The Popular’s
Madi leaned against her locker and stared at the “Populars” as they passed by, but blinked out of her trance to Katy’s voice ringing in her ear.
“What’s with you? Ever since spring break you always watch Carson as she passes by like she’s your role model or something.” Said Katy.
“Nothings wrong. Just a spring break experience, that’s all. It’s nothing!” Madi choked over her final words, she hated keeping this such a big secret from Katy.
“Katy, you have to understand, you know I want to tell you but I just can’t” pleaded Madi.
Katy stopped and stared at Madi, “I trust you but…….” Katy was interrupted by Elise.
“Would you slobs get out of my way!” Shouted Elise.
“You know Elise you’re not much different. Your clothes are last season and your having a bad hair day. Ever hear of a place called a hair salon?” Madi walked away.
“Excuse me?” Elise jumped at Madi but Carson was there just in time to stop her.
“Elise!” Carson held her back.
“She looks just like her.” Katy stared at Elise as if she was a diamond ring.
“Who looks like who?” Madi looked around confused.
“Elise, she looks just like Penny, as if she was her but…”
Madi cut Katy off.
“What happened, she transformed? Ya right, have some common sense here Katy!” said Madi.
“No really, look!” Katy pointed at Elise. Madi turned her head to Elise, she was speechless.
“Its impossible Katy, come on before we’re late.” Madi grabbed Katy’s hand and dragged her into class. Ryan stood back behind the girls, taking in what she heard.
* * *
“Carson wait up!” shouted Ryan.
“What.” Carson snapped at Ryan.
“I have major gossip!” Ryan was full of anticipation.
“Ryan, you know the rule….save it for the table.” Carson sighed and headed for her locker.
The girls sat down at their usual spots and waited for Ryan to share her “major gossip.” Ryan pulled a photo of Elise and Penny Star.
“Ok so as I was entering science I over heard Katy Shmidt and Madi McKirk talking about how much Elise looked like Penny Star. So I did my research and turns out…..Elise might not be who we think she is.”
“Wait a minute, you did research. You, Ryan Marcs?” Natasha sat back amused by Ryan’s accomplishment.
“No, that’s what’s nerds are for! Anyway, Elise claims to be at French tutoring during lunch when our school doesn’t even offer French! Chess Club meets during lunch!” Ryan proudly smiled.
“Ryan I must say that this is the most work you’ve done in your entire life. But now with this new “project” we need to find Elise’s identity and next year’s Alpha and Beta by Friday! It’s Wednesday.” Carson stood up.
“Where are you going? It’s lunch!” Ryan looked at Carson as if she lost her mind.
“Well, Ryan, in case you weren’t listening Friday is two days away and we don’t have our evidence! So I suggest you get up and move.” Carson smile was sweet and sour as she waited for someone to budge.
“Get a move on it!” Carson rolled her eyes in disgust as the girls jumped up and headed off to their “investigations”
Carson and Ryan clacked in their Steve Maddens down to The Chess Club.
“Ok so the tinted window in the front of the class room only allows students to see inside, so Elise won’t see us, if she’s in there.” Carson looked around for anyone coming. Carson and Ryan knelt down in front of the window.
“Ok so the bell is about to ring, Elise is wearing a jacket that says “Star” on it. That’s evidence A.” Carson waited for Ryan’s reactions.
“Ryan!”
“What!”
“Take the picture!!!!”
“Right, right.” Ryan took out the digital camera and took a picture of Elise in the yellow jacket.
“Now call Edward Spy. He’s the guy who’s done all the spying for us. I’ll give you his number and you tell him to meet me at table 11 at 4 sharp!” Carson gave Ryan Ed’s number and walked away.
* * * *
Madi and Katy walked out of the school into the crowded parking lot.
“Hey look! It’s the new popular group. I can’t believe they picked so fast!” Katy jumped up and down.
“Well that’s Carson for ya, see’s it, plan’s it, get’s it done. Come on before the library fills up.” Said Madi.
“But…..but look!” pouted Katy.
“You’ll see them tomorrow or Friday at their intro. Carson we’ll introduce the Alpha, Beta and Squaws and their group name, something like the Perfect 6 or something like that.” Said Madi.
“Ha-ha, busted. Tell me more” grinned Katy. Madi walked away.
* * * * * *
Carson waited for Ed Spy to arrive. Envelope in hand she looked at her watch and just as she was going to call him, Ed walked up to her.
“What do you need?” Ed kept a look out for “eavesdroppers” as Carson handed him the envelope.
“Everything is in the envelop, report to me tomorrow morning!” said Carson.
Carson looked around and headed out to the awaiting Mercedes. Ed opened the envelope and pulled out the instructions:
Edward,
Thank you so much for helping us out this year. So your final most important mission I need you more then ever, the Populars need you more then ever! I need you at Elise Kemp’s house, 1974 Red Leaf Way, at 6:30 a.m. We need you to see Elise’s real identity in the morning, when we don’t see her. Rumor has it she looks exactly like Penny Star, you know the old Chess team captain that transferred to “boarding” school. Elise’s house has ended up as Penny Star’s old house, there’s just one problem. Penny’s parents never moved out! Neither did Penny. The whole “St. Kurts Boarding School” is most likely made up. So I need you to do full spy check. Doom Day is on Friday be close by for changes.
Thanks,
Carson Patrick
And
The Populars
Ed laughed and put the instructions back in the envelope. “Well….at least its not hiding in the girls bathroom.” Ed shrugged and walked out.
Carson and Ryan sat on the floor of Carson’s room.
“Well we have Alicia Bit, Taylor Pryce, Cena Smith, Miranda Shot, Megan Ske and Kristy Copperfield. I think we should go with Taylor Pryce and Miranda Shot for A and B. What do you think?” Carson handed Ryan the photos.
“Right now, anyone sounds good. Taylor has the looks and leadership and Miranda has the rumor wheel going.” Ryan put the photos down and fell back onto the pink bean bag.
“I’ll print the final list. See you tomorrow. O and wear something good, there’s a change of plans.”
“What change of plans?” said Ryan.
“You’ll see.” Carson laughed and Ryan left the room.
* * *
“Excuse me! Move! Get out of my way!” Brittany stormed through the crowd of anxious 7th grade girls. She stopped and posted the list and darted out of the “vicious” crowd.
“We didn’t look like this.....right?” asked Natasha. .
“No, they’re over in the corner.” Carson stared at her work, they were perfect!
“Brilliant” said Natasha
“Here” Ed came behind Carson, handed her the envelop and walked away.
“Ladies, we have a job to finish.” Carson led the Populars to the library.
“Ok, we need to have full look out. So Brittany and Natasha, you’re on look out. Ryan, you get the Perfect 6 and bring them to me.” Carson walked into the library.
“Ladies!” Carson stood up and greeted the girls.
“Congrats! I have your first mission for you! You know your initiation/introduction tomorrow? Well I lied, it’s today!” Carson smiled and looked around. Every girl’s mouth was hanging, even the Popular’s.
“So I need you guys to help bring Elise Kemp to the cafeteria, she’s been avoiding me so she might resist you. But when you get to the cafeteria, let her run. I’ll take care of the rest.” Said Carson.
* * *
Madi and Katy sat by Elise outside the cafeteria.
“Elise!” Cena Smith and Megan Ske came up to the them.
“Carson wants you; she says she wants to apologize, to straighten things out.” Said Cena.
They entered the crowded cafeteria; every single student was there. Elise stepped in shyly, thinking about turning around and making a run for it.
“Oh man Elise, I strongly suggest you stay right there!” Carson’s voice overpowered the rumble of the cafeteria with power and pure determination. Everything was going as planned. Elise looked like she was on the verge of crying. Carson laughed.
“So, um Elise; I heard this really nasty rumor that you’ve been hiding something very big from everyone. I don’t know about you but rumors can get very very nasty and secrets should be for everyone, right?” Carson had an intimidating tone to her voice, the tone where no one could disagree with.
“Sure.” Mumbled Elise.
“I don’t know about you but I’m itching to hear the truth about this rumor and hear this secret!” Carson shifted her wait to her left leg, the cafeteria table she stood on didn’t show signs of falling down; Elise wished it would.
“Yea!” shouted the other students.
“Wait! What’s the rumor? Some of us aren’t really in the know if you know what I mean.” Shouted a student from the back. Carson gave a death stare to the student.
“What do you mean you don’t know? RYAN! GET OVER HERE!” Rage boiled up in Carson. Ryan quickly shuffled over to ‘Carson’s table’.
“How come she doesn’t know, I thought I told you to make sure everybody knew!” said Carson in a whispered voice.
“I…..I thought everyone knew, I’m sorry.”
“Huh, you better be.” Carson turned around and faced Elise.
“This may sound so silly Elise, but rumor has it that you have a different identity in a way. Call that person stupid-” Carson eyed Ryan standing next to the table. “But I do recall you having a bit of personal time with Madi and Katy, am I not right?”
“Right.” Mumbled Elise.
“I’m sorry I don’t think everyone heard you, am I right about you spending time with them?”
“Your right!” said Elise a bit louder.
“That’s better. Now I would hate to get the wrong impression of you but you do live in Penny Star’s old house, Madi and Katy’s close friend. Another rumor has it that Penny’s parents never moved out of that house, she just ‘left for boarding school.’ But wait! There’s more! People also agree with me and The Populars that you do look scary alike to Penny. Can we get that picture up of Penny?”
Natasha hooked up the projector and put up a photo of Penny projecting onto the north wall.
“Hm, anyone seeing it? I know I am. Put a picture of Elise to next to it Nat.”
Natasha pulled a photo of Elise and laid it next to Penny’s photo.
“Oh boy! Would you look at that. I see what…………maybe one difference. Penny has blonde hair, you have brown. Look at those cheek bones! Exactly the same, oh and the eyes!” A laugh exploded through Carson. “Now Elise why don’t you come up here next to me, hiding behind that pillar is doing you know justice! Show that beautiful cloned face!” Elise slowly walked up to the table. “We don’t have all day, I have a manicure after school scheduled.” Elise climbed onto the table and looked at the two pictures of her on the wall.
“Ah that’s better isn’t it. Now if you could just stand over here…..” Carson placed Elise to face the crowd. “Now I don’t know about you guys but I am pretty convinced that we have an identity crisis here.” The crowd of students gasped and shouted words of agreement. “So Elise, is it true? Are you really that social suicide girl everyone just totally admires in Chess Club. You know, that girl Penny Star. She is some star I’ll tell you that now.” Sarcasm was written all over Carson. Elise didn’t answer. “Gawd Elise, your awfully quite today. Is there something you would like to share?” Elise nodded no. “Oh you want me to say it. Ok! Everybody I have a very special announcement.” Natasha help up the microphone leading to the intercom system. “I would like you guys to meet Penny Star!” Carson pointed to Elise, who was now looking around with tears in your eyes.
“I just have one question for you Elise, or should I say Penny? What in the world were you thinking coming back to the school where your BFF’s would without a doubt recognize you? That on your behalf was very poorly planned. So how much did this little stunt cost your parents? Where they really that desperate to have their daughter popular so they weren’t embarrassed socially?”
“No……” choked Penny.
“Oh really? Then how come I have a conversation here with your mom and my Aunt, your plastic surgeon, over the phone asking her for price ranges for plastic surgery for a thirteen year old? Of course my Aunt wouldn’t do it so you just go and die your hair?” Carson waved around the manila envelope in the air. Tears streamed down Penny’s rosy cheeks.
“I wasn’t thinking.” Mumbled Penny.
“Excuse me?”
“I SAID I ……………” A shy smile appeared on Penny’s face. “I said you found my secret, are you happy now Carson?” Penny jumped off the round table and stormed out of the cafeteria. Madi and Katy scuffled across the room toward the doors.
“I would strongly rethink what your doing ladies. Going out those doors would mean huge social suicide for both of you!”
The girls looked back and shrugged.
“Maybe you just don’t know what true friends are then Carson, because true friends do anything for each other and that means risking social suicide!”
“Really? You sure Penny is a true friend, because after what I just heard I really don’t think changing yourself completely to be popular is being a good friend.”
Madi and Katy stared at each other with sad faces.
“She has a point Madi.”
“Are you joking Katy! She said she was sorry, now come on we have to find her!”
“I’m not going Madi, she betrayed us once what makes you think she won’t do it again.” Katy sadly walked over to the table that she was sitting at before.
“Wait Katy, why don’t you come sit with us.” Invited Carson. Katy looked at Madi and gave her a sad look, Katy had made up her mind and chose not to run after Penny and Madi could do nothing about it. Katy picked up her stuff and joined the Populars. Tears running down her face, Madi ran out of the room and followed Elise.
Carson smiled at the huge victory, even more pride boiling in her.
“What are you freaks waiting for, go back to your pointless lives.” Shouted Carson as she stepped down off the table. Shocked murmurs erupted in the cafeteria as everyone returned to their seats; Carson again had proved that no one could fool her. She was simply the best at what she did, running the social world.
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