A Regret
Daria stood in a corner of Brittany's living room, watching the popular people interact. An internal commentary was running through her mind, rude and witty comments on the goings on she had no one to share with.
After a few minutes, she was approached by a red-haired boy she recognized from science lab. He covered his nervouness with false bravado. Daria felt a spark of hope she quickly squashed.
They traded sarcasm for a few moments, then Daria decided she had had enough for one evening and turned to go.
"See you in class," the boy called, and Daria found herself smiling, if only slightly. She waved and walked out into the night.
She had no ride waiting for her. Her sister had come with some boys from her grade, but Daria had walked there alone. She turned her feet in the direction of home, and just as she was leaving the gate a car squealed around the corner and hit her head-on.
Her last thoughts as the color bled out of the world were of the boy at the party, smiling hopefully down at her.
"What's your name?"
"Esmeralda."
I should have told him my name, she thought, and was gone.
"Jane's Subtraction" Iron Chef.