A Second Time Around

Chapter Seven

"I'm going home for the weekend." Jessica declared, sounding like music to Stacey's ears. On arriving back to their room, Stacey stumbled upon Jessica's open Louis Vuitton luggage, half-packed with her clothes.

"Okay," she answered flatly, when all she wanted to do was dance around the room because of happiness. Not only will I move out of here at the end of the week, I'm also facing two Jessica-free days!!! She said to herself.

She pulled out a book to read from the little pile of novels on her bedside drawer, and then she curled up on her bed.

She flipped mindlessly through the pages, keeping her face expressionless, so that she won't give anything away while Jessica bustled around the room.

"I'll be back here on Monday. I don't want you touching my things while I'm gone, am I clear?" She spoke snobbishly.

Stacey almost snorted. Like I would ever dream of touching your dirty, booger-stained, overpriced stuff, even if you pay me to do so.

Those were the words she wanted--no, dying-- to say, but she settled for a simple "Okay," trying to look as bored as she possibly could.

Jessica's chauffeur entered the room to collect her bags. After a last-minute check around the room, Jessica turned to leave.

"Have a pleasant trip home, Jessica." Stacey simpered, keeping a painful smile on her lips. Jessica just acknowledged that with a slight nod, then left.

Stacey waited for the soft click of the door closing before discarding her book, then jumped happily from her bed and did a little dance around the room.

No nagging for two days! She said to herself. My luck is finally turning!

So for the rest of her Saturday and throughout her Sunday, all Stacey did was eat, and sleep, and read, and watch, and eat and sleep and read and watch some more.

She invited Jenna in for a little movie marathon, and even a few hours after Jenna left at 6 pm, Stacey continued rifling through her movie list.

When the end credits appeared at the last movie she had watched on her laptop, she drowsily padded down to the bathroom to shower, and after she had slipped her PJs on, she made a beeline for the bed, and instantly fell asleep.

******

Ooh girl, you're shining,
Like a fifth avenue diamond.
And they don't make you like they used to.
You're never goin' out of style...

Stacey groggily opened her eyes, and was greeted by the blinding sunlight seeping from the windows. She was awakened by her phone ringing for the umpteenth time this morning, blaring out MKTO.

She clumsily fumbled her bed for her phone, having forgotten where exactly she had put it.

You're over my head,
I'm out of my mind,
Thinking I was born
In the wrong time
One of a kind
Living in a world gone plastic
Baby, you're so classic.

"Jenna, why are you calling this time in the morning?" She complained, her head throbbing. Ugh, I shouldn't have slept too much yesterday.

"You're complaining why I'm calling you? You should be thanking me!" Jenna scolded through the phone.

"Huh?"

"Hurry up! The new substitute is here already!" Jenna hissed.

"What?!" Stacey cried in horror. All the drowsiness left her body. "What time is it?"