Reunion (Part 1)

Reunion 

Why we were having a five-year reunion I didn’t know. But then again, my high school had never done anything normal. I was actually a little gratified when I got an email from the planning committee. I’d been on the student council and planned all our school’s events back in the day, but I still didn’t expect someone to reach out. Despite a general distain for my high school years, I was excited to plan the reunion. That is, until I found out who headed the committee. 

Hailey and I were friends once, maybe even best friends. But toward senior year, I began to realize what a bitch she was. She bossed everyone around, condescended anyone who disagreed with her, and talked behind the backs of anyone who wasn’t within earshot. Oh, and she started dating my ex-boyfriend less than a month after we broke up. Unfortunately, I’d kind of held a torch for Daniel since then. Needless to say, she was far from my favorite person. I was happy to never see her again, even if it most likely meant never seeing him again either. I’d forgotten about pesky things like high school reunions. And I wasn’t about to let Hailey get to me, ruining another thing I loved. Planning events, that is.  

There were a few other former student council members from our year there, as well as the main movers and shakers from way back when. I didn’t count myself among the latter. When I walked into the coffee shop we were using as our base of operations, one or two people recognized me and nodded. I wasn’t surprised. Despite being involved with several clubs and committees, I’d never been one to stand out. Hailey ignored me. That was fine, as I planned to do the same to her. She got the ball rolling with the worst idea in the history of bad ideas.  

“I was thinking we could do Purple Pride as the theme,” she announced. I rolled my eyes and struggled not to groan. Purple was one of our school colors and we’d already witnessed enough “Purple Pride Days” to last a life time. It was overdone before we’d even graduated. Plus, beyond a color scheme and product placement for the school’s logo, there was nowhere to go with it as a theme for an entire party.  

I wanted to speak up, knowing others would agree with me. We needed something way more creative. But as no one else stirred, and as the silence grew, my voice failed. I’d never been good at drawing attention to myself, especially in social situations. Already I was regretting agreeing to help with this. I wasn’t great at working with other people anyway. But I’d committed. So, I sat stewing in contempt as the reunion was planned around me. 

In an hour or so, the meeting was over and I felt drained, though I’d actually done very little. Being in large groups had that effect on me. And I still had my afternoon shift to look forward to. I worked at a little book store in town, the product of four years spent earning an English degree. But it was better than waiting tables, I guess. Quieter, at least. 

 When I walked in, Michael, the guy I shared my shift with, frowned.  

“You look like crap.” 

I made half an attempt to smile. “Gee, thanks. It’s been a long morning.”  

“Booze, guys...what?” 

I snorted. “Hardly. I was planning my high school reunion.” 

Michael made a face. “That’s all? God, I wish I could be doing that. But I find it hard to believe you graduated high school ten years ago. You’re what, nineteen?” 

“I’m twenty-three.” I sighed. I’d always looked young for my age. “And it’s a five-year reunion, don’t ask me why.” 

Michael shrugged. “Weird, but whatever. I still don’t get why that’s qualifies as a reason to look shitty. Seriously, your eyes are all dull and purple underneath, your shoulders are slumped. And you keep clenching your jaw.” 

I consciously relaxed my mouth and felt my teeth ache. “I don’t do well around people. And I hate the committee leader.” 

“Ooh, I sense drama,” Michael sang, leaning against the counter where the register sat. He twirled his finger through his dark, curly hair. “Spill.”  

I laughed. I knew he was acting over the top to distract me. “There’s not much to tell, really. We were friends, then I realized how much I hated her. After graduation I didn’t bother pretending anymore and we haven’t really talked since. I’ve seen her around, but we mostly ignore each other.”  

He nodded knowingly. “That’s rough. But I can tell your holding back.” 

 I rolled my eyes. “How would you know?” I guess I considered him a work friend, but we weren’t super close.  

He looked a little hurt, but the expression was gone in an instant. “You’re easy to read,” he said simply.  

“Oh.” I didn’t know enough people to really be aware of that. I’d spent such a long time perfecting hiding my thoughts and emotions that it stopped me short to hear how obvious I apparently was. “Well, there was a guy...” 

Michael snapped his fingers. “I knew it! What happened?” 

My stomach twisted. I didn’t really like thinking about this story, but it dawned on me that I’d never told anyone aloud. Suddenly, I wanted to.  

“It was back in freshman year. He liked me and didn’t really try to hide it. I had this whole image of what high school was supposed to be like, you know, from movies. Part of that included having a boyfriend. So, we started dating and it was fun. But he liked me way more than I liked him and I realized I had to break up with him. I wasn’t sure how I felt, I was only fourteen. And it wasn’t fair to him.  I think it broke his heart. We didn’t talk for a long time after that.  

Unfortunately, I regretted what I’d done the second it was over, but my pride got in the way. I convinced myself it was for the best, that I’d find someone else and everything would turn out fine. But as I watched him date a string of girls, I knew I was wrong. It hurt too much.  

After a while, things sort of thawed between us. We started hanging out with the same friends and a little spark of hope grew in my chest. There was even a point we were close enough I admitted I still liked him, maybe more than liked, but it was too late. Reconnecting through our friends came with a price. He started dating my best friend, Hailey. They are terrible for each other, but they’ve been together ever since. Hailey’s the committee leader,” I added unnecessarily. My heart was beating twice as fast as before and my hands shook. I didn’t realize the physical reaction talking about this would have. I tried to hide it, but Michael noticed. 

“You still have feelings for him, don’t you?” 

“No. That was a long time ago,” I denied. He didn’t seem to buy it. I was saved from further embarrassment by a customer. Michael turned to help her and I took my opportunity to escape. In the back room, I gathered my breath, found the book the woman was looking for, and returned completely calm.  

I avoided Michael for the rest of my shift, wandering among the stacks for people to needlessly offer my help to. When I glimpsed him, I could see the curiosity on his face. And maybe a little concern. I didn’t want either from him.  

The reunion came sooner than I expected and all the details were suddenly sorted out. Black and purple color scheme, just perfect for a party in May. The venue was the ballroom of a nearby hotel. We’d almost had it in the school’s cafeteria, like all our old dances, but thankfully Jesus, one of the more popular guys back in high school, put his foot down on that one. I was happy with the food choice: pizza. We’d also have chips, veggies, cookies, cupcakes, everything just like a school dance. The one difference was an open bar.  

I’d offered to put together the tickets and posters, a role I often enjoyed on the student council, but Hailey passed over me for a professional printer. The one job I got to handle was a playlist for the DJ, though I was warned that the music had to be good, as opposed to the stuff I listened to. That meant top forty instead of hairband and alt-rock. But fine, I could please the masses. I put together a list of the most popular songs from every year we were in high school up until now. But I also snuck in a few of my favorites after the list underwent Hailey’s last look. I didn’t really care if she noticed.  

Finally, we had our last meeting, the day before the reunion.  

“So, just remember the dress-code is formal,” Hailey trilled. I groaned internally at the word dress-code, another thing I’d hoped to escape after leaving high school. But formal was even worse. I hated dresses and heels even more. I considered wearing jeans just to piss her off. “And don’t forget everyone gets a plus one, if you need one.” She emphasized the number, and I tried to pretend I imagined it when her eyes drifted over me at the end. “Unless, of course, you’re lucky enough to have date who’s already invited,” she added unnecessarily. She looked over her shoulder, holding her hand out to a figure who’d walked in unnoticed. I cringed. Apparently, they were still together. Unlike Hailey, Daniel’s eyes found me immediately and lingered. The second the meeting was over, I rushed for the exit.  

Something about Hailey’s forced cuteness, about seeing them together after all this time, I almost didn’t go. But more than wanting to never see either’s face again, I wanted to get back at them somehow. Make them notice me after five years of silence. Make him notice. When the pretending ran out, Hailey was no nicer to me than anyone else. And Daniel didn’t do a damn thing. I wanted to change that, to force a reaction. Anything to break the depressive mire that faced me as an alternative. 

“What’s got you so fired up?” Michael asked. “Don’t tell me it’s this reunion again.” 

I looked at him, unsure how to answer. An idea was slowly forming. “Want to help me screw with some ass-holes I used to call friends?” 

He didn’t hesitate. “What did you have in mind?”  

“Well you know how I’m not very good at social...” 

“Anything?” he supplied.  

I sighed. “Yeah. Well, I’ve been that way a long time. I never brought dates to dances or anything. Well, except one.” My expression said not to ask. “Anyway, I barely hung out with my friends. I didn’t drink, or party. I spent high school a boring, innocent, virgin.” 

“Okay, and?” Michael looked confused now, wondering where I was going with this. 

“Well,” my face reddened, “not much has changed. I’m probably worse now. And that’s the way everyone remembers me, the few that remember at all. I want to change that.” 

“You want to shock them into noticing you.” It wasn’t a question. “Where do I come in?” 

“Like I said, I never had a date, or boyfriend really.” 

“Except for one.” 

I nodded reluctantly. “So, I was thinking maybe you could...” I was too embarrassed to finish. I couldn’t believe I was even suggesting this. 

“You want me to pretend to be your date?” It sounded so stupid when he said it out loud. “That’s like straight out of a romantic comedy, you know?” 

I shrugged. “I don’t really watch romantic comedies. I know it’s clichéd, but there’s something about these people that just drives me crazy. For once, I’d like to do it back. I promise it can be as painless as possible. I know you have a boyfriend, but if he’s okay with it, maybe could you?” 

Michael raised his eyebrows. “How do you know I have a boyfriend?” 

I smiled slightly. “He picks you up every Friday. And I’m not the only one who’s easy to read.” 

“You’re more observant than you look.” 

I raised an eyebrow, unsure how to take the comment. “It’s a gift. So, what do you think?” 

He was quiet for a few minutes. “Why? What about them, this girl and guy, drives you so nuts? I mean, aside from the obvious.”  

“Even when we were friends, they barely considered me, barely included me. That’s how everyone was. They just passed me over and forgot about me. You know, I think three people at those planning meetings actually remembered my name.” 

He nodded. “Okay, I get that. But I’ve never seen you so agitated. Or so pissed.” 

I let out a long, slow breath. “It’s him, Daniel. He’s always had this effect on me, I’ve just gotten good at hiding it. It isn’t just my feelings for him. There are few people I hate in this world, but I’ve let him become one. He knew. Maybe not the whole time, but he knew how I felt about him. And I might have been alright if he’d just told me he wasn’t interested. That he didn’t see me that way anymore. But he kept me hanging. For years I had to watch them. He made it worse flirting with me, saying the sweetest things, sometimes joking, but other times... And then back to ignoring me. Not enough to mean anything, but I couldn’t let it go either.” Again, my breath came fast and I was trembling. I didn’t know why I was telling Michael any of this. Maybe desperation. Maybe I just needed a friend and he filled the criteria at the moment.  

“That’s fucked up. Sorry, but you should see yourself.” He looked uneasy, but determined. “I’ll help you. I’m sure Brandon won’t mind.”  

I smiled. “Thank you, I mean it. And hey, it won’t be like completely like those stupid movies. I know in advance that this neither of you is going to fall for me or the other way around. You’re gay and I gave up on him a long time ago.” 

His laugh was a little forced. “Glad that’s all cleared up. So, what’s the plan?” 

“Well, you seem to think you’ve got me figured out. I’m going for a complete one-eighty of how I normally am.” 

“I meant, what’s the plan for our wardrobe?”  

* * * 

Shopping with Michael was more fun than I’d had in a while. He’d taken one look at my only dress and decided we needed to hit the mall. Usually I hated trying on clothes, but his constant stream of jokes and purposely flamboyant behavior made it easier.  

“This is the fourth dress you’ve picked,” I called from inside the changing room. “And there’s even less of it than the last one.” 

“That’s the point. You said complete one-eighty remember? You can’t go wearing jeans and a hoodie.” He stood waiting on the other side. I looked at myself in the mirror and had to admit I looked pretty good. Michael had an eye for what would flatter me.  

“What do you think?” I asked, finally emerging.  

“Damn,” was all he said. His eyes jumped from one part of me to the next, the low neck line that cupped my chest, the flared skirt that hung shorter in the front than the back, and well above my knees.  

“So that’s a yes?” I tugged on the loose straps that slung around each arm and he slapped my hand away.  

“That’s a yes. If I wasn’t already seeing someone...” 

“You’d consider changing teams?” I joked.  

“Ha ha.” He looked away.  

“You’ve got something to match this?” I asked. 

“What, and let you have all the fun? Now it’s my turn.” 

Michael found his outfit much quicker. He seemed to know exactly what he wanted, and ended up with a black tux over a dark red vest that matched the glittery trim on my otherwise little black dress. Underneath he had a white button-down shirt. He rolled up the sleeves to his forearms.  

“We look hot,” he said, comparing our outfits in the mirror. “You can handle your hair and makeup without me, right?” He sounded doubtful. 

“Yes. Believe it or not, I have done this before.” 

“I almost do believe that.” He grinned. “So, any ground rules before tonight?” 

“I don’t know... so, we’re dating, I guess. Um, how much PDA are you comfortable with?” My face heated up at the awkwardness of these details.  

“How much are you comfortable with?” Michael countered.  

“Usually, very little. But like I said, tonight I’ve got to be the opposite.” 

“Okay, so hand-holding. Hugging, dancing. Kissing?” He seemed cool enough with this. 

“Yeah, I’m okay with all those. It’s just acting, right?” 

“And I am clearly the better actor,” Michael asserted. “It okay if I bring a little improve to this? I think between the two of us, I’m the one who’ll have to carry this performance.”  

“Wow, have a little faith.” I punched his arm.  

“See, I didn’t believe you were mad at all.” 

I rolled my eyes and hit him again. “I’ll pick you up at six, okay?” 

“I’ll be ready. Will you?” 

“I hope so.” 

[End of Part 1]