Chapter Text
I always wanted to be one of the cool girls. I’ve always been kind of a nerdy, tomboy, though. Believe me, I know I shouldn’t care about stupid stuff like this but it just seems so glamorous, you know, being one of the ‘it’ girls. They make the trends, they have so much fun, they date the coolest, cutest guys. And in my senior year, I want to throw my weight behind trying to get into the clique. I’ve really upped my game! And besides, I’m sick of hanging out with my sister and her boyfriend. It sucks not having any real friends, you know? I bet they have the best times together, the popular girls; they must make memories to last a lifetime and be the best of friends.
The queen of them all is Flay Allster. Her dad is a rich guy, in charge of some big company. They live in a huge house and that of course scores her points as one of the cool girls. And she really is cool…she leads the pack with her big personality and good looks. She’s a redhead like my sister, but she’s got a way about her that just demands attention and admiration. I’ve heard she can be a bit mean and forward, but I suppose you have to be in order to survive being the coolest girl in school.
Her sidekick is a girl named Cagalli. Blonde, smart, and demanding, she’s definitely the brawn of the three ‘it’ girls. She’s a twin to Flay’s boyfriend, Kira, one of the cool guys in school. He’s a sweetheart and everyone loves him. It’s kind of a surprise he wound up with Flay, but I guess they are king and queen of the school! Cagalli dates Kira’s best friend, Athrun. He’s a quiet guy but he’s nice, too. I’ve always kind of had a crush on him - not that I’d ever admit it to anyone. I’m not looking to start any trouble with the cool girls, of course!
And then there’s Stella. She’s newer to the school, blonde and cute with a shy way about her, but she’s really sweet. I think she’s an odd choice to be part of the cool girls, so she makes me believe I might have a shot. She even chooses a wildcard to date - Shinn, a buddy of Kira and Athrun’s. He’s not quite like the other two - I’ve always known him to be a rule-breaker and a bit of a loner. Maybe Stella is just too nice to let him be alone, but it does seem like another odd choice to come out of Stella. I find her really intriguing!
Honestly, I think my sister would have an easier time fitting in with them than I would. She’s cute, bubbly, gregarious, and fun…which I’m not, really. I would consider myself more of a serious person than her - a little shy, and the first one to point out problems. I’m a bit of a feminist killjoy - which is why I shouldn’t care about any of this, I know, but forgive me for being seventeen!
It’s the first day of my final year of high school and at lunch I sit with my sister, Meyrin and her boyfriend, Nicol. They’re a year younger than me but they’ve been totally in love since they were fifteen. They hardly want to spend time with anyone else but each other so it’s exceedingly kind of them to let my friendless ass tag along with them! This year, I know I’ve got to change this.
“Why would you want to hang out with those girls?” Meyrin asks with disbelief as we sit together in the cafeteria, just the three of us. “They’re so stuck up.”
“They’re interesting. I’d love to make some new memories this last year of school and I’m sure they have the time of their lives,” I say with conviction. She’s not going to talk me out of this.
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t, but maybe you’d have more fun trying to tame the likes of the Terrible Three?” Nicol suggests with a smile.
I shudder. The Terrible Three? No, thanks! They’re trouble-making punks that are always on the verge of getting kicked out of school. How they manage to always just avoid it is beyond me. Everyone avoids those jerks.
“Orga, Clotho, and Shani?” I ask, pulling a sour face. “I’d rather eat my own shoe than hang out with those guys.”
Meyrin giggles. “They’re not so bad. I find their antics entertaining.”
I glance over at their table. The three of them are casually sitting around without a lunch, probably too poor to afford the meager cost of one. Shani is always listening to music, Clotho has his video game, and Orga reads. They always seem like they’re nothing to be concerned about at first glance, but boy, do they get into shenanigans during class. I’ve seen them make teachers cry.
“What do you think is so great about those girls, anyway?” Meyrin asks. “Don’t you like hanging out with us?”
“Whoa, it’s not that,” I say. It’s partially that, but I’d never tell her the truth. “I just think they have a lot of fun. It’d be nice to put a year in with them before graduation.”
“Whatever you say, Lunamaria. Good luck winning them over!” Meyrin says with an eyeroll. “Flay is mean as the day is long.”
I’ll show her.
Resolute, I stand, taking my lunch with me as Nicol wishes me a quiet good luck. My knees are shaking as I approach their table, my nerves assaulting me with anxiety through every step. This probably is such a stupid idea, but I need the change! I have to do this.
The girls’ table comes into view and I take in how glamorous they all look. Flay is dressed in a cute pink summer dress that shows off her slim shoulders, her strappy black shoes pulling the look together as pretty as a picture. She always looks so good…and then Cagalli is dressed in a sleeveless red v-neck top, her jeans looking expensive and perfectly fit to the contours of her hips. Stella looks adorable, her white tube top showing off the skin of her shoulders and flat of her stomach with a cute, short blue skirt accentuating her long legs. And here I come, in a baby blue t-shirt and dark jeans…I really should have dressed up today, but I wasn’t planning on wanting to prove my sister wrong by approaching them this fast. What the hell am I doing?
The three look up as I get closer, and then time seems to stop as I trip over my own two feet out of sheer nervousness. Before I can register a hint of the disaster, I’ve slammed my face on the bench where Stella sits and I’m on the floor, the milk from my tray in my hair.
I’m pretty sure the entire cafeteria is looking at me now and I have no idea how to move anymore. I’m petrified with embarrassment and the silence is only broken when Flay bursts out laughing.
Perfect.
The rest of the cafeteria seems to join in and I immediately want to disappear into nothingness…but then there’s a soft voice and a hand under my arm. “Are you okay?”
I look up into Stella’s eyes, full of worry and empathy for me. “I-I feel so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid,” she says as she helps me up. “You’re hurt.”
“Stella’s right,” Cagalli adds. I’m not sure she joined in on the laughing, but Flay is still doubled over. “Do you know you chipped a tooth?”
Oh, great.
“This is a disaster,” I say as Stella pulls me to sit down next to her, taking napkins to dab the milk out of my hair. She’s so sweet.
“I’m sorry,” Flay says through her laughter. “You just fell so perfectly. Oh, my, god! I was just saying to the girls that we could use a clown!”
So, I’m a clown?
Double great.
But it would get me in with these girls. But damn it, my tooth! My mom is going to freak.
“I mean, if you’ll let me hang out with you guys, I’ll be your clown,” I say, feeling every last shred of dignity leave my body. I can try and get some of it back later, right?
“That’s so perfect,” Flay says with a giggle as she clasps her hands together. “I’ve been so bored!”
“She really has been,” Cagalli says. “She’s been getting into so much nonsense this summer just to pass the time.”
God, what could this girl possibly have to complain about? Seems like she has a perfect, exciting life. I guess you can always want more.
“If you want to get in with us, I want you to do something for me for my entertainment,” Flay says, her voice suddenly serious.
“Oh? What’s that?” I ask nervously as I take in the look of pure chaos on her face.
“Ask out one of the Terrible Three. I don’t care which one, I just want to see what happens.”
What?!
How could I do that? Those guys are no good! They’ll laugh me out of the cafeteria and I’ve been laughed at enough today, thank you very much! But…still, it’s for a place with these girls. And there’s no way they’ll say yes, right? I’ll just humiliate myself and get it over with.
“Fine,” I say as I stand. “I’ll do it.”
“That’s my goofy girl,” Flay says with a wide smile. “Better get going, lunch is almost over.”
I watch my steps this time as I approach the Terrible Three. They seem none the wiser as I get closer, but when I finally stop at the head of their table, they all look up, seeming annoyed.
“What do you want, Milk Girl?” Orga asks with a smirk.
Oh, good. I have a nickname now. Well, he’s the one who addressed me, so…
“Will you go out with me?”
He quirks a brow. “Why?”
Shani and Clotho snicker as they put down their chosen media to pay attention to what’s unfolding.
“Your tooth is chipped, did you know that?” Clotho asks with mirth and I shoot him a glare.
“I’m aware, thanks.” I turn back to Orga. “You guys seem fun. I’ve…always wanted a boyfriend like you.”
He chuckles. “Really.” It hardly sounds like a question. I’m sure he’s onto me. “Why don’t you tell Flay to get a new hobby? I’m sick of her games.”
Has she done this before? Geez.
“She made Stella ask out Shani before she let her join her stupid little clique. She’s such a bitch,” Orga says. “It’s not fun being the buttend of a joke, is it?”
I hang my head just a little. “No. Not really.”
“Well, if that’s what makes you happy, you can crawl back to her and tell her we’re perfectly humiliated by your question.”
I do just that, plopping down next to Stella as Flay watches on expectantly. “Orga told me to get lost.”
Flay laughs. “He’s so annoying. He should’ve been happy for a pretty girl to take an interest.”
My heart skips a beat. “You think I’m pretty?”
“You’re not ugly. I mean, you kind of are right now, but that’s understandable,” she says with a wicked smile. “Get that tooth fixed and you can eat with us tomorrow.”
The bell rings and Flay and Cagalli abruptly stand, taking their trays as they go. Stella stays next to me, giving me a soft look.
“Flay is nice when you get to know her. I think she’s just bored with things easily and it gets her into trouble. And don’t fret. She made me ask out Shani when I wanted to hang out with her.”
It almost puts things into perspective. Why are we doing this? What is it about wanting to be seen a certain way by your peers, to feel like you’re not missing out? I feel like I should get it, but I just don’t.
“I’m not off to the best start,” I say. “But I want to have a hell of a time this year, and I think you guys can help me accomplish that.”
Stella gives me a bright smile. “We do have fun. I think you’ll fit in.”
She leaves me with that, and I sit a little longer, trying to register everything that just happened.
“That was painful,” Meyrin says as she stops at my side with Nicol in tow. “Everyone is calling you Milk Girl now and - oh my god…did you bust a tooth?”
I grimace. “Yes. I bit it pretty hard, huh?”
“Are you okay?” Nicol asks with concern. “You should probably go call home and get that taken care of.”
“And here I thought you were just drenched in milk!” Meyrin says. “Go call mom to pick you up.”
I can’t say I like the idea of getting into it with my mom over this broken tooth, but it’s going to have to happen eventually. I stalk off to the bathroom to make the call.
This crap better all be worth it in the end!