcy’s long black jeaned legs, stretched out from under the desk as he yawned slightly. Just before Paige began to speak, he made a man-sigh and placed his hand over his mouth.

    The entire class laughed but Mrs Tartt was reviewing notes so Darcy’s behavior was overlooked. Then, some boy whom Paige had once turned down at a homecoming dance, made some sort of snorting noise with his nose and Mrs Tartt was so unimpressed she sent him to the Principal’s office.

     The rest of the class sat up straight and listened in.

   

“Peer Pressure is More Beneficial Than Harmful by Paige Bennet”

Paige cleared her throat before speaking clearly…

“I’m not going to lie. Nor am I going to bore you all with fancy words and statistics. When I heard the title of this debate, I thought, how is it possible to argue in favor of a statement that is so clearly wrong. It’s so obvious, isn’t it? Peer pressure is harmful – but only if used in the negative sense. Of course, being pressured to drink or smoke or take drugs (some of the kids in class rolled their eyes) is bad. We all know that feeling, but being pressured to make friends, go out, have a good time and socialize, being pressured to be part of something bigger and greater than yourself, a school community and a family; that’s important. Where would you be without other people to rely upon? Where would you be without high standards by which to measure yourself? Some psychologists who specialize in teen mental health think the way to a happier life is to lower your standards to those standards which are considered more obtainable, and some people might acknowledge their point in some instances…”

   At this moment, observers in the room noted that Paige looked directly at Darcy who was crumpled on his desk, apparently half asleep, half awake and using the edge of a compass to clean out under his nails. He was not looking at Paige and appeared to barely be listening to her speech. Paige cleared her throat again and continued speaking…

    “…I disagree. I say, keep your standards high and measure yourself by your peers who also keep their standards high – who want good, clean, honest fun on a Friday night, who want to do well in school and sports and arts and the things that interest them. In short, choose good role models and peer pressure is the best kind of pressure there is.”

    After Paige spoke with passion, most of the class clapped. Darcy appeared the most enthusiastic, so enthusiastic in fact, that he made very loud, rebellious claps on the top of his desk. He couldn’t help himself. 

    Rys Wickham whispered, “Dude? What are you on?”

    Darcy ignored him and stood up. He knew to back out now would look cowardly and he’d never do that.

    He smoothed his dark hair out of his eyes and walked towards the podium as Paige sat down.

    Of course, he hadn’t prepared the way Paige had. He’d had more important things to do last night, but that wouldn’t stop him speaking with passion. After all, he’d won the Schoolboys State Debating Championships back home in Sydney two years in a row. He could come up with a better argument than Paige’s and speak with even more authority.

“Why Peer Pressure Is More Harmful Than Beneficial by Darcy Donovan”

Darcy spoke in a deep, authoritative voice. Peeps immediately sat up and listened in…  

“My fellow students (already Paige bristled at the use of the word ‘fellow’ – already Darcy had unintentionally isolated the females in the class using a male dominated word instead of a gender neutral one, she thought, but since there were only six other students, he didn’t need to rely on their vote)… I’m not going to lie either, since it’s not in my nature (Paige bristled again at his inference that it was in hers…) but I am going to tell you all a story. You may have noticed my appearance right now, I look as if I haven’t showered or changed my clothes for a day (the class laughed – he had them in the palm of his hand already) and that’s because I haven’t… The reason that I haven’t… the reason is…because…”

    At this point Darcy paused. He was going to tell them he’d been up all night visiting his sister who had been recovering from her emotional breakdown at least partly brought on by peer pressure. He knew a personal story would win the captaincy. Personal stories often swayed a side that was sitting on the fence. He realized what he was about to do could have a good outcome for himself but a very harmful one for Blair. If he told the truth about where he was last night and why, that ‘peer pressure’ at an all girl’s school had Blair striving to be the thinnest and most popular and helped to create her OCD, her eating disorder and her depression – that that would be bad for Blair were her news ever to go public. 

    Darcy stopped in his tracks. He paused as the students, hanging on his every word, were stunned to see his mouth close.

    “I’m sorry,” he said to Mrs Tartt. “I really didn’t prepare this as well as I should have.” He turned to the class, “You should vote for Paige, her speech was… impassioned.”

    Then Darcy looked at Paige who was seated at her desk and couldn’t resist adding as he walked out of the room, (under his breath so that only Paige could hear), “even though she was wrong.”

   That night, Paige told Shiloh all about what had happened in debate class that day.    “Of course, I knew he had a point but he didn’t need to say it in such an ungracious way. That’s what debate class is all about - being able to create an argument for or against any topic, regardless of your personal feelings.”

    Shiloh was wide eyed. “Oh Paige, one day your opinions are going to come out when they are least wanted and then you’ll see just what peer pressure is like…”

   “Well, Shiloh, you told me not to hide my light.”

   “And that’s true, you should use your talents and your voice only that… I worry it makes people not realize what a sweet person you are. They don’t know you like I do.”

   “I suppose, but what’s more important, popularity or being true to myself?”

    Shiloh shrugged.

    “Of course I didn’t wholly agree with the argument I had to take, either, but the point is, I won. That’s how it’s going to be when I go to law school. Besides, now I’m captain of the debate team.”

   “I’m happy for you Paige, but at what cost? Just remember, ambition isn’t everything... it makes girls… unpopular.”

    “I know, but being popular isn’t really important to me.”

    “It might be…”

     “We both know you are the sweetest, prettiest most popular girl in school and what sense would there be in competing with you?” Paige joked.

      “Oh, Paige, that’s not true. I envy your conviction. Just be careful. Darcy doesn’t seem like the sort of boy to let a girl win. Besides, we still have to see Darcy and Ryan and Mackenzie at homecoming next Friday night.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter eleven: Drama)

Chapter Eleven

Drama

A few streets and one social divide away, Darcy was holed up in the huge double bedroom of his swanky Bel Air mansion changing channels on his flat screen television. The butler had the night off. His housekeeper had gone to visit her sister and the house was virtually silent.

    Darcy was bored and lonely.

    Neither of his parents was home for the weekend – as usual. They’d returned from the east coast for the weekend and his mother was out socializing with the Ladies Of Bel Air Society and his father was ‘working late’ at the bank’s LA office which meant he was probably having an affair with his secretary.

    It was up to Darcy to field the call from his fifteen year old sister, Blair, who was being released from her teen rehab center the next day.

    “Hey,” Darcy said. He felt very protective towards his sister, though it wasn’t cool to admit it. She’d been on his mind since school started.

    “Hey Darcy, where’s mom?” Blair asked hesitantly.  

    “Oh, she had to rush out – something urgent …”

    “Oh… ”

    “Well, I’ll come up to see you tonight, if you’re allowed visitors.”

    “Well, I’m kind of tired now Darcy, but thanks for offering.”

     Already Blair was beginning to think she could rely on Darcy better than her own parents.

     “I’m kind of happy to be getting out of here tomorrow. They say I’m fixed… sort of. Ongoing self-esteem issues from the bullying at an all-girl’s school, that kind of thing.”

     Darcy wasn’t sure what to say so he told her about school.

     “It sounds like fun,” Blair said.

     “Well, it’s different. There’s this debate speech I’m supposed to prepare tonight and there is this girl in my class who is driving me crazy…”

     Blair instantly told him that she’d be fine if he wanted to go do that, then she burst into tears and told him that she’d really expected mom to be talking with her tonight.

     “You know what? I’m coming over,” Darcy said, “the speech can wait. I’ll help you pack your things and even stay at the center tonight if I’m allowed, then I can drive you home tomorrow. I think you’ll feel happier in the new house – we have all your belongings that have just arrived in a box from Australia.”

     Blair stopped crying instantly. Darcy was a good brother – the best. As for Darcy, he knew preparing some lame debate for English class would have to take second place to caring for his sister. He was loyal to his family, he understood his priorities and really wasn’t quite the uncaring person everyone had mistaken him for.

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter ten: Homeroom)

Chapter Ten

Priorites and Private conversations

   “I’ve decided to help with the Bachelor Auction and the pre-prom party – if you guys still need someone,” Paige told her sister.  

    “Of course, I’ll tell Wednesday.”

    I texted the other girls straight away.

    Shiloh was very excited as they took the school bus home that day.

    “Not a good look,” Mackenzie stated, shaking her head. “I have no idea why you all voted those two in,” she added. Of course we’d offered to drive the Bennet sisters home but there were so many of them. The older Bennets were considered attractive and hardworking but they weren’t rich and didn’t live in a glitzy suburb like Honey (Bel Air) or even the nicest part of Sunrise. They lived, like I said before, on the wrong side of the tracks.

    “Do you want a lift, Sweetie?” Mackenzie asked me.

    “No, my mom’s picking me up after swim practice.”

     “Oh, cool,” Mackenzie said, as if it wasn’t. Being a Princess wasn’t as much fun as she thought it was going to be.    

   

     I laughed at the thought of her when I adjusted my goggles. I couldn’t deny our swim coach (we call him Mr Suave), isn’t our main reason for participating in the club. He’s really old (almost thirty) but relatively cute and his girlfriend hangs out in the bleechers like his personal fan club every afternoon except Fridays. Some women need to get a life. Whatever.

     As I wrote that into my story it suddenly occurred to me that maybe Mackenzie’s meanness was rubbing off on me. That wouldn’t be great, would it? My mom wouldn’t be proud, so I scribbled it out but I totally think women need to have their own interests outside of their boyfs. (that’s short for boyfriends) and husbands, don’t you? I’m going to put that under my advice column: Wednesday’s Advice. I think Honey’s got that covered though. I’m just her PA stand in. Honey is by far the most popular freshman. She’s pretty in the right way and definitely nice as well. I’m so glad we’re friends. I always beat her in swimming races though.

       Darcy pulled up into his driveway around the same exact moment as Honey and I were being dropped home.

       Mackenzie, having arrived earlier, realized just a glimpse of Darcy’s hotness from her upstairs window brightened her day. He glanced up at her through the car window and waved dismissively. He too had trailed the school bus. He was thinking how much he’d hate having to take public transport in LA as he clicked open the gates without giving Mackenzie even a backward glance.  

 

    That night, in their crowded but clean and comfortable home, the eldest Bennet sisters (who shared a large, fairy light decorated attic bedroom) were talking in their beds.

    “Okay, do you want to hear it? I’m ready.”

    “Of course,” Shiloh replied encouragingly. Shiloh was always encouraging. Her real ambitions, however unfashionable to her sister, lay in her heart and her home.

    Paige read her speech standing on her bed with Shiloh listening in rapt adoration. When Paige spoke, standing on her bed, it was almost like she was on fire – but in a good way. Paige got quite impassioned about topics whereas Shiloh was always happier sitting quietly and listening.

     At the end of Paige’s speech, Shiloh clapped.

    “Oh, Paige, I think your argument is amazing!”

    “Do you Shiloh, really? I mean, I’m not sure about my competition, except that he’s an Aussie misogynist, obviously.

     “What does that mean?”

    “It means he doesn’t think girls are as good as boys… just because… we’re girls!”

     “Oh.”

     “I didn’t think he’d be that popular, but then half the class voted for him. I think it’s because I’m too outspoken… not popular…”

      “Mmm… but don’t you think Ryan’s good looking?”

      “I suppose so,” Paige said hesitantly, lest Shiloh should think she liked him. Ryan was cute, but Paige was way too argumentative for such an easy going boy. He was obviously perfect for Shiloh, though.

    “I think he’s one of the cutest guys I’ve ever met,” Shiloh added.

    “Oh Shiloh, you like him!”

    “Uh Huh. I think I do.”

    “Well, be careful. He and his friend are just so…”

    “So what?”

    At that question Paige began to smile. She hugged her polka dot pyjama-clad legs and laughed.

    “So rich...”

    “I overheard Elle saying they are the richest people in the Southern Hemisphere. But I never thought Australians were class conscious. Maybe we’re just misinterpreting him. Darcy seems snobbish but maybe he’s just shy, like me.”    

    “Maybe… but I doubt it.”

    “Oh well, I’m sleepy,” Shiloh yawned. Paige went to flick the dimmer.

    “Remember,” Shiloh said, “Tomorrow… don’t hide your light.”

Paige smiled in the dark. 

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter nine: Votes)

Chapter Nine

Votes

    On Friday, the captaincy was to be decided. Darcy pretended he didn’t care about beating Paige.

    As he entered the classroom, he noticed Paige Bennet reviewing her notes, her hair scrunched on top of her head, reading intently. He realized Mackenzie was right. Although he wouldn’t know or care about one designer brand from another, it was clear to him that this girl was a hot mess. Emphasis on the hot, she’d make a great fake girlfriend apart from her outspoken personality.

     Darcy tried to clear his mind of those inappropriate thoughts. How could he even entertain the idea? All the stress of dealing with his sister’s drama had made him delusional. Besides, her siblings were low rent even if she and her sister were passably hot. She was totally unsuitable. He felt quite alarmed that he was even thinking about her again. This meant he’d been thinking about her before. Darcy sat down, confused. Then he remembered this was the day of the captaincy vote and they each had to prepare a speech.  Darcy hadn’t prepared. He’d been debate champion in Sydney.   

    At his all boys’ school, it had never really occurred to him to think of girls as people – apart from his sister who was obviously a person, albeit an emotionally damaged one. He just considered girls another species, really. Even Mackenzie, though she’d always sucked up to him, was not a person he particularly liked, he merely felt safe around her, familiar. He knew she had a different value system and that aspect of Mackenzie’s personality, bothered him.

    Darcy sat up straight and watched as Paige took control of the ballots and the handing out of the pencils. Even Darcy wasn’t sure why they were going through with this charade. As the new boy, he didn’t expect to be made captain. The teacher began:

    “Now, it appears Paige does not go unopposed this semester,” Mrs Tartt noted loudly after the students were seated. At this point Paige had reached Darcy’s desk. Paige thought his smile arrogant as he chewed the end of his pencil. Paige, on the other hand, gave him a half-smile and said under her breath, “no need to look so smug.”

    This astounded Darcy, who’d never really thought of himself that way. He shuffled in his seat and felt quite unsettled by Paige’s assertion. He never really spoke to women who challenged him. His own mother had ignored him since he was a little baby. Instead of backing out, as he’d wanted to do, being as disinterested in joining school clubs as he previously was, his interest was heightened by her challenge.  Darcy raised his hand.  Someone (me) was scribbling it all down and Darcy looked over suspiciously. I smiled to myself. Although Darcy was likely to lose, he would never let Paige think she’d walked all over him without a fight.

    The ballot was called and the students folded their pieces of paper, one by one and placed them in the large piggy bank on Mrs Tartt’s desk.

    “Now, two hundred words each please, while I count the votes. The topic of the day is:  Should we ban all junk food in middle school? This half of the class please take the affirmative, the other half take the negative…”

     Darcy rolled his eyes and started scratching away on his paper. He’d been given topics just like this at his previous school and they were just as lame. Still, he wouldn’t give Paige Bennet the thrill of seeing him look at her so he kept his head down.

     As the students wrote, Miss Tartt counted the ballots.

     Bored, Darcy finished his draft before everyone else. Even Paige was still writing. He decided to flick the eraser onto the end of his pencil and use Paige’s back for target practice. Mrs Tartt was paying no attention to the back row but Paige swung round the moment the eraser hit her back.

     “That’s harassment… and could you be any more juvenile and attention seeking Darcy Donovan? That’s your name, right?” she whispered, “I heard Miss Tartt reading it out.”

     “Um… yes,” Darcy said, his face turning red. He’d wanted her attention but not like this. Paige was a real viper, like one of those venomous snakes he grew up hearing about. Hadn’t one crawled all over his grandfather when he’d first travelled to the outback? And hadn’t his grandfather lay there in his tent, frozen so the snake could crawl over him without biting?

      Before they could whisper again, Mrs Tartt stood up.

      “Pens down, class, I’d like to announce a tie. There are two things we could do. I could decide the winner myself, but that would be undemocratic, or we could vote again on Monday – after our candidates have had a chance to do a two minute speech on a topic of my approval.’

    The students started to talk amongst themselves. They voted on a new topic.

     “Okay, so, Paige and Darcy, unless either of you want to withdraw from the candidacy, I’m going to give you the topic.”

    Paige shook her head defiantly and Darcy just nodded looking very surprised.

    Great, well, we now have Thursday’s lesson to look forward to.

    The topic is: Peer Pressure is more Beneficial than Harmful.

Rys Wickam groaned. He’d heard it all before. I smiled to myself. Debate club was getting interesting. I was only sorry I couldn’t throw my hat into the ring but freshman weren’t allowed. Besides, between being Mackenzie’s pretend slave, learning my lines and dance class, I was way too busy.

     

    Paige thought about the topic as she read over it, barely glancing over at Darcy as he walked out of the room.

    Rys hung by the door to catch her as she left. “Wait up,” he said walking with her. Paige smiled, open to the possibility of a new friend but her mind was on Darcy. She was not used to being challenged in this way and she wondered how a new boy had already become so popular – then she realized, it wasn’t that Darcy was popular – it’s just that maybe she wasn’t.

     Perhaps it was time to get social. 

THE HOTNESS: A Modern Teen Pride and Prejudice (chapter eight: Teenage Gold Diggers)

Chapter Eight

Teenage Gold Diggers

There were two shocks in store for Shiloh and Paige the next day in the cafeteria. Firstly, we, The Princesses, formally asked them to join their group. Melody was leaving anyway but her father’s departure had been delayed. Our head Princess wanted to continue the tradition of making our group exclusive but not ‘mean,’ and Melody liked Shiloh (and thought she might make leader one day) and Shiloh wouldn’t join without Paige – so that’s how it all came about. Though Paige told no one she was part of our circle. She sat with Shiloh at lunch and Shiloh took Melody’s place when she left, which would have been fine, until Mackenzie started to show her true colors.

    Anyway, I blogged, doesn’t exclusivity make us mean by association?

    Shiloh was a bit confused. Paige saw all things clearly. I heard them talking in the locker rooms.

    “This group are snobbish and elitist. I want out,” Paige said.

    “I want to stay in,” Shiloh replied, asserting herself for once.

     Paige didn’t want to hurt her sister but I’m sure she knew we only let her in because we wanted Shiloh to join. Shiloh meant everything to Paige. As well as being a sister, she was her best friend, so that made Paige one of us even if we hadn’t formally voted her in.  

     As I skipped along to art class, there were pictures of the legendary Princess founders – Teegan, Tory, Brooke and Freya who had hoped to one day be real Princesses themselves – in the honor cabinet.  It was kind of sad. There were so few possibilities to become an American Princess in their era.

    So, after a girlhood of being totally mean, the founding princesses had to settle into suburbia. They were now moms and had become surprisingly nice. They hadn’t married real princes (of course) but they had married rich and as far as power went, they had to settle for running the Parents of the Poshest Bel Air Schools committee.

     I strolled through to my drama class. I wanted to arrive early to practice my audition piece for this new TV show my agent had been bugging me about.

     If you read my sister’s best friend’s memoir (Pride & Princesses) you’ll know I’ve been auditioning since I was three. Well, actually, I got a TV commercial and the money I made is in trust and enough to pay my way through college, thanks to my sister and her best friend, Phoebe. It’s only recently that my interest in auditioning has returned. My manager Thom has gone from tiny office in a backstreet to being attached to the largest acting agency in a fancy part of LA. He leaves messages all the time for me but I only return them sometimes. It’s important he knows I’m not desperate for work.

     As I worked away on my audition piece in the empty theatre waiting for class to start, emoting at the top of my voice, Mackenzie began to temporarily lose her mind in another part of the school. She’d surveyed the cafeteria and was contemplating the social structure of the place. Mackenzie concluded, now that Melody was out and Shiloh was in, that her week long grip on power was tenuous.  

     “They will NOT upstage me with some povvie princess whose fashion sense is at least a season out of date!” Shiloh ranted to the bathroom mirror. Unfortunately the mirror did not reply.

     *note to reader: “povvie” = a derogatory word used by Mackenzie to describe her financially challenged rivals. I don’t endorse the use of this word. It derives from ‘poverty’ which is in direct opposition to the affluence of the Bingley and Donovan families.