Down With The Queen

Friday Night

Aaron walked slowly, trudging along the sidewalk with careless abandon. He wondered if he made the right decision going to the party, but he had nothing to do and everyone else he knew was going to be there. Not much happened in Knox these days and any sort of entertainment was a welcome relief. Plus, he did really want to get away from his family; they drove him crazy now more than ever, and his little sister Willa was sort of a pest.

He didn’t have a ton of friends as he had sort of become a pariah after that incident and to be honest, he didn’t care much for it anyway.

He loved taking walks at night, and this was one of such nights. The moon peeked out of clouds it hid behind to reveal its bright luminescence on the town of Knox. For such an obnoxious town, it was beautiful in the moonlight as there were no streetlights blocking out the natural light. Well, there were no streetlights because the Mayor spent the town's money on women, which also included his daughter with the lavish lifestyle.

"You know, one should always be alert when walking dark lonely roads at night," a soft voice behind him drawled.

Aaron jumped, a bit startled and scared for a second. He hoped she couldn't hear how frantic his heart was thumping in its cage. He did however, manage to forge an expression that suggested that he wasn't even the least bit frightened.

It was the girl from the mall, and she was holding up his wallet. She looked at him like she was scolding him, but eventually she handed him his wallet.

"Luckily, Knox's crime rate has reduced by thirty-five percent over the last few years," he retorted, snatching back his wallet. He was a bit annoyed that a girl had scared the pants off him. If Drake was here, he wouldn't hear the end of it.

"Thais what you're made to believe... Aaron Felt, “she said with a knowing smile, looking like she had all the facts and figures to prove him wrong.

"How did you..."

"Relax boy. I'm not stalking you if that's what you're thinking, which I assume you are not," she said as she spared a glance his way.

"I looked in your wallet."

"First, you creep up on me and swipe my wallet. Then you go through my wallet. I suppose that's perfectly legal, no?" Aaron said with a bit of sarcasm evident in his tone. Just who did she think she was?

Vi liked the way the boy Aaron looked in exasperation as he tried to figure her out. She knew she was breaking a rule here, but her gut told her she could trust Aaron Felt. After all, her trip to the mall this afternoon confirmed that Aaron and Jennifer hadn't been good friends in a long while. It wasn't enough to let her veer off course, but it was something. Either way, she felt like she needed a distraction, and going to the party with Aaron was the distraction she needed. Besides, she needed someone to help her get into the party venue, as the host was a jock from St. Luke's and it was an exclusive party by invitation only. She convinced herself that she only needed him to get into a party only the socially worthy were invited to, and not because he had a cute smile or because of the way the T-shirt underneath his Varsity jacket hugged his toned physique.

"Fine. I get it. You're pissed and I'm sorry. I'll just be on my way. It was nice meeting you though," she said with her hands up in some sort of surrender, and before Aaron could reply, she started to walk off. Then she turned to say "I'm Vi by the way," and continued walking ahead.

"One, two, three..."

"Hey Vi!"

Vi turned around, hiding a triumphant smile. She just knew Aaron would not be able to resist. Give them a taste of something, take it away and watch them come back for it. It was basic conditioning.

"So there's this party about 10 blocks away...do you want to go? I mean, if you're not doing anything maybe..." Aaron pitched, looking like there was something stuck in his throat that prevented him from saying more words.

He didn't know why he did it. Gods knew she was very annoying in the all-knowing air with which she carried herself, but he didn't regret the one time his mouth was faster than his brain.

"Um, sure. I mean it's Friday, I have nothing doing anyway," Vi accepted, shrugging like it was no big deal.

Victory!

Even though she didn't know what the future would bring, she was glad that her plans had started out on a good note.

---

The girls sat in Raven's Jeep, retouching their makeup and giving themselves one last look before they graced the party. Appearance was quite important to Jennifer as she needed to constantly remind the Knox High populace why she was queen. She wore a neon pink lacy midriff length bralette on a high-waisted black leather mini skirt, which she finished off with three inch black suede ankle boots. She went for a simple but comfy look, as she wanted to be able to move around freely especially when dancing with Daniel.

She may have been in denial for the past four years, but she knew that she was really dressed up to get Aaron's attention. She hoped that one day he’d come back to her, but for now she had to manage Danny. Danny was sweet, but he was no Aaron felt. And she wanted Aaron Felt by all means.

"Pearl! Your shoe is nudging my lady bits!" Mars yelled, trying to swat away Pearl's foot from between her legs.

"Ugh," Pearl scoffed. "Lie that you don't enjoy it," she teased with a wicked smile, sliding her foot all the more to brush Mars thighs lightly.

"I'm a hundred percent straight asswipe," Mars said with a smack to Pearl's calf. She felt ready to go past second base with Ty and all the way down to third base if possible, which was why she made sure to don the flared mini dress for easy access.

She would have liked to go to the party with Ty, but Jennifer always wanted them to go as a clique. It was girl power, she always said, but Mars knew it was always about the monarchy.

"No one is a hundred percent straight," Raven commented, tired of their bickering. She was itchy to go in to the party to flood her system with as much alcohol as it would take. She could practically hear the booze calling her.

"Guys, come on. We have to get in. Party started like fifteen minutes ago,” Raven said impatiently.

"You better promise not to get drunk. You're driving after all,” cued in Jennifer who was looking around trying to spot Daniel or Aaron.

"See! I knew there was a reason you asked me to drive today," Raven cried, giving them her unconvincing I-can't-believe-you-betrayed-me expression.

She really hated it when they tried to baby her or 'protect' her from her habits. She knew what she was getting into when she started doing drugs and smoking and drinking, but she was cool with it. She wasn't even addicted to them; she just chose to use them the same way people chose to tattoo their bodies.

Sometimes, she wished she could do things differently, but she felt too lazy to reinvent herself. She would do that when she was older, she always said. She was seventeen and life wasn't going anywhere.

"Hey guys, check out the new babe," Pearl said, nudging Mars who was texting Ty to inform him that she was out front.

"She's with Aaron???"Jennifer said incredulously, unable to believe that Aaron was capable of being with a girl that wasn't her.

The car went quiet, as the girls knew Jennifer fancied Aaron a lot. To make a comment that would infuriate her further would be signing their death warrants.

"He's probably just showing her around?" Raven piped in bravely.

"Yeah Rave, he's just showing her around at a party she's not even invited to. How does he even know her?" Mars asked, craning her neck from the backseat where she and Pearl sat to get a good look at the duo who had just arrived.

"She's hot though," Pearl added, peeking out from her sunglasses to have a good look at the new girl.

"Shut up Pearl! And who f***ing wears sunglasses in the dark night?" Jennifer spat out, her narrowed eyes following Aaron and the girl as they stopped to be verified before they were allowed into the house. She watched as the jocks at the door handed them bracelets before letting them in.

"Alright girls, let's go," Jennifer said and got down without waiting to see they were coming.

"Finally!"Raven said, jumping out from her car and locking it when Pearl and Mars got out.

They went to the entrance where Jennifer was already making small talk with the jocks and flashing them pretty smiles. Just like with Aaron and the new girl, they were given bracelets and allowed into the venue.

Jennifer had already made up her mind after seeing that girl with Aaron. She was going to do all she could to keep them apart, and she would do that by making her a part of the monarchy.

Aaron was hers and hers only.