Group Therapy

Fourteen

Jenna

"I mean I'm not sure what look I'm going for yet. Like sweet and simple or sassy and sexy," I hear someone say.

Where the hell am I? I open my eyes and immediately regret it. I have a pounding headache.

"What the hell?"

"Ah Jenna, you're awake. Right on time too," says Marissa. I'm in a car with six other people.

I look out the window and see that we're in mall parking lot. I've only been to this mall once. It was back when everything was normal. Back when I wasn't a freak.

"Can someone explain to me why I'm in a car with you people? Explain to me why I was passed out."

"Marissa knocked you out. It was the only way we could get you to come," says Olena. I suddenly remember being at the group therapy. But all I remember is talking about homecoming.

"I'm not going to homecoming. So you guys can take me home now," I say.

"No. We're getting you a dress even if it's the last thing we do," says Marissa.

"Why do you guys even care if I go to homecoming or not? It has nothing to do with you."

"Jenna, you're one of us now. So now we're going to make you happy."

"Good luck with that," I say. I have never been happy. Not even when things were normal. So if these girls think they're going to make me happy, they're so utterly wrong.

"Fine," I agree and get out the car. One of the reasons I finally agreed was so that I can prove them wrong. They can't make me happy.

"I have a date with Bradley tomorrow," says Olena as we walk into the mall.

"The nerd Bradley or the hot Bradley?" Gionna asks. I don't even want to know why Gionna's here. She's as irritating as Olena, but a little dumber, if that's even possible.

This whole situation is awkward really. Usually you wouldn't catch Marissa's crew with a couple of cheerleaders. You wouldn't catch a couple of cheerleaders with a severely "depressed" girl.

"Of course hot Bradley. Nerd Bradley has bad dandruff and horrible acne," Olena.

"So are you going to the football game then?" Gionna asks.

"Yeah. I have to. Chasity will be on my ass if I don't cheer at the first football game of the year. Bradley and I are going to the movies right after school," Olena says.

"How's that been? Cheering with Chasity I mean," says Marissa.

"Not that bad. She's acting like the whole situation never even happened. I think I'm going to forgive her. I shouldn't let a guy come between our relationship," says Olena.

"Olena you're so fucking gullible," says Brenda, shaking her head.

"What do you mean?"

"Just because Chasity is being nice to you doesn't mean anything. She's going to keep being nice until you forgive her and then when you do she's going to be herself again," says Morgan.

Olena thinks for a minute. "Whatever. I need to start picking dresses."

Everyone starts walking around the dress store. I kind of just stand there awkwardly.

"Jenna, this is a great color for you. Try it on," says Olena. She hands me a knee length dress. It's a baby pink color, with black details across it. The straps are thick but the material is thin.

"Fine," I say. I get in the dressing room while Olena waits for me outside.

I put on the dress. It's hard to zip up at first but I get it up.