Chapter Text
September 1st, 1989.
Dear diary,
I don’t mean to reign on my behalf, but I believe I’m a good person! I would like to believe that theres good in everybody. If it’s hidden somewhere inside them, or if they just show it. Uhm, it’s the first day of senior year. No problem with that, it’s just I walk around the school wondering, ‘What the fuck happened?’ They’ve certainly changed, that’s for sure. It’s like Starlight himself granted their wishes to be a cool kid. Most girls I’ve seen have tits now? Which is a huge step from last year. They spit insults at everyone, at anyone! I’m not sure if there’s good in EVERYONE.
Ronnie closed her diary quickly, no one knows if someone’s gonna try to read it over your shoulder. That’s happened to Ronnie too many times. She tucked the diary into her bag, walking into the corridors. The anxiety passed through her stomach, just minding her own business.
She’d learned to just stay quiet while in the halls, squeezing her way in between people and not getting involved in anything, most importantly, not looking at anyone the wrong way.
A loud thump echoed through the corridor, Ronnie flinched at the sudden noise. A ginger-haired boy, she knew that kid. She saw him at the back of the lunch line or at the back of the class. Ronnie couldn’t help to reach out a hand to him, trying to help him up.
”Are you alright?” She gasped, but the boy pushed her hand away.
”Get away, nerd!” The boy exclaimed, and hurriedly rushed off to his locker. Ronnie sighed, it was no use. She finally got to the cafeteria, and had speed-walked to a table away from the crowd. She opened her diary to rant to the smooth paper who is the only person that gets her.
I still remember when all of us used to be so tiny, happy, and had no care in the world. Then we got older, it’s like walking into the wrong classroom. Abrupt, that’s how the changes happen. Really fast. It’s fine, I guess. I just got to stick it out for the year, then it’ll be paradise. College, where I get to get away from these assholes. I swear would light a match and set this dump ablaze if I could-
There was a sudden slam on the table that almost made Ronnie drop the book. She looked up, being met with grey eyes, pale skin, and black hair.
None other than the school’s linebacker, Grayson Diesel. It seemed like he got a kick out of smacking people’s lunch trays and being a huge dick. He used to be this really joyous kid, but I guess that got replaced. Replaced by something much uglier. Ronnie looked up at him with this disdainful look on her face.
“Who the hell are you looking at, freak?” Grayson barked, making a few kids look at the ongoing scene at the table.
”Nothing, sorry.” Ronnie’s voice was barely above a whisper, trying to make herself smaller so no one would look at her.cbGrayson scoffed, throwing the varsity letterman jacket over his shoulder. He took a step back and went to sit with his other friends. Ronnie exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She put her forearms on the table in front of her, just thinking what would happen if she wasn’t a loser, everyone liked her, and nobody harassed her.
”Hey Ronnie!” A voice echoed behind her.
Ronnie jumped, the hair on her neck sticking up. She hurriedly turned around, then got relaxed at the sight. Sighing with relief, Ronnie smiled.
It was Rusty.
Her best friend since they were trainlets. Back when they thought everything was sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. Ronnie thought Rusty was the only pure soul that hadn’t changed since kindergarten.
“God— Hey Rusty.” Ronnie ran a hand through her hair, slumping back into her seat.
Rusty grinned, patting Ronnie’s shoulder. He smiled softly and spoke up.
“Are we still on for movie night? I rented ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’!” Rusty exclaimed. Movie nights were basically a tradition for Ronnie and Rusty. They’ve been doing these since they were young.
“Again? Don’t you have it memorized by now?” Ronnie replied, chuckling.
Rusty giggled and looked down at the table, tapping his fingers on the cold, solid surface. “What can I say? I’m a sucker for a happy ending.”
Ronnie rolled her eyes playfully, until the peaceful moment came to an abrupt end when someone slammed their hand on the table, shaking it.
“Steamer! What did we say about ignoring us? Pay up!” The person ordered.
It was none other than Elex Watt, the smartest guy in the physics department. Which equals being the shortest giraffe.
“What’s your damage!”
Ronnie yelled. She felt this strong wave of confidence, flaring in her chest. Elex looked at her like she was some sort of exotic creature. Behind him, there was Grayson again. The two of the goons stood there, waiting for Ronnie to respond.
“What?” Elex replied, dumbfounded.
Ronnie doubled down. “I want to know why you think you have the right to be such an ass.”
Elex and Grayson glanced at eachother. They didn’t know whether to be amused or confused. They were so used to getting their way, so this was a first.
Ronnie didn’t back down though.
Elex leaned in close towards Ronnie’s face, causing her to almost fall back.
“You have a zit. Right. There.” Elex poked at her face sharply, letting out a cackle.
The tables surrounding them erupted into laughter. Ronnie shrunk into her seat, embarrassed, and especially humiliated. She almost burst into tears right there and then. She looked over to Rusty, who just distracted himself from the argument.
“Sorry.” She murmured.
Rusty shook his head, putting his hand on her shoulder. “It’s alright. As long as you’re not hurt.”
All of a sudden, the laughter and talking seemed to pause. It was quiet, weird for a friday. The energy seemed to shift. All heads turned to the main door of the cafeteria as a trio of perfectly coordinated, pristinely dressed girls entered through the double doors.
And there they were. In all its glory.
The Coaches.
Carrie. The one standing on the left, stood quite tall. She was gorgeous, naturally. All that beauty was gone in the inside. She had a reputation for being ‘The Nice Coach’ , the ‘approachable’ one. The one who would adopt all the cats and dogs in all the shelters in the world. But there was something most people didn’t know about Carrie.
This was all a persona.
And the scariest part was, Carrie knew it too. And she wasn’t afraid to show you her ‘real’ personality.
And that was something people didn’t want to risk.
Oh! Her dad sells Gucci bags. She’s loaded.
When Carrie was all hugs and smiles, Belle was sharp, and cold. She was the bitter one, the one who never smiled unless it was at someone else’s expense. She was quite short, not that short though.
She had her nose stuck up in the air almost all the time, carrying herself with a weight that made almost everyone doubt themselves. She had no discernible personality but her mom did pay a shit ton for liquor for her!
In the centre was the one and only, the cherry on top of a bad bitch ice cream sundae. The crown jewel of cruelty. The myth. The legend. The Dinah. She is a mythic bitch.
Ronnie stared at them, wide-eyed and full of bisexuality. She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about them. She definitely felt like she had to be apart of that group. But that would be a fever dream. Never bothered again, never harassed.
She’d give anything to be like that.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
“BLEGHHHH”
The sound was echoing through the girls restroom. Dinah and Carrie were fixing up on their makeup, while Belle was in the nearest stall, vomiting. Dinah looked at Belle and scoffed. Looking towards the mirror, she reached her hand out to Carrie who swiftly gave her a lip gloss.
“Grow up, Belle. Bulimia is so ‘87.”
She commented, voice dripping with disdain. She opened the lip gloss and applied it to her lips.
“Carrie.. I need a mint.” Belle called out, voice shaky. She took some toilet paper and wiped her mouth.
“What you need, Belle, is to see a doctor.” Carrie replied, getting a mint out of her bag and handing it to Belle.
Belle scoffed and let out a breathless laugh. Opening the mint and throwing the wrapper into the trash, she put it in her mouth. “Please. If I die, I’m gonna die skinny.”
Dinah gave an emotionless hum. “Iconic.” She murmured.
Mrs. McCoy walked in, tapping her heel on the ground. Eyes sharp, she cleared her throat to get the girls attention.
“Ah. Dinah and Belle. Shocking.” She snapped, crossing her arms. “Where is Be-“
“BLEEEGGHHH.”
Mrs. McCoy rolled her eyes. Raising an eyebrow, she spoke, loud and clear.
“Perhaps you didn’t hear the bell over all the vomiting, you’re late for class.” She scoffed.
Dinah smirked, crossing her legs. “Mrs. McCoy, don’t you see poor Belle here? We’re helping her. Ever heard of compassion?”
Mrs. McCoy gave a dry laugh. “Not without a pass, honey. You three can see me in detention all week.”
Dinah, Carrie and Belle started to immediately protest. Ronnie just simply came in to watch, but she saw this as her chance. She opened her diary, and wrote a forged signature from the head of the yearbook committee. Emerging from a stall, she held the note in her hand.
“Actually! Mrs. McCoy, all four of us are on a hall pass. Yearbook committee.. yknow?”
Mrs. McCoy snatched the note from Ronnie, scanning it suspiciously. She rolled her eyes, giving it back to Ronnie.
“Fine, but hurry it up in here.”
She turned around and walked out the restroom. Dinah turnt to look at Ronnie, eyes narrowed. She stepped close, tipping her head to a side.
“How kind.” She said coldly. “Who are you.”
Ronnie jumped, sweating. She sputtered, trying to find her words.
“Ah— Uhm! Ronnie. I crave a boon.”
Dinah raised a brow, snatching the note from Ronnie’s hands. She snapped. “What boon.” Carrie and Belle looked at them in confusion.
Ronnie’s hands were sweating profusely. She stuttered, fiddling with her sleeves.
“I— Uh. I wanted to see if I could sit at your table at lunch tomorrow? No need for conversation, just— If people see me with you they’ll leave me alone.” She looked at Dinah, begging.
Behind Dinah, stood Belle and Carrie. Giggling like school-girls talking about their crushes. But Dinah was staring at Ronnie, like she was calculating something in her head.
“I also do report cards! Permission slips, absence notes—“ Ronnie spoke quickly, gaining confidence.
“How about prescriptions?” Belle peered over Dinah’s shoulder, curious.
“Shut up Belle!” Dinah exclaimed. She took a step forward towards Ronnie, tipping her head upwards.
“For a greasy little nobody,” She complained, “You do have good bone structure.”
Carrie stepped forward, touching Ronnie’s face.
“And her skin is so clear.. like porcelain!”
Then Belle looked Ronnie up and down, almost judging her. She scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“She could stand to loose a bit of weight.”
The three picked and prodded at Ronnie with curiosity and menace. Ronnie just let it happen. She could possibly become a coach, she wanted someone to punch her in the face to see if this was real.
“Sure. You can sit with us.” Dinah spoke, voice dripping with amusement.
Ronnie almost squealed out loud when she said that. Belle looked annoyed, and Carrie was silently clapping her hands together. Dinah patted Ronnie’s face, looking towards Belle and Carrie.
“Yeah. Belle, get your blush. Carrie, get your brush.” Dinah ordered, and they followed swiftly.
Ronnie smiled softly, she couldn’t believe it. She was becoming a coach.
“You’re gonna become beautiful.”
Ronnie was in for a ride.