- - - Lena

“Oh my god, like, look at her clothes, she must have, like, gotten them from, like, Goodwill.”

“I know what you, like, mean, like, come on, obviously she has no sense of, like, style.”

“And did you hear? They’re putting her in charge of our prom, I mean, how stupid is that? There’ll be, like, a library in there, and like, Britney Spears music.”

“Yeah, totally.”

I heard it all as I walked home. They act like I don’t know. I act like I don’t care.

It’s worked for the past three years, hasn’t it? It’s not like anything is about to change, I thought.

How wrong I was.

- - -

“Lena! Lena, come here and help me!” My mother yelled. I trudged down the stairs. She had once been pretty, but the stress of having a senior and a kid just gone off to university had gotten to her head. Not to mention the chore of raising an introvert and a wild child, my sister.

“What are you doing just standing there? Help me put these groceries away!” she yelled, regardless of the fact that I was right there. I silently put away the food that would last us through the next few weeks. My father sat in the basement, watching TV. I glanced at the clock; it was 6:30. I had been doing my homework for three and a half hours. Getting into the new year, the teachers were starting to cram everything upon us. At least I wouldn’t have homework for the next day.

“Lena, I’m tired, ok? Don’t be so useless. Start putting the dishes away.” I did as told, brushing long black hair out of my eyes. As soon as I was done, Mother told me to set dinner. I got everything in place and told my father that dinner was ready. As I came back up the stairs, she started on me.

“Did you finish your homework, Lena?”

“Yes.” I said, toying with my rice.

“Good. How did your test go?”

“I got 98.”

“98? What happened to the other two percent? Marie would have got 100.”

“I got one question wrong. It was just a mistake.”

“Well, don’t make a mistake again. I don’t pay your fees just to have you waste it. Marie never did this bad in school, Lena, she’s so smart. Haven’t you learned anything?” I didn’t answer. It was better to not say anything, as I had learned long ago.

“Did you hear me Lena? I want you to study more. You’re always fooling around, and it’s about time you got serious about your work.”

“Ok. I will.”

“Don’t give me that crap. I know what you think about. Tell me, Lena, what’s his

name?”

“I told you, I don’t have a boyfriend.” I answered in a flat voice.

“Really? Then why did you fail this test, Lena? Tell me, why?” At that moment my father came upstairs and she let it drop. I quickly finished eating and went to my room. Ten minutes later my mother yelled at me to do the dishes and clean the table, so I did. Then I went to take a shower, staring a little too long at my pale skin and green eyes. I sighed.

School again.

- - -

“Just look at her, and we’re supposed to help? God, I’d, like, rather go out with, like, Shawn from P.E. class.”

“Oh my gosh, I know what you mean. Let’s just get this over with.”

It was lunchtime, and I had to get to Student Council, where our principal, Mr. Harper, had put me in charge of the senior prom. He always picked the kid with the highest grades then assigned a bunch of other students to help, usually from the cheerleaders and athletic departments. Thus, it ended with one kid figuring out the budget and what not, while the girls thought of all the ideas and decorating. The guys just fooled around.

And now I was in charge.

I pushed my binders in and straightened my long white dress, buckled at the waist. I didn’t have the nerve to ask my mother for new clothes, and my father generally didn’t get involved much. I remembered how Marie used to have her own credit card, and sighed. It would have been so much easier to come to school everyday if I at least looked like any other girl, not some Little-House-On-The-Prairie wanna-be. Swinging my brown bag over my shoulder, I tried to ignore the girls whispering behind me. I knew them to be the cheerleading captain, Jessica Ritz, and my former best friend, Ashley Toring. Ashley had acted like she didn’t know me the day we stepped into seventh grade. So much for best friends.

I heard footsteps behind me, and then a quick tap on my shoulder, like they didn’t want to touch me. It would figure; even in an empty hallway people had to keep their cool.
“Excuse me. My name’s Jessica, and this is Ashley. We’re going to be helping you with the prom.” I turned around, and shook Jessica’s outstretched hand. The two girls had the straight-blonde hair, short skirts, tank tops, and brand-name purses. Joy.

“Lena Stroud.”

“Pleasure.” She said, fake smile plastered on her face, looking anything but pleasured. Ashley smirked at my clothing. I let go and started walking away, when a strong hand yanked my arm back. Another held a fistful of my hair. I cried out, but not for long as a third hand clamped over my mouth.

“Listen to me, bitch. You don’t walk away from me. And more importantly,” she said, whispering close to my ear, “if you ruin this for the rest of us, you’re going to have to pay. Got it?” she asked in a dangerous voice. I nodded. Only Ashley would have done anything, even beat up her once best friend, to be popular.

“Ok, well, you can lead the way to the Student Council room, Lena.” She said, straightening, talking in a voice that suggested nothing had happened. I turned round again, and saw why.

Ian Callaway, along with his crew of jock friends strolled down the hallway. His dark brown hair and grey eyes stood out, and his natural runner’s frame stood at 6’2”. I went around them, looking down, and walking along the lockers. Ian came right up to Jessica and kissed her full on the lips.

Oh yeah. She was Ian Callaway’s girlfriend. Huh. Ashley looked jealously at her friend as the most popular guy kissed the cheerleading captain. I silently felt a little better, and continued walking. The other guys barely noticed me. Suddenly, I heard Jessica’s voice as I walked on.

“So, what volunteering did you get, Ian?” she simpered.

“Damned Student Council.” He said in a voice oblivious to her sultriness and full of care, a voice any girl could fall for.

“Oh, that’s so cool! We can go together! I was so afraid that I wouldn’t have anyone to go with!” I thought back to Ashley. Wasn’t she just about to go with Jessica? Oh well. At least she wasn’t completely shunned…

I heard Jessica and crew walking a ways behind me. I figured they didn’t know they were following me, so I went faster and made it to the classroom without having to be near them for a while.

“Ahhh, Lena! How nice to see you here! I’ve got the students ready to go, and at your disposal!” chimed the principal. I silently made way to the front of the class, very aware of my skinny 5’10” form. I stood at the front, and looked around at the students gathered there. Some of them were the students who had wanted my job a lot more than I had. It was considered an honour. I merely sat down, waiting for the popular click to get there, knowing they would. They entered, along with a few more short-skirted girls and jock-type boys. The people scattered about the class were either normal or slightly popular. I mentally groaned.

Ian Callaway looked me straight in the eyes as he entered. I didn’t blink, holding his stare. He looked away and sat down, and Jessica sat in his lap. I breathed again. I didn’t know why he affected me this way. There was no chance at all of his ever falling for someone like me, someone who didn’t have name-brand clothing and a lot of money. I wasn’t a cheerleader. I was a track person, naturally very good at running, like him. But he did not know who I was.

Mr. Harper was long gone. I stood up, and recited the speech I had formed. My quiet voice barely rang out as I stared at the ground.

“Ok, we’re here to plan the senior prom. First we need to think of a theme, and build from there. Any suggestions?”

Ian was making out with Jessica.

Well, we had to start somewhere.