Bizarre Pageant(closed)

[papillon24]

Mara had always been different and more so on purpose as of late. Well to put it honestly, she was a Goth. Not just one of those “wear black” everyday Goths, but the ones in full ghostly makeup and strange clothes. Other than the clothing and the makeup and strange clothing, she was quite cute. She had left her hair long and black. It was her natural color. Her body was waiflike thin but not quite to the bony stage. Her eyes were blue and deep as the ocean.

Many were just plain scared of her in the rural southern town she had grown up in. People would cross the street so they wouldn’t have to walk near her.

Her parents were fairly well known in town. Mara’s mother taught at the local kindergarten and her father was the town doctor. For years they both had tried to figure out what was wrong with her. To no avail the stopped trying to change her and started to accept that she was now nineteen and they could no longer do anything to stop her from being her own person.

Mara only had one really good friend. They had both grown up together and he was like her brother. He was one who had never thought of her as a freak but just his good friend.

One day flier had come to the house. It was an add for an art school in San Francisco. Mara got her hopes up as she talked to her parents about the idea.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Mara screamed as she stood heading to her room.

They had gotten a different flier. It was one for a beauty pageant in the area.

“Tell you what,” said her father,” you do this pageant and we will let you go to any school in the country you want to go too. Your mother and I just want to actually see your face for once.”

“I can’t believe this.” and she stormed up the stairs

 

[SSJSonGoku]

Rick was walking down Saint Rose Street... as he had just finished doing some errands for his family... like paying the phone and the gas bills... 'Mmm... I wonder... what should I do about College?' he wondered... He had received many offers from prestigious colleges... due to his great skills as a Basketball player... He was the captain of the team... back in highschool... But this was college... He was unsure about what to do of his life... Until he ended up passing by Mara's house... She was his best friend... And he liked her a lot... Like a dear sister... or maybe something else also? He didn't know... The clear thing to him, tho... was that they had always helped each other and had cared for each other up to now... and maybe she could give him some advices...

Often people tried to avoid Mara... due to her strange look... But Rick didn't mind her bizzarre aspect... He thought that everyone was free to do what he or she wanted and he or she shouldn't be judged... Unfortunately it happened... some did it with his best friend... In another way the guy was judged too... but in a positive way in his case... As many cheered for him... to become a famous player... and a lot of girls... asked him out often...

He found himself knocking on Mara's front door... And his dad opened it... "Oh Rick... what brings you here?" said the man smiling... Her parents liked him a lot... considering him a good guy... and him to be humble even if he was already full of fans... and they had hoped for him to make their daugther change her mind about the style... Unfortunately for them he had always refused to try and convince her... telling them that he thought she had the right to choose for herself... Of course her parents didn't agree with him... But appreciated him for sincerity anyway...

"Hello sir... Well... I need to talk to Mara... Is she home? If so... may I talk to her?" he asked politely...

"Mmm yes she is... We just had a discussion about something... I'd ask you to convince her to do what we asked her... but I'm sure you'll refuse... right?" asked the father...

"I have to agree with you on that... I'm sorry..." he answered gently...

"Oh well... it's ok..." he said looking at the young man... "Maraaaaaaaaaaa... come down! Rick is here to talk to you!" called her father....

Rick waited patiently... "Thanks, sir..." he said smiling... his tall and strong figure just outside the door... Wearing a shirt and some shorts...

 

[papillon24]

Mara sat in her room agitated and confused. How could they possibly think that she would do such a thing? She would not prance around like a ballerina as others watched. IT was unheard of. She shook the thoughts out of her head. She would find a way to go to college, that college.

To be an artist was her dream and she was on the right road. For four years she had won the art competitions thought the local school system as well as some at the state level.
Everyone had been shocked that she had not gotten a scholarship somewhere. Her grades had been excellent as well as her attendance.

"Maraaaaaaaaaaa... come down! Rick is here to talk to you!" she heard her father call to her from down stairs.

She sighed and stood making sure her makeup was just right. White base with dark eyeliner and black lipstick with a few tribal designs below the eyes were her trademark. Today she wore a long black skirt with a black tank top and knee high boots. It was a causal day with nothing big to do.

She made her way down the stairs towards the living room and across the front hall. What would have brought Rick here today? Since they entered high school four years ago he had always had the girls drape themselves all over him. She thought he would spend the whole summer breaking hearts before he want off to some Ivy league school.

Mara threw her arms around him pulling him into a big hug.

“Heya, I thought you would be spending all your time with the girls and what not.”
She smiled and led them into the rec room. “You know the drill. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I’ll go and get some sodas” She turned and headedt o the kitchen.

 

[SSJSonGoku]

Rick could feel Mara's body pressed tightly against his own as she hugged him... and he did the same with her... She had a beautiful and sexy figure... tho some didn't like it... because of how she dressed and put on her make up... But he didn't mind... He liked her just like she was... They had been best friends since they were kids after all...

“Heya, I thought you would be spending all your time with the girls and what not.” She said and took him to the Rec room...

"Yeah right... Like that's the only thing I think about!" he answered laughing...

“You know the drill. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. I’ll go and get some sodas” she added...

"Yes boss!" he said in a mocking way as she walked away... towards the kitchen...

He had been here many times in the past... Often... it had been... just the two of them... Rick and Mara... as her style intimated quite some people... But it wasn't the time to think about past... but about future... 'I wonder what college will she go to... There's a chance... a big one I fear... we'll have to go to different places... maybe distant ones... What if we don't see each other for a long time...? I would miss her... a lot...' he thought...

He sat on the couch and relaxed there... waiting for his friend to return... And she soon did... handing him a can of soda to drink...

"Thanks.... And... it really sucks that you got not scholarship... that's really... not right..." he commented... smiling gently... "You deserved one!" he exclamed...

"By the way... before I tell you why I'm here... What's wrong again? Your dad told me you had another fight.... What do they want this time? I thought they gave up trying to change you? Is it... about college?" he asked softly and took a sip...

 

[papillon24]

She handed him the can of soda and sat on the couch oposite of him.

"Thanks.... And... it really sucks that you got not scholarship... that's really... not right...You deserved one!"

"Thanks, that means a lot." She tooka sip from her soda.

"By the way... before I tell you why I'm here... What's wrong again? Your dad told me you had another fight.... What do they want this time? I thought they gave up trying to change you? Is it... about college?"

She smiled at the idea once again.

"I'll be right back. You gotta see this"

She headed into the living room and grabbed the two pamphlets of the coffee table and headed back to the rec room.

"You'll never believe this. In order for me to go here..." She handed him the pamphlet on the college she wanted to attend."...I have to do this" and handed him the one on the pagent.

"Can you believe that. the want me to prance around in pink taffeta just so they can see me 'normal' for once." She paced the room as she vented. "I mean..what exactly is normal anyways. I'll never get them."

 

[SSJSonGoku]

"I'll be right back. You gotta see this"

Rick watched as she left again... and shortly after came back... handing him two flyers...

"You'll never believe this. In order for me to go here..." She handed him the pamphlet on the college she wanted to attend."...I have to do this" and handed him the one on the pagent.

"Can you believe that. the want me to prance around in pink taffeta just so they can see me 'normal' for once." She paced the room as she vented. "I mean..what exactly is normal anyways. I'll never get them."

He looked at the two papers carefully... thinking for a while... as she walked around the room to calm down... 'Mmm... interesting...'

He suddenly opened his mouth... looking deeply into her eyes... with a serious look... "San Francisco... I'll miss you when you'll go there..." he commented weakly... and then he thought about what he had just said... "No... never mind that... Well... You know that I like you just the way you are... And that I've always been on your side, every time your parents wanted you to change or tried to convince me to be on their sides... When I arrived today I told them I wouldn't again help them... But you know...they'll let you go to the college of your dreams... if you do this for them... You could fulfil their desire for once... I know you don't like the idea... But... it would be only once... You'd get to go where you wanted after it... and your parents would stop bugging you... and would be happy to see you as they like... even if only for one time... If you really don't want to... no problem... but trust me... on this... ok? Everyone would be happy in the end... I know that you don't like how they treat you sometimes... but I know that you love... them..." he said smiling gently... But when he had said the word love... he had felt strange for a moment...

"Plus... maybe you'll look beautiful dressed like that!" he added laughing... to joke... but deep inside him... he wanted to see her like that at least once too... not because he didn't like her style... but because he was curious... of how she's be...

 

[papillon24]

"No... never mind that... Well... You know that I like you just the way you are... And that I've always been on your side, every time your parents wanted you to change or tried to convince me to be on their sides... When I arrived today I told them I wouldn't again help them... But you know...they'll let you go to the college of your dreams... if you do this for them... You could fulfil their desire for once... I know you don't like the idea... But... it would be only once... You'd get to go where you wanted after it... and your parents would stop bugging you... and would be happy to see you as they like... even if only for one time... If you really don't want to... no problem... but trust me... on this... ok? Everyone would be happy in the end... I know that you don't like how they treat you sometimes... but I know that you love... them..."

She stopped in mid step and listened. He did make a bit of sense, but this was totally and honestly rediculous. She had worn nothing but black for the last 7 years. No one had seen her without the makeup for about four.

"Plus... maybe you'll look beautiful dressed like that!"

"Ha Ha really funny. I'm laughing so hard." She rolled her eyes. ":Really, can you see me dressed up like all those litle prisses you date...no offense but thats what you usually go for. You know...the kind that want to end out friendship beacuse I look and act a bit different."

She slumped back down on the couch and rested her chin on her hand.

 

[SSJSonGoku]

"Ha Ha really funny. I'm laughing so hard." She rolled her eyes. ":Really, can you see me dressed up like all those litle prisses you date...no offense but thats what you usually go for. You know...the kind that want to end out friendship beacuse I look and act a bit different."

Rick had his eyes fixed on hers as she talked and sat down... "Mmm...." he mumbled... "I can actually see you dressed like that... if you ask me... You underestimate yourself too much... Honestly, I'm sure... no... I know... that you'd look beautiful with anything on... even those clothes that you hate so much... So you shouldn't worry about it... not even for a second... If that's your fear... erase it from your mind..." he answered her smiling gently...

"And yes, it's true that I date those kind of girls... I guess I'm bad for it? I still need to find the right girl for me... And even if they tried to get me to stop seeing you... that never happened... never... and will never happen... Even when you'll be gone to San Francisco... and me... somewhere else.... I won't stop being your friend..." his tone becoming weaker as he thought about having to split up with his best friend...

"And... if you want... I'll come to you at the pageant... to keep you some company..." he smiled... "And to see you dressed like that!" he grinned... "No... seriously... you can count on me!" he added...

 

[papillon24]

she listened as he spoke. His word were so soft and gentle as he supported her. They always had been whenever she had a problem.

She looked up from her hands.

"fine...I'll do it..on one condition."She took a sip of her soda"That you are there every step of the way."

she stood nd made her way towards the living room.

"Now..if you excuse me I have to tell my parents. Meet me at the mall tommorrow at ten o'clock in the morning. We have things to do." she walked back over and gave him a hug."You know thhe way out....later."

Mara made her way out of the room

"Moooooom....Daaaaad?"She hollared up the stairs as she headed up.

"Whatis i hun" mom appeared at the top of the stairs.

"I decided I'll do the pagent but on one condition."

Mom looked shocked as she spoke"What is that dear?"

"I get not only tuition, but rent, plane ticket and a bit of living money as well for two years."

"Well hun. I'll talk it over with your fater , but I think it can bedone."

Mara made her way to her room and floped on her bed.

 

[SSJSonGoku]

Rick looked at Mara... unsure of what she'd say... if she'd accept or not... And then she looked back at him...

"fine...I'll do it..on one condition."She took a sip of her soda"That you are there every step of the way."

He smiled at her broadly... "Of course! Whatever you want of it! I'll be with you every single second! If that's what you want!" he said gently...

He he had his eyes still fixed on her as she got up and spoke again...

"Now..if you excuse me I have to tell my parents. Meet me at the mall tommorrow at ten o'clock in the morning. We have things to do." she walked back over and gave him a hug."You know thhe way out....later."

"I'm sure they will be very very surprised!" he grinned at her... "At ten at the mall ok!" he added as he hugged her back... "Later Mara..." he said as he began walking... As he was getting out of the house... he could hear his best friend telling his mom... about it... And then he left... going back home... slowly...

"Damn!" he exclamed suddenly... stopping dead on his track... 'I forgot to tell her why I had gone see her... Oh well... It will be for tomorrow morning...' he thought... and resumed walking...

After a while he reached his destination... Entering inside he found his mother relaxing on the sofa... in the living room... while watching tv...

"Hey dear... Did you finish all the errands?!" she asked smiling at him...

"Yeah... all of them..." he answered...

"It took you longer than the other times... tho... Did something happen?" she asked again...

"Well... to tell the truth... yes... I went to see Mara... Want to know the news? She is going to join a Beauty Pageant!" he exclamed laughing...

"Eeeeeeehhhhhhh?! Stop making fun of your mother! It can't be possible... or...?" she told him surprised and not believing it, yet...

"It's the truth! I swear... His family got two flyers... one for an Art School in San Francisco... and one for this pageant... They told her they'd let her to that school... that she was interested in so much... at the condition that she'd do join that... She didn't want to... but in the end she accepted... Can you believe it?!" he said smiling...

"Wow... incredible!!" she stated with still wide open eyes...

"Yep..." he nodded as he began going to his room...

Arrived there he lied down on his bed and began thinking... thinking of his future and what college he should go to... about Mara's future with the pageant and her Art School... About the fact that they would be split apart... And he began thinking about how she would look with the clothes she would soon have to wear... 'I'm sure she'll look hot!' he thought smiling... 'Well she does now also...'

 

[papillon24]

The next morning mara awok to the obnoxious sound of the alarm next to her bed.

she rose as quickly as she could and jumped in the shower. the water felt good as it ran down her body.

She looked at the clock and checked the time. It was eight o'clock. Pleanty of time to get ready.

she tossed on a black skirt and a black teeshirt and her kneehigh eyelet boots. she checked her look in the mirror. this was strange. It was still the same clothes but for the first time in four years she was going to walk out of the house with nothing more thana bit of eyeliner.

"Oh..well..." she spoke outloud to herself. "Better start getting used to it."

she made her way downstairs andrabbed abowl of frosted flakes and sat at the table. She picked up a bookand began to read.

"Oh my god, is that you?" her mother exclaimed as she entered the kitchen.

"Mom, I don't want to hear another word. I'm going to the mall today to find some new clothes and perhaps a dress. The dress will notbepink or purple or any other prissy color."

Her mother nodded and grabbed a cup of coffee. she took her purse and rumaged around in it.

"Here..." she slid the credit card across to Mara."Get whatever you need for the pagent."

Mara took the card and slipped it into her bag."Thanks."

"Well mom, I gotta get going. Josh is going to help me find stuff today. He is the one who helped convince me to do this."

She jumped in her car and headed across town to the mall. It was already nine fourty-five when she pulled up.

She stepped out and made her way to the food court and took a seat to wait for josh

 

[SSJSonGoku]

OOC: Err... Who's Josh?

IC:
Rick woke up the morning after... and immediately entered the shower... anxious to see his best friend Mara wear clothes that most would consider normal... But weren't at all for her... He put on a t-shirt and a pair shorts...

He then went down and eat a toast... and drank some coffee... His mother was there... eating too...

"So... What are you going to do today?" asked his mother suddenly... looking at him....

"I'm going to the mall with Mara... Remember about the pageant? She has to buy stuff for it..." he answered her... smiling...

"I still can't believe it..." said him mother, raising an eyebrow....

"Yeah I can understand that... I'm sure her parents are even more surprised... I think she left them speechless... Ahah..." laughed the guy...

"Oh... I could bet on that!" she smiled...

After he was done having breakfast... he went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth... And then he left the house... saying bye to his mother...

He got in his car and drove for a while... until he reached his destination... He parked his car... and walked towards their meeting place... And saw Mara that was slowly beginning to sit down... He approached her...

"Hello Mara... seems like you just arrived too... huh?!" he asked smiling... and then saw her face from a close distance... with wide open eyes... almost unable to believe himself... "Wow... it's been... around 4 years... that I haven't seen you like this... You look good... Don't get me wrong, you do also with all that make-up too..." he said with a soft tone and grinned... grinned...

 

[papillon24]

OOC: sorry, I was having a fight with my friend josh yesterday. He was on the brain.

IC:

"Don't even start with me. And don't look at me that way. Lets just get this over with."

she grabbed his hand and drug him along

"Come on."She stopped and turned to him." You know this place better than I do. where should we go first?"

She looked around and saw a few of her classmates stop and turn to look at her. A few pointed and stared but the others just wispered among themselves.

"What do they want. Lets go, you lead the way."

 

[SSJSonGoku]

OOC: Hey, no need to apologize! No problem! I'm sorry for the fight!

IC:

"Don't even start with me. And don't look at me that way. Lets just get this over with."

"Ok... ok! Don't get angry... it won't be so bad..." he smiled gently... stopping adming her body...

She then took his hand and pulled him...

"Come on." " You know this place better than I do. where should we go first?"

"Well... We should..." he started saying but was immediately cut off by her... She had noticed some people talking of her... And he noticed them too...

"What do they want. Lets go, you lead the way."

"Calm down Mara... Take it easy... ok? You'll have to get used to it... till the pageant is over... But I'll be supporting you... ok? So don't worry!" he whispered gently... his eyes fixed on hers... squeezing her soft hand tightly... to reassure her... 'Mmm her hand feels good...' he thought...

He then began walking... "I think you need a dress... right? Let's go buy you one, then! I guess you wouldn't like colours like pink and such... Something darker?" he asked her... "Then I know the perfect store..." he exclamed as he lead her to a shop that was full of dresses of any kind and colour... Some were the kind that she despised... prissy ones she would call them... Others seemed right for someone with her tastes trying to act... some would say normal...

"Here it is... Full of everything... Even things perfect for you! Some of the girls I went out with, come here too! They they buy stuff you wouldn't even dare to look at tho!" he smiled gently... "Umm... Want me to enter or wait outside...?" he asked softly...

 

[papillon24]

"I'd feel better if you came in with me, come on."

she entered the store. All sorts of dresses filled the racks. she avaided anything pink or pastel. she headed back to to farthest racks where theblack dresses hung andgrabbed a few in her size.

"Lets getthis over with. I hate the mall."

She went to the dressing room and began trying ona dress.

She came out in one with a corset top and flowy bottem.

"Whatcha think Rick?"

 

[SSJSonGoku]

"I'd feel better if you came in with me, come on."

He nodded to her... "As you wish! I'm at your service!" he said sticking his tongue out and smiling...

He entered with her... and they went to part of the store where her kind of clothes would be... Black or dark ones of course...

"Lets getthis over with. I hate the mall."

"Don't be so negative!" he winked at her...

Rick waited patiently in front of the dressing room as she entered the tried one of the dresses she had picked up... 'I wonder how she'll look like that... I can't wait to see...' he thought... And then he saw that the curtain wasn't closed completely... 'Oh she didn't notice... Unless she did it on purpose... But knowing her... she wouldn't' he was about to tell her but decided against it... not wanting her to consider him a pervert... trying to peek on her... So he looked the other way... tho feeling a strong urge to see her body...

"Whatcha think Rick?"

After a while she came out... and Rick looked at her from head to toe... scanning every inch of her... thinking carefully... surprised at how beautiful she looked dressed like that... Almost wishing she'd wear these kind of clothes often... "It suits you very well... You look great!" he commented smiling gently... "But before you decide... you better try the other dresses too..." he added...

 

[papillon24]

...."But before you decide... you better try the other dresses too..."

"I know that, I just want to get this over with. I'm glad you like this one."

She entered the room and filed thought the stack of dresses fining the purple one she had likes. It was a orset stlye dress with lacing up the back and a bit of silver along the trim. she took a look before stepping out of the dressing room.

"I'm not sure about this one. It's really different."

 

[SSJSonGoku]

"As I said... calm down... And yes I like it!" answered softly Rick... as she entered inside the room again...

He was waiting outside the changing room, looking around, when he noticed someone he knew entering the store, a girl he had dated recently... She was one of those girls that, well... as Mara had said, had tried to stop him from hanging out with Mara, because she considered his best friend, to be strange... That's why Rick had stopped dating her... He tried to act as if he hadn't seen her... but checking from the corner of his eyes he noticed her walking towards him...

At that same moment Mara came out... wearing the purple dress...

"I'm not sure about this one. It's really different. said Mara...

"Mmm not bad... Yes it's different, but it's beautiful also... I'll choose the best after you have tried all of them... So far, tho, both are very good..." answered Rick, trying to act as normal as possible... trying to act as if nothing was... as if he didn't knew that Amanda was getting closer...