Six is a Crowd

First Day

"September 1st, 1989... dear diary,"

That's how Veronica started every year of high school, a diary entry listing every single experience she had throughout her first day. She wasn't one to document day after day in her book, but the first and last days of school were special. It used to be fun to read over both entries during the summer, seeing how her experience changed throughout the year. But that soon changed after sophomore year when Veronica realized that she always started optimistically and then ended more and more upset at the world for placing her in Westerburg High.

Regardless, the tradition stuck, so Veronica continued writing as she walked through the halls. She had to get to lunch, after all.

She looked up from her book about every minute or so, navigating the halls she's grown to hate oh so much. The jocks were still shoving people into lockers, the wannabes were still trying desperately to gain any sort of attention, the stoners were still... doing whatever they did in the bathrooms. Veronica never thought of herself to be someone who labels others, but how could she not? It felt like she was going to school with a bunch of cliches. Hell, Westerburg High even had the popular mean girls that ruled the school.

As Veronica got to the lunchroom and went to get some food, she pondered that last part.

Oftentimes, there were three mean girls. It made a perfect triangle of strength. But for some reason, Westerburg was 'graced' with five. Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara, Heather Duke-

"Watch it!"

Veronica's thoughts were interrupted by an angry peer, who pushed her lunch tray out of her hands and onto the ground.

"OOOOOOops!"

She looked to the guy in question and rolled her eyes. This was "Ram Sweeney. Third-year as linebacker and eighth year of smacking lunch trays and being a huge dick."

"What did you say to me, skank?"

Veronica only then realized that she was speaking aloud. She defensively threw her hands up.

"Aah- nothing!"

Hurrying away from the angry linebacker, Veronica made an effort to clean off her shirt that was now made into a Van Gogh painting of food. She took a few steps back as she did this, which made her unknowingly come into contact with-

"Ugh- Hey Martha!"

"Hey."

Martha Dunnstock, Veronica's friend since diapers. She was holding her lunch tray and a few napkins, the latter she quickly used to help clean Veronica's outfit. There was just enough to get mostly everything off, but that still left a few wet spots and a stain or two.

"We on for movie night?" Martha gently zipped Veronica's coat up, covering the remaining mess on her shirt.

"Of course, you're on Jiffy Pop detail."

"I rented the princess bride!"

"Ho-ho-ho... again? Wait, don't you have it memorized by now?"

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for a happy ending!"

"MARTHA DUMPTRUCK, WIDE LOAD! HOOOOOOOOOONK! HAHA!"

From seemingly out of nowhere, Martha and Veronica's conversation was cut short by Kurt Kelly: quarterback. He is the smartest guy on the football team, which is kind of like being the tallest dwarf. He slammed Martha's tray of food onto the ground, making her bend down and scramble to clean it up.

"Haha!" He laughed triumphantly, "ALRIIIIGHT!"

Veronica knew she could take Kurt and Ram being assholes to her. But she knew Martha couldn't. She lifted Martha from the ground and put an arm around her. This wasn't her mess to clean up.