(Libby)
My last class had just ended and to be honest o was exhausted but I still find the time to rest because I had to make my way over to the gym for the dance meeting. When I arrived, I wasn't shocked to see the five remaining girls chatting up a storm by the bleachers
"Okay, settle down everyone," I said, taking a seat on one of the foldable chairs
"Okay, I'm sure you all know we're a little short on staff and I don't need to get into why. However, we still need to get this dance-ready," I said before the door opened and Sophie walked in
"What do you want?" I asked
"Um is it too late to join the committee?" She asked
"Yes"
"But you were just saying we were short on staff," one of the girls said. But with a glare directed at her, she knew to shut up
"Look, Mrs. Jones sent me to help you okay," she said before I sighed. Sophie's hard-ass teacher isn't someone to turn down
"Have a seat" I said allowing her to take a seat
"First thing on the agenda is catering, Samantha's uncle was supposed to cater but she canceled. Anyone knows someone that can cater for practically nothing"
The room went silent, no one had a good answer, then she put up her hand
"Yes Sophie," I groaned
"We could ask Taylor's mom. I don't think she'd mind doing us this favor"
"That's a great idea," one of the girls said with the others agreeing
"Okay, that's settled. In the next order of business the venue three of you girls will be tasked with getting everything decoration for the location, bare in mind the theme is forbidden forest this year, and the last two get the photographer. The only remaining thing is the DJ and making sure he doesn't forget and book another event like last year... I'll take care of that myself," I said
"Okay, that's it, everyone after you finish your assignments you can go home" I concluded before the other girls left leaving only Sophie and me
"Is there a problem?"
"I couldn't help but notice you didn't give me anything to do"
"That's because you're coming with me. Dom can be a bit of a prick so I might need your help in case his security decides to throw me out," I said picking up my bag
(Carl)
"Yo Carl!" I heard Carlos holler as we walked out of the school
"Carlos? Can I help you with something?"
"No, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go get some ice cream," he said
"Actually, I can't"
"Why not?"
"I'm going out of town with Brittney"
"I've been meaning to ask, how the hell did your fat ass get a girl like her as a girlfriend"
"It just sort of happened" I shrugged
"Man and here I am thinking you'd be one of those guys that didn't date anyone until they were in college or maybe even later than that. Good for you for proving me wrong," he teased
"Why don't you ask James to go with you?" I asked
"I asked him earlier, but he said he can't because he's heading out of town"
"Why?"
"I don't know" Carlos shrugged before my Dad's car pulled up in front of us
"Dad?"
"What's up Mr. Stewart," Carlos said
"Carlos" Dad sighed, already annoyed
"Been a while, how you been Mr. Stew?"
"Busy" he answered flatly before turning to me
"Let's go," he ordered getting back in the car
"I'll see you around Carlos"
"Yeah, sure," he said, walking away.
"Dad, are you really going to pick me up every day?" I asked
"Yes," he answered driving off at a safe, slow speed which felt unusual because I had grown accustomed to Brittney's fast and furious style of driving.
"You know Dad, you can drive a bit faster you know. Brittney normally drives at--" I said
"Let's not talk about Brittney," he said
"Why not? Why don't you like her Dad?"
"I didn't say I didn't like her. She seems like a nice enough girl"
"But?"
"I don't trust her"
"Why not?" I asked. Though he remained silent I had already figured the answer
"It was only a dance, Dad"
"Do you really believe that?" He looked me in the eye
"Can we just drop it?"
"Fine... your mom is getting ready to do her last surgery," he changed the topic
"That quickly? How?"
"Apparently when Brittney called him, he canceled every appointment, he had," he said
"Well, that's good for her," I asked
"I'm still against it," he said
"Why?"
"Your mother was perfectly fine how she was"
"Maybe she wasn't satisfied with how she looks"
"Why would she not be satisfied? Whose opinion of her should matter more than mine?" Dad questioned
"Maybe she thought her looking better would improve your love for her," I said
"My caring for your mother has nothing to do with her looks," he answered before he changed the topic again
"So are you planning on asking Brittney to the dance?"
"Yes, but I'm guessing you don't want me to"
"I want you to be careful"
"Brittney's not that bad Dad"
"I know she's not... I'm just trying to warn you. I know what it's like to be with someone who wants to be with someone else" he said stopping the car
"Why are you stopping?" I asked
"I'm gonna buy something," he said, closing the door. As I waited for a bit I suddenly had a craving for something sweet. So I dug into my Dad's glove compartment for a stick of the bubble gum Dad normal keeps in there, but surprisingly as I dug through it a zip lock bag of white powder fell out. I sat there holding the small bag in my hand wondering what it was. I opened the bag and took a closer look. This can't be what I think it is, can it? Cocaine? Why would my dad have that?
'This can't possibly be his' I thought to myself before I saw him coming. Quickly put the bag in my pocket I closed the compartment pretending as if nothing happened
"Finally got it," he said, getting back in the car
"Got what Dad?" I asked
"Oh, it's nothing important."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it is just something for the pharmacy"
"You know Dad, I learned about cocaine in class today"
"That's good,"
"Yeah, you know anything about that?" I asked
"I know a lot about the risks and dangers of doing it" My dad was a pharmacist so he knew a lot about drugs and stuff. He had always preached against drugs so I couldn't picture him using any especially something as dangerous as cocaine
"So you wouldn't take it, right?"
"Never! Why are you asking that Carl?" he said.
"Oh, no reason it was just a question that popped in my mind"
(James)
Not long after school ended I went home which not surprisingly was empty. Mom was still at the bakery and Dad always worked until late in the night
I had returned home to feed my dog and leave my parents a note before heading out. Timothy was an old friend that lived in the city which was a good distance away. It was a three-hour trip by car. Timothy's house was huge as his family had a lot of money. I couldn't keep myself from looking at the beautiful and lush green lawn littered with many beautiful and exotic flowers as well as marble statues carved to perfection as I walked on the marble-tiled path stones to get to his front door. Ten minutes after ringing the bell the door finally opened. Timothy's dad, a middle-aged million dressed in the most expensive fashion money could afford
"Is there something I can help you with?" He asked
"Timothy's dad, I'm James Taylor, I'm a friend of Timothy's"
"I find that hard to believe," he said. Eyes filled with scorn as he stared at my comparatively cheap clothing
"Sorry I live out of town" I explained
"Yo Dad, what's taking so long?" Timothy asked, making his way over to us
"James?" Timothy said, surprised
"You know him? He claims to be your friend" His father said
"Yeah, Dad, I know him," he said
"I should remind you to be wary of the friends you associate with" he sneered walking away
"Sorry about that," he apologized
"It's cool, I'm guessing your Dad doesn't know about me," I asked
"James my Dad doesn't care about anything but sucking up to my godfather. Anyway, man, it's been a while. How have you been?" he said putting his hand out
"I'm good" I shrugged grabbing it before he pulled me in for a hug and we patted each other's back before letting go. This was Timothy Jackson. He was the godson of the multi-billionaire who practically owned half of this city. We had actually met at the showing of a new technology piece in my town. Back then I didn't like him because the first thing he did was start flirting with Sophie as soon as he met her. Eventually, we got to know each other and because we were so close in age we became friends despite the glaring differences.
"I was actually just about to head out. Did you want something or are you here to see the city?" Timothy asked
"Well, I actually need your advice on something"
"Legendary genius needs my advice? Will the wonders of life never cease? So what's the deal?"
"Well, there's this girl"
"Sophie"
"No"
"Really, I'm kinda shocked. So who's the chick?" Timothy asked
"Her name is Betty-Ann"
"She hot?" Timothy asked
"You have no idea"
"Okay, so what's up with this girl?"
"I keep asking her to go to this dance with me bu-"
"Tim" a feminine voice called from behind me. I turned to see a girl with black hair, light skin, and wearing glasses over her hazel brown eyes. She wore a crop top showcasing her flat stomach, high waist jeans, and black sneakers. She had a figure comparable to Betty-Ann's, all in all, she was quite beautiful. She could even give Betty-Ann a run for her money. Though when I compare her to Sophie I can't help but think she's missing something. Maybe it was because she had fewer muscles than Sophie. Whenever Sophie wore a crop top you would be able to see her clearly defined six-packs. While being by no means bulky Sophie had a lean yet petite figure. Though contradictory there was no other way I could describe her. Her muscles were probably the reason I started to work out
"Oh T what's up?
"I thought we were gonna hang out today"
"Yeah, I was just heading out"
"Who's this?" She asked
"This is James Taylor, one of the smartest minds in existence. James, this is Tiana Francis"
"Wait, James Taylor as in the genius child that held a lecture at M.I.T," she said
"Yeah, most people our age don't really know about that," I said surprised
"Well, I know and I'm a really big fan"
"I have fans?" I laughed nervously. I hadn't thought a girl as beautiful as her, would be into science and stuff.
"Yeah, I watched your lecture and it was absolutely amazing. It's such an honor to meet you," she gushed
"Well, it's nice to meet you too. Don't tell me you're gonna ask for an autograph" I cracked a joke
"Would you?" she asked, completely serious
"Hey James sorry to cut this short but we've got to go. So about this dance?"
"Maybe we should talk about it later I don't wanna keep you," I said
"No, it's fine. We still have a lot of time," he said, looking at his watch
"Oh shit we're late," he said
"I'll just come by when you're free later"
"Or maybe you can come with us," Tiana said
"You sure? I wouldn't want to intrude"
"No problem the more the merrier," she said
"Okay, great, let's get going," Timothy said
(Carl)
Dad and I reached the hospital about half an hour ago. I was in the room with mom alone because Dad left a few minutes ago
"How are you feeling Mom?"
"I'm fine Carl, it's not like it's the first time I'm doing this," she said
"About that, Mom, what made you suddenly want to do this in the first place"
"It wasn't sudden at all Carlton" she laughed it off
"Okay, but I don't think you've ever told me"
"Because you never asked" she continued to chuckle
"Fair enough," I sighed
"Do you want to hear a story?" She suddenly asked
"About?"
"Your father and I"
"Okay," I agreed
" You know your father had a girlfriend before me."
"I would think so," I said.
"Yeah, she was practically perfect: absolutely gorgeous, excellent cook, decent grades and was a member of our high school cheer team"
"How did Dad ever get a girl like that? No offense to Dad," I asked. Though not as unattractive as Mom used to be Dad was rather cynical and snobbish to other people and often doubted their intentions
"Your dad was very different back then. He was actually the captain of the football team." She reminisced
"So how did you two meet?"
"I had just moved into town, but because I got sick easily I had to constantly be at the pharmacy. His family's pharmacy was close to our home so it was the one I went to most of the time since his father was out of town most of the evenings he had to watch the pharmacy most evenings and over the weekend which was when I mainly went. We surprisingly got along pretty well and I developed a crush on him. During our second year of college, he found out his girlfriend was cheating and fell into a depression. I was there for him and one day I kissed him and soon you came along"
"That's such a great story, Mom, but what does that have to do with plastic surgery"
"Even while we were dating I couldn't shake the feeling he was still in love with his ex and I sometimes catch him looking at old photos so I initially thought maybe it looked like her maybe...."
"Mom you don't have to change anything about you. I'm sure Dad loves you just the way you are"
"Thank you Carl but I still want to do this. When you meet a girl you'd give anything for you'd understand what I mean. Plus, I said initially after a while I realized I wanted to do this for me; I wanted to look in the mirror and say that I'm happy with what I see and truly mean it" she said before Brittney and some nurses came into the room
"The surgeon is ready," One of the nurses said before they and my mom left
"Okay, the reservations are for today at six (6) so we should probably go home and get changed I'll pick you up at five (5) Kay," she said happily skipping over to me