Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Four

A few days later, Caia accompanied Veronica and Reggie to the juvenile detention center to gift Archie with a pair of shoes they had picked out for him. The last time Veronica had gone, she had noticed that Archie's shoes were gone. Archie said that they had taken them with the rest of his clothes, but knowing how jail was, Caia figured it was something far more sinister.

"You really didn't have to get me anything," Archie exclaimed as Veronica pushed the box across the table towards him.

"Nonsense," she refuted. "Caia and Reggie helped me pick them out." When Archie still hesitated, Veronica had to probe him to open the box. "Go on, open them!"

Archie complied, and opened the box to find a pair of blue Adidias sneakers with yellow laces. "To replace your other pair," Veronica explained as Archie lifted one out of the box. "They'll he perfect for your triumphant strut out of her when the innocent project gets your conviction overturned."

Archie replaced the lid onto the box and set it on the floor. "They're great, Roni," he exclaimed. "Thanks."

Veronica smiled at him and everyone shifted uncomfortably. "It sucks," Reggie stated, breaking the silence. "You could've worn those fresh kicks to the pep rally."

Archie gave a sigh laugh. "Yeah," He agreed. "How are the dogs doing, Reg?"

"Coach Clayton's running our asses off. The Varsity squads gonna be tough to beat this year, especially with Moose anchoring the o line," he explained. "The dude is a straight beast. But we're missing our star running back," he informed, referring to Archie. "We need you back on the field, bro."

Archie nodded, slightly sad about what Reggie was saying. After that, all four of them just sat their in silence. It was quite awkward, and Caia couldn't figure out why. They were all friends, so why couldn't they find anything to talk about?

Maybe things had just changed too much.

*

Caia smoothed our the fabric of her skirt, looking herself over in the mirror to make sure she looked okay. When she deemed herself acceptable, she swiveled around and began walking toward the locker room door.

She stopped by Cheryl's locker. "Good news," She began. "My uniform still fits."

Cheryl turned around and glanced at Caia. "Well, thank God," she exclaimed. "We need you for the number today. We need all the pep we can get to cheer up those inmates."

"Agreed," Caia replied. "Hey, Cheryl, can we make a promise?" She questioned.

Cheryl rolled her eyes. "What are we ten?" She paused. "What about?"

"Let's make a truce," Caia stated. "No more bitching to each other, deal?"

Cheryl hesitated before nodding. "Okay. Truce."

Thirty minutes later, Caia stood with the other Vixens in a line as they strutted up to the fence of the jail yard. It seemed like everyone turned to look at them, the football game momentarily ceasing.

As Josie began to sing, all the boys ran up to the fence and hung onto the metal yelling. Caia did all the moves correctly, even though she had not done anything of the sort for a long time.

Caia didn't seem to notice that Veronica had left, as her solo was at that exact moment. "Sad sack was sittin' on a block of stone/ Way over in the corner weepin' all alone/ The warden said, "hey, buddy, don't you be no square/ If you can't find a partner, use a wooden chair." As she sang, she was hyper aware of all the cheers around her. It felt good.

Soon after the song ended, Caia was cheering as Archie ran down the field. Suddenly, guards began pouring from the building. Caia's smile fell off her face and she rushed to the fence. What was going on?

The guards began to attack the inmates for, as far as Caia could tell, not good reason. A boy fell a few feet from he fence and she cringed as the club hit his back. However, her eyes next shot up to Archie, who was fighting back, punching the guards.

She cried out in anguish. Fighting the guards would surely get Archie in trouble. Caia was worried for him, and not sure what he was thinking.

The guards got Archie to the ground, and Caia had to help pull Veronica away from the fence as she watched him get beaten.

Caia breathed heavily as she observed the chaos in front of her. How had this happened? No one had been doing anything that they weren't supposed to. It had to have been something more sinister.

Caia didn't know much. However, she did know that she needed a cigarette.

*

Caia blew a cloud of smoke out of her lips as she entered her house. She glanced over to her living room only to find a strange figure sprawled out on her couch. She rolled her eyes, figuring her mom had invited some random people over again.

Caia slipped her shoes off at the door and headed to the kitchen, still dragging on her cigarette as she walked. Once in the kitchen, she threw open the fridge and grabbed a bottle of Corona from the back. She popped the top off and took a long swig, swallowing, and then taking another drag on the cigarette.

She turned around and almost had a heart attack as there was a strange boy standing directly in front of her. "Holy shit!" She yelled, the beer bottle dropping out of her hand.

Luckily, the boy apparently had very good reflexes as he caught the bottle before it shattered to the ground. He held it up to his face, examining the label. "Corona, huh?" He questioned, before glancing down at Caia and giving her a once over. "Aren't you a little young to be drinking?"

"Uh, yeah, but that's is not my biggest worry right now," Caia replied, snatching the beer back from the boy. "Who the hell are you? And why are you in my house?"

The boy smirked, leaning back against the counter. "I was wondering when you were gonna ask that," he admitted. "I'm Noah Morgan."

Caia nodded. "Okay, that's great, but why the hell are you in my house?"

Noah swept his hair off his forehead. "Needed a good place to stay for a while. Your mom offered, so I took it," he explained. "I mean, I assume she's your mom, at least."

"Okay, okay," Caia replied. Suddenly, her eyes got wide as an idea coursed through her head. "You two aren't-"

Noah's eyes widened as he realized what she was insinuating. "No, no!" He exclaimed, pushing himself off the counter. "God no! I'm still in high school!"

Caia threw her hands up in surrender at Noah's disputations. "I mean, you never know."

Noah shrugged. "Fair enough. But I would never." He paused, his eyes roaming Caia's body. "But I wouldn't be opposed to someone else," he hinted, biting down on his lip.

Caia almost threw up in her mouth. What a fuck boy.

Noah took a step toward her and she backed up, pressing a finger to his chest and pushing him away. "Um, sorry buddy, but I have a boyfriend," Caia explained.

Noah shrugged. "Nobody said he had to find out," he suggested.

Caia scoffed. "Ha ha ha, nice try kid, but I don't date man whores."

Noah put his hand to his chest in mock offense. "You wound me, doll."

"I'm not your doll," Caia stated, crossing her arms over her chest, still holding both the cigarette and beer bottle. "And I would suggest you tread lightly, because I can kick you onto the street," she flicked the butt of her cigarette in the boy's face causing him to flinch back. "Like that."

As she walked away, Noah turned around and watched her go. He smirked at her retreating figure.

He would get her one day, that was for sure.