The Badass

Chapter 7-Princess

"This better make a damn good impression," I muttered.  I was wearing distressed, ripped skinny jeans-ones I had distressed myself-a black Paramore tee, a black and white checked belt that hung randomly across my hips rather than being threaded through the belt loops, and black and white Chucks.  Over the dark ensemble, I had my white sash that said "Homecoming Court" in pink swirly script.  My hair was in a french braid, which I had braided so it draped over one shoulder, my silver glittery crown lodged firmly in my hair.  With my thick black liner and smoky eye shadow, the whole ensemble was quite off-putting.  I tossed my plaid bag and sushi cartoon purse over my shoulder, and marched downstairs as if I had a war to wage against my breakfast. 

"Well good morning to you too, Sunshine," my dad teased as I grabbed a protein bar out of the pantry.  "Do you want to win the crown for Homecoming Queen, or take over the Underworld?" 

"Maybe both," I said casually, as I wolfed down the protein bar.  Grabbing a bottle of water, I gulped it's contents down and shoved another bottle in the mesh side pocket.  "I at least want to wave this in Jennifer Derrabond's face."

"Who's Jennifer Derrabond?" my dad asked.

"She's one of the other junior candidates," I said, shoving the three dollars my dad handed me in my wallet.  "A cheerleader.  She said we'd walk to school together today."

"Okay..." my dad said, not getting it.

"She wants to befriend me because she thinks it will win her more votes, since I beat her out in votes.  She's very popular, and she's actually pretty nice for a queen bee cheerleader."

"Then why don't you want to be her friend?  You could use a friend, Avery, especially one who's a girl."

"I wouldn't mind it, she's cool, but she told me to wear something eye-catching, and this might just knock her over," I said, an evil grin spreading across my lips.  My phone buzzed.  "That's Jenna.  I'm gonna go."

"Don't kill anyone, have a good day," my dad said. 

"No promises," I called over my shoulder as I walked out.  Jennifer was standing on the sidewalk, her mouth hanging open.  She looked perfect, in her red and white cheerleading uniform, her sash hanging over it and her crown lodged in her hair as best as it could with her ponytail.  Her strawberry blonde hair had a red-and black horizontally striped streak running through it, which I found pretty bad ass. 

"Hey Jenna," I said calmly.  She was still staring at me, openmouthed.  "Jenna?" I questioned, waving my hand in front of her face.

She blinked into focus.  "What are you wearing, Avery?  I said something eye-catching."

I looked down at my outfit with a shrug.  "This isn't?  It's a lot more obvious and eye-catching than your cheerleading uniform," I said.

"Yeah, but I am a cheerleader, we wear these almost every day, since we have practice almost every day," she said, pulling at her pleated skirt almost forlornly. 

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing," I promised as we started down the walkway.  "It's just that eye-catching can be percieved in many different ways.  Your uniform is kind of eye catching, it's a status symbol, plus the pleated skirt..." I trailed off, seeing if she would get the point.

She smiled.  "Yeah.  One well placed spin, and everyone catches an eyeful of cheerleader spanx and a hint of cheek," she says, shaking her butt until I swung at it with my water bottle.  "Hey!"

"I don't need to see that," I teased.  She rubbed her cheek with a pout, but it was soon replaced by a smile. 

"What does your dress look like?" she asked, shifting her bag.  "Where'd you get it? What's the bodice like?  How long is it?  Details."