The Popular Plan

Chapter 13

song of the chapter: where are ü now// skrillex & diplo featuring justin bieber

I hobbled off the stage the table was set on, feeling like I was going to puke up everything I ate.

I squinted my eyes to try and at least look for Tayah. She could have had at least waited for me in the same area she was before to help out her friend.

I saw her in a corner, crying. She had absolutely no reason to cry. If anyone was going to cry, it would be since my reputation was now ruined. Why must I be so stupid? Why must I decide that I'll eat thirty pieces or whatever? Why?

I walked over to Tayah. My hand was covered in sauce as I reached out to touch her shoulder.

"Go away," she whispered. "You ruined yourself. You're such an idiot, Kenna."

"Oh hey, look! It's Ms. Food Slut!" I heard someone yell in my ear as they walked past me. Tayah stuck up her finger to them.

"Fu-" She began, but stopped herself. She stood up and straightened out her dress. "You know what, Ken? Maybe you should handle this on your own. I'm out."

Her words hurt me to hear. I could see her wipe a tear from her face as she walked away from me. Now I wanted to cry. Someone called me a Food Slut, whatever the heck that meant. I wasn't obsessed with eating 24/7, but I did like my fair share of sundaes and nachos.

I mean everyone does, right? Even Ombré and Blondie, they have bikini perfect bodies, and I saw them eating the grilled chicken at my family's party like there was no tomorrow.

I felt like I was going to throw up. I staggered over to the bathroom where I bumped into another person. Man, I do that a lot. I held my stomach as I walked into the bathroom, only to be turned around by the person I bumped into.

"Hey, McKenna! I have to ask you to go outside if you need to puke? Food Sluts aren't allowed to puke inside my house." Stuart smiled at me, a sickly sweet smile.

"You know what, you mother trucker?" Wow, McKenma, what bad language. "I may have eaten over three boxes of that ding dang pizza, but you know what? It was damn good so go ahead and call me Food Slut all you want, big guy!"

What even was a Food Slut?

My other question was, why bother ordering so many boxes if you eat more than twenty-two pieces exactly, you get fat shamed?

I looked at Stuart. He had a lopsided grin on his face, just staring at me. I could practically feel my stomach bursting through my dress. But Stuart is really cute. I didn't mind him staring at me, no matter how self conscious I am about myself.

"Okay, I have some questions. One, what even is a Food Slut? Is it a person who likes to eat, and gets fat shamed for it? Or is it just a person who can eat more than twenty-two pieces of pizza? And I'm really regretting that now, mama has to use the toilet."

Stuart laughed at me. "Well, Food Slut, if you must know, a Food Slut is a person who eats more than twenty-two pieces. They are then considered fat and a Food Slut. They don't have the same privileges at parties as others. Only the skinny survive." He wiped the sweat off his forehead and laughed again.

Hearing Stuart say that made me boil up with anger. What did he mean by "privileges"? It was honestly so stupid that someone like him could be so cruel to others. I wanted to slap him. Make him feel pain as my hand swats across his face. I wanted to do it to everyone. I hate everyone here.

"I have one more question," I said, staring at Stuart in the eye. "Why order so many boxes when the limit is like, twenty-two? Why? Is it to make the person feel bad? Because you are doing a damn good job at it!"

Stuart laughed his airy laugh. I wanted to punch him, again, and everyone else. Where was Tayah? I needed her so she could comfort me. Only a true friend would do that. Stuart stopped laughing and blew out a big breath. "McKenna, we order so many boxes so that way we know who to stay away from. Like I said, only the skinny survive, and Food Sluts like you aren't accepted. It's the truth!"

What an asshole. I could someone think it's okay to say that to someone? I needed Tayah. I needed her to talk to me and tell me that she won't let anyone hurt my feelings. She was doing a shitty job at being a good friend.

"You can now go hang out with the Food Sluts over there, since you're an embarrassment to hang out with." He pointed to a group of lonely people sitting at a white picnic table in a corner of the room. They were smiling and laughing with each other. It was good to see that they weren't so bad.

"Okay," I said. "I'll go sit with them. At least they might be nicer than you, you little piece of shit." I kicked him in the shin and walked away, satisfied with myself. While I was walking to my new friends, I felt a smooth hand grab me around the wrist. It was Tayah. She pulled me onto the couch.

"McKenna, before you go over there, I want to tell you, don't. Just stay here. I have some water and ginger ale. Just sit here and go to sleep. The party is at least dying down a little. Don't worry. If anyone tries to wake you up, I'll throw them the finger. Go to sleep." She laid me down on the couch and threw a blanket on me.

"Thanks," I croaked out, tears spilling out of my eyes.

Tayah smiled. "You're welcome," she replied.

I then drifted off to sleep.

--

My dream was quite interesting that night.

I was standing back stage at a circus. I was wearing a big clown suit that kind of looked like a pizza.

"Up next, we have the Food Slut!" I was pushed on to the middle of the ring. In the audience was all of my classmates.

They were laughing at me as I ate one piece of pizza and ran across to eat the other.

I just couldn't remember why I did it.

No memories from last night came flooding back. Why was I eating so much pizza?

I woke up with a start right after, my stomach aching.

"The Food Slut is awake!" I heard someone yell before I got a bunch of booing.

What the heck was going on?

--

Why I chose Where Are Ü Now: because that song is amazing and McKenna was looking for Tayah. And where was Tayah? MIA!

I have this book called DMs With a Fourth Grader soooo check it out maybe? It's funny. :)

Hope you liked this chapter. And an early Happy New Year! May it be blessed and filled with joy!