Wendy trots down the halls of Mount Washington High, with her fake purple glasses balanced on the bridge of her sleek nose. Her dark denim jacket is loosely hanging on her chest, and bounces against her cheap, rhinestone-decorated t-shirt. A brown belt is hung around her thin waist. Ever since a cute boy told her she was "hot and skinny" in seventh grade, she accentuates the fact she's got a thin waist. Wendy stops in front of the locker her best friend is reaching into.
"Issy, you'll come with me to read The List, right?" Wendy says, clutching her iPhone in one hand, decorated with plastic stones that look like sapphires. Okay, it's a fake iPhone, but better a fake phone then no phone at all. Right?
"Yup," Issy responds dully, shoving a book into her locker. Issy pulls out her own LG smartphone, when Wendy takes advantage of the situation.
"Updates on my Twitter," Wendy commands. She doesn't need ask - it's practically Issy's job to cater to Wendy's every want and need.
"Someone retweeted your latest daily quote," Issy responds, unenthusiastically, brushing away a strand of her own wavy long hair. They stop in front of the large crowd of girls, where the list is posted.
"I wonder what the list says now..." Wendy says, biting her bottom lip. She hopes she knows some of the girls. It's been Wendy's dream to figure out how the list works, and what better way than to know a girl on the list? When girls turn around to see who is behind them, they stop, whisper frantically to their friends, then shoot looks of sorry, gratitude, but mostly relief.
"Sweet!" Wendy cheers, happily sliding her way through the crowd to take a look at the list. Issy stays behind, gulping.
FRESHMEN:
Ugliest:
WENDY NIWIN --
Fake hair, fake phone, and fake friends don't make you a trendista.
What... Wendy thinks, face paling. Her hands grow firm, unnecessarily clutching the edges of the paper. I'm the ugliest...?
"I'm so sorry, Wendy," a girl with bright red hair and freckles says. Wendy glares suspiciously at her. Is she the list maker? Does she feel bad about it? She faintly chokes a "it's fine," then runs off to the bathroom, blinking away tears.
The list was right. The bottom layer of her ugly, dark brown hair was all made up of feathers of all patterns and colors, against her parent's will. The majority of her "accessories" were made up of plastic stones, and any bit of fur she wore was faux fur. She thought it was nice alternative to buying actual diamonds and gold, and real fabric, since her parents were grade A cheapos. Was it really that easy to tell?
The door of the bathroom creaked open, and a familiar pair of shoes clacked towards her.
"Wendy..." Issy began, stuttering words. Wendy is reminded of what else the list said. Fake friends...
"T-The prettiest girl, I know you don't want to hear this, but it's Car. Carmen Torrent." Wendy's face pales at the thought of her.
--
"Car," a voice says. Car turns her head towards one of her older friends, Jake, whose face is utterly stoned and eyes are sagging from being tired. His head peaks out of a bush, a bush that is only a few feet away from the outdoor cafeteria/walkway at Mt. Washington High.
"Jake!" She hisses, awkwardly holding out her backpack to prevent the other passing students from seeing him. "I told you not to visit me at school! Or people will know I'm-"
"Look, don't worry," Jake says, taking a deep breath out. Car can smell the pot on him, and she shudders. They're outside, so hopefully the wind will blow it away. "Sheelah's car broke down and we need to borrow yours."
"AGAIN?" She sighs. Despite the fact Jake is high and couldn't even throw a punch, she knows if she doesn't give him her car keys, she won't have a car to use at all. She shoves him into a bush, seeing a band of girls coming her way, tossing him her keys as well. They aren't even her keys, it's the keys to Tio's car. After all, Car's only fifteen.
"Hey!" a girl says, putting on a smile. The four other girls copy, and wave. Identical blue, clear, glassy bracelets hang around their wrists.
"Hiya," Car says, smiling back. Ever since this morning, kids have been waving at her, saying hello, and complimenting her looks. A few guys even hooted and whistled when she walked by the Senior wing. But Car is used to older guys hitting on her. She's a natural 5'6, has long hair, and is a year older than most freshmen. Plus, she knows more older guys than anyone else.
"Wait," a brunette says, holding out a hand. She sniffs the air. "Is that weed?"
"I think so," Carmen responds. She's memorized at least fifteen different excuses to make up for the scent of marijuana that might linger on her. "A group of college hippies just walked by. Must be them."
"Oh, okay," the brunette says. The other girls blindly agree with her. There isn't even a college nearby.
"So, congrats on making it on the list," The alpha of the pack says, smiling widely. To her left, the odor of pot is detectable. This means Jake made a run for it now that Car covered for the smell.
"The what?" Car asks, confused. She runs a finger through her dyed light brown hair, with a single strand of green. She got it streaked green during the summer on a dare.
"You know, the list." She says. Car still has the confused face.
"Well, you're a freshmen, so it's fine if you don't know what it is. See ya" the blonde says, smiling. She waves goodbye, leading her group of friends away.
"Bye!" Car says. After they are safely far away, she walks inside, trying to ignore the stares that come from everybody. What the hell is the list... She thinks. Suddenly, she hits a corner that divides the Freshmen and Sophomore wing. On the wall is a piece of paper, with girls of all grades, heights, sizes, and appearances cramming to look at it.
"It's Car!" one girl exclaims upon noticing. The other girls erupt in smiles, and congratulate Carmen. They pull her forward, putting Car straight in front of the list. She reads from the top, seeing the "ugliest" freshmen is Wendy, a girl from her Junior High. Then, her eyes scan the line that has her name in it.
Prettiest:
CARMEN TORRENT --
She's bringing punk-rock back in style. We all love a little green here or there, don't we?
We all love a little green here or there, don't we?
To everyone else, the green comment meant her hair. But to Car, that meant something more. Whoever wrote the list, knows a lot more about her than she'd appreciate.
--
AN: Yo. All of the last names of these girls are of Mods on a certain website. Hope they don't mind XD
YOU ARE READING
The List
FanfictionEvery year, at Mount Washington High, two girls from each grade are crowned the "prettiest" and the "ugliest", by an anonymous list maker. The lives of eight girls, are about to be turned upside-down, all because of one well-known piece of paper.
