by Crisp, M. L.
Marla broke up with him a couple of weeks later of course, but not before she made sure Tess saw them making out by her locker almost every day. Tess suddenly lost her appetite, “Miss Carpenter, can I go back to the library now?” She asked.
Valerie scanned the table, “it looks like everyone is about finished with their lunch. Just wait a little bit, I don’t want any of you wandering the halls alone right now.”
Tess sighed, and looked at Marla’s big, sweet, beautiful, fake smile she had plastered on. What was that bitch up to?
CHAPTER 16
The students sat mesmerized by the events unfolding on television. As did the news personalities, nobody seemed to know what to say now. After hours of speculation about the cause of this, the fact was, nobody knew what was going on. The screen was filled with bloody mobs ransacking the White House, the Kremlin, 10 Downing Street, it was going on everywhere. Mr. Kane finally, mercifully switched off the television. “I think it’s time for us to try and get some sleep.”
Marla, who was seated in between Rodney and Kyle, looked at the clock, “it’s only seven o’clock.” She said.
“I realize that Miss Masters, but we need to be up early tomorrow in case help arrives.” Tyrone said, just searching for a reason for this day to finally end.
Valerie got up from behind the desk, “come on everybody, the boys moved the couches in here earlier. Us girls are going to sleep in here tonight, the boys will be in the main office.”
As the boys were leaving, Tess waved at them. They didn’t seem to notice, Marla gave each of them a quick hug, “sweet dreams guys!” They both grinned sheepishly, Tess rolled her eyes.
Valerie turned to the girls, “ok, it’s going to be lights out in five minutes, if you want to take off your makeup or get more comfortable, now’s the time.”
Madison grabbed Marla’s hand, and they went to the bathroom. Madison looked at Marla, “sis, I know I said to get along better with everybody, but don’t you think you’re laying it on a bit thick?”
Marla smirked, “well, like, it’s working isn’t it? Besides, those two dorks are probably happier than they’ve ever been in their pathetic lives.”
Madison frowned, “I notice you’re not being any nicer to Tess.”
Marla made a sour face. “Fuck that tub of lard, nobody’ll care what a cow like that thinks anyway!”
Madison looked exasperated, “ok, fine, that’s just too much for you, but why are you laying it on so thick with the guys?”
Marla smiled ear to ear, “it’s a surprise, you’ll see.”
The door opened and Tess walked in, Marla’s smile disappeared instantly. She started to leave, and couldn’t resist making a comment, “try not to break the toilet seat Triple T.”
“Eat me bottle blonde.”
Marla guffawed, “eat you? As if, that would take, like, a month!”
Tess started to say something, but Marla had already left the bathroom. Tess welled up with tears, Madison put her hand on her shoulder. Tess looked up, “why is your sister so mean?”
Madison shrugged her shoulders, “she’s not always like that, I guess you just rub her the wrong way. Sorry, I don’t have a better explanation than that. Just stay out of her way and try not to let it get to you.”
Tess nodded, and Madison walked out the door. Tess splashed water on her face. “Stay out of her way?” She thought, how is that even possible when they’re all stuck in school together? She sure hoped all of this would end soon.
CHAPTER 17
Marla awoke to the sun beaming in through the window, she looked around. Her sister was still fast asleep. Triple T was sacked out on a nearby couch, snoring loudly. That pig’s hideous sleep oinking is probably what woke her up, God how Marla hated that fat bitch. She saw Miss Carpenter staring out the window, at the lake. If she hated being stuck in here with anyone more than Triple T, it was that plain jane cunt. At least she could let Triple T know how she really felt about her, but she had to play nice around Miss Flat Chest over there. She couldn’t wait until graduation, she would steal whatever low rent boyfriend that walking bag of ‘ordinary’ was lucky enough to find, and shove her, too big for her face, nose in it.
But that was for another day. Marla stood up and yawned. Valerie turned around, “oh, I didn’t know anyone else was up yet.”
Marla smiled, “I’m surprised anyone is still asleep the way Jabba The Hut is snoring over there.”
Miss Carpenter winced, but didn’t want to get into it with Marla this early in the day. She just smiled back, “I know what you mean, I woke up last night when you were snoring too.” She said, innocently.
Marla’s eyes narrowed, “I don’t snore!”
Valerie shrugged, “oh, I guess I was mistaken.”
Marla tried to calm herself down, she wanted to slam this bitches head through the glass window. Instead, she changed the subject, “what were you looking at out there?”
Valerie pointed to the middle of the lake, “at those boats, yesterday, there was one when all this started, now there’s several. I guess it’s one of the few safe places, out in the middle of the water.”
Mr. Kane entered the library, with Rodney and Kyle flanked on either side of him. “Rise and shine!” He hollered.
Madison awoke, and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Tess woke up, but kept her eyes closed for a few moments, hoping that this had all been a bad dream. Her dad always came in her room in the mornings saying that, except it was “rise and shine Buttercup!” She had always been daddy’s girl, to him, she was the most beautiful thing in the world, even after she put on weight. “Just more of you to love Buttercup!” He’d say when she would complain about her weight. She grinned at the memory, then heard Marla complaining about something. She knew then that she wasn’t dreaming, or if she was, her nightmare wasn’t over yet.
“I totally need a shower.” Marla whined.
Mr. Kane shook his head, “unfortunately the gym is locked down, those creatures got in there. It looks like we will have to bird bath it in the restrooms for now.”
“Bird bath?” Marla asked.
“That’s what we called it in the navy when we had to conserve water, just wash yourself down as best as you can from the sink.”
Marla rolled her eyes, grabbed her purse, and left for the girls room, with Madison trailing behind her. Mr. Kane joined Miss Carpenter at the window, “how did everything go in here last night?”
“Fine I suppose, we were all pretty drained, so everybody pretty much went right to sleep. How about with the guys?”
“Pretty much the same, that Rodney character snores like a chainsaw though.”
Valerie laughed, “yeah, Tess saws a mean log herself. Any more word on what’s going on out there?”
“I’m afraid not, I checked the TV in my office, and only one of the stations is still broadcasting, and it’s just more of the same. Nonstop bloodshed, I’m not even going to turn it on for the students. Get the VCR hooked up, and see what tapes we have. I think we need to keep them occupied, we can’t just let them do nothing but think about this, work up a lesson plan.”
“Will do…sir, I was thinking, see all those boats out there on the water? I think it’s people seeking safety, maybe we should signal them, let them in here, there’s safety in numbers.”
Tyrone mulled it over for a moment and then spoke, “no, I don’t think it’s a good idea. Our first consideration has to be for the students in our charge. We can’t do anything that might bring harm to them, and we don’t know anything about those people on those boats. Besides, getting them in here could lead to the school being breached by those things outside.”
“Understood, I’ll get to work on a lesson plan, and…”
Rodney interrupted them, “um, sir?”
Mr. Kane looked down at him, “yes Rodney, what is it?”
“I’ve seen a lot of zombie movies, and read a lot of ‘end of the world’ type novels, even written some myself for a fanzin
e…”
“Don’t worry Rodney, this isn’t the end of the world.” Mr. Kane said.
“That’s not what I’m getting at Mr. Kane, um, what I mean is, I’ve thought a lot about situations like this, and it’s just a matter of time before we lose power and utilities. I think we should get all the bowls we can from the cafeteria and fill them with water while we still have it coming out of the faucet.”
Mr. Kane grinned, “you have thought about this. Good idea son, in fact, let’s get on that right after breakfast!”
“That’s another thing, we might need to start rationing the food, take some inventory of it, and eat the stuff that can spoil first, before we lose electricity.”
Mr. Kane put his hand up for a high five, and Rodney slapped it, “if I have to be stuck in here, I’m glad it’s with you kid!”
Marla carefully applied her red lipstick, gazing in the mirror to view her handiwork. Satisfied, she smiled. “Gee sis, why even bother with the makeup?” Madison asked.
Marla kept looking at herself, but answered, “Madison, if we’re rescued, I need to be camera ready.”
“You sure it’s not for your new boyfriends?” Madison teased.
Marla turned to face her, “now that you mention it, Kyle is kind of cute isn’t he?”
Madison’s jaw dropped, “no way sis, you are not really into him are you?”
Marla shrugged, “before yesterday, I wouldn’t have given him a second thought, but in case you haven’t noticed, pickings are mighty slim around here.”
Madison was flabbergasted, “well, aside from the bad haircut, thick glasses, and the goofy Panama Jack shirt, he’s not half bad for a band geek. With the proper girlfriend guidance, I see some potential there.”
Marla grinned, “that is, like, so what I thought. I mean, once this is over, so is he, but if this goes on awhile, I mean, why not, right? It would make a great story to tell Johnny, about the romance that blossomed between us, the beautiful cheerleader and the band geek, they could totally make a movie about us.”
“Who would play you? It’s too bad Morgan Fairchild isn’t ten years younger, she’s almost a dead ringer…Oh I know! Heather Locklear could play you!”
Marla frowned, “like, no way, I would totally play myself, that would be part of the deal I would sign with any talent agency. Totally non- negotiable.”
“Then who would play Kyle? Ralph Macchio?”
Marla crinkled her nose, “no way! Rob Lowe!”
“But wouldn’t he have to be at least sort of geeky to play, you know, a band geek?”
“Madison, it’s a movie, they could just stick a pair of glasses on him.”
“Who do you see playing me?”
“Maybe, like, that girl that plays Kimberly on Different Strokes.”
“I guess she’d be ok, what about Rodney?
“Like, I don’t know if they could find an actor that looks like him, they would probably have to get, like, Jim Henson to make a muppet or something.”
Madison laughed. “This is fun, Mr. Kane and Miss Carpenter?”
“Hmmm, Miss Carpenter, I don’t know, I guess maybe that girl that played Bailey on WKRP, except they’d have to tape down her boobs and have here wear, like a big ass fake nose. Mr. Kane, let’s see…I can’t think of any black actors except for Eddie Murphy, and he’s like, too young. Oh wait, like, Bill Cosby!”
A mischievous grin spread over Madison’s lips, “ok, this is the one I really want to hear. What about Tess?”
Marla made a face like she had just smelled spoiled milk, and then she cackled. “Remember that, like, super fat bald guy in Stir Crazy? Grossberger! He’s like, her twin, just slap a red wig on him and some of her tacky lip gloss, and that’s totally Triple T!”
Madison grabbed her stomach and doubled over laughing, and Marla smiled triumphantly. “That’s totally it Madison, I’ll have that written into my contract too, Grossberger plays Triple T! Hell, like, I’ll even give up playing myself and let Heather Locklear play me if I can make that happen!”
Madison tried to compose herself, and then broke into another fit of laughter. Marla laughed with her, then looked like she thought of something, “she’s always whining that I should stop calling her Triple T, well now I will, from now on I’ll call that fat bitch Grossberger!”
Madison finally composed herself, “oh sis, seriously, how about Diane Lane, she’d just need to put on a few pounds.”
“A few? More like a few hundred! No, it’s Grossberger, and I’m like, totally serious, that will be in my contract!”
“Whatever sis, you’re really getting ahead of yourself here.”
“True, but it’s fun to think about, I mean, this crisis might be the best thing that ever happened to me!”
“Well, are you really going to make a play for Kyle?”
Marla’s mouth formed a sly grin, “yeah, I totally am, and sis, he’s got pot!”
Madison’s eyes bulged. “Get out! Where? In his locker? Why aren’t we smoking some right now?”
Marla looked a bit sheepish, “it’s in his car.”
“In his car, Marla, that might as well be on the moon!”
Marla shook her head, “it’s just a minor logistics problem. He’ll get it for me somehow.”
“Marla, do you really think he’ll want to risk his life for a bag of pot?”
“Oh, I’ll make him want to, he’ll think it was his idea.” Marla said, grinning.
“I don’t know Marla, it really would be dangerous.”
“All the better to impress me!” Marla said.
“I love you sis, but you can be one devious bitch!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll totally make it worth his while. Years from now, when he’s having sex with his totally ordinary looking wife, he’ll be thinking of me! His brief relationship with Marla Masters will be burned in his memory forever!” Marla said proudly.
“I bet.” Madison said, and then she thought of something, “oh God, if you’re pairing up with Kyle, then that leaves Rodney!”
“Nah, we’ll leave him for Grossberger.” They both laughed, and just then, Tess walked in, and both girls looked at her, and giggled. Tess stopped, and turned around to leave, but Marla spoke. “Don’t leave on our account Grossberger, we’re finished. Try not to break the mirror!” Marla said, as they walked past. Madison silently mouthed “sorry” on her way out.
After breakfast, Mr. Kane said they needed people to fill up every pot and bowl with water, and place plastic wrap over them. He told Kyle and Rodney to do it, and Marla volunteered to help them. As Rodney and Kyle went about their task, Marla leaned against the wall, chatting with them.
“That is so cool Rodney, I totally had no idea that Batman and Spiderman were like, from totally different companies. I always wondered why I never saw them together. That totally explains everything!” Marla exclaimed.
Rodney looked up from the sink, and smiled his jowly smile, “you really think it’s cool, you know, that I know stuff like that?”
“I totally do, it’s like, bitchin’!”
“Come on, really?”
“For real, I mean, if somebody is talking about this stuff, and they say, ‘it would be so cool if Superman teamed up with Spiderman, I would totally buy that comic book.’ Because of you, I can say, like, they can’t team up because they’re from, like, two totally different universes dorkwad!’ And I will look so smart!”
Rodney beamed, Kyle was standing a few feet away, rifling through some pantries for more containers. Marla winked at Rodney, “do you mind if I, like, borrow Kyle for a minute?”
Rodney nodded, “sure, we’re almost done anyway.”
“Awesome! When we come back, you can explain the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek to me, I always get them confused.”
“Oh, that’s an easy one, wait ‘til we get to Transformers and Gobots, that’s a little tougher. I mean, did you know Gobots came first?”
“No way! Hold on to that thought, I’ll
be right back. Kyle, can you join me out in the cafeteria?”
Kyle nodded, and followed her. Marla grabbed a couple of small milks on the way out. When they got to a table, they sat down, and she handed him a milk. “Here, let me buy you a milk.”
Kyle smiled and took it. “Thanks Marla, what’s up?”
Marla tried to look shy, “well gosh Kyle, can’t you figure it out? I’ve totally got a crush on you.”
Kyle looked a little suspicious, Marla Masters, a crush on him? “A crush on me? Marla, you can’t be serious.”
“I totally am! I mean, why do you think I sat down by you when I first got into detention?”
Kyle’s head was spinning, up was down, black was white, Marla Masters is flirting with him! “Um, I just figured…I don’t know, I didn’t really think about it.”
Marla giggled, “then you got up and moved, I thought it was the girl that was supposed to play hard to get.”
Kyle stammered, “I…I wasn’t playing…I mean, I just knew the other people better, that’s all.”
Marla looked at him reassuringly, and reached out and took his hand. “It’s ok Kyle, I forgive you. It’s just that this whole situation totally got me thinking, I can’t just sit around hoping you’ll make a move, I needed to do it. I hope I’m not being too forward.” Marla said, earnestly.
Kyle gulped, “um, no, I mean, if you feel that way, I’m glad you said something. Truth is, I’ve always kind of had a crush on you.”
Marla’s eyes widened. “Really? That is, like, so totally cool!”
“Marla, pretty much every guy in school has a crush on you.”
“I don’t think that’s true, but even if it was, it only matters to me that you feel the same way about me as I do about you.”
Kyle’s heart was beating a mile a minute. “Marla, if you’re pulling some kind of mean prank, then…”
Marla quickly let go of his hand, and started to get up, “well, if that’s what you think…”
Kyle quickly grabbed hold of her hand, and Marla sat back down, “I’m sorry, I mean, it’s just a lot to take in!”
“Come on Kyle, you never saw me checking you out at the football games? Really?”