PLASTIC

03

It's been two months since I started school at North Shore High. I found my place with Janis and Damien, Cady on the other hand is boy hungry for Aaron Samuels. AKA, Regina's ex.

All three of us tried telling Cady that liking Aaron was a bad idea. Even Gretchen and Karen agreed. Gretchen says it's the rules of feminism, which I agreed with even though I never talk to the girl except Cady is around.

On the other hand, Gretchen and Karen are really sweet. It's sad that they have to put up with two raging assholes now.

"But mom, I told my friend Janis that I would go to her art show!" Cady cries, lies pouring off her tongue.

"Okay! Okay, you both can stay home and spend time with your friend!" My mom says in order to calm Cady down.

When my mom leaves the kitchen, I stop eating my cereal and glare at my older sister. "You aren't even friends with Janis."

"I had to come up with a little fib in order to stay home. I'm throwing a party and inviting over Aaron, Gretchen, Karen-"

"Woah, hold on. You're throwing a party and inviting Aaron Samuels and Regina?"

"Well.."

"You're stupid." I scoff. "Have fun at your party tonight. I'll be at the art show with my friends who actually give a shit about me."

I grab my backpack and say bye to my mom before running outside to catch the bus.

The day goes by as it usually does. English, French, History, lunch, art, then finally AP Physics.

At lunch, I had yet another stare off with Regina George. I don't know what her problem is with me, I never talk to her.

So when Janis and Damien are dropping me off back home after her art show, I push and shove through the people trying to get up to my bedroom, all while trying to avoid ruining the poster Janis made for me.

"Hey loser." Regina stands in front of me, looking slightly up at me due to me being an inch or two taller. "Where's your sister?"

"Why don't you go ask Aaron." I try to shove past her but she stands in front of me, holding her drink in her hand.

"Don't be difficult. What's this?" She tears the poster from my hands and unrolls it, laughing as she does so. "Oh my god, I can't believe you're actually friends with that pyro-lez."

"Beats being friends with you." I reach for the poster but she holds it away from my reach.

"What's your problem?" She asks, raising her eyebrow. "I'm just trying to be nice."

"Yeah. Well your version of nice seems a little different than mine. Now can you please give me that back?"

She looks me up and down before gently handing it back. "Whatever. Where's Cady?"

"Go find Aaron, I'm sure he knows." I shove past her before she gets another word in. I lock my bedroom door and fall backwards onto my bed, releasing a heavy sigh.

I pick up my headphones and turn them on full blast as I listen to music, tuning out the screaming men and music downstairs.

This is going to be a very long night.

———

"A party? That little liar!" Janis yells over the phone. "No wonder she didn't come to my art show. She told me she'd be there!"

"I'm sorry, Janis." I say with a sigh.

She sighs too. "It's fine."

"Hey, are you free today?" I ask as I sit up in bed, stretching. It's a boring Saturday morning.

"Uh, I'm not. I actually have a date.."

I gasp and smile. "Janis! What's her name?" I ask happily, feeling excited for my friend.

Janis recently came out to me as a lesbian, in which I showed 100% support. Damien told me he was gay the first day we met.. so we didn't actually have a moment like Janis and I. We both started crying when we came out to each other, both of us never feeling that support in the past.

"Her name is Natalie. She is a band kid but she's so sweet and she can play the guitar!" I can practically hear her smile through her voice.

"Aw, I'm so happy for you!" I beam. "I'll let you go. Have fun on your date!"

We say goodbye before hanging up on each other. I check the time and see it's a little past ten so I crawl out of bed and head downstairs to see the aftermath of Cady's party last night.

There's still a few people here, passed out on the couch and the floor. I step around them and go to the kitchen to find some breakfast but the fridge is empty. Great.

"Cady!" I shout, making the sleeping people groan. "I'm going out! Do you want anything!"

When I get no answer, I go upstairs to her room. That's where I find her fast asleep in bed. I cover her with her blankets and sigh. Poor thing has never been hungover, she's probably struggling right now.

"I'll be back soon." I say quietly, not knowing if she heard me or not. I grab Cady's car keys and go outside to her car.