Rotten Youth

a new era 🖤

Context: Me (Ava) and My best friends, Johnnie Guilbert and Jake Webber, are in grade 12. I love music apart of the subculture, but I never thought to dress like what I listen to, while Jake and Johnnie go all out. I've always admired their style but never been confident enough to try it. One day I go shopping with Jake and everything changes. (also Jake and Johnnie aren't youtubers in this)

"That's it. I wanna be emo" I blurt out. My sister hears you from the next room.
"What the hell..?" She's calls out. I didn't realise she was home. I've been scrolling on TikTok and my algorithm has been flooding you with all sorts of subculture videos. Goth, emo, scene, punk, you name it has been popping up on my screen for the last 30 minutes.
"Haha, sorry Rose." I reply.
"It's okay..." Rose says. I can hear the amount of judge drowning her words.
"I'm going out with Jake. Be back in probably.. uh.. 3 hours?" I explain, running downstairs.
"Alright. Have fun!" My sister yells back to me.

I'm wearing a blue laced tank and a white off-shoulder sweater that says 'San Fransisco' on it from Brandy Melville. I've got my favourite pair of light blue denim shorts on, and some basic white crocs with the occasional jibbitz. I walk out the door and lock it behind me. Jake waves from the front seat of his car, a smile plastered of his face. I whip open the door and jump in the passenger seat, cranking up the air. Jake backs out of my driveway and we start our journey to the mall.

"You all ready?" He asks. He's wearing his usual blank tank with black ripped jeans and a red and silver studded belt. Black boots cover his feet, making him an inch or so taller than usual.
"Yep" I reply. "Uh... I'm thinking about going to hot topic.."
"Wait, really!?" Jake exclaims.
"Yeah.. I've gotten more confident and I love your style. I was hoping you can help pick some stuff out for me." I explain, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Oh my god, yeah! Finally, Ava, you've joined the cult!" he sings.
I let out a little chuckle. The embarrassment washes straight out of me.

'Turn left.... Turn right now. You have reached your destination'  The car's navigation system directs. Jake parks the car and we both get out. Stuffing my phone in my pocket, Jake exclaims:
"Yayyy! I actually can't wait. You don't know how happy this makes me!"
we both laugh in unison as he skips ahead. I walk in the mall and he directs me to a giant store, with the words Hot Topic on the front. As I take my first steps into the shop, it feels magical. Gorgeous dresses, jeans, and shirts are hung all over the walls from top to bottom.
"Woah.." I murmur. Jake looks at me and chuckles.
"Cool, right?" He says.
"Aha.. yeah!" I reply. This is going to be fun.

A heavy metal song blasts throughout the store, and I immediately know it's Metallica. Jake looks at you, knowing you absolutely adore this song.
"Jump in the fire?" Jake smirks.
"Ooohh yeahhhh" I nod my head to the beat, smiling. I keep pacing through the store and looking through racks of clothing until I see a really cute pair of jeans on the wall. They're black and ripped in a cross shape with a chain swooped across the side.
"Oh my god, Jake! Come here!" I squeal. He runs over and takes a look at the pants.
"Oh, those will suit you so well! I love them" He smiles and I nod in agreement.

After about 1 hour of browsing through the store, I've come up with a final outfit: the black jeans, a black and silver studded belt, a ripped grey and black striped sweater with a painted looking star on the front, and a black tank top underneath. I ask an employee to unlock the change rooms and I walk in. You put all the pieces of clothing on then do a spin in the mirror. You unlock the door and walk out, seeing Jake leaning against a clothing rack, arms crossed.
'Oh, God, he looks so hot' I think to myself, '..Shit, what?!?'
Not again. The last time I started getting a crush on someone was about 2 years ago. My 'best friend', Avery, spilled the beans and told everyone, and the dude, Marshall, thought I were crazy. I'll never forget what he said to me, and not to mention what Avery did. It was a real backstabber move, and my ego's still not recovering from that moment, the sentence "Ew gross, you're so ugly. What makes you think I'd go out with you?" still stains my mind. I think of that event, wincing.

Jake's jaw drops in awe as he looks at me from head to toe. I feel a flutter in my stomach.
What was that look..?
"Oh.. wow..! You look amazing!" Jake exclaims.
"Thanks!" I reply. The look he gave me stays in my mind.
Oh, God.. that was really hot.. I think, starting to feel like I'm going to regret this.
I change back into my preppy little Brandy Melville outfit, feeling atrocious. I laugh to myself. Jake meets me at the checkout and I pay for my items. He got some cool earrings and another belt.

As we walk out of the store I head to the bathrooms and say:
"I'm changing into what I bought. This outfit feels weird.."
"Haha. The emo's taking over you" Jake jokes.

With my new outfit on, I shop around the mall, feeling as confident as ever. People are giving me and Jake all sorts of looks, and I don't know if they are judging us or admiring us, but I really don't care. We get to a Popeyes and I buy a lemonade, but not just any lemonade, the best lemonade in the world.