Family Ties (Heathers Reader Insert)

ONE

WARNING: Homophobic slurs (Because Kurt and Ram exist, of course)

Tenth times the charm.

That's what we used to say. Jokingly, of course.

Sometimes I still try it out, just to see if it'll have the same effect that it used to.

I take a deep breath. Here we go again.

I step into the cafeteria, my eyes darting around cautiously. I examine the tables, making note of all of the groups. Relatively cliche. Jocks, nerds, misfits, populars. None of them look like people I'd actually want to interact with. I see someone wave me over. Veronica Sawyer. She sits with three other girls in red, green and yellow blazers. I made friends with Veronica in class earlier, but as for the other girls... I have no idea who they are. I walk over to them.

"Hi...," I say. Veronica pats the bench beside her and I sit down.

"This is her?" The one in red asks. Veronica nods.

"Yep. Y/n." I blink.

"I'm... So sorry, but who are you?" I ask.

"They're the Heathers." Oh, ew, a clique. I raise an eyebrow.

"And all of you are named Heather, I assume." The three of them nod. I shake all of their hands. "Well, I'm y/n, as you're well aware, I'm sure." Veronica introduces me to Heather Chandler, Duke and McNamara. "Is someone going to explain to me why you look like a stoplight?" I ask dryly. "I don't know if you realize, but you do." Veronica lets out a short laugh.

"Oh, so one of the snappy ones, huh?" Chandler says.

"That's correct," I say calmly. "I've learned over the years that it makes an interesting impression on the hordes. So that's what I do." McNamara smiles.

"Over the years?" I nod.

"Yeah. And over my... Ten high schools. Still haven't lost count yet," I say. They look at me in shock.

"... Ten high schools?" Duke asks.

"Are you really going to repeat everything I say?" They seem to have a silent conversation, but I can almost read them. "Deciding my fate already? I've only been here for half a day." I smile, pushing my hair back. The three Heathers blink a few times. "Uh... Did I do something...?"

"You have gorgeous eyes." I did not expect that.

"Nice lips as well." I open my mouth, my face suddenly going red. Jeez, people show interest in my looks, and suddenly I'm a mess. And I'm not even into them.

"I... Huh?"

"And good bone structure." I quickly recover, rather annoyed to find them smiling at my blushing face. I will not be cute to these girls. I refuse to be cute to anyone. Being known as cute is not a trait I'd like to accquire. And especially not from these girls, who seem to run the school.

"Okay. What are you doing?" I demand.

"You're going to be a part of our group," Veronica explains. It's probably good that I join right away, but do I really want to be a popular girl? I'd be up there in the hierarchy. Maybe this could be a good thing. They all stand up.

"Okay?" Chandler asks, putting her hand out to shake it. I contemplate for a moment.

"Okay." I take it. We head to the washroom. After a while, they've given me a makeover. I've always despised the idea of makeovers. Why try to make yourself look different? Unless you're on the run or... I catch sight of myself in the mirror, stopping suddenly.

I look good.

I'm decked out in an all black outfit, similar to the others, somehow with my own little twist on it. I feel a slight rush as I adjust the collar of my blazer. Since we move around a lot, I've never really experienced anything like this. Friends. People who invite me in and make me a part of them. People who make me... Beautiful.

"Wow... Black, huh? That's my colour?" I say as I examine my reflection, slightly dumfounded. Veronica and my other... Friends seem pleased at their work. It's not like I can say it isn't warranted. "... Thank you," I say.

"You look great, y/n," Veronica says. I smile awkwardly.

"Thanks," I say. I self-consciously pull down the hem of my skirt as we leave the room. "So short...," I mutter under my breath.

"You'll get used to it," McNamara says when she notices me doing this. As we enter the cafeteria, I see people staring at me. A lot of people. Some jocks look me up and down. I've also always despised jocks, with their hungry eyes and disgusting, dirty minds. Seems like the only things they can think of are sex and football.

"It's a new babe," I hear one of them say quietly.

"What the hell are you looking at?" I mutter as we pass by, glaring at them. "How did you ever get used to this, Veronica?" She's almost as new to this group as I am. "Veronica?" I ask. She's not there. "Where did she go...?" I ask quietly. We sit down and soon, she joins us.

"What?" Chandler asks her. She's hiding a smile.

"Nothing...," she replies, looking away. I notice my twin brother standing up, his face buried in a book as always. I roll my eyes, smiling. Classic. Two jocks grab him.

"Hey, what'd your boyfriend say when you told him you were moving to Sherwood, Ohio?" One of them asks, smacking the back of my brother's head. I smirk. Those two are in for a treat.

"Doesn't the caf have a no fags allowed rule?" One of them yells.

"It seems to have an open door policy for assholes though," Jason says coolly. The cafeteria goes a little more quiet.

"Hold his arms," The first guy says. My brother then proceeds to beat them up in a few minutes, with barely any effort. He makes eye contact with me, smirks smugly, and smoothes his hair back. I roll my eyes as he leaves the cafeteria.

"Did he just... Look at you?" Veronica asks.

"Mm," I hum in confirmation. "What an idiot." The others look at me like I'm insane. "What? It's true."

"Who was that?" Veronica asks.

"Why? Are you into him?" I ask with a laugh. "I'll put in a good word for you, if you are," I say. Duke frowns.

"You know that guy?" She asks. I lean back, crossing my arms.

"Obviously. Been stuck with him forever. Can't you see it? He's my twin brother. I can't even tell you how many times I've been told how alike we are." Veronica raises an eyebrow.

"Now that you mention it... Yeah." I nod.

"Exactly." I look at my sleeves. "Huh, even our clothes match now. We're gonna be known as the emo twins. As always." Freak. Psycho. Goth. Weirdo. Stoner. Burnout. Poser. Emo. Just another insult added to the long list of ones that have been used against me. One of these days, I'll have heard everything. Every single word that teenagers use to describe a kid like me. A kid who's an outcast. Well, maybe not so much an outcast anymore. "Fantastic."

"... What's his name?" Veronica asks after a second.

"Who?"

"Your brother." I crack a smile.

"Jason. Jason Dean."