Haunting You - Boys of Tommen

Lizzie's Wrath

"I prefer hiding in plain sight" - Taylor Swift

December 22nd, 2005

Katie:

"Hey pretty girl! Did you get your dress sorted for the ball tomorrow night?" Aoife asked me, the Tommen winter ball was approaching fast, in place of the ski trip. And I couldn't deny I wasn't losing any sleep over the cancellation of the annual ski trip.

"Uh, yeah, eventually." I reply. Attaining a dress for the ball, had been somewhat difficult. For obvious reasons, I loathe shopping for clothes, specifically the fitting rooms in shops. I start to feel all hot and nothing fits right and I just want to smash all of those warped mirrors. The cost also had to be factored in, I had been working steadily for the previous months, but dresses weren't cheap, and I didn't want to blow all my savings on a dress I'll probably only wear once.

Not only that, but I knew that Johnny's Mam had arranged the other girls' dresses and I knew whatever I wore would be dull in comparison.

"Yeah? Is it the green one you showed me in the picture?" Aoife asks and before I can respond Shannon, Gibsie and Johnny join us in the common room and the spotlight is taken. Not that I'm complaining I was acutely aware of how no other conversation was occurring while I was speaking to Aoife, and it was odd.

I know it's completely self inflicted, but when we're in a group like this, no one ever singles me out, like Aoife just did. If I want to be apart of the conversation, I just have to jump in, which happens less and less, considering whenever I try, there Lizzie is ready to strike.

Speaking of Lizzie, she's been weird. More venomous than ever, I can't remember the last nice thing she said, even to Claire. I think she's still good with Shannon, but she's a bloody tyrant to the rest of us.

But she's not the only that's been off. Hugh hasn't been himself. During the summer he was more closed off, but now he's like a whole new person. And I think it has everything to do with Lizzie Young.

Hugh has been avoiding me, we still sit together at lunch, and attend the group hangouts together, but aside from that he's basically gone.

I've tried to ask him about it, but he shuts me down. He tells me that he's tired, and he seems so guilty about it, looking at me with pity in his eyes. And I don't know what to think of it.

Shannon is talking to Claire now and is excitedly announcing her and Johnny's upcoming trip to Paris, they're going for three days and they're even going to Disneyland. I'm super happy for them, no one deserves it more than her, with everything she's been through.

Gibsie's stewing because Johnny's leaving him for a whole three days, and Claire is gushing over Johnny's romantic gesture for her best friend.

"Whoa, you're not just going to France, you're going to Paris!" Claire says, barely able to contain her excitement.

"That's still France, read a fucking map sometime." Lizzie snapped at Claire, and she pointedly ignored her. Trust Lizzie to try to bring down a happy moment for the two girls who are supposed to be her best friends.

"I've never been on an airplane before." Shannon says, beaming.

"Don't get the hump, Gibs, it's my girlfriend's Christmas present, lad. I couldn't exactly bring you along, could I?" Johnny said to a pouting Gibsie.

"Ah, I don't fucking see why not? Heads up , Claire-Bear, these two inconsiderate bastards are jetting off to oui, Paris without us." Gibsie said, placing the Mickey Mouse ears on his head, taken from Shannon. "See this? Take a good luck, baby, because unfortunately, this is the closest you're going to get to Mickey this Christmas, because unlike Mister Limitless Cash Flow over there, your stud muffin can only afford to take you to see Santa."