Anti Heroine

Underground Goings On

Jessie was back at school on Monday and conversed lightly with those in her old group. She could handle this, ease herself back into the group.

History class came, a dreaded subject for Jessie, and she found herself edging towards Cheshire, the girl who had previously informed her what was going on in the school. After Jessie had isolated herself from the school pool of gossip and rumors, she desperately needed to play catch up.

"Let me guess," The girl asked, her usual black garb accented with neon colors, "Information?"

Jessie sighed, of course the private investigators of Jefferson High would know what she wanted, and sometimes, Jessie felt as though she was using them only for their information. Because, quite frankly, their attitude towards life, the way they dressed, and the way they acted scared her a bit.

Cheshire nodded, "I will not tell you anything you don't need but, watch out for Adrianne, she's gone underground, which can only mean she's planning something."

"Anything else?"

"Worthless gossip is no use for you, those things you must find out for yourself." Cheshire turned away ending their conversation. "Oh, and remember, I am the only one that gives information freely, everyone else demands a price. Everyone."

Thoroughly confused by Cheshire's prophetic capabilities, Jessie moved towards her own seat, conveniently placed next to Ethan's.

"Hey," He said softly.

"Hey," she responded back, a slight flush creeping into her cheeks. She could never feel too comfortable with him.

"See you at the bookstore?"

"Of course," she said, and luckily the teacher walked into the classroom before Jessie had to think of something else to say.

For once, work went smoothly. Jessie finally didn't feel awkward about talking to Ethan or sitting up on the counter and goofing off as they had done in the past.

Mrs. Randolph, ever vigilant, emerged from her office as Jessie left the store. "She's back huh?"

"Yea," Ethan said with a sigh, his light green eyes twinkling, "It took a while."

"Just make sure you don't ruin it this time, most people don't get a second change you know."

"Wha-" Ethan said, face blank, "Mom, stop it."

"I'm just saying that's the way I see it."

Ethan grunted and proceeded to busy himself with the usual end of the day tasks, attempting to hide his tomato red face.

Thursday. The worst day of the week, you want it to be the weekend and yet, you still have one more day to go.

Jessie had spent the week chatting with her friends, gradually becoming more and more a part of the table. Lisa and Michael, and the rest of the baseball seniors had pushed the two tables together to form a larger one they could all fit around.

Although trust was still a small problem, Jessie tried to quell all moments of distrust, and it seemed as though everyone was trying to keep those situations at a minimum.

Of course, high school isn't high school without something new and exciting happening once a week.

"Here take this," a freshman with raccoon eyes said, flinging a piece of orange paper at the giant lunch table inhabited by the combined Lizzie and Lisa groups.

Jessie looked up from her book, a habit she had reverted to since the split, with mild interest.

"Party at Adrianne's Saturday night!" Sam said excitedly.

Everyone in the lunch room was buzzing about this party, an Adrianne Party only happened once or twice a year and they were usually big events with themes and appearances from local bands.

"The theme is glow in the dark!" Lizzie said excitedly after she snatched the flyer from Sam. "I think its outfit shopping time!"

Jessie was silent, watching the group's reaction to the former undisputed queen of Jefferson before turning her gaze to Ethan. The brown haired boy was glancing nervously between the tittering girls and the stoked guys. "Are we seriously going to go?"

"Look Ethan, I know you haven't been here long, and I know what she did to you," Kevin said, "But an Adrianne doesn't happen very often and you have to jump on the chance."

Ethan looked down, knowing he would be forced to go with the rest of his friends. He turned his head and Jessie's gaze met his. The ideas in Jessie's head were paralleled in his, what would Adrianne do this time?

Sadly, only a little more than twenty four hours later Jessie was being dragged to the mall. Each girl was going to buy either white or black clothing and then decorate them with glow in the dark paint. Jessie settled on a lacy tank top, shorts, and converses along with a pair of lime green and a pair of bright orange fish nets. Crazy was the name of the game for this sort of party.

Twenty four more hours later Jessie was beginning the preparty beauty rituals with Lizzie, Molly, and Lisa. The party wouldn't reach full swing until ten thirty so the group planned to arrive at ten so they could immerse themselves into a party mode before the truly crazy stuff started to happen.

Ethan, Brain, and Kevin parked next to Molly's car, which held the girls, shortly followed by Mike and Sam. They came in force, ready to put the problems of the last month behind them and bring in the rest of the year with a good time.

Jessie spent most of the time standing off to the side watching the people slithering on the dance floor awkwardly, wishing she had the guts to drink a little liquid courage. She had almost gathered enough to ask someone to dance when the lights and music shut off.

"Everyone please file into the foyer for a special announcement." Adrianne's voice boomed over a loud speaker.

All hundreds of teenagers pushed their way into the center of the front hall of Adrianne's huge house. Everyone looked up to where Adrianne was standing holding a binder that looked as though it had seen better days. Everyone was murmuring, even those influenced by alcohol knew better then to act stupid while Adrianne was speaking.

"Those who know the events of the recent months realize people have been competing for a position in our hierarchy that only one can hold. I invoke the rights of The Book of Jefferson and demand an all out test of skills, each round decided by a third party." Everyone was silent as the red headed beauty followed the ritual.

The Book was something everyone believed to be an urban legend, a school myth that held all the unwritten rules, written down of course, including proper dress for social groups, and ways to settle disputes. It seemed that the legend was fact, not fiction.

"Since the beginning of the school year Jessie Sanders has been trying to usurp my position as reigning queen bee of Jefferson High. She has purposely dated only boys I had dated in the past." Jessie looked over at Michael who grimaced, obviously regretting the moment he had ever agreed to willing be around Adrianne. "She has completely left her place on the ladder, and, everyone knows there cannot be two queens in one kingdom. So, Jessie Sanders, I challenge you, winner takes all, and, loser, has to stay at the moment of the run until we graduate."

Jessie squirmed as the attention of the anybodies who were anybody turned to look at her, waiting for her decision. Everyone knew that one the rules of The Book was that any challenge stated like this had to be agreed to, or the forfeit side automatically lost and punishment was still enforced.

"So what do you say, are you going to man up?" Adrianne asked cockily.

Molly nudged Jessie's ribs, "Don't worry, if you accept there's still a chance you won't lose, if you forfeit, you automatically lose, and we've got your back."

A slight nod of her chin and Jessie spoke up, "I accept."

Adrianne smiled, shutting the binder promptly, "May the best man win."

Jessie couldn't think, she didn't know what this war was about. If she lost, she was stuck eating lunch next to the trashcans, getting "book dropped", and people cutting in front of her in the lunch line for the next year and a half. If she won though, Adrianne could no longer terrorize the school. Jessie still didn't even understand the rules for the duel, or even what to expect from the challenges.

This was almost like being on the Lizzie always watched when she came over, "Flavor of Love." Except these two weren't fighting over a man, they were fighting for a population.

The day after the party the group was sitting around Molly's finished basement scarfing down cereal and dreading going to school the next day. Sundays were evil.

"I'm going upstairs to get some more milk anyone want any?" Jessie said as she stood with her bowel in hand. She had the habit of drowning her cereal; it could never be too soggy.

Everyone looked up and gave some variation of a confirmation. Jessie rolled her eyes and turned towards the stairs, but stopped when she realized someone was following her.

"Thought you'd want some help," Ethan responded shyly.

The two walked up the stairs in silence, when they reached the kitchen Jessie went straight for the fridge for the gallon of milk stashed inside. "Cereal's in the cabinet to the left can you grab it?" She said, and, spinning around, she almost fell into Ethan.

His green eyes brightened for a moment as he steadied her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You ok?"

She looked up at him and gave a slight nod of her head.

The pair was caught, staring into each other's eyes, Green pooling into brown, like they were trying to peer into the other's soul. Ethan's forehead met hers, and the staring contest continued. Jessie's breathing stopped, her head buzzed, all thoughts of breakfast had been erased.

"Hey guys wh-" Kevin said emerging from the stairwell. "Never mind." He muttered quickly, scurrying away from the scene he had schemed so hard to achieve.

Jessie blushed, breaking away from Ethan. "I guess we should get back down there." She jumped away from the taller boy like a startled deer, scarlet spots rushing to her cheeks.

"Hey wait a sec," Ethan said, grabbing her elbow.

The brunette turned to look back at him, confused, what else did he need?

Without warning he leaned down, his lips connecting to hers a soft sweet kiss.

And a round of applause rose up.

A/N: Well, I could have dragged it out…but I wanted to end here. And this way…I'll make sure the next chapter is longer. But would you really have wanted me to go on?

Special thanks to: BananaPhone, Sweetly Sarcastic, and as always, CIACONNA