Poor Little Rich Girl

[elizabethlivingsto]

He was joking...right? Liz looked up at the building before her and just..stared at it in absolute disgust. What the HELL had he been thinking, sending her to this...rubbish bin of...American trash? The ONLY positive point of going here..and it was a very dim point overall was the fact that there was some money around. New money mind you, movie star families and the like. NOTHING like the proper people that she had left behind in London. Nine months...if she could just survive the next nine months, just till her 18th...then she could bail on this place. She only had to stay with Spencer until her trust and inheritance was fully opened to her on her birthday.

"Go on.." Spoke a voice, Spencer, who stood at her side, holding an unbrella over her head.

"I will pay you a thousand pounds.."

"No Elizabeth..now go.."

"No.."

"Now.." He pointed inside. he had come in earlier in the week and registered her, knowing that her transcripts and records from the English Winterhaven Prep school would take an extra day or two.

"Can't believe you are making me do this.." Liz stomped her heeled foot once.

"Your mother would have.." he was cut off.

"My mother would have let me go back to London for school and you know it!" she protested angerily, taking her leather bag from him and practically yanking her class schedule and locker information out of his hand.

"I will send a car for you after school." Spencer noted as she turned once more to look at the doors.

"Bloody right you will..I will NOT walk in the rain.." She growled, stomping up the last few steps and pulled the doors open hard. With a scowl on her pretty features, Liz looked at the card in her hand. This..sucked...hard. Public school. WHY!?

Heads turned in her direction, and why wouldn't they? She was gorgeous and she knew it. She was dressed in a sleeveless Armani shift dress that brushed a few inches above her knees. It hugged her curves without being skanky..which, she noted as she looked around, was a huge problem here. her long legs ended in a pair of strappy Prada heels. It was clear that she was new. "Twenty for the first one to show me where this locker is." She said, pulling a twenty dollar bill out of her purse and flashing it.

[felipe]

All heads turned towards the main entrance when the sound of heels clicking against the stone floor rang out and above the low rumble of ambient chatter. Felipe was one of those who turned and he blinked when he saw the... well, vision was the only word that came to mind. He grinned when he heard the girl's opening gambit. Man, she was going to give Reese a run for her money.

He walked over to place himself before her, amusement glinting in his dark eyes. If this one was out to make new friends she'd started off pretty badly already. "While I don't appear to be about to get stampeded in the rush for your money I will show you where your locker is located and because I am a nice guy you can keep your $20 and use it towards buying yourself a nicer attitude."

He threw her a grin. "Welcome to Gould," he added. "... although officially I belong to the other school. Silver." He peered at the slip of peper she held. "This way, your majesty," he added and he set off towards the locker in question.

He assumed she followed in his wake and didn't bother to check back to make sure. He was well sure to prima donnas and this one was no different to Reese. Ok, the clothes - and shoes - varied but the look on her face.... no, that was identical.

"I am guessing this is your first day," he said as he pulled up at her locker. "This is it." Felipe tapped the metal door.

[elizabethlivingsto]

It only took a moment for someont to actually be smart enough to take her offer. Green eyes slid up and down the figure that walked over and stood before her. An amused smile curled the corners of her lips as he spoke. The fact that this guy offered to help her without taking the money was curious.

His lovely little zinger about her attitude brought a less amused to her mouth. "Trust me...that bill isn't even going to make any difference, and your atitude would match mine if you were forced to be here against your will." She pointed out coolly.

"Silver and Gould...really.." She couldn't help the unladylike snort that came forth. "Two schools shoved into one building? What's wrong..the area too poor to build you your own building?" She asked, letting him take a look at her paper. He turned and satarted walking without saying anything past calling her Magesty. That..she liked. Wrong title, that belonged to the Good Queen herself, but it was still lovely.

Liz followed him easily, heels clicking on the floor rythmically. "Right." She answered. "First day.." There was a sigh from the girl, one that suggested defeat. She hated it but she had to be here, there was no choice. Twisting the dial to her locker, Liz looked over at him for a moment. "You have a name luv?" She asked, frowning as the locker seemed to stick, refusing to open.

[felipe]

Felipe threw the girl a glance back over his shoulder when she asked about the other school. Oh, she was going to love this! "No... not too poor. Apparently there was a rat infestation at silver and I haven't actually even seen the place yet. I came right here when I arrived. I have been told the rats are as large as chihuahuas." He'd been told nothing of the sort but teasing her was great fun!

She confirmed it was her first day here at Gould... Felipe had already guessed that though. An ego of her size would have been noticed way before now. He leaned back against the neighbouring locker as she went to open the door of hers.

And failed.

Felipe folded his arms, the hint of a grin settling across his face. The locker doors were a pain in the ass at times but helping her too quickly would have taken all the fun out of it.

Finally he relented and without moving from his backards sprawl his right hand shot out sideways, fist clenched. The edge of his hand slammed against the locker door, probably scaring the poor girl witless as it narrowly missed the side of her head. The door surged open and rocked back onto its hinges.

"Felipe," he told her. "Felipe Luis Vila Nova... and other than Your Highness what do people call you?"

He refused to rub his stinging hand out of sheer stubborn pride.

[elizabethlivingsto]

Liz literally wanted to take her head and bang it into the metal locker foor several times over. This place was already working her last nerve, chewing on it like a little annoying dog. She wanted to go home..back to London, back to Winterhaven. They would have been gearing up for the Seasons Ball, A lovely dance at the end of winter, everything decked out in whites and golds. Gods, she already missed everything. This place..this school, it was home now. The weather was alright. London was quite often overcast and foggy.

She missed her parents most of all. The sound of her father's voice, the smell of his office, the taste of his whiskey poured from crystal decanters. The smell of her mother's perfume as it trailed down the halls after her, the presents, tokens given to her for grades she manipulated from her teachers. She missed the soft, ridiculous thick feather bed in her old room, so deep it was like sleeping in clouds. It wasn't like she couldn't just buy what she wanted for this house, it was just..this house..this new place..it was not home. Maybe she'd indulge in some retail therapy after school.

Green eyes slid over to those of her escort for amoment, full lips falling open in a bit of shock. "Rats?" She asked, just the smallest shudder of disgust running through her. "Oh god..where did he put me? This is like the 9th circle of hell." She muttered. The guy looked almost amused at the fact that this locker thought it was smarter then she was. Liz pulled from the locker for a moment to get into her bag for a nail file. Maybe she could slide it up the opening and pop the sticky spot? It worked well enough for dorm rooms and teachers offices..

WHAM! A loud metallic clang just inches from her ear startled her, making her jump. The door swung open, Liz looking over at him for a moment, a tiny bit of gratefulness in her deep green eyes. "Thanks.." She spoke, the word falling from her lips in an almost unfamiliar tumble. It was not a word that she used too often. Please was another word that rarely graced her lips, at least with non-adults.Lizbeth had impeccable manners...when she chose to use them..usually to her advantage.

Pulling her bag in front of her, Liz opened it. Taking out a few new notebooks and a small bag that had pens and pencils, Liz neatly set them in the locker. Spencer had taken care of her books already, and they were lined up on the small shelf. A small magnetic mirror was next out of the bag, taking a position on the inside of the door, where a few framed pictures, also magnetic were put up. Most of them contained the Brit in some manner, a few small group shots of friends, one with her clad in a long white gown for her Debut party the summer previous. There was another of her, with an older, well dressed couple, an actual, honest and warm smile on Liz's mouth. Next to it was a portrait of just her parents, each dressed in elegant clothing, Marc in a sharp tux, Rachel in a long dark burgundy gown, her hair piled up upon the top of her head, her family jewels nestled within the tresses. Liz had a partnering portrait, taken just last Christmas. She was seated upon a large, ornate four poster bed, a gown of dark blue silk upon her body, a layer of another blue chiffon covering her arms and torso before trailing along the back of the dress in a train. Her long dark hair was curled and pulled over one shoulder, glittering jewles in her ears and her personal matching tiara and necklace set resting on her head and throat.

Felipe gave his name, the words flowing off his mouth in a lovely accent. "I'm sure they call me a lot of things.." She replied, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "But my name is Elizabeth. I'll respond to LizBeth or Liz as well...my guardian calls me Lizzie..and if the man wasn't a foot into the grave already, I'd kill him."

Her eyes slid down him for a moment before settling on his hand, the one he had managed to open her locker with. "You gonna live?"

[felipe]

Felipe hadn't expected any gratitude... and it came as even more of a shock when the girl's thanks were given in a genuine manner. "De nada," he replied. "My pleasure." She was an enigma for sure.

He glanced at the photos she attached to the inside of her locker, once again taken aback at the vulnerability he saw in the majority of them. Gone was the haighty air and in its place he caught a glimpse of what lay behind the girl's tough exterior. She actually looked breath-taking in the one of her sitting on a large and ornate bed.

Her reply to his request for her name was heavily laced with humour and amusement. Another vast improvement from earlier. Maybe he'd even misunderstood her...

"Elizabeth. I like that," he stated. "I agree in that Lizzie doesn't suit you. It's far too immature and frivolous." He glanced down at his throbbing hand with a wry smile. "Yeah... I don't think anyone ever died from an over excess of self pride and a need to look macho," he answered, accompanied by a short laugh.

"So, Elizabeth. You are from England I think? Your accent... Its either English or Australian but I think I was right the first time. What brought you to California? And I don't mean the family jet or that sort of thing." He grinned down at her, unable to forego the wealthy taunts. It was clear to see she had a financially secure existence. Even Reese didn't go as far as Prada shoes. Not to school. That said, he felt sure that would change should these two ever meet!

"I have never been to England," he went on. "What I have seen on TV and in books makes it look a very pretty place."

[elizabethlivingsto]

The way Felipe's reponse rolled off his tongue made her wonder if English was his second language. His accent was lovely. She'd always had a thing for a good spanish accent, the french could kiss her perfect little ass.

She watched him look at the pictures for a moment, taking that time to make sure that she had everything out of her bag that she needed in the locker. Left in her bag was just her personal stuff, her cellphone, wallet, small carry bag of toiletries and her small netbook. It wasn't her usual laptop but it was portable for school at least.

"I never cared to be called Lizzie...always made me think I was begin called lizard.." She shuddered visibly. "Actually, Narcissis didn't fare s hot at the end.." She smirked, starting to close the locker door. "Um..if I close this..is it going to open like it should..or should I make you follow me all day to ensure I can get into it?" She asked, a teasing glint to her green eyes.

"London, born and raised." She answered. "I traveled to Australia a few times, but good catch with the accent." she tossed her hair back over her shoulders, pausing as he asked what brought her here.

"London is lovely..I miss it greatly.." Liz spoke. She figured she might as well answer his previous question. "My guardian's firm is based here." Her voice was quiet. "My parents were killed two weeks ago in a plane crash..Spencer is our lawyer..they left me in his care till I turn 18 in December." She looked down at the ground. "Instead of letting me stay in England, and go back to my regular school, he forced me here." There was something in her voice, pain, anger, misery?

[felipe]

"No one could accuse you of resembling a lizard," he stated with a short laugh. "But as for your locker door... Perhaps I should follow you today. Ya know... in case I am needed. I can be your own private stalker. Everyone of merit should have a stalker, right?" He thre Elizabeth a wink as he spoke... Just in case she'd taken him seruiously enough to be poised on summoning the cops and having him issued with some sort of restraining order!

"Ah... I see," he murmured when she came to the part of her reason for being in California. It was impossible not to pick up on his grief. The loss of her parents was still far too recent for it to be anything else. And having been forced to uproot and leave your life behind had to be impossible to bear.

"I know I could offer you some sort of superficial condolences but I am sure you've already had your fill of those," Felipe said. "All I can do - and hope - is that you will find your place here and have at least a degree of fun. I would like to help you with that." He must be insane. No other reason for it. First Jessica and then Reese... and now Elizabeth? Masochism came to mind.Did he have some sort of death wish? No. He could simply see past the hard outer shells people erected and had some inborn desire to help them.

"Meet me for lunch," he added. A half question and half order. He had a feeling she would bristle at the latter but might be open for the former. "And then I cna give you a quick tour of the school. Unless.... " He peered at her in amused suspicion. "... unless you are opening parliament or something like that!" One last tease wouldn't go amiss.

[elizabethlivingsto]

Liz smirked slightly at Felipe's comment about her not looking like a lizard. He was a guy, and he was obviously not blind. The corners of her mouth turned up into more of a smile as he commented on following her around and becoming her personal stalker. "Well my name is not Rebecca Schaeffer, and you are not Robert Bardo, so I think that might be ok."

Most people got really strange when it came to people dying, and Feleipe got a little quiet after Liz had explained her reasons for now attending this school. "Yeah.." She muttered. "All I ever hear is how sorry people are..and how the pain will ease and all that bullshit." She looked up at him for a moment. Was he nuts? Really? he barely knew her and he wanted to help her *find her place* her place was at the top of the damn food chain, and she'd claw every little slag to get there. Still, having someone there might not be all that bad..especially when he was as pretty as he was.

A delicate eyebrow raised as he told her to meet him for lunch. She hadn't really planned on sticking around during the lunch hour honestly, but it was pouring rain and Spencer wouldn't let her drive..probably worried she'd bail on him...he was probably right there. "Tour might be nice...so I guess I get to struggle my way alone through the other classes?" She answered, shifting her bag on her shoulder. "Ok..tell me there is a place that I can slip out for a few minutes? I am desperate for a fag.." Liz noted the look on his face. "A cigarette?"

[felipe]

"Concorda-se!" Felipe exclaimed with a grin. "It is agreed. I shall stalk you relentlessly until you have no option but to place a... what is it called? Restraining order on me." He laughed as he finished speaking... just in case Elizabeth got the notion he was being serious!

He waited for her response to the meet for lunch dictate, surprised when she actually agreed. "Aprovação então. We shall meet in the cafeteria, have our lunch and then I shall show you around the place. It won't take long as it's not all that interesting," Felipe confided.

"Fag?" Federação Anarquista Gaúcha? The anti-anarchy body back in Brazil? No, she had to mean something else. Wasn't it an American slang word? She wanted a gay boy? This went from confusing to bizarre!

"A cigarette?"

Thank god! "Ah cigarette. Probably the best place is out behind the recycling bins. We have time before class. I can show you although... smoking is bad for you." She knew that already, he was positive. "It will give you age lines on your beautiful face," he added with a wink.

He headed for the main entrance once more and steered Elizabeth around the side and back of the building. Countless stubbs littered the floor - a clear indication that this was a favourite spot for smoking with staff as well as students.

"Tell me what you like to do at the weekends," he urged. "What did you used to do to pass the time back in England?"