Chapter 14 Rejected.

The screen shows Tommy walking through the hall. Multiple students and one teacher great him.

"Hello Mr Popular". Says Freddy Holt.

Tommy looks at his geeky friend.

"I love you too, you science geek". Answers Tommy.

Tommy walks to the cafeteria. He looks around and sees Carrie sitting all alone at one table.

The sight of Carrie sitting all alone makes people cringe, reminding them off how lonely Carrie truly was.

At least before. now is different. Right?

Tommy walks to her.

Tommy:"Hey, Carrie".

Carrie looks up from her books and sees Tommy.

"I was looking for you at the library because that's where they said you were. But, uh, you weren't there, so I figured maybe you were here".

"Nice start of a conversation, Ross". Says George Dawson.

'' 8 out of 10''.

Tommy pushes him friendly in response.

Tommy: "Telekinesis: Unlocking the Mind."

Carrie:" No, no"

Tommy:"Is that about, uh, hypnosis?"

Heather Shrys and some nerds look at Tommy with horror.

"Everyone knows that telekinesis is the ability to move objects with you're mind!". Says Heather Shrys.

The other nerds shake their heads.

"Nerd".Whispers Nikki to Lizzie.

"Because me and my friends, we tried that. We actually hypnotized my boy's dog".

"Really?" Say some people.

"It's a really funny story". Answers Tommy with a smile on his face.

"After all we have seen, nothing surprises me anymore". Says Mrs Drew.

"Anyway, um...How are you doing?"

Carrie: "I'm okay".

Tommy:"Cool, so you know how, um, prom is next week? You know? Um, I was wondering, if you don't have a date already, maybe you want to go with me".

Carrie:"What?"

"I would react the same". Says Cindy Yang while shaking her head at Tommy. A pang of sadness going through her for Carrie. The rest of the student body look at Tommy.

"What?". Asks Tommy and his father Both men look confused. Mrs. Ross shakes her head. Like father like son. she thought.

"That is not the way you ask out a girl and one that you barely know!" Groans Cindy Yang.

"The most popular boy in school asks out a unpopular girl..." Says Mary Thibodeau.

"...and said boy also has a girlfriend that is part of the group that bullies her" finishes Lila Thibodeau. Father and son are blushing at the end as Tommy pulls at his hair.

"Sorry?" he asks as Cindy Yang rolls her eyes.

''Hopeless''.

Tommy: "The prom, next week". Carrie looks around her and sees multiple (popular) students staring at them Carrie takes her books and walks away.

"I'm sorry". Says Carrie timidly to Tommy as he shakes his head.

"What are you apologizing for?' You don't have to apologize, Carrie. If anyone has to apologize it is me, I was arrogant and didn't take your feelings in consideration". Says Tommy while shaking his head at his future self.

"I should have thought more on this one". Says Tommy. Carrie still looks guilty for walking away.

"Girl, it isn't your fault Tommy can be clueless". Says George Dawson as he walked to Carrie and stops in front of her.

"You know, I never understood how he and Sue got together with him being so clueless". Jokes George Dawson.

Carrie and several others laugh at this.

"Now you accept this doofus's apology and we continue watching the movie".Says George Dawson.

"Okay". Says Carrie with a small smile.

Tommy runs after her.

Tommy:"Carrie, hey, Carrie"

Carrie:"Stop! Please, just stop trying to trick me".

Most students stare at the ground with shame at this, remembering times they either tricked Carrie or merely stood by.

Cindy Yang merely looks at Sue. So far Sue's plan seems to be falling, no surprise there. Did Sue really believe that asking her boyfriend to take Carrie to prom would have made her and Carrie even? And do a few kind words and a good deed erase the pain of all those years that we mistreated her?

Cindy Yang looks at her nails in shame.

"No, I'm not trying to trick you. I'm not tricking you".

Carrie:"Aren't you with Sue Snell?"

Tommy:"Yeah, I'm with Sue Snell, but she doesn't want to go".

"Really convincing, Tommy". Says Ruth Gogan to her friends boyfriend.

''Smooth'' Says Rachel Spies.

Carrie:"I'm sorry.

Carrie walks away, but this time Tommy doesn't follow her. The screen changes again and now shows Carrie crying in the girls change room.

"Shit". Whispers Tommy. He never wanted to make her upset. One look at the other people in the room made it clear he wasn't the only one feeling guilty and uncomfortable at seeing his classmate in such an private moment. Beside Carrie Mrs Desjardin, Jessica and Freddy are cheering her up.

Suddenly Rita walks through the door.

The teachers, adults and teenagers felt themselves relaxing, confident now that Mrs Desjardin was there with Mrs White.

Rita sees Carrie crying and walks to her.

Rita:"Did one of the girls try something again?"

Rita felt pride at her future self. It felt great knowing she would have had Carrie's back even if they had never been sent the movie. It helped with the guilt she felt about not doing more before this day. Beside her Carrie relaxed.

Carrie:"No, I got invited to prom".

Rita:"Really? That's great news; With who?"

Carrie:"It's Tommy Ross".

Rita:"Wow".

A part of the people in the room, mostly the older teenagers and young adults couldn't help it but snort.

''Look at how surprised Mrs Desjardin looks'' Whispers Tina Blake to Chris.

''Wouldn't you?'' Answers Chris as Tina flushes. Truth to be told she herself was still shocked at the turn of events. Not in a thousand years she would have though that Sue would pull a trick like this.

Tommy Ross and Carrie White? It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel. No, scratch that a fairy tale. Cinderella came to her mind.

She does have the wicked stepmother and being mistreated covered...Does that mean a pumpkin is going to appear after the movie is done.

Chris snorted at the mental image.

That sucker Morton would probably have an heart attack. Heck all of the teachers Or maybe not, they didn't fall over when White showed them her powers.

Chris shudders and tries to push away those last thoughts. Thinking about Carrie and her newly discovered powers made her feel scared and jealous.

Imagine having so much power...She shakes her head.

After the screening was done she could have some time to think things through and about her next steps. About her feelings for Carrie and for Sue.

I don't want to lose her..I CAN'T LOSE HER.

"Tommy Ross? He is pretty dreamy, huh?"

Carrie:"Yeah".

"I know who he goes around with".

"Yet another reason not to trust it". Says Sue. Her plan to do something nice for Carrie was clearly failing. She had thought that Carrie had a crush on Tommy and while that still might be true, she hadn't thought things through. There were too many holes in her plan.

"They're just going to trick me again, Right?"

Rita:"Maybe he really meant it".

A group of girls snorted.

''Nice try Mrs Desjardin'' Said Cindy Yang to to red in her face gym teacher. The woman probably didn't believe it herself. She felt slightly angry on Carrie's behavior.

She better not try convince Carrie to go to prom with Tommy, that's asking for trouble. No way will people just accept that. They will ruin it for her And is it Mrs Desjardin's place to make decisions for Carrie? If she feels uncomfortable she shouldn't have to go. Mrs Desjardin shouldn't push her. But haven't we all being doing that? Making decisions for Carrie? How do we know this is what she wants and not what she thinks we expect of her?

Pain interrupts Cindy Yang's thinking process. She takes one look at her nails and sees that she has bitten on them so hard theat they have startedt bleeding. She hisses at the pain, which her mother hears. One look at her daughters distraught face makes it clear to Mrs Yang what has happened. She knows what Cindy does when she is nervous. After checking her daughters hands to be sure, she takes some alcohol and bandages out of her bag and cleans her daughters bleeding nails. Once it is done Cindy looks at her mother and hugs her, letting the tears and anxiety out.

''It is all going to be alright, my little polar bear'' Says Mrs Yang while hugging her daughter. The movie continues, not that the mother and daughter notice. They both are feeling a bit restless.

Carrie:"No".

Rita:"Yes, of course he did".

Carrie:"Why? Why would he want to go with me?"

The people in the room feel bad at the girls clear lack of confidence. Knowing that they are all in one way or another responsible for it.

"You're smart'' Says Freddy Holt.

''You're funny'' Says Jessica Upshaw.

"You have superpowers". Says Billy Nolan as He turns to Carrie. ''You know that really gets a guy all hot''.

''Mr Nolan!'' Some dirty looks are thrown his way. Front runners the people around Carrie who is blushing.

"You know, after your mother gets arrested and sent to the loony farm, it wouldn't hurt to have some money". Says Billy Nolan, going in for the kill. ''Do you think those powers work long distance, lets say from a TV''? Before Carrie can answer she is interrupted.

''I will probably regret this but why are you asking Mr Nolan?'' Asks agent Geraldine while shaking her head as Billy Nolan smirks.

''Well you see I have some lottery tickets for the upcoming...''

"Mr Nolan!" Scream Principal Morton and the police force. Most of the adults and students frown at him, although some are clearly trying not to laugh or ask the same question.

"What?". Says Billy Nolan with a cocky smile as Principal Morton and several others just shake their heads.

''That is illegal Mr Nolan'' Says Agent Geraldine as Billy starts laughing.

''How are they going to prove it?' The police are quiet,not knowing what to say on that.

''The girl is going to need all the money she can get her hands on after this'' Mutters Billy, just loud enough for Chris to look up at him.

''Still, you shouldn't encourage this kind of behavior Mr Nolan''. Says some adult he doesn't know the name of.

Billy shrugs and turns back to the screen. As far as he is concerned this conversation is over but he would try to talk with the girl later and prepare her for the real world.

Rita:"Come here". Rita takes Carrie in her arms and they walk to a mirror. "Do you know what I see? I see a beautiful young woman".

The room is quite for a few seconds. People look unconvinced.

"Are you...". Says Tina Blake.

Before Tina can finish her sentence, Rita speaks.

"I am 100 percent sure". Says Rita.

She glares at the people who looks uncertain. Daring them to say a word. Everyone decides is best to not start a fight with Rita and not harm Carrie's self-esteem farther

"Maybe wear a little make-up, Pinch your cheeks a little bit, put some color in there. Curl your hair, Stand up straight. There you go".