Pretty In Rage

“Breakfast Club” is on ABC Family. I watch while Sipping on soda anxiously waiting. I always wanted to be Claire; the popular pretty girl that can impress men by putting lipstick on with her cleavage. In reality I’m more like Alison, the really weird girl no one understands. She barely even understands herself. MY dress is like out of “Pretty in Pink,” a chopped up and re-sewn Goodwill dress. I’m like a fatter and uglier version of Andie with no Duckie or Steff to woo her.
My mother peeks her head through from the kitchen. “I want you to have fun at the dance!” I didn’t want to go to this homecoming dance. I have no friends. During lunch period I sit quietly in the library and read to avoid the student teasing me. They say really un-clever things like “fatty,” or “Mary Jane is fat like a blunt.”

My mother had to bribe a boy from our Church to take me. He’s a year younger, goes to a different school and handsome swimmer. I’m ugly in comparison to him. None of my schoolmates are ever going to believe he’s my boyfriend.
She said, “Just tell everyone he’s your boyfriend and they’ll all be after you!” She’s wrong.
I hear a car honk and look at the clock. He is fifteen minutes late. I walk out to him. I know I’m not a date worth coming to the door for. I get in the car. His father is driving.
“Hey, Mary Jane! Sorry I was late but I got you this!” Randall hands me a corsage matching his. I smile. It was really sweet. This is the first glimmer hope that homecoming might be okay.
We get to the prom and he grabs my hand as we enter. Before he opens the door into the dance he gives me a sweet smile. However he is also getting paid $100 for that sweet smile. I wonder if he feels bad for me or even embarrassed to be publicly seen with me, with the “weird girl” the “quiet one” on his arm.
The DJ is spinning and the room is full of people. Full of people giving me odd looks, they don’t think I belong here or with him. However he grabs my hand and we dance. Hours go by and the night is amazing. I leave Randall to go to the restroom. I just want to touch up my make-up. I got to the bathroom down the hall that is less crowded. As I open the door I see Shana. She’s one of the few people in the school that is nice to me. She’s captain of the debate team and plays soccer. She’s beloved. Her heart is so big she talks to everybody. She is here with one other girl. Denise, she averts her eyes when she sees me. Shana is holding a flask. She hands it to Denise.
“Jane! You look beautiful!” She embraces me. I can tell she’s drunk. She’s lovely sober and overly loving and sweet drunk. “ Do you want a swig?”
I give her a meek smile and nod. I just want them to like me. Maybe we can bond over this drink. Denise rolls her eyes and hands me the flask. I take a sour swig and try to hide my disgust. The girls giggle at my expression.
“Did you make you dress? It’s so pretty and unique!” Shana says then takes another swig.
“Yeah.”
“That guy your with is cute!” Shana giggles and I smile.
“Probably her cousin, he’s way to good looking to be seen with her,” Denise sneers.
“And your ex-boyfriend fucked your cousin two weeks ago so stop projecting,” Shana laughs and hands Denise the flask.
“You’re a bitch!” Denise gasps.
“Okay, you are a selfish brat, give me back my rum! ” Shana says laughing and Denise storms off in a rage. I can’t believe Drunk Shana embarrassed her friend for me. I’m in awe of her.
“Listen, high school will suck. Fake it until you make it because it’ll get better, there’s a rainbow after every storm,” Shana says and offers me another swig. I take it. Shana giggles and tucks the flask into her pantyhose. She takes my hand and we walk out. When we get inside I can’t find Randall. Shana and I frantically look. I’m still shocked she is ditching the homecoming dance to look for the weird girl’s date.
We pop our heads outside and he’s making out with Britney, the popular cheerleader of the school. We gasp. Britney and Randall turn their heads to see me. Randall’s face look riddled with regret and embarrassment. Britney starts laughing.
“I knew he wasn’t your real date. Look at you! Did you really think you’d go home with him?” Britney sneers and the years of being teased boil up within me and I explode. Tonight I want to be the storm and I want Britney praying for a rainbow.
“Britney, all you are bimbo and you spend more time on your knees and back than you do going to school. Why should I associate with diseased scum of the earth like you? My mother forced me to come because she wants to be normal. But if normal means being a whore like you I’ll pass on the STD’s, teen pregnancy and just go ahead make something of myself.”
“Excuse me, you little bitch do you know who I am?” Britney gets about to confront me.
“Which part didn’t you hear, bimbo, whore or diseased scum of the earth? And you maybe queen today but you’ll be appearing on Maury pretty damn soon.” Britney slaps me in the face and without missing a beat I give her the hardest right hook of my life. With all the rage in my heart impacting her little face. Her face. Who knew Tae-Bo would be useful? Her body collapses to the floor. My veins are pumping with adrenaline. I feel liberated.
“Randall, I’m sorry I forced you to do this but don’t worry you’ll get your stupid money. Britney, touch me again I will end you! Don’t test how psycho I can be.” There is utter fear in Britney’s eyes and Randall eyes are tinted with both fear and embarrassment.
“Holy shit, Jane! That was awesome! Let’s go dance,” Shana says. That was the beginning of my life. I’m a year from graduating high school and in one moment I became the person I always dreamt of being, strong.