Chasing Chaos: The Rise of Chaos

Chapter 4: Smile

It was still raining outside, a very steady downpour that made everything muddy. Caitlin walked silently behind her classmates, not very enthused about the pictures. She hated getting her picture taken.

When she arrived at the gym, several groups of students were lined up near the bleachers in front of a plain, speckled gray backdrop and a couple of umbrella-shaped reflectors. Two photographers were posing an awkwardly tall boy and trying to get him to change his poor posture so that he'd fit the frame. She recognized him as Daniel Muldoon. He was in the same year as her, even in a couple of her classes, but she'd never spoken to him. He rarely spoke anyway. He was socially nonexistent, much like Caitlin.

Daniel's long blonde hair hung limply at his shoulders and he stared at the camera lens as it flashed, a stiff smile on his face. He was quickly ushered off, making room for the next person to be seated. Daniel quickly disappeared from sight behind a crowd of girls.

"Hey Caitlin!" The cheery voice ten feet behind her made her jump.

Caitlin spun to meet Summer, who trotted up and smiled. Her long blonde hair was done in a tight braid, her vivid blue eyes flashing at the sight of her best friend. How she had managed to stay dry and, more impressively, maintain a perfect face of makeup was beyond Caitlin.

"S'up, buttercup?" Caitlin smiled back. They had been best friends since third grade. Summer lived two blocks from her and they spent most of their free time together. She was opposite to Caitlin in many ways, but get them together and it was like they were sisters.

"Just got my picture taken. I've also got after school club pictures to do too," she said. She flashed a smile that reminded Caitlin of a magazine cover-- perfect, straight white teeth, pouty lips framed by dimples. Summer, while not altogether vain, loved having her picture taken because she knew she was beautiful. All the guys thought so.

"So are you going to be in the Writer's Club picture this year?"

"Nah, I'd rather not."

Summer frowned. "But you're Vice President, Caitlin. You have to."

"I don't have to do anything. It's stupid. No one looks at those anyway."

"I do," she pouted. "You always miss out on everything. One of these days, looking back, you might regret it!"

"I'll deal with that when the time comes," she was starting to get annoyed with Summer's pushiness, and, though she wouldn't admit it, jealous that she was so happy when Caitlin's day had been dismal. "Right now, I think getting a picture taken is stupid and a waste of time. The only people who get excited about it are just being narcissistic."

A look of hurt fell over Summer, her wide eyes considering what Caitlin had just said when she realized it was a jab at her. Then the look of hurt vanished and was replaced with one of irritation. "Well that's good that you think that, Catilin. But pretending like you don't care about anything at all makes you gloomy and negative. You've been like this for months, what's going on with you?"

Caitlin was about to retort when Summer's group was called to go back to class. Summer regarded her with a mix of concern and anger and turned, leaving without another word. Caitlin was left standing alone and confused in the middle of the gym. Why had she been so rude? She was just so angry lately. Summer was right-- she'd been negative and irritable for months now. Everything grinded on her nerves, everyone annoyed her. She needed to cut it out.

She sat on the bleachers and quietly waited as students filed in, the low murmur of the crowd growing until the gymnasium echoed with excitement. She could see people she knew enter the gym, including her long time crush Logan Marsh and his best friend David Paul. Logan was tall, dark-haired, and masculine. He had bright blue eyes and a sharp smile. Caitlin had had a crush on him for years. Ever since he started going out with Megan Lagace, however, she'd tried to give up on him. Seeing him now, her heart ached a little.