Let's party, people, to quote a different musical. (If you're wondering, Carrie has that line said near the end of The World According to Chris, a great villain song for any mean girl). Thanks for reviewing, Gucci Mane LaFlare and PrincessCrystalgem.
The party was already in full swing when the girls arrived. They'd shown up fashionably late. Within seconds, Heather had disappeared into the crowd to mingle, Courtney was dragged off to dance by some guy, and Lindsay pulled Gwen over to the drinks to show her how to mix a good one. Lindsay wasn't into drugs, but she appeared to be an expert on mixing drinks. Apparently, it was her other talent, second only to fashion.
After about an hour and a few shots, Gwen only felt worse. She was hoping the party would be better than she'd expected, and she'd been drinking, hoping the alcohol would loosen her up, but it just made her even less enthusiastic about it. She even tried taking a hit of weed, but it just made her feel sick. She thought about taking another, trying to get used to it, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Gwen wondered miserably why taking drugs was called getting high. She'd never felt lower in her life.
It got worse when Emma finally turned up. She came looking excited, dressed up in a prettier top and miniskirt than her usual jumper-and-skirt ensemble that she wore at school, with both things being much smaller and cuter. Unfortunately, although the top looked good, the miniskirt exposed her thighs, making them look bigger and more wobbly than they really were. Gwen immediately saw Heather exchanging glances with Courtney and Lindsay, and they both mirrored her malicious smirks. Clearly something was planned other than just mild humiliation.
"I can't believe you came!" Gwen exclaimed, pale underneath her makeup.
Emma just smiled. "I told you I was going to, remember? I better go find Chase and talk to him, since that's what he asked me to come for."
"Just avoid Ripper," Gwen advised her. "He's roaring drunk and even if Chase wants to see you, I bet he didn't tell the rest of the football team." Besides, as she thought, Chase never picked on Emma directly, so she'd probably be safe if she talked to him only. Ripper would just love a chance to laugh and call Emma "Chubster" as he always did.
Even though Gwen justified it to herself, the nausea she already felt only got worse, her conscience adding to the effects of the alcohol and drugs. Still, at least it kept her alert when Heather announced it was time to bring out the pinata of their rival school's mascot.
"I think our own Emma should take the first hit!" Heather added. Before anyone could protest, Lindsay started tying a blindfold over Emma's eyes. It was the first time she'd called Emma by her real name since middle school.
Chase had been wearing a puzzled expression since Emma had spoken to him, but at that, he called out "Take a good swing at it, babe!"
"Em-ma! Em-ma! Em-ma!!" chanted a bunch of the other high schoolers, most of who called Emma Chubster most of the time. All of them wanted to see this.
"I'm not sure what I'm doing…" Emma said uncertainly. Gwen could hear the suspicion in her voice. She was right to know something was wrong.
The mascot had been given a golden ponytail, blue eyes and even a baby jumper in orange draped over it with the sleeves tied underneath. It was clearly designed to look like Emma, another insult to her that she wouldn't even know about yet.
Gwen suddenly lost control. The alcohol hadn't cheered her up, but it had lowered her inhibitions, and she wanted to stand up for her friend, and she was no longer as afraid of crossing Heather as she usually was. "Stop!" she yelled out. "This isn't fair!" She snatched the pinata.
Heather shot to her feet. "Hey, stop ruining the celebration! Give that back!" she hissed.
Gwen scowled straight back at her. "You want it? You better get swimming!" And she hurled the pinata out of the window, right into Ripper's pool as she hoped.
Everyone was staring, and Gwen suddenly realized what she'd done. "Um…I guess that means I'm not one of you guys anymore. There's my resignation." Then, to boot, she took the blindfold off Emma and whispered to her "Go home. I'll explain everything later."
Emma's expression was still confused, but she obediently left.
Gwen had known how Heather would react. And she was right. The teen queen started telling her how she'd be the lowest of the low from now on. But Gwen couldn't have predicted what she'd do in response – which was to throw up on Heather's shoes. And some of the ornate rug.
"You were nothing before you met me!" Heather raised her voice at this point. "And what's all the thanks I get?" She pointed at her feet. "It's on the carpet! I got paid in puke!"
Since Gwen was already condemned, the former goth shot back with exactly what she was thinking. "Lick it up, baby. Lick. It. Up."
Heather finally delivered the last insult. "At least I know who I'm eating lunch with on Monday. Do you?" Then, the next second, the party sparkle came back into her eyes and everyone continued, totally ignoring Gwen from that moment on. It was like Gwen had never even been there, as far as they were concerned.
Gwen left. She didn't feel sick anymore, but the feeling of fear in the pit of her stomach was just as terrible. Or even worse. She felt better for having told Heather off, but what would happen to her on Monday hung over her. She started walking home in shame, wondering what she should do in her last weekend of life.
As she thought, she suddenly passed a small, one-storey house. One that had a car parked out front…along with a wonderfully familiar motorbike.
Gwen thought about it. I could do it. No, it was crazy. But I'm going to die anyway, so screw it, I'm going to do what I want. That is, screw.
She was still thinking with her inhibitions lowered, and the option looked more and more appealing. The thought made Gwen want to do it more than ever. She needed it, almost as much as she needed air.
She crept around the side of the house, checking the rather wide windows. The first was a main room. No one there. But she got lucky on the second. In there was a single bed, and a recognizable guy asleep in there. And the window was a few inches open, since it was an unusually warm September.
Trent woke up to the creaking of the window as the redhead climbed in. "Wha – Gwen? What are you doing in my house?"
Gwen's uncharacteristic confidence didn't dissipate. "Ssh," she whispered gently. "I just committed social suicide. Heather made it pretty clear standing up to her puts my head on a pike. So I'm going to have my last request fulfilled. Are you going to help me?" For emphasis on what she wanted, she slipped off her heels and unbuttoned her blazer.
Trent's eyes widened. He clearly knew what she was asking. "Are you sure?" he asked, also in a whisper. "I don't have protection on me."
Gwen's stare became harsher. "Come on! I'm hot, I'm pissed, I'm willing…and I'm on the pill anyway. Just shut up and lose those things!" She pointed to the pyjama pants he was wearing. He didn't have much else on.
Trent couldn't help smiling a bit. Gwen was a smart girl, and if she'd expelled herself from the clique, she must have done something good, and done it by thinking for herself. And he'd always liked her looks, even if she was dressed and made up like a Miss Popular.
"Come here," he whispered, but before he could say anything more, Gwen jumped on him, literally throwing herself on him.
There wasn't much else either of them remembered from that point. It was all blurry. They were both high on euphoria, a feeling of being more alive than ever before. And when it was all over, Trent still didn't want to let go of Gwen. She willingly allowed herself to stay in this embrace, feeling so safe that she didn't even care that she didn't have much longer to live.
For one more moment, she was happy and her world was perfect.
I purposely made the effect of alcohol on Gwen making her depressed, not happier. The reason for that is because alcohol can amplify your feelings. She's not happy in the popular clique, so drinking brings it to the front of her mind. But if she wants a boost in her happiness, you know what she needs. Also, I know, I quoted the musical and movie directly. I have to say "Lick it up, baby" is one of my favourite Veronica lines. JD gets all the overall best lines.