The Princess and the Plague (Life after Camp Kumoni) By Anistasia Allread Edited by none other than Nick B “I'm sorry, Samantha,” Jake squeaked loud enough for those nearby to hear. Tricia released his privates. “Now let us finish our lunch in peace.”

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“Should I know all four of you, or just one or two of you?” Erika asked as she quickly stroked her eye lashes with mascara.

Samantha paced creating a history. “You just moved here two weeks ago. Our mothers are friends so that is how we know each other.”

“How do I know you two?” Tricia inquired as she put on the finishing touches to her hair.

“Let’s keep that one simple. We met at camp,” Samantha thought aloud.

“What about Krystal and Victoria?” Erika asked. “Should I know them?”

“Yes,” Samantha decided. “We all need to know one another. It would be too hard to try and play just meeting one another when we already have chemistry and can sometimes finish one another’s sentences. If someone asks us how we know one another, we just say that were old friends, leave it vague.”

“It’s not as if they need to know all of our intimate history,” Tricia agreed.

“Are you almost done?” Samantha asked.

“I think so. How do I look?” Erika stood before them.

Samantha looked her up and down, “Dressed to make a good first impression, but not looking like you’re trying to. Not covering everything up, all insecure, but not looking like a slut. Conservative, but with a bit of fun. I think you look great. What do you think, Tricia?”

Tricia winked at Erika. “I always think she looks great. Today however, you look stunning.”

“How do you feel?” Samantha asked.

“Nervous,” Erika admitted.

“Expected,” Samantha nodded. “Comfortable?”

“Yes.” Erika smiled.

“Comfort is good, but comfort and fashionable is even better.” She looked to Tricia. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous.”

“Shall we go and get this over with?” Samantha smiled at them.

“You know if this doesn’t work, I’ll have to transfer to a different school if not a different zip code,” Erika stated.

“If this doesn’t work out, we’ll all have to transfer to a different school.”

“Kind of like Ben Franklin’s quote,” said Erika picking up her backpack. “If we don’t hang together, we will surely hang separately.”

Tricia and Samantha nodded agreement on that.

“Okay, Leeza,” Tricia announced as they descended the stairs, “We’re ready.”

“It’s only four blocks,” Samantha reminded.

“Leeza wants to drop us off,” Tricia stated.

A few short moments later, the three girls found themselves standing on the curb in front of the school.

“Welcome to George Washington High, the home of the Warthogs,” Samantha introduced to Tricia.

“The Warthogs?”

“They’re vicious creatures,” Samantha explained. “The warthog sows are a lot like Rachel; they fiercely protect their own.”

“Washington Warthogs.” Tricia shook her head.

“If that is too horrible of a picture,” Erika smiled. “Picture Poomba from Lion King.”

“Great that is so much better; a gaseous, belching ugly creature surrounded by flies.”

“Hakuna matata.” Samantha giggled.

She guided them into the building, several people greeting her with warm hellos and smiling a greeting at the two new students.

“Who do you have here, Samantha?” a lady behind the desk with glasses inquired.

“New students. This is Tricia Patton, and this is Erika Summers. Can you get them registered?”

The woman gestured. “Sure, they can join the others.”

Behind them were a line of students sitting along the wall. Erika smiled at Krystal as her friend looked up from some paperwork and smiled at her.

“Do any of you have your transcripts?” the woman asked.

Both Erika and Tricia shook their heads ‘no’.

“Take these forms and fill them out. We’ll process you as soon as we can.” She handed them each a clipboard of forms and pens. “Thank you, Samantha, you may go.”

“Um,” Samantha leaned closer to the woman. “Is there any way you can arrange their schedules to correlate with mine?”

“We’re not supposed to do that kind of thing, you know that Samantha.” She leaned towards Samantha and whispered. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“I’ll come back after first period and check on you,” Samantha told the girls then left.

“You look good.” Krystal greeted Erika.

“So, do you.” Erika returned. “I got an email from Rachel the other day, she was asking about you.”

“I got one too.” Krystal nodded.

–o0o–

Erika received her class schedule and scanned it. She patiently allowed the front desk lady to walk her through the printed map showing her where her classes were in relation to where the office was. She then stepped out of the office and waited for Tricia to go through the same process.

The door opened and Tricia emerged, “Oh my God, that was a process.”

“What does your schedule look like?” Erika asked.

Tricia pulled it out and put it up against Erika’s for comparison.

Erika nodded. “Three classes and lunch.”

“Three out of seven isn’t bad,” Tricia sighed, finding it a bit of a disappointment.

Erika tried to look on the bright side of things. “We have home room together.”

“Second period is about to start isn’t it?”

“Yes, second period is home room, so we can go together.”

“Didn’t Samantha want us to wait for her?” Tricia asked. “Besides, aren’t you new here?”

“You’re right. Let’s just wait off over here.” Erika guided Tricia off to the side out of view of the office staff.

Tricia studied the map of the school, trying to figure out where each of her classes would be and at what times. The bell rang announcing the end of first period. Doors to the classrooms burst open as the corridors became clogged with shouts of greetings, shuffling of feet and the open and closing of lockers.

“Are you both registered?” Samantha asked.

“So far,” Erika nodded. “They still want to see my transcripts so that they can make any adjustments. I just hope Victoria can come through with a copy of them.”

“Here she comes,” Tricia warned.

“Hey girls.” Victoria greeted, “Did you get registered?”

“We need you to copy my transcripts.” Erika informed.

“I’ll see what I can do. Where are you heading off to now?”

Erika raised her eyebrows. “Tricia and I have homeroom together.”

“Which subject?” Samantha asked.

“Language Arts.”

“Me too. Who with?”

“Mrs. Anderson.”

“Awesome, so do I.” Samantha almost screeched with excitement.

A girl approached. “Samantha, who are your friends?” she asked.

Erika composed her face. This was going to be the first test of how well she could pull off not knowing anyone here. Melinda the dark-haired beauty was one of the popular cheerleaders of the school. Although she was never directly involved in any of the pranks played on Eric, she never did anything to stop them either.

“Melinda, this is Tricia, and this is Erika.”

“Welcome to George Washington High,” Melinda smiled.

Tricia and Erika thanked her.

Melinda’s skin reflected the hours she had spent bathing in the sun over the summer. Her ebony hair, so dark that it glowed blue in the sun, set off her amazing blue eyes. If Samantha was yin, Melinda was yang.

“You know, we could use some more girls on the cheer squad, I’d love to see you at try outs.”

Erika blushed. Not only had Melinda not recognized her as Eric, she was inviting her to try out for the cheer squad.

“I’m not really very coordinated,” Erika offered.

“We could always use some girls for the Rally squad too.” Melinda replied. “I should get to class. It was nice meeting you, see you around.” Melinda waved as she walked off, her hair a dark curtain of thick tresses that hung past her butt.

“She seems nice,” Tricia offered looking at the others gathered.

Samantha nodded. “She’s okay. She is a bit strait laced, but okay.”

“She’s not one of the people who tortured you know who,” Erika shrugged.

“You are working in the office this period?” Samantha asked Victoria.

“Yep. I have to start sorting through all of your scribbles and enter them into the computer.”

“See you later.” Samantha smiled. “We should be going too.”

The girls walked down the shiny linoleum hall, heads of classmates turning to check out the new students. Mrs. Anderson’s class was already filling with anxious students. Erika followed Samantha’s example and took one of the remaining seats towards the back.

She recognized most of the students in the class. Some had changed quite a bit. One boy had put on close to six inches of height over the summer, one girl lightened her hair another cut her once long hair into a bob. The cut fit her very well, and she was aglow with the positive attention.

“Well, hello.” A guy greeted, sitting himself backwards in the chair directly in front of her. “You must be new here.”

Erika nearly flinched back. She could feel a chill wash over her as she must have turned white in terror. Sitting in front of her grinning at her was Jake from the football team. She didn’t recognize him as one of the guys who duct taped Eric to the flagpole but he was one of the football jocks. He had said something to her, but it wasn’t snide or rude. She should be speaking.

“Um, what was that?” she asked.

“You’re new, aren’t you? I’m Jake. I play half back on the football team.”

What did this slime ball want? She knew that he was on the football team, well, Eric did. Erika was supposed to be impressed, or was she?

“Yes, I just transferred in.” She looked away from the arrogant jerk and tried to catch Tricia’s attention.

“Where from?” Jake pressed.

Erika half paid attention. “Back East.” How was she to get rid of this guy talking to her?

“Doing anything this Friday?” Jake persisted.

She tried to look uninterested. “I don’t know, maybe.”

Jake grinned. “We have our first game on Friday. Would you like to come and see the Warthogs win?”

Erika tried one of the lamest excuses she had ever heard. “I think I’m washing my hair that night.”

The bell rang and Mrs. Anderson walked into the class, “Good morning, I’m Mrs. Anderson and this is Language Arts. If you find that you are in the wrong class, I suggest that you save what little of your pride you have left and leave now. If you are new and are not in my book of doom yet, please come up with your schedule so that I might enter you thusly.

Tricia and Erika joined a boy at Mrs. Anderson’s desk with their schedules. She looked at each one then entered their names down in her laptop. She smiled at each of them as they were dismissed.

Erika felt eyes following her everywhere she went. It was a bit unnerving. She had to remind herself that she was not ‘The Plague’ and so far, no one seemed any the wiser. She took her seat as Jake ogled her. Samantha winked at her, a knowing, secretive wink. Erika rolled her eyes back at her.

The next few classes went much the same way. Most of the time classmates just stared at the new student; guys studied her like a piece of meat, while girls considered her either an ally or an enemy. She kept telling herself that at least they weren’t looking at her as ‘The Plague’.

Krystal was in her class just before lunch. They found seats one in front of the other up against one wall. They quickly found that their location was great for passing notes unnoticed.

“So how is the food at this place?” Krystal asked after the bell rang for them to go to lunch.

Erika looked around to see if anyone was close by to pay attention to their conversation. No one seemed to be noticing. “It’s not bad. They have a salad bar, but it’s pretty basic.”

“That sounds promising. Where are we meeting the others?”

Erika stopped in her tracks. “I’m not sure.” ‘He’ had never eaten lunch in the commons. “I guess we’ll have to find out together.”

The two girls put their books in their lockers and made their way to the cafeteria/commons. Students had already arrived and were already startling to settle in their cliques.

“Over there.” Erika pointed to a table where Samantha was waving to them.

The two made their way through the crowd. Erika felt very self-conscious as many of the eyes in the area were watching her. The last time she had this many people watching her was right before a prank had been pulled on 'The Plague'. Usually that ended up with Eric sprawled across the ground, food covering his face, arms and chest, all the while people were laughing and pointing.

Erika had the strongest desire to duck her head and turn to see if anyone was attempting to do something similar.

“So how were your classes so far?” Samantha inquired. She looked at Erika, “Do you think anyone suspects?”

Erika shook her head, “Not so far as I know. I hope not. I keep thinking that people see right through this, but so far, no one has said or even whispered anything.”

“How do you like our school, Krystal?” Samantha asked.

“So far, it's good, but I haven't seen or experienced too much other than the first half of the first day. It's kind of like any other school, I guess.”

The girls each got a salad and some fruit as well as some tea before returning to their table. Victoria and Tricia joined them with their own lunches.

“It almost seems like we are back at camp.” Victoria observed.

“I miss Dani,” Krystal sighed. “She was fun to have around.”

“Yo, Samantha!” a voice broke into their lunch. “You've got check this out. Tyler sent it to me.” He held up his cell phone. “The Plague got pushed into the fountain at the mall the other day. No wonder no one has seen him today,” he chuckled.

“That is so old news, Greg.” Samantha pushed the phone away. “You guys really should leave the poor guy alone.”

“But he's 'The Plague', Samantha.” he was confused.

“Whatever, get that out of here.” Samantha turned away from him.

“Victoria, have you seen this yet? It's hilarious,” he went on.

Victoria darted a look over at Erika then shook her head. “I've no interest in it.”

“Have you told the new girls about him?” he asked.

“No, nor do we care too,” Samantha scolded. “Let us eat our lunch, please.”

Greg looked at Tricia, Krystal and Erika, “There is this creepy little guy that goes here...”

“I said leave, Greg!” Samantha demanded.

“I'm trying to do my duty to the new girls,” Greg held his hands up in defense. “Someone needs to warn them to stay clear of 'The Plague'.”

“Consider it done,” Tricia snarled back.

“Whoa, testy.” Greg took a step back.

“Let me remind you, Greg, that 'The Pla–that Eric was my sister's friend,” Samantha snarled.

“No wonder she killed herself,” Greg muttered under his breath so that Samantha couldn't hear him.

Tricia spun around in her seat and grabbed the guy's balls in her hand and squeezed. Then raised her voice for those around her to hear, “You couldn't get laid in a blind whore house, you tiny excuse for a man.”

Samantha looked up startled and surprised. Others in the commons stopped what they were doing and looked with chagrin at the jock being put in his place.

“Apologize to Samantha,” Tricia smiled venomously.

Greg’s face, screwed in pain, blanched.

“What did he say?” Samantha whispered harshly.

“You don't want to know,” Tricia told her calmly, the turned to Greg and added some more pressure to the man's genitals, “Apologize!”

“I'm sorry,” Greg mumbled.

Tricia added some more pressure. “Try again.”

“I'm sorry, Samantha,” Greg squeaked loud enough for those nearby to hear.

Tricia released his privates. “Now let us finish our lunch in peace.”

Greg spun and limped out of the commons; his face as red as a tomato.

“What did he say?” Samantha asked once again once people began talking about the spectacle and laughing at Greg as he left the area.

“It was something bad about Summer,” Erika told her, “You really don't want to know.”

“So, what classes does everyone have next?” Victoria asked changing the subject.

The talk for the next two classes was of the spectacle that happened at lunch. Curious people overcame their wariness of new students and openly asked Erika and Tricia about the incident. By the end of school, it was rumored that Greg had gone home to ice his privates.

“Were you able to get into my transcripts?” Erika asked Victoria after school had let out.

“Not today. They kept me busy and were watching everything I was doing.” Victoria apologized. “I'll try again tomorrow.”

The girls made their way back to Tricia's house.

“How was your day as Erika?” Leeza greeted, “Anyone make a connection?”

“Not yet,” Erika smiled. She turned to Tricia. “Can I use your shower?”

“Go ahead.”

Erika grabbed her 'boy' clothes and went into the bathroom where she stripped out of Erika and hopped into the shower. She scrubbed her face and doused her hair before toweling off and donning Eric's apparel.

Samantha and Eric walked back to his house talking of their first day.

“What did Greg say about Summer?” She pleaded.

“He said that Summer's association with 'the plague' was what drove her to kill herself.”

Samantha bit her lip and was quiet for a while. “We both know that isn't true.” She looked to Eric to make sure that he didn't feel that way.

“I know.” he nodded with a bit of remorse.

They stopped at his driveway, “See you tomorrow, same time?” she asked.

Eric nodded. He watched as Samantha turned and walked off before entering his house.

His mother tried to be cheery and hoped for good news. “Good afternoon, Eric, how was your first day at school?”

Eric shrugged, “It was alright, I guess.” He adjusted his back pack and trudged upstairs to his room and shut the door.

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To be continued…