Da da da dum!
"So," Rita said, putting an arm on the back of her chair and shifting her body, "what's your problem?" Peggie sniffed, and looked out the window, ignoring Rita. Over-dramatic though she was, Rita knew not to act offended over this. Peggie was actually upset about something. She turned completely around, and kneeled on the seat so she could look at Peggie without re-adjusting constantly. "Are you okay? Why are you so angry?"
Peggie looked at Rita with tears in her eyes, which she rubbed out with the heels of her hands. "I'm upset, okay? Just leave me alone!" She turned away from Rita again. "You go have fun with Theo and Nicole, your new friends, okay? Better yet, dump them and make friends in Italy. I don't care. I mean, you already think more of Theo than you do of me. As soon as he says something isn't cool, you're done with it. I'm just waiting until he decides that I'm not cool, and you'll drop me. Just because I like something that doesn't fit into your perfect life doesn't mean you have to insult it. I don't want to talk to you anymore. All day today you've been ragging on me about the band, and you didn't even care that I liked it. You didn't even notice. I'm done." Rita looked at the back of Peggie's head with wonder.
"You didn't say! I thought it didn't matter that much to you!" Rita put out a hand to pat her friend, but Peggie shrugged it off.
"Since when have I ever had to tell you? You're the person who always knows how I feel. I don't have to show how I, I, never mind. It doesn't matter. Here come Theo and Nicole. I'm asleep." She closed her eyes, and leaned against the window. Rita started to talk, but Theo, studying his ticket, sat down next to her.
"Hey, lookie here! I get to sit next to the prettiest girl on the plane! Other than you and Peggie," he said, as Nicole loudly took offence. Rita stood up.
"I'm sure you'd rather sit next to Nicole, then. I'll sit with Peggie. She's probably-"
Theo pushed on her shoulder, and she sat. "No, no, no, you aren't getting away from me that easily. Peggie will be fine without you." He smiled, and Rita had to fight her desires to shake her head. She whispered in his ear, so Peggie couldn't hear, and said "Look, I do want to sit with you, but Pegs needs me. She's upset right now. She doesn't like change, and I think she's a little weirded out that you and Nicole are coming." Theo pulled away from her, and sat up straight.
"If that's the way it is," he said stiffly, but quietly, "you can go back there. I had no idea I was such a burden on your friendship." He stood up, and let Rita through. She opened her mouth to speak to him, but he just shook his head. Nicole was oblivious, as always, to the tension in the air, and happily switched seats. Peggie didn't move a muscle.
Theo fell asleep almost as soon as the plane took off. Nicole was looking out the window at the rapidly disappearing ground with no sign of fright. Her eyes were wider than usual, and she clapped her hands together once or twice with childish approval. Rita smiled to herself. Nicole was never upset. Rita, on the other hand, was feeling more and more meloncholy and uncertain. Am I really crazy to do this? Should I jump out of the plane now? She felt the pressure build on her eardrums, and couldn't hear very well until they popped. Is it true that a group of teens, almost adults, can't travel like this together and remain friends? Does farmiliarity really breed contempt? She looked at Peggie, whose bright hair was illumiated by the mid morning sun streaming into the window, and was sad. She didn't want to lose Peggie. She didn't want to lose her first and best friend. All through her life when other friends backstabbed and gossiped about her, Peggie had been staunch. Rita remembered how, on one occasion in eighth grade, she had come knocking on Peggie's door crying because one of her friends had spread it accoss the school that Rita liked one of the boys in her class. Everyone laughed at her, and Peggie, who'd had a dentist's appointment that day, hadn't been at school. She'd arrived at her true friend's door and pounded hard.
The rough wood beat against the sides of her fists, and she could feel the tears coursing down her cheeks. How could Cindy do this to me? I'll never be able to show my face in school again! Oh, Peggie, open up! Peggie had opened the door, and Rita collapsed into her arms. "Peggie," she sobbed, heartbroken, "Cindy Peterson told everone in school that I like Martin Richards, and everyone's been laughing at me all day, and Martin told me that he didn't like me because I'm weird." She continued to cry, and she felt Peggie's hand on the back of her head.
"Let's go scratch her eyes out."
Rita cam out of her reverie, and touched Peggie's shoulder. This time Peggie didn't shrug her off. "Peggie, I need you. You're my best friend, and no one can change that. I'm worried, too. I need you to be your usual down to earth self. Please, Pegs, don't leave me."
Peggie faced her, and let Rita hug her with a scowl that was all for show. "Geez, Rita, don't cry on me. We don't need two saps." Rita's eyes were brimming, and so were Peggie's.
6 hours and four movies later, Rita was still awake. She didn't know if it was because she'd gotten more sleep than the others, or whether she was more excited than they were, but she was wide awake. She knew it was only 5:37 back home, but she usually fell asleep as soon as she was in a dark place. She was a horrible conversationalist for road trips because she fell asleep right away. She usually didn't get to see entire movies because she fell asleep in the middle. She was a morning person, and usually went to bed a lot earlier than her friends, usually 7:30, unless she had a lot of homework. She rubbed her eyes, wishing she had the sandman's knack for falling alsleep. She knew that if she didn't fall asleep soon she'd be really jet-lagged. "Come on," she whispered, "Go to bed, me!"
Nicole jerked awake beside her. She was breathing heavily, and making little squeaking sounds. Rita shook the dinky airline blanket off her torso, and turned around in her seat. She struggled a bit before remembering the seat belt. Unclasping it, the sudden insomniac looked at Nicole.
"Are you okay?" she asked, "Were you having a bad dream?"
Nicole gasped for breath and nodded.
"Want to tell me about it?"
Nicole gulped. "Well," she said breathlessly, "I was at the hotel in Italy eating pancakes the morning we arrived, when I realized that I was allergic to the pancakes. You were all calm, and took me to the hospital. Peggie was freaking out, and she kept saying, "What do we do? What do we do?" So this ambulence came, and Theo's uncle was somehow in charge of the hotel, or something, and he took me to the hospital. Then, when I was in the emergency room, Theo's cousin walks in, and he was really hot. I was thinking 'Oh, great, there's this really hot guy seeing me like this.' He had black hair, and he was Italian, of course. So then, it's like this flash forward thing, only the little sign doesn't pop up and say '10 years later' I just already knew. And guess what!" Nicole's voice was hoarse from whispering, and her sleep filled eyes were frightened at whatever she was about to say. "I was married to him!" Rita waited, but that was all that came.
"Um, Nicole, why is that so scary?" Rita shrugged.
"Duh! It's going to happen! I'm going to meet my husband in Italy! This is terrible! I can't get married to the first guy I meet!"
Rita shook her head. "Go back to sleep, goof." Nicole sighed, and did so.
Rita finally drifted into an uneasy sleep. She was too cold and too excited. Her head fell onto Peggie's shoulder, and she was glad she wasn't sitting next to Theo, who she'd never have the nerve to put her head on. She didn't dream, but she heard other people talking, and filled in their words with actions and secret meetings. In her half-asleep mind she could read the thoughts of everyone around her. Peggie was dreaming of being onstage. The stewardess was waiting anxiously for the plane to land so she could get some real food to eat. Martha and her children were thinking of the family they missed in Italy. The lady with the guitar was thinking of a new song. Nicole was dreaming about Theo's nephew again. And Theo?
Even in her dreams, because that's what her semi-awake thoughts had drifted into, Rita couldn't read Theo's mind. He was sealed tightly against her mind, and she felt mournful and yearning. She wanted to know Theo as well as she knew Peggie. She wanted him to stop just flirting and really talk to her. She'd noticed that Theo rarely had a serious conversation with anyone. Sure, around teachers at home he'd been respectful and hard-working, but even they didn't know him. She wondered in her dream if anyone knew Theo. She awoke to feel something brushing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and the thing was gone. She thought groggily that it must have been her blanket, and went back to sleep to dream of ponies and sunflowers with no real feelings or thoughts to ruin her fun.
An hour before landing time they all awoke. Nicole first, then Rita, somehow sensing someone else was awake, then Peggie. Theo awoke only when Peggie reached back and rapped him on the head. He seemed to have forgotten the snub he'd thought Rita served him, and was back in good spirits. They were all laughing and teasing each other again by the time the plane landed. The four clapped, and Martha, the stewardess heading home, and her two children joined them. Pretty soon the entire plane was clapping. Rita beamed. Leaving home was the hard part. She was ready to have some fun.
"I'm gonna soak up the sun, gonna tell everyone to lighten up!" she sang, more off-key than not. Peggie rolled her eyes. Nicole joined in.
"You guys are so hot," Theo teased. "You should start your own band."
Rita remembered trying to read Theo's mind that night, and blushed at her thoughts of his flirting. No one noticed. Thank goodness! she thought, taking a sip of her bottled water and trying to make her cheeks paler. They'd ask me why, and I'm an awful liar, and then they'd probably find out, and then my head would explode, and-
"Hello? Earth to Rita. Are you there? Come in, Rita." Peggie snapped her fingers in Rita's face. "I said, what do you think about Nicole's dream?"
"What? Huh? Oh, yeah, dream. I think she's reading into the thing a little too much. It's just a dream, after all."
Nicole shook her head. "You don't understand! I can tell that it's going to come true."
"It is not going to come true. You're insane." Rita patted her friend's head.
"Just you wait. It'll happen."
Peggie looked at Rita with tears in her eyes, which she rubbed out with the heels of her hands. "I'm upset, okay? Just leave me alone!" She turned away from Rita again. "You go have fun with Theo and Nicole, your new friends, okay? Better yet, dump them and make friends in Italy. I don't care. I mean, you already think more of Theo than you do of me. As soon as he says something isn't cool, you're done with it. I'm just waiting until he decides that I'm not cool, and you'll drop me. Just because I like something that doesn't fit into your perfect life doesn't mean you have to insult it. I don't want to talk to you anymore. All day today you've been ragging on me about the band, and you didn't even care that I liked it. You didn't even notice. I'm done." Rita looked at the back of Peggie's head with wonder.
"You didn't say! I thought it didn't matter that much to you!" Rita put out a hand to pat her friend, but Peggie shrugged it off.
"Since when have I ever had to tell you? You're the person who always knows how I feel. I don't have to show how I, I, never mind. It doesn't matter. Here come Theo and Nicole. I'm asleep." She closed her eyes, and leaned against the window. Rita started to talk, but Theo, studying his ticket, sat down next to her.
"Hey, lookie here! I get to sit next to the prettiest girl on the plane! Other than you and Peggie," he said, as Nicole loudly took offence. Rita stood up.
"I'm sure you'd rather sit next to Nicole, then. I'll sit with Peggie. She's probably-"
Theo pushed on her shoulder, and she sat. "No, no, no, you aren't getting away from me that easily. Peggie will be fine without you." He smiled, and Rita had to fight her desires to shake her head. She whispered in his ear, so Peggie couldn't hear, and said "Look, I do want to sit with you, but Pegs needs me. She's upset right now. She doesn't like change, and I think she's a little weirded out that you and Nicole are coming." Theo pulled away from her, and sat up straight.
"If that's the way it is," he said stiffly, but quietly, "you can go back there. I had no idea I was such a burden on your friendship." He stood up, and let Rita through. She opened her mouth to speak to him, but he just shook his head. Nicole was oblivious, as always, to the tension in the air, and happily switched seats. Peggie didn't move a muscle.
Theo fell asleep almost as soon as the plane took off. Nicole was looking out the window at the rapidly disappearing ground with no sign of fright. Her eyes were wider than usual, and she clapped her hands together once or twice with childish approval. Rita smiled to herself. Nicole was never upset. Rita, on the other hand, was feeling more and more meloncholy and uncertain. Am I really crazy to do this? Should I jump out of the plane now? She felt the pressure build on her eardrums, and couldn't hear very well until they popped. Is it true that a group of teens, almost adults, can't travel like this together and remain friends? Does farmiliarity really breed contempt? She looked at Peggie, whose bright hair was illumiated by the mid morning sun streaming into the window, and was sad. She didn't want to lose Peggie. She didn't want to lose her first and best friend. All through her life when other friends backstabbed and gossiped about her, Peggie had been staunch. Rita remembered how, on one occasion in eighth grade, she had come knocking on Peggie's door crying because one of her friends had spread it accoss the school that Rita liked one of the boys in her class. Everyone laughed at her, and Peggie, who'd had a dentist's appointment that day, hadn't been at school. She'd arrived at her true friend's door and pounded hard.
The rough wood beat against the sides of her fists, and she could feel the tears coursing down her cheeks. How could Cindy do this to me? I'll never be able to show my face in school again! Oh, Peggie, open up! Peggie had opened the door, and Rita collapsed into her arms. "Peggie," she sobbed, heartbroken, "Cindy Peterson told everone in school that I like Martin Richards, and everyone's been laughing at me all day, and Martin told me that he didn't like me because I'm weird." She continued to cry, and she felt Peggie's hand on the back of her head.
"Let's go scratch her eyes out."
Rita cam out of her reverie, and touched Peggie's shoulder. This time Peggie didn't shrug her off. "Peggie, I need you. You're my best friend, and no one can change that. I'm worried, too. I need you to be your usual down to earth self. Please, Pegs, don't leave me."
Peggie faced her, and let Rita hug her with a scowl that was all for show. "Geez, Rita, don't cry on me. We don't need two saps." Rita's eyes were brimming, and so were Peggie's.
6 hours and four movies later, Rita was still awake. She didn't know if it was because she'd gotten more sleep than the others, or whether she was more excited than they were, but she was wide awake. She knew it was only 5:37 back home, but she usually fell asleep as soon as she was in a dark place. She was a horrible conversationalist for road trips because she fell asleep right away. She usually didn't get to see entire movies because she fell asleep in the middle. She was a morning person, and usually went to bed a lot earlier than her friends, usually 7:30, unless she had a lot of homework. She rubbed her eyes, wishing she had the sandman's knack for falling alsleep. She knew that if she didn't fall asleep soon she'd be really jet-lagged. "Come on," she whispered, "Go to bed, me!"
Nicole jerked awake beside her. She was breathing heavily, and making little squeaking sounds. Rita shook the dinky airline blanket off her torso, and turned around in her seat. She struggled a bit before remembering the seat belt. Unclasping it, the sudden insomniac looked at Nicole.
"Are you okay?" she asked, "Were you having a bad dream?"
Nicole gasped for breath and nodded.
"Want to tell me about it?"
Nicole gulped. "Well," she said breathlessly, "I was at the hotel in Italy eating pancakes the morning we arrived, when I realized that I was allergic to the pancakes. You were all calm, and took me to the hospital. Peggie was freaking out, and she kept saying, "What do we do? What do we do?" So this ambulence came, and Theo's uncle was somehow in charge of the hotel, or something, and he took me to the hospital. Then, when I was in the emergency room, Theo's cousin walks in, and he was really hot. I was thinking 'Oh, great, there's this really hot guy seeing me like this.' He had black hair, and he was Italian, of course. So then, it's like this flash forward thing, only the little sign doesn't pop up and say '10 years later' I just already knew. And guess what!" Nicole's voice was hoarse from whispering, and her sleep filled eyes were frightened at whatever she was about to say. "I was married to him!" Rita waited, but that was all that came.
"Um, Nicole, why is that so scary?" Rita shrugged.
"Duh! It's going to happen! I'm going to meet my husband in Italy! This is terrible! I can't get married to the first guy I meet!"
Rita shook her head. "Go back to sleep, goof." Nicole sighed, and did so.
Rita finally drifted into an uneasy sleep. She was too cold and too excited. Her head fell onto Peggie's shoulder, and she was glad she wasn't sitting next to Theo, who she'd never have the nerve to put her head on. She didn't dream, but she heard other people talking, and filled in their words with actions and secret meetings. In her half-asleep mind she could read the thoughts of everyone around her. Peggie was dreaming of being onstage. The stewardess was waiting anxiously for the plane to land so she could get some real food to eat. Martha and her children were thinking of the family they missed in Italy. The lady with the guitar was thinking of a new song. Nicole was dreaming about Theo's nephew again. And Theo?
Even in her dreams, because that's what her semi-awake thoughts had drifted into, Rita couldn't read Theo's mind. He was sealed tightly against her mind, and she felt mournful and yearning. She wanted to know Theo as well as she knew Peggie. She wanted him to stop just flirting and really talk to her. She'd noticed that Theo rarely had a serious conversation with anyone. Sure, around teachers at home he'd been respectful and hard-working, but even they didn't know him. She wondered in her dream if anyone knew Theo. She awoke to feel something brushing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and the thing was gone. She thought groggily that it must have been her blanket, and went back to sleep to dream of ponies and sunflowers with no real feelings or thoughts to ruin her fun.
An hour before landing time they all awoke. Nicole first, then Rita, somehow sensing someone else was awake, then Peggie. Theo awoke only when Peggie reached back and rapped him on the head. He seemed to have forgotten the snub he'd thought Rita served him, and was back in good spirits. They were all laughing and teasing each other again by the time the plane landed. The four clapped, and Martha, the stewardess heading home, and her two children joined them. Pretty soon the entire plane was clapping. Rita beamed. Leaving home was the hard part. She was ready to have some fun.
"I'm gonna soak up the sun, gonna tell everyone to lighten up!" she sang, more off-key than not. Peggie rolled her eyes. Nicole joined in.
"You guys are so hot," Theo teased. "You should start your own band."
Rita remembered trying to read Theo's mind that night, and blushed at her thoughts of his flirting. No one noticed. Thank goodness! she thought, taking a sip of her bottled water and trying to make her cheeks paler. They'd ask me why, and I'm an awful liar, and then they'd probably find out, and then my head would explode, and-
"Hello? Earth to Rita. Are you there? Come in, Rita." Peggie snapped her fingers in Rita's face. "I said, what do you think about Nicole's dream?"
"What? Huh? Oh, yeah, dream. I think she's reading into the thing a little too much. It's just a dream, after all."
Nicole shook her head. "You don't understand! I can tell that it's going to come true."
"It is not going to come true. You're insane." Rita patted her friend's head.
"Just you wait. It'll happen."
confabulated by Bard at 7:48 PM
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