Jaime looked out the orphanage window. It had been a week since her last confrontation with Brice, and she finally had a good outlook on life again. The sky outside was a cold gray, although she knew it was a sweltering ninety degrees out there. Treestock was always hot. That's what it's always like on the equator. She saw a red '97 Mustang pull up, and knew that this was her ride into a new future, a new life, a new beginning. She was pleasantly snapped back to reality when a leather jacket was placed around her shoulders. Jaime looked up a little startled, but when she saw the warm smile on Brice's face she couldn't help but smile too.
Hey my young cousin! What's happenin'? From the looks of things, you've been doin' the Little Orphan Annie thing! It's freezing in here! We better get you outta here before those blond locks snap off from freezerburn! Where's that weird lady I spoke with on the phone?" Brice always was a quick talker. She knew she was going to love staying with him.
" It's not that it's cold, it's just the air conditioning is on the blink. And you mean Matron Richards. Yeah, she's in the other room yelling at Chris again for forgetting his chores. I'd wait a bit." Jaime said with a wink. Brice looked her up and down like she was a germ infested rodent. "They haven't been feeding you enough! How much do you weigh?" There was a look of true concern on his face. "Brice, believe it or not, they force the food down my throat. I don't know why I have gotten so skinny but it's really not that bad. I weigh ninety-eight pounds." "How old are you again?" "Fifteen this week." She answered proudly.
"That's what I forgot! Oh well, we'll just go to the mall today and let you shop till you drop. As long as you don't mind our neighbors coming too. I promised them I'd drive 'em to the mall. They're kinda young to drive yet. Two guys. They have an older brother but he's sixteen and has better places to go in his car." Brice paused, then looked mischeiviously at Jaime. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you and the fifteen-year-old get together. He's quite the lady's man. Has girls hanging on him constantly. I forget his name. His little brother's the one who over a lot. His name's Zachary. I call him Satan. He's so hyperactive." Brice seemed to be recalling something and immediately burst into laughter.
"Brice, you think we could go now? I wanna see my new place, and these boys." Brice nodded, and after signing a few papers, they were off to meet these new neighbors.
After arriving at the house, Jaime found out that she had a total florescent room. The walls were black painted with florescent paint which, when lit with a blacklight, made glowing designs on the walls. It was soon time to see these new neighbors, and of course go shopping. Jaime knew she had to have a pair of Docs, a pair of cords, and also she really needed some cds. Brice gave her five-hundred dollars spending cash that her parents had left her. Soon it was time to meet the neighbors.
"Here we are. The Hanson household. As you can hear, there is always noise coming from this place. Be it music, screams, God knows what else, it's here. The boys are really into music. In fact, they're kinda famous. And they don't like it when girls freak out around them. So keep your scream to a dull
roar. Please?" Brice was looking at Jaime like any second she would scream. Instead she simply said,"Cool. So they sing MMMBOP?" Brice nodded incrediously, amazed at how calm she was. "Well here they come." he said, changing the subject. Two adolescent guys hopped into the Mustang, each giving Brice a guy-like handshake as they stepped in the backseat. Taylor tripped on something and fell onto Zac."Umm..Is this YOURS Brice?" Taylor said, his expression saying sarchasm. "No stupid! The purse is Jaime's!" "Who's Jaim-...Oh..Uhh..Hi?" Taylor had just noticed the visitor in the front seat and was quite embarassed. "That's OK. I'm Jaime! Nice to meet you. I hope you like to shop,'cause I plan to get down to business.It's a girl
thing." Jaime said, smiling and waiting for Taylor to shake her hand. He had to be snapped back to reality by Zac's hand, because somehow those green eyes had sucked him in. "Oh, nice to meet you too. I hope you like the new pad. I love what Brice did with it! It's awesome." Taylor smiled that smile and Jaime kinda smiled...while sneezing? "Hey Brice? How much of that aftershave did you put on? God! I need my inhaler!" Jaime was now coughing quite hard while searching her purse for the inhaler. She started to panic after realizing it wasn't there, if it's possible to panic while sneezing. Brice was now digging frantically. Zac thought she was joking until he saw Brice start digging as well. "What's wrong?" Zac asked. "If Jaime doesn't
get her inhaler-dust stuff then she chokes and stuff. I can't find it!" Brice yelled, still in panic mode. "Does she need a certain kind of inhaler? I have one in my back pocket I think. I left it there from soccer practice." Taylor said rummaging in his back pocket. He triumphantly held up the tube. "Here." he said, shoving it in her mouth. Brice had now pulled off his shirt and was searching the backseat for another one. Jaime took three deep breaths while holding down on the top of the inhaler. She quickly recovered and gave the inhaler back to it's rightful owner. "Sorry. I guess I left mine at the orphanage. I hope the mall has a pharmacy. Having asthma is such a hassle. Brice, don't use so much of that stuff. Trust me, you don't smell bad." She said. Brice playfully punched her in the arm and gave a yank on her ponytail. "I know that." Zac leaned foward from the back seat and cranked the radio full-blast. MMMbop began to play. "I knew it!" He shouted. "I knew our song was on. I got that feeling again. I'm physcic! (sp?)" Zac started to meditate
and make strange noises. Jaime giggled and Taylor shoved a sock in his face. Brice started to imitate a Hanson-hater. "OH GOD! There's that group of those squeaky queer kids. What are they called? Henson?" Brice was stopped short on his next sentence when Zac smacked him on the head and said, "Shut up! You're ruining my physcic vibes Dorkhead!" To which Brice said, "Hey, who's driving you to the mall, Buttmonkey?" By this time, Jaime was rolling on the floor laughing, while Taylor had just completely dis-owned Zac as his brother. What a time Jaime would have living nextdoor to this crew. At least she finally knew that she was home.
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