THE FAME.

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY

&& steal the night, kill the lights, feel it under your skin

August 6th, 1977

G U I L T Y

I hooked up with Finn last night.

I was drunk and giggly and he was drunk and oh so sweet as always and me and him and Danni and Christen had been out at this club and he lived really close so we all went back to his house after and we were hanging out in his room and Danni and Christen snuck off and it was just us and he kissed me and he tasted like alcohol and nothing else and I didn't get butterflies in my stomach or anything like that but I liked kissing him, I always like kissing him, so I kissed him back and we were on his bed and I took his shirt off and then he pulled my dress over my head and it's all kinda vague but I definitely remember what happened after that. And then I woke up in his bed this morning and he was still sleeping and he looked really cute while he slept but I don't know what he thinks is going on 'cause I don't even know how long I'm staying here, Danni's mom said I'm welcome for the rest of the summer but I did tell Emme I'd be at her birthday party so I don't know. Danni and I went home after lunch and her mom was kinda pissed 'cause we never told her where we were last night but she knows Finn and she knows he's a good guy and she calmed down but she doesn't want us going out tonight but that's okay 'cause we decided we're just gonna stay in anyways and read a bunch of magazines and pick out all the clothes we want to buy when we go shopping tomorrow and bitch about which celebrities are too ugly to be so famous. And then tomorrow night Christen wants to set off these muggle fireworks in some field and the guys are really excited about it so it looks like that's the plan. But Danni's mom says we have to come back here and we can't stay anywhere else so hopefully that works out.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-ONE

&& it's got me hypnotized

August 8th, 1977

O K A Y

Fireworks were surprisingly fun. We laid out a bunch of blankets on the grass and got all bundled up in sweaters instead of wearing skimpy little dresses for once, it was fun, felt very friends-y, haha. And the guys were out in the field trying not to get themselves killed and we were laughing at them and Finn came jogging over and asked if I wanted to set one off and it looked like fun so I got up and ran over with him and they let me light it and then I was worried it was gonna hit me or something so I ran away right after and I was laughing and they were laughing at me and Finn caught me and pushed my hair out of my face and kissed me and then we all went back and drank some of the cheap beers the guys had brought and lay in the grass and looked up at the stars and I really didn't want to leave. It's not because I have feelings for Finn or anything like that, I mean he's sweet and I wish I could just like him and forget about Ted but I can't and it's pissing me off. I just didn't want to leave because I was happy and having fun and none of them think I'm a bitch or a slut who would have cheated on her boyfriend or someone untrustworthy or anything like that.

And if I ever did date Finn, he'd never dump me.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-TWO

&& my body's aching, system overload

August 9th, 1977

E N V I O U S

I'm an awful person. Danni and I were lounging around last night and we crawled into her bed with mugs of hot chocolate and were just talking about stuff and she told me how she met Christen like right after she got here almost and how great it's been and everything. I mean, this is Danni. Sure, she's dated lots of guys before but usually not for long, and she's not usually so, I don't know... comfy? Does that make sense? You know when you see couples that are just totally easy together and relaxed and hang out together or in a group all naturally and like it's not like they never disagree or anything as crazy as that but they just work and it's easy and they're just together, yeah? I don't know, it's just a state I've noticed, I guess, maybe I try and define people too much. But I realized last night, or maybe I realized earlier and didn't realize realize until last night, Danni's got that right now, her and Christen. And it makes no sense and I've never wanted something so relationship-y, honestly, but I still kinda hate that she has that and I don't and I can't even get over one guy who dumped me. And I know, I know, Danni's been great, I'm living with her right now, for godsakes, and it's bitchy of me to even think that but I can't help it. Whatever, it's not like me being a bitch is anything new. Ugh.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-THREE

&& for mistakes you've made, but you can't own

August 10th, 1977

C O N T E M P L A T I V E

Back out at the clubs again last night - me, Danni, Christen, Finn, Alexi, and Bo. But then this song came on and I don't even know what's it called but I just suddenly remembered telling Kieran I loved this song and we had to dance and then I started thinking about that night and it was too similar and I started thinking about being arrested and Ted and Granny being mad at me and who knows what everyone's saying back home and who knows what they're gonna think of me when I get back and I was freaking out so I said I needed some air and I went outside and sat down on the curb (I was tipsy enough not to care about the griminess, I guess). And then I realized Finn had come out too and he sat down beside me and offered me a cigarette and I don't normally smoke but I had one anyways and then he asked if everything was okay and I said I was just thinking about my friends back in England and he asked if I had a boyfriend and I said no and he asked if I was running away from something and I said yes. Which is stupid, 'cause I'm not just running away from what happened with Kieran and Ted and jail and everything. But I told him that I was and then he got all sweet and I don't really remember what he said but he ended up coming back to Danni's and I snuck him out just an hour ago and now I'm more confused than ever 'cause Finn's like the perfect rebound guy, he really is, but what am I even doing here anymore? Pretending this is my life? Pretending England doesn't exist? I have to go home eventually.

Soon.

I just wish I wanted to. And that I wasn't scared.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-FOUR

&& for every honest word that you postpone

August 11th, 1977

D E T E R M I N E D

Okay, yeah. I'm going home. Soon. Emme's birthday party is in four days and I want to be there. If I'm not then that'll just draw more attention to myself and the last thing I need is the news that Ted dumped me getting around, if it hasn't already, and people thinking I've run away broken down or can't handle it or anything like that. I'm still Rita Skeeter, damn it, even I'm having a harder time getting over a guy than I ever have before. Ugh. You'd think it would just go away after a while. You'd think after so much partying and laughing and fun with new friends, I'd forget about Ted and what happened and all of that. But I can't change that he dumped me, that he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore, so what am I supposed to do? As long as I can't change that, it's just gonna be stuck in my head. Stuck. Ugh. But I have to at least act like it's not, right? Yeah. So I'll go to Emme's party and I give her a cute present and I'll laugh and dance and have fun and socialize with everyone I haven't seen in ages and make sure there are no doubts about Rita Skeeter whatsoever.

I never thought I'd say this, though, but I might actually miss being around people who don't know who "Rita Skeeter" is.

Ironic, isn't it? 'Cause I put soooo much effort into making sure everyone knows that girl, making sure that name - my name - is known all around the school, and then it turns out that I'm gonna miss hanging out with people that don't know that name or what it means. But it's not... real here, you know? It's fun and they're great and I love Danni but I don't really know any of them like I know people at Hogwarts. That's my real life. And this has been nice but it's not.

So yeah, I'm going back to real life soon.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-FIVE

&& girls just wanna have fun

August 11th, 1977

N A U G H T Y

Alright, so I told Danni that I'm going back for Emme's party, and she's decided that we have to make the best of the next few days. Which means they'll be jam-packed and I'm probably going to be dead on my feet by the time I get to Emme's but whatever, I'm naturally perky and Danni has some energy potions or something she said she can lend me. Anyways, since we're "making the most" of the next few days, we've come up with a list of things we have to do. Both of us. It's like a contest, except not really, since we're both gonna try and do everything anyways and some of it is stuff to do together, or with everyone. I'll copy it here.

♥ Kiss a stranger (Finn doesn't count and Danni has Christen's permission on this, so she's good)
♥ Hook up with someone in a public place (She never said Finn couldn't count for this one... And I know for a fact that she'll do it with Christen, duhh)
♥ Get into the VIP section at this new club that opened downtown (Easier done than you'd think, apparently)
♥ Have a bonfire on the beach (So summer&friends-y, eh?)
♥ Skinny-dipping (The boys should be excited for this)
♥ Make-out with a girl (We'll be really drunk?)
♥ Sex with a stranger (Okay, this one is just me, she's got le boyfriend after all, so instead they've gotta have actual sex on the beach, haha)
♥ Get high (Christen knows a weed guy, and apparently we've got to spend one of these nights stoned instead of just drunk)
♥ Ecstasy? (Danni's never tried and neither have I, she wants to do it together, and I mean, drugs reeally aren't my thing but she thinks it'd be fun so it's on the list)
♥ Steal a bottle of Firewhiskey from a bar (Not quite sure why we picked this but whatevs)
♥ Streaking through the park at midnight (Apparently everyone does it?)

That's all we came up with so far but we're heading out tonight so I'm off to get dressed! Nooo clue if we're actually gonna be able to do all this stuff over the next few days but hey, she's not gonna be at Hogwarts this year and if this is our last time together for the summer, might as well end it with a bang? (;

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-SIX

&& teasing, toying, turning, chatting, charming

August 12th, 1977

E M B A R R A S S E D

♥ Kiss a stranger
♥ Hook up with someone in a public place
♥ Get into the VIP section at this new club that opened downtown
♥ Have a bonfire on the beach
♥ Skinny-dipping
♥ Make-out with a girl
♥ Sex with a stranger
♥ Get high
♥ Ecstasy?
♥ Steal a bottle of Firewhiskey from a bar
♥ Streaking through the park at midnight

That should give you a preeetty good idea of last night. Apparently Christen has a friend who has a friend who has a friend, blah blah blah, who managed to get us into the VIP section, so that was an easy check off the list. And then, oh god, let's see what I actually remember past that, Danni made sure to get me pleeenty drunk for the other stuff that followed. There was a guy though, with dark hair, reeeally hot, bit older than me, maybe, I don't know, he bought me a drink and then there was definitely some making out and I just might have... Okay. Wehookedupinabathroomstall. Do not judge me, Diary! I'm serious! Stop it! I know that's gross and sleazy but it knocked two things off the list and that's the only reason it happened. I am nawt that easy. But a drunk me + a list telling me to have sex with a stranger and to have sex in a public place = bad things. Danni's still laughing. Whatever, she still needs to have sex on the beach with Christen to catch up with me (She kissed some random guy too after downing her who-knows-what shot and then and she and Christen did it somewhere there too) so ha. Although tonight's bonfire-on-the-beach night so I doubt that'll be too hard for them. Whatever. Finn thinks the list is stupid. I think he's just pissed I banged a guy I didn't even know. I knew his name, though? It was um John. Yeah. I'm fifty ninety-nine percent sure that was his name. Shut up. That was not skanky of me. Well, okay, it was, but it was on purpose. For a point to prove. Just, ugh. Shut up shut up shut up.

It was on the list!!

I still regret--

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-SEVEN

&& because i got high, because i got high

August 12th, 1977

H I G H

Why have I always thought drugs were so icky? Heroin is like nasty, yeah. Ew. Trashy. But everyone does pot. That's what Christen sayssss. He knows a lot. He's like super smart. I can see why Danni likes him. Course he's hot too. I'd wanna rip his clothes off myself if he wasn't with her not that that stopped me before. Ew. I don't talk about Wes. Screw him. Screwer. Something. Dunno. Anyways um right. Yeah. Pot's not bad. It just makes everything a little bit easier. And funnier. Definitely funnier. I keep giggling. I like giggling. I sound like a monkey. Or a mouse. Danni says I sound like a mouse. Maybe just when I'm high. Do I normally giggle like a mouse? How would you know, Diary. You're a book. That's silly. I'm writing in a book. You can't hear me. You don't have ears. Sucks to be you, booky.

And it's great to me cause we're gonna go to the beach and have a bonfire and that's fun. Yeah. The f word. Fun. I'm gonna have fun. I like fire. And beaches. And swimming. I wanna go get wet. Mmmmmmmmmmmm.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-EIGHT

&& i get high like a kite

August 13th, 1977

P E A C E F U L

♥ Have a bonfire on the beach
♥ Skinny-dipping
♥ Make-out with a girl
♥ Get high
♥ Ecstasy?
♥ Steal a bottle of Firewhiskey from a bar
♥ Streaking through the park at midnight

Well, I technically covered the whole "get high" one before the last entry but wasn't really in any state to focus on my organized little lists. Ha. Well. Bonfire was actually really fun. I know I've been saying that word a lot but I actually mean it this time? I wasn't sad or mopey about anything, I didn't think about any of that stuff, I just had fun with my best friend and other people that are really great. I feel kinda weird, like I can't really believe it. But it's nice. Really nice. Talk about freaky though, the whole doing e thing was just weird. Kinda cool but it's all really blurry. Danni brought up the skinny-dipping when we were sipping our breakfast smoothies in her bed, so that's come back a little. I was really out of it but we all ran into the water or something and then I don't really know, I think Finn and I broke off from everyone and he certainly didn't seem annoyed anymore. I don't think so, at least.

But I'm pretty sure I'd be able to cross off "sex on the beach" too, even if that was just for Danni.

Ha.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE THIRTY-NINE

&& they all wanna see, see, see

August 13th, 1977

G I G G L Y

I can't believe I'm leaving in two days. It's crazy, Diary, just crazy. C-R-A-Z-Y. A part of me wants to kidnap Danni and Christen and Finn and drag their butts back to Hogwarts with me, 'cause if I did that, I know I'd be unstoppable. But they're staying here and I'm going back and I'm just going to make the most of my last days. Right. And then I'm gonna go back and I'm gonna have a great time at Emme's party and see everyone and be oh-so-happy and social and act like I don't have a care in the world and couldn't be more over Ted Tonks. 'Cause I am. I think. I don't know. No, not really. I don't know. But whatever. We're gonna try and finish the last stuff on the list tonight. I mean yeah, we've got tomorrow too but still. It'd be awesome to finish it early, ha. We're just that badass (; Ha ha ha.

See? Look. I'm happy. I'm perfectly normal and perfectly Rita-ish and I won't need to try and convince anyone of anything because it'll all be true. There's nothing wrong with me. There's nothing special about Ted. He's just a stupid boy who I would have broken up with soon anyways. Nothing more than that. And then I'd be here anyways, enjoying an awesome summer with my best friend and some very cute boys. So. Speaking of these cute guys? I'm gonna go get dressed. I'll look so hot tonight, they won't know what to do with themselves. And the list will end up discarded 'cause as soon as Finn sees me, he'll just want to ravage me and that will be that. Ha!

(;

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE FORTY

&& cotton candy kiss, can't wait for my sugar rush

August 13th, 1977

H O R N Y

...You know, that's actually sounding really appealing. He's coming over here soon with Christen and staying in is starting to seem like a better idea than going out. Not that I have anything against partying like the crazy kiddies we are, haha, lordy no, but I just realized that I'm leaving soon and I mean, it's not like I have feelings for Finn or anything, he's just been a rebound-fling-kind-of, I guess you could say, but he is really sweet and he's been so great to me and I dunno, it'd sorta be nice to sleep with him at least once when I wasn't drunk? Danni's mom is out tonight and ditto for Drake sooooo... Okay! I still have tomorrow night to finish the list and I'm pretty sure Danni won't kill me for postponing. I'll go let her know the switcheroo of plans now. And thennn, my darling Diary?

Time to change into my prettiest lingerie (;



...Okay, I'm really excited about this! ♥

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE FORTY-ONE

&& i don't know how i'm meant to feel anymore

August 14th, 1977

C O N F U S E D

Okay, Finn's like the definition of the perfect rebound guy. He makes me feel all happy and forget about Ted when I'm around him and yet I'm not falling for him or anything. He's just nice, you know? Yeah. Does that make me sound awful? I don't know. It's nice to kiss him, it's nice to be kissed, it's nice to sleep with him, it's nice to fall asleep in bed with him, it's even nice to sneak him out in the morning, giggling. Nice enough I can almost pretend that it's normal and real and Ted-- ugggghhhhhh. Why the hell can't I get that guy out of my head? Is it just because he dumped me and I hate that? Because I'm Rita fucking Skeeter and he's Ted Tonks and he never should have been the one to break things off? Is it because I feel bad about what happened/didn't happen/almost happened/whatever with Kieran? Is it because I still have feelings for him or want to get back together? Or is it something else totally? I don't know! I don't have a clue but it's driving me crazy. I had my rebound, it was the best I could have asked for, and now I'm going back tomorrow and as of then, I'll officially be over Theodore freakin' Tonks. Sound good? Yeah. Awesome.

So. The plan? We're heading out tonight to this little club hidden away downtown, in the "Wizard Sector" I guess you could call it, ha. And we've definitely got to finish the list off, this is our last chance! I'm leaving tomorrow, Diary. Tomorrow! I'll be back in England, and back with all my problems. And my Granny. Oh dear. Well, she'll be out late probably, so I can sneak in and get ready for Emme's party and then go before she's home and not come back till she's in bed or something. That'll buy me a little bit of time? Eh, whatever. But oooh, I forgot! Just another example of how nice Finn is? He's offered to Apparate back home with me! I was saying how I can't Apparate myself yet - stupid test - and he said he could get me there and that's just one more thing taken care of and one less person I'll have to say goodbye to here and just, wow, I still can't believe I'm gonna be home tomorrow. How long have I spent here with Danni?

Okay, I just flipped back through you. July 26th. That was like nineteen days ago. So almost three weeks. Wow. Well, it's been a great almost-three weeks. A pick-me-up, right? Rebound? Get-over-Ted-forget-about-being-dumped? All that kinda stuff? Right? I partied, I laughed, I tried had fun. I forgot about that shit. Kinda. Yeah. And tonight's my last night. Wow. And then I'll be going back to England and soon enough I'll be back at Hogwarts but Danni won't, she'll still be here. Wow. Yeah. Wow.

I'm gonna miss her so fucking much.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE FORTY-TWO

&& us girls, we are so kissable

August 15th, 1977

E X C I T E D

♥ Steal a bottle of Firewhiskey from a bar
♥ Streaking through the park at midnight
♥ Make-out with a girl
...
♥ Make-out with Danni?

We were drunk.

Obviously, if the whole streaking-through-the-park thing happened, which the boys swear it did. Oh my. I'm not really sure which came first, it's all kinda... yeah.

Anyways.

The List is officially completed, and Copenhagen's been a blast. Time to return to England, Emme's party is today and I'm sure the birthday girl will be more than helpful in spreading around the rumor that Rita Skeeter is way over Ted Tonks. I'm thinking I'll bring Finn by to help with that ;) And before you get all judgy, Diary, there's no need! I mean, I just think it would be sweet for Finn to quickly meet my friends.

And being seen with a gorgeous stranger can't exactly hurt.

Sue me.

xoxo

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE FORTY-THREE

&& at all the parties they'll know who you are

August 16th, 1977

S A T I S F I E D

Oh, that girl knows how to throw a party! It was wonderful, couldn't have possibly gone any better. Finn was such a gentleman, brought me there, said his hellos... roused the general interest. You know, the use. I gave Emmie her present, this gorgeous make-up case I got for her one night downtown in Copenhagen, and got to see everyone that I hadn't seen all summer long, and danced the night away! Ha, it was such a success, really. I definitely saw E running off to whisper to her little friends, and I'm sure word's already out about how Rita Skeeter is easy breezy over Ted Tonks. Everyone's gotta be assuming I dumped him anyways, and this should be the cherry on top.

One day back in England and I'm already cutting out the emotional crap and back to bitchy.

Lovely.

...And know what's also just lovely? I may have avoided her yesterday but Granny wants to talk to me now. Oh dear. If I don't ever see you ever again, Diary, well... whoever finds you and reads you? Yes, you there? Please burn this. Or on second thought, publish it! If I'm gonna be dead, might as well be famous! You can call it 'Confessions of Teenage Queen Bee: Rita Skeeter's Very Own Dia

[ritaskeeter]

PAGE FORTY-FOUR

&& dressed up just like a movie star

August 16th, 1977

A M U S E D

Sorry, Granny was using her impatient voice, had to dash.

My god, that woman can talk. She must have been bottling up her every thought these past three weeks. Of course, I could sum it up just by saying that she's pissed. She comes home one day to find a note from me saying I've gone to visit Danni in another country, then hears from a friend that so and so told so and so told so and so told her that Elinor Cox's granddaughter was brought into the station! Arrested! The horror! Then she realized that my random trip to see Danni was actually me running away and well, yeah, that's when she sent the Howler, and... anyways. She was really pissed. Went on and on and on about what awful things this has done to my 'reputation' and how busy she's been trying to repair it and how I should be oh so grateful. Apparently now I have to do my part in it and accompany her to a bajillion gazillion charity events and lunches and stuff over the rest of the summer, and be on my 'absolute best behaviour' all the frickin' time to show 'what a proper young lady I really am' and how my 'little incident' is not at all a 'reflection of my true character'.

Doesn't that sound fun?

Hey, she's ordered a bunch of new dresses for me to try on to wear to these events, though. That's what I get to go do now: try on twenty or so gorgeous gowns that my grandmother bought for me to wear to all the champagne-filled parties I have to go to.

Wow, Granny, you really know how to punish a girl.

xoxo