I was the new girl. I was the loner. The one everybody victimized. Now I'm better off... I think. I should be grateful. Louisa Kennedy, the most popular girl in my year, chose me as her friend. Now I am flying high and am no longer teased. That is wonderful. I get invited to parties. Also wonderful. But there is something about the friendship that feels so... hollow. Fake. Some people would say that I just can't believe my life is so great and am looking for holes to pick in the perfect picture that is my life. They may very well be right. But I am not so sure. Louisa... let's just say she didn't get to the top by being nice.
Sometimes, when she thinks for so much as a second that my loyalty to her is wavering slightly, she lashes out. Not physically. But verbally. She threatens me.
"You remember how fast you came to the top of this school because if I suspect you are talking about me in any way but completely positive I can send you right back down to the slums ten times as fast you came up."
That was just one of her threats. If I complied with everything she asked of me and agreed with everything she did then I would hold onto my place at the top. Otherwise... I didn't even want to think about what happened if I went back to the bottom. It was horrific the first time and it would be worse after my 'fall from grace'. So I stayed loyal, even when my heart wasn't in it.
For instance, the time when she invited me to a One Direction concert...
"So, Yasmin, I got us tickets to the One Direction concert next Tuesday. To get a good place to stand, we'll need to skip school, but that's no problem."
My jaw dropped. Of all the demands, of all the things she had done, this took the biscuit. I didn't like One Direction; in fact I despised them, but I put up with her talk of them because of the threats. I would do anything not to have to listen to their meaningless 'songs' for nearly two hours, but I would have to, because of Louisa. Skipping school, though? That was one demand too far. I would get detention at the very least, maybe even a suspension. Not to mention the disappointment my parents would suffer. They would be really angry, also; I wasn't sure if I was willing to risk even my popularity and acceptance in the school for that. My parents would not approve one bit. And, come to think of it, neither would I. Was this really me? Is this what my life had come to? Skipping school for a band I despised with my friend who constantly threatened me? But I didn't want to go back there.
"Is it?" Louisa scowled. I plastered a massive and completely fake grin on my face.
"Of course not!"
"Although, I could, I don't know, maybe go to school and meet you there later! I am not really fussed!"
'Please let this work, please let this work!' I prayed in my head.
"Do you expect me to stand in a queue for over six hours for you? Really? Let’s think about that one, eh? Hmm… Not happening. Although, if you don't want to skip with me... I could always invite someone else...” she whispered innocently. Checkmate. I had to go there now. I wasn't happy with it, but unless I wanted a reunion with the bottom of the school food chain, I was going. I had to accept it.
"No! I would be more than happy to skip with you!! We want the best view of those gorgeous men, don't we!!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!" I grinned.
That was just another example of the way she manipulates me. But I do it because I have to. Because acceptance is the thing I crave the most, and a high social status is a great bonus. Maybe after high school I will stop this mess of a school life. But for now, being mostly happy is better than not being happy at all...
