Hailee Bell 3 : Tactics
By T. P. Channing
(Cover photo : Cassie)
The whole cafeteria was distracted by a clattering sound, coming from a table at the far corner. Cassie was violently shoving her straw and long spoon into the tall glass, trying to crush the ice cubes to milden the taste of lemon.
She hates lemon, the real thing gives her stomach acid, unlike the usual lemon-flavored cakes or cookies she enjoys. But her number one influencer orders it, so she orders it too.
Growing up in a small town and coming third of four siblings, Cassie went out a limb to get attention, and who else could she learn better than someone from the big city?
She follows Brianna's every move, from fashion to food to attending the same activities. The only thing she kept for herself was her blonde hair, but that was because her scalp was sensitive to hair dye.
Anyone else would find Cassie a creepy stalker, mimicking another person at every step, but Brianna simply saw someone trying desperately to fulfill her insecurity.
Cassie may copy her every move, but never smart enough to steal the essence. Being someone of initiative, Brianna was always leading the trend, and had no problem moving on when she had enough.
"What are you looking at?" she looked over at her friend's phone.
"Nothing." Hailee put her phone away.
Hailee was burying herself on internet, searching for an idea for a defense mechanism. She barely survived the human spider in Shanghai, it was something she never wanted to come across again.
So far she managed to form water into shapes, or send them traveling at high speed. But on defense, a wall of fluid couldn't stop a solid intrusion, she needed something hard and strong.
"Anything from quarterback Jimmy?" she tried to change the subject.
"Quarter back, Cornerback, what's the difference? They're all a bunch of high schoolers with brains of fourth graders!" the redhead yawned. "Maybe I should just stick to girls. At least they have the intelligence that meets their age!"
Brianna Watts, top influencer and the most popular girl in Carbondale Community High School, was just as confused as any teenager about life, relationships, and sexual preferences.
Her number-one follower Cassie Jamison however, has a more successful rate on boys, mostly because everyone considered Brianna hard to get, and would first approach the closest thing. This was another reason she keeps Cassie around, to filter out the unwanted.
"You're not supposed to do that." Ashley told Cassie. "It will ruin the taste."
"I asked for crush ice, but they had to give me ice cubes!" the blonde complained.
"Ice cubes take longer to melt and keep the flavor. Crushed ice melts faster, it makes the tea tasteless."
"That's exactly what I'm trying to do!"
"Or, you could just remove the lemon."
Ashely was responded by a murderous glare, like she just told Cassie she was stupid. She quickly rolled her eyes and looked away, pretending she didn't speak.
When it comes to science and facts, Ashley comes at the top of her class, but being book-smart didn't win her popularity, especially not in a school of teenagers. Hailee often feels Ashley belongs in college, maybe they can appreciate her intelligence more.
"Listen to her, Cassie! Doc Nutcracker here is trying to teach your brain to think!" a girl called from another table.
"Yeah! Don't work too hard, Cassie! Just show your boobs and every boy will say you're the smartest girl in town!" her friends teased.
Like all schools, the cafeteria was territorial, with each table occupied by a particular group, and it just so happened that the cheerleaders and matching band had their tables right next to each other. The two rivals have been battling for years.
"Oh, d'you mean the boys you hang out with? They'll be dropping out before graduation, and serving me breakfast at Wendy's." Ashley answered, and responded by wooing across the table.
"Ashley only likes her own kind, that's why she joins the Nutcrackers, there ain't no boys, just nerds!" the Beavers laughed.
"Neither does the football team!" Brianna said. "Hey, Megan! Did Jimmy's bush make you sneeze? I'll ask him to shave for you next time!"
"You shut your mouth!" Megan slapped the table in rage, her face red as a tomato.
"Don't let her get to you, Megan. Copperhead is still a virgin!" their captain Becky stepped in.
"Yeah! And make sure it's fully charged when you return it!" said Brianna sucking her lemon tea.
Just like that, the cafeteria turned their attention to another episode of "Battle of the Bitches", one of many dramas carried out during lunch, the highlight of a normal school day at Carbondale High.
