Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody & Reign )
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Rhapsody on 10-05-2009, 16:36:35</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>10-05-2009, 16:36:35</strong>
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				The dress in the window mocked her.&nbsp; It was a gorgeous shell pink, the proper shade for her complexion, with a sweetheart neckline and a flouncy skirt that fell to mid-calf, and it would have been absolutely perfect for her to wear to prom.&nbsp; Of course, the fact that it was her Perfect Dress only underscored the fact that she wasn't going to prom, because she didn't have a date for prom and she would die before she showed up stag to the very last school function she would ever attend.&nbsp; She'd done enough school functions stag, thank you very much, and prom was not going to be the icing on the pathetic cake her social life made up.<br><br>Lisa sighed and turned away from the window, adjusting her bookbag on her shoulder.&nbsp; Another month or so, and high school would be finished forever.&nbsp; Another month, and she'd cease to be the girl who everyone copied notes from.&nbsp; Another month, and she could stop being the one who everyone liked when exams were coming up, then ignored when she wasn't needed. <br><br>She stepped off the curb and headed across the street, bobbing her head along to the sounds of that "emo music" her younger sister so loathed coming from her iPod headphones, intent on just getting home and throwing herself straight into studying.&nbsp; Finals were coming up, and Brian from Chemistry needed tutoring, and Jill needed a refresher for her math final, and Jules in English needed a complete crash course in every novel they'd studied that year... <br><br>If only she wasn't such a freaking doormat, so eager for acceptance even after repeated demonstrations that the other students really didn't care about her beyond what she could do for their academic scores she'd agree to make up study notes for seemingly every student at her school.<br><br>But if wishes were horses, and all.&nbsp; <br><br>A flurry of movement partway down an alley caught her attention as she passed by the mouth and she backtracked and look down to see what was happening.&nbsp; This wasn't the best part of town to be in, and she really should have known better than to get involved in anything, but she just couldn't help herself.&nbsp; &nbsp;And what she saw had her hurrying down towards the commotion, pulling her keychain pepper-spray out of her pocket as she did.<br><br>A lowlife had backed a grandmotherly sort, kerchief and all, against the alley wall and was struggling with her for her oversized, old lady purse.&nbsp; Why the woman hadn't just let him take it, Lisa didn't know.&nbsp; Maybe she had a lot of cash in there, her life savings or her mortgage payment.&nbsp; Maybe there was something valuable she simply could not let a street thug take from her.&nbsp; Whatever it was, the old lady was fighting gamely on, trying to wrest her own purse from the mugger's grasp.<br><br>"Hey! Asshole!"&nbsp; The mugger looked up in time to get a face full of pepper spray.&nbsp; He howled, clutching his face and reeled backwards, giving Lisa ample opportunity to grab at the old lady's arm and hurry her out of the alleyway.&nbsp; <br><br>They were half a block away when the old lady came to a stop, pressed her hand to her chest and exclaimed, "Goodness, that was unpleasant.&nbsp; What a dreadful, dreadful man."<br><br>Lisa really wanted to tell her how much of a scatter-brained fool she'd been to not just let the mugger have her purse and take off.&nbsp; But instead what came was, "Are you alright, ma'am?"<br><br>The old lady smiled serenely and patted her on the arm.&nbsp; "Yes, dear," she said.&nbsp; "Thanks to you.&nbsp; You don't find many good Samaritans nowadays. Heaven only knows where I'd be if you hadn't come along."<br><br><em>Dead in that alley.</em>&nbsp; But just like before, Lisa didn't say what she really thought.&nbsp; All she said was, "Well, I was glad to help, ma'am."<br><br>"Is there anything I can do to repay you, young lady?"<br><br>"Not unless you can get me a date for prom," she muttered.<br><br>"What was that dear?"<br><br>"Nothing, ma'am." Lisa smiled and shook her head.&nbsp; "It was nothing.&nbsp; Really.&nbsp; You don't owe me anything.&nbsp; I'm really sorry, but I should be getting home.&nbsp; Mom'll worry if I'm not back soon."<br><br>She turned and walked away from the old lady, shaking her head slightly.&nbsp; This was the problem exactly, she thought ruefully.&nbsp; Too nice to take a reward even when she was deserving of one.&nbsp; With a sigh, she ducked her head, put her earphones back in her ears, and headed down the street towards home.<br><br>She didn't see the old lady pull the long, gnarled stick out of her purse, point it vaguely in Lisa's direction and wiggle it around.&nbsp; &nbsp;Nor did she see the sparkle that shot out of the stick towards her, the same shell pink as the dress in the window, and disappear into her back.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>12-05-2009, 02:34:42</strong>
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				Courtney Van Buren made her rise to the top of the high school food chain by any means necessary. Just like her parents before her. Her family prided themselves on academics, higher education, and far-ranging social status. Through her goals and accomplishments, Courtney had reached Yale potential with her consistent 4.0 gpa. She was Queen of Academia. If it wasn’t for the streaking scandal Freshmen year, she <em>would</em> have been President of the student council. Instead, Carson Bradshaw (the boy who leaked the scandal out) bagged her title, and Courtney had to settle for Vice-President. Through creative efforts she at least received the position of year book president, media club editor and a journalist on her high school newspaper. Nestled on her perfect social perch, Courtney felt untouchable. She told people what to wear, how to act, who was considered ‘fierce’, and who to steer clear of, because they were social viruses that created plagues. <br><br>Today Courtney was in the media center at school, finishing some last minute editing for the Senior class slide show. Most of the footage was of <em>herself</em> and friends. Trips and parties, minor dances, homecoming and all things ‘fierce’. Anything worth a laugh was at the expense of the awkward kids and the nobody’s being filmed without their knowledge. Courtney planned to test the footage out at the Senior prom. Bare walls in the hotel ballroom would be the backdrop for her work of art. <br><br>Just as she right clicked ‘save’, someone crept behind Courtney and gave her neck an affectionate kiss. <em>‘Cold lips!’</em> It made Courtney squirm in her chair. “Gavin, I hate when you do that.” She complained, as she sifted through her other media projects. “I’m sorry. I’ll try again.” He began.&nbsp; ”Hey babe…I’m gonna start kissing your neck now. Announcing it kind of deludes the romanticism, but, is that better?” Gavin leaned in again and repeated the act. <br><br>“No. Not right now, I'm serious. I have to concentrate. My project is due tomorrow morning and I'm not taking second place to that stupid, vapid cheerleader Jennifer-What-her-name.” Courtney curled her shoulders up to block her neck from being fondled further. The boy hovered behind her with both hands on either side of the desk, around her. “Concentrate on what? All you have to do is click and chose. It isn’t rocket science.” His eyes scanned the footage on the computer screen, while he prattle on. Courtney kept silent, as she didn’t want her irritation to get the better of her. “I forgot to ask you-what color are we wearing to prom?” <br><br>Suddenly Courtney felt like the world was spinning. Her vision seemed to be pulsating before her. She could have sworn she heard the types of chimes that came from Disney channel cartoons, when the fairy swished their wand. Courtney closed her eyes and massaged her temples. “Weird.” She whispered. “Hell-OH. Space cadet. What color? I’m not getting any younger.” Gavin blabbed near Courtney’s ear. When she opened her eyes, a flash of a girl she had vaguely remembered froze on the computer screen. <br><br>“Hey,” Gavin’s laugh stirred the silence. “Isn’t that the girl you wrote that article about?” Courtney tilted her head in wonder. “Yeah, the one you did the newspaper poll on. ‘Why Am I Invisible?’” He broke out in a heartier laugh. It suddenly made Courtney’s skin crawl. His presence was strangely unwelcome now. Courtney found herself wanting to get away. She pushed the rolling chair back and stood. Coldly stating, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never got <em>asked</em> to prom yet.” She swished passed him and headed to her locker. He predictably followed, grumbling, “I’m your <em>boyfriend.</em> Since when did <strong>I</strong> need permission?!” Courtney put everything away and slammed her locker door. Placidly staring at Gavin, like she usually did when he effed up badly. “Since <em>now</em>.” Was all she said, and she left, leaving one confused boy in her wake. In the back of her mind, all she could think about was the girl on the computer screen. Why couldn’t she remember her name? 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>17-05-2009, 18:14:06</strong>
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				Lisa was up bright and early the next morning... and why shouldn't she be? She'd spent so much time working out the study schedules and notes for all the people who'd asked her to do so the night before that she had neglected her own studies.&nbsp; She wasn't worried about failing, of course, but the fact that she hadn't prepared as thoroughly as she could have&nbsp; niggled at her and bothered her enough that she woke up a full hour before her alarm was set to go off, rolled out of bed, and hit the books.<br><br>On her way to school, she passed by the dress in the window again, and once again paused to look in at it.&nbsp; Then, shaking her head, she moved on only to stop again at the mouth of the alleyway where the old woman had been yesterday.&nbsp; SHe stared down into the alley, as if expecting to see the old woman appear as if by magic.&nbsp; Belatedly, she realized that the guy whose eyes she'd sprayed with mace yesterday might still be in the area, and if she stood here much longer, she might attract his attention.&nbsp; <br><br>"Idiot," she chided herself, and shoving her hands in her pockets, continued on her way to school.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>18-05-2009, 07:07:04</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				Courtney kept thinking about her peculiar mood swings at school. When she got home, she felt compelled to give Gavin a call, and apologize. Every time she tried, a wave of something, kind of feeling like contempt, would hit her. Ceasing the mood as soon as it had come back. When she fell asleep that same night, Courtney dreamed about the girl from the computer screen. Everything devious deed she had done to the girl replayed in her mind. Like an antecedent life TiVo. As her inner alarm woke her, the first words out of Courtney's mouth couldn't have said it better. "What the <em>fuck?!</em>" <br><br>She flung the covers off and got ready for another day. Refusing to let the ordeal plague her further. Yet, all the while Courtney shook her head in the mirror, as she applied her make-up. "Screw that...I'm not feeling bad for that loser." She spoke out loud. Reassurances from herself were usually the only things that could quiet her conscience. Which she thought had long since left her. Looking at her reflection, Courtney reassuringly stated, "You have nothing to feel sorry for. Your life is perfect. Stories like that are the reason people read the high school paper at <em>all</em>." She inhaled deeply and exhaled all the tension, donning a fake smile for the benefit of her reflection.&nbsp; <br><br>When she got into the car, the driver said something about being unusually early. She waved it off as him being incompetent and ordered him to take a new route to school. It made them circle around a few shady streets, in a neighborhood Courtney didn't even need to pass otherwise. She wasn't sure what brought on the need to take the detour, until she saw <em>her</em>. "Slow down Howard." <br><br>"Yes Miss." The black sedan crept the street, looking like it was about to do a drive-by. Courtney lowered her tinted window and glared as they caught up with 'what's-her-name'. From across the way, she shouted, "Hey you! You go to Irving. What's your name?" Her tone was rather on the nicer side. But she looked like a 'Crazy', shouting from across the street. Holding up traffic without a care. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>26-05-2009, 00:21:13</strong>
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				Lisa had been walking along, bobbing her head in time with the beat rocking through the ear buds of her iPod, when she saw an expensive-looking car cruising down the street.&nbsp; She frowned in confusion -- that was Courtney van Buren's car, and everyone knew she went through the glitzy parts of town on her way to school.&nbsp; What the hell was she doing slumming it on a Wednesday morning?<br><br>Her confusion only deepened when the window rolled down and Courtney's head popped out, shouting out to her about what her name was.&nbsp; She couldn't help but look behind her, almost sure there was someone else Courtney was talking to.&nbsp; &nbsp;Upper crust snots like van Buren didn't deign to talk to the goths, or the band geeks, or the quiet kids like her.&nbsp; But there was no one in sight.&nbsp; <br><br>Dumbly, she pointed at herself.&nbsp; "Me?" she called hesitantly back, and braced herself for a scathingly bitchy retort because there wasn't a chance in hell Courtney had the slightest interest in <em>her</em>.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>26-05-2009, 04:13:07</strong>
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				The corner's of Courtney's mouth turned up, into a condescending, yet amused grin. Her brows furrowed quizzically, and the girl's befuddlement only made Courtney nod in answer. Letting out a throaty laugh. After a few more seconds of waiting, Courtney could feel irritation rising in her. For once, she thought before speaking. Finally deciding on a kinder approach than usual. "'Invisible girl' comes to mind...but I hate being wrong. So I thought I might find out."<br><br>Her expression shifted into a cheerful and expectant stare. Car horns beeped at them. Drivers cussed. Yet Courtney waited patiently. She wasn't going anywhere until her question was answered. "Look, all I'm asking for is your name. It's not like I'm asking you to donate bone marrow or something. It's a simple answer. 'My name is...'" She gave her signature sassed blink at the end of her point.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>28-05-2009, 04:33:31</strong>
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				Lisa blinked, and actually scratched her head.&nbsp; "Lisa," she said after a moment's further hesitation.&nbsp; "Lisa Foreman."&nbsp; Her mind raced as she thought over all the papers and such she'd put together for people over the last week or so, but for the life of her, she couldn't remember Courtney ever approaching her for one.&nbsp; <br><br>Not, she thought in the next minute, that Courtney van Buren would ever require someone else to write her study guides and term papers for her.&nbsp; Lisa usually topped the lists, or came damn close, but Courtney wasn't often that far below or, for that matter, above her in marks.&nbsp; <br><br>"Is..." She snapped her mouth shut, thought a moment and then nodded to herself.&nbsp; "Was there something I can do for you?"&nbsp; She only hoped it didn't come across as bitchy or snotty... There might only be a few scant weeks to go in the year, but the last thing she needed was for Courtney to decide to become her enemy.&nbsp; She had problems aplenty without adding <em>that</em> to the pile.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>03-06-2009, 11:54:57</strong>
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				"Hmm." Courtney rested her elbow on the car door's ledge. Adjusting her chin in a palm. She inspected Lisa as if she were an interesting science project. A rare specimen under her microscope of ridicule and ruin. "I was just curious as to why..." She narrowed her eyes. Looking Lisa up and down again. "Why I ever thought you were important enough to sabotage sophomore year. Don't get me wrong, I had fun doing it. But you've lived proof to it...which is sad." She let out a philosophic sigh. Contorting her brow sorrowfully. "That's all." She flicked her hand to the driver, and he put the car in drive. Courtney kept her curious gaze on Lisa as her car window rolled up. 'What was that all about?'
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>07-06-2009, 03:03:11</strong>
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				Lisa's confusion only deepened as she watched the car drive away.&nbsp; Courtney was the undisputed queen of all the uppercrust snotty bitches, and it wasn't unheard of for her to stop to make disparaging remarks about those she deigned to notice on any given day... but there was something terribly off about this encounter.&nbsp; <br><br>First and foremost being, what the hell had just happened?<br><br>Lisa watched the car, far too rich for this neighbourhood, drive away in bafflement.&nbsp; When had she ever done anything to merit the notice of Courtney?&nbsp; And what the hell had she meant by sabotage in their sophomore year?&nbsp; She didn't mean getting ditched for the spring dance, did she?&nbsp; Because that was the only thing Lisa could think of that might have happened back then, and she'd long since gotten over the sting of being tossed over by Josh Ferran for Stephanie Scott.<br><br>With a feeling in her bones like something was dreadfully wrong with the world, but completely unable to put her finger on the specifics, Lisa trudged the rest of the way to school, still trying to puzzle it out.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>07-06-2009, 04:37:52</strong>
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				"And here are the sheets people. You get the first glance, being part of the student council. Don't. abuse. the. privilege." The bald, fat school vice president of Irving High school passed Carson Bradshaw the list of events and things to come for the remaining days of school. Before he passed the second sheet down, he let out an unusual gasp. Courtney's curiosity had still not peaked from it. She went over the yearbook requests, and 'most likely' polls.<br><br>Then a flash of white and black came between her and the project. "Rude." She frowned, looking at Carson like she was going to slap him across the face. She stared at him with the sourest of faces, making the pause excruciatingly drawn out. "<em>Look</em>-at-it!" He shook it violently in front of her face. "Give it to me!" She ripped it out of his annoying, dainty hand. <br><br>Her dark brown eyes scrolled from the bottom of the list. Realizing what it was. "I didn't want to see this! You jerk!" She slapped and shoved him aggressively. Attracting the attention of the rest of the committee. "He almost ruined my genuinely surprised reaction that I practiced all month by showing me this." <br>Everyone seemed to understand, nodding their heads and going back to their business. "Buuuut Courtney..." Carson prodded her with a finger to the shoulder. "No Carson! Knock it off. You don't have to ruin the last days of Senior life, more than you already have." <br><br>"<em>You're not valedictorian!!!</em>" Everyone gasped. They all had a panicked look on their faces. Knowing her well enough that if she hadn't found out now, shit would have hit the fan. "WHAT!!!" She erupted. Standing from her chair, Courtney stole the paper back. Anxieties were rising in her, as the room seemed to be closing in. When realization set in, and she glanced at the name above hers, Courtney let out a deafening scream that could match the school bell. It was not going to be a good day for some people. 
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Rhapsody</strong> on <strong>14-06-2009, 08:03:58</strong>
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				By the time Lisa made it to lunch, she was ready to fake a migraine or a stomachache or plead PMS or something, and get permission to go home sick.&nbsp; Anything to get away from the whispers behind hands, and the stares from what seemed like half the popular crowd and most of the groupies that hung around them.&nbsp; The weird meeting with Courtney that morning had completely unnerved her, and it had only gone downhill from there.<br><br>Carlos, a friend of hers on the periphery of "popular", enough to be a member of the student council anyway, was waiting for her by her locker.&nbsp; He upnodded as she came close and grinned.<br><br>"Carlos!" she said with some surprise.&nbsp; "What are you doing here?&nbsp; I thought you had a meeting about prom around now..."<br><br>He shrugged and fixed the strap of his bag further on his shoulder.&nbsp; "It got postponed," he said.&nbsp; "Van Buren really flipped her shit this morning at Part One of the meeting, so it was put off til tomorrow morning.&nbsp; Meaning I gotta drag my ass outta bed <em>again</em> at the ass end of dawn to be here for it.&nbsp; Goddamn primadonnas, I tell ya."<br><br>Lisa frowned.&nbsp; "She flipped her shit?"&nbsp; While that didn't exactly sound like the Courtney van Buren she'd known -- and successfully avoided -- for years, once again Lisa thought back to that morning, when the van Buren-mobile had cruised down her street.&nbsp; "Anyone know why?"<br><br>Carlos chuckled.&nbsp; "Oh yeah," he said, a little smugly.&nbsp; "Miss Queen of tne World found out she wasn't valedictorian like she expected to be."<br><br>"What?&nbsp; Since when?&nbsp; She's practically had that neatly wrapped up since sophomore year!&nbsp; Who the hell could possibly have an academic record better than hers?"&nbsp; <br><br>Lisa didn't like the way Carlos was looking at her, half-amused and half-apologetic.&nbsp; "No," she said.&nbsp; "Ohh no no no.&nbsp; You better be kidding me, or I'll... or I'll..."&nbsp; She had nothing and she knew it... but now suddenly the weird stares and the whispers were making sense.<br><br>"Well shit," was all she could say.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Pretty In Pink ( Rhapsody &amp; Reign )</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Skye</strong> on <strong>13-07-2009, 00:42:07</strong>
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				During lunch, Courtney and her preppy mob squat usually occupied the courtyard tables of their posh academy, but today, she lead the girls to the cafeteria. The disdain on her face upon entering could have been due to the fact that she hated the cramped space, mingled with the noisy chatter. It took attention away from her. That, or the fact that she spotted her new competition sitting with one of the boys from the committee. <br><br>The girls shoved their way toward Carlos and Lisa. Courtney's face twisting into her snide smile. "Look who it is girls, Miss Invisible...trying to be somebody all of a sudden." The voice was not Courtney's, but Meredith's. Courtney's scape goat and lapdog. Chiming in from Courtney's right. "I'm sure you've heard. No doubt from this vagrant." Courtney spoke this time. Eying Carlos with a loathsome gaze. "The thing is...we still have a few more weeks of school left. And anything can happen." Courtney dropped the heavy end of her field hockey stick. But more like jabbed it into the place she meant to stab at. Aiming for Lisa's foot. 
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