She walks to the Groovy Smoothie, arguing with herself. She was rejected by a loser who liked to be half-naked, for another girl, who's – as much as she hates to admit it – wayy prettier than she is. But who is she to judge what is beautiful – well, more of, if she is beautiful? The only person who'd told her she was was her twin sister, Melanie; and she believed it was only because she wanted to let her hear what she wanted to hear.
She snorts, thinking, Gibby wasn't good enough for her, anyway.
Finally she sees the words Groovy Smoothie in neon lights, and walks faster to get there. Thinking about her friends always makes her happy. Once she gets there, she could complain about the loser rejecting her to have a playdate with some chick, insult Freddie a little, and ask Carly how the dance went. Yup, it'd make up for the feeling of not being wanted.
She walks in, not noticing how the lights are dim, and that there's a crappy slow song playing. She looks up –
Oh.
It hits her like bricks to her gut. It makes her want to puke, but not because it was disgusting, not at all –
They don't even notice her. She walks back to the door, thinking that maybe, just maybe, this is what Freddie always wanted. She knows it is, but she doesn't let it cross her mind. It'll stay hidden for as long as forever.
She pushes open the door and walks out. Her mind's telling her no, no, no, don't look back, but she does, anyway. Freddie looks happy. Carly looks happy.
She forces herself to smile, thinking, I'll leave them alone for now.
She isn't going to ruin anyone else's night just because hers got a lot worse.
Sure, Gibby rejected her, and her friends were having fun without her. She repeats to herself that Gibby wasn't good enough for her, just to take comfort.
But then again, she was never good enough for anyone, either.