The Pleasantview Chronicles: Dare--The Callaghan Family

            The bong was passed to Roman. He took in a whole mouthful, allowing it to marinate in his brain. As he exhaled, goose bumps formed on his skin. After his exhale, he sighed, letting go of his conscience.

            But, of course, he couldn’t let it go; not even after the seventh round.

            And, it was because she was right there, sitting at the couch diagonal from him. She was flipping through some study book, since she had nothing else to do.

            Roman was self conscience. He couldn’t become wild when she was here. He couldn’t understand why Alex always brought her along. Didn’t Alex know what he was doing to Roman every time he brought Vicky along?

            He peered at her through half-closed eyes. She wasn’t one to be called pretty—but she was enough for him.

            Though Roman had always been thought of as the jokester and the non-serious guy, he had always been serious about Victoria Chang. If anything, she was the only thing that kept him from wrecking his life; because of her, he seriously thought about getting a good job and actually trying to get into the Crumplebottom Academy, where she would be going.

            Alex laughed at an invisible joke and nearly fell on Roman.

            It would take awhile before Roman realized that an actual joke had been passed along; he just didn’t hear it because he was too busy keeping an eye on Victoria.

            Suddenly, she lifted her eyes from the book and it really looked like she was just staring at him, and saying something witty to him.

            But, then, Alex responded. Alex, who was sitting right next to Roman.

            Roman licked his partially chapped lips. Apparently, Lilith—who had been sitting diagonal from him—had seen his reaction. “I think we need something to drink in here.”

            “Vicky, go get us some sodas!” Alex demanded.

            Vicky rolled her eyes. “Why’s it got to be me?”

            “Because you’re the only one who can see where she’s going!” Alex collapsed into some fanatic laughter.

            The others chanted in agreement. “Go, Vicky, go! Go, Vicky, go!”

            Vicky stood up, her face red from embarrassment. She stomped her way up to the kitchen.

            Roman watched her leave, wondering why was she so embarrassed. Their drunk friends had always used her like that…she should’ve been use to it by now.

            He slowly got up. “Need to pee,” he lied.

            “Don’t trip now,” Alex warned. “Wouldn’t want to pass out in here…I heard they keep dead people in here…” His smirk was really unbefitting of him.

            Roman nodded and tried his best to mask his urgency. He finally made his way into the kitchen to see Vicky looking for some soda.

            “Are you mad?” His voice gave way to the fact that he was sober.

            “And, you’re not high?” she sarcastically asked.

            He ignored that. “Are you mad?” he repeated.

            “Why?”

            “Because, you look like it.”

            “No, I’m not.”

            “Then, why are you still red? Are you embarrassed?”

            “At what? Being the only one who’s sane?”

            He walked around her, while watching her intently pour soda into cups. “…Are you high?”

            She instantly turned to look at him, her face still red. But, her eyes were blank.

            His eyes widened. “You’re high, aren’t you?”

            She closed her eyes, taking in deep gulps of air. “I-No, I’m not…I just feel a little dizzy.”

            “You’re so effing high that it’s not even funny. How will you get home?”

            “I-I’ll just stay here for awhile and lie down…I’ll be better to drive you guys home…no worries…”

            “Vicky! You’re high!” If he remembered correctly, this would be the first time she had this reaction. Perhaps the fumes settled into her brain, already. He grabbed her shoulders. “You need to go home. Now.”

            “But-but, Alex--.”

            “Screw Alex. I’ll take you home.”

            “A-Alex…”

            He bit his lip. Even when she was suffering this much, she was still calling to him. Would she ever call Roman’s name when she was in distress and pain?

            The look that Mr. Chang gave to Roman was one that wasn’t just questionable. “Thank you for dropping her off, Mr. Callaghan.”

            “Y-yes sir.” This wasn’t the first time that Roman had met the notorious Shawn Chang…it was the first time that Roman had come to see Mr. Chang by himself with a slightly unconscious Vicky. “W-well, I should be on my way.”

            “…I suppose. It is getting late.” It was almost nine, to be exact. Mr. Chang looked at the car that Roman had driven—it wasn’t Vicky’s. “So, she left her car at the Myrtle’s house?”

            Roman nodded. He couldn’t say anything afterwards. He was sure that he hadn’t been this nervous in his life before…

            “Well then, good evening, Mr. Callaghan. Thank you again.” With that said, Mr. Chang shut the door in Roman’s face.

            “Good night,” Roman whispered. He stiffly walked back into his car. Once seated, he let out a deep sigh. “…Thought I’d pee my pants…” He knew that he was probably so nervous because of the way Mr. Chang looked at him and at Vicky; the look that meant he might know that the two had been around pot. Well, Mr. Chang was a doctor…

            The thought of being caught—no, actually, the thought of Vicky getting caught and then being forced to sever ties with all of her friends (especially Roman) sent a deep pain into Roman’s gut.

            Adrenaline shot through his blood stream and this was a different kind of high that he was finally experiencing—but, he didn’t like this high at all.

            A high of fear.

            After what felt like an eternity, he found the will to start his car. He took one last glance at what he suspected was to be Vicky’s window since the curtains were purple. With a smile, his fears were gone. The high had dissipated and it felt like it had never been there.

            Roman drove off, thinking about how Vicky was the remedy to everything. She was his everything.

The Pleasantview Chronicles: No One Else--The Chang Family

            Alexander Goth had called. Vicky had just hung up.

            She hated how he was messing with her. She hated how he couldn’t be honest with her. She hated that she knew that he loved someone else.

            Everyday, he would call and tell her about his troubles with the girl he loved: Lilith Pleasant. Vicky didn’t understand why he continued to call. She could do nothing for him. Nothing at all.

            Yes, she wanted to hear him talk to her. But, she wanted to plead with him to stop talking about her whenever he called. Why couldn’t he realize that the person he complained to, was the person that loved him the most?

            And, every time that he hung up—after a long talk and a thank you—she knew that he would never know that she was also in turmoil; he didn’t know that he wasn’t the only one who was suffering from love.

            But, most of all, she didn’t understand why she could never tell him. Yes, all that time she could’ve told him and got it over with. Perhaps, they would be happy.

            But, she would never tell him. And, she couldn’t will herself…Because…because she was scared. She was scared that the other part of the “perhaps they would be happy” was the “perhaps they wouldn’t be happy”.

            Maybe he would stop talking to her; stop even looking at her. Then, where would she be then? She would be alone. She had no one else to talk to—or, at least, to listen to.

            Alex was the first person to accept her into his group. All throughout elementary and middle school, she only had classmates and acquaintances. Never any real friends. And, it was because it felt like people hailed her as a god; the god of all that was good and wise. She had been gifted with an unnatural talent of smartness.

            But, that was her sin; her burden. This smartness had a price to pay; and, she wasn’t given any discount. She paid it with everything she had—especially her love, her heart.

            Alex would never be serious about her because she was so serious about everything else.

            She kept her hand on the phone. If she were to call…if she were to call…

            Suddenly, the phone rang. Her heart raced and she answered it without any hesitation. “Hello?” Her voice sounded too excited.

            “Hey, Vicky!” This voice…

            “What? What do you want, Roman?”

            “I was just wondering if you were available…”

            “For what, may I ask?”

            “To pick me up.”

            “And, why do I have to pick you up?”

            “Because Alex is also here, and he told me to call you to pick us up.”

            She gave a scoff. “I just got off the phone with Alex. He said that he was at home.”

            “Yeah right. He’s right here, with a bong.”

            “No, doofus, he’s at home.”

            “He’s right here!”

            “Then, let me talk to him.”

            Roman’s voice disappeared, but then another voice reappeared. “Hello?” Unmistakably, it was Alex.

            “Alex?”

            “Who’s this? Do I know you?” Didn’t he recognize her voice?

            “I-it’s Vicky.”

            “Victoria?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Oh, hey.” He sounded indifferent.

            “I thought you were at home.”

            “Um, about twenty minutes ago. Before I called you. When I called you, I was on my way here.”

            Where was here? “Wh-where are you?”

            “I think we might be at Damon’s.” So, he was already high. “Maybe even the park…” How could he not tell the difference between a house and a park? “Anyways, I-I’m going to need you to pick me up…I walked here with Roman and the guys.”

            She sighed. “So, why don’t you tell me where you are and I’ll go.”

            He laughed. “See, Roman? I told you she’d come and pick us up. Um, gimme a sec, Vicky…I still don’t have a clue where we are at.”

            “You’d better tell me quickly, or else I won’t go.”

            He laughed. “Oh, shut up, you…You’ll pick me up, anyways. I know you.” There was a pause. “Uh, I think I’m in Roman’s basement or something…no, wait, I’m at the Myrtle’s house…yeah, that’s where I’m at, because Kyle’s parents won’t be home for another few days. Come pick me up,” he whined.

            “Fine, fine. Hold on. Give me ten minutes.”

            The ten minutes flew by and felt like ten seconds. Vicky looked at the Myrtle house and the amount of cars that she had seen before. Yep, there was a party in there. But, since it was a week night, it meant that it was only a group party that consisted of ten people, at most.

            She sighed and slowly got out of her car. She treaded the stairs and knocked on the door. A few moment passed by and she realized that they were probably in the basement. Thus, she rang the doorbell. Another few moments passed by—yet no one came.

            She suddenly remembered the secret route to the basement of the Myrtle family: an open window that led to the basement.

            By the time she found the window, the overwhelming scent of marijuana came out. She coughed and looked into the open window.

            Laughter filled the room like the smoke.

            “Alex!”

            Alex didn’t turn around.

            “Alex!” she called out again.

            But, someone did turn around. “Hey, it’s Vicky, Alex.” Roman smiled.

            But, Alex didn’t hear him. He just laughed.

            Roman got up and went to the window. “Give me a sec.” He found the ladder and pushed it against the window. “You coming down?” He smirked.

            “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Slowly, she easily fit herself over the opening of the window. She stepped down each step, until she finally made it down. When she turned around, she was surprised to see Roman standing dumbfounded in front of her.

            “Hey.”

            “Hi.” She peered over his shoulder to see the group of the usual teens on their usual high. “How long has it been?”

            “Like half an hour. This is pretty strong stuff.” With a smirk, he added, “Not that you would know how to tell.”

            Vicky glared at him, but suddenly, a cough found its way into her throat. “God, the air’s so thick in here!” With that said, she made way to the basement door. Once opened, she found her way into the Myrtle kitchen. Some of the girls were eating some chips, an apparent case of munchies.

            They exchanged greetings with Vicky, but Vicky ignored them. She finally found her way to the living room, where she was met with the youngest Myrtle child, Nicole.

            “Hey, Vicky.”

            “Hi, Nikki.”

            Nicole was watching something about wizards in high school. “Care to join?”

            Vicky didn’t have to reply. Because, Nikki knew Vicky’s answer: every time that Vicky was called to the Myrtle house, she would always come to watch TV with Nikki.