A Chance at Life

The Perfect Pageant

Me and Marty spend the whole day watching movies in bed with Mrs Blackburn coming in every now and then to check that we aren't sobbing into the pillows. "Marty?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think you'll go back to Aaron?"
"I do"
"If he rings again" I point over to her phone which has been buzzing and lighting up like crazy for the last 2 hours. "I'll tell him to fuck off until you're ready"
"Toni...stop"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be like that. He just hasn't given you any space. Let's finish this movie, it's getting late"
"Sleepover in here?"
"Hell yeah Marty B"
Staying in Marty's bed was not only comfort for her but for myself too, since I didn't have much time to think about Shelby being mad at me with Marty talking every 2 seconds.

Marty's parents woke us up the next morning as they were leaving for work. I kept my eyes shut as Marty sat up to talk to her mom. "I'll be back for 7 and your dad will be back around 5, so order a pizza or something. There's some cash on the coffee table. Tell Toni, I've fed Helsby and he just needs to be let out if she goes out"
"Alright mom"
"Bye, love you"
"Love you too, have a nice shift"

I feel Marty get out of bed and I open my eyes. "So what are you going to do today?"
"Jesus. You scared me, I thought you were asleep. I'm going to go talk to Aaron, he deserves it"
"You'll be okay, you can call me if you need me to fight him"
"Don't be stupid Toni" we laugh and I sit up as she gets ready. "What are you doing today?"
"The usual. Getting into trouble, break a few hearts, fight a few guys"
"If you go running, don't use the hiking trail and don't go to that pageant"
"Got it" Marty leaves her room and I'm left alone.

I pick up my phone and call Fatin.
"What are you doing today?"
"If you need me to be your rebound because Shelby is pissed at you, just know I'm not cheating on Leah"
"You've spoke to Shelby?"
"She told me about your little accident, I told her that he had it coming"
"I need to talk to her"
"Call her"
"She's too busy to call, her pageant starts at 2"
"Toni that's the most stupidest thing you've ever said"
"I haven't said anything yet"
"Let's do it. See you at 1 <3" She hangs up the phone and I just sit there puzzled at what just happened.

I get up and get ready for the day. Putting on my shoes, I grab the car coasters Mr B got me and open the front door to put them in my car. I lock the front door behind me and Helsby joins me as I get in the car. "Do you wanna go for a drive?" I start up the car and he seems uneasy at first so I put a blanket from the back seat onto the front seat and he seemed much calmer. I drive off and find the nearest McDonald's to get a drink.

We drive around for 10 minutes before I drive home to drop him off. "This was nice, maybe we should do this more" I stroke his head and he purrs as he climbs out the blanket onto my lap. "Fatin will be here soon and then I have to sneak into a pageant to see Shelby so wish me luck"
I open the car door and he stays on my lap.
I see Fatin pull up in front of my car, she gets out of her car and gets into mine.
"Why is your cat in the car?"
"Why are you in my car?"
"We have plans to crash a pageant" I drop Helsby on to the sidewalk and get out the car.

30 minutes later we arrive at the location of the pageant and we see a bunch of people lining up to go in. "So how do you want to do this? Just walk in and buy tickets or..."
"I was thinking you could flirt with the clerk and I'd sneak in"
"That works"
"I was joking, let's just buy tickets"
We get out the car and line up. We get to the desk and Fatin buys the tickets as I look around the venue for the dressing rooms.

"S'cuse me miss" I feel a tap on my shoulder and I turn around to a rather small, shy looking guy who seems to be security.
"Yes?"
"You can't be here without a ticket"
"Why would you think I don't have a ticket?"
He looks me up and down gesturing to my outfit.
"How rude, I'll be complaint to your manager! I My friend is buying them over there" I point over at Fatin and she waves.
"No, I'm so sorry miss, as you were"
I walk back to Fatin and grab my ticket.
"What was that about?"
"Making the guy sweat by saying I'm telling his manager about his accusations"
"Are you?"
"Fatin? Who do you take me for?"
"Good point so what did you find?"
"I think backstage is that way and the contestants are down that hallway to the left"
"Do you want to go explore?"
"Yes come on" We sneak down the hall, turning left at the end and find the dressing rooms all down that strip. "Is it alphabetical?"
"Adams, Anderson, Brown. Yep" We walk down the hall following the names and we see Shelby's dad come round a corner. I pull Fatin into a random room and we find a girl who's all dressed up, obviously competing.