Joneses – 15.6 The Alliance

Phoenix’s blood boiled when the science teacher announced the pairings for the science project. Didn’t he know she was on a mission to trample the other girls and win Kaiden’s heart? She needed to be paired with him. It was an emergency! She got paired up with Kori Dandridge, Kaiden’s friend. Anyone was better than Breanne, but she was a bit nervous. Honestly, she didn’t know much about Kori, but she assumed she was just like every other girl who was after him which made her a de facto enemy. Phoenix, however, was always determined to do well in school and would not let teen drama get in the way of her success. She invited Kori to come home with her to get started. To her surprise, Kori was cool. Really cool. Talking to her was easy. There was no tension or underhandedness to her speech like there was with Breanne. Maybe she had her all wrong.

“Can I get you a snack?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

Phoenix grabbed a bowl of clam chowder and joined Kori in the living room. “Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you…are you and Kaiden–”

“No! Watcher no! We’re just friends!”

It was like music to her hears. “So, you don’t–”

“I don’t like Kaiden! You can have him.” She snorted. “Better you than that Breanne.”

Something was happening on that couch. Something powerful and unstoppable. This alliance would surely give her an advantage Breanne could never recover from.

“Kori…we’re going to be great friends, you and I.”

Joneses - 15.5 The Ladies of Courtyard Lane
Joneses - 15.7 Under the Influence