Page 103 of The Prom Queen Project
With a quick smile, they vanished around the corner, slipping into the locker rooms. I took a deep breath before trailing after them. Finally, I could breathe again. The muffled cheers from the ongoing pep rally echoed beyond the doors. Inside, the girls were a whirlwind of energy, hastily changing out of their uniforms and back into their usual clothes. They grabbed their things and rushed out, still buzzing with excitement as they disappeared back into the gymnasium. I let out a breathy chuckle.
As I slid into my jeans, I caught Meredith staring at the floor near my feet, her expression unreadable. I followed her gaze.You’ve got to be kidding me…
“What? You wanna snoop through my stuff again?” I muttered.
“I was just wondering…” She trailed off while smacking her lips. “Got more plans to fuck another low life in there?”
My eyes formed thin slits as I took a step closer to her. “No, I think you’re already doing that for both of us.”
Kendra let out an amused laugh, earning a scowl from Meredith. Taking the hint, she stepped away, leaving Meredith and I alone. The silence was heavy, weighing down on the air around us. Slowly, Meredith moved toward me, her eyes filled with disdain and her breath coming out ragged.
“You’re destroying your reputation, so don’t come running to me when you decide you’re ready to clean up the mess.”
“Are you joking, right now? Why do you care so much about social status?” I asked, cocking my head to the side. “What the fuck does it matter, Meredith?”
“It just does.”
“But why?”
“Whydoesn’tit matter to you?” she shot back, pausing before she added, “Anymore.”
“Don’t try to avoid the question…”
“I’m not!”
“Then, answer.” I shrugged.
“I don’t have time for this,” she growled, slinging her backpack over her shoulder.
“That’s what I thought,” I muttered, crossing one arm over the other. “Figures you’d care about something so shallow.”
“It’s not stupid, okay?” she yelled, her voice bouncing off the walls. “I’m not stupid!”
I furrowed my brows. “I never said that.”
“But you think it. Everyone thinks it…”
“I…that’s not—”
“I’m not the best cheerleader. I don’t have a huge brain. I’m not prettiest, which—by the way—was clear the second everyone saw you and forgot that I even existed,” she spoke, her eyes glistening. “Social status is all I have.”
“I wasn’t…I didn’t know—”
“Shut up!” she fumed. “Just leave me the fuck alone, okay?”
She spun on her heels and stormed out of the locker room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
A heavy guilt settled in my stomach, making itself a home inside me.
My history with bullying began in middle school. It began the day someone took one look at me, made a snap judgment, and shoved me into a tiny, suffocating box—a box I had to fight my way out of.
And I swore I’d never do that to anyone else.
I swore I wouldn’t be a bully. Bullying was what triggered my anxiety attacks. It was what led to Jessie’s death. And yet, for someone who hated being judged, I had a bad habit of doing the same to others without ever giving them a chance. I hadbeen so quick to put people in boxes—Elliot, Andrew, Dani, Kendra…even Meredith. One moment, and I had already made up my mind about who they were. Same with the jocks and the cheerleaders. At first, I thought they were perfect—everything I wanted to be. Then, after seeing the other side, I convinced myself they were nothing but villains. But now? Now, I realize they’re just people. People who I had to stop labeling based on fleeting interactions.Don’t judge a book by its cover. I thought I had Meredith figured out, but maybe there was more behind who she was than the naked eye could see. Mental health was called an invisible illness for a reason.
Meredith wasn’t perfect.
But neither was I.
