Where the White Rose Withers

by Harell Smiley

  The girls stop by Trish’s house to pick her up. “Come in.” Trish says. “In? Are you going to like, kill us or something?” Amber asks, surprised. “Just get in here.” Trish pulls the girls inside. “Hello girls. I am Trish’s mother. Despite the religious beliefs we share in this household, I know you all have taken care of her. That’s why I am going to give her some freedom and enroll her into Oberlin. But one wrong thing and she will be back. Understood?” Her mother makes it clear of her decision. “You have my word, she will be an angel just like she is here.” Danielle lies. “Is she able to join us on giving our new friend a makeover?” Amber asks. “Yes. But not too late please.” Trish’s mother says as the girls jump with joy.

  The girls went to get coffee when someone showed interest in Amber. “He is so cute. Please get on him or I will.” Crystal says. “You can have him. I just want to focus on myself. I don’t need the stress of home life and relationship drama.” Amber explains. “What’s going on at home?” Trish asked. “Nothing. Just normal annoying parents arguing.” Amber sipped her drink. The guy walks up to Amber with a warming smile. “Can I help you with something?” She asks looking up at him. “No bu-” “Got it. Bye.” Amber turns around and just focuses on the table. The girls are now shocked. “No. Oh my god Amber! He is so cute though.” Crystal yells in shock as he walks away.

  Hours pass, and a knock appears at the front door. She hears her mother greet someone. Or a few people. “Honey! Someone is here to see you.” Her mother knocks on the bedroom door. “Are you sure you want me to let them in?” She asks next, knowing the bullying issue at Oberlin. “Yes. They are my friends.” Spencer says. “You don’t have friends.” Spencer’s little brother, Tommy says, walking into his room. Danielle, Amber, Trish and Crystal stand in the hallway holding bags. “Let’s get started.” Danielle pushes her into her bedroom.

  They wash and straighten her frizzy hair. They get rid of the bad clothes and replace them with new ones. They teach her how to talk and walk and act. Who to talk to and who not to. They teach her the ways of makeup and then the clone of them was created.

  “You look gorgeous.” Danielle smiled. “She is ready.” Amber says. “Oh yeah she is.” Crystal adds.

  Carl : Hey, wanna meet?

  Crystal : I can’t, busy with a project.

  Carl : Come on. Finish it later, and I’ll make sure you finish. I’m so horny.

  Crystal : Ugh! Fine lol. Meet me in the gym, behind the stands.

  The next day, the girls strut through the halls with the new and improved Spencer Loving. She was getting looks of all kinds. Anger, surprise, jealousy, happy, sexual. So, this is how it felt to be… popular . Her now soft and straight hair blew in the light wind current. She wore a black and white striped blouse tucked into a blue skirt. “So many people are looking at me.” Spencer whispers as she sits at the table. “Good. They are seeing the power of friendship.” Danielle places her hand on Spencer’s. “Hey Dani. Who is the new girl?” Carl takes a seat next to her. “Spencer Loving.” Danielle gloated. “Woah! You really worked magic. You are very beautiful.” Carl says in complete shock. Crystal clears her throat. “Nate get over here!” Carl orders. “This is Spencer.” Carl informs him. “I don’t know who that is.” Nate says to him. Spencer’s entire demeanor changed with Nate’s presence. “Both of you, shoo. We have things to discuss.” Danielle pushes them away, giving Nate a look.

  “Screw that girl, you’re going out with us Friday, I want her there.” Carl orders him. “What is this party exactly?” Nate asks. “Come and you’ll see buddy.” Carl pats Nate on the shoulder.

  Spencer sits in class confident, head up and happy. “She thinks because they gave her a makeover she is on top of the world.” One girl commented out of jealousy. “You think you’re all that. They will chew you up and spit you out. Back to the way you used to be.” Her friend makes a direct comment. “Can both of you stop being such jealous assholes?” Jason came to her rescue. “Thank you.” She mouthed. “Anytime. Just because they aren’t worthy enough to be picked by people better than them. And prettier too.” Jason laughs.

  After school, Spencer walked into her house. “What is all of this? If I saw you leave this morning you wouldn’t be dressing like that!” Her mother yelled. “EW! You're hot!” Her brother dropped his gummy worms. “Such a supportive family I have. What happened to be myself and make friends? I finally did that.” Spencer argued her point. “Those girls are not your friends! Those girls are social misfits, living a life where all that matters are social status, clothes, boys, drinking and sexual activity. They are not your friends. ” Her mother tried to wipe the sinful red lipstick off of her plump lips. Spencer snatches away. “This is the new me. Get used to it.” Grabbing her bag, Spencer storms off to her room. “No get back here!” Mrs. Loving yells, pushing open the door. “I swear to god if you don’t let me be myself you’ll lose me just like you lost dad. Do you want that?” Spencer yelled. “Wow. Very tasteful Spencer. You’re even talking like them. Your father wasn’t happy.” Ms. Loving started to cry, banging her hand into the wall. “He killed himself because you controlled every single part of his life. You like to be in control and it hurts all of us. Be a mother for once instead of a monster. Get out!” Spencer yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Hello my loves,

  Haven't you heard? Miss little innocent has joined the X-Force. And it is only a matter of time we see what she really is worthy of. Will she crack under pressure or will she rise to the top? Not over Queen Danielle of course. Keep me updated.

  Love, TheDot.com

  It has been a week now, and Spencer starts seeing copies of her past outfits. “Is this normal?” She asks Danielle. “They love you. What can I say. Don’t let it get to your head.” Danielle combs her fingers through her straight red hair. “Is everything okay?” Spencer pulls Danielle aside. “People think you will be coming for my spot soon. I have to make sure that doesn't happen. Too much to handle.” Danielle informs her. “What? I would never. Who even said that?” Spencer asks, confused at the mere thought. “Everyone apparently. TheDot thought it would be something to post.” Danielle showed her the phone. “I am grateful to have the spot I do. I don’t want to take you down.” Spencer assured. “Good. I will ease off. See you at lunch.” Danielle looked at the ceiling as the bell rang.

  Danielle decided to sit in front of Jason today in History class. After weeks of small talk, she finally made her decision. “Hey handsome.” She turns in her seat and smiles at Jason. “Hey beautiful.” He says with a smile. “I was thinking you should take me out on the town tonight.” Danielle suggests. “Oh yeah? And how will I contact you?” He says in a joking manner. She wrote her number and address on his paper. “The H Hotel. Seven sharp.” She smiles, turning around. Carl watching from the back of the classroom.

  When class was over, Carl hurried to Danielle. “So, what is it with you and the geek squad over there?” He asks. “Don’t call him that. He is sweet. And can you make it less obvious that you and Crystal are hooking up.” Danielle defended him. “She is fun, but I wouldn’t be caught dead in public with her. My boy Lucas has like this obsessive crush over you. Give him a chance.” Carl insisted. “One. Obsessive crush makes him sound like a serial killer. Two. You may have some authority over my brother, but I am not him. I bite back ten times harder. Remember that. And Three I don’t date athletes. I am a cheerleader, he is a football star. I don’t care for stereotypes.” Danielle attempted to walk faster. “I am the star. And he could be a killer of sorts. If you know what I mean.” He laughs at his pervy joke. “Get away from me pig!” She pushes him away. “I better see you at my party Friday. With Lucus.” He yells in the hallway.

  Danielle gets home and starts getting ready for her night out. “Dani, we need you to stay in tonight. Your mother and I are going to dinner tonight with some very important people, and Friday is the meeting to buy the H.” Felton gave her the unfortunate news. “So, what do I tell my dat
e tonight daddy?” She asks, still applying her makeup. “Well, maybe tomorrow could work. Even raincheck works sometimes. You’ll figure it out.” Felton kissed her on her forehead and exited the bedroom. “You are right daddy. I will.” She whispers.

  Seven came and Danielle met Jason in the lobby. “I should have dressed down. Sorry.” He says nervously. He held a bouquet of red roses. “I feel like these were only appropriate.” He lets out a slight laugh. “I hate roses.” The smile quickly disappears. She starts to smile. “It’s a joke. So, I can't leave the house. I was thinking we could maybe have a movie night. Order food. If you want.” Danielle informs him of the new plan. “Sounds like a plan.” He smiles at her. She leads him to the elevator.

  Danielle and Jason strutted through the living room to her room. “Ooo, is he supposed to be here?” Nate asks, laying on the couch with his leg propped up on the back. “That is not my problem.” Danielle says. “Then I am inviting Erica over.” Nate starts texting her. “Do you have to be watched?” She raised an eyebrow. “Shut up!” He snapped.

  “So, am I allowed to be here?” Jason asked, taking off his suit jacket. “You’re fine. My father said I had to cancel my date or figure it out and guess what. I just did.” Danielle smiles. “So, what do you want to watch or order?” She adds. “You pick the movie and I will pick the food.” Jason picks up the menu. They share a smile as Danielle flips through Netflix.

  About twenty minutes into Moana, the food arrived downstairs. “I will be right back.” Danielle hurried out of her room. She walked downstairs to find Nate and Erica examining the food. One clap sent the two kids into a jump scare. “That is mine. Get away from it.” She ordered. Two Xanax bars on the table. The two laughed and fell back on the couch. Eyes red as an old woman’s blush sponge. “Are you two high?” She asked. “No. Yes.” They blurted out, looking at each other. “Yes. No” They yelled again, switching answers in a loud laugh. “Goodbye. And Nate. Behave.” Danielle walks the food up to her room.

  “Why does she always make a comment about you being watched and behaving?” Erica asks. “It’s nothing. I have a dark past apparently.” Nate avoided the question. He looked her in the eye and kissed her. “You’re mine redhead.” She smiles, caressing his cheek. “All yours.” He whispers back. Taking off her shirt, Erica climbs into Nate's lap. Nate kisses every inch of her body. She tastes every inch of his. Now on her knees and pushed him back and pleased him. She pulls out a condom and rolls it on. “Are you sure?” He whispers. She looks into his eyes and sees pure passion. He wasn’t a monster. He was a gentle soul longing to be loved. “Yes.” She answers as he enters her.

  “I just don't understand why she just had to leave her island. Why couldn't she send someone to do it? And why the chicken?” Danielle laughs. “She knew it was her destiny to save her island because everyone else was scared to.” He stares at her with a certain look in his eyes. “You are different than I thought you would be.” He says. “How did you think I would be?” She asks leaning back to look at him. “Stuck up, bratty, bitchy, selfish. And I will stop because this isn’t first date appropriate.” He laughs nervously. “I can be all of those things and more. But I try not to be.” She replies. “Especially when getting revenge.” She adds. “Dani?” He asks in a soft whisper. “Yes Jason?” She leans a bit closer. The room became calm. He placed his hand on her chin and kissed her. “I like you.” Danielle whispers between the kisses. “I like you too.” He replies. Each kiss gets more and more passionate. Jason pulls her closer and Danielle climbs on top of him. “I uh-” Jason gets anxious. “ How many people have you had sex with?” Danielle asks, kissing his neck and unbuttoning his shirt. “Like, um, like, sex-sex?” Jason asks. Danielle stops and smiles at him. “Yeah, sex-sex.” She laughs. “Oh. Well…” Jason cannot even look at her. “Holy shit, you're a fucking virgin, aren't you?” Danielle’s jaw drops. “Is that why you want to fuck me?” Danielle asks, crawling off of him. “What? No, no. That's not it at all!” Jason starts to panic. “So, you don't want to fuck me, Jason?” Danielle struts to the middle of the room. “I do want to fuck you.” He confesses. “Well, I don't fuck virgins.” Danielle winks. Jason, missing the joke holds his head down. “Jason.” Danielle calls, now in her lingerie. “What are you waiting for?” She asks, biting her lip.

  Jason gets undressed and kisses her more. “Don't worry. I will lead this time.” She says kissing down his body. He takes a deep breath, surprised at how the real thing felt. He could only imagine how it did and this was nothing like what porn made it to be. He was mesmerized by her. He was hypnotized. He was… in love. He remembered moves from the porn videos he watched every other night, morning and sometimes in the bathroom at school. He flips her onto her back and kisses her body. Her breasts. Her stomach and then he pleased her with his tongue. For an inexperienced guy, she loved how it felt. She slid the condom on him and instructed him inside. She moaned and scratched. Jason tried his best to be consistent with the rhythm but once in a while he would speed up, getting caught up in the moment or slow down to enjoy it.

  When they finished, they got dressed and kissed some more. The door opens and the kissing stops. “I think I am falling in love with you.” Jason says between the kisses. Fucking virgins will do that. Danielle thought to herself. But then she saw her opportunity. “I love you too.” She says. She may have meant it a little, but she needed to remember he was only a cover. “Will you be my girlfriend?” Jason smiles. “Definitely.” Danielle smiles and kisses him again. “What the hell is going on!” Felton yells. “I think I should go.” Jason throws the jacket over his arm and hurries to the elevator.

  He sees Nate on the couch being yelled at by Hazel. Jason and Erica waited for the elevator. “Well, this has been an interesting night.” He makes small talk. “If that’s the word you want to use.” She replies, getting into the elevator. “Lobby also?” She asks. “Yes, please.” He says, smiling at the memory of the night.

  “Sit down. Both of you.” Felton yells. Nate and Danielle plops onto the couch side by side. “Your mother and I leave for a few hours for a dinner that makes or breaks us and you both have people in here? We trusted you. Both of you.” He continues to yell. “I don't recall you saying no one could come over. You specifically stated that I had to stay in and I will figure it out. And I did so we had a movie date.” Danielle argues. “This is no time for your word play Danielle. What if something happened? And you! Kissing that girl, high. Have you not learned?” Felton directs his attention to Nate. “That was the past. Things are different now. Not that you care!” Nate gets in his face. “Stand down Nathaniel.” Felton warns him in a stern tone. “Make me.” Nate challenged. Hazel placed her hand on Felton’s arm to calm him down, but for once it didn't work. “You think you are a big shot? Then next time something happens, deal with it yourself.” Felton started to turn away. “Pussy.” Nate says, provoking him.

  Felton grabbed Nate by his neck and slammed him against the wall. “Don't ever try that again. Do you understand me?” Felton yelled in complete rage. “Stop! Fel. Stop!” Hazel found the strength to pull him back and protect her son. “Felton leave, now!” Hazel ordered, holding Nate in her arms. “I know what you did. We will all go down for you. We will lose everything because of you.” Nate yelled almost in tears. “That is what families do for each other.” Felton yells, entering the elevator.

  It's not every day you see a princess with a frog, but Danielle may have a spell of her own set. Let’s take a poll. How long will this last?

  -TheDot.com

  Image Loading….

  Crystal sat on her bathroom floor and cried. Her breathing unsteady. She tried to gather herself but it wouldn’t work. “Amber. Can you come over? My mom is still working and I can’t breathe.” Crystal struggled with the words and wiped her nose. “What’s wrong, what happened?” Amber asked. “I took adderall and I can’t breathe. Please help.” Crystal explained.

  Amber made it to Crystal’s house, she entered thro
ugh the back door and found Crystal alone on the bathroom floor crying and taking deep breaths. “What happened? Who gave you these?” Amber asked. “Dani gave them to me. She said they will help me lose weight safely.” Crystal explains, breathing heavily. “It’s okay. I got you.” Amber held her close until she was able to get to sleep.

  Amber sneaks into her room quietly. She reads one of her favorite books and had the TV on for background noise. She still had time, so she thought. Over the ramblings of LIVE PD, she heard things being knocked over from the table. The sound of his steel toed boots on the cold wooden floor sounded familiar. He staggered into the room next to hers. Her little brother Chase was across the hall in his room sound asleep. Her mother left minutes before he could see her like always. The doorknob turned as a tear slithered down Amber's cheek. “Hey. You’re home from school already?” He asks, struggling to get the words out. “Yeah. I decided to come straight home today.” She lied, breathing in deep. “You’re such a pretty girl.” He finally makes it to her. “Did you cook dinner?” He asks. “I didn’t. But I will get started on it.” Amber shot up from the seat, despite it being almost midnight, and before she could make it to the door she felt a hand grab her wrist. And then the other on her throat as her back kisses the white wall of the hallway. “You think you’re better than me? You are just like your mother!” He yelled with a drunken rage. She could barely breathe. No one could help. No one could save her. So, she saved herself. She reached over and finally was able to grip the flower vase with her fingertips. Enough to be able to slam it against his head and knock him out.