The Popular Plan

Chapter 27

A/n: huge, long explanation at the end for my absence. It's almost been two months. :(
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Day 60- Get back with old friends

I put on a smile as I walked through the doors to the high school. After the events of yesterday, I wanted to be able to talk to Tayah and all of my old friends. These guys were the ones who supported me and made me feel comfortable when I first came to this school.

I was late, but I didn't care. Right now, I was just about to go into a study hall. I signed myself in and walked to the study hall as soon as the bell rang. Luckily, I had it with Tayah and another one of my old friends, Aislinn.

I came in a little late, and sat down in a seat next to Aislinn. I could see her look at Tayah, a little confused as to why I was sitting with them.

Tayah cleared her throat. "What do you want, McKenna?"

I looked back and forth between the two of them. Tayah was annoyed, Aislinn was tense.

"Your friendship," I began, laughing a little. "I miss you guys so much. You... You are my true friends. I miss you all so much and those other girls just aren't me, ya know?"

Tayah didn't say anything, and neither did Aislinn.

"Seriously, say something," I whispered. It was so quiet in the study hall, which was weird and a little different.

"I personally don't know what to say," Aislinn told me, staring at her books. "You completely left us high and dry. We miss you too, but we can't have anyone that dramatic in our group."

"No new kid in our school was as close to me as I am with you," Tayah finally spoke up. "But, I don't know if I can trust you, because this experience and drama was so hard."

"I get it, I totally get it," I told them both, fiddling with my hands under the table.

I felt like a bully, and I totally understood how it felt to be bullied in my old school. Everyone knows I wasn't the prettiest, the most popular, nothing. So I totally got it.

I hated getting in fights with my friends, especially these kids. We may have cut ties in the past few months, but that didn't mean I still occasionally thought about them.

The one I was most upset about was Tayah. She was, is, my best friend. She's probably even closer to me than Bella ever was. I miss her, too, but Tayah made me forget about her. Tayah was totally my best friend.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Bella, but I think the two of us grew apart. I guess it's okay, because lately she was acting different, but Tayah was supposed to be the one I leaned back on.

"Can we just, maybe, talk in lunch in private? No offense Aislinn," Tayah whispered, noticing the lack of talking in the room. "I just think it'd be best if we talked because I think you're one of my best friends, and I feel like you think the same as me."

I smiled, realizing she felt the same as me. "Yeah, of course. The bells about to ring so, I'll see you then at lunch. Have a good rest of the day."

The bell rang and to say the least, the whole day moved by so slow. I couldn't wait until lunch when I could talk to Tayah, instead of acting like petty little children. When it came time for lunch, I raced to the cafeteria and sat in a cornered off table.

Tayah took forever to get to the cafeteria. She saw me and sat down across from me, taking out a thermos and her drink. "So, let's talk, shall we?" She started to eat her lunch, but stopped and looked me dead in the eye.

"I missed you so much. We all did. It killed us to see you act like someone we all knew you weren't. Can you just promise me one thing? Please?"

I smiled. "I'll promise you anything."

"You never leave our side again. You be McKenna, not Ms. Popular. I know you lost all this weight and everything to become popular, but being popular isn't you."

I couldn't promise her that. Call me crazy, but I think my life is set on being above everyone. This school was my savior. I could start over, try new things, explore different personalities without anyone really judging me. And for Tayah to say she wants me to be me, kind of crushed my confidence. Maybe I really should just go back to the popular kids.

But I couldn't do that.

"Okay, I guess. Anything to make you guys happy. I don't birthday want to lose you guys again. But just one thing. If I become popular, I do it on my own. This is the time for everyone to know me. I want to show myself off. I just feel confident about me."

Tayah looked disappointed. "McKenna, I don't think it's the smartest move. Just lay low and be with us. We are pretty chill you know." She laughed a little bit, but I could tell she was upset I just said that.

"I know I sound like I have s big ego. It's just that I've always wanted to be someone I'm not, especially since I used to hate myself and my body. Im sorry Tay. But I will always be with you guys, and be you're best friend. I love you so much."

Tayah smiled too.

"I love you too, welcome back."

--
It's been two months and I can explain.

School legit got the best of me, i ain't lying. Between finals and regents and review and dance and studying, writing wasn't my main priority. Then I had a competition. I also got a writers block. BUT I managed to figure out how I want to end the story and some of the key points in each chapter! But now I am back in the swing of things!