Charlotte Buchanan's Story

"I'm telling you now Lottie...this is racist and you and I both know that I don't even use that term often," one Alexandra Boutros stated as she leaned against the lockers, arms folded over her chest. Though the bell to dismiss the students of Constance Billard had already rung, and most girls usually were out of the hallways and on their way to shopping excursions and spa days, they were a bit more crowded than usual today. Alex thought it had more to do with the joint SGA meeting that both St. Jude's boys and Constance's girls were allowed to attend. Granted, Alex also thought that more people were going to the meeting just to complain or flirt, which was a complete waste of her time since she didn't need extra bodies to complain today. She could do that on her own just fine, thank you. But, like with all meetings, everyone was welcomed. Which meant Alexandra had to bite her tongue on the matter...even though they all knew she didn't do so for long. "Seriously," she continued towards the blonde in question. "The one time we have a scheduled trip to a country whose history comprises of a mass of non-white bodies and that is the location we choose to abstain from for safety precautions? Living in New York is a safety hazard. You don't see people lining up to tell everyone to not let their kids grow up here." Alexandra huffed out a frustrated breath. Lottie looked through her locker for the books she needed and her notebook with all of her student council notes. She listened to Alex as she ranted only chuckling through the whole monolog of her best friend. She turned towards her girl with her finger pointed and a smug smirk on her face. "Wrong. My mama and daddy didn't want me growin' up here. That's why they waited. But, do go on. I'm listening." She knew that Alex would be pissed once finding out about the senior trip being moved to another location and frankly, so was Lottie. New Zealand, Berlin, she been to both, and her mother's from France for Christ's sake. She was looking forward to a more unique trip. One with culture, history, art, everything she was interested in learning about. Not to mention, it would look fantastic on international law resumes later in life.

The second that she and Lottie had received the notification that the location for their senior trip had been shot down, Alexandra had been livid enough that she had been relatively silent. She could easily get her grandfather to send her to Egypt on his dime and for her own leisure. Hell, she could pay for it on her own, if she so chose to. But the point was that the option to go with her class had been astounding and the general feedback on the Twitter polls she had set up with their senior classes on the SGA page had been relatively positive. A few people had voiced safety concerns, but also interest. Captivation. Excitement. And Alexandra had shared all of that. And now their options were New Zealand, Paris, and Berlin? "And who the fuck needs to go to Berlin to know its history of practically killing an entire group of people because of anti-Semitic and pro-Aryan predilections?"

"Language, Miss Boutros," a passing professor, Sister Atkins, reprimanded at Alexandra's much louder exclamation of anger. Alex gave the sharpest of eye rolls to Charlotte before turning back to smile sweetly at the older women. "My apologies, Sister Atkins." Considering Constance's longstanding ties with the Catholic church - and their founding under the religion - it wasn't uncommon for Sister Atkins to be on campus and teach one of the many religious courses Constance had to offer as electives. "Yes, Alexandra. Watch your mouth." Once the older woman was done staring her down with iciness, Alex whirled back on the class president, hissing, "I would've understood Athens or even Rome. Could've sucked it up for London, if they really wanted to be boring. But Berlin, really? I'm more interested in the catacombs of Paris than Berlin!" She closed her locker door and zipped up her bag holding her books and notes before turning her glance to her best friend. "The catacombs are pretty fantastic like with most things from and in France. But, Berlin is a lot more interesting than you think. It has a history while covered in tragedy, sure, but, it also is the home of art, the Berlin Wall, not to mention crafts German beers. I get where you are comin' from, mon amie, (my friend)" She wasn't trying to sway Alex's opinion of Berlin, frankly Lottie wouldn't want to go there either if she had her heart set on going to Eygpt. She was just trying to get her friend to look at the bright side of the situation. "And as bummed as we are. Parents are the ones that pay the big bucks to both schools. 'Sides either way, it'll be a fun trip no matter where we go because at the end of the day. I, the best Southern Belle this darn city has ever seen, is goin' with ya." She exclaimed with an exaggerated Southern accent.

Alexandra rolled her eyes, for show, at Charlotte's play on her own accent, but also didn't fight the small smile that formed on her face. "You're just lucky I love you, Lottie bear," she grumbled playfully and linked arms with the blonde. Lottie puckered her lips for a second as she linked arms with Alex and the pair started walking towards the exit. Under most circumstances, and especially since the semester began, Alex could be found with Sydney and Katherine. Since she and Sydney had begun the task of rebuilding their relationship, and make no mistake - Kat played a huge part in it - Alex found herself spending a lot more time than usual with the duo. But regardless of that growing relationship, and being known as a trio, she couldn't help but feel more relieved that Charlotte was going on the trip with her than she would let on. All of the seniors were usually supposed to go, but the comfort of having her best friend - the person who had been there for her through all of the mess the Upper East Side had brought into Alex's life - was more than enough reason for her to want to go on the trip. "I guess, we should start heading over. I'd hate to leave my people bereft of my magnanimous presence for much longer," Alex exclaimed dramatically and pulled Charlotte along. Lottie scoffed. "Wow, magnanimous. Someone's been lookin' at a dictionary lately."

Alex cast the blonde a sidelong glance before smirking wickedly, adding in jest, "And I mean, I guess you're pretty important too." Lottie turned her glare to the girl before rolling her eyes and snickering. "Yea, as class president, I would say I'm kind of important. Not as important as you, of course, but important." The pair made their way to the exit with their shoes clicking against the floor. Before they were able to walk out the doors of their school, Natalie, for the school newspaper lightly pulled Lottie’s free arm. She knew what she was going to be asked sooner or later but she didn’t know it would be this quickly. Natalie wasn’t even a senior and she already knew. "So, Buchanan, what are we going to do about the senior trip since Egypt was canceled? Care to make a comment?" Lottie didn’t even hesitate with her answer, knowing that she would have to answer this a lot more than this one time. "We’re having a meeting right now about a new location. It’s between three; Paris, Berlin, and New Zealand. We should know for sure within the next few hours.” She smiled towards the small brunette that Charlotte seemed to tower over before looking back to Alex and then back at the reporter. "Now, we really should get going. I’ll make sure to get one of the senior reporters to fill you in as soon as I can. Sound good?” Natalie finished writing down what the class president said before nodding. “Sounds good.”

"Great. Fantastic.” Without another word, Lottie pushed one of the doors open. She sighed. "Not even a week and all I’m getting asked is; “Why’d the change it?”, “Where are we going now?”, “We better be having a senior trip, Buchanan.” Not to mention, now my sister won’t leave me alone about it like it was my choice or somethin’. And all I can say is ‘We’re havin’ a meeting.” When I really wanna say, “Calm down, leave me alone, why don’t ya’ll ask your parents who’s idea it was.”

"I'd say it," Alex admitted, unrepentant, and pushed the other door open while following Charlotte's lead. All she had done in lieu of Natalie's questioning was eye the girl with a raised eyebrow, but allowed Charlotte to handle the situation. It was probably for the best that Natalia had approached Lottie only about it, in the first place. Alex had less of a filter and less patience. She grinned and added, "Besides, you know how much I love sassy Lottie. Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one capable of being a hothead in this relationship."

The pair continued down the front steps leading away from Constance Billard, and Alexandra waved to a few classmates who were standing around still conversing lightly among themselves or waiting for rides home. "On another and funner note, did you figure out what you're gonna dress up as for my birthday?" Alex after a few moments, whipping her phone out of her bag, which hung on the arm currently not connected with Charlotte's. Most of the time, Alex made it a priority to base her birthday, since it fell on Halloween, on varying themes. She had done a Mafia themed party two years ago which a few classmates had hailed as one of the best parties ever, and last year she had done a Naughty Sixteen for her sweet sixteen. It was definitely a salacious take on the traditional celebrations that followed that specific year. Regardless, every year, everyone had to dress up with costumes that fit her theme and for the most part, she could say that she hadn't yet been disappointed by the people she expected to show out. She made sure that no one could actually trump her, since that would be a huge insult, but it was always a really fun turnout. This year, she had decided on simply holding true to the grandeur of Halloween. Which was why it was important for her to hold the event at her Long Island estate as opposed to in the city. It was a larger layout and more opportunities to, well, scare people.

Lottie took a deep breath before shaking her head. "I was thinking about an angel or somethin'. I don't know. We both know I'm not that great at costume ideas. Not to mention I don't have the body, size, or the height to be a 'sexy nurse' or a 'sexy... anything', in all honesty. So, I was hoping that you, my best friend and the creative one of the two of us could help me. And when I say help I do not mean just throw some lingerie at me saying 'Lottie Bear, I think you'd look sexy in this.' Because, frankly I'm not dressin' like a prostitute or Regina from Mean Girls." She knew her friend always meant well but, while Charlotte was okay with posing for magazines in swimsuits and such, being surrounded by her classmates with what she felt like everyone staring at her, judging her for 'attempting' to dress sexy for a size 12. The pair were about to walk across the street but Lottie being the mom made Alex stop in order to make sure they weren't going to get ran over by a Bentley or something flying down the street. "With you helping me, I have guidelines and don't roll your eyes," She knew Alex was going to make a face at her list of 'guidelines'. "My three Bs have to be covered; butt, boobs, and belly, No leather, and no devils." She was religious so nuns, devils, or Eve were always dealbreakers for her. Charlotte pushed the door to the boys' school open. She smiled at a few of the guys she knew and waved before turning to Alex. "What are you thinkin' for your costume since I obviously can't look better than the birthday girl, not that I ever could."

"As if you don't walk around giving these St. Jude boys hard-ons because you've tapped into their secret sexy librarian kink," Alexandra joked, though she was far more serious than her best friend seemed willing to believe her to be. Lottie covered her mouth so the laugh that was coming out wouldn't be too loud. She shook her head. "I do not! And it's hilarious how wrong you are." Sure, Lottie knew she wasn't completely unattractive but, she didn't feel like she this walking boner magnet or anything.

As much as Alex was comfortable with showing off her body (and Alex honestly thought she had the right to considering the fact that for all of her deep love for anything bread-like and sweet, her abdomen remained relatively tight from a very active childhood), Alex didn't necessarily think that sexy meant less clothing. It certainly helped emphasize one's sex appeal, that much she was sure of. At the same time, she didn't think Charlotte knew how hot she actually was beneath the Constance uniform or the jeans she typically wore. "And I'm not saying to show up to my party like you're a Victoria's Secret angel on the catwalk, but I will definitely feel some type of way if you come in there dressed in what everyone is gonna expect you to show up as. Like, we actually might have to fight if you try me." Lottie rolled her eyes with a shake of her head. This is where Alex and Charlotte began to differentiate from one another. And if Lottie thought for a second that her telling Alex to not make a face was going to make her not make a face, she obviously didn't know her well enough and Alex made a point in giving the much taller blonde the most unimpressed look she could muster. Lottie looked down at the face Alex made towards her and stopped walking in the middle of the hall leading towards the library. "What? What's that look for?"

"Okay, one, I reject these stipulations only because when have I ever actually asked for your boobs and your ass to be out? And don't say cleavage because cleavage and wearing your ta-tas out like you're at Mardi Gras are two very different things. And I would like to think that I have a bit more class than that." Alex ignored the people around them, distractedly giving Charlotte a very pointed look. Lottie cleared her throat. She tried really hard not to let the looks bug her but, she wasn't one for being the center of attention unless it was when she had to be 'Madam President'. "Alex, I have 38Ds, I have cleavage and someone's endin' up with a black eye." The Southern girl kept her voice down as she interjected. The last thing she wanted was some group of guys knowing exactly what size bra she was. They wanted to know that bad, they could go online but she wasn't going to just shout it from the rooftops. Alex sighed before continuing, "I just want you to break out of your comfort zone this year. This is literally your last year to do so before you absolutely abandon me to wolves of the Upper East Side to go off with the other geniuses of the world. I want you to have fun and live, I mean really live. And the first rule of truly living is to do the thing you're most terrified of, or something like that." Lottie snorted as she was about to slide in a smart comment but, Alex beat her to the punch when she pointed a finger at the blonde and added, "And don't judge me on quoting The Vampire Diaries cuz you know that was during my weaker days." Alex frowned at the memory, putting on the show of shuddering. Considering where the show went after that particular moment, particularly when the one couple she didn't want to happen actually happened, she had stopped watching it. It didn't hurt, though, that every now and then, the show had a quote that she thought was applicable to her life. And it definitely fit with Lottie and trying to get the girl to really let loose and enjoy their final year in high school.

"But if you must know, I've been working on two different costumes. The second one's still not really ready, which is fine since I'm leaning towards the first, which is Queen Akasha from Queen of the Damned. It's the last time I probably get to have this much fun with this lot. Might as well show out." She said the last part on a wink as they neared the conference room. Lottie nudged her friend. "Unbelievable, here you come up with somethin' from a movie most people have never seen and I'm over her just thinking a costume that would look good on me." Charlotte ended their conversation there as the pair made their way to the back of the library. The blonde released Alex as she walked in to see Cliff, Vincent, and to her surprise, Brent Barclay, the single biggest pain in her ass. She smiled and waved towards the guys she could actually stand before making a sly remark towards the 'felon in waiting' as she called him. She knew he was going to start with her and if there was something she would never admit, it was she just loved beating him to the punch. "Wow, Barclay. You're at something for the school where you can't make money? I'm impressed." She didn't even make contact with him, she kept her eyes forward as she walked to take one of the seats in the front of the room, facing everyone else. She grabbed her Mac out of her PINK backpack along with her notebook for meetings, and her glasses.