“Tallulah Dean for homecoming queen!” Dixie shouted, bumping playfully into Tallulah as the girls ran down the hallway, “Lula Dean for homecoming queen! Don’t forget!”
Homecoming week was normally dreadful. Tallulah was one of the only juniors to participate in Spirit Week, and while she found it riveting to dress in all neon colors or like a character from her favorite book - everyone else looked at her how they always did - a seemingly dorky outcast. Today, Thursday, it was different though. Everything was just working better. Today’s theme was - Dress As Someone You’re Not - it was weird, yes, but it gave Lula the option to dress as a rock ‘n roll girl which she totally loved. She had on a black leather jacket, some cool black leggings, and her hair was curled. Her boots had little jewels on them, and her shirt had a skull on it and she was simply rocking it. Rocking it so much that Levi Storm, resident senior hottie and guitarist of a punk rock band in Mauve came up to Tallulah and complimented her on her outfit.
Lula was an outcast, sure, but she wasn’t boy incompetent. She had plenty of friends who were boys, and though she was convinced the entire popular boy section of her school thought she was a freak, maybe Levi was different. Levi had that I-don’t-give-a-crap sort of attitude, and he wasn’t even participating in spirit week. Boys like Levi Storm didn’t even blink at spirit week, and they surely didn’t go to football games.
“I found this jacket out thrifting actually,” Lula smiled, studying Levi as he leaned up against her locker, “And the boots too.”
“They’re awesome,” His voice was silky like honey, “Hey, do you wanna come to one of my shows sometime?”
“Oh,” Tallulah’s eyes literally did that thing in cartoons where little hearts pop out and they start beating insanely fast, “Of course.”
He said something along the lines of “awesome” again, and then in a swift but familiar movement, Levi Storm threw his arm around Tallulah and they started walking down the hallway. It was magical. It was enchanting. And when he also started chanting “Tallulah Dean for homecoming queen!” Lula nearly cried tears of joy. But then she heard a voice.
“Lu--Lula? Tallulah? Tallulah Dean!” In an instant, Tallulah popped awake and lifted her head from her desk, drool on her lips, starring wide-eyed at her classmates and Psychology teacher, “Tallulah Dean, could you tell us what page we’re on since you’re reading your book soooo closely?”
It all started with Kase this morning. Up bright and early, even on a Saturday, Kaya’s youngest sibling pooped his pants. He was newly toilet trained, and she understood when you had to go, you had to go, but, still - really? She was groggy, and his poop was potent, and the next thing she knew the twins were burning the scrambled eggs on the stove. Dugan had clogged the toilet, Juno was barely passing math class and - where in the Hell were her parents again? Kaya somehow managed to take her life boat and battle through the storm of the morning and always, and before she knew it, she had four minutes to get to her job at the diner.
On a good day, it took ten. On a great day, Kaya could get there in eight. Still, she’d be late and it was her third infraction this month. Sue was her general manager. She didn’t have a last name as far as Kaya knew, and everyone just called her “the evil one.” So, today with the smell of poo still all up in her nose, Kaya had to rely on her manager whom everyone literally called evil to not fire her. Luckily, the bus was quick and Mr. Brown was in his usual seat to tell Kaya her one knock knock joke a day. Then, the road to cross wasn’t busy so she scurried as fast as she possibly could into the front doors of the diner and - wham!
Kaya landed face first in a plate of their strawberry cheesecake waffles that one of the servers was bringing to the table. She wanted to cry, but she had already cried that week and Kaya was on a strict one time a week crying rule or else she’d be a blubbering mess every single day. So, she wiped whipped cream from her cheeks, apologized, and told the customers they’d remake them extra good just ‘cause she was a klutz. Though, as Kaya went to finally punch in and start her day, “the evil one” asked to see her in her office.
“I’m so sorry, Sue,” Kaya instantly shot out, “I’ve had a morning. Whew, have I had a morning! First my little brother poo--”
“Kaya, this is your third time being late this month.”
“I know! But, if you just let me explain I’m--”
“No,” Sue was surely living up to her nickname, and she didn’t bat an eyelash as she announced, “Miss Soto, I’m sorry, but, you’re fired.”
“It was an eighty-two, Lily. Rounded up with your other test scores that’s still an eighty-five. An eighty-five in advanced calculus. Advanced! That’s good. That’s goo--” Lily took a large gulp of her vodka and pineapple juice, listening as the end of the year party blared from Tucker’s house next door, “Just go. Go have some fun. You deserve it.”
God, she didn’t deserve it. The anxiety thing was back. Lily didn’t know why she called it an “anxiety thing” ‘cause with her psychologist, he told her to not even call it anything. Anxiety would always be in the car, but never let it drive. Lily learned that, but she didn’t learn the part about how to not let it have the entire wheel, directions and snacks yet. So, it did. Her anxiety thing had the wheel and it was driving her mad tonight, though, a couple of pre-gaming drinks surely didn’t help her out either. It was the last day of school tomorrow for fucks sake! Her grades were already solidified and Tucker was next door. Tucker was next door and he was probably sleeping with another girl right the--no.
“No,” Lily stood up, “No, no. It’s okay. It’s okay.” She finished her drink, pulled her nonexistent boobs out of her shirt a little bit, and headed down the stairs. Her mom was already asleep on the couch, and she squeezed her hand ever-so-slightly, “I’ll be back by two, mama. I’m just right next door with Tuck.”
Tucker and about thirty of her classmates, but hey, what her groggy mom didn’t know wouldn’t kill her, right?
Working a side job at the MODE offices was everything to Carolina. Refreshing, and full of actual adults and not high school foes, the exclusive Rhode Island fashion magazine was the place she felt at home. Though a badass bitch by day, Carolina was a writer by night. She excelled in everything and anything that had to do with English, and while no one at school really cared about her grades - they were actually good. She got the internship last summer and had secretly been working there ever since. Granted, it wasn’t so secret when she got to use their studios for amazing, over-the-top Instagram photoshoots, but still, her writing alias - Carol Penn - was something that only she and the staff knew about.
“My love, would you stand in for a photoshoot today? Mayor Henley won’t be in for another hour, and we want to make sure the lighting is right,” The Editor in Chief of MODE was Mrs. Winters and though she looked like the musical theater teacher from High School Musical, she only wore top designer brands and pranced around Mauve with her tiny dog, Poncho.
“Oh,” Carolina looked up from her desk with her beautiful smile, “Of course. Any excuse to let Andre take a few pictures of me, right?”
Mrs. Winters nodded with a Mrs. Winters smile and Carolina went on her way to the photo studio. It was custom built in the MODE offices, and though it wasn’t something you’d find in Hollywood, it was still nice. Detouring quickly to the bathroom, Carolina escaped into a stall, checking her phone but not texting back her mom and then popping two Adderall into her mouth and letting them dissolve. Tonight would be long, and with an advice column excerpt to write, photoshoots to stand in for, and a history paper to do before tomorrow, the brunette figured a little extra concentration in the form of her favorite pill wouldn’t hurt her this time. But then again, that’s what she said yesterday too.
