Damsel in Distress

Damsel in Distress - Chapter 2

A/N: Thank you readers for voting and fanning :) This second chapter is long overdue, so apologies for the wait! RL has been busy.

--o-o-o--

Chapter 2: The Disco Before the Breakdown

Danica Maxwell looked about ready to explode.

The normally cool-as-ice brunette sat across from Alice at the cafeteria table, manicured fingernails drumming an angry staccato on the plastic surface and lips pressed into a thin crease as she listened to Leila ramble on about her ideas for the upcoming party through the past five minutes.

"For the last time, Leila: no," she interjected the moment Leila paused for a breath mid-sentence. "I already told you all. The theme is vintage. It's settled. I'm not changing it so you can wear your new skimpy tube dress."

At this, Leila's face fell. "But vintage can mean --"

"No, it doesn't. Your outfit is not vintage and has no place at my party. End of story." She jabbed her finger at the table for emphasis. "If you show up in that dress, I will kick you out."

Leila slumped back in her chair to Alice's right, conceding defeat. Her face still bore a disgruntled expression but she didn't want to push her luck. Out of their group, she was the one most likely to be at odds with Danica. And Leila had learned from bitter experience just what the other girl was capable of when things didn't go her way.

Silence settled over their table in the aftermath, made all the more stark in contrast to the clamor of students around them. With order resumed, Danica sipped at her mineral water through a straw and then cleared her throat. "As I was saying," she shot a reproachful glance in Leila's direction, "my parents' beach house isn't easy to get to, so some of you will need to sort out a ride 'cause we can't fit everybody in Brendan's car. Jamie, you're coming early to help set up, aren't you?"

"Sure am," Jamie piped up.

"Good," Danica continued without skipping a beat, "you can come with me and Brendan. We'll start heading up in the afternoon. Alice, what about you? Can you come early or do you have something else on?"

Alice offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'll only be able to get there after dinner. It's my Dad's birthday so we're having a family thing."

Danica nodded, unperturbed. "That's fine. Just so you know, you might have to make your own way if you're coming later than Kyle and the guys."

"Not a problem." Alice had her own car now, anyway.

Danica finally turned her pale blue gaze to Leila, the last in their circle. With the slightest hint of exasperation, she asked of her the same question.

"I guess I'll get a lift with the guys," Leila said huffily. After their little disagreement earlier, no one really expected her to volunteer to hang around with Danica a minute longer than necessary. In any case, Danica appeared satisfied with that answer and the conversation moved on.

They were in the middle of discussing the cheerleading squad's new hideous uniforms -- which Jamie and Leila had to wear -- when a chair pulled up to their table and a figure plopped down next to Alice.

"Cheerleaders? My favorite topic," Kyle announced with a comical waggle of his eyebrows and leaned his folded arms over the back of the chair.

"Hi, Kyle." A murmured chorus welcomed his interruption.

"And how's my favorite cheerleader?" He nudged Jamie on his other side, grinning deviously.

Jamie swatted his shoulder with a giggled "Shut up, loser" but didn't protest him sneaking in a quick kiss.

They looked every bit the cute couple, but Alice couldn't help checking Leila's reaction to all these public displays of affection. As she suspected, Leila was struggling not to look uncomfortable, keeping her eyes down on her phone as though there was some riveting message she had to read.