September 11th, Tuesday - Casey Silpetti
“So, like, I finally got Jake to ask me to the Kick-Off Formal! Jeez, for being the cutest guy on the soccer team he is kind of slow on the uptake.” Harmony realizes what she said, and turns to Casey. “I mean, cutest up there with Aiden and all.”
Casey just points frantically at the road. She chuckles after Harmony finally turns her attention back to her driving, and the imminent threat of crashing is over. Harmony just starts back up her conversation, ignoring the belated honking fading away behind them.
“So I figure since we have the game to go to tomorrow night, and we can’t wait until the night before to get ready, I think we should go shopping for dresses tonight. We can leave right after classes, and hit the mall, if it’s clear maybe even hit the Three Corners market again. I saw some beautiful dresses out in a boutique out there.”
“Err, dresses?” Casey’s mind immediately goes to the small cache of money in her bag. She has more cash now than she’s had in a while, but it’s still a depressingly small amount compared to her friends.
“Hell yeah, girlfriend! Don’t worry about the limo or anything, if the guys don’t man up enough to get us one I’ll sweet talk dad into it. But we have to get our dresses on… at least to make the guys want to rip them off!” She turns back and flashes a devilish grin at Casey.
“We’ll see—“Casey starts, but her friend cuts her off.
“No seeing necessary. I’ll meet your butt out here after class, and we’re going. Later toots!” She gives Casey a quick hug, and tears off into the building.
Casey stands there a long moment, and sighs. Looks like I’ll be spending my free period trying to see if anyone has bought a photo, or if I have any more I can sell, she thinks to herself.
She sighs again, and walks to her locker. She’s not paying too much attention to anything as she opens it, until she sees the envelope sitting on top of her books. She looks around, but of course no one is there with a sign on saying “Hey, I dropped an envelope in your locker!”
She reaches out and picks it up, and feels a small bit of relief as she recognizes Faust’s handwriting on the outside, even though it’s just her name. It’s also only a small amount of relief, and anything from Faust still rings warning bells in her head.
She’s even more surprised when she opens it up to find five crisp, new hundred dollar bills inside. A small piece of parchment has a note on it. “Here is the money from the police, for the picture of the Ghoul. I took the liberty of cashing the check for you, so that they wouldn’t have a name. M.F.”
His words run through her mind. ‘Tell me Casey, have you ever noticed how sometimes, things will happen? You need a place to stay, and for some reason the campus cops don’t kick you out the University Student Center. … Or when you were broke, and hungry, and on the edge of trying to figure out exactly how far you’d go in order to get something to eat, and just then, some art magazine you’ve never heard of buys one of your pictures, giving you enough money to survive a month or more?
“Ever notice how things happen, when you need them to?’
She shudders as chills run down her back, and quickly tucks the envelope into her bag. She grabs her books, and closes the locker door, only to jump in shock as she realizes someone is standing right there waiting for her.
Cadence watches her with a small glint of amusement in her eyes, as Casey jumps straight back into the row of lockers with a muffled curse/gasp. She starts to laugh even as her heart pounds in her chest, laughing at herself and the reaction that Cadence is trying to keep to herself.
“Sorry Casey, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that. I guess you didn’t hear me call your name.”
“It’s ok… I just… I was in another world or something.” She stops there, wondering why the other girl is standing there. Last time she really had a chance to talk to her, Cadence had said that they couldn’t be friends, and that Casey should keep her distance for her own good.
The other girl seems to be reading her mind, as she looks guiltily away. “I’m sorry to ask you for another favor, but I was hoping you could do one last thing for me.” When Casey stays quiet, Cadence continues, pulling a small, leather journal out of her bag. “I was hoping you could slip this into V’s bag in science class. “
Casey recognizes the journal that Aiden managed to sneak out of Roni’s house, the personal item that Cadence had asked for in order to ‘help find her.’ However she did it, it was only a little while after she got the journal that she called with the address of where Roni was being held. And even if someone must have got the info to the cops first, Casey checked it out and Cadence was right on the money with the address.
“Why don’t you come sit by us and you can do it? I think Aiden’s gonna sit by us too, so we’ll have our little foursome back.” She doesn’t even wait for Cadence to answer, “Gotta go to homeroom…I’ll see you in Chem.”
Homeroom and Literature in Film both go quickly and quietly, and Casey is already sitting across from Roni in Chem when Aiden walks in. He smiles at Casey, and leans in for a kiss. She surprises him by pulling him down into the seat next to her with a quiet admonishment of “sit.” Prof Z isn’t in the class yet, so she silences his question with another quick kiss.
Cadence limps in, walking a little better but still leaning on a cane. Casey totally ignores her and continues to talk to Aiden until she finally sits down across from him. Roni immediately welcomes her, and starts talking about joining her mother’s Drama class.
Casey turns from Aiden during a lull in their conversation and smiles at the other girl. “Good morning, Cadence.” Aiden echoes her.
Cadence turns to them and smiles with reserve. “Morning.”
Prof Z takes that moment to walk in, and Casey turns in her chair to face him. The class proceeds normally from there, and during lab the four of them fall back into patterns they had started to show in the beginning of the school session.
They get on the subject of Aiden’s soccer game, Roni happily exclaiming that she and Binks will be able to make it. She tries to talk Cadence into going, but the quiet girl begs off because she has physical rehab after class. “Trust me, I wish I could go. It’d be far less painful watching high school soccer than them poking and prodding and stretching me, and forcing me to walk up and down stairs and all.” She smiles as she says it, clearly teasing Aiden, who play acts being all huffy for a second.
Then he gets a playfully evil look on his face. “Sooo… poking and prodding and stretching, eh?” He waggles his eyebrows as Cadence rolls her eyes, and Roni looks on confused.
“Case, might want to control your boyfriend before he finds out how painful a cane can be… I’m sure our soccer team needs him in one piece.”
Casey chuckles, and she and Aiden go back to writing back and forth on their notepad about their plans for after the game, which now include ‘poking and prodding and stretching.’ She starts to write back a response, his hand softly caressing her thigh, when a sudden loud laugh startles her.
She looks up to see Cadence trying to hold in her laughing, sniggering and coughing behind her hand as tears well up in her eyes. Veronica is beet red next to her, and studiously avoiding either Casey or Aiden’s eyes.
“Cadence?” Prof Z asks from his desk, his tone stern. Casey notices that the rest of the class is looking in their direction.
“Soo…sorry Mr. Zachery.” She calms herself down and finally stifles her laughter, although now she’s reduced to watery hiccups. Roni turns back towards them, but as soon as she looks at Casey and Aiden her blush deepens and she looks away again, but a smile is playing around her lips.
Aiden leans close to Casey, his breath warm in her ear. He stage whispers loud enough for the other two to hear. “Well, now you have to come over after the game tomorrow night, I have to live up to my reputation.”
The bell rings, and Cadence and Roni start arguing quietly. Roni finally stomps her foot, and declares “You freaking got shot because of me, so if you think you can talk me out of carrying your books, you’re crazy!”
Cadence looks over at Aiden and Casey, her face asking for help. Aiden takes Casey’s hand and starts to pull her towards the door. He grins and teases, “Hey, if the kid is anything like her sister, she’s more determined than a brick wall. Good luck with that.”
Roni shoots him a dirty look. “Kid?! You better run, Aiden.” She grins back, ruining the hard-ass effect she was trying for.
Aiden chuckles and pulls Casey out into the crowded hallway. He wraps his arm around her waist and slides his hand into her back pocket, grinning as she jumps a little.
They walk towards her Trig class. “So I was serious about you coming over after the game. If you don’t want to sneak inside, there’s always the pool house. My parents never expect me home early after a game, so they shouldn’t be a problem.”
“We’ll see. Do you have practice at lunch again?”
“Nope, just after school today. We had a really good scrimmage last night and Coach is letting us take it easy today.” He gives her a kiss, “Save me a seat, sweetheart.” Casey smiles and goes into her trig class.
Casey ends up right in front of Cadence in the lunch line. “Come eat with us,” she says as she grabs hers and Cadence’s trays, heading off toward an empty table. She hears Cadence start to protest and then give up. She sets both trays down and Cadence joins her a minute later, slowly sitting down. “Did you get her journal into her bag?”
“Yes, I did. And…” she pauses for a long moment, and then finally finishes with a quiet “thanks. It was nice being part of the group again this morning.”
Harmony plops down, “So, I was thinking maybe we should hit the Market before the mall since those shops usually close earlier…and the dresses are usually way cool vintage ones. If we don’t find something there, then we can hit the mall. Whaddya think Case?”
“Uh well, Harm…” Casey thinks about the $500 in her bag and what she can use it for. I can pay Aiden back for the clothes like I said I would. I can get some new uniforms, and some other new clothes. I can get more film and photo paper. Hell, I can even get a cheap laptop with it. Plus Aiden hasn’t even asked me to the dance…does he even go to dances? I’ve never gone to one, I don’t know. “Harm, I don’t know if I’m going to the dance…”
Harmony’s mouth drops open and Veronica and Bianca show up at the table at the same time.
“Case, you have to come to the dance!” Roni says. “We’ll have so much fun, just like your birthday.”
Bianca chimes in, “Yeah Casey, we could all go to dinner before, it’d be a blast.”
Casey blushes as they turn their attention to Cadence, asking if she’s going, and as much as she tries to beg off, they somehow convince her to at least dress up and go to dinner with them, and promise that if she’s too tired she doesn’t have to go to the dance. Aiden and Jake both come up right then and before she knows it Casey is sitting sideways on Aiden’s lap. She laughs, “You could get another chair, ya know.”
“This works for me,” he says then kisses her neck.
“Get a room,” Harmony jokes and everybody laughs.
“So,” Aiden asks, “what are we talking about?”
“The dance,” Roni answers. “Casey said she might not go. Did you even ask her?” Aiden suddenly becomes very interested in his lunch, and even blushes a little. All the girls, except Casey, start in at the same time with “What did you think, you didn’t have to ask, she’d just go?” (Harmony) “Aiden, you have to ask her if you want her to go with you.” (Roni) “Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Even I know you have to ask her if you want her to go.” (Cadence) “Might want to hurry before someone else asks her…” (Bianca)
“Whoa…OK. I get it.” Aiden holds up his hands in a “Stop, I give up” gesture. Casey, meanwhile, has turned bright red and stands up, heading toward the bathroom. Aiden mutters, “Damn it,” under his breath and follows her, catching up before she goes into the bathroom. “Casey.” She keeps going and is pushing open the door when Aiden takes her shoulder and turns her around, tilting up her chin so she has to look at him. He sees the tears start to fall. “Case…I…I’m sorry I didn’t ask. With everything that’s been going on…I just…well, I didn’t realize it was this Friday. I was gonna ask you right after lunch. Jake asked about sharing a limo, it reminded me it was this weekend…” he trails off.
“It’s fine, really,” she sniffles as she swipes at the tears that seem to show up more often these days. Aiden grabs her hand and takes her to one of the back stairwells.
“OK Case, what’s up with the tears if you’re fine?”
“It’s just…” she laughs, surprising Aiden. “They all jumped on your ass.” She smiles up at him. “Still not used to having people that care.” She lifts up on her tiptoes and kisses him. “So, you gonna ask me or should I go see if Chance wants to go? I mean, I know I’m only in high…”
Aiden cuts her off with another kiss, pressing her back up against the wall, his hand sliding up her thigh and under her skirt. He practically growls at her, “Don’t you even joke about him with me Case. We’re friends and all, but man, I could’ve busted on him for how he was looking at you.” Casey just laughs again, caressing Aiden’s cheek. He smiles, “So Casey, will you go to the dance with me?” She nods yes and he kisses her again, as the doors burst open with students heading to their next class. Casey laughs again and leans her forehead against his chest, “Off to class I guess.”
Casey spends her study period on the computer checking to see if any of her photos have sold. She sighs when she sees that none have. ‘Dangit. I could use a little more cushion,’ she thinks.
After she’s done with that she heads outside, working up the courage to call David Mors’ assistant. She finally dials the number and when he (Owen Spiner) answers, explains who she is and that Mr. Mors had mentioned he might be interested in buying some of her photographs.
“Ahh, yes Ms. Silpetti. Mr. Mors did mention in passing that you might call. Actually, there is a project coming up that you might be able to help out with. Do you mind holding for a moment?” he asks in his ultra-polite tone.
“No sir, not at all.” There is a click and soft classical music starts playing.
It’s only on for a moment before it shuts off with another click, and David Mors voice comes across her phone. “Ms. Silpetti! A pleasure to hear from you. Tell me, do you have a spy in my office?” he asks in a joking tone.
Startled by the fact that she’s talking to Mr. Mors, she stammers, “Mr. Mors! Thank you sir… spy, sir? I don’t…”
He chuckles good-naturedly. “I was just talking to Owen about hiring someone to take some pictures of the renovations I just finished at Mors Tower, and my home. You know of it?”
Everyone knows of it. He had a castle from Scotland taken apart brick by brick, and reassembled on top of the tallest tower in the city, Mors Tower. It was the talk of the town when it was done, and is still mentioned whenever his name is brought up.
“Yes sir! I’ve seen some shots taken from there before, it’s really quite beautiful.”
“Why thank you. I just finished some modernization and renovations, and I need some PR shots taken. Also some advertising material with shots of Mors Tower, the skyline, etc. I’ll want first rights to anything you shoot. If I pass on it, then it will be yours. What equipment are you using now?”
“Ahh… I have a Nikon FM-10—“
“That won’t do. I need digital, so that I can see what you have before you go.”
“Oh, sorry, but I can get the school camera…”
“Not necessary. How about a laptop? Did the Foundation get you yours?”
“No sir, I’ve been using the school computers.”
“Unacceptable. I’ll have Owen correct that personally. Hmm, I have other engagements to take care of the next few days. Come to my office Thursday after school. I’ll give you a quick tour and we’ll go over the details of the job. If you still want it, then you can come back over the weekend.”
“Also, my son is holding an after-dance party Friday night. I’d hope that you and your friends would think about coming over and enjoying his hospitality.”
“It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Ms. Silpetti. I look forward to seeing you Thursday.”
“Thank you, sir. Good-bye.”
She hangs up and heads back inside to grab what she needs for homework, her mind still whirling trying to wrap itself around what just happened.
Casey walks outside squinting thanks to the falling sun. The air is crisp and dry, the long rainstorms over for a little while. She heads over to the student parking, and finds Harmony leaning against the passenger door of her coupe. She slides her sunglasses down a hair and stares at Casey over the lenses with a grin.
“Alright Silpetti, we hit the stores, and no mercy. You ready?”
“Yeah, but just remember Harm, I’m on a budget. I sold a couple photos (to the police, she thinks) and only have a couple hundred bucks, so please don’t pick out anything crazy expensive for me. Kay?” They both get in the car.
“I’ll try…but we have to get shoes and purses and jewelry too. Hey, if you go over your budget, just let me know and I’ll cover it.”
“Harm…just…just don’t pick out anything too expensive.”
“OK then…off to the Market. We’ll check out the vintage dresses first and then hit the mall.” She zooms out of the parking lot before Casey even has a chance to buckle up.
They get to the Three Corners Market, and Harmony beelines it for one of the booths with vintage dresses. She starts pulling out dresses and hands them to Casey to hold. Just when Casey feels like she can’t hold any more, Harmony stops and starts to sort through the pile in Casey’s arms. Most of them go back on the rack, but Harmony takes five and leaves Casey holding five. “OK, try those on, but I want to see each one Case.”
They both disappear behind some curtains set up as dressing rooms and change. Harmony comes out in a skintight gold lame sleeveless dress. It has two slits that go halfway up each of her thighs. Casey is wearing a long tan lacy dress with flesh toned fabric underneath, making her look nude. It totally washes her out and she bursts out laughing when she sees Harmony’s dress.
“How do I look dah-ling?” Harmony asks, grinning.
“I think your dress looks better on you than mine does.”
“OK then, next!” They both disappear back behind the curtains. Casey puts on a long chocolate brown strapless ball gown. It’s a little too big on top and way too long, so Casey has to hold it up. She steps out to show Harmony. Harmony shimmies out from behind her curtains in a bright yellow fringey flapper dress. As bright as it is, it still looks great on her, even if it’s not quite right for the dance. She tries to get Casey to shimmy with her, and almost makes her flash the Marketplace. Casey barely manages to hold up the dress, laughing as she shouts, “Next!”
Harmony’s next dress is a tight black peek-a-boo dress, with flowers barely covering the necessary areas. Casey shouts from the dressing room, “Harmony! What on earth did you pick out for me?” She steps out in what’s supposed to be a floor length, shapeless pale pink sheath dress, probably from the ‘40s. It makes her look even more washed out than the first dress did and is way too short, even for Casey. “Seriously? This is horrible. Why would you even think this would look good on me?”
“It’s a joke Case. That dress wouldn’t look good on anyone. Try the black one next, and then the cream one, kay?”
“Fine…but one of these better at least look decent on me.” They both disappear behind the curtains again. Harmony comes out in a very tight, very ruffly, fuchsia minidress. Casey comes out wearing a black sleeveless dress with an Empire waistline. It’s just a teensy bit too long. The top part is velvet, and the bottom is some flow-y, chiffon-like material that she can’t identify. So far, it’s the only one that has looked decent on her. Casey sees Harmony’s dress and laughs out loud again, “Hello eighties!”
Harmony laughs along with her. “I know.” She starts singing and dancing around, “I think we’re alone now – doesn’t seem to be anyone a-rou-ound – I think we’re alone now – the beating of my heart is the only sou-ound.” She grabs Casey and dances around for a little bit. “So, no on the pink, but yes on the black?”
“Maybe. Let me see this last one you picked out.” Once again, they disappear behind the curtains. Casey steps out first this time in a long cream colored, sleeveless, flow-y dress. It fits her like it was made for her, fitted but not too tight, and it’s the perfect length. It has a deep plunging neckline, and an even deeper plunging back. It’s even a great color, not washing her out, and actually even making her look kind of tan.
“Wow!” Harmony says. “That looks great! I wasn’t sure on the color, but…wow!” She comes up behind Casey, and Casey sees what Harmony’s wearing. She turns around, “Wow yourself, Harm! That’s gorgeous.” Harmony’s dress is also long and flow-y. It’s red and more fitted at the top, with spaghetti straps. It has a ton of rhinestones sewn in near the top and get more and more spaced out the further down the dress you go, ending with about a dozen all around near the hemline.
“Will you check it and see if there are any tears or anything for me Case?” Casey checks all over, top to bottom and front to back, finding nothing wrong with the dress.
“Looks great Harm! Check mine.” Harmony does the same thing, and finds nothing wrong with it. “OK, I suppose I should steel myself for how much this is gonna cost me.” She looks at the tag hanging out from under her armpit. “Eighty bucks!?! That can’t be right!” She looks around for the owner, “Ummm, excuse me, this says it’s only $80 for this dress…is that right?”
The owner looks at the tag, “Actually the purple slash means it’s half off, so it’s $40.”
“Seriously? This isn’t a joke or anything? We didn’t see any tears or anything wrong with it, what am I missing? Ohmygod…did someone DIE in this dress?”
The owner laughs, “No sugar. I’ve had that dress for about 6 months, and it’s too short for most people, or too small, or it washes ‘em out. Seems it might of been here waitin’ for you.”
“Wow!” Casey looks at the dress again in the mirror. “What do you think Harm?”
“Girl, I think you’d be stupid to pass this up. It’s perfect for you!” Casey just nods, and they both slip back behind the curtains to change back into their school uniforms. They hang up the dresses they didn’t like and find the owner again to pay. Casey’s only costing $40 and Harmony’s over $175. “Case, can you believe the great deals we got on these?” Casey just gapes at her idea of a great deal, but Harmony doesn’t even notice. “Come on, I see purses over there.” She drags Casey over to another booth, where indeed, they do find a bunch of new and vintage purses, and each finds one to match their dress. They look at some costume jewelry, but don’t find anything they like. “Ready for the mall, Case?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Harmony zips over to the mall and aims them straight for a store with costume jewelry, leaving Casey to drag their dresses in so they can match their shoes. In the jewelry store, Harmony ends up getting an “invisible” necklace with a large rhinestone that’s the same shape as the ones on her dress. She also finds some rhinestone drop earrings, bracelets and hair comb to match. Then she helps Casey find a long rhinestone necklace that she can loop around to look like a choker from the front, but drape down her back and some small earrings that match. Next they head off to find some shoes. Harmony immediately find some red, strappy stilettos, that even have rhinestones on some of the straps. By the time they get to the third shoe department, Casey finally finds shoes that match her dress. They’re strappy cream slingbacks, and make her 3 inches taller. The girls decide to eat in the café court, and chow down on pizza and breadsticks.
As Harmony is driving them home, Aiden calls Casey. “Hey beautiful, did you find a dress?”
“Yeah, and shoes, and a purse, and jewelry…and it was all less than 200 bucks. The dress was a steal.”
“What color?”
“The dress? It’s cream colored. Why?”
“Gotta’ know for the flowers.”
“Aiden, you don’t have to get me flowers.”
Harmony yells towards Casey’s phone, “Yes you do Dennison!”
“Harm!” Casey admonishes, then goes back to Aiden. “You really don’t have to. How was practice?”
“Rough, we just got done. Oh, and I talked to Bianca’s date, and Jake and we’re all gonna share a limo, so it will be us three couples, plus V and Cadence.”
“Cool.”
“Hey, Case ummmm…I don’t mean to sound nosy or anything, so tell me to butt out if you want, but uh, you didn’t just spend the last of your money on this dress and stuff did you?”
“No, but it’s kinda sweet that you’re worried about it. Fau…ummm…found out today that a couple of my pictures sold, and took care of that earlier, so I had some extra money floating around. Which, by the way, I owe you for those clothes you bought me, so I’ll give you some tomorrow morning.”
“Don’t worry about it. They were a gift remember?” Harmony pulls up to her house, and gets out. Casey gives her a gesture saying she’ll be in when she’s done. Harmony grabs all their stuff and carries it inside.
“Aiden, you bought the clothes saying they were my birthday present even though I said I’d pay you back, then you bought me a new phone and paid for three months of service and said that was my birthday present. That’s too much!” He starts to interrupt and Casey cuts him off, “Don’t argue with me on this Aiden. I won’t feel right. So, you can either tell me how much they cost, or I’ll just give you the rest of what I got today from Faust.”
“Faust? Casey, you said you sold photos, what does Faust have to do with it?”“I couldn’t say anything, Harmony was in the car. Faust left $500 in my locker this morning. The note said it was from that picture of the ‘Ghoul’ that he gave to the cops. He said he cashed the check for me so they wouldn’t have my name. So, really, it was from selling pictures, I just didn’t know I had done it. How much were the clothes?”
“Case…”
“Fine, I’ll drop it for now. But if you don’t tell me how much they cost, don’t be surprised if you end up with some really, really, really nice present from me.”
He laughs. “We will discuss this later. I’m sure you have homework to do, I know I do. I’ll see you in the morning, Casey.”
“’night Aiden.” Casey heads inside to find Harmony parading around in her new outfit. “You do know the dance isn’t ‘til Friday, right?”
“Yeah, dad and the step-mom wanted to see it. Oh, they want to see you in yours too, so get changing. It’s hanging in the hall bathroom.” Casey goes in and changes, while Harmony waits for her. They both go in to see her parents and get “oohed” and “aahed” over. Harmony’s dad even gets out his camera and snaps a few photos. Harmony finally begs off with the homework excuse and they grab their uniforms and school bags and drag everything upstairs to change into PJs and do homework before going to bed. Just as she’s about to fall asleep, Casey’s phone beeps in with a text message from Aiden, “Sweet dreams beautiful”.
