## The Jeans Club Betrayal

Post by Diogones » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:45 pm

James was getting ready. It was a jean club meeting, after all, and he didnâ€™t want to keep his best friend Brianna waiting. He was wearing a green t-shirt, Wrangler black jeans, and sneakers. He ran to the clubhouse that Brianna and he had built out back behind Briannaâ€™s house. It was a fair distance from her house, as Brianna lived out on an old ranch of several acres. Briannaâ€™s father used to be a cowboy, and he taught his daughter a great deal about ranching, and she loved to pretend she was a cowgirl, even if the ranch was near the suburbs. She and James had started the Jeans Club a couple of months ago, and they enjoyed it. They would bring snacks and music to listen to while they did activities such as coloring, playing with stuffed animals, and board games.
Yesterday, Briannaâ€™s dad bought her a long, supple purple jump rope, and she couldnâ€™t wait to show James. She waved to James as he walked up to her front door.
â€œHey James,â€ she called out sweetly.
â€œHi Brianna.â€
She was wearing a scarlet colored, long sleeved cotton button-up horseback-riding shirt her father gave her. She loved the shirt, as it was soft from all the washings she had given it. It reminded her of the days when she lived on a real ranch, when she was just a little girl. She wore the shirt with the top two buttons undone, so as to reveal her sculpted neck and the silver necklace she wore around it. The necklace was a locket, which contained a picture of her with her favorite stuffed horse, Carmel. The shirt had been freshly ironed that morning, and was smoothly tucked into her favorite pair of Leviâ€™s blue jeans. Despite her early rural upbringing, Brianna was serious about fashion, and she considered jeans to be among the most important piece of clothing that defined her sense of style. She usually spent her allowance on many articles of clothing when she went shopping in town, but jeans were always her first priority. The pair she was currently wearing was her favorite because they were just the right color of indigo blueâ€”they werenâ€™t at all faded like the other jeans she wore around the house when she was doing choresâ€”and they molded to her body naturally, as she had worn them infrequently to maintain their pristine quality, but often enough to break them in and allow them to conform to the curves of her legs and buttocks. She remembered finding the pair at the clothing store, and it had been love at first sight. The classic pattern on the back pockets, along with the little red tag that was sewn into the side of the right back pocket was something she found very appealing. Leviâ€™s were the only true brand of cowboy jeans anyway, she believed, and she was dressed like a cowgirl today. The jeans were fastened around her waist with a wide, thick brown leather belt that had a big silver buckle with the image of a star imprinted into it. The belt was cinched snugly, but not too tight, as Brianna preferred her jeans to rest directly on her hips. The hems of her jeans had a somewhat wide flare at the bottom, as they were a boot cut style, and therefore fit smoothly and perfectly around the cowboy boots which encased her feet. The boots were her newest accessories, as she had asked her mother to buy them for her last week. They were the traditional tan leather of cowboy boots, with a stylish brown curl around them, and they came to a neat point just beyond her toes. Brianna liked sleeker boots that allowed her room to flex her toes, and the boots came up about midway to her chiseled calves, fitting her legs comfortably. They had some luster, but were not shiny, as Brianna considered that annoying, and they were not dusty, like an older pair of boots she had long since worn out. Shape and color aside, Brianna picked the boots because they creaked ever so delightfullyâ€”like a pommel and saddle fitted to a horse, gently and quietlyâ€”when she walked in them. She wore her jeans over her boots instead of tucking her pants into them because, not only were the boots somewhat narrowly shaped to fit the extra denim from the wide hems, but also because Brianna felt that her beloved jeans should roll over the legs and caress the feet, not remain cramped inside a boot. Thus, the hems of her jeans stopped just above the heel of the boot and right beneath the ankle. She had most of her long blond hair tied back with a beaded leather band, but after she had brushed it earlier this morning, she decided to leave some of it fall playfully around her shoulders like a velvet curtain. Her eyes shimmered happily; they were the color of a warm summer sky, and their shade of blue exactly matched the color of her jeans. She had probably worn them for that reason, even if she had done so unconsciously. She wore a couple of rings on her cream colored fingers: on her left hand, a copper colored mood ring, which James had given her as a gift when they had started Jeans Club and which Brianna believed was always accurate, and a silver ring on her right hand, which was engraved with the words Open Range. The ring was another present from her father, and she never failed to wear it.
As she stood there, on her front porch, her feet slightly apart, the heels of her boots creaking against the floor boards, her head tilted partially toward the sky, her shirt collar fluttering slightly in the breeze, her hands on her well-formed hips, her buckle, (and the star on it) glinting in the noonday sun, her jeans folded into a gentle crease near her ankles, she smiled, revealing a sparkling array of teeth, the color of country white paint. She was incredibly beautiful and fashionable, giving her the appearance of someone who knew how to dress practically, stylishly, and comfortably while remaining hip when she wanted to be. At fourteen years of age, she was at the cusp of blooming into a gorgeous young woman, and while she already appeared to be entering puberty, as evidenced by her slowly growing bosom, she had a gentle, kindly, obedient temperament that revealed her naÃ¯vetÃ©. She was very fond of James, and while she didnâ€™t always agree with everything he did, she trusted that he would lead the Jeans Club honestly and strongly as he always had.
Brianna was just about to speak when her father called out from the doorway behind her. â€œBri, are you going to play with your friend James today?â€
Brianna turned her head slightly, her rose colored lips partially open as she listened to her father. â€œYes, dad, we are planning on playing out back.â€ Her voice was melodic and flowed like crystal over her tongue. She did not have the voice of an angel, but rather maintained a subtle down-to-earth midwestern accent.
Her father came out of the house. He waved to James and greeted him heartily, then turned to his daughter. â€œNow donâ€™t try any hanky panky with this boy here, got it darlinâ€™?â€
â€œOh daddy,â€ Brianna blushed; turning her cheeks a pleasant peach color.
â€œAre you going to be out there for awhile?â€ her father asked her.
â€œOh, well, it depends,â€ Brianna said uncertainly. She turned to James for help.
â€œWe might swing over to my place later on, maybe get some sleeping bags, and have a sleep-over out back there.
Brianna clapped her hands excitedly. â€œThat sounds like fun! Oh daddy, can James stay over for the night, please, can he?â€
Her father laughed. â€œOf course he can.â€
â€œOh thank you dad, thank you!â€ and she flung herself into his arms, her left leg bent back until her heel reached her thigh.
â€œJust be sure that you donâ€™t get bug bitten while sleeping out there in the field.â€
â€œBug bitten? What do you mean-?â€ James, who signaled to her to keep quiet, stopped her from completing her question. Briannaâ€™s parents didnâ€™t know she had built the clubhouse out back, and she didnâ€™t want them to know, as they wanted to keep their land free of buildings. Brianna gave James an appreciative wink, and he responded with thumbs up.
Briannaâ€™s father gently separated himself from his daughter, and then looked down at her seriously. â€œGirl, you better know that chitterbugs are out there this time of year. Donâ€™t get bitten.â€
Brianna nodded vigorously, gazing up at him obediently. â€œI will remember, daddy.â€
Her father turned to James. â€œJames, youâ€™re in charge now. Give Brianna the word and sheâ€™ll do what you want. I donâ€™t mind if you have a sleep-over, but let me know if you need to come back to get anything ok?â€
James nodded. â€œI will, sir.â€
Her father gazed at her, â€œI got a present for you, darlinâ€™.â€ He reached inside of his coat pocket and pulled out a brand new deck of Uno cards, placing them in Briannaâ€™s outstretched hands.
She almost screamed with delight. â€œOh dad, you shouldnâ€™t have! You know Unoâ€™s my favorite game, and my old deck is falling apart and-oh daddy I love you!â€ She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her father on the check.
He beamed at her. â€œTake good care of em now, you hear.â€
Brianna nodded, and then carefully slid the new deck into the right back pocket of her jeans. Although out of sight, the deck formed a neat bulge in her pocket, and James took note of this for future reference.
â€œAnd here is your pocket notebook. I found it under the living room couch.â€ He handed this item to Brianna as well.
â€œIâ€™m glad you found it, thank you! Iâ€™ve been looking all over for it!â€ She carried the notebook often, and both James and her parents knew she used it to write messages to people, input diary entries, and general feelings she had and wanted to keep secret.
â€œI didnâ€™t read it, I promise!â€ her father said quickly, as Brianna eyed him questioningly.
â€œGood, Iâ€™m glad you didnâ€™t,â€ she responded with a sigh of relief. She slipped the small notebook into her left back pocket, where it became a smooth, although slightly irregular, lump.
â€œJames, donâ€™t think I was leaving you out of this,â€ her father boomed, and walked into the house quickly. James and Brianna had time to exchange glances, with Brianna giving James a small shrug of her shoulders, before her father emerged again. He was carrying a brand new roll of extra thick, double threaded, wide construction silver duct tape.
â€œWhat is this for?â€ James asked wonderingly as he weighed the roll in his hands.
â€œFor your tree house, you said you needed to wrap up the beams that hold the walls up didnâ€™t you?â€
â€œOh yeah, thatâ€™s right. I havenâ€™t been working on it lately, to tell you the truth, since I didnâ€™t have anything I could use to secure the support beams, but now I can get started on it pronto.â€
Briannaâ€™s father eyed her expectantly. â€œYouâ€™re gonna help him with it as well arenâ€™t you, Bri?â€
Brianna flashed her dazzling white smile again, completely happy. â€œAbsolutely. James and I make a good team, donâ€™t we James? Why, we built our club-â€
James glared at her, and she closed her lips immediately. Thatâ€™s strike two, Brianna thought. Wonder if I am going to get interrupted a third time today before I finish speaking? She would be, although it wouldnâ€™t be in the manner she would expect.
â€œWhat was that, Bri?â€ her father asked curiously.
â€œOh, nothing daddy, nothing. But we will get the tree house done quickly,â€ she responded nervously.
â€œGuess we better get going,â€ James said, motioning Brianna to follow him.
â€œBefore you go,â€ her father said. â€œI got to give my darlinâ€™ a kiss.â€ He held Briannaâ€™s chin with one hand, stroked her golden hair with the other. He kissed her affectionately on the forehead, and Brianna responded with a kiss on his cheek.
Her father slid his hands down until they rested upon his daughterâ€™s shoulders. He looked her squarely in the eye. â€œTake care, Bri. And donâ€™t forget where the house is,â€ he added as an afterthought.
Brianna giggled. â€œYes, sometimes I get completely tied up in Jamesâ€™ schemes, and I canâ€™t leave until we finish whatever it is we are doing.â€
â€œYou might get wrapped up more than usual today,â€ her father responded, gazing up at the sky, â€œlooks to be a beautiful day. Not to mention Jamesâ€™ sleep-over plans.â€
Brianna beamed. â€œI know. I canâ€™t wait!â€
â€œSee you later, sir, and thank you for the duct tape!â€ James called. He was already walking away.
â€œCareful with that tape, son! It will stick to most anything, and once you get it on something, itâ€™s mighty hard to remove it.â€ Her father shouted back at James.
â€œJames, wait for me!â€ Brianna called, and then turned back to her father. â€œThatâ€™s James for you. Heâ€™s either always one step ahead of me or has me in a bind.â€
â€œThat boy is a sharp one,â€ her father said. He gave Brianna a little squeeze, then walked back into the house. Brianna hurried to catch up with James.
â€œWhat are we gonna do today?â€ Brianna asked as they walked to the clubhouse.
â€œIâ€™m not sure. Maybe play jacks or something. Did you have anything in mind?â€
Brianna hesitated. â€œWell, kind of.â€
Last edited by Diogones on Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:37 am, edited 2 times in total.
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" - Issac Asimov, from his novel 'Foundation.'

### The Jeans Club Betrayal Part 2.

Post by Diogones » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:47 pm

They arrived at the clubhouse and shut the door, since it was a sunny and somewhat hot day. The clubhouse was fairly large, as it had been an abandoned barn for housing horses at one point, and the stalls were still standing. James and Brianna had repaired the clubhouse every time Briannaâ€™s parents werenâ€™t looking. It wasnâ€™t easy: the ceiling leaked, the windows had to be replaced, and the door had to be replaced. Nevertheless, the two friends had toiled onward, Brianna cleaning the stalls out and organizing the club equipment, James repairing what was broken and installing the lighting so they had illumination at night. There was no plumbing, of course, but both knew to use the bathroom before they left their respective homes to visit the club. They had turned it into a clean, orderly place, with various toys and games scattered around. There was a chalkboard which hung over one of the stalls, and James usually wrote a saying or maxim on it, but today it was blank. The clubhouse was near a worn road, and sometimes Briannaâ€™s neighbors would pass by, and then they would have to be quiet, so that no one would hear them. Sometimes Briannaâ€™s parents would walk out back, and then they had to remain perfectly silent, less their secret clubhouse became revealed. They held their meetings once a week, once James proposed his club concept to Brianna. She jumped at the chance, as she was intrigued and delighted by the idea of having a club dedicated to honoring her favorite type of clothing. The idea, James explained to her, was to have a club that would follow an established, but relaxed dress code: any kind of jeans, jean shorts, or overalls you wanted, usually with a clean, appropriate shirt tucked into the pants, with a belt (to make our appearance more respectable, James said) and any kind of footwear you liked. This dress code suited Brianna just fine: she was able to wear her comfortable clothes, while experimenting with different outfits around the same theme, all while appearing to look like fashionable conscious kids. But Brianna also loved the club because, while James was not her only close friend, he lived nearest to her, and she appreciated the good times they had together.
This club is so much fun, I feel like Iâ€™m bound to it, she thought, and James is such a good friend, I can tell him almost anything. I think I might have a crush on him. So enraptured was Brianna with this notion, and so filled with joy was she that she failed to notice that James was not completely conforming to the dress code: his jeans were dirty, and his shirt was not tucked in.
After they were sure that no one was nearby the clubhouse, James and Brianna stood solemnly apart from each other and began to sing the anthem they had always sung before they began their club meeting:
Oh Jeans by jeans, we proudly wear thee. With love and with care, through calm and despair, to stay true to our friends, now until the end, we proudly wear thee!
They stood there for a moment after the song was done, looking at each other seriously. Then Brianna smiled, and they began their games in earnest. They decided to play right outside the stall nearest to the door, where they had most of their toys situated for easy access. After playing three games of jacks, a game of darts, one game of old maid, and two games of checkers, they ate the snacks that James brought: he had a chocolate Ding-Dong, Brianna ate a Twinkie.
â€œHow do you eat that nasty stuff?â€ She asked him as he munched on his treat.
â€œThe same way you eat that garbage you call food,â€ James responded.
Brianna was a little taken aback by this. She slowly drank her soda while she examined James. They had always had a few contentions between them, but Brianna did not want that to get in the way of their friendship or their Jeans Club. She stood the empty soda can on the floor and crushed it flat with her boot heel. Then she tossed it casually into the trash. Once they finished eating, James was ready to play Monopoly. But before he could pull the board game out, Brianna stopped him.
â€œJames, I got an idea for a game we can play.â€
â€œWhatâ€™s that?â€ James cocked his head inquisitively.
â€œWell, I was watching a show on T.V., called cops and robbers, and I thought we could try it.â€
â€œNo thanks Jill. Besides, we already play cowboys and Indians.â€ He pointed to the toy guns and bow and arrows with the rubber tip they had for such occasions.
â€œOh, that reminds me.â€ Brianna walked over to the toy box that James was gesturing to and pulled out a worn brown leather cowboy hat. She had decorated it with pink sparkles the night before, and she was excited to show it to James.
She placed it on her head. â€œWell, what do you think?â€
James stared at it incredulously for a few seconds, and then burst out laughing. â€œThatâ€™s the ugliest looking hat Iâ€™ve ever seen!â€
Brianna was hurt by this comment. â€œBut I think it looks nice!â€
â€œAw, itâ€™s alright,â€ James said, noticing his transgression bothered his friend. â€œWe can play cops and robbers if you want.â€
Brianna gave him a small smile. â€œReally?â€
â€œSure. Just tell me how to play it.â€
â€œWell, itâ€™s really simple. One of us is the robber; the other is the cop. The robber will steal something, and the cop has to catch them and get whatever it is they stole back.â€
As Brianna was talking, James was shifting uncomfortably.
Brianna noticed his discomfort. â€œWhatâ€™s wrong?â€
â€œWell, itâ€™s funny you should say one of us has to steal something, because Iâ€¦ well I took this.â€ He pulled a folded piece of paper out of the back pocket of his jeans and unfolded it so Brianna could see it.
She gasped. â€œMy treasure map! I was looking all over for this! Why did you take it?â€
â€œI wanted to find the treasure myself, thatâ€™s why,â€ James responded.
Brianna couldnâ€™t believe her ears. â€œHow could you? We promised to share the treasure together!â€
â€œWell, sometimes promises canâ€™t always be kept. But I have the treasure.â€ He pulled a brand new coloring book out of his other back pocket.
â€œJames! Thatâ€™s not fair! We should share that together!â€ Brianna cried.
â€œThatâ€™s what I wanted to talk to you about, Brianna.â€ James replied. â€œYou see, if you go tell on me for not sharing the treasure, I will tell your mom know that we have the Jeans Club. She doesnâ€™t know we meet, but you know she doesnâ€™t like clubs.â€
Brianna felt her insides run cold. She knew James was right.
â€œNow letâ€™s play Monopoly, and then after that you will give me your favorite stuffed bear.â€
Briannaâ€™s eyes widened. â€œWhy?â€
â€œBecause it looks cooler than my bear, and if I have both Iâ€™ll have collected the whole set.â€
â€œJames, this isnâ€™t like you. Is this some sort of a joke?â€
â€œIt is no joke, Brianna.â€
â€œThen is something wrong?â€
â€œActually, there is something wrong. I was talking to the guys at school, and they pointed out that I shouldnâ€™t have to play or share my stuff with a girl, when I can have everything I want, and show her whoâ€™s boss.â€ James puffed out his chest proudly.
Brianna tossed her golden hair back and shook her head. â€œJames, donâ€™t listen to those creeps. Iâ€™m your real friend.â€ She gestured to the clubhouse, waving her arms around her. â€œWe did this, not those jerks at school.â€
â€œCreeps, are they?â€ Jamesâ€™ eyes narrowed.
Brianna was alarmed to realize she had angered James. â€œIâ€™m sorry, James, they arenâ€™t creeps. But that wasnâ€™t very nice what they said about us.â€
â€œMaybe, maybe not.â€
â€œNow letâ€™s try a different game, one that we can both agree on.â€ She grabbed the new jump rope her father bought her, and showed it to James. James had seen it when Brianna brought the rope into the clubhouse when they first arrived, but he hadnâ€™t had the chance to get a good look at it.
He shook his head. â€œNaw, jump rope is a girlâ€™s game anyway.â€
â€œWho says?â€ Brianna challenged him. â€œMonopoly is kinda boring, and you always win anyway.â€
â€œMonopolyâ€¦boring?â€ James asked slowly, a frown beginning to form on his face.
â€œWell yeah, you know, I can never buy any houses, you always have them tied up on your property.â€
â€œThatâ€™s enough, Brianna. I have never insulted your games, so leave Monopoly alone. Besides, itâ€™s mine turn to pick a game, and I say letâ€™s play it.â€
â€œOk, ok, but after itâ€™s over, will you let me color in the coloring book we found?â€
â€œWe found? I found it, Bri.â€
â€œNot true, I drew the map.â€
James appeared startled at Briannaâ€™s insistence. She was holding her ground, and it made James uneasy.
â€œWhatâ€™s your problem, anyway? Youâ€™ve always wanted stuff that I earned with my own hard work! The guys were right; you are just a selfish brat!â€
Brianna gasped at that last comment, and her eyes became sad. â€œYou donâ€™t mean that James, really you donâ€™t.â€
â€œNow let me have your stuffed bear, or Iâ€™ll tell your parents!â€ James was almost shouting now.
â€œI will not. In fact, Iâ€™m going to leave now, James. Youâ€™re being really mean. Goodbye.â€ She began to walk toward the door.
I canâ€™t let her leave, James thought frantically. Or I wonâ€™t be able to get that new Uno deck or her stuffed bear. She might tell her dad that I was mean to her, and then Iâ€™ll never be able to control the club! How can I stop her? He looked around quickly, then saw the jump rope she held in her hand.
â€œBri, stop! I-Iâ€™m sorry!â€
Brianna did in fact stop, turn on her heel, and walk quickly back over to James, her boots creaking softly, and her face hopeful. â€œReally?â€
â€œYeah, your right. Those guys are meanies.â€ He offered his hand to Brianna as a sign of truce.
â€œBrianna grasped his hand quickly, the smile returning to her face. â€œItâ€™s alright, James, I forgive you. I know we have some differences, but we can work them out, canâ€™t we?â€
More differences than you realize, James thought. â€œYeah, thatâ€™s right. Say, can I look at that jump rope?â€
â€œSure.â€ She handed it to him.
â€œIt matches your hat,â€ James said nicely, and Brianna nodded.
â€œIt sure does. Thatâ€™s why I decorated my hat this way.â€
James studied the rope intently. It was long, about five and a half feet, and very supple. The purple sparkles on it gleamed in the light. Why am I looking at this? James wondered. Great way to stall for time, but then what? Iâ€™m sure not going to use it.
â€œIâ€™m no good at jump rope,â€ Brianna was saying. â€œI always trip instead of jump, and get tangled up.â€ She laughed lightly. â€œIâ€™m not sure what we can do with it,â€ she said, an embarrassed tone in her voice. â€œI know you probably wonâ€™t want to jump rope, but maybe we can use it as a decoration somehow.â€ She looked at James hopefully.
Get tangled up, eh? James thought. What did she say to her dad earlier? Sometimes I get completely tied up in Jamesâ€™ plans, or something like that. Well darlinâ€™, I may have a plan for you this time, and youâ€™ll be fit to be tide if I think this through.
â€œJames, are you listening?â€ Brianna asked carefully.
â€œWhat? Oh, oh yeah. Sure I was. Decoration you said? Hmm, let me see.â€ He began to uncoil the rope, acting as though he was measuring it, when in reality he was seizing it up to Brianna.
â€œMaybe in the stall somewhere?â€ James motioned to the stall they were standing directly outside of.
Brianna walked over to it until she was just inside of it, examined the area, and then turned her back to it. â€œIâ€™m not too sure, James. Unless you want to put it across the front?â€
â€œYeah, stand right there, so that I can get an idea of its position.â€
Brianna obeyed, squaring her feet and placing her legs together, then standing straight as an arrow.
â€œGood, thatâ€™s really good. Hold on a second.â€ James began to rummage inside of the stall. He found a tough strand of rope that Brianna and him used for tug of war, another, an older jump rope that had clips at both ends so it could be fastened together, and a lasso rope that Brianna played with when she was practicing her cowgirl rope tricks her father had taught her. Strange she didnâ€™t decide to play with this today, James thought wonderingly.
He walked out around Brianna until he was outside the stall, standing in front of her again.
â€œWhat were you doing, James?â€ Brianna asked.
â€œOh, you know, tying up a few loose ends.â€
Brianna was puzzled by this response, and she was a little worried with the look James gave her. Almost like he was mentally calculating her height and weight.
Donâ€™t be ridiculous, Bri, she chided herself, James is just doing what he does best, working on a new scheme he has. Still, she did find his whole method just a little strange, and she began to shift her feet uneasily, her boots creaking as they rubbed up against each other.
â€œHow much longer do I have to stand here, James?â€ Brianna asked, trying her best not to sound worried.
â€œNot too much longer.â€ James laid the rope carefully on the ground, stretching out each coil until they were all unraveled. He kept the jump rope in his hand.
â€œHey, I have an idea for a game we can play with all this rope,â€ James said excitedly.
â€œWhat game is that?â€ Brianna was nervously adjusting her cowboy hat on her headâ€”it was a little too small for her, and she was trying to snug it up around her ears.
â€œWell, we can do cops and robbers, just like you said earlier.â€
â€œOk, James, Iâ€™m glad you changed your mind. Will-â€ She hesitated. â€œWill you be the robber?â€
James nodded vigorously. â€œSure Jill, you bet. Now what happens to robbers after they are cornered like in the show you saw?â€ James asked.
â€œUmâ€¦they have a showdown?â€ Brianna suggested uncertainly.
â€œCorrect. And we are going to have a showdown, boy howdy.â€ James said a little too eagerly.
â€œHow do you mean?â€ Brianna was now a little alarmed, and she felt uneasy with James, as he was now twirling the jump rope about him confidently.
â€œWell, I am gonna lasso me some runaway cattle. Otherwise, how will I make my getaway, if the cattle go alerting the other cops?â€ he tied the end of the jump rope he was twirling into a lasso.
â€œBut if Iâ€™m the cop, and youâ€™re the robber, where are the cattle?â€ Brianna asked, a little confused.
â€œDid I say cattle? Oops, I meant to say Iâ€™m going to lasso a cowgirl.â€ And with that, James blazed into action. He swung the lasso around his head, shouted â€œYee-ha!â€ and threw the lasso over Briannaâ€™s hat. It slid down, past her head, torso, and legs and landed around her feet. Then he pulled the rope forcefully and it pulled taut, snapping Briannaâ€™s boots together and catching her off balance. James pulled the rope again, only this time he pulled back and with greater force than before. Brianna, who didnâ€™t even have time to respond to Jamesâ€™ lightening fast movements, felt her feet pull out from under her. She hopped side to side, (almost like a cowgirl at a square-dance, James thought) trying to maintain her footing. But James yanked at the rope with all the force he could muster, and Brianna fell backwards, landing on the ground with a thud. The floor of the stall had a large rug Briannaâ€™s mother had sewn and given to her daughter, and it helped to lessen the shock of Briannaâ€™s fall. As she was falling, her head whipped back and her hat tumbled off, landing on its side and rolling over into a corner. Brianna, however, landed directly on her back, and she lay there, stunned.
Last edited by Diogones on Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" - Issac Asimov, from his novel 'Foundation.'

### The Jeans Club Betrayal Part 3.

Post by Diogones » Fri Feb 26, 2010 1:50 pm

Once Brianna had fallen, James advanced upon her. Scooping up one of the coils of rope he had laid out, he ran toward Brianna and knelt down beside her. He took the lasso that was coiled around her feet and undid it. He retied the jump rope around her ankles quickly, ensuring the knots were tight. Brianna, meanwhile, had recovered from the shock of her fall, and was now making an effort to push herself up into a sitting position. James would have none of that, however. He walked around Brianna until he was behind her, and then seized hold of a shirt sleeve. He looped her hand through a loop he had made with his rope, and tied a knot around it. When Brianna reached her other hand across her back to free her wrist, James looped that hand as well. Now that he had both hands tied separately, he pulled them close with the slack from his rope and wrapped them together tightly, securing her hands and pulling her arms behind her back. Then he knelt next to Brianna so that his mouth was near her ear.
â€œSorry, Bri,â€ he said softly, and gave her a small kiss on the cheek.
â€œJames, what are you doing?â€ Brianna cried. She was startled by his gesture of affection, but completely bewildered with this latest course of events.
â€œTying up a few loose ends,â€ James replied, â€œWhat does it look like Iâ€™m doing?
Brianna struggled viscously against her bonds. â€œThis isnâ€™t funny, if youâ€™re pulling some kind of a joke.
â€œIâ€™m not laughing. This is a pretty serious situation Iâ€™d say.â€ James picked up another piece of rope, grabbed Briannaâ€™s struggling legs, and began to tie her knees together tightly.
â€œWhy are you doing this?â€ Brianna shouted. She tried to calm down but her heart was throbbing in her chest, her vibrant blood racing through her veins.
â€œA lot of reasons, Bri. Like I said earlier, my friends were telling me that I was an idiot for staying with you, sharing all my hard earned work with you.â€
He finished tying his knots; now Briannaâ€™s knees were firmly bound together. James snaked the older jump rope he had found around her thighs, tying the knots extra large, since Briannaâ€™s thighs were particularly strong.
â€œYour friends donâ€™t know what they are talking about! I am far more loyal than they will ever be, James! We have so many good memories to share! Donâ€™t those count for something?â€ Brianna had composed herself somewhat, though she still fought against the ropes vigorously.
Despite her struggling, James had tied her thighs together as tightly as possible, and he took the ends of the jump rope, brought them above the knots around her legs, and neatly clipped them together, making a distinct metallic noise.
â€œWell, we might have worked on this clubhouse together, sure. But you just did that so you could get close to me to steal my stuff.â€
â€œThat isnâ€™t true, James, and you know it.â€ Brianna said urgently.
James grabbed the lasso rope that Brianna had spent many fun hours entertaining herself with, pulled Briannaâ€™s wiggling calves together, and started wrapping them with the rope.
â€œWith you out of the way, Iâ€™ll be able to rule this club the way I want to.â€
Brianna ceased her struggling for a moment to stare at James incredulously. â€œYou arenâ€™t a loser like those so called friends of yours are. Youâ€™re just plain crazy!â€
â€œBut I donâ€™t feel crazy. In fact, Iâ€™ve never felt surer about this than I have with any other project I have done.â€ He lifted Briannaâ€™s legs slightly off the ground so he could tie the knots under her calves easier.
â€œLook, James, is this about that coloring book you found? Or the toys you wanted to take from me? Because if it is, you can have them. Iâ€™ll give you whatever you want: candy, toys, stickers, you name it. But please, untie me and let me go!â€ Brianna was trying a more subtle approach, attempting to appease James.
He shook his head. â€œThatâ€™s nice of you to offer them. But why didnâ€™t you give them to me when I asked for them before? Itâ€™s so easy to refuse what someone needs until you find yourself in a tight situation. Besides, this isnâ€™t about the toys. We just have too many differences, you and I. Think about it. You like vanilla, I prefer chocolate. Your favorite color is red, mine is green. You love the summer, but I prefer spring. You want to play one game, and I want to play something else.â€
â€œThatâ€™s no reason to get this drastic, James! We can play whatever you want from now on, ok? And weâ€™re friends; true friends donâ€™t break up over their differences, they work through them!â€ Brianna was trying to reason with James, to get him to see how illogical he sounded right now.
James finally finished binding her shins, then checked all of the ropes to make sure they were pulled tight enough and the knots secured. â€œYou know as well as I do that our differences canâ€™t be resolved. Itâ€™s caused more conflict than harm, and I have had enough of it.â€
â€œBut canâ€™t you at least forgive me for my differences and accept me for who I am as a person?â€ Brianna asked strongly. She worked to free herself and speak with James at the same time, but found she was failing at both.
â€œI wouldâ€”if we were still friends, that is. But I know now that you havenâ€™t behaved like a true friend to me, and so that is why you must be removed from the club.â€
â€œDo you want me out of the club? Al-alright, I will leave and never return. I wonâ€™t tell my parents what we did out here, and you can stay out here in peace.â€ Brianna was doing her best to talk her way out of her predicament.
As Brianna spoke, James shuffled around her prone form; undoing and retying any knots he felt were not adequate enough to restrain her. Once he was satisfied with his job, he stood up, dusted off his hands, and stepped back to examine her on the floor.
â€œThatâ€™s not good enough, Bri. For all I know, I could untie you, have you promise me you wouldnâ€™t tell anyone, let you leave, and have you double cross and tell on me. I think I like you here, where I can keep an eye on you.â€
â€œThatâ€™s right! If you donâ€™t untie me right now, I am going to start yelling, no, screaming at the top of my voice, until my daddy hears and comes out here. Just wait till I tell everyone what youâ€™ve done to me! Youâ€™ll be in big trouble. I bet your parents will ground you for the whole year!â€ Brianna tried to sound menacing, but her voice was trembling, and her palms felt cool and clammy.
James was equally panicked, however, for he knew that if Brianna did start shouting, it was likely someone nearby would hear her and investigate. I need to gag her, he thought. But how? We donâ€™t have any rags out here and sheâ€™s got a pretty wide mouth so nothing would fit well enough inside it anyway and-
Jamesâ€™ eyes were roving all over the clubhouse as these thoughts were tumbling through his mind, when suddenly his gaze spotted a red bandanna sticking out of the front right pocket of Briannaâ€™s jeans. She had placed the bandanna there earlier, as she hadnâ€™t decided whether to wear it around her neck like a scarf. James never really noticed it before, but now it seized his attention.
â€œBrianna, you clever girl, you have the whole cowgirl outfit going for you, donâ€™t you?â€ James said slyly, bending over her to pull the bandanna out of her pocket.
â€œHey, donâ€™t take that! Thatâ€™s mine, give it back, or else!â€ Brianna tried to roll herself away from James, to no avail. Once he had the bandanna, he examined it. It was a thick fabric, and fairly resistant to tearing. It had a pattern of tiny brown horses on it, and James could see why Brianna owned it. It was not long enough to wrap around her head, he realized with a sinking feeling. If he could use the bandanna in conjunction with something else to fasten it to her mouthâ€”but what?
â€œWhen I get out of these knots, youâ€™ll wish you had never thought up a crazy idea like this!â€ Brianna cried, struggling uselessly against her rope.
â€œDonâ€™t be ridiculous, you know that I am a master at knot-tying.â€
Brianna was speechless for a moment. She knew he was right, she had seen him working all kinds of complicated and intricate knots when they were repairing the clubhouse, and she realized that she would never get free from her bonds.
â€œMy parents are going to come looking for me. If I donâ€™t show up soon, they are going to wonder what happened to me.â€ Brianna was getting desperate, still trying to maintain some degree of unity with her estranged friend.
â€œNow donâ€™t you worry your pretty little head about that, Iâ€™ll take care of any concerns your parents may have.â€ But James was worried that she would shout, and he didnâ€™t have a clue as to what to do with the bandanna.
It was then that he remembered the duct tape. After they had arrived at the clubhouse earlier, James put the tape into the desk, neatly labeled â€˜Arts and Crafts Equipmentâ€™ and promptly forgot about it. Now he recalled Briannaâ€™s fatherâ€™s warning to him: Careful with that tape, son! It will stick to most anything, and once you get it on something, itâ€™s mighty hard to remove it.
If itâ€™ll stick to anything, it should stick to Briâ€™s loud mouth, no problem. He walked to the desk, opened the drawer, and took out the roll. Fix Anything! The label read, No Matter What! Well I have a hole that needs fixing. The tape was thick, double-layered, and heavy. It had a width of almost two and half inches, and its silver-gray sheen glowed in the light. James began to slowly pull a very long strip off the roll, and he spoke to cover up the sound of the tape peeling off.
â€œI think that you can do something for me to improve our friendship, Bri.â€
â€œWhat is it, James? What? Iâ€™ll do anything! But please let me go, the knots are really tight and I can barely move! The straw in here is making my nose itch and the rope is chaffing my wrists!â€
â€œI just need to add one final touch to our game of cops and robbers.â€ He walked toward her quickly, keeping the strip of tape behind his back so she couldnâ€™t see it. â€œYou want your bandanna back, donâ€™t you, Bri?â€
â€œYes, of course I do. But what does that have to do with cops and ro-â€
â€œWell, here, let me give it to you,â€ James said. Since Briannaâ€™s mouth was wide open to make the â€˜oâ€™ sound in robbers, James saw his chance, and acted with blinding speed.
He took the bandanna, which he had rolled and knotted into a tight ball, and stuffed it into Briannaâ€™s mouth roughly. She made a few muffled sounds, and then tried to spit the bandanna out. But James, who had knelt down beside her, placed his hand under her chin and pushed it upward, forcing her mouth shut. Then he slapped the strip of duct tape onto her mouth, sealing it firmly. He pressed the tape down on her rose colored lips, smoothing the strip across her face. The tape was wide enough that it stretched from just beneath her nose to the very tip of her chin, and it was such a long strip it covered her entire jaw, just below her ear and extending to the other side as well. The tape was of strong construction quality, so it adhered quickly to Briannaâ€™s skin and lips as tightly as the knots that bound her. Her lips and mouth were completely and perfectly sealed shut, and since the tape bound her jaw as well, its effectiveness was greatly improved. Combined with the tightly balled bandanna stuffed firmly inside her mouth, entangling and weighing down her tongue, while sticking to the sides and roof of her mouth, Briannaâ€™s oral passage was entirely blocked, restricting all of her breathing to her nose.
Once James was certain that his maneuver worked, he stepped back once more and smiled down at Brianna. â€œIt has everything to do with cops and robbers, Bri. You see, you forgot the one thing that robbers put on cops after they steal from em: the gag. Iâ€™m shocked, seeing as how you saw that on T.V. and everything.â€
Brianna did not respond: she was too busy trying to get her breathing under control now that her mouth had been stifled.
â€œWell now look at you, little miss cowgirl! You said that you got completely tied up in my schemes, didnâ€™t you? I guess you werenâ€™t lying. Course, I wanted to make sure that you would be really involved this time. Bet you werenâ€™t expecting this when you came out to the Jeans Club today, were you?â€
Now that Brianna had regulated her breathing, she grew alert. Now it was time for screaming, James nearly suffocated her, and she knew the time for negotiating was done. She tried to speak, but was shocked at how totally and entirely James had gagged her.
â€œCome on, you can do better than that,â€ James said.
â€œMmmhhh. Mmpppgghh.â€
â€œThere now, much better. Your dad was right to give me that duct tape; I knew it would come in handy sooner or later. Wonder if he knows itâ€™s being used on his daughter. Then again, the guy always was an old fool.â€
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" - Issac Asimov, from his novel 'Foundation.'

### Re: The Jeans Club Betrayal Part 3.

Post by Nuclearo » Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:05 pm

Good story. Some of the paragraphs get a bit long there, but it's still okay.
Please post new parts in this thread from now on.
Join our irc channel!! http://chat.mibbit.com/#tugsnet It's fun!!

### Re: The Jeans Club Betrayal 4th and Final Part!

Post by Diogones » Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:21 pm

Brianna grew red in the face with anger. No one insulted her dad, no one. Sheâ€™d give James a piece of her mind! â€œMmmppgghhhhh! Mmmmmmpppppph!â€
â€œGlad you agree with me. Now Bri, I gotta admit it is kinda unfortunate how you contributed to your own downfall. You said you were all tied up, and that gave me an idea. See, when you were ready to walk about back there, I was afraid that you would tell your parents what I said to you about being a selfish brat and all. But then I realized that you had the jump rope, and after you told me that you were no good at it, I figured shoot, I gotta see this for myself. And it looks like you were right, you do get tangled up instead of jumping, donâ€™t ya?â€
Brianna struggled violently against her restraints, but she barely moved at all, so great were the knots. Her cowboy boots creaked (that delightful creak which had convinced her to buy them) as they rubbed against each other when she tried to slip out of the jump rope around her ankles. Since her legs were tied so tightly together, whenever she tried to move her legs, she ended up rubbing her jeans together, producing a small rustling sound. When she tried to twist or bend her waist, the jeans would make the similar rustling noise as they gently slid against her buttocks. The older jump rope (not the nice new purple sparkled rope that her father bought for her yesterday, an old one that she had put in her toy chest and forgot about some time ago) made a clinking, metallic noise as the clips that fastened the ends together swayed slightly whenever Brianna tried to flex her thighs.
Daddy said I would be more wrapped up than usual today, and he was right, Brianna thought. And she took a moment to examine herself. Her boots, (she had asked her mother to buy them for her, she thought they made her look very stylish) were creaking pleasantly, the toes pointed straight as an arrow up toward the ceiling, the soft leather absorbing the barely visible dust motes that danced around them. Her favorite Leviâ€™s boot cut blue jeans were wrapped up in rope (a pity too, she thought they made her look so chic) and the extra-wide hems folded and draped around her jeans, creasing a little bit at the ankles, but Brianna didnâ€™t mind, they felt comfortable and covered her boots so well. Her black and wide leather belt fit through her belt loops precisely, and the large silver buckle with the star imprinted in it (she thought they made her look very cowgirly) reflected the glow from the sunlight that filtered in through the windows. Her freshly ironed scarlet cotton horseback-riding shirt (she thought it made her look very rustic) that her father gave her was wrinkled slightly, but it was so soft! The cuffs were covered in rope, sorry to say, as they bound her wrists, but it was stillâ€”incredibly enoughâ€”smoothly and neatly tucked into her jeans, giving a full view of her belt and waist. The top two buttons were still undone, and her locket lay against her neck, the cold metal a brand against her hot skin. She couldnâ€™t believe that her ankles were bound with her own purple jump rope, but boy was it tensile! Her shins were tightly tied with (her eyes widened with surprise) the old lasso rope she used to play with before she met James, and she practiced so hard to achieve the prowess with the lasso that her father had. I knew he said lasso a cowgirl, Brianna thought, but I didnâ€™t know he meant literally. Her knees were firmly bound with the old tug of war rope that she used to play with James during their Jeans Club meeting, and her powerful thighs were securely wrapped with the old jump rope that she had completely forgot about. She eyed the small clips that fastened the ends together and which presently rested on the top of her thighs, jingling every time she tried to move her legs. Her wrists were tightly tied with some kind of rope, Brianna could see it, of course, as her arms were behind her back with her elbows pointed out in opposite directions, but from the feel of it she guessed it was the escape rope they had placed in the clubhouse in case they had to evacuate quicklyâ€”a fire, for example. Her mouthâ€”indeed, her whole jawâ€”was plastered shut with an extra thick, incredibly strong, extremely long, double-layered, construction grade glossy strip of silver-gray duct tape. Even the inside of her mouth was gagged, with her own lovely red bandanna that she had found at a western clothing store, no less! Her golden hair was still fastened in a ponytail with the beaded strap, and the strands that she had left unfastened clung to her shoulders and flowed down the side of her shirt. Her clear denim blue eyes that matched the color of her Leviâ€™s were wide and pleading at James, and she realized, at that moment, that she was securely and utterly restrained and silenced: Bound to the clubhouse, she thought, now I am, for keeps.
â€œI guess you really fell for my trick, didnâ€™t you, Bri?â€ James laughed. â€œI lassoed the famous lasso cowgirl herself!
â€œMmmmppphh. Mmpphhh.â€
â€œNow I noticed you said that if I didnâ€™t untie you, you would scream bloody murder until someone found you. Well, letâ€™s see you try to scream now, Bri. Iâ€™m afraid you were wrong when you thought you could shout your way out of this.â€
Brianna tried to scream, but so firmly was the duct tape on her mouth, and so tight was the balled bandanna in her mouth, it only came out as a soft murmur.
James nodded. â€œYou should have tried shouting for help before I gagged you, instead of wasting your breath trying to convince me I was wrong. You got a lot to learn, little cowgirl.â€
â€œMmmppgghh. Mmpggggghhhhm.â€ Briannaâ€™s struggles against her bonds were growing weaker; she knew that she wouldnâ€™t get out of them, no matter what. And she was so effectively gagged, she knew she would never be able to say a word, let alone call for help. She remembered what she told her father earlier: Thatâ€™s James for you, heâ€™s always one step ahead of me or has me in a bind. Well he had been one step ahead of her, the whole time. She was so stupid not to realize that he was going to betray her, and now it had cost her everything, including her ability to move and speak freely, abilities that she had taken for granted. She had never been tied up before, but she had seen her dad hogtying cattle back when they lived on the ranch, and now she knew their fear and sense of helplessness.
â€œYou have to admit, that was pretty clever of me to get the idea for tying you up from what you said earlier about your jump rope.â€
There was a knock at the door. James whirled around and ran to the door, flinging it open. A worried woman stood in the doorway. â€œI heard some shouting a while back, is everything all right? I was just walking by, heading over to the rodeo tonight and I thought someone was in trouble.
â€œOh, no, no trouble at all,â€ James replied as calmly as he could.
â€œWell you be careful out here, ok? Sayâ€¦whereâ€™s that pretty girl that I usually see around here? Wasnâ€™t she the one shouting?â€
Iâ€™m over here, Brianna thought. Please, oh please, just look over here. But then she remembered that when James tripped (or was it lassoed?) her, she felt backwards into the horse stall, so unless the woman actually walked around the corner, she would not see Brianna. Not even the tips of her boots.
â€œMmmpphhhh! Mmpppgggghhh!â€ Brianna tried to call, but it was no use. Her bandanna and tape gag stifled her clear, sweet, slightly midwestern voice, so that it sounded like the grass rustling in the breeze, nothing more.
â€œOh, you must mean Bri. Sheâ€™s um, well sheâ€™s a little tied up at the moment, you see. The shouting you heard was us practicing our lasso trick. We might even put on a show tonight at the rodeo.â€
There it is! Brianna thought, he just told her I was all tied up, right to her face!
â€œOh, ok then. I know that practicing rodeo can be a pretty challenging task, so Iâ€™ll leave you kids to it. Just remember to play it safe.â€
â€œAlright, maâ€™am, thank you, and have fun!â€ James said kindly, then shut the door as the woman left. I donâ€™t believe it! She must have that I was tied up in a manner of speaking! How ironic! That James can be so sweet, but heâ€™s really just a nasty snake.
â€œNow, where were we?â€ James asked. â€œOh yes, we were just finishing up our own little rodeo, werenâ€™t we Bri?â€
â€œMmmpphhh. Mmmgggppphh.â€ Brianna frowned and wiggled on the ground.
â€œYou must have forgotten our saying of the week. Oh, how careless of me! I forgot to put it up!â€ James walked to the chalkboard that was hanging from the edge of the stall, grabbed the chalk from the tray and wrote:
Silence is Golden, But Duct Tape is Silver
He turned to Brianna. â€œWell, what do you think?â€
â€œMmbbggpphhh. Mmmmbbbbbph.â€ Brianna shifted her body as best she could to read the message, causing the jump rope fasteners to jingle and her boots to creak.
â€œGuess youâ€™d have to agree, huh?â€ James jumped outside of the stall, and then started to dance. â€œI figured that it would be appropriate to leave you tied up in the horse stallâ€”I mean, after all, you love horses right? So what better way to enjoy them then to be confined in their living space?â€
James began to pace slowly back and forth, Briannaâ€™s blue eyes following him as best as she could. â€œI hate to say it, Bri, but when I said we had too many differences to reconcile, I wasnâ€™t kidding. You just like all the opposites of what I like, and it started to drive me wild. You never wanted to do things my way, you always had to have everything to yourself!â€
â€œMmmpphhggg! Mmmbbbppp!â€ Brianna shook her head back and forth, her hair swishing from side to side, like the tail of a mare.
â€œItâ€™s true! You just never wanted to admit it! But now I have the upper hand! I should have done this a long time ago! Iâ€™m surprised that you didnâ€™t notice that I was ready to give up today, Bri. I mean, look at my clothes.
Brianna had finally realized this, and she was amazed at her own lack of observation. If she had known Jamesâ€™ clothes were out of order, she might have addressed the problem sooner, soothing him and preventing him from getting out of control. Too late now, Brianna thought sadly.
â€œI remembered that you also said that people were going to come looking for you if you didnâ€™t come. Well, Iâ€™m afraid you were wrong on that point as well. You see, Iâ€™ve been thinking, and hereâ€™s what Iâ€™ve got planned. Your parents think youâ€™re out back here with me, right? Well, let them continue to think that. I will walk back to your house and inform them that you are a little busy or, dare I say itâ€”tied upâ€”â€ James had to stop for a moment to laugh heartily at his own wit. Then he continued, â€œThey wonâ€™t question me, for they trust me completely, just like you did, little cowgirl. Iâ€™ll just tell them Iâ€™m going up to your room to grab some pajamas and a bedtime story to take back out here for when we have our â€œsleep-overâ€ later tonight. Once Iâ€™m up there, I will not only grab your colored pencil set, and bag your sticker collection, but your favorite stuffed horse, Caramel, as well.â€
Brianna had been growing more and more apprehensive as she heard Jamesâ€™ plan unfold, but his last comment filled her with utter horror. Not Caramel! She thought, anything but that! â€œMmmpphhh! Mmmmppggggbbbhh! Mbbbbbppppgggggghhh!â€ â€œMmphh!â€ Brianna tossed her head from side to side, struggling against the ropes with all her might, the sound of her boots creaking, her jeans rustling and the jump rope fasteners around her thighs jingling creating a quiet cacophony, and over that, the barely audible sound of the rings on her hands clanging together as she twisted her wrists.
â€œExcited by this prospect, are we? You were always so eager, Bri.â€ James said smugly. â€œBut that isnâ€™t the end of the story yet. After I grab everything, your parents will wonder if youâ€™re ok. They might walk out back here looking for you. It wonâ€™t matter. This clubhouse isnâ€™t very visible from the field, and even if they stumble upon it, theyâ€™ll never guess to check inside. My friends and I, on the other hand, will be keeping watch. If they see your folks coming, theyâ€™ll alert me and Iâ€™ll walk out and explain to them that you got cold and so decided to spend the night at my place. If they ask me about the bag, Iâ€™ll just say that Iâ€™m taking it back to my house to give to you. Your parents will think your either out here or at my home, if they come looking, Iâ€™ll look good as the considerate gentleman in their eyes, Iâ€™ll have the loot, and youâ€™ll be here, tied up at the Jeans Club! Itâ€™s quite a scheme, but I think it works out for everyone. Except for you of course, but girls canâ€™t win over me, and as my friends say, never trust a girl. Besides, true cowgirls have to get lassoed sometimes, to reign em in, show them whose boss.â€
He walked over to the toy box and started going through it. â€œAh, here are your coloring books. Iâ€™ll take those. And hereâ€™s your favorite stuffed bear, the one I said I would get if I won, (and guess what) I did, haw haw!â€ James held up the items so Brianna could see them, and she watched helplessly as James began to claim her other possessions as his own. Then he saw her cowboy hat in the corner. He walked over to it and picked it up, sticking his tongue out at Brianna.
â€œI told you this was the ugliest hat Iâ€™ve ever seen. Even if it does match your jump rope tied nice and tight around your legs there. Iâ€™ll show you what I think of it.â€ So saying, James placed the hat on the ground, stomped on it until it was nearly flat, picked it up, crumpled it, and threw the disheveled bundle into the nearby trash can they had.
â€œMmmppphhhhh! Mggggbbbbbbp!â€ Brianna was appalled at Jamesâ€™ irreverent behavior, but his most recent offensive had gone too far. She struggled as hard as she could, but she only shifted onto her side, so great were her bonds.
â€œI guess I got everything I need, I think. But you sure look a lot better than you did before, eh Bri? You tried to look fashionable, but I gave you a real makeover!â€
â€œMmmmpphhhhh! Mmmgghhhppp!â€ Briannaâ€™s hair was all over her face, her eyes were burning with anger and humiliation, and her gagged grunts were louder than ever.
â€œHey, hey, hey. Take it easy, Bri.â€ James said with a hint of concern in his voice. He knelt next to Brianna and gently brushed the hair out of her face. â€œIt really is beautiful, your hair, that is. Like golden wheat before a summer harvest. And your eyes are bluer thanâ€”well, almost bluer than your jeans, and thatâ€™s as good as it can get!â€ He caressed her forehead, running a finger across the duct tape stuck to her mouth. â€œBut Iâ€™m sorry about the gag. The label on the tape said â€˜For use on girdles with beamsâ€™, and I thought it said â€˜For use on girls with jeansâ€™, and you fit that description, donâ€™t you Bri?â€
â€œMmmpphhhggg! Mmmbbggppphh!â€ Briannaâ€™s eyes with fear as to what James was going to do next. She tried to tell him with her look that this was wrong, he was wrong, his friends were wrong. She was just a girl, a cowgirl maybe, but a girl who just wanted to go home and hold Caramel tight and never think about the Jeans Club again.
â€œAnd speaking of jeans, you have something in yours which I want, sheriff,â€ James said softly, his fingers touching the star on her silver belt buckle. Then he suddenly, but not unkindly, pushed Brianna as she was struggling, with the result being that she rolled over and landed on her stomach. With this view, Brianna could see the carpet a lot more closely, and she realized how hard her mother must have worked to stitch it so carefully. She couldnâ€™t see the top or the exterior of the stall, however, and she was worried about her limited view. The smell of straw and sawdust filled her nostrils, and she felt like she was back at her old ranch, and this was all a bad dream.
â€œWell, well, what do we have here,â€ James said, examine Briannaâ€™s backside and buttocks appreciatively. â€œI see two lumps staring up at me.â€ He indicated the irregular shapes of the objects in Briannaâ€™s back pockets. â€œLooks like my robbing just got a little more interesting. After all, a pretty cowgirl such as you has no need for this loot.
And so saying, James reached into Briannaâ€™s right back pocket of her jeans and pulled out the brand new deck of Uno cards. He turned them over in his hands slowly, admiring the sheen of the freshly made pack.
â€œI know your daddy wonâ€™t mind if I borrow his present to you for awhile, will he?â€ and James laughed again.
â€œMmmphhhhh! Mmmmgggbbbbbh!â€ Brianna shouted. It wasnâ€™t fair, it wasnâ€™t fair! Those were her cards, given to her by her own loving daddy, not James! Oh, why was he so cruel?
â€œAnd now, letâ€™s see whatâ€™s in pocket number two, folks.â€ James said in an announcerâ€™s voice. He then proceeded to pull Briannaâ€™s little red notebook out of her left back jeans pocket.
â€œOooh, Cowgirl Briâ€™s Secret Notebook! Letâ€™s see whatâ€™s written inside, shall we?â€ James snickered, and opened the notebook.
â€œMmmmppphhhhhhhhhh! MMMMMMPPPPPHHHHH! MMMBBBGGGG!â€ Brianna truly was screaming now, the gag repressing the vocal anguish that she felt in her heart. This was awful; a total violation of her privacy. Once Jamesâ€™ looked through it, saw what she wrote, there was no going back.
â€œDay five. Just got into town, living on our new ranch, looks just like the ranch we owned back home. Daddy is really pleased, and I am too. I hope there are horses in the fields I can tame and ride. I met a boy today, his name is James. He seems really friendly and nice. I like him.â€ James read the notebook in jerks, as he had to stop to laugh long and hard. â€œOh Bri, you were so innocent then, and trusting. Just like a child.â€
â€œDay twenty. James made me a little wreath out of rosebuds. He told me I looked just like a princess when I wore it. I really, really like him, journal. No. I love him. He is just so strong and handsome and smart and heâ€™s such a great leader! Our first Jeans Club meeting is tomorrow, I canâ€™t wait! What should I wear, my milk-blue jeans with the folded up cuffs or my ever-reliable Wrangler jeans? (the ones with the small hole in the right knee.) Whatever I pick, I hope James will like it!â€
James finished reading the entry and sneered at Brianna. â€œThat is so touching, Bri. I didnâ€™t know I was your boyfriend. You sure kept it hidden well from me. Just like all your other dirty secrets.â€
Unbeknownst to James, as he could only see the back of Briannaâ€™s head (since she was tied up facedown) two tears, one after the otherâ€”like morning due after a midnight rainâ€”welled up in those bright blue jean eyes and roll quietly down her face, over her cheeks, across the duct tape, and then, with a noiseless drip, onto the carpet beneath Brianna.
â€œWell, Iâ€™ll take the journal with me, it could make for some interesting reading,â€ James said. He closed the notebook, but was stricken with an idea. He opened the notebook back up, ripped out a blank page, and walked over to the nearby desk from which he had retrieved the duct tape roll earlier. He tore a small strip of tape off the roll, stuck it on the piece of notebook paper, and below it, in the remaining margin wrote,
â€œSilence is Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver. I am a cowgirl, who loves to wear jeans. They match my eyes, and they give James a shiver. He used to be nice, but now he is mean. My name is Bri, and I love to wear jeans. My cowboy boots are tougher than an oak beam. I used to be free, but now I am tied up. I just never asked James for enough. Silence is Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver. When James sees my eyes, he gets quite a shiver.â€
James folded up the paper, creased it in half, and walked over to Brianna. â€œJust a little something in return for all your kindness, Bri.â€ James slid the paper into her right back pocket, tapped her beaded headband, playfully slapped her jeans (the part that wasnâ€™t covered in rope, that is) and began to load his loot into a brown plastic bag. â€œI guess this is the end of the line, little cowgirl.â€ James pulled the shades over the windows, grabbed his duct tape roll off the desk, checked the clubhouse quickly to see if there was anything he missed, then walked slowly over to Brianna, setting his bag outside the stall.
â€œI know you donâ€™t want me to leave you here, but thatâ€™s just the way the lasso falls. Look at the bright side, you got all these toys I didnâ€™t take to keep you company, (even if you lost your favorite bear) and those knots sure look comfortable. Youâ€™ll have a lot of fun getting out of those ropes. Or talking through that gag. So just sit tight and youâ€™ll be all right. My friends will be coming along shortly, and I donâ€™t want em to see you. Long as they know that you been dealt with, they will be satisfied. Donâ€™t need to tell em details. You might not like what happens next, so brace yourself, little cowgirl.â€
James began to move the pile of strawâ€”which they had pitched into a pile on the opposite of the horse stallâ€”onto Brianna, burying her in it.
â€œMmmpphhgggggg! Mpphhggggbbbbbh! Mmmmmmmppppppppphhhhhhhh! Mmpph! Mgggggggh!â€ Brianna tried to protest, but her muffled voice, already quiet as the sigh of the wind through a willow tree, was completely cut off by the straw. Her wild and violent struggling, already ineffectual against the well-tied knots, was stilled by the weight of the straw. James heaped mound upon mound of straw upon the bound and gagged cowgirl, until there was nary a stir amid the mountain James had made. There was no trace of Briannaâ€”James had buried her completelyâ€”and he scooped up the last handfuls of hay quickly, wanting the job to be done. Once the entire pile had been shifted away from the way and onto the other former Jean Club member, James dusted his hands off, glanced around the room one more time, and hurried to the door to greet his friends.
Presently they arrived. The sun was just beginning to set, as evening time was approaching. The rays of light were purple, orange, red: the colors of the rainbow, James thought. After welcoming his friends, James led them inside the clubhouse.
â€œNice place you got here,â€ one of them said.
â€œYeah, glad you finally got that girl outta the way,â€ another said.
â€œShe was definitely a monkey wrench in my designs,â€ James agreed.
â€œWow, whatâ€™s that pile of straw doing over there yonder?â€
â€œWhat about it?â€
â€œItâ€™s just a lot of straw, is all.â€
â€œWe should go jump in it, itâ€™ll be fun,â€ a friend suggested/
â€œNo, no, no, donâ€™t go near that stuff.â€
â€œAw come on, why not?â€
â€œDonâ€™t be such a spoil sport, James.â€
â€œCome on, letâ€™s go play outside, while itâ€™s still daylight.â€
â€œAlright, come on guys.â€
â€œLetâ€™s go.â€
The boys left to go play, except for one friend. He sauntered over to the pile of straw and prodded it gently. Nothing here, he thought. He considered jumping on it once, but the straw would stick to his clothes, and James would be mad at him. He shrugged, looked at the large mound one more time, and walked out, shutting the lights off and closing the door behind him as he left.
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" - Issac Asimov, from his novel 'Foundation.'

### Re: The Jeans Club Betrayal

Post by Diogones » Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:25 pm

Thank you for placing all my submitted parts in one thread. I meant to do that, but I forget at the time I was entering them as separate posts. Yes, I admit the paragraphs are long, but I haven't been able to take the time to edit it for spelling, mechanical errors, grammar, etc. Please don't hesitate to add further comments. I'm always open to constructive criticism, and I hope those who read it can enjoy it!
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent" - Issac Asimov, from his novel 'Foundation.'