Monday afternoon. I'm eating lunch with the Heathers and JD. The Heathers are gossiping as usual as JD and I just sit here and eat. But neither of us could really agree on what we were eating… School lunch is a mystery to everyone.
"So, JD, how do you like the new clothes?" Heather Mac asks the black clad boy who looks up from his tray.
"Oh, it looks nice." JD replies, "Didn't I already answer these questions?"
"Yeah but it's so different wearing the clothes at school. Anyone stare at you for a minute like "Wow! Look at that stud!"? "
"Only person has stared at me and that was Ms. Fleming, wondering if she didn't get the memo about a new student." JD states.
"Ew. I hope she wouldn't think of you like that…"
"Who thinks of anyone as a stud, anyway, Heather?" Duke asks.
Mac shrugs, "I dunno. I couldn't think of anything else that you'd call him…"
"Hot? Sexy?"
"Yeah, you don't have to go that far…" JD trails off.
"True, he's no Ram." Mac states.
"Definitely not as gay as Ram." I retort, laughing a little.
Duke and Chandler along with JD start to laugh with me.
"I still don't completely believe that… I need proof."
"What? You want me to sneak you into the guy's locker room during gym?" JD asks.
"No! Of course not! I really don't need to see anything like that…"
"Yeah, you seem too innocent."
"I-I'm not that innocent…"
Heather laughs, "Heather, you're like a five year old compared to the rest of us."
Mac puffs her cheeks out a little, "What's wrong with being kind of innocent?"
"Nothing. It's actually better than being like everyone else here." JD tells her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Duke asks, getting a bit defensive.
"Isn't it better to be innocent than to be a whore?" JD replies.
"Are you calling me a whore!?" Duke exclaims, standing up.
"Who doesn't call you a whore?" Heather snorts.
"Like you're one to talk, Heather!"
"Please, I don't sleep around. Especially not for homework help or anything like that."
"I don't need homework help! Unlike you, I'm actually smart."
"Who needs book smarts when you have street smarts?"
"Will you two shut up?" JD asks, now looking severely annoyed.
"But you started-" Duke begins to protest only for me to cut her off.
"Just stop. He didn't mean for you two to start fighting."
Duke sighs and sits down, "Fine, whatever."
"S-so! Why don't we go get ice cream after school?" Mac asks, trying to brighten up the mood.
"I'd love that." I say, "What about you guys?"
"Sure, whatever." Duke rolls her eyes.
"If you're going, I guess," Heather replies.
"I'll think about it," JD says.
"Please come?" Mac asks, "I'll pay as thanks for giving me a ride home!"
JD pauses but sighs, "Sure…"
Mac smiles, "I'm glad!"
Well, this'll turn out interesting…
After school, we all make our way to the ice cream shop. It was almost nostalgic walking in. I haven't been here since middle school.
"I'm surprised this place is still open," I say, taking in the familiar sights. The ice cream case, the light pink wallpaper, pastel blue tiled flooring, checkered tables; it was quite colorful but somehow relaxing.
"It's just an ice cream shop, Ronnie. You look so awed." Heather rolls her eyes.
I feel my face flush in embarrassment, "Yeah, I know. It's just been a while since I've been here."
"I come here a lot!" McNamara admits, smiling innocently.
"Ah! Heather!" A man says, walking out from the back and behind the counter.
The shop's owner. Glad to see ownership hasn't changed. He's aged, but he still has a warm smile. Though his hair has thinned on top…
"I brought friends!" Heather Mac tells him, approaching the counter.
"I see that. What can I get you kids today?"
"Two scoops of strawberry ice cream, bowl please." Heather quickly orders.
The man chuckles, opening the case and grabbing the scooper, "You got it."
I lick my chocolate ice cream cone and listen to the others gossip. JD's silent, as usual.
"Did you guys see Betty Finn today?" Mac asks, "She was totally checking out Ram!"
"Nah, Betty doesn't like Ram," I tell them.
"You know who she likes?" Duke questions.
Shit… I shouldn't have said anything. "No, I just know it isn't Ram." I really shouldn't open my mouth sometimes… Betty was one of my best friends before I met the Heathers so of course I know who she likes, but I can't just tell them this. They'd probably make her life hell like they almost did when they found out my friend Martha liked him.
"Don't nerds talk about boys, too?" Duke groans, "I need some fresh dirt."
"Well leave Betty out of it. Martha, too."
"Who cares about Dumptruck? We can talk as much shit as we-"
"Shut up, Heather." Heather reprimands, "Didn't you see Courtney today? She's wearing that turtleneck for a reason."
Duke gasps, "What a slut! Who was she with?"
"You know the preppy guy who brags about his dad's bank?"
"Aaron?" Mac suggests.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever his name is. Anyway, I saw her examining her neck in the bathroom today. She's covered in hickeys."
Finishing my ice cream, I stand up, "I'm going to the bathroom." I declare, leaving.
I walk into the bathroom and glance into the mirror, doing a quick makeup check. I hear the door open and see Heather's reflection in the mirror.
"Checking your makeup, too?" I ask her as she joins me at the mirror.
"Yep." She responds, examining herself in the mirror, "Not to mention all their gossip is annoying me."
"When you just brought up that juicy piece of information?" I chuckle.
"Yeah, I just wanted to change the topic. As much as I'm up for making fun of nerds, I hate seeing you upset. I know you're friends with Betty and Martha Dum- Dunstock." Heather corrects herself.
I smile, "Thanks, Heather."
"Whatever," Heather says, looking away.
In the mirror, I see her cheeks are a bit red. She looks back at the mirror and is about to turn away to go to the door when I kiss her on the cheek.
"Love you." I remind her, smiling.
She smiles a bit and kisses me on the lips, "Love you more." She responds, barely pulling away.
I kiss her again, wrapping my arms around her neck. Every time we kiss it seems like time just stops, like nothing and no one could ever disturb us. Nothing could come and tell us our love wasn't allowed. And every time, the kiss was electrifying. All of our feelings, our passion, there. Heather's an amazing kisser and her lips are so soft. So what if our lip gloss mixed? So what if we were technically in public? Kissing Heather was a feeling I never want to say no to.
"Veronica?" A voice suddenly asks.
I pull away from Heather and look at the source of the voice in shock.
There stands my good friend Martha, staring at us in shock.
"Fuck…" I mutter before trying to act cool, "H-hey, Martha…"
"Listen here, Dumptruck, you tell anyone about this and I'll-"
"Heather! No! Stop! It's fine! You'll keep this a secret, right, Martha?" I ask, looking at my childhood friend, slightly fearful. I know how people would treat Heather and I if they ever found out.
"Of course!" Martha exclaims, also looking a little scared, "I'm just surprised! I'm sorry I walked in on you guys! I won't tell a soul! I'll completely forget about it!"
"You better. C'mon Ronnie." Heather says, grabbing my hand and bringing me towards the door.
"Um, your lipstick mixed," Martha speaks up again.
Heather drags me back to the mirror, "Thanks, Martha." She says, pulling out her lip gloss from her purse.
I could swear that I just saw Martha smile as she heard this. Bullying must be worse than I thought if she smiles as her real name is said.
After fixing our makeup, we walk back to the table.
"Jeez, what took so long?" Duke asks.
"Making out?" JD retorts, Heather hitting his shoulder.
"Disgusting!" Mac exclaims, "Heather and Veronica aren't like that."
"Exactly." Heather says, sitting in her chair again, smiling at him with a smile that says say anything else and you're dead.
JD rolls his eyes, "Whatever."
"So did you see Martha Dumptruck?" Duke speaks up to change the subject.
"Dunnstock." Heather corrects, twirling a strand of blonde hair around her finger.
"Since when do you care about what we call her? You call her Martha Dumptruck, too." Duke points out, suspiciously.
"Shut up, Heather. It doesn't matter." Heather glares, causing Duke to close her mouth. I can see she still has more that she wants to say but manages to keep her mouth shut. A lot of people do that around Heather. They know what happens if you go against her, after all.
"So I guess the almighty Heather Chandler has a heart, after all." JD really doesn't care that she could castrate him any minute, does he?
"Ronnie, let's motor." Heather stands up, looking down at me with an angry look in her eyes.
"Right…" I trail off, standing up as well, "We do have Mrs. Fleming's project to work on." I lie, but Heather goes with it nodding and then grabbing my hand and marching out of the shop with me.
"What's their damage?" Heather mutters as we get into her car. "So what if I decide to be somewhat nice? I'm not completely heartless…"
"You sure about that?" I retort, earning a glare, "Whoa, I'm kidding. I don't think you'd make out with me in the bathroom of an ice cream parlor if you were."
Heather sighs, leaning back into her seat, "Where are we going?" She asks, "We can't stay together in secret for too long. Someone'll find us out and our lives will be over."
"Heather, it's senior year. After high school, we can move far away from here. To a big city where no one will know us."
"Ronnie, you're so smart." Heather smiles a little, leaning over and kissing my head before starting her car, "Let's go back to my place. No parents."
Dear Diary,
The demon queen of high school doesn't seem like much of a demon anymore. She has a heart and she's willing to be somewhat nice for my sake. I love her so much. I can't wait until we can ditch this place together.