About You Now

Shopping Trip Delusions

As planned, when school ended that day, the girls each returned home to drop off their things before leaving for the shopping trip. Echo, Maryse, Carmella, and Rhea had been chosen as the designated drivers for the carpool trip, each already aware of whom they were paired with. Almost as soon as the journey to the mall began, so did Serenity's complaints and unfavorable comments about several students around All-Star Academy, some even about her mysterious old friends from previous schools. Becky and Carmella struggled to drown at her remarks and can the subject without making it overly obvious. Both share the same thoughts of the trip already felt too long despite it only beginning moments prior.

Carmella had her phone on loudspeaker, and conversations with others in the remaining three cars were ongoing. Cross's almost iconic laugh rang through on several occasions. While others shared the ideas of the perfect dress, Rhea's had been the most simple, one that suited her and she loved. Serenity, on the other hand, soon turned the conversation to Prom dates, quickly remarking she'd find it embarrassing to go alone while once again poking fun at some of the less popular students, naming some of her supposed friends in the process.

"I wonder what the guys are up to?" voiced AJ, between singing along to the song playing in Echo's SUV. Summer could be heard singing in the background as well. "You know, other than ribbing each other and stressing about all the upcoming events," she added with a light chuckle, recalling the prank war that had been going on for quite some time. Dean always had a literal bag of tricks, while Seth's were more elaborate, Drew's, on the other hand, tended to be more simple, and punks were just the old classics like whoopie cushions and stink bombs.

"Miz mentioned they were heading to the park for a little bit before decorating the treehouse," commented Maryse, looking out the rear window in the hopes of spotting the other either Echo or Rhea's cars. Carmella was just ahead of her own, the girls inside seemingly having a bit of an argument, or at least that's how it appeared from the outside. "You girls alright in Car one?" asked the blonde beauty, concern in her voice, even more so when she was aware none of them were particularly thrilled about Serenity joining them, especially when the mother-to-be insisted she not drive due to her condition.

"Yup, just a heated temper and Serenity complaining," replied Becky, her voice usually serious, suggesting she just wanted the drive to be over, at least before she became tempted to throttle the troublesome teenager.

"I'm not complaining," added Serenity, "Just asking if we were there yet and if we were stopping somewhere to eat," she continued, expecting each of them to bend over backward to fulfill her demands, no matter how pointless those demands would be. After all, she saw herself as a queen, even if she didn't publicly have her desired entourage or with her king. "I'm curious what sort of dresses you underlings are going for, too," she voiced as if knowing was paramount to her. However, despite thinking she was succeeding in her hidden plan to be better than each of them, she was failing miserably.

"I was planning to wear a sequin bikini," replied Summer, clearly ribbing Serenity while subtly telling her she knew what the momma-to-be was up to. Not that Serenity would notice. "Complete with a lace shawl, beaded decorations, platform sandals, and a super dark spray tan," she added, receiving a few chuckles. "Thinking red and white to match Finn's style," she said, confirming the two were going to prom together.

"Echo, you still planning on that frilly pink number?" asked AJ with a chuckle of her own, more at Echo's horrified reaction and momentarily swerving the car.

"Yup, the sparkly one," added Echo, with a bright smile of her own once she'd recovered from the fright. "Figured I'd scare the poor bastard who's daring enough to ask or get everyone there to question their sanity," she added, imagining the shock she'd receive from such a dress choice. After all, everyone who knew her knew she wasn't a fan of pink or anything particularly girly.