Log:Sugar and Spice, Scene 3

Sugar and Spice 2006/06/01 	 Althea Eva Philippa Lorelei|Stephie 3

[ Editor's Note: Stephie has unwitting agreed to go to the Valentine's Day dance with Darrell, the ex of Eva, one of her new cheerleader friends. She goes to talk with her to work it out. ]

The Vogt-Caveney's estate. Only the most affluent families of the area can afford to have a home in the Colonial Hills community, just outside of the city. The houses here share a few qualities. All of the are enormous, and set away from the road, with gated entrances and long drives that take you from the main road across the properties to the actual home. A quiet road with barely any traffic leads from the communtiy back to town. The Vogt-Caveney's house is no different from the others. from the outside it's looks like several buildings connected together. The architecture hearkens back to Virginia's colonial roots, with classical columns and construction masking the modern amenities. It's hard to imagine that only one family resides here.

Stephie feels a bit overwhelmed as she approaches the house - it would be bad enough if she weren't being driven. She didn't know the Vogt-Caveneys had this much money....

The car is actually a jet black hovercar with tinted windows. The driver's name is Locke, "just Locke". He's a short, stocky man with a rough-sounding British accent, who carries himself with cool profesional demeanor. He's not teh sort to strike up a conversation while he drives.

Stephie does try, at least, asking where he's from, in her own English accent.

"All about." is his response. If you're familiar with the dialects, you might take him for someone from one of the poorer sections of London, not the sort you'd imagine as a chauffeur or domestic.

Stephie nods and watches the expensive houses out the window on the drive.

The hovercar follows the roads until the destination is near. When the car is close to the estate, it rises into the air, off the gate. You notice Locke pressing a few button on his dashboard as you pass over the threshold of the gate -- perhap it's for a security system. He sets down the hover car for a soft landing by the hover-pad in back of the house.

Althea is waiting in the doorway at the rear of the house, then one closest to the hoverpad.

Locke gets out and opens the door for Stephie, offering her his hand to steady herself as she climbs out.

Stephie smiles to Locke. o O (This is strange!) and looks about as she gets out. She goes up to Ms Vogt-Cavaney and says, "Good afternoon," a bit nervously, rather hoping she won't remember her from the party.

"Ah, Stephanie." Althea says with a smile. "It's good to see you again. Philippa's been telling me a lot about you. Come in, come in."

Stephie smiles, "Thank you." While wondering exactly what Phil said. She enters.

There's a butler there to take Stephie's coat. Althea does a brief introduction. "I hope this all isn't too overwhelming. Philippa's been telling me that they'd selected you as a replaement for Becky, and I insisted on meeting you."

Stephie is taken aback. "Oh - *you* wanted to see me?"

Althea nods. "Cheerleading is a large part of my daughter's life, and I like to take a role in it. I've met all of the girls on the squad. She'd mentioned something about wanting to talk to you about something or other, and I suggested that she invite you over. It's a shame about Becky, by the way."

Stephie nods sadly. "I know, I hope she gets better before long!"

Althea shakes her head. "Those Winters boys are trouble. Imagine! Having a party like that with no adult supervision. One of them is a delinquent ad the other..." She pauses. "I'm sorry I don't mean to tak about your friends so."

Stephie says, "Well, there *were* some adults, and I know they'd invited more. But I doubt it would have made any difference if more had been there."

"Accidents do happen, but from I understand, there may have been some teens drinking at the party." Althea says. "I've told Philippa that she's not to associate with the Winters any more. I'm very particluar about who my daughter spends her time with." She smiles at Stephie. "I've seen it happen too often. A nice child gets mixed up with the wrong crowd."

Stephie just nods politely, and hides any objection. Alex seems quite responsible, but defending Caleb could be difficult, even if he's not as bad as he acts. Probably best to say nothing and let it blow over.

Althea watches you quietly for a moment as she smiles. "... But I go on and on. Let me take you to the girls. They're in the gymnasium."

Stephie smiles. "I should have guessed you'd have a gymnasium!"

Althea begins to lead you through the house to the gymnasium, which apparently is an another building, connected by a second-story walkway that arches over the driveway. "Oh yes. Much better than the one at the high school. I wish I had something like it when I was growing up." She smiles brightly, and for a moment you can see where Philippa gets her smile from. "You know, I was a cheerleader when I was in high school."

Stephie smiles, "I wondered if you might have been!"

Althea laughs softly, "Yes... when I was growing up in California. The competition was fierce, but I think that it's great for self-confidence and concentration. I think it's part of why I'm where I am today!"

Stephie says, as much to herself as Althea, "Then maybe it's just what I need!"

Eventually, Althea and Stephie reach the gymnasium. "Well here we are. It's been a pleasure talking to you Stephanie. Say hello to your father for me. Maybe we can chat one of these days."

Stephie says, "Ok, I'll be sure to do that!"

Before you is double door that's almost sound proofed; you can hear muffled music playing from inside -- it soudns liek a typical stadium dance music anthem - suited for cheerleading. Althea punches in a code and the door opens for you. She calls, "Philippa! Your guest is here!"

Philippa is inside the gym and so is Jinghua and Eva. "Thanks, mom! We'll take it from here!"

Althea says softly to Stephie. "When you need to head back, I can have Locke drop you off."

Stephie says, "Ok, thanks again!"

Althea waves adn then heads back to the main house.

Stephie says "Hey" to the cheerleaders.

The gynmasium here is about half the size of the one for school, and it seems to be geared more towards gymnastics that anything else. Right now, Jinghua is on one of the mats, going through a dance routine. Eva is stretching out, and Phil is coming over to welcome you.

Stephie says, "Wow. Nice setup you've got here!"

Philippa is serious when she says back. "Hey." her voice sounds a little weighed with something she's preoccupied with.

Stephie frowns. This doesn't sound good.

One more note about the gymnasium -- the celing in here is high. High enough to have an observation room on the second floor overlooking the gym. The room is dark right now.

There's something familiar about the dance routine that Jinghua is doing -- you've seen it before, and not at any cheerleading practice. It's more like something from a teen diva music video. Seeing that you've come in, she stops and come over, cutting off the music with the remote control. She too seems less than bouncy.

Stephie says, "Hey Jinghua...."

It's spooky seeing her not so bouncy!

Eva waits until the gym door is closed and it clicks closed before she bounces up to her feet and starts approaching Stephie angrily. "You boyfriend stealing, good-for-nothing, conniving little..." the rest of Eva's tirade is lost to non-Spanish-speaking ears as she continues to curse Stephie in another language. Eva looks mad, mad enough to fight as she stalks towards Stephie.

Stephie takes a step backward, looking quite griefstricken. "I'm sorry, I didn't know! I'd heard you'd split up - honest!"

Eva pauses. She's still simmering, but seems willing to hear you out. "He didn't break up with me... /Nobody/ breaks up with me." Eva's delay has given Philippa a chance to react. She steps between Stephie and Eva. Jinghua has run over too., coming over by Stephie's side.

Stephie says, "I'm *really* sorry, honestly. I never would have agreed if I'd known - you've got to beleive that. I uh - well, you know, I'm not exactly in the loop - people hardly even spoke to me until just recently...."

Eva says, "Who the (bleep) does he think he is? Conyo!"

Phil tries to speak in a calming fashion too. "Eva, calm down. Actaully Stephie came to me first, because she wasn't sure if it would be alright with you."

Stephie nods agreement.

Jinghua tries to put a hand on Stephie's shoulder as reassurance. She offers a shrugs and seems to take Stephie's word at face value.

Stephie watches Eva. She realy does feel badly about this, and hope Eva will understand...

Eva grumbles, "Great, jsut great... and how am I supposed to feel about it? We were supposed to go to the dance together!"

Stephie is shocked. "He already asked you?"

Eva grumbles. "Not exactly -- but it was implied -- We were going out!"

Phil finally feels safe enough with teh situation to take her eyes off of Eva. "This is realy an awkward situation, Stephie. I wish you had checked with us before you accepted. Maybe there's something we can work out."

Stephie has a sudden thought - not sure if it's a good one by any means.... Stephie says, "I know - I'm very sorry, he caught be off-guard and I accepted before I even thought...." Stephie thinks. o O (I wonder if David is still looking....)

Phil sighs. "This is not cool. We're a team now. Teammates don't date the guy who dumped a teammate."

Stephie says, "Um - it might be out of place to suggest this... but, um, if the problem is someone to go with Eva - would David Cairatara be a cool enough date? I mean - would that help save face?" Stephie nods to Phil. "I'm sorry, you're right, I should have checked, I just wasn't thinking...." Stephie prays Eva is sufficienly a fan of David to be mollified by this - and David is still available!

Jinghua asks eagerly, "David Cairatara is going to be there? I heard about them showing up at the school on Friday..." She catches a glare from Eva and quiets down.

Stephie nods. "He's performing, and going to the dance as well - and I happen to know him. Last I heard, he was available."

"Ew!" Eva screws up her face. "I heard he was a homo. His boyfriend is that Dances with Coyotes guy who fought all those heroes a while back."

Stephie frowns. "I'm pretty sure he's not - oh well. It was just a thought. Sorry."

Philippa sighs. "Maybe we could all boycott it... I was going to go with you-know-who, but the clock is running out on him. He needs to pull his act together quick-ly."

Stephie thinks. o O (THat's the trouble with David - some people seem to love him, others hate him. Not much middle ground....)

"No!" Jinghua says, probably louder than she intended, judging by the way she starts to blush.

Eva smirks. "Somebody's in loove."

"Am not!"

Stephie more for Jinghua's sake than anything says quietly, "Though I suppose boycotting it could be seen as a sign of weakness rather than strength...

"Are too.." Eva mock swoons, batting her eyelashes and clasping her hands to together. In a syrupy voice she says, "Oh, Looogan."

Philippa nods, in agreement. "Stephie's got a point, you know."

Philippa says, "I think we should put it to a vote." She explains to Stephie, "Just us three -- you're still too new." To the others, "So, girls we have two options to go to the dance, or not to go. All those in favor?"

Stephie nods. She wouldn't want to presume to vote.

Jinghua raises her hand. And so does Philippa.

And grudgingly, so does Eva, thgough she looks at Stephie with a steely gaze as she lifts her hand.

Stephie tries not to look over-pleased with the result, trying to return Eva's look with one of appeasement.

Stephie glance up at the observation room. "What's up there, anyway?"

Philippa says. "Great. We're agreed then." Eva chimes in. "Looks like we've got company, Phil." She rolls her eyes.

Phil explains: "It's a coaching room. We can film out routines down here and review them on the monitors and evaluate our performances. One moment please."

Stephie nods, trying to make out more of the shapes behind the glass.

Phil takes a few steps towards the booth and shouts up towards it. "Danny! We can see you hiding up there! Get the (bleep) out of here, or I'll tell my mom!"

Stephie asks Jinghua, "Who's Danny?" (OOC: assuming I shouldn't know)

The shape up there looks human. It jumps with a start and quickly retreated from view.

Jinghua cups her hand over her mouth as she whispers: "Phil's mom's handy man. He helped design some of the filming equipment for the gym."

Eva adds. "Way creepy, yo."

Stephie nods.

Phil sighs and turns back to Stephie. "Sorry about that."

Stephie says, "Do you get that a lot?"

Phil shakes her head. "Not in a while. But I think we probably wanted to see who you were."

"..And mom gives me grief about some of /my/ friends." Phil sighs dramatically.

Stephie nods.

Jinghua has an idea. "Hey! Why don't we start to try that routine from this week!"

Stephie says, "What routine?"

Phil nods. "Sounds good. IT's everyone alright with our plan for teh dance? Eva?" Phil turns to her friend.

Eva nods. "Yeah, yeah. I'm cool with it." And then she smirks. "I'm actually kind of looking forward to it. It should be a blast."

Stephie smiles. Whew, that helps. Stephie thinks. o O (I wonnder who Eva *is* going to go with?)