The ride was about as eventful as a lazy sunday summer afternoon. I was too mentally exhausted to try and make conversation with the driver and I was pretty sure he wouldn't talk to me anyway. He seemed to be that strong silent type. I could respect that. He was similar to my dad in that way.
I don't remember much about my dad, in all honestly. I was seven when he left. I don't know why he left or where he is now. All I know is that he made my mom's and my life pretty damn hard. We didn't have to move but I had to listen to the heart breaking sound of my mom crying in her room. The sound of her yelling at him over the phone to send the child care he owed us. I learned to hate my father for reasons my mother didn't want me to know. After the first few months my mother started to date. A Lot. She would drink and take substances. It seemed to distract her from the life threatening heartbreak she was suffering.
The driver finally pulled up to our small house and I couldn't help but glare at Justin's house next door. The part of me that was wild screamed for revenge and briefly considered egging his window. That would probably end up spinning back to me somehow, unfortunately. Justin always had a talent for that. I quietly thanked the driver and walked to my front door glancing at the overgrown grass and the abandoned garden. I knew I should probably deal with the front yard soon but honestly, nobody cares. Deadbeat mom and nerdy high school senior who barely survive on child support? Let's just say we get a lot of free meals from our neighbors.
I unlocked door and the pungent smell of smoke and alcohol bombarded my nose as I walked in. "God, Mom." I coughed, holding my nose as I walked in to find my mother sprawled out on our cheap couch, an unlit cigarette in her hand, and fast asleep. I ran a hand through my hair, aggravated that she passed out... again. I picked up the other two discarded cigarettes and plucked the unused one from her fingers and threw them in the trash. I looked around at the living room with a sigh. I inspect my hair, which is now starting to dry with this slime coating it. Picking up the mess we call our house will take a good hour. So I make the executive decision to shower first and clean later.
I turned on my heel and walked towards my small room. The room itself wasn't a mess. Rather, the amount of things in the room without a place made it seem like a bomb hit it. There was a single twin bed in the room, with my colorful bedspread made neatly across it. I dumped my backpack in the corner of the room, and started making my way towards the bathroom. I looked at my reflection and winced at the disgusting image in front of me. My originally dark brown hair was now covered in bright green slop. What used to be only slightly messy waves down my back were now dripping with the stuff. Even my skin had a green sheen to it, which made my pale skin look very sickly and unflattering. I turned on the shower about as hot as it would go, which still wasn't very hot. I peeled off the ruined clothes and sighed, wondering if I should burn them. After a moment, I step into the cleansing stream of water and watch the green torture flow off my body and down the drain.
I close my eyes letting the feeling of clean wash over me. How had everything gone so wrong so fast? One minute I was a blubbering mess making a fool of myself, the next I was covered in slime and then my heart and soul of my freshman year was being poured out to the whole class. I will get my revenge on Justin, all in good time. He wants to ruin my reputation? (Well, it's not like I actually had a reputation) Now is my time to rise from the ashes of unpopularity and come back kicking and screaming. Maybe, just maybe, the rich boy with the cute smile is my ticket to the top. It's worth a shot.
After my quick, but extremely productive, shower, I changed into sweatpants and a random oversized t-shirt and headed into the living room ready to tackle my mother's mess. She hadn't moved an inch, from what looked like an extremely uncomfortable position. Part of me wonders if she died from alcohol poisoning, but she muttered something about Orlando Bloom. I draped a thin blanket over her, letting out a long sigh. She seemed somewhat peaceful in her passed out state.
As I was cleaning the kitchen I couldn't help but watch as Justin and his cocky friends pulled into his garage. I internally wished that the fence was 20 feet high and completely sound proof. But no. Tonight I'd probably have to listen to him throw one of his stupid parties that I would never be invited to. Maybe I should try crashing his party. Actually, nevermind. I don't want to come within four feet of Justin.
I glanced over at my phone and saw a text message a few minutes old from Georgia. Oh this should be fun.
Georgia: CALL ME
I picked up my phone to call her, leaning against the counter waiting for her to answer. I had known Georgia for my whole life. Literally. She's a day older than me and was being birthed in the room next door to me at the hospital. Our moms became fast friends and we've always gotten along well so we never really minded. Georgia is almost the exact opposite of me looks wise. She has a ball of sunshine disguised in an egy image. She loved to wear leather and chokers and such, but her personality didn't really match. She's always hyper and talking and lives for drama. So I wasn't surprised when my best friend's voice rang over the phone obviously upset. "I can't believe that meathead did that to you!" She scoffed. I could picture her pacing around her room, running her hand through her beautiful auburn hair.
I sigh, closing my eyes. "Yeah, I can't really believe it either" I grumble.
"Boys are stupid." She huffs. "I mean you've been crushing him on him, since like, forever! Like when we were twelve. I remember we would sit at your bedroom window with binoculars and just kinda watch for him! And he does this in return? Ugh!"
I let out a laugh. Georgia was almost more upset than I was about this whole ordeal. Looking back I couldn't believe how many hours of my life I wasted on him. How many times I had ambled around my bedroom as he had his parties, wearing a dress and makeup and debating whether or not to crash his party, and maybe finally have a chance with him, just to chicken out in the end. "I know, I know. I can't believe I wasted my whole life on him and he humiliated me. It just sucks. Please, just tell me he got in trouble."
I could hear Georgia smirking on her phone. "Oh yeah. OSS, for a month." She declared triumphantly.
I snort, "Serves him right. Oh also, I've come up with a plan. I'm going to rise like a phoenix from the ashes and get revenge on Justin." I say, biting my lip as I flick a crumb off the corner of the counter.
Georgia let out a disbelieving laugh. "How in the hell are you going to do that? What's this grandmaster plan you came up with?"
"Well..." I hesitate. I wanted to tell Georgia about Alex, but at the same time I didn't.
"SPILL!" Georgia screams in my ear, leaving it ringing.
"Okay, okay, calm down. I was just about to go bike home when Alex and his fancy ass car pulled up right beside me. He just offered me a ride home. I was thinking of getting him to help me get revenge, but I'm going to need to either blackmail him or seduce him." I explain, flustered just thinking about what happened with him. Not to mention my other encounter with the fuckboy extraordinaire, Hudson.
Georgia bursts out laughing. "You, the girl who's had one boyfriend and that was in freshman year, are planning to seduce and/or blackmail one of the most popular guys in school? Good joke D. Real funny. What's your actual plan?" she scoffs at my pathetic excuse for a plan.
"That was my actual plan."
"Well, it's absolutely terrible. And impossible."
"Nothing is impossible, G. Well, besides rising from the dead, but I can do it."
I can practically sense Georgia rolling her eyes as she sighs in exasperation. "Delancy, I love you, but you're going to make a fool of yourself if you try to seduce him. You're not seductive or particularly sexy at the moment, no offense."
"None taken." I drawl sarcastically, looking down at my pajama shorts and stained t-shirt. Maybe Georgia did have a point.
"Also, blackmailing him would probably cause an army of lawyers to appear at your door with big black scary helicopters, and then you disappear to like Peru or they kill you." Georgia says matter-a-factly.
"Well, I've always wanted to go to Peru."
"I'm being serious, Delancy. The Stones aren't a family you want to mess with. They could be dangerous. They have enough money to ruin you. Besides, if they kill you or you go to jail, who will help me with my calculus homework?"
"You're such a good friend." I sigh again, running a hand through my hair.
"Delancy, I just don't want you to die or get taken advantage of."
"Well, maybe you can help me be seductive so I won't make a fool of myself."
Georgia is quiet for a moment, debating whether or not she is going to help me. "We're going to have to start with your clothes, if we're going to do this. Sweatpants and hoodies don't exactly scream 'slut'." She says bluntly.
I roll my eyes, knowing she's right. "Can you come over on Saturday? We can go shopping and have a sleepover...?" I suggest picking at the side of my thumb.
She giggles. "Finally, I have an excuse to make you wear a dress!" She squeals. Her attitude change makes me roll my eyes. She's annoying but I love her anyway.
"I'll wear a dress but if you even try to put me in heels I'm moving to Peru." I say seriously.
Georgia laughs almost maniacally at the thought of finally getting to dress me up like a Barbie Doll. "Fine. No heels but you're wearing jewelry. End of discussion."
"Fine." I groan, smiling slightly. This was going to be fun. Alexander Stone would never know what hit him. I almost felt bad about what I was doing. Almost. A little revenge never hurt anyone. "I'll see you Saturday, G."
I hang up.
I sigh and go back to cleaning the room. My mother was good at one thing only, and that was making a mess. As a result, I had to clean up for debatably the messiest woman on earth. I would be a very good maid.
Wait.
What if the Stone's needed a maid? And what if I was that maid? My mind is racing. I've got the perfect plan. Georgia will be proud of me. I get back to work.