by Rita Cain
Kneeling down to pick up the mail, Wesley said, “I’m sorry that I wasn’t paying attention, Miss. It’s all my fault.” Gabriella then knelt down smirking and helped him pick up the mail. Wesley glanced over at her and gasped. “Gab-Gabriella?” he said stunned.
Smiling she said, “that’s my name! Don’t wear it out!”
“What? What?” he said confused.
“Hm?” she mused.
“You look different...,” Wesley said.
“That’s the point, silly! You could say I had an upgrade.”
“An upgrade to what?”
“Popularity! Obviously! Before I was nobody! Now I’m glamorous and everyone knows me!”
“So?”
“Before no one knew me. I got asked if I was a new student today. I was invisible!”
“You were never invisible!”
“Yes, I was! I was an ugly, dorky, loser! No one gave me the time of day! Now everyone thinks I’m pretty and fabulous!”
“You weren’t a loser! And I thought you were beautiful before! I tried to tell you but you never listened!”
“If you thought I was soooo great why did you drop me? Friends don’t drop each other. You were all that I had. You left me, Wesley. I was alone.”
“I know and I’m sorry!”
“You’re not sorry! If you were sorry, you would have come back but you never did!”
“Gabriella, I wanted to! But I couldn’t!”
“Why not?”
“Because Ally said I couldn’t talk to you!”
“So, you listened to Ally? A girl who just recently gave you the time of day?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because she said that you would hurt me more!”
“Hurt you? How have I ever hurt you, Wesley?”
“You hurt me all the time....”
“How?”
“Just last week you showed off those pictures of me! That was so embarrassing!”
“That wasn’t me!
“I don’t believe you. Who else would know about what I sleep in?
“No one.”
“Exactly. You’ve changed, Gabriella.”
“I...”
“I loved you, Gabriella. I’ve loved you for years. But you never seemed to care. You were always busy with something. You had homework or studying to do. I didn’t even think you would notice me leaving you. Now I don’t know where the girl I loved is but she’s gone.”
“Oh, Wesley...I...”
“Don’t, just don’t.” Then Wesley spun around and stormed to his house. He forgot his mail.
Chapter 17: Burning Bridges
“Hello?” Ally said into her phone.
“Hey, it’s Jess. My phone died and I’m using my brothers,” Jessica said.
“Oh,” Ally replied blankly.
“So, I was talking to Christina earlier about that new girl,” Jessica said.
“She’s not new,” Ally said annoyed.
“See that’s the thing. Everyone thinks she’s new and technically she’s not new to our school. However, her makeover makes her new and gives her that wow factor.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I think we need to take her in.”
“Why should we?”
“Because we can’t let someone walk around school with that much style and not belong in our group. Plus, if someone else takes her into their group they’ll score popularity points. We can’t afford that.”
“That’s true but I don’t like her.”
“Why don’t you?”
“I have disliked Gabriella for years now. It is a deep dark secret that only I and her know about. You can’t know.”
“Well then, why don’t you get over that deep dark secret so we don’t lose our popularity?”
“Because-“
“Don’t even start, Ally, we love you but we love our popularity too. We get into the coolest parties and access to the latest styles before anyone else.”
“I know.”
“Well, can’t you just let that grudge go then? Can’t you just play nice girl to Gabriella’s face?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Fine, Ally. You don’t have to worry then.”
“You won’t try to add her as a friend?”
“No, I will. But you don’t have to worry about being my friend anymore. You can kiss me and popularity goodbye.” Click. Jessica had hung up the phone, just like that. She slammed Ally repeatedly and Ally was now shunned. Her only hope was to call Christina before Jessica could get to her. She quickly dialed Christina’s number hoping that she could when Christina over. The phone rang once, twice, thrice and then she heard Christina pick-up.
“Hello,” Christina said, “I don’t have a lot of time to chat, Ally.”
“Oh, it won’t take long,” Ally promised.
“Err-okay,” Christina said
“So,” Ally started, “Jessica talked to me about the new girl today.”
“Mhm.”
“She wants her to join our group.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I disagree with the idea. Why share our popularity? Why expand our circle to someone who got attention one day? I mean Jillian got attention the day she decided to make a statement by flashing a teacher at school but that doesn’t mean we let her into our group. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah, we didn’t allow Jillian in but that’s different. Jillian pulled a stupid prank. Gabriella today had the wow factor. Every single person at school just stared at her. From head to toe she was glamorous.”
“We look glamorous all the time.”
“Yes, but it’s different, Ally. Gabriella’s makeover is new and fresh. It’s drawing attention to her and away from us. If we don’t make friends with her, we’ll lose our status. We can kiss all the VIP parties and first dibbs on new clothes goodbye. Do you want that?”
“No, of course not! But I don’t trust her. Gabriella is a terrible person.”
“I don’t know what she did to you but maybe you deserved it. Remember what you had us do to your boyfriend, Wesley?”
“Yes! And just a week ago you were willing to frame Gabriella. Now you want to be best friends?!”
“Think of it as girl politics. Sometimes if you want to win a campaign you have to pretend to like people.”
“Don’t start that political crap with me. You’ve been talking to your father too much.”
“Don’t start with me! Listen, either you give in and make friends with Gabriella or Jessica and I leave you. Do you understand?”
“I refuse to be friends with her.”
“Then consider this friendship vetoed. Goodbye, Ally,” and with that, Christina hung up the phone. Ally was furious. How could her friends do this to her? Couldn’t they see that Gabriella was evil? Heck, Gabriella was probably doing this as revenge for stealing Wesley. She had no right to do that and Jessica and Christina had no right to leave her either. Ally was queen bee. She was in charge. There was no way that her friends would really leave their master. It was all just a bluff, wasn’t it?
Chapter 18: Let’s Be Friends
Gabriella walked into school, head held high and shoulders back. Today she flaunted an emerald colored dress that complimented her eyes. She also wore black sling-backs and had her hair in a flirty updo. As she walked in, everyone stared at her. She was already use to it and thrived on the attention she was receiving. Gabriella finally reached her locker and began to do her combination when Jessica and Christina walked up to her.
“Hi,” Jessica began, “I’m Jessica and I just want to tell you that you look fabulous!”
“Thanks,” Gabriella said.
“And my name is Christina,” Christina said “And I agree! You look so stunning!”
“Thanks,” Gabriella said again.
“So, we wanted to know if you wanted to hang with us tonight and go to Josh’s party. It’s only going to be the hottest party of the sch
ool year,” Jessica gushed.
“Yeah, it’s going to fantastic! And we can hook you up with someone if you want,” Christina said.
“I don’t know,” Gabriella said, trying to sound bored.
“Oh, please join us!” Jessica begged.
“Why don’t you do with Ally?” Gabriella asked.
“Oh, umm, we don’t associate ourselves with Ally anymore,” Christina said quietly.
“Oh, umm, all right,” Gabriella said. “You know, I don’t really have plans tonight anyway. I’ll come.”
“Perfect! So we’re going to meet at my house at seven tonight to get ready. Give me your number and I’ll text you the deets!” Jessica said excitedly.
“Great,” Gabriella said.
Chapter 19: Meet Ally, the Loner
Ally had been alone all day at school. She hadn’t talked to Jessica or Christina once. She sure saw them enough though! They were talking to Gabriella whenever she saw them. They were all smiling and laughing like they were all old best friends! They weren’t though. A week ago they hated Gabriella just like Ally did. Heck, they just started talking to her today and they were already acting like best friends. Ally was furious. Ally felt like she had lost everything. She couldn’t play any sports right now; she had no friends and no popularity. Her life was basically over. Things needed to change now.
For example, Wesley had to go. He was so annoying. He wanted to talk to her like they were dating or something. He also kept asking questions about why she wasn’t talking to Jessica or Christina. Didn’t he know that guys cannot enter the world of girl politics? Oh right, he wouldn’t know that because the only girl friend he had was Gabriella and she had no other friends. Ally sighed.
Maybe there was a way Ally could change things though. She could get rid of Wesley easily enough. She could also hurt Gabriella pretty easily too, if she planned things just right. Ally smirked. Gabriella may have played her cards well but the game wasn’t over yet and Ally still had a few tricks up her sleeve.
Chapter 20: Party Prep
Gabriella had borrowed her parent’s Prius to go to Jessica’s house. She told them that she was going to Jessica’s house to study. It was sort of true, wasn’t it? She was going to learn what it was like to have friends and get ready for parties.
Gabriella pulled up into Jessica’s driveway and was instantly jealous. Jessica’s house had a four-car garage. The outside of the house was covered in stone, giving it a cozy feeling. There was even a secluded garden with a gorgeous water feature. Gabriella couldn’t possibly imagine what the inside must look like then. The grass sure did seem greener on the other side.
Gabriella walked up to the front door and rang the doorbell. Within three seconds of the chime, Jessica had answered it.
“Come in!” Jessica said excitedly. Gabriella stepped in and instantly became even more jealous of Jessica. Everything was beautiful. There was so much marble, granite, copper and gold. The ceilings were so high and there was a spectacular winding staircase. Jessica’s house seemed to be the perfect combination of classic and contemporary.
“This is a lovely house,” Gabriella said.
“Oh, it’s not much. Wait until you see our lake house, it’s much better,” Jessica said.
Gabriella rolled her eyes. “Of course this isn’t much, silly me,” Gabriella thought.
“So my room is upstairs,” Jessica said gesturing to the winding staircase, “let’s go up!”
“Okay,” Gabriella said. Jessica ran up the stairs like it was nothing at all. Gabriella on the other hand, climbed the stairs slowly and was dizzy by the time she reached the top.
“My room is the second door on the left!” Jessica said. “Come on!” Gabriella followed Jessica half-heartedly. She was already tired and could already imagine how great Jessica’s room would be.
Gabriella walked in and was once again jealous but amazed. There on the bed was Christina reading a magazine like this place was so boring. How could she do that? Jessica’s room had a balcony with French doors! The walls were caramel colored and everything had a classic royal touch to it. It felt like Gabriella was in Juliet’s room.
Christina looked up, “hey, Gabriella!”
“Hey,” Gabriella responded half-heartedly.
“So guys,” Jessica started. “I need to look absolutely amazing tonight! Nick is going to be there with his new girlfriend and I don’t want to look like the loser ex-girlfriend who hasn’t moved on!”
“So true!” Christina said.
“What do you think I should wear, Gabriella?” Jessica said.
“Well, what do you have?” Gabriella asked.
“Oh, like nothing to wear! Let me show you what’s in my closet!” Jessica said.
“Okay,” Gabriella said then Jessica led Gabriella to her huge walk-in closet. There were rows and rows of clothes, it felt like they stepped out of Jessica’s house and went to the mall.
“So here is my semi-formal section,” Jessica said pointing to a whole row of dresses. Gabriella glanced at all of the dresses. She then walked up and down that row, examining different dresses. Finally she picked one for Jessica.
“Why don’t you wear this?” Gabriella said to Jessica. She was holding a short one-strap red dress that flared out at the bottom. “This would totally say ‘I’m bold and confident’,” Gabriella added.
Before answering, Jessica looked at the dress thoughtfully and said, “you’re right, Gabriella! This dress will definitely make a statement and show Nick that I don’t need him!”
“Perfect,” Gabriella chirped.
Chapter 21: It’s Over
Ally marched up to Wesley’s door and rang the doorbell. She stood there impatiently. She was done with Wesley. Sure he seemed like a cute hipster guy when she spotted him with her old friends. Sure, part of her decision to date him was influenced by causing Gabriella pain but no more.
Leaving the door closed, Wesley said, “hello?”
“Hi, it’s me, Ally!” Ally said annoyed. Wesley opened the door.
“Oh, hi,” Wesley said, “so what’s up?”
“We need to talk,” Ally said.
“Oh, so is that why you randomly showed up on my doorstep?” Wesley said sarcastically.
“Precisely.”
“Okay, so what do we need to talk about?”
“I want to break-up.”
“Uhh, why?”
“Things aren’t going well.”
“They’re going just fine!”