Friendzoned

by Power, P. S.

  "Hey." She expected them to jump and start making excuses for all the food, but Keeley just smiled at her, and then shrugged.

  "Good morning! We should have things ready in a bit. Are the others getting up? I want to go over what the plan is with Mitch."

  That got Becky to blink. There had been some talk of doing something, but an actual planning session seemed to be a little over the top. In the end she was just going to have to let it all go, she guessed. What else could she really do? What she wanted didn't fit in with reality, and what was always managed to trump her wishes, for some reason. It meant she fought to be practical, when she could. Like planning to teach instead of being a real actress. It was sensible and might allow her to have a career that would pay the rent regularly. So the secret dreams of the silver screen were set aside.

  She really should have done the same with Mitch already, she knew.

  "Um, yeah. I think so at least. I'll check?" She at least wanted to change, having slept in her clothes. They'd mentioned getting things from her house for her, but that was so embarrassing that she hadn't asked how it went. Her mother...

  Well, at least none of them were boys. She would have probably tried to get them to have sex with her. She was kind of the town slut, and being married hadn't slowed her down much at all. Really, her step-dad should just have divorced her and moved on. Even a life of drinking himself to death alone would have had to be better.

  It was an issue for Becky, she knew. One of those things that would probably haunt her for the rest of her life, influencing her reactions to everything and messing her up.

  For her entire life her mother, who'd had her way too young, had been a hard partying, fast living woman. Where her money came from was a mystery most of the time and Becky kind of suspected it was petty theft from the men she slept with. It wasn't exactly prostitution, because she wasn't worth enough for the small number of men she slept with to actually pay all the bills. It was normally a tight thing, but they managed, even with half the cash going to booze each week.

  She didn't know that for certain, and had never bothered to ask. Her mother didn't work, and made no bones about that, treating every night as an excuse to live it up. It left her older than her years, and not a very nice person. Shallow, and not very introspective about it.

  Worse, she always told Becky that she was just like her. Going on about how they were practically the same person. More like sisters than mother and daughter. It was enough that Becky dreaded the idea, and it had stopped her from doing a lot of potentially fun things in life. She'd been on a few dates, but hadn't done more than kiss a little, and once, with Brian Clemens, let him feel her up, over her clothes. It had been nice enough, and he'd certainly liked it, but the idea of turning into her mother made her panic, so she hadn't gone out with him again.

  It was an oddly broken way of thinking, and had to stop if she wanted an adult relationship with anyone, ever. She knew that, and even got that her having a boyfriend, or even a few, still wouldn't make her into an alcoholic that lived some kind of hidden and shady existence.

  The living room was empty when she came back and the futon things and pillows had vanished, with the other girls coming back from the area of the garage a minute later, chatting.

  Eve waved tiredly at her.

  "I think we should spend the day on good and wholesome activities, like hiking and enjoying nature. What do you think Becky?" From the exaggeration of the tone, she got that the short haired cheerleader didn't really mean it.

  "By that you mean we should pick up some boys and have an orgy? I'm actually good with the hiking idea, if you want. I haven't been out of town at all in a long time."

  The other girl pretended to be shocked at the words, her eyes going wide.

  "I am so hurt, Becky. I can't believe that you'd even think that. Do you really think that I'd suggest an orgy. Before noon? What kind of a girl do you think I am? Though, the next time I do have one, you're totally invited. Anyway, we were actually talking about shopping, but then Hally had to point out that Darla had a point and we're both getting fat and lazy. Hiking is like running for slow people, right? Because I'm not carrying a tent with me."

  They slowly moved into the kitchen, where there was a table that had four chairs and all sat down. Darla, not even pretending that she hadn't heard them nodded.

  "Not a bad plan. There is that nature trail out by the groves. We can invite some other people, and make a day of it." Then she turned and put a mound of pancakes on the table, while Keeley did the same with a covered platter. At least that, when the metal lid was removed, had an array of sliced fruit. It looked good. So did the other things being put on the table, but she valiantly didn't look at it, trying to appreciate only the sight and scent of the stuff that wouldn't make her blow up like a balloon.

  "Say... I don't want to be mean, but are you two bulimic?" Becky knew it probably wouldn't go over well, asking that, but whatever they were doing worked. Not that she really wanted to destroy her health, but dieting was getting really hard.

  Keeley looked away, and moved to the sink to wash her hands, before turning and staring at everyone for a while. She didn't seem angry, just a bit like she didn't want to have the conversation.

  "No... Darla just works out a lot. It makes a difference if you do enough, so the occasional large meal like this doesn't hurt her that much. I..." Sighing she looked away again, the set of her shoulders sagged, and a sense of defeat came off of her. "I'm a recovering anorexic. I don't eat like this all the time, and the others do what they can to make sure I eat at least sometimes. I know it seems like a huge amount, but I... Don't really eat it all. I hide a lot of it. I know I shouldn't. I know that it isn't a good thing, and that it's hurting myself. My psychologist said I should be honest about it with everyone, but I'm not ready for it to be all over school."

  Everyone was very quiet and looking at Becky, which kind of meant that they all had known about it already. Also that she'd better not talk about it with anyone. Or else. It was intimidating, even though no one glared.

  Darla finally broke the silence.

  "So, keeping busy with active things, weight lifting and running. It hurts, but really is better than starving. Who should we invite?"

  It was a distraction from what they'd been talking about, and no one insisted that she actually better not say anything about it at school. It was almost as if she was just expected to keep her friend's secrets.

  The disclosure explained so much though. Keeley had been cute when she'd come to Raintree in September, but had glasses and was about a size six. Now she was a size zero, and pretended to eat all the time around other people, making elaborate meals to throw them off of what she was really doing. It was classic anorexic behavior.

  Becky knew that, having actually gotten an "A" in her health class. It was sort of neat that school had taught her something that had been useful in a real world situation. That was about three things now, she figured. They'd also covered reading and how to make change, which were both things that she'd used regularly.

  Keeley sat and took a full plate of food, using a knife and fork, and smothering the pancakes with both butter and peanut butter before pouring syrup on them. The real kind too, that only rich people bought. Most people got flavored corn syrup. At her house they had...

  Well, they didn't eat pancakes. They had boxes of cereal. Cooking wasn't a thing they did, really.

  It was Hally that broke the silence next.

  "It sounds like fun. Hiking. Isn't it too cold? I mean it's about forty outside right now." How she knew that the girl didn't say, but it sounded about right.

  Darla however rolled her eyes.

  "It's a hike, not sunbathing. Wear a coat. Good shoes too. Though I will have fun laughing at you if you try to do it in pumps."

  That led a discussion of practical clothing, versus what to wear to impress boys, which got them back to who to invite. Darla took over then, eating a lot more food than anyone else was,
but setting her fork down to talk.

  "Easy enough. We should get Gary to invite some of the basketball team, Becky's target and his friend Cory. Keeley being there should be enough to collect Mitch for you, Becks. It's not a good way of doing things, but it will work. We really need to make you unavailable to him Keels, so he can make a decision without being distracted. You should get Zack to come, since he's your boyfriend. Too bad he's out of state right now."

  Becky nodded.

  "Yeah. I'd love to meet him. Does he live in Canada? My old boyfriend did, before he left me for that Inuit whore." There was a low and menacing tone to the girl's voice, but Keeley winked, clearly not taking her hard questioning earlier as a sign of hate. She didn't even seem upset. Faking her way through a meal probably took too much effort for that. Where she was hiding things was a mystery, she was doing it so well.

  "Washington State. He's working today and it's a bit of a commute, though he and our friend Kyle are coming down around the fourteenth. That's only a week away. You know, Becky, Kyle is going to be here alone and if you want to really get Mitch to notice you, he'd be the one to have with you. We can use that, I think. Darla?"

  "Oh yeah. Heck yeah, if we're being honest about it. I'm a bit jealous just thinking about it. The guy is hot. Smoking. I'm talking the kind of looks that get you onto television and keep you there. One warning though, even if you go out just to make Mitch notice you, if you have Kyle as your date, wear cute underwear. Do it even if you don't think anything will happen, because I'm betting you change your mind."

  Across the table, having half a piece of dry toast, Eve shook her head, "now I'm jealous. Well, when you get done with him Becky, let me know?"

  It was the kind of thing the girl said, and while she did date a lot, she didn't have that bad of a reputation at school. That either meant that no one really cared about things like that anymore, since their lives weren't a black and white sit-com from the sixties, or she didn't do half of the things she pretended to. Either way, it made it easier to accept the idea of a blind date. Sure, they could be lying to her, or Kyle could be seven or something, and they were simply putting their friend forward, but she could handle that.

  They didn't really do things like that to her though, so it was probably what Darla had said. It was kind of exciting, if in a strange way.

  Keeley smiled.

  "I'll handle the props for this one. We'll get Gary to help wrangle Mitch. That should cover it, really. Mitchell is the one that's calling the games this season, isn't he?"

  "Yeah, the home ones at least. I've been trying to go to them. They've all been on Thursdays this year." Which was a new thing, but no one cared about the change of days that much. It was basketball, and while they were doing pretty well, it wasn't the most popular sport for Raintree.

  Darla clapped once, getting everyone to turn in her direction.

  "Good. Eve, if you'd make certain we have a lunch packed? Keeley, if you'd help her get that done, since we'll be taking your food? I'll pay for it, so Sherri won't get mad."

  The dark haired girl nodded.

  "Thanks. Yeah, we can do that. You have the phone duties?"

  They moved like a military unit, and all she had to do was shower and change, taking turns with Hally. The freckled redhead didn't take long and actually dressed for warmth, in layers. She pointed that out too, before Becky went in herself.

  "It's important in cold or cool weather, when you might be exerting yourself. That way you can open part of it, or even remove layers as you warm up. You don't have to go fast for that to happen and you don't want to sweat that much, since that can make you cold and lead to hypothermia. Even if it isn't freezing outside." Then she stopped, and blushed a brilliant crimson. "My parents are big on camping and hiking. I've done this before. I know, lame, but we go about six times a year."

  "Lame that you have a family? One that is actually willing to do something? That is very not lame. The only thing my mother ever offers to do with me is watch television, and even then only if she's too drunk to go out. It sounds really nice. I wish I had a cool family like that."

  That led to one of those awkward moments where Hally was pleased, but also feeling bad for her, and couldn't think of anything nice to say to cheer her up. So instead she offered to raid Keeley's closet for her and get something that wouldn't be too hot, but that would work.

  Becky smiled, then after taking six steps toward the bathroom door stopped and turned to look at the girl.

  "Wait, if you know all this stuff, why did you ask if it was too cold?"

  "Because I don't want everyone to know that I do things like this all the time. They might think I'm not interesting."

  "Oh. I'm pretty sure no one thinks that, miss cheer queen." Becky smiled, and the other girl looked away, but shrugged. It was a bigger thing than was probably needed, and her layers made it seem a little out of place.

  "That isn't me though, is it? Darla and Barb maybe. Eve and I are just background players there. Pretty, but not at that level. Good, but not like they are. If we had a real squad, one made up of people like them, we'd be going to nationals. It's okay, because I'm going to work with animals. I just want high school to be fun." Looking directly in her eyes, the girl smiled. It was a heartfelt sort of thing, one that seemed genuinely happy.

  Becky blinked.

  "What happened to Barb anyway? She was here last night, but when I woke up, gone."

  "She does that. I think she has a secret boyfriend. That or she has to get back home before her parents wake up. It isn't unusual." Leaning in she whispered. "I used to think she was a real "b" with an itch, but since she came back she's a lot nicer. She won't really tell us what happened. She told the school that she'd gotten pregnant, but even they aren't really buying it I don't think. Maybe it was drugs, she didn't seem to be on them before though. I mean, both my parents are drug and alcohol counselors, so I kind of learned to look for the signals. Not that I might not have missed it. Her butt looks the same though. Perfect." She waved, letting Becky move past into the rather large and well decorated bathroom. It was a bit steam filled, Hally having used very hot water, so she hurried and used as little of that as she could, so that the others could have a turn.

  She didn't apply any makeup, but the face in the wiped off bit of mirror seemed to need it. Her skin wasn't bad at least. A little oily, but she didn't break out a lot, so there was that going for her. The rest of her was a bit thick in places. She had a decent chest, which would still be about a full c-cup when she hit her goal weight. There was a tiny bit of sagging skin, but only around her middle and it was loose from the dieting. Hopefully it would tighten up a bit. It should. She hoped. Her eyes were just blah in color, being an off gray-blue. Still, she almost had cheek bones now, and her hair wasn't bad. Just brown, but with a tiny bit of curl to it.

  In all, not too bad, she didn't think.

  She didn't have all the needed clothing with her, but had jeans, a t-shirt and underwear. The rest she got when Hally pulled her into the living room, pushing things on her one item at a time.

  "Two pair of socks, to help prevent blisters, and two more shirts. Then a coat over it. I couldn't find any gloves." She seemed worried on that score, but Darla poked her head out of Keeley's mom's office, where she did floral arrangements and party stuff for clients.

  "I have some. They should fit. Let me get those. I can walk and talk at the same time. It's a good idea." She only lived two or three blocks away. Becky had seen her house and even spent the night. It was fantastic of course. Her family had a lot of money and while it wasn't the biggest place in town, it was basically Darla's. A full house, for a single high school girl.

  She headed out alone, and that meant that Becky just had to sit around, wondering if Mitch would really come. It was Saturday, but there wasn't a real reason for him to, was there? He liked Keeley, but how that was supposed to help her, she didn't get. Maybe they could put a bag over the other girl's head to hide how stunning she was
? Except that wouldn't do enough. Her body would still show.

  Sighing she decided not to worry about all the things in the world she couldn't control, even if Mitch's face kept popping up inside her head, leaving her feeling warm and good, inside. It wasn't sexual, not at that moment, but she really loved him. It almost hurt it was so powerful, until Keeley came out, dressed in layers herself.

  The clothing fairly draped around her, looking like she was wearing oversized men's clothing, instead of her own. She had her hair up, hidden under a baseball cap and a ponytail sticking out the back, her long hair looking a bit like she hadn't brushed it. There was no makeup on her skin, and she clearly had a large, very red, zit. One that hadn't been there earlier, Becky thought. It had to have been, since it was clearly real. Her lips were too pale as well.

  The girl saw herself being examined and winked.

  "Should I add glasses? I have some in my room."

  "No... I think Mitch actually likes that. I don't know that this will work, but thanks. I get what you're doing. Not every girl would make herself look less interesting to help someone else out." It was true. Becky thought that most would have subtly made themselves more attractive, trying to draw him in, even if they didn't want the boy in question. Keeley wasn't like that, which made it all that much harder. Becky couldn't even blame her failure on the other girl. That was less than fun.

  "What are friends for? You look nice. We should get the food in the van. I think we're picking most of the others up."

  They did it, since Darla, being a health nut, had walked. That meant they were doing it when she returned with four pair of nice leather gloves that would have looked about right in a ladies magazine, and a pair of well used and poor looking cloth gardening gloves. They were a dingy white, with dirt on the palms, from having actually been used at some point.