397 comments

Drama

This reunion is going to suck. I wasnโ€™t disappointed as I walked through the door. The room was filled with the lifeless bodies of deflated balloons, and the few stray ones were floating and clashing in bright hideous colors - lime green, neon pink, and mustard yellow.ย ย 

A slow song was on, but the dance floor was practically empty, occupied only by a few people who brought their dates to the reunion with them. It seemed that Eve Zimmer and Brent Johnson ended up together. Surprising, they hated each other. Eve had a sparkling diamond band on her ring finger, and she was smiling widely.ย 

What a loser. These people are all losers.ย 

The food table was cluttered with the randomest food items, from hard boiled eggs to cinnamon rolls. There was a platter of cupcakes, frosted sloppily in neon pink icing. I delicately plucked the thin wrapper off of one of the red velvet cupcakes. The colors looked awful together, pink and red. It looked like Valentines Day had come early. And I hated Valentine's Day, ever since my life became miserable, including my love life.ย 

My name is Bri West, and back in high school, I was the nicest and smartest girl in school. I had a lot of friends, but then all of that changed. I attended Stanford, and I thought that it would be great for me.ย 

But in college, I started to care less about my grades and more about partying. I started to flunk all of my classes, and when I had all Dโ€™s and Fโ€™s in my classes, Stanford kicked me out. Two days later, I was fired from my job at a fancy restaurant, Le Dรฎner De L'amour. Two weeks later, my boyfriend, Max, broke up with me.ย 

I had the worst luck, and it hardened me. I became a cruel person, to even my family, who I had to live with due to the fact that I had no job.ย 

I eventually found work at a small flower shop, but that was barely enough money to pay for the apartment I lived in.ย 

I had to stay with my parents for not one, but two years! It was dreadful, and my sister, Ariana, kept getting spoiled while I was given practically nothing.ย 

I hated it, so I found somebody who was willing to room with me - my enemy, Lora Skid. It was really hard, but I sucked it up because she was paying most of the rent. Not too long after, we became pretty close, and we ended up becoming good friends. Or so I thought.ย 

I had gotten a new boyfriend, Isaac, and he was smart, funny, and cute. But he wasnโ€™t what I thought he was. Apparently, he was a cheater, but he didnโ€™t cheat on me for a random girl, he had fallen for Lora. I dumped him after Lora told me that he confessed his feelings, but I couldnโ€™t bear to be living with her - it would be too awkward.ย 

I packed my bags and left the apartment, heading back to live with my parents. The next two months werenโ€™t that bad.ย 

A rich man moved into our neighborhood, and he purchased plenty of flowers, from our shop, of course. This meant I didnโ€™t have to live with my parents! I moved out of my old house and started a new life in a large apartment. Life was fine, but I had gone through so much, I was still an awful person.

And I still am now, I thought, as I threw the wrapper into the garbage with little effort. I took a massive bite out of the cupcake, and spat it out immediately into the trash can. Who thought that red velvet and chocolate would go together? Awful combination! I cringe, the bland flavor is trapped in my mouth. I pour myself a glass of punch and make an effort to wash the taste away. It doesnโ€™t work. I walk over to my old high school friends, Sia Sharma and Helen Jett, who are chatting happily in the corner. They havenโ€™t changed a bit. Sia still has long, black curls and sparkling blue eyes, and Helen has a short brown bob and green eyes.ย 

โ€œHey, guys.โ€ I said, bored.ย 

They look at each other, and glance back at me, confused. โ€œIโ€™m sorry, but who are you?โ€ Helen asks.ย 

โ€œIโ€™m Bri West, from high school, remember?โ€ I remind them.ย 

A look of remembrance dawns on their faces, before they smile, and Sia says, โ€œOh, hi Bri! You look a lot different from since we last saw each other!โ€ย 

They werenโ€™t wrong. In high school, I had shoulder-length blonde hair, which I grew out until it reached my back, and I had perfect skin, but now I have freckles and tattoos decorating my body.ย 

โ€œYeah, I guess I do! You guys look the same, though.โ€ I remark.

Helen raises her eyebrows. โ€œIs that a good thing or a bad thing?โ€

โ€œNo no no! Itโ€™s a good thing, I guess.โ€ I stammer. โ€œItโ€™s just kind of dull.โ€

โ€œApparently, you donโ€™t just look different, youโ€™ve changed, Bri.โ€ Sia looks at me like she would a puzzle - trying to solve it.ย 

โ€œIs that such an awful thing?โ€ I shoot back.ย 

โ€œBri, youโ€™re not as nice as you used to beโ€ฆโ€ Helen replies quietly.

โ€œStop judging me! You donโ€™t know what Iโ€™ve been through!โ€ I shriek.ย 

โ€œOkay, just stop. Itโ€™s fine. You can do your thing, weโ€™ll do ours. Why donโ€™t you go hang out with the mean girls in the meantime?โ€ Sia smirks. Then she and Helen walk away from me. Can they cut me some slack? They havenโ€™t lost everything! And they didnโ€™t even care! Theyโ€™re horrible friends. I thought to myself. I wasnโ€™t that mean to them! Was I? Was I an awful friend? I shuddered at the thought. No! I couldnโ€™t be! Could I? ย 

I run towards Helen and Sia, but they simply turn away from me, and keep on chatting about their lives. โ€œGuys, please talk to me!โ€ I say, desperate.ย 

โ€œYouโ€™re going to have to be nicer. Do something kind to somebody. Something big. But thatโ€™s the only way that we can be friends again.โ€ Sia informs me.

I nod and rush away from them into the girlsโ€™ bathroom and lock myself in a stall. How am I supposed to do something good for someone? Itโ€™s been weeks! I think to myself, and then I finally come up with a plan.ย 

September 26, 2020 17:56

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397 comments

1. This story was...decent 2. If you can find a reference to one of my other stories in here, I'll go on an upvote spree for you! 3. I named some of the characters after BW, Helen Jett, and Sia Sharma!

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Great story Kylie! It's so cool how you came out with 2 stories already this week. I think I found the reference, Le Dรฎner De L'amour from your 1st story.

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Ooh! Upvote spree for Blair!! Great job! And thank you!

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Also, you're mentioned in my other story!!

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Sia S
18:54 Sep 26, 2020

Awww thank you!!! Coincidentally, there WAS a Kylie in my last- to - last story!! I loved it!!!! Btw you almost got my description right!! I have wavy brown hair till my shoulders, slight brown eyes, and a creamy brown skin colour!

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Ooh, nice! So I was pretty close!!

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I'll check that story out, then!

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Sia S
19:03 Sep 26, 2020

Ya!!

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Sia S
03:59 Sep 27, 2020

Thanks!

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Ariadne .
18:50 Sep 29, 2020

"The food table was cluttered with the randomest food items, from hard boiled eggs to cinnamon rolls." ~ "Randomest" is not a word (I'm being a hypocrite - I say it all the time) but I understand if you meant for it to show her thoughts. People always think the weirdest things, so, in that case, it's fine. "And I hated Valentine's Day, ever since my life became miserable, including my love life." ~ That first comma after the Day is unnecessary. I love how you incorporated your Reedsy friends in your story. It's such a sweet idea! I mi...

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Haha, yes, it was meant for her thoughts, thank you, though! Okay, thank you! Aww, go ahead! Sure! Let's do it!

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Ariadne .
21:05 Sep 29, 2020

Done! You're up by 150 (I'm pretty sure, tell me if I'm wrong) points!!!

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Omigosh, thank you Ria!!! :) I'll try to upvote you some more!

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Ariadne .
21:24 Sep 29, 2020

Thank YOU!!!! It means a lot!!! I'll upvote your other stories later in the day. I only got around to your two recent ones.

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Lulu Lemon
17:24 Sep 28, 2020

Hi Kylie! We havent talked in sooooo long. Anyway, awesome story! Part 2?

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Hi! I know, it's been forever thanks to school! Thank ya! Hmm, IDK. I don't think so, though!! :)

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Lulu Lemon
23:54 Oct 02, 2020

Ok.

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B. W.
16:24 Sep 27, 2020

Ya wanna go on another up-vote spree again cuz why not?

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B. W.
16:37 Sep 27, 2020

:D yay, ill tell ya when i'm done and i think i might need some help again with a few things if thats alright

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Okie dokie! I can't get on as much today, but I'll try!

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B. W.
16:44 Sep 27, 2020

Thats fine ^^ though could ya maybe help me with something real quick? I need some ideas for what could happen if Hero was a demi-god and some ideas for if he was a mortal

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Okay: Hero as a demi-god: โ™ก Hero could bend light and make himself invisible โ™ก Hero would have to earn his powers, and it makes him a hero (haha, like his name) Hero as a mortal: โ™ก He tries to see Harmony, but he can't get into the camp โ™ก He is captured

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12:34 Sep 27, 2020

This story is awesome! I love how you included some Reedsy authors in it! Great job Kylie!

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Laiba M
23:09 Oct 11, 2020

Hi, Kylie!! Let's talk for a while and then we can upvote each others' comments in the chain! I'm really close, just 2 points away from 1200 points, so even upvoting me by two points would be amazing :) How are you? Are you doing online, in-person, or hybrid school?

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Yes, you are!!! That would be awesome!! (it kinda annoys me when I talk to people and I upvote their comments, but they don't do mine...) I'm great! I'm doing in-person school, but we have to wear masks, stay six feet apart, the usual enchilada! What about you?

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Laiba M
23:20 Oct 11, 2020

Okay!! I feel the same way, haha~ :) That's really cool! I'm actually not doing great, haha, very, very stressed! I'm doing all online school and it's so stressful, it gives so much more work :) Adding up all the classes' work we have about 150-200 assignments per week, and the due dates are spread out, so they're not all due on the same day, which makes it very confusing!!

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Same, class is SO stressful! That's a lot, though! I have about 20 assignments each week, but most of them are large projects and 20 page packets.

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Laiba M
23:33 Oct 11, 2020

Ohhh, okay! That sounds like a lot of work~ Have you been seeing friends or staying at home?

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I've seen a few friends, but not a ton... :(

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Laiba M
23:21 Oct 11, 2020

Kylie!!! I'm at 1283 points~!! Can you believe it? Thank you so much, you're honestly the best!! I already put you in my bio, but I'll give you an extra special mention :))

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Aww, you are so welcome! I was just thinking to myself: Upvoting is amazing because you can make people's day better by helping them knowing that they are loved. :) - Kylie, 2020 Thanks for the special mention!!

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Laiba M
23:29 Oct 11, 2020

I'm now at 1300?! You're a magician!! I'll upvote as many of your comments as I can, Kylie! You've helped me so much!

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Niveeidha Palani
01:09 Oct 08, 2020

Hi Kylie, I loved the start of this story, it was quite captivating. At the end of your story, perhaps you could have ended it with more suspense or a twist? Perhaps a one-lined twist or a suspenseful phrase would be better. A few suggestions for the ending: 1. I run to the bathroom, locking myself in a stall. Then, something hits me, and I grin. I know the perfect plan. The first option wasn't quite one-lined, or a short phrase, but it still brings some suspense. Some minor mistakes ;) 1. Surprising, they hated each othe...

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Thank you so much! I would fix these, but it was already approved. :(

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Niveeidha Palani
06:34 Oct 08, 2020

Oh no! :( My mistake, sorry. Perhaps, you could look out for these common mistakes the next time you write a story?

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Niveeidha Palani
00:45 Oct 09, 2020

:)

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Avani G
17:15 Sep 28, 2020

I just finished upvoting you, Kylie!! I hope this makes up for any lost points you may have lost!!

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Avani G
22:47 Sep 28, 2020

No problem!

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Yolanda Wu
07:18 Sep 27, 2020

This was a really interesting story. I think you captured Bri's voice really well, and even though she is, as she herself admits, 'an awful person', the reader still feels for her and everything she has gone through. You nailed the whole unlikable protagonist, whether it is through descriptions or dialogue. You can tell that she's just miserable and irritable and hates everything, which is kind of a mood. Your writing is captivating and your language is effective. This was a great story. Amazing work!

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Thank you! This made my day!!

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B. W.
18:05 Sep 26, 2020

I still really liked this story ^^ i consider it a 10/10 and not a 7/10 or what you considered it. The ending feels like that there should be a part 2 for the story, if you want to maybe you should? i could even help you with it if ya want to ^^ I'm not sure if anything was wrong with it and its still pretty good. like i've said this get's a 10/10 and i also like how you did the story in first person ^^ i liked the name you chose for me aswell and that you added some other friend's on here ^^

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Thank you so much! Maybe to a Part 2, but I wasn't originally thinking of doing one. If I find the right prompt, though, then I will!

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B. W.
18:18 Sep 26, 2020

No problem and alright ^^ i'm working on another story now

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K, wishing you the best vocabulary and good sentences.

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B. W.
18:28 Sep 26, 2020

it's something with my demi-god series ^^

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Oooh, I'm excited! Do you need any help??

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Laiba M
02:57 Oct 10, 2020

Kylie, I posted your story! Please check it out, I'm sorry for not posting earlier~

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Yay!! Thank you! I'm so excited!!!

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Laiba M
11:52 Oct 10, 2020

Thanks~ :)

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B. W.
00:28 Oct 09, 2020

ya wanna hear some jokes?

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B. W.
01:41 Oct 09, 2020

Knock Knock

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B. W.
01:56 Oct 09, 2020

Tank

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KYRA ROBIN
00:38 Oct 08, 2020

Ooooh little bit of a cliff hanger there. I want to know what the plan is! This story had a sad(gloomy?) mood, I liked the dialogue.. I do think that the conversation between Bri and her old friends was a little short, I wanted a little more. But good story!! Keep writing!! Edit: A some constructive criticism now that I had time to think; The beginning is a little slow, maybe you could have started with the back story and moved on to something like "And now I have to deal with this shitty little reunion on top of it.". On top of that...

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KYRA ROBIN
00:55 Oct 08, 2020

Sorry for all the editing if you get notifications for that..

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B. W.
22:50 Oct 07, 2020

Wait. The thing is good, but i was telling you about the Harlow and Willow thing right?? You kept accidentally (i think) calling Harlow by the name Harmony instead of Harlow. (harmony's my demi-god series, Harlow is not.) I thought you were doing the cover art for my demi-god series because of that and not my Harlow and Willow stuff. Oh gosh, i looked at the thing and you started calling her Harlow in that one though.

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Yes, big mix-up! Which cover art do you want me to do??

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B. W.
00:26 Oct 08, 2020

The Harlow and Willow one

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Kk, does Harlow have wings? Random question lol

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B. W.
00:27 Oct 08, 2020

No, all three characters are humans and they don't have that stuff

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A. K. Wilson
16:56 Oct 07, 2020

This is how i always picture how school reunions would go for me. The story brings all those cringe worthy moments and it was very enjoyable good job

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Haha, that's where I got the idea from! Thank you!

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B. W.
18:18 Oct 06, 2020

Heyyyy

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B. W.
23:51 Oct 06, 2020

I think i might need some help with my novels again

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B. W.
15:13 Oct 07, 2020

Are you maybe really good at drawing? maybe you could draw the cover art?

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How did you know? I LOVE drawing!! I can also do some pretty good photoshop if you find a pic you like and you want to change it a little. I totally could! What's the novel, and what were you thinking of?

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Megan Sutherland
16:21 Oct 05, 2020

Ooh, great story! I'm really thankful for the upvote spree. Your description is on point. One thing I would have included- did Bri and her friends just not talk after she went to college? Why? I found that a little confusing, because I thought they would have stayed friends. Great story overall. Thanks for the upvotes, like, and comment. -Megan S.

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Thank you! They kinda just went their separate ways, because Bri just ditched them after college. I do need to include that, though, thanks! Also, you're welcome!

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Megan Sutherland
16:41 Oct 05, 2020

:)

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