Looking For You

Chapter 16 - Stereotype

Chapter 16 - Stereotype

All the girls staring, all the boys drooling. Crowds parting ways as the line of girls walk through the halls, all in the same uniform. They catch everyone’s eyes, being the main focus of the moment, never missing them to catch a glimpse of the hottest girls in the school. Putting on smiles and raising eyebrows, these girls flip their hair at the boys boys, making them drown in their own amazement. 

All walking with the same foot in front, synchronising their steps in a model-like way. Their hair flows behind them, giving them that glamorous super model look that everyone loves. Their hips are on point; swaying from side to side along with their walks, appearing sexy before the boys’ eyes.

Because being with the plastics was like being famous... people looked at you all the time and everybody just knew stuff about you.

Yep, I guess you could say I had one of those flashbacks to this scene from Mean Girls, because right now, it feels like I’m living in the movie. All five of us walk through the hallways, trying to get to first period on a Wednesday morning. The crowds do part for us, only because we are the cheerleaders in blue and yellow.

“Make way, cheerleaders coming through!” 

Boys announce our arrival, making people gasp as they don’t dare to step in our paths. I feel honoured to gain this sort of royalty, it was like hanging out with the Plastics… literally. During all my time at high school and college, I’ve learnt that students always make way for the popular girls, cheerleaders or football jocks, being the most popular cliques in high school and college. It’s like I don’t even deserve all of this, like I started from the bottom, and now I’m at the top.

Being smart today, I wore my cheerleading uniform, just like the rest of my friends. We all look the same, being the stand out with our mini skirts and revealing tops. Cringing at the thought, I hold my head up high and play my part, finally parting ways with Tibby and Sherri as Celine, Tiffany and I make our way into maths class, once again.

All the cheers and attention are immediately taken off my shoulders, kind of feeling relieved for it because I was starting to feel overwhelmed by all those eyes staring at me. I’m okay now, only groaning at the sight of Mrs. Prow again, wishing that Mrs. Barnett would recover from her sickness.

Suddenly feeling a need to follow Celine and Tiffany to the back of the room, I kind of feel intimidated by all the big, bulky guys cheering them on as they put on a show with twirls and facial expressions. That is so not like me, I think. I wouldn’t be able to fit in with those people, always having to talk to everyone around me impressing those who think that I’m one of them.

Taking one glance at Celine and Tiffany, I shake my head, feeling kind of defeated that I hesitated and went for the safe side. I make my way over to my usual spot, looking out the window to make time pass. Rethinking my earlier thought, how I started from the bottom, and now I’m at the top, I reword my phrase: I started from the bottom, reached the halfway mark, broke the thermometer at the top and stooped low, below the charts. That just shows that I can never be where I’m expected to be, going by what the stereotypical college says.

Sighing, I hear Christian’s name being called out by one of the guys at the back of the room. I turn my head, catching him wearing a black t-shirt and grey skinny jeans, totally owning that hair that he wears down today. He walks to the middle of the room, suddenly turning his head to me; where his expression changes to a soft smile.