Chapter 7: Shock

   “Excuse me?” Mikey walked over to her. “You can’t make me do nothin’, girlie.” He said as he came face to face with Lizzy. she just smiled.

                “No, but Gina can.” They looked at Gina; she was slapping the bat in her hand threateningly. Danny stepped forward and put a hand on Mikey’s shoulder. Mikey then stepped back.

                “Good,” Lizzy exclaimed. “Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s get started!” the door swung open as Jorge, Mindy and the unnamed maid stepped into the room, the maid carried medicine as she closed the door behind them. Lizzy turned to the maid.

                “Don’t forget to re-dress Jace once you’ve finished with the other one.” The maid nodded.

                “Yes, ma’am.” She bowed and set to work on Teedy. Hee Sun turned back to the group.

                “You,” she pointed at Danny.

                “Yeah?”

                “Go over to Jorge.” She turned to Mikey. “And you can go over to Mindy.” She demanded.  She then turned to Eli. “You need to come with me. Yuna, you too.” Yasmin stepped forward.

                “Yes, Lizzy.” she bowed, and they both followed her out. Jace and Jessie waited nervously as Gina and Skye guarded the doors until they returned.

                Lizzy walked down the hall and up a flight of stairs, into a small hallway with three red doors at the end; a door for each wall. She took a small golden key out of her pocket, and opened the door on the left.

                Inside, was an office. The walls were painted a dark red; the carpet was a soft beige color. The walls were lined with academic books, the shelves of these cases ran floor to ceiling, all except for one wall. This wall was the focal point of the room. There was a dark brown desk with matching chairs surrounding and one behind it. Behind that, was a large ornate painting of beautiful scenery, an orchard, its cherry trees in full bloom, cherry blossoms were flowing in the wind as a river ran behind it, mountains rising up behind them like guardians, shielding them from the harsh winds of the mountain range beyond.

                “Take a seat, please.” She motioned for them to sit in the two chairs in front of the desk. She sat in the chair opposite of them. “While they are upstairs getting ready, we need to discuss the party. Now, the party is in a few days. We need to hire the planner, the caterer, the DJ, Yasmin we still need to pick out our outfits, that alone is going to be an all-day affair-“

                “Where do I come in on these plans?” Eli cut in. He didn’t see how he fit into her shopping plans at all. Surely this was a girls-only type thing. She smiled.

                “Uh, we have to dress up you and your friends. I mean, you can’t come if you look like smelly poor people.” Eli

made a face.

                “What if I don’t want to go? And who said my friends are going?” Lizzy looked at Yasmin and they both laughed.                                                        

                “There would be no reason for them to be here if they weren’t going. I just figured to keep you from saying anything stupid that might embarrass me; I would bring your friends, as you know, a distraction. Jace and Jessie are going too, but more for collateral than for a distraction."

                “What do you mean collateral? For what?” he asked. Yasmin scoffed. 

                “Duh, you fuck up, they get it. Remember, Yoon Jae’s head isn’t fully healed yet. It would be a shame if his wound suddenly got worse. Who knows, he could end up in a coma.” She smirked as his mouth hung agape.

                “You people are sick. What have they ever done to you?” he stood up, anger boiling inside of him.

                “Jessie is a pathetic little twit who used to work here, she could never to anything right, which is why she no longer works here. I was very surprised to see her at school the next day. She has a lot of nerve showing her face in public after all the trouble she caused.” Hee Sun stated this matter-of-factly. “And Jace, well he’s just the school punching bag. He never fights back. I’m surprised he’s not dead yet, what with all the times his face has been pounded into the pavement.” She shook her head as she finished making a checklist.

                “You really think your reasoning is justifiable, don’t you?” he shook his head in disbelief. “No wonder no one likes you.” Yasmin choked on the bottle of water she was sipping from. Lizzy just looked up and smiled at him sweetly.

                “Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t aim to make friends then, isn’t it? I have the people I need, and I have you. Right now, that’s all I need. And what I need you to do is shut the fuck up and listen, I can’t have Skye or Gina beat the shit out of you because you need to look presentable at the party. Your friends on the other hand,” she smirked at him. “Are fair game. You slip up once,” she held up and index finger and slid it across her throat.” And your friends are goners. Do you understand now, Eli?” She got up and went around the desk to face him. “I didn’t pick you because your some likeable thug or your good looking, though you do clean up nicely.” She said, stroking his bangs. He shooed her hand away, and she kept talking. “No, your new, my parents know nothing of you, and as long as you keep your mouth shut, they will never ask. You are here to do what I say when I say, do you understand? You will do what I say; I believe you know the consequences if you don’t.” she turned around and sat back down.

                Jorge walked into the room as they were finishing up the list, the girls anyway. Eli sat in a corner, fuming at Lizzy.

                “Ma’am, we have finished.” He said with a bow, Lizzy thanked him and told him he and Mandy could leave now. He bowed and left the room. She looked back at Eli. He was looking at her with an overpowering sense of distaste. Yasmin put her hand on Lizzy’s shoulders. Lizzy shrugged it off. She motioned for Eli to follow. He reluctantly came over and followed them out of the room.

                The boys were a sight to see. Each one of them had received a haircut, and was dressed in a suit. Eli did all he could to stifle his giggling.

                Danny, who had dark auburn shoulder length hair, now had short strawberry blonde hair, and his scruffy face had been shaved. He ran his hands over his face, trying to find the goatee he had been trying to grow, but it wasn’t there.

                Mikey’s wild black hair that used to stick out in all directions was now flat against his cheeks and hung down near his chin. He too had been shaved, and was now blonde. He scowled as he looked at his hair.

                Teddy seemed to have taken it the worst. His cornrows, which had been hidden by his baseball caps and hoodies, were now gone, and replaced with a very short, almost military style haircut. They seemed to get most of his facial hair, but a small mustache remained. All the boys had red patches around their eyebrows. Eli had wished that he had been there to witness the spectacle. As hard as they tried, Eli could see Jace and Jessie were giggling behind their hands.

                “Well,” started Lizzy. “Now that that is taken care of, let’s begin planning, shall we?” she motioned for them to come forward. Skye and Gina pushed the three other boys forward as Eli, Jace, and Jessie followed obediently as they approached the study.

                As the red doors came into view, the door on the opposite side opened up. A small boy, about eleven or twelve years old came out. He was clutching a notepad and a magnifying glass. He had short curly hair and was still wearing his school uniform.

                “Who are all these people, sis?” he asked. Lizzy rolled her eyes.

                “My friends, Brent, now go away.” She opened the door to the office and ushered people in. Brent stopped Eli.

                “Are you that guy she was talking about?” Eli looked at him quizzically.

                “What are you talking about?”

                “The one she is using to fool mom with so she-“Hee Sun covered his mouth.

                “Okay, Brent, that’s enough, go play with your science crap.” She let him go and shoved him away. He turned back to Eli.

                “Good luck, dude.” He said, and ran off. Eli shook his head and rolled his eyes. It was official then. She was using him. Not that it surprised him. At least he knew what he was for now. Even if Lizzy had told him, this little boy was probably more honest than his sister.  

                “Just, go in, Eli.” He just shook his head and walked in. she closed the door behind her and faced them. “Alright everybody, let’s start planning! Yasmin, the list please.” Yasmin was shuffling some papers when there was a knock at the door.

                "Lizzie Song, open the door! Right now, miss!” Everyone stopped and stared, and waited.

END OF CHAPTER 7