Cooler Than Me [Blair Dawes]

[Hayden Cyr]

Hayden had only a couple of weeks before camp to start making his mark on the school, after all he needed to rise to the same level he was at in Provo. If he didn't achieve the level of involvement that he had before he would probably die from boredom. Let's face it Hayden had been the class president since his starting high school, and moving to a different state was not going to be an excuse for not finishing High School as a class president. The president cot to give that speech at graduation, and Hayden had been preparing to give it since the first week of freshman year.

Not to mention, this school needed some serious reform. They had duper seniors up to 7 years, that could just not be feasible. With some more digging like the good reporter he was, Hayden found out that all of the super seniors belonged to one group. It was insane how much funds were allocated to this group as well, and there popularity with the student body was astounding. Plans to crack down on this show choir were definitely not the ones to campaign on. That didn't mean of course that they weren't still on his mind.

Hayden wasn't technically enrolled in school here until the next semester, but he figured it would be good to get his face up around the school. Given the musical inspiration that drove this school apparently; Hayden decided to take a musical theme in making his posters. The only thing left to do was canvas the school with them, he had already sought permission from the office to do so. They said given his record he would be fine to do this. Hayden was currently running under the premise that no one in this school cared about the class president, so he figured that he had this on lock. Hayden began to tack his second poster up against the schools main bulletin board.

[Blair Dawes]

Blair felt significantly more at ease after her talk with Miss Corcoran. She was thankful that she didn't have to make a decision about joining Vocal Adrenaline just yet - after all, it was a huge commitment, and Blair had to think it through more than anything else she'd considered before. Did she really have time to practice seven days a week and stay at the school into all hours of the night? Probably not. Did she want to?

Strangely, a tiny voice inside her said yes.

It was later in the afternoon, and most of the students had gone home. Blair walked down the abandoned hallways at a brisk pace, her flats clacking on the linoleum floor. She had her bag swung over her shoulder, and Miss Corcoran's poster for that summer camp folded inside. Once she got home she would definitely be filling out an application - though maybe it didn't need one, as Miss Corcoran had said that many kids going had no experience whatsoever.

Finally she approached the building's front doors; she had no more obligations at the school so she was free to go home, thank God. However, she was surprised to notice another person standing at the large bulletin board that faced the front doors. She froze, taking him in.

It was a boy, an unfamiliar face that she had glanced in passing but not that much. He was a new student, or rather, would be a new student next year. He'd just moved to Akron and was apparently doing his best to make his mark; Blair had seen his name as an applicant to many of the clubs she was a part of. Apparently he was also a bit of a zealot: kids said they saw him often in the hall, head bowed in prayer. Blair personally thought religion was more of a private matter so she found this alleged behavior odd, but it was really none of her business.

What was her business, however, was that this boy was hanging up a campaign poster for senior class president. There were several things wrong with this picture: one, that the school year wasn't even over. People wouldn't vote for someone who tried that hard and Blair knew that. Two, he wasn't even a student yet. Somehow Blair doubted that was allowed. And third, he was trying to run for president when everyone at Carmel knew that Blair was a shoe-in for that position. She'd already drafted campaign posters, brainstormed slogans, and was planning on getting a letter of recommendation from the mayor over the summer. There was no way this new kid was even going to try taking this title away from her.

Mentally gathering herself, Blair took a deep breath and exhaled, forming a bright, friendly smile on her face. She wasn't going to be rude to this boy by any means - after all, the old adage went "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Slowly, her footsteps echoing almost menacingly in the silence, she approached him.

"Hayden Cyr," she said, sounding almost surprised. "I'm Blair Dawes," she told him coolly, stepping up beside him and looking him directly in the eye. "I couldn't help but wonder what you were up to over here...but now I see." She glanced up at the posters: they were clearly amateur. No slogan, just a cool design, but even that hid the actual campaign. Not very practical.

"Getting a jumpstart on class elections, are we?" she asked slyly, raising an eyebrow. "Not to be rude, but don't you think you're a being a little overconfident? After all, you're not even a student here yet."

[Hayden Cyr]

The clacking down the hallway surprised Hayden as he thought that the majority of the students had gone home. He quickly assumed that it was one of the Vocal Adrenaline buffoons that sucked up the school budget. Making it a point not to pay any attention to the person he continued to tack his poster against the wall. The school was large, but Hayden wouldn't doubt if his name had already began circling it. He had made several visits here to apply for the various clubs that spiked his interest. This of course was the majority of the clubs. He didn't want to miss the summer team-building exercises, and the club elections; because starting as a normal member in the fall with-out knowing anyone was simply not his style.

The clacking stopped, and Hayden had assumed that the person had left while he was finishing with hanging the poster by driving the last tack into it. Hayden was wearing his usual summer attire, despite the humidity irritating him. A simple golf outfit and his pink CTR ring would suffice. Hayden soon learned that his assumptions were wrong, the person who had been making the noise with her steps hadn't left. Her calling his name made him jump a bit first in shock at the fact that she was still there, and secondly that whoever it was knew is name.Breaking out in a cold sweat, Hayden turned slowly to see a face that he recognized calling his name. He couldn't however put a name to match the face; or why, for the life of him, he knew her.

Her introduction brought a flood of occasions to mind when he had seen her face of name. Club rosters always had her listed in there high ranking officer not to mention several picture of her around the school crowning her for her achievements. In fact, Hayden had come to believe she was on of the few people the school cared about outside of the Vocal Adrenaline Show Choir. Which fascination with them inside of the school still baffled him as they failed to advance from regionals this year. Hayden had labeled this girl in the column of future, and important allies. As she continued though, her tone gave off a feeling that the time for him to make friends with her evaporated with the poster.

None the less, it was a time to be sincere and polite. There was a difference between rivalries and enemies. A rivalry was certainly the thing to aim for if friendship was to far gone like he feared. It was simple though, her assumptions were wrong. Over-confidence was far from Hayden's mentality he was simply being true to his character and the rank of Eagle scout. "I am merely being prepared Mrs. Dawes, and I am sure a girl with your resume can appreciate that." Soothing tones, and a humble manner were key as Hayden spoke.

Hayden placed his hand limply in the air, the bottom-side up, as he waited for her to place her hand in his. Thoughts raced through his head about weather he should give out his methods on how to campaign with her or not. her response would of course be key, as Hayden began twirling his CTR ring on his finger with his thumb.

[Blair Dawes]

Blair blinked twice, taken aback as Hayden merely insisted that he was "being prepared." Sure, the guy wasn't technically doing anything wrong, though she did wonder how on earth he had obtained permission to put up these posters when he wasn't even enrolled in the school yet.

Obviously he didn't know how things worked in high school politics. As much as Blair would like to think it was all about having the best ideas and platform, that simply wasn't true. Popularity and reputation was everything. She'd been painstakingly developing her status as the top of her class since day one, so people would therefore expect her to be president. And if they expected it, they would vote for her. She would still do a fantastic job, of course, but that was a given - she had to focus on the factors that were more difficult to control. And this new kid was just showing up to throw a proverbial wrench in her plans. And that bothered her.

Blair raised one eyebrow, giving him an expression composed partly of disbelief and partly of false admiration. Hayden was holding out his hand...was he waiting for her to take it, or something? Blair would have guessed that he was asking to join forces with her or some other equally ridiculous notion; the thought almost made her laugh out loud. She didn't even know him. And for that matter, he clearly didn't know her. Blair's independence was one of her most salient traits - there was no way she was going to reconcile her plans with some new kid she knew nothing about. And there was an even slimmer chance he was going usurp her. She would make sure of that.

"Well," Blair replied, her tone matching his in texture, soft but just barely condescending, "I most certainly can - but your little Boy Scout handbook won't help you here. Believe me when I say that there's a fine line between prepared and presumptuous, 'Mister' Cyr...and you're dangerously close to crossing it."

She gently extended her hand and put her fingers against his palm, slowly pushing his outstretched hand down before bringing her own back. She didn't bother elaborating, but she would if given another chance. First, she needed to figure this boy out; identifying his motive would be key if she wanted to make sure he stayed away from her title without making a bad impression.

[Hayden Cyr]

It was amazing to Hayden that she had hadn't blown a fuse with him, but he also felt that she wasn't hiding her emotions as well as she thought she was. The words she used, and the way she said them showed that she was perturbed by his actions.  Hayden was assured at this point that the time for being friends had come and gone. Her attitude was dominant and in control, like it should be, but it was increasingly standoffish as she went on. She was a champion of the school, but Hayden also was a champion. It might not have been this school, but once a champion always a champion.

A smirk slowly curled it's way onto Hayden's face as he grew increasingly more smug. "Am I being presumptuous, or are you 'scared'?" Hayden mad a jest are her increasingly frustrated state of mind. She was like him, and that meant she had planned every inch of how things were going to work in this school. Hayden was not part of that plan. He would like to be considered the inspector, the man who was checking if these plans were up to par. They of course weren't, because she obviously planned to do nothing about the problems plaguing the school.

The shot at Hayden being a boy scout had surprising. There motto was to be prepared, but a lot of people used that creed. There was nothing on him that labeled him as a boy scout, except maybe the CTR ring. It identified him as a Mormon, and all Mormon were Boy Scouts, but that wasn't exactly common knowledge. 'She put all that together that fast huh, well this is going to be a fun year.' Shockingly Hayden had abandoned the idea of being friends faster then he normally did.

Hayden wondered when the last time Blair had checked the class rank, because if she looked now the spot that reads one would belong solely to her.  Hayden was enrolled as a student in Carmel, he just wasn't required to come to classes until his senior year. he had finished his Junior year at his school in Utah, and taking a weeks worth of classes for no credit really wouldn't make sense. The counselor agreed with this logic, and gave him the permission to start participating in the school as a student.

"I wonder Miss Dawes," Hayden began as he retracted his hand, "If you can tell me what is the most important factor in High School politics?" Finishing, Hayden began to make his stride up the hall heading toward the next location he had picked out for his poster. He was completely ignoring the premise that he was being presuming about his ability to rise social levels in this school. 

[Blair Dawes]

I can not believe this guy, Blair thought as her eyes traced the smirk that was now forming on Hayden's face. Conversely, as his mouth curved up, hers sank down to settle a slight, straight-lipped frown. Her gaze was unamused, and she lifted one eyebrow, her jaw dropping slightly open as he taunted her. What was he, twelve? This immaturity was not appropriate, unless Hayden seemed to think the situation was a joke. And if he thought that, then Blair didn't need to worry - she would run him into the ground with ease.

"No, it's definitely you," she replied, eyeing him warily as he pulled his hand away and started walking down the hallway. He had more posters in his hand, she noticed. Blair assumed he was going to put them up, but hopefully he would stop once she was through with him. She watched his retreating form, his question ringing in her mind. Clearly, the Boy Scout had no idea how things worked in high school. Perhaps he'd been too busy praying to notice, she thought humorously as she followed him slowly.

Blair crossed her arms as her mind worked quickly to formulate an appropriate reply. Something succinct, but expository at the same time. It had to be firm, but not overly so. She had to make sure she didn't make too bad of an impression - clearly Hayden was as intent on making his mark on Carmel as she was, so regardless of whether or not they ever got along, she had to make sure they at least remained on civil terms. Enough that he wouldn't ever consider undermining the reputation she'd worked painstakingly to build and uphold. Of course, if Hayden was as religious and overly-polite as people said he was, perhaps he wouldn't even try.

"The fact that you're even asking me," Blair began smartly, staring at his turned back, "speaks worlds about your qualifications, 'Mister' Cyr." What was it with the titles? Even she wasn't that formal. She felt rather sinister, approaching him from behind like this, but she continued her monologue all the same.

"High school runs on reputations," she began, speaking as if she were a teacher lecturing an ignorant student. "I won't call it 'popularity' because that insinuates superficiality. Rather, they are the laws that uphold the caste system." She stopped, having reached him, and she locked eyes with him once more as she continued. "I, myself, have a reputation of excellence. One of constant success and - I suppose you could say - overachievement. People expect me to be president, and so I will."

She paused to set up a blatant contrast so that she could ensure he got her message. "You, on the other hand, are a new student and therefore have almost no reputation at all. You're obviously trying to form one," she admitted as she gestured to the poster he was putting up, "but your naiveté and idealistic 'good samaritan' antics will not stand in my way."

[Hayden Cyr]

The frown that slowly appeared on her face represented one of the last aspects of Dlair's character that he needed to know. She wasn't taking him lightly or the situation lightly, yet she hadn't bluntly told him what he was doing was a mistake or to stop it. He found it a bit humorous that his like attack in her made her so unhappy. it was after all a joke. but it seemed that Blair's impressive resume did not include a good sense of humor. It was sad someone with her profile, didn't have a personality. She must not know that Charisma is a key factor in any political level, even the high school one.

The way she mimicked the fact that he asked the question clearly proved that she didn't follow where he was going. 'Perhaps she isn't as good as I thought.' Hayden thought quickly retracting the idea that this was going to be challenging or fun. The way she emphasized his title was a bit aggravating, he was simply being polite. Now though it seemed more like being polite was starting to degrade with her. Her politeness seemed to be meant as sting at Hayden's character while his was sincere.

Her flats trampled against the tiles of the school, proving to Hayden that he was indeed a problem for her. Her disgust with his question would normally warrant a leave, unless there was something else she wanted something more. At least that's how the things worked out in Hayden's mind. She spoke up as he began to place the poster on the wall. Her voice was stern, like any good speaker delivering a lectern. The problem was that no one talked to Hayden that way anymore, because it showed obvious disrespect for someone's understanding in the subject at hand. Teachers hadn't talked to Hayden in that was since he was a freshman.

It was surreal for Hayden to be talked to by a girl in such a commanding way, and a peer no less. Though the terms she used disgusted Hayden, referring to clicks as Caste System. While the workings were certainly the same one's leader was to never accept that fact, and vow to change it. Change of course would never happen, because it would lower the status of the leader themselves. "You are wrong." Hayden replied to the end of all of her comments barley leaving her the time to catch her breath.

Exhaling quickly through his nostrils, Hayden spun around from his poster to face Blair once again. " My naiveté and idealistic 'good samaritan' antics as you put." Hayden paused for second taking a deep breath looking forward but past Blair. "Won't be standing in your way. " He turned his eyes back toward Blair, "Those I reserve for those who deserve it, you on the other hand 'Blair' get my other brand of poison."

Hayden, kept the same serene and calm nature he had for this whole encounter making certain to reveal none of his emotions at the moment. "Oh as for your answer, it is only half correct. This is also one third of building a reputations, per my three step plan to presidency. I might rename it to my three step plan of ruining everything Miss Dawes has worked for." This moment right here, would define how she was going to be treated form here on out with Hayden.

[Blair Dawes]

Since first speaking to Hayden, Blair had been mentally creating a list of characteristics that she could apply to him. He was a new student, after all, and one that clearly would be making a name for himself (as much as Blair hated to admit it, of course), so Blair, being the proactive girl she was, wanted to know as she could about this boy. There had to be something dark beneath his saintly exterior, some skeleton in his closet.

But, so far, nothing of that nature had surfaced. She had a list, of course: polite, calm, overly-formal...and, most recently, stubborn. The fact that he refuted her argument without offering any contrasting evidence certainly showed that. Blair had debated before, so she knew how to formulate an argument and remain perfectly articulate, even when flustered by this boy's blatant ignorance.

She could have chosen to be friendly, of course - masking her emotions with a smile was one of Blair's strongest skills, and had always been a great asset in her endeavors. But since Hayden was already so polite, their conversation would probably have gone nowhere. Besides, what he was doing was dangerous. She had to strike quickly and fearlessly to ensure he didn't rise up and ruin her. (Not that that was likely.)

Blair smirked at Hayden's reply. All animosity aside, it was actually pretty clever. She would never tell him that considering how she currently felt towards him, but she allowed herself a quick mental murmuring of touche. She briefly wondered what this "other" brand of poison was; she was curious, if only to see and laugh at it. She'd met some mean people in her time at Carmel, but hardly any that were ruthless enough to block her path to greatness. That was, in part, to her ambition and lofty goals. Nothing less than Ivy League was okay with her, so that in itself gave her the drive to do whatever it took to succeed.

As Hayden finished speaking, Blair allowed her lips to part ever so slightly. Slowly, she ran her tongue along the inside of her bottom lip, her jaw setting as if cast in plaster. There was no way he could ruin "everything she had worked for." In fact, it was ridiculous to assume that the presidency was her biggest goal in the first place. It was nice, sure, but in the big picture it only served as yet another means to her end.

That didn't mean she was going to let it go without a fight, however. She'd worked too hard preparing her throne to let some new Mormon kid shatter it beneath her.

"Listen," Blair began in a commanding tone, before visibly softening her expression and voice. "You're free to try and build yourself a reputation: join some more clubs, win a scholastic medal, start a pray-a-thon, whatever. But stick to what you're good at," she advised, "because this" - she tapped the poster he had just put up - "just makes you look like you're trying too hard. And there's only room for one of those at this school." She indicated herself as she said this, in case he was lost.

"People won't like it if you try to 'ruin' me," she continued, using air quotes to turn his own word against him. "I'm very well-liked, you see." One of the perks of not being a new student, she noted smugly as she crossed her arms and waited for Hayden's reply.

[Hayden Cyr]

Blair was more than likely miscalculating Hayden, he didn't only want the presidency. He wanted most of the spots she held in the various clubs, he wanted the valedictorian spot, and he wanted to be the one thought of as the most involved student like he had been before. It was simply the misfortune of miss Dawes that she happened to be all of these things, so she was going to loose them all. Hayden always felt bad when he had to play meanly or cruelly with other people. He didn't see another option though...

This was the year the Hayden applied to schools, and they expected him to be at the same level this year as he was the previous three. No one wanted a senior slacker as they were called, and Hayden certainly was not going to look like that on paper. Years of little sleep, and organizing agenda;s were not going to be wasted cause he went to another school. He would put in a little more work and get what he deserved, but it was a shame he had to step on someone who had done the same thing.

It was funny, if Blair would have came to his school and tried the same thing he would simply admire her tenacity. The way she was acting showed that she was a tad bit concerned, or at least it looked that way to Hayden. When Blair spoke Hayden snapped his head down in attention staring intently, baffled by the effect her tone had just had on him. It was stern, but not like the teacher she had been previously there was something different about it, but Hayden did not know exactly what it was. Her mention of a Prayer-a-thon did strike some interest in Hayden's book and made sure to make a mental note of it.

"My dearest, your misconceptions continue to baffle me." Hayden said his inflection reflecting that of an amazed boy asking question about a comic book hero. Hayden's smirk jovially turned from a smirk to a devilish  grin. Hayden was torn between weather he loved this girl or hated her. The occasion made it more of a hate thing, but in other circumstance he would dote on her. Her commanding arrogance was oddly attractive to Hayden. Of course he has never had anyone be authoritative towards him before, and that was probably the aspect he was admiring.

"If I joined anymore clubs I am sure my number would surpass you." Hayden gave her a second to process that bit he wanted to see a reaction from her. "I wonder how many people really like you, or if they just like the work you get done. If that's the case your in trouble, because I am sure I can do the same grade of work as if not better." Turning towards the library Hayden took off in another brisk walk.

"Oh and Miss Dawes, ask anybody," He didn't bother turning around he knew she was still listening, "This is what I am good at!"

[Blair Dawes]

"I couldn't care any less about how many clubs you join," Blair replied coolly to Hayden's mini brag-a-thon, her arms still locked in a defensive cross. "I'm still an officer in almost every single one of them. You don't have enough time to show your qualifications and subsequently obtain positions in them. Besides, colleges look for depth, not breadth."

Hayden was seriously overestimating himself if he thought he could just beat her when only two weeks remained until the end of the school year. Elections for all organizations (student government included) were held at the beginning of the year, after about a month. Honestly, there was no way Hayden would be able to build up enough of a reputation to become president. Vice President? Maybe. Secretary? Sure - Blair would even recommend him for the position if he wanted. But she would be top dog, no mistaking.

"People definitely like me for reasons other than my work," Blair scoffed, raising an eyebrow and frowning at Hayden. "That's offensive." Sure, there were some people that only pretended to like her because of the things she knew, but a majority of Carmel students were very cordial towards her; Blair really was a nice person, but she was also very determined...and Hayden just happened to be aggravating her. "But it's not scary," she told Hayden with a sense of finality in her tone.

"I will warn you, Hayden," she told him, using his name for the first time since the beginning of their meeting, "that you're about to get into something that's way over your head. You hardly know me: what I've done...what I can do. If you truly intend to challenge me...you will lose." Blair took a step closer, her gaze intense and focused on his eyes, as she whispered one last sentence softly: "Because I will rip. You. Apart." She said each word as if it were a separate sentence to enhance the gravity of her threat - she almost never resorted to them, but this one was far closer to the truth than Hayden undoubtedly thought.

Blair huffed angrily as Hayden walked away, saying one last thing to her. "You don't even know anybody!" she shouted back exasperatedly. Letting out a strangled cry, she spun around on her heel and marched for the door. She was glad that he was leaving - any longer with him and she probably would have slapped him.