Up To No Good

"Connor! Connor!"

My mom called out to my twin brother who was still asleep. It was seven thirty in the morning and once again, my brother would be getting up, and rushing to get dressed, eat breakfast and go brush his teeth, hence making me late for school since I got a ride with him every morning.

"That's just brilliant Mom! I'm going to be late to first period again and will probably get detention, thanks to slow poke Connor."

My mom frowned and set down Connors bowl filled with warm oatmeal. "Connor! Breakfast is ready!"

Silence.

My father came out of the bathroom with a frown on his face. "What's with all the hollering Gina?" He asked my mom.

"It's nothing Dad. She's just trying to get your lazy son out of bed. I bet he was up painting or playing video games all night. That or looking at porn online."

My dad flashed me an angry face. "Young lady, that's a very crass thing to say."

I shrugged and laughed. My parents were so uptight sometimes. "Chill out Dad. I was joking."

"Well stop with the jokes Missy," my mom warned. "Connor!" She yelled out again.

I was getting frustrated. I stood up and raced over to my brother's room. I banged on the door like a mad person. "Get your ass up Connor!" I yelled.

I heard footsteps and I stepped back. Connor opened his door. His eyes were still half way closed and his jet black hair was pointing everywhere. "Dang Carrie, what the hell?"

"Didn't you hear Mom calling you like a million times? Are you deaf or what?"

"Shut up!" Connor shot back and passed me up. He headed straight to the bathroom, where I knew he'd take another 10 minutes or so. I sighed and walked back to the kitchen. "See Mom, THAT'S the way to wake him up."

My mom nodded. "That wasn't nice Carrie."

My dad was too busy drinking his coffee and reading the local paper to even notice. I sat back down and finished up my oatmeal and toast. Connor came to join us a few minutes later. He wore what he usually did which was a tee shirt of some type; usually it was something like Super Mario or The Ramones. I swear he had more tee shirts than anyone else around. Today he wore a David Bowie tee shirt and his usual baggy blue jeans and had put a cap on to hide his messed up hair, which was getting a bit too long. His blue eyes met my identical icy blue eyes.

"Thanks for the wake up call. Now, Mom and Dad don't have to buy a rooster." He said in a haughty tone.

I rolled my eyes and drank the rest of my orange juice. "Well, if you'd wake your ass up early, I wouldn't have to make noise."

He mumbled something and began eating his breakfast. My dad got up and said he had to hurry off to work and my mom began clearing the table. I sat there watching my twin brother eating.

"What?" He asked when he caught me staring.

"Hurry up and eat! You're going to make me late...AGAIN."

He shrugged. "That's your fault for not getting your license. You're the only eighteen year old that I know who can't drive."

"I can drive! I just need to retake the test, Stupid!"

He snorted. "You're calling me Stupid? How many times will that be, that you've had to retake the test now Carrie?"

"Who many times have you had a date this year?" I snapped.

"Alright, you two! That's enough! Jesus Christ, you do this every single morning! All you two do is fight! Can't you have one morning where you actually get along?" My mom called out as she rinsed the dishes.

"Sorry Mom, but he was being a jerk."

"A jerk?" Connor yelled.

"I said that's ENOUGH!" My mom said, sternly.

We got quiet. I stood up to go brush my teeth and as I finished I noticed Connor was behind me waiting for his turn.

"Hurry up." He said, impatiently.

"Oh? Now YOU'RE rushing me?"

"Shut up. Move it." He pushed me aside.

I shoved him back. "Jerk."

He laughed and went on to brush his teeth.

We drove to school fighting over which radio station to listen to, as we always do. Luckily the ride to school isn't so long. It only takes 15 minutes to get there. Once we got to school, we hurried off our own separate ways. I went to meet up with my friends, who were not really popular, but then again, we weren't hated. We were just fun.

I watched Connor go meet up with his buddies. They all wore rock band tee shirts. They wore baggy jeans and Vans shoes. They liked to sit outside during lunch and listen to classic rock, like The Doors or The Stones. No one really paid attention to them. No one, meaning females, girls.

I swear I had never seen Connor with a girl. He'd never had a girlfriend, unless you count the time we were in seventh grade and Kacie Yonder held his hand on a dare. Not that Connor was ugly, he was just...weird. He mumbled a lot and wore his hair too long, covering his eyes. He loved to draw and paint. That was something my dad wasn't so proud of but let slide, since Connor did some pretty damn good paintings. I watched how he and his friends talked and noticed the pretty girls. I didn't have a clue what kind of girls Connor was into. Was he even into girls? It always made me wonder.

"Hey! Guess what?"

My thoughts were interrupted by Jamie, one of my best friends. She was approaching me, along with my friend, Rachel and our other friend, Patti. "Oh God you'll never guess!" she squealed.

I rolled my eyes and leaned on the stairs rail. "Jamie, just tell us. You know we hate it when you do this."

"Yeah. I'm not in no guessing mood." Rachel spat out. She had just been telling us that she and Ralph, her boyfriend had another fight. They fought more than any other couple I knew.

Jamie gulped. "Ok, since you are all in such sour moods, I got invited to a party this Saturday! Uh, not just ANY party, Lauren Goodwin's party!"

We all did a double take. "Huh? Are you feeling ok?" Patti teased and pressed her hand on Jamie's forehead, pretending to check her temperature.

Jamie frowned and pulled back. "What? You don't believe me?"

I laughed. "Jamie, we believe you, but you know there's got to be a reason why Lauren Goodwin would invite you to one of her most FABULOUS parties."

Jamie looked dumbfound. "You don't think she'd want something from me do you?"

We all laughed. "Uh yeah, duh!" Patti replied.

"What the hell could she want from me?" Jamie asked.

"Hmm...well...let's see...you do have Jorge living with you, right?" I asked.

Jamie blinked. Jorge was from Costa Rica, a foreign exchange student that was staying with them for two weeks. He was really supposed to be staying with Jamie's neighbors the Lamberts. Unfortunately, the Lamberts had a death in the family and had to fly out to Canada. Jamie's parents, being sweet, offered to take in Jorge for the meantime. Jorge was tall, dark and handsome. He looked like a real suave type of guy, except he barely spoke English. When Jorge arrived on campus, every girl must have wanted to throw their panties at him. I myself had to admit he gave me a tingly feeling between my legs, but I didn't find myself wanting to bone Jorge like the rest of the Senior girls.

Jamie nodded. "Yeah so what?

"Duh!" Rachel, Patti and I all said simultaneously.

Jamie looked upset. "Well, that figures. I knew it was too good to be true. She did mention for me to bring him."

I put my arm around her and turned her around. We all began walking into the school. "Don't be sad Jamie. Why would you want to go to Lauren Goodwin's party anyway? She's a total snob and likes to use people."

Jamie shrugged. "I might still go. I'll take Jorge. I've never been to a Lauren Goodwin party. It might be fun."

I shook my head. "Ok Jamie. Whatever you say."

***

During sixth period Bio, I found myself staring out the window. Lauren and her friends were all practicing their new cheers for the last football game of the season. So far, we were undefeated. Like I really cared.

She wore her long brown hair up in a ponytail. It was like the most perfect ponytail I'd seen. I wondered if she had a stylist who came to her house every morning to do her hair. It always seemed she wore her hair in many different and pretty styles.

She was smiling a bit too much. I wondered if Lauren Goodwin was ever unhappy. How could she be? She was rich, beautiful, popular and had her selection of any guy in the Senior Class. Her teeth were super white and straight. Her eyes were a soft green color and she was tall, at least 5'6", which I read somewhere is considered the perfect height for a female. Not to mention her perfect size 4 body. Must be all that damn cheerleading.

I am a mere 5'4", a size 6, with shoulder length dark hair parted in the middle, which everyone thinks I dye and pale blue eyes. My skin is pale and I have a few freckles. My friends always say I am pretty, but when I've seen girls like Lauren Goodwin, I've often questioned my own beauty.

After school was out, I waited for Connor by the music hall. He took guitar class as an elective. He came out with two of his friends, whose names I don't even remember. One guy was tall and lanky, wearing a black tee shirt that said "I'm awake, isn't that enough?" The other was chubby and short, with a goatee.

"Alright, see you all tomorrow!" Connor called out to his friends. They went their separate ways. He saw me and his smile faded.

"Oh, don't look so happy to see me." I mocked.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let's just go."

One the drive back home I didn't feel like arguing with him. I let him put on the classic rock station he always liked to listen to. His eyes stared straight out into the road.

"So um..." I began trying to add some conversation to our silence. "Jamie said that Lauren Goodwin invited her to one of her most FABULOUS parties. Can you believe that?"

Connor scoffed. "Yeah, so? Jealous?"

I felt my face get hot. "Jealous? Why would I be jealous? Lauren is obviously using Jamie. It's just because Jorge is staying with her family and Lauren wants Jamie to invite Jorge."

He laughed. "You are jealous."

"I'm not!" I snapped.

"Yeah, you are."

"Whatever."

He looked at me for a brief moment. "Why don't you like Lauren Goodwin?"

I moaned. "Do I have to point it out to you? She's a major snob! She uses people!"

Connor turned down the radio. "Has she ever used you?"

I frowned. "No."

"Well then, how do you know she uses people?"

"Uh, hello! I live here! I've seen her do it."

"Well, but she hasn't done anything to you. Is that why you're mad? Because Lauren hasn't used YOU personally?"

I sighed. "What kind of moronic question is that?"

"I'm just saying that if she hasn't used you, why do you have to hate her? Just let her be and you do your own thing. I swear girls hate each other so much, no wonder we don't have a woman president. If a woman ran for president, half of the women in the country wouldn't vote for her because that's the way women are. They are mean to each other."

I gasped. "But I-"

"And you don't even know Lauren. What if she's actually a nice person? Ever thought of that?" He cut me off.

I felt my anger rising. I was mad because, in a way, he DID have a point about girls hating other girls. Honestly, I was sort of jealous of Lauren. "I take it you're one of the stupid boys drooling over her too, huh?" I shot back.

He laughed again. "Yeah so? She is hot."

"You're such an idiot. All guys are idiots. Just because some girl has looks, yet she's a total bitch, you'd still get a boner."

"Aw Carrie, stop hating."

I slapped his arm. He laughed. That only pissed me off more. I reached over and changed the radio station to Country music, which I hated and I knew he hated more. I cranked it up loud.

"Hey!" he shouted and changed it back to classic rock. Jimmy Hendrix blasted through the speakers.

I changed it again and we began to fight, like we always do.

* * *

Saturday night came and Jamie called me with a voice full of panic. "Carrie! What do I wear? How should I fix my hair? Should I take anything to the party?"

I sighed. I turned down my Natalie Imbruglia CD and flopped down on my bed. "Calm down, will you?"

She groaned, "I know. I know. I'm just really nervous Carrie! Jorge is already dressed and waiting for me! I haven't even put my clothes or make up on!"

"Jamie, take a deep breath, ok. Just relax."

I heard her breathing softly. I wanted to laugh. "Ok now, it's going to get chilly tonight, so wear some jeans. How about your Juicy Couture jeans you bought last month?"

"Yeah..."

"Oh and wear that pretty flowery top that you only wear when you go out with us. You know the long sleeve one."

"Ok..." her voice was beginning to calm down.

"Put on your black boots and wear your hair down. Maybe, put some pretty barrettes to hold it back? You know the glittery ones we bought at Trade Secret?"

"Oh yeah...yeah...that sounds.... good."

"Then just put on a little bit of blush, some mascara and some lip gloss. You know you were born with perfect skin, you don't need all of that gunk on your face."

She giggled. "Carrie, you are my bestest friend in the world."

I had to smile. "And I love you too."

"Thank you for everything! I got to get ready and I'll call you tonight to let you know how the party was!"

"Cool. Call me whenever. I don't have anything to do Saturday night. Sadly enough."

"Aw, why don't you call Tim Thomas?"

I winced when she mentioned Tim's name. Tim Thomas was a guy I dated for about two seconds before he practically tried to rape me after our first date. He had his hands practically all over me! I had to almost fight him off me! I promised myself never to go out with him again.

"No thank you. Did you forget he has tentacles not arms?"

She laughed. "Well he's the last guy you dated, so he's the first one that came to mind."

"Its ok sweetie, go have fun. Just keep an eye on Jorge. I'm sure his parents in Costa Rica wouldn't want him to impregnate any American girl."

She shrieked with laugher, "You're so bad. Love ya!"

We hung up and I lay down on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I knew Rachel was out with Ralph and Patti had been asked out by Jordan, a soccer player she'd been eyeing for some time now. Me? Well...I was going to stay home and watch movies. What else was there?

Then I thought about calling Ryan Gables up. Ryan was in my third period English Class. He was semi-cute and had a really nice smile. He talked to me a lot about the books he's been reading and often suggested books for me to read. I turned out liking every single one he recommended.

I opened up my cell phone and searched for his name. I got his number once because he offered it to me, since we couldn't talk much in class about books. I never did call him though. But tonight, I was lonely and kind of jealous that my friends all had plans without me.

I rang Ryan's cell phone and he picked up within two rings.

"Yeah?" That was his way of answering.

"Ryan?" I asked. For some reason, I was nervous.

"Yeah? Who's this?"

It didn't occur to me that I never gave him my cell number; therefore he wouldn't recognize my number. "It's Carrie. Carrie Watson."

His voice got deep, "Hey Carrie. I'm glad you called. What's up?"

I began to pace my room. "Oh, not much. How are you?"

"I'm good. I was just going to watch a movie."

"What movie?"

He paused, "The Lost Boys."

I smiled, "I love that movie."

"Yeah?"

"Yup."

"Cool. What are you up to?"

"I was just...kind of bored. I mean...well..."

He laughed. "You want some company?"

I sighed, "Yes, please."

"I don't have much money...."

"It's ok! I tell you what.... Why don't you bring the movie and I've got some popcorn here and sodas. We also have frozen pizza that I can pop right in the oven for us afterwards."

"Sounds great! What time can I come over?" he said a bit too eagerly.

I checked my clock. It was almost eight at night. "Eight thirty ok?"

"Sure!"

We hung up and I stepped out of my blue jeans into some Aeropostale dark blue sweats and an Aeropostale top that went well with the sweat pants. What was the point of wearing blue jeans and a dressy top, when I was just going to stay home and watch some movies with a guy who I was cool with? I didn't see Ryan as a boyfriend, but more of a good pal. I brushed my hair and wore it down, as I always did and put on some mascara and blush. I was going to put on lip-gloss, but figured it was just Ryan. There was no need to get my lips ready, since there would be no puckering up.

I headed to the living room a few minutes later. My parents had gone out to one of my father's business dinners and I almost forgot about Connor. I figured he'd gone out with his friends, but I saw his car parked in the driveway. I went to knock on his door.

When he opened his door I saw he wasn't dressed up to go out. He wore his flannel pajamas and no shirt. I smelled paint and knew he was busy working on another painting.

"What?" he asked, as if I were annoying him.

"A friend of mine is coming over and we're going to watch a movie. Are you going out tonight?"

He shook his head. "Naw, I'm staying in. The guys are all out doing their own thing. I think one of them got invited to Lauren Goodwin's party. Poor guy is being used right now." He made a sad face only to taunt me.

"Shut up."

He laughed, "Chill out Sis. So who's coming over? Rachel or Patti?"

"Ryan."

He blinked, "Who?"

"Ryan Gables. You know him, right?"

"Oh...yeah I know him."

I waited for a minute or more for him to say something rude about Ryan. Every time I went out with a guy, Connor had something to complain about. But with Ryan, he seemed speechless. "Well...have fun, I guess."

"What?"

"He's kind of quiet, no? I don't think he's your type." Too late. He'd said something about Ryan. I figured it had to be too good to be true.

"How do you know what my type is?"

"Never mind. I won't interrupt your date."

"It's not a date; he's just coming over to watch a movie."

"Yeah...ok." Connor said. He closed the door and I heard him turn up his music. I don't know if it was my imagination, but I thought I saw some sadness in Connor's eyes?

* * *

Ryan arrived a few minutes later. I had some popcorn popped and soda nice and cold for us. We put the movie on and watched in silence. It was nice to have some kind of company. Every now and then Ryan would laugh at a part or say "Oh, dang."

After the movie, Ryan and I went to the kitchen and put a Tombstone pepperoni pizza in the oven. Connor hadn't come out of his room all night . Ryan and I ate and talked about books and school and teachers. It wasn't anything really deep, just a nice conversation.

There were two slices left of the pizza, so I figured I'd offer Connor some, once Ryan left.

"This was nice Carrie. I mean it was just relaxing to be here with you. I enjoyed it." Ryan said, as we stood by my door to say our goodnights.

"Yeah, it was fun. We should do it again sometime. Maybe."

He smiled and his hand touched my cheek. My heart fluttered a little. He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "For sure, we got to do this again. Call me sometime, ok?"

I nodded. He got into his car and I stayed outside until he left. Once I went back in, Connor was already in the kitchen. He was raiding the fridge.

"Hey, I left you some pizza if you want it." I said, pointing to the pizza pan that was on top of the stove.

He looked, "That's not going to be enough to hold me down. I'm freakin' starving!"

He took out some turkey and cheese from the fridge and began to make himself the biggest sandwich I'd ever seen.

"Ok, if you don't want the pizza-"

"I didn't say I didn't want it. I just said it's not enough. I'm going to eat this sandwich AND the pizza."

"Ugh. Isn't that too much?" I said, disgusted.

"Not for me."

I wondered how Connor managed to eat so much and stay so damn skinny. He and I were twins, so why wasn't I born with his fast metabolism? Not that I was always dieting, but I found myself watching what I ate a lot of the time.