MASKED

Chapter Nine

"So, how was the party last Saturday?", Katie asked when they had all settled in and were ready to sleep. It was a bit cramped but then they were too busy chattering away to even take notice.

"Oh, it was interesting enough."

"Yh, it was cool."

"Nice music." They echoed together.

"And oh, oh, oh....", Cassie suddenly sat up excitedly. "Zeke knocked over the whole drinks stand in a fight. It was hilarious!!!"

"What?!", Lexy and Katie laughed.

"Yeah, believe me when I say that he was soaked to the socks. Apparently, Zeke thought he and Jessy were still in the game together while Leo was thinking otherwise. So in confronting each other, the love scuffle begun.", she continued.

"You know the funniest part?," Britney chirped. "Jessy publicly annouced that she was single and not ready to be in any relationship for a while."

"Oh my, so humiliating!", Katie said.

"That's weird though." Lexy agreed. "Bringing the guy everyone know your'e with to another guy's party knowing that you too also had something together"

"She's just the worst!", Stephanie added.

"I'm not surprised though.", Katie said. "I've heard worst stuff about her."

"Well, Cassie,"Britney grinned knowingly. "You just might have chance at getting on with Leo now."

"No," came the reply. "I've set my eyes on someone else I like better." She caught herself and quickly covering her mouth, tried to hide under the covers.

"Oh my God, Cassie tell us quick!"

"Come on, Cassie, enough of the suspense!"

"Why? Is it eating you up so bad?", the muffled reply came from under the covers.

"Cassieeee!!!!!!", Britney shoved the blanket aside.

"Come on, tell us already!"

"No fair Cass, we' re are supposed to be friends yet you're hiding stuff from us "

"Okay, okay. Fine! You know him already. Its Theo. Happy now??"

"Theo???"

"What the-?!"

"You mean like Theo, our Theo??? Toothy smile Theo with the green braces? Theo?", Katie exclaimed.

Lexy eyes literally dropped from their sockets.

"So all this while, you've had a crush on him? Wow! Cassie, unbelievable!."

"Yeesh, guys. Please don't tell him anything", Cassie pleaded as she yanked the blanket from Britney's grip and slid under it again.

They all laughed so hard as Stephanie toppled over and landed on the floor with a thud.

"So, Lexy. What about you? Any guy in our town catch your eye yet?", Harmony teased. At this, Cassie's head popped up to the surface, a wide toothy grin on her face.

"Huh? What are you talking about?", Lexy replied trying to sound puzzled.

"Haha, Lexy. Very funny. So none of the guys in Dannexville have appealed to you yet, is that it?",Katie asked.

"Uh....not if you put it like that........no, its not like that at all........."

"What then?"

"Guys, I haven't really met alot of guys yet......"

"What about the one's you've met??"

"Well, all of them are..... okay, I guess. They're all nice and all...." Lexy's frown intensified at this point at the memory of Orion in the hallway.

"Some of them, that is.", she added.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'some', Lexy?" Harmony inquired.

"Nevermind, you guys", Lexy tried to brush it off.

"Oh no you don't! Seriously, tell us!."

"Remember you're not supposed to be hidding anything from us, Lexy.", said Cassie.

She sighed.

"Its.... that guy. Orion."

"Huh? Orion???", Stephanie wanted to confirm.

"You mean 'Orion' as in 'Orion Mcmaliney'???", Britney sat up quickly. Everyone's interest was perked up immediately.

"What about him?"

"He was unreasonably rude and believe it or not, I don't know what I did but I think he hates me because he hasn't given me a nice glance since he saw me".

"No wonder you wouldn't sit with him. Wow, brave of you.", Malory commented.

Lexy suddenly was annoyed.

"What do you mean 'brave'? Ya''ll keep talking about him like he's some price or something. Gosh!"

"I forgot you know nothing about him. Let me brief you on what happens around here", Katie offered.

"I'll tell you this; the Mcmalineys are the very heart and core of Dannexville. Literally, they own the place, all four corners of it. They could buy us all anyday. They have connections places away from Dannexville and beyond. They are wealthy, stinking rich!; they swim in cash. Coming from me, you should know what I mean when i say that"

"Well, so?", Lexy said, clearly not impressed; probably because of her utter dislike for him. "Just because his parents are rich doesn't mean he can go around doing whatever he likes and treating people like his trash."

Katie only smiled, and continued.

"Well of course he shoudn't but he can. He has caused the dismissal of a lot of students who dared crossed his path and even teachers. He's hot and rich but does he have a girlfriend? No, because from what Ive heard, no girl is good enough for him. If he likes girls in the first place because I have never seem him talk to a girl before, honestly."

"What about Penelope?", Lexy asked.

At this, everyone burst into laughter.

"She's a complete joke. I don't know why she even bothers. At least he ignores the rest of us, but he treats her like trash itself. Forget her. The real deal here is that the Mcmalineys can make and unmake you. Just stay out of their bad side or out of thier lives all together and you'll be fine."

"I'm surprised I'm still here after that encounter I had with him." Lexy said with a roll of her eyes, recalling how Mr.Feguerson had been concerned about her that day.

"I mean you didn't do anything, did you? His sister is in no way like him though. She's sociable.", Harmony chipped in.

"They are like two ends of a magnet.", Malory added.

"She's the captain of the cheerleading sqaud. And she's really fabulous.", said Steph.

Lexy was the last to sleep. As Britney snored softly, she could only think of one thing before she slowly dozed off.

Orion Mcmaliney.