titter of laughter told her that she’d been had. Grabbing her hips, she was angry about being tricked. Swiveling back around, she was treated to a handful of dried leaves thrown in her face.
Collette’s aim true, Missy’s fit of temper disappeared. Responding with an attack of her own, she bent over, scooping up an armful of ammunition.
“Oh, so you want to play?” she screamed, giving chase to a squealing Collette who was hightailing it along the rim of the woods. Catching her easily, Collette bobbed, doing her best to avert the inevitable. Not able to evade the attack, she was hit squarely between the eyes. Collette roared with laughter, Brandi joining in the fun with a series of squeals.
The leaf fight begun, the three girls pelted each other until spent. Collapsing on the ground, they continued the brawl, until Brandi's body started to shiver.
“Look, I'm sorry I blew up before,” Melissa apologized, rising and brushing the leaves from her hair and clothing. “Now let's get back before a certain little ballerina turns blue as a smurf!” Pulling Brandi up by her long, slender arms, she helped her clean off. Slipping her hand around Brandi's waist, her roommate linked her arm through Collette's.
“Hey, let's go get some hot chocolate!” Brandi suggested. “And just let that creepo peepo watch that!”
The three took off, hurrying towards the warmth of the sheltering lodge. Outlines of their slender bodies left in the dried leaves, a chill wind began to blow, removing all traces that they were ever there.
Chapter Seven
“Aw, come on! We got you this far,” Brandi urged, tugging at Melissa's oversized sweatshirt.
Still not certain why she’d given into Brandi and Collette’s insistent pleadings, she’d reluctantly agreed to join them at the wicked witch's table for dinner. Why they were so eager to be handmaidens to the diabolical Zoe, she didn't know. It could just be that evil held a special attraction.
“Hey, you're gonna stretch it out!” she warned. The old top already falling apart, it looked as if a stiff breeze could unravel it, Brandi didn’t get the humor, immediately ceasing her birdlike fingering. “I'm kidding,” Melissa whispered, her hands going on either side of her roomie’s very sweet face.
With a wry grin, Missy marched into the cafeteria, softly singing the lyrics to “ The Man of La Mancha.” Her antics more than amused Collette who hummed right along. The trio settled on the dinner special, but only Melissa requested a double portion of mashed potatoes and hot apple pie a la mode. That done, the rendition of the Broadway show tune resumed, only halting when Melissa rested her tray on Zoe's table.
“Hi, you must be Zoe,” Melissa greeted, extending her hand. “My name is Melissa. Melissa Solange, but my friends call me Missy.
Doing a double take, Zoe rotated her head in either direction to take in her two constant companions’ reactions. Gretchen and Rob merely shook their heads, laughing at what they assumed was a show of early senility.
“Meh, I believe we already met ... duh?” Zoe quipped. Lazily turning away, the last word was punctuated with the outburst of giggles from her cohorts.
“No,” Missy negated, “This is the first time we’ve met. It's only right since we're making a new start, right?” Cocking her head, she lifted an eyebrow.
“R-i-g-h-t!” Zoe drawled, the rationale finally sinking in. Shaking Melissa's hand, she gave what could pass as a genuine smile.
“Very glad to meet you Melissa. I am Zoe Ryan, and these are my two friends, Robert Meleon and Gretchen Stowd.
Rob and Gretchen both joined in the silly game, jovially offering salutations. A lively discussion sputtering forth, conversation was convivial and surprisingly easy during dinner. Not a hint of tension, there was only an occasional beep on Melissa's phony meter. The hiccups forced her to take a reality check. Much preferring for the world to be one big, happy
Collette’s aim true, Missy’s fit of temper disappeared. Responding with an attack of her own, she bent over, scooping up an armful of ammunition.
“Oh, so you want to play?” she screamed, giving chase to a squealing Collette who was hightailing it along the rim of the woods. Catching her easily, Collette bobbed, doing her best to avert the inevitable. Not able to evade the attack, she was hit squarely between the eyes. Collette roared with laughter, Brandi joining in the fun with a series of squeals.
The leaf fight begun, the three girls pelted each other until spent. Collapsing on the ground, they continued the brawl, until Brandi's body started to shiver.
“Look, I'm sorry I blew up before,” Melissa apologized, rising and brushing the leaves from her hair and clothing. “Now let's get back before a certain little ballerina turns blue as a smurf!” Pulling Brandi up by her long, slender arms, she helped her clean off. Slipping her hand around Brandi's waist, her roommate linked her arm through Collette's.
“Hey, let's go get some hot chocolate!” Brandi suggested. “And just let that creepo peepo watch that!”
The three took off, hurrying towards the warmth of the sheltering lodge. Outlines of their slender bodies left in the dried leaves, a chill wind began to blow, removing all traces that they were ever there.
Chapter Seven
“Aw, come on! We got you this far,” Brandi urged, tugging at Melissa's oversized sweatshirt.
Still not certain why she’d given into Brandi and Collette’s insistent pleadings, she’d reluctantly agreed to join them at the wicked witch's table for dinner. Why they were so eager to be handmaidens to the diabolical Zoe, she didn't know. It could just be that evil held a special attraction.
“Hey, you're gonna stretch it out!” she warned. The old top already falling apart, it looked as if a stiff breeze could unravel it, Brandi didn’t get the humor, immediately ceasing her birdlike fingering. “I'm kidding,” Melissa whispered, her hands going on either side of her roomie’s very sweet face.
With a wry grin, Missy marched into the cafeteria, softly singing the lyrics to “ The Man of La Mancha.” Her antics more than amused Collette who hummed right along. The trio settled on the dinner special, but only Melissa requested a double portion of mashed potatoes and hot apple pie a la mode. That done, the rendition of the Broadway show tune resumed, only halting when Melissa rested her tray on Zoe's table.
“Hi, you must be Zoe,” Melissa greeted, extending her hand. “My name is Melissa. Melissa Solange, but my friends call me Missy.
Doing a double take, Zoe rotated her head in either direction to take in her two constant companions’ reactions. Gretchen and Rob merely shook their heads, laughing at what they assumed was a show of early senility.
“Meh, I believe we already met ... duh?” Zoe quipped. Lazily turning away, the last word was punctuated with the outburst of giggles from her cohorts.
“No,” Missy negated, “This is the first time we’ve met. It's only right since we're making a new start, right?” Cocking her head, she lifted an eyebrow.
“R-i-g-h-t!” Zoe drawled, the rationale finally sinking in. Shaking Melissa's hand, she gave what could pass as a genuine smile.
“Very glad to meet you Melissa. I am Zoe Ryan, and these are my two friends, Robert Meleon and Gretchen Stowd.
Rob and Gretchen both joined in the silly game, jovially offering salutations. A lively discussion sputtering forth, conversation was convivial and surprisingly easy during dinner. Not a hint of tension, there was only an occasional beep on Melissa's phony meter. The hiccups forced her to take a reality check. Much preferring for the world to be one big, happy
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