Post by alison on Sept 13, 2011 20:46:01 GMT -5
| [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, background-image:url(http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LWSqSNpIToc/TYZTxT60WjI/AAAAAAAAAUg/kX0kRj5ZB6k/BlackWood.jpg); width: 437px; padding-top: 30; padding-bottom: 30;] THE ALISON ELOISE FLETCHER EDITION  SIXTEEN, JUNIOR, PREPS , EMMA WATSON "HELLO THERE. I'M SO GLAD YOU MADE IT HERE TODAY, BUT I'VE SEEM TO FORGOTTEN WHAT YOUR NAME WAS, IT WAS PAT... OR SOMETHING, RIGHT? NO, WELL, WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME IT THEN? FIRST, MIDDLE AND LAST, PLEASE. OH, AND PLEASE DO TELL ME ANY SCRUMPTIOUS NICKNAMES." “Pat? You’re really close. It’s Alison.” Alison laughed. “Alison Eloise Fletcher if you’d like to get technical. I know. It’s a mouth full. Most of my friends call me Ali. If not Ali, it’s Miss Fletcher in class, or the occasional Ali-gator. Oh, and ‘Nathan’s little sister’…” She rolled her hazel eyes. Obviously, it was a topic she grew tired of reiterating. “He’s the quarterback.” "I HAVE TO SAY, THAT'S QUITE A NAME YOU GOT THERE. I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE. TELL ME, HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED IN PORTLAND OR HAVE YOU COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE?" “Thanks. I’m kind of surprised you haven’t heard it, though. I know about three Alisons, and that’s only in homeroom. It’s pretty crazy. I can’t imagine how many there are in Portland as a whole. I’ve lived here all my life, so it’d be interesting to find out.” "OH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. HERE, LET'S LIGHTEN UP THE TOPIC A LITTLE BIT. OUT OF ALL OF THE WORDS IN THE WORLD, WHICH FIVE DESCRIBE YOU BEST AND WHY?" “You’re fine, but feel free to move on. It’s your interview.” Ali smiled lightly. The interviewer hadn’t given an exact time frame. She hoped this interview didn’t drag on for too long. She had homework and student council business to attend to. She pondered for a moment as the interviewer asked her to describe herself using five words. Five words and examples? That wasn’t difficult to do. Before she dove head-first into her response, she sucked in a sharp breath. Where to start? “As soon as you get to know me, you’ll find I’m a perfectionist,” she decided. “It doesn’t matter what I’m up to. If I’m not one hundred percent satisfied with it, I won’t accept it. Once, I’d been making a Venn diagram in seventh grade. We were comparing two different versions of Cinderella. I looked down at my paper once I had almost finished, realized the second circle was lopsided, and ended up starting the whole entire thing over. It’s a quirky thing, but someone has to make up for Nathan’s carelessness. It sure isn’t going to be my mom.” “I’d also have to say I’m an over-achiever. Being a perfectionist, it kind of goes hand in hand. I’ve tried to do sloppy work, and my brain can’t seem to process it. As strange as that sounds. I don’t know what it is. For school assignments, everyone is going for the low A on their reports, and I’m earning ten points over one hundred. As snobby as it is, I absolutely hate losing. I don’t really like saying I like being better than anyone else, but I do take pride in my work. I’ve always been second-best in my family compared to Nathan, so earning the highest test score in my class is huge for me. It’s kind of an ego-blow when you work your rear off doing something for something you love only to be second best. It kind of discourages you, y’know. Well, that’s my problem. During seventh grade, my English teacher loved my writing. In eighth grade, someone earned a higher score on their standardized testing, so everyone knew her as the ‘writer’. It really bugged me. I’m very proud when it comes to those kind of things.” “Apart from being a proud, over-achieving perfectionist, I have to say I’m also much quieter than you’d think. Being the sister of Nathan Fletcher, everyone is always so surprised to know I don’t sleep around or party every single night. I don’t know how many times one of my brother’s friends have come up to me, pointed at me, pointed at himself, and pelvic thrust. I’m like, ‘Erm. No thank you!’ because unlike Nathan, I have morals. I don’t go out of my way to be the center of attention. I actually hate unnecessary attention. If it concerns school work or the various extra-curricular activities I’m a part of, I’m all for it, but the minute something like gossip starts spreading around the school about me, I’m out. I’m not that kind of person. I stay out of people’s businesses for the most part, so I think they should mind their own, too. Of course, it’s difficult to do that when your brother brings home sluts every other night and you can hear sex noises through poorly built walls every twenty minutes.” She rolled her eyes. “Last but not least, I think I’m very… What’s the word? I’m very… Indifferent, I guess. People always call me a ‘Prep’, but what’s that even supposed to mean? Popularity is a bunch of baloney, and I really don’t understand Kimball High’s obsession with being at the top. They could shoot me down to the bottom for all I care, but of course, my parents are wealthy, I’m intelligent, and I play tennis, so I’m automatically ‘Prep’ material. Whatever. I don’t believe in the system at all, so I’m friends with whoever earns my trust. I don’t usually bother with the fake girls who insist on being my friend to get close to Nathan. Honestly, a girl could walk up to my brother, grab him in the crotch, and he’d be wrapped around her finger. That’s just how pathetic he is. My friends tend to be pretty level-headed like me, but they’re typically more outgoing. I’d be surprised to find I have a ‘un-preppy- friend whose parents don’t know my parents or brother. It’s ridiculous, and I think that’s five?” "I'M NOT GOING TO LIE. YOU SEEM LIKE QUITE THE CATCH. I'M SURE YOU'RE ALWAYS BUSY, HUH? DO YOU LIKE WATCHING TELEVISION OR KNITTING? WHY DON'T YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?" “Always busy? That’s an understatement. My life is pretty much booked for the next century or so. My mom insists I participate in school activities. She insists I participate in multiple school activities. I’m in the knitting club, so yes, I know how to knit, but the knitting club isn’t even the beginning! I’m Vice President for the student council, one of three editors for the newspaper, anchor for the school news, participant in the National Honor’s Society, drama club member, tennis player, and I’m sure there’s something else I’m missing. When I’m not overloaded with school activities, I like to play hockey for fun, ride horses, play golf, eat, spend time with my friends, read, write, surf the internet, investigate things, and draw. I don’t like to talk to snobby bitches, interact with snobby bitches, or take crap from snobby bitches. As you can tell, I really dislike snobby bitches. I also dislike being second best. I dislike being ignored, lied to, or taken advantage of. I dislike bullies, snobby bitches, and people who do criminal acts to look cool. I absolutely hate cheaters, and I hate being cheated on in the relationship form. I hate being used, and I won’t ever tolerate being underestimated. Other than that, I’m usually pretty open-minded about things. It’s one of my strengths, to be honest. I’m also very intelligent, level-headed, tolerable, and friendly. I’ve been told I’m actually a pretty decent writer, and someone told me I’m charismatic once. I thought that was pretty cool. I love being praised and recognized for a job well done, so compliments are always a great way to brighten my day. Of course, I’m pretty ‘average’ in the eyes of society, so I don’t experience too many compliments. They’re usually invested in the size of my brother’s penis in bed or something. What a waste of breath. So, besides being totally invisible to society, and burdened with the label of ‘Nathan’s sister’, I’d have to say I’m a little too opinionated for my own good, and I’m a bit too picky about things. I can also be very competitive and obsessive once I get introduced to something interesting, so I have my flaws. Everyone does. My brother just happens to have more than many others, although you can’t always see them. Oh, that reminds me, I really, really dislike my brother. Just in case you haven’t picked that up already,” Alison added with a wry smile. "YOU SOUND PRETTY FEARLESS, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING YOU'RE AFRAID OF. ANY JUICY SECRETS?" “Fearless? I wouldn’t use that as one of my traits, but I guess I can be pretty fearless if need be. This question is kind of personal, don’t you think? My secret could concern a sexually transmitted disease that I’m ashamed of. I wouldn’t want to tell you that. It’s not true. I’m a virgin, but my example is still very valid. If you have to know, I’d say my biggest fear is the fear of failing or letting someone down. I’m a people pleaser, so disappointing people kind of gets me down. I don’t really think I have any big secret. I’d say I secretly really hate my brother, but that’s pretty obvious. I hate how much attention Nathan gets? Yeah, that’ll work.” "DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, BUT ARE YOU GAY? I MEAN, IT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU SAID OR ANYTHING. I'M JUST A CURIOUS OLD BADGER. UM. WHAT DO YOU FIND ATTRACTIVE? IS THAT BETTER? I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO." “Gay?” Alison’s eyes grew wide. “Of course not!” She ran a hand through her hair quickly. “No, not gay. I like testerone. I’m not really picky when it comes to looks, but I don’t want a sex-addicted dick to hold my hand every day. I’d like someone who has a decent personality. I’m not really keeping my hopes up. I know how rare those types are these days.” "ALRIGHT, ENOUGH WITH THE HEAVY STUFF. LET'S TALK ABOUT... MUSIC. I THINK YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT POP OR HIP HOP EARLIER. WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LIKE? RAP, COUNTRY, JAZZ? WHAT ARE YOUR TOP FIVE MOST PLAYED SONGS ON ITUNES?" “… Okay? I like Classical music. My friends don’t understand it. A couple songs that I’ve listened to recently, just off the top of my head are: Madison by Ola Gjeilo, Giselle Ballad by Adam Adolphe, Roya by Fariborz Lachini, Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129 by Robert Shumann, and Radio Ballet by Eluvium. I’m actually surprised I remembered five titles. As you can probably tell, those last names aren’t really that easy to remember on command. I think I deserve a trophy or something.” "LISTENING TO MUSIC LIKE THAT? YOU'RE SURE TO BE A STAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. YOU SEEM LIKE A WELL-ROUNDED YOUNG PERSON, MY DEAR. WHERE DO YOU FIND YOURSELF TO BE IN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?" “Dreams and aspirations, you mean? Well, I’d like to go to college at a prestigious college. What a generic answer, right? I’d probably go somewhere on the East Coast. Like most kids, I’ve always wanted to attend an Ivy league college. In five years, I’ll probably be in college, maybe have an English or Political Science major boyfriend, and live in an apartment with an annoying roommate. I’m mostly going off of chick flicks and such that I’ve seen, but I’ve heard movies really hit reality on the head, so that’s what I’m going to go along with. If it turns out not to be true, I’m going to become a film producer so I can actually get reality right for once. Have you seen Charlie St. Cloud? Kisses like the one in Charlie’s house do not happen in reality.” "IF IT MEANS ANYTHING, I'LL BE ROOTING FOR YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES. I'M SURE YOUR PARENTS WILL TOO. SPEAKING OF YOUR PARENTS, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US THEIR NAMES AND WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM! DO YOU HAVE ANY SIBLINGS, PETS, OTHER RELATIVES?" Alison laughed. “Thanks, again. Do we have to talk about my parents? Fine, we can talk about my parents. My parents are decent people. They go to work, and then they come home. They spoil Nathan, and then they give whatever attention they didn’t use on Nathan to me. They make bank due to my dad’s job as a lawyer, and my mom’s job as a stable owner. My mom’s a good cook, so she feeds my eating fetish. Before I talk about Nathan, let’s just get it out of the way and say that I strongly dislike him as a person. This isn’t only some sibling rivalry, either. You have not smelled him after football practice. Dear God, he could at least try to mask the stench of his sweating pits. We don’t get along. We have different values, and we have different views on many topics. We can’t stand each other, but he tends to be a little bit protective for whatever reason. It irritates me.” "OH, I SEE. WELL, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. WHY DON'T WE WRAP THIS UP WITH YOUR STORY? HOW DID YOU END UP IN PORTLAND, OREGON?" Finally. Alison straightened her posture and cleared her throat. “It’d be my pleasure,” she replied with another toothless smile. “My story started on May fifth of nineteen ninety-five. I was conceived at 8:05 in the morning, and I can’t remember exactly how much I weighed. Nor can I remember how long I was. That’s not really important anyways. From the get-go, I was second best. Nathan voiced his first word three months before me, walked two months before I even began crawling, and always managed to distract our parent’s from my needs to refill his cup of juice. That’s what happens when you have two children back to back. Nathan is only nine or so months older than me. He never lets me forget it, either. As we were growing up, I was a pretty low maintenance child, and I was happy with my toys. Nathan always needed a new one. I was the angelic child, I like to think. This behavior continued and continued some more as we continued growing. It has always been a bit agitating when teachers I was assigned to thought I’d be a slacker like Nathan. We’re seriously like oil and water. We repel each other. I love doing well on school work. He could care less. I love smelling nice. Nathan couldn’t care less. I don’t understand how he turned out to be so sour! It only became worse when he became part of the popular crowd and got into football. He became cockier, and I became more and more invisible. As soon as we hit high school together, I was pretty much condemned to being Nathan’s little sister no matter what. No amount of clubs or achievements I’d earned myself can or will ever change that. I guess I just have to accept that and get on with my life. That's why I'm a 'Prep', y'know. My parent's money and my brother's status. Lovely, right? Well, that’s a grossly over-simplified version of my life. I figured adding in information about when I lost my first tooth was pointless, so I left that out. Good thing, too. I have to run. I have to get back to Tennis practice.” ROLEPLAY EXAMPLE As per usual, Katherine Tara Maddox was sprawled across the guest bedroom floor with a pencil positioned skillfully between her teeth and an annoyed expression flashing through her eyes. Why was she annoyed? There wasn’t particularly one thing that prodded her anger awake more than the bittersweet memory of one Leon Garner LaBeau No matter what she wrapped herself in, she couldn’t seem to swipe the man from her mind. Dare she admit she was completely in love with him? She rolled her eyes. Yeah, right. Katie refocused on the homework at hand. She’d been quite a bit distracted that evening. The new puppy Adam had brought home for Casey whimpered playfully downstairs, and Katie was ruefully reminded of her ripped cardigan. It hung upon the corner of the bed’s footboard, looking lamely and unfixable. The puppy had done quite some damage to the accessory. She might not have been so angry with the beagle had it been one of the articles her mother had bought for her when she lived with them. Of course, it wasn’t. The wily puppy had chosen one of the cardigans she had bought with Leon and Kora a couple months back. Katherine’s gaze remained on the royal blue cloth for a long moment. Silence settled over her mind until she realized what she was doing again. She was thinking about him. Annoyed with herself now, she shoved her homework away. The likelihood of her completing the assignment was slim to none. It was Thursday night. Leigh hadn’t hesitated to lay down the rules as soon as Katherine sought out her aid. From Monday to Thursday, Katie was required to be present in the home by nine o’clock unless an “acceptable” occasion said otherwise. Acceptable occasions included: anything related to her daughter, cheerleading, school events, or the numerous church services Leigh dragged her to. Unfortunately, none of the above events were usually scheduled for Thursday nights. Sometimes Katie spent her nights with Casey, but it was always difficult for the eighteen year old mother to interact with the sunny young child. Every glance at Casey screamed painful reminders of Kora. She did have custody of her every other weekend and whenever Leon couldn’t watch her on the weekdays, but for the most part, Kora spent most of her time with her father or at the day care. That wicked witch, Anna, was gifted more time than her! No matter how outraged Katherine became due to that simple fact, Leo was stubborn to change their set arrangements. Kora liked Anna. Katherine knew it was selfish of her to rather see her daughter unhappy compared to being happy with Anna, but she had a hunch her fears fed her dislike for Anna like oil and fire. When Leon exposed Kora to Anna more than her biological mother, it was quite possible she’d find more comfort in Anna rather than her. It was true cheerleading and her reputation had shot up on the list of her priorities as of late, but Kora always was (and would probably always be) her number one concern. It was her daughter, after all. Bored and frustrated with her ceaseless thought process, Katherine stood in her gray sweats and began the trek downstairs. Leigh didn’t give her much attention. She never did. Instead, she continued to clean her already spotless kitchen like the picture perfect house wife she seemed to be. Katie nearly opened her mouth to speak, but the loud, bountiful steps of the beagle puppy announced his arrival. His oversized ears flapped madly as his acceleration increased. He skidded to a stop near her feet. Even though a look of displeasure passed over the cheerleader’s face, she secretly admitted the puppy was kind of cute. “Hey troublemaker,” she greeted with a raw smile. As wary as ever, she lowered her weight onto the balls of her feet and scratched the mutt behind the ears. His tongue lolled out of his mouth. Eventually, she lowered into a sitting position and the dog rolled comfortably onto his back. He even managed to pry a laugh from her lips. The beagle was gnawing playfully on her fingertips when a vibration interrupted their play. Katie didn’t comprehend what had made the vibration at first. She didn’t realize she had neglected to begin charging her iPhone 4. She expected it to be from Elijah or even one of the other cheerleaders, but it hadn’t been. Instead, it was none other than the very person who haunted her conscious thoughts and even most of her dreams: Leo. The text read: I know we aren't exaclty on speaking terms, but I can't calm Kora down and I've tried everything I could think of. Please come help? Katherine was easily biting her lip in contemplation by the time her hazel eyes had read the text twice over. After about the fourth or fifth time, the butterflies multiplying in the pit of her stomach were very real. She left the puppy to sleep on its back as she entered the kitchen. Leigh’s blue eyes traveled to her face. Her sister seemed surprised to see her in such a close proximity to her. Leigh allowed Katie to stay in her home, but they didn’t often converse. “Leon is having troubles with Kora. May I borrow your car?” Leigh paused for a long moment. Her eyes traveled to the clock. The silence between them seemed vast and never-ending. Finally, she nodded sternly and unhooked the keys to the Jeep from the key ring. “Drive safe,” she reminded her. Katie nodded. She knew Leigh meant “Don’t wreck my car” rather than “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” Katie had long since accepted she was nothing more than a burden to her sister after all of this time. To be fair, Katherine didn’t exactly hold her sister highly either. In fact, Katherine thought she was a controlling bitch. She didn’t tell her what she thought to her face. Katie did have some common sense installed. Sometimes it was slower to come. It took her only a moment to reach the Jeep. Once she had, Katherine pushed the speed limit as she drove the familiar route to Leon’s apartment. Her heart thudded in her chest as her worry about Kora and anxiety to see Leon intermixed. The drive was a short one. Her mind occupied itself without a problem. Her feet led her idly to the door. She hadn’t braced herself for Leon’s appearance at the door. Katie blinked before her wits came about her once more. Thankfully, he seemed just as surprised to see her as well. Harboring the mixture of emotions bubbling under her skin, she managed to offer him a forced smile. Even then, it didn’t stay upon her face long. The fussy baby in her arms suddenly became her only focus. “Katie, I don’t know what else to do.” Katherine hugged the crying baby to her chest as Leon handed her over. The poor baby’s face was red with discomfort. Katie studied it carefully. She couldn’t decipher what was wrong with the troubled child. When Leon invited her into the apartment, she did so with a few easy strides. She bounced the baby gently, but it seemed useless. Katherine glanced around the apartment. She wanted to sit. The couch seemed like a realistic place to start. Settling into it, she began cooing soft, comforting words to the four month old baby. Miraculously, she began to calm. “It’s alright, Kora,” she sighed. “I’m here.” Katie gazed into Kora’s—Leon’s—eyes. God, she had her father’s eyes. Tears threatened to prick the corners of her eyes, so she looked away to Leon. “Have you fed her at all tonight?” she asked curiously. It was a basic question, but it was possible. CHAR, THREE YEARS, THE CREATOR, ADMIN EDIT |
