How To Rule Your High School

Chapter 22: Friday Night Lights

     "Knock knock knock! Is my favorite little junior home?"

     I stifled my groan of frustration as Victoria Carrington waltzed into my bedroom. She looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine spread on "What to Wear to a Football Game". Her jeans were perfectly fitted and distressed in just the right places. Coupled with a warm sweater and a pair of riding boots, her look seemed effortless despite the fact I knew she'd probably been planning it for days.

     "Hi, Vicky," I said flatly. Once upon a time I would've been tumbling all over myself trying to hide the fact I was preparing to settle in for a night of popcorn and Netflix. Now, I simply returned her stare as she took in my sweatpants, oversized hoodie, and absolute lack of makeup.

     "Well clearly somebody missed the memo," she said, planting her hands on her hips.

     "Vee! C'mon, we have to go!" Brett shouted, poking his head into my room as he pulled a school sweatshirt on over his football Under Armor.

     "You go, I need to help the little one get dressed," she said, not taking her eyes off mine. Brett grumbled something before thumping down the stairs.

     "I'm not going," I said, turning my attention back to the Netflix catalog on the TV. Vicky didn't move or make a sound until I glanced back at her and she raised her eyebrows.

     "Get your butt up off that couch and find something to wear," she said, staring me down. I sighed, blowing my cheeks out.

     "Why do you care if I come or not?" I demanded. She sighed, rolling her eyes as she came to sit down next to me.

     "Listen Maddie, I really couldn't care less if you came or not. But you not coming, well that hurts Brett. And I love Brett, so what hurts Brett hurts me. And Brett loves you, so I guess in a way that means that yeah, I do care a little bit if you're going to ditch all your friends for no good reason," she said, watching me with her perfectly made-up blue eyes. I could feel my jaw muscle pulsing while she waited for me to speak.

     "I'm not going because all the people I hate are going to be there," I said through my teeth. Vicky let out a tinkling laugh so perfect I wanted to smack her.

     "And that's exactly why you're coming with me, duh!" she said, hopping to her feet and dragging me up with her, "Now can you please go find something hotter to put on? Because I refuse to be seen in public with hobos,"

     "Vicky-" I started, but she pushed me towards my walk-in closet.

     "Tick tock! Wouldn't want to miss kickoff!" she said, tapping her foot. I closed the closet door behind me, leaning back against it.

     Okay, so there was no way out of this one. And even if I dreamed up an escape, I'd feel like the world's biggest jerk for missing my brother's big game. It was one thing to tell him I wasn't going and deal with his mopey puppy dog face all week. It was a complete other thing that he was so upset that he'd mentioned it to Vicky. 

      Besides, I knew it was going to suck to be there without my old "friends". Deanna had made it abundantly clear at school that she was over me and that I was now no longer any more significant than a speck of dirt to her. As was to be expected, the rest of the Junior A's followed suit, with even Courtney ceasing her attempts to talk in the hallways. It was a welcome change not to have to dodge them all the time, but I wasn't sure I wanted a front row seat as an outsider to the Friday nights I used to love.

     "If you need some help I'm more than willing!" Vicky sing-songed, knocking on the door. I bit my fist to vent my frustration as I dug through my closet for something to wear.