***Reagan***
“Ifeveryonecouldgrab a seat, we’re going to go through some ancient memories before dinner. Go easy on the Lunar Eclipses before you eat, by the way, guys. If we’re the first class to have to call an ambulance for alcohol poisoning, we’ll never live it down.”
I sat back in my seat, argument with Russ forgotten. Jenny Bokker was the woman who’d made my life hell. She was pure evil. I hadn’t considered the possibility of her being at the reunion, which was short-sighted, I realized.
“Don’t think you’re getting away with not telling me what happened that night with Marko.” Lisa frowned when she looked back at me and saw my face. “What’s wrong?”
“First, the superlatives! This should be fun.” Jenny and a woman I didn’t recognize stood at a small podium, working together to organize whatever Jenny was doing. “We’re just going to go in the order they’re in the yearbook. So, first! Most likely to lose all their hair went to Frank Gorman. Let’s see you, Frank. Were we right?”
I checked out of the ceremony, knowing that my name was nowhere in their plans. I hadn’t been voted anything in high school. I might’ve gotten most likely to be the biggest slut if the voting had taken place after prom, but thankfully, it hadn’t. I took a long pull of my beer and looked back at the bathrooms. If I stood up right then, I might draw attention to myself, but I was suddenly wondering why I’d ever agreed to come.
“Most likely to marry a cheerleader!” The crowd whistled as Jenny read my brother’s name. “Come on up here, Russy!”
Lisa looked at me and made a face. “Give me a pompom and I’ll shove it right up her ass.”
“Were you ever a cheerleader, Lisa?” Theo leaned into me, talking to Lisa with a teasing smile on his face.
“Well, yeah. Only because cheerleaders got to break dress code and wear short little skirts. How else was I going to get Brock Dellaway’s attention?”
I snorted. “I don’t know. Maybe your face, hair, boobs, or tiny waist?”
Lisa playfully swatted my arm. “This is why you’re my favorite person. You always say the sweetest things.”
Russ sat back down at the table and slung his arm around Lisa. “Never say I don’t live up to the hype, babe.”
I finished my beer and my water and bounced my leg under the table. I felt trapped. I even went as far as pulling my phone out of my clutch under the table and turning it on for the first time in days. It was a mistake, because it wasn’t on silent and it immediately started going crazy with notifications. I swore and clamped my thighs closed around the phone, trying to drown out any of the sound.
“Really?” Russ rolled his eyes at me. “Is that the asshole?”
“Shut up, Russy.” Lisa elbowed her husband and clutched my hand. “Bathroom?”
I nodded gratefully and managed to stand up with only a little bit of dizziness. I caught myself on Theo’s shoulder and grunted. “What the hell are they putting in Lunar Eclipses?”
Lisa wrapped her arm around my waist and we both leaned on each other as we made our way to the bathroom. By the time we got there, we were both giggling and I’d forgotten why I was angry.
“God. Dinner hasn’t even been served and you’re already plastered!” Lisa washed her hands after using the restroom and watched me through the mirror. “We’re going to have to roll you out of here.”
“This place makes me miserable. I was always so miserable here. I don’t know why I came.” I let my head fall back and found myself staring up at the water-stained ceiling tiles. “Huh. You’d think they’d fix that.”
Lisa caught my cheeks in her hands and pulled my face down to hers. Resting her forehead against mine, she narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re a grown-ass woman. You’re sexy, you’re smart, you’re talented. You are not a teenager who accepts shit from anyone. I saw your face when Jenny showed up. You’re going to go out there and have a good time and show her that she’s the only loser here.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I feel so awkward around the guys. I don’t know how to have a good time. I feel like I’m still a dorky kid again. It’s like the last ten years didn’t even happen.”
“You know they did. The phone ringing in your hand tells you they did. The guys probably don’t even remember whatever rumors went around all that time ago. You’re so hot, Reagan. I refuse to let you feel like a loser.”
I shook out my hands and ignored any mention of rumors. “You’re right. I shouldn’t hold back. I deserve a good night.”
She took my phone and winced when she saw the screen full of notifications. Turning it off, she stuck it in her purse. “You do. So, go out there and pretend like you don’t have history with anyone out there. Just have a good time. Let yourself go, Reagan.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah! This is your fresh start. Do you want to be the awkward teenager too scared to speak her mind or do you want to be a badass woman who takes control of her life?”
I was getting really into her speech. “A badass!”
“Done! Now, you just get to show everyone.” She led me to the mirror and touched up our makeup before slapping my ass. “Go, get ‘em, tiger!”
I strutted out of that bathroom like I owned the place. I was drunk enough to think that no one else would remember the past and that I could just pretend it never happened. I was also drunk enough to really buy into Lisa’s hype game. I was a badass. No one could make me feel like a loser.