Sour Talk

Scene 1: Girls' Restroom

Alison Sinclair

"How do you know she won't keep it or throw it away?" Evelyn asked.

"She runs on gossip." I rolled my eyes. "Nosey Nancy will be sure to pass this around."

"It's pretty enough to be hung in my room," Brooke said, complimenting the design of our smear poll.

Reminiscing with Heather made me wonder why we didn't turn the tables in junior high after the boys insisted on assigning numbers to us. But, it's never too late to let them know they're not as hot as they think they are...and it's only fair.

Also, as public school as it was to have a chart displaying who had the best body parts, there is something inspired about it. We're not doing their asinine genre of rankings like "best boobs," but there is a category for worst biceps.

"How will we get it back?" Evie questioned.

"I figured we could ask around. That way we'll be sure it's being used and we will know where to find it."

"What about the boys? Don't you think they might take it or tell a teacher?"

"You're underestimating their arrogance. Some of them are bound to have good scores, and that will be enough to keep them morbidly curious until the chart is filled," I explained. "Those who don't see the list— will get their results when we post them."

"On the walls again?" Brooke asked.

"Have you heard of Riot Grrrl magazine?"

She snickered. "You're punk now?"

"I like the idea." I shrugged. "I don't have time to be Vogue or anything, but a homemade magazine will be easy enough to distribute. The supplies are here."

"We are going to be in so much trouble," Evie sighed.

"We won't be caught. Besides, who is getting hurt?"

"Garret Mycoff," Brooke replied with a smirk as she drew a 2 by his name. "Worst lips," she gagged while adding him under the heading.

Evie took the pen next and put a 5 by Jace's name, and then submitted him under the category of No Personality.

"Are you going to add anything?" She asked.

"I think I'll remain impartial this time." I take the chart from her. "I need to hurry anyway. The bell is going to ring soon."

"Do you want us to come with you?"

"No, it'll be more inconspicuous if I do this alone."

"Okay, we'll talk later," Evie reassured. "Be careful."

I nodded and left the restroom first. They're going in the opposite direction of Nancy's locker which is good considering Nancy is a beacon— she draws in girls the way lights draw bugs. Not all of us should get caught if things go south.

Before I slip the chart through the locker vent, I unfold it and take out a marker.

Tony Milligan: 10

Scene 2: Outside of Addington High

Danny Cole

People go to the back of the school when they wanna smoke, make out, cry—whatever. You come alone unless you don't wanna be alone.

Someone didn't get that message.

"Hi..." Heather said, standing in front of me as I puffed on a cigarette.

"You're pushing it." I turn my head and blow the smoke out away from her.  "Someone sees us hanging out and people will think you've really got a thing for guys who aren't good enough for you."

She frowned, guiltily. "Do you want me to leave?"

"You came here for a reason."

"I'll stop going to your appointments if it's a problem now. But, you don't have to worry about it affecting the payments, I wouldn't cancel them,"

"I never asked you to keep coming."

"You never told me not to either, but you can, especially since..."

I nodded as I put my cigarette out on the bricks. "You want to know if I'm holding a grudge for Leo."

"I understand if you are."

"I'm not."

"It was a dumb fight."

"Sounds like it."

Heather put her head down, sadly. "He was mean to me, too."

"I bet."

"Why does he have the right to be more upset?" She said, exasperated. Apparently, I'm playing fucking therapist today. "He used to say he wasn't good enough for me all of the time. I only repeated it."

"It was fine when he thought you were too good for him because you didn't."

"I wanted to make him feel the way I did..."

"Pissed off?"

"Awful."

"How'd that work out?" I raise an eyebrow. "Feeling any better."

Heather sighed, clearly cut up about it."I'm sorry."

"What're you saying it to me for?"

"I can't apologize to him."

I shrugged. "He's not going to say sorry first. You're not his girl anymore."

"He doesn't have to. It makes no difference to me." She hugged herself for comfort, making me think it does make a difference to her.

I shook my head and sighed. "You guys are fucking idiots."

"Danny?" We both turn at the sound of my name. "I thought you said you were going to be out front not-" Matt pauses at the sight of Heather. "Oh...hey."

Heather looked at him, but that's all she did. No response, no nothing. She just walked off.

I always thought she blamed me the most for what happened this summer with Leo. I didn't think about the fact that she probably wants to curb-stomp Matt.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

"What were you talking to her for?"

"Nothing."

"Oh."

"But don't fucking tell Leo, alright?"

Scene 3: E Broadway

Leo Rylin

"Here you go," Amanda handed me my textbook.

"Thanks. I have to write an analysis on some shit I didn't think I would have to read."

"I would've brought it back to you if you called."

I shrugged as I got down onto her carpet. "I was already out."

She laughed when she saw me comfortably resting on the floor. "Give in and buy fluffy carpet for your own room."

"Why when I can lay on yours?"

"This is what you're like after work?" Amanda said, judgmentally.

I sighed. "When do you stop being exhausted all the time?"

"Never." She smirked. "But eventually you can ignore it."

I watched her stand in front of the mirror and dab her eyelids blue.

"You going somewhere?"

She nodded, "I'm meeting Danny. You can come if you're not too tired."

"Back at it, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"You...and Danny...and whatever you guys do."

"We don't do anything."

"Did he tell you that Matt's got a crush on you?"

"Matt?" She furrowed her eyebrows.

"You know, yea high, always in a good mood, likes to joke around."

"I heard, but I don't think it's true."

"He told me."

"Why hasn't he told me?" She asked, skeptically.

"He's nervous." I shrugged. "I don't know."

"Matt's nervous?"

"I mean, he tried to get on with Kat, maybe he thinks that puts you off."

Mandy choked on laughter. "She said he jumped her bones in the car and then tensed up like a prude. That's the last thing I'm worried about. I just don't think he's interested."

"Are you?"

"I could be...maybe...I don't know."

I rolled my eyes. "You're both difficult for no reason."

"Oh, should I follow in your footsteps and date the next person I make out with in a closet?"

"If it's Matt—yeah."

"He better get there before someone else does. There are a lot of closets."

I don't know what he's waiting around for. I wish I liked Mandy the way he does. Everyone is cool with her, so it wouldn't bother the group. And I don't think we'd hurt each other...I don't think any of the usual relationship bullshit would happen.

"Why do you still have that?" I point to one of the pictures decorating her mirror.

"What?"

"The Polaroid." I don't specify. She knows which one.

"Because I like it."

"She would throw it away, you know that?"

"Whatever," Amanda sighed.

"She's not your friend, Amanda." It was a phase or something. A page in her fucking book.

"Whatever. It's my picture."

"Yeah, well," I get up from off of the carpet. "I don't wanna look at her, so goodbye."

Scene 4: Lickster Records

Matt Jensen

"Look at that— duality." Stu gestured toward the posters in the window— one of Green Day and the other of Spice Girls.

"There are two types of people," I joked.

"In a world full of Billie Joe Armstrongs, be sporty Spice."

"I've always been a scary spice, myself."

He shrugged, "well, tell me what you want."

"What I really really want?"

"I want Ginger Spice," Stu confessed.

"I think Ginger Spice wants Scary Spice."

"What?"

"You know my friend Amanda? She said that if you watch-" I trail off when Elle walks into the store. "Hi, Elle," I smiled...way too big.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were off today," Stu asked her.

"I am, I came to pick up my check."

"Yeah, go ahead and spend all your money while we work the boring shifts on your behalf."

"I can always count on you guys to be here." She smirked. "It's not like you ever have dates."

"Oh, alright," Stu scoffed.

"We could get dates," I said, offendedly.

"Aw," she pouted. "Of course, you can."

Why is she acting like I can't? What makes her think people don't wanna go out with me?

"She's just showing off now that she's got a boyfriend," Stu said like he could read the expression on my face. "You should've seen her last year. She would've killed for one of us to ask her out."

"Yeah, right," Elle laughed, her voice getting quieter as she headed toward the back of the store. "I have higher standards than that."

"She doesn't," Stu chuckled.

"I know she doesn't. I know her boyfriend," I said, speaking confidently now that she's out of range.

"Is he bad?"

"No...well-" I huff, "yeah, they fight a lot."

"Like most couples."

"I don't think so," I argued.

"Strong personalities clash."

"It's more than that."

"How?"

"They're all wrong, I mean it," I continued, but Stu still doesn't look convinced. "Leo thinks of his ex when he's fucking her."

Stu's eyes bulge out of his skull, and for a moment it feels good to get that off of my chest. Leo does suck. He's not a bad dude but he's bad when it comes to Elle.

"Bro..."

"Why would you say that?" She said, and my stomach dropped so fast I was riddled nauseous with nerves.

Elle's glaring at me with her jaw tight and her whole body radiating anger...

I did a cross between shaking my head and shrugging and avoiding eye contact and thinking about how Leo's going to murder me.

"It was just a joke. I didn't think you'd hear me."

"Very funny." Elle scowled. "You're a real piece of shit, Matt."