“Courtney?” I ask.
“Yes?” she turns around and recognizes me, “Oh! You’re Jenna, the girl I picked as the Last Girl.”
“That’s actually what I needed to talk to you about. I can’t do it.”
“What do you mean you can’t do it?” She asks, her eyebrows raising causing wrinkles to form on her forehead.
“I didn’t sign up. My friend signed up for me, she didn’t know I didn’t want to do it.” I lie.
Courtney pulls us away from the bunch and leads us to the other side of the bleachers. “I am sorry you feel that way, I am, but you have to do it.”
“What do you mean she has to do it?” Daisy questions, “She doesn’t have to do anything.”
“Well you are right, but the auction needs you. You are the hottest freshman in the school.”
Daisy and Jessica mutter thanks under their breath and Courtney gives them an ‘I’m-sorry but-I’m-not-really-sorry’ look, “No offense.”
“Oh none taken.” Jessica says sarcastically.
Courtney turns her whole attention to her, “And you are Jessica, the second to Last Girl,” Jessica blushes and nods, “You are the one who signed Jenna up and now that she got Last Girl instead of you, you want her to quit, am I right?”
“She said she would quit on her own,” Jessica argues and I nod.
“Well you should try to stop her from quitting.” Courtney says through her smile.
“Why?”
“Because if she quits, I will be forced to tell the school that you signed her up against her will and you will be given an Academic Dishonor stamp on your file. Not a very good thing to get your freshman year.”
Jessica loses color in her cheeks, “They wouldn’t do that.” I can hear the shakiness in her voice.
“Oh yes they would. They take the Slave Auction pretty seriously.”
“You can’t quit,” Jessica says turning to me, “You have to do it.”
“But-.”
“Well, now that that is settled, I have to get back to practice. I will see you two this weekend at rehearsals. Nice to meet you Daisy, and tell Lance I said hi.” Courtney says. She flicks her hair as she turns on her heel and rejoins the other girls in bright blue.
“Are you crazy? You can’t do it!” Daisy yells at me.
“I’m not!”
“Yes you are,” Jessica whispers.
Without realizing it, I bring my voice to a whisper like she had, “What are you talking about? You wanted me to quit!”
“I did. But you heard what she said! I cannot get an Academic Dishonor stamp or whatever,” She crosses her arms, “I’m sorry I did this to you, I really am. Not because you got Last Girl, but because I know how much you hate the idea. But please, do it for me.”
I stare into space thinking. Daisy whispers into my ear, “You have to do it,”
I look over at Lance, Luke, Hayden, Zac, and Nolan sitting in the bleachers, staring at the cheerleaders. I look back into Jessica’s eyes and see how scared she is, “Okay,” I nod, “I’ll do it.”
Chapter 5: Causing Trouble
The rest of the week went by in a dark haze.
Wednesday: Every senior guy and every girl who signed up for the auction knew who I was. They would watch me as I passed by. I hated their eyes on me. I knew every little movement I made was being judged. I could sense the hate on the girls’ faces as they watched me. They were upset because I beat them and got to be the Last Girl. A feat I wish I had never accomplished.
Thursday: Everyone in the whole school pretty much knew who I was. People were also getting braver and actually would say things about me as I walked by. Guys would whistle and girls would say things along the lines of “What a whore. Look at what she is wearing!” Then I would glance down at my long-sleeved baggy shirt and old ripped jeans, and wonder how they could still call me a slut while wearing something as hideous as this. At lunch I opened my locker and found a love note from some senior guy named Todd. I’m not going to lie, Todd was really attractive. But, it was so creepy how this guy, who I had never talked to, was leaving me a love letter saying, “Your eyes sparkle in the sunlight.” How would he know if my eyes sparkled in the sunlight? Then, one girl ran up to me and screamed about how her boyfriend was going to bid on me at the auction and that I should do everything in my power to make sure he doesn’t win or else. Yeah, like I can control that.
Friday: Everywhere I went Daisy and Jessica would form a barricade in front of me, trying to block me from any more threats. They were being really helpful through all of this. We had to stop sitting at our normal lunch table and eat in the library with all the nerds. We could barely talk to each other because we were always getting quieted by the librarian. But at least no one in there was calling me a whore. My locker was full of love notes that day and I kept finding flower petals taped to it. Pretty soon, it smelled so strongly that I avoided it at all costs. Hayden, Lance, and Zac would wave at me whenever they saw me and would try to walk up to me but I would run in the other direction. I saw Luke around and wanted him to wave to me, but he and Nolan never did. I wore a grey tank top that had a layer of black lace over it that day, with black skinny jeans. They were calling me names anyway, might as well look good while they do. And hey, maybe I will get more bids at the auction and get more money for the school. Maybe they can use the money to actually sell decent food for lunch.
I was beginning not to hate the Slave Auction as much. I was just looking forward to getting it over with. And I hate to admit it but I am kind of excited. I keep hoping Luke will bid on me, even though it’s a ridiculous thought. He wouldn’t bid on me. Jessica keeps telling me that I will be staying with Hayden because he has the most money to spend. Daisy says that at home she can hear Lance talking on the phone through her bedroom wall. He does a group call with Hayden, Zac, Nolan, and Luke and all they talk about is the Slave Auction. They argue about who will win me. It’s weird knowing that they talk about me. She says that Lance saved all his summer lawn mowing money for the auction. I wonder what Luke says about me on the other line, but Daisy doesn’t know. Maybe Lance will have the highest bid, then at least that way I can have Daisy there with me the whole week.
Finally, it’s Saturday morning, and I am waiting for Jessica at the front of the school. Rehearsal starts in five minutes. I see her mom’s car pull up and she gets out.
“Thanks mom,” she calls. Her mom waves to me and drives away.
“Are you ready for the best four hours of our lives?”
“I hope that’s sarcasm,” I say blankly.
“It wasn’t.”
“What I can’t believe is that it’s four hours! And four hours tomorrow too! What are we doing that could possibly take that long?” I complain.
“Oh stop pretending like you wish you weren’t here. I know you are getting excited about this,” Jessica says as she opens the theater doors.
Damn it, I have to hide my feelings better.
Courtney is standing center stage and is telling people to sit down in the first five rows of seats. She is wearing her perfectly ironed cheer leading uniform and her hair is tied up in a high ponytail with a gold bow. Jessica grabs two red velvet chairs in the front row. We wait about ten more minutes and Courtney ‘takes roll’. She calls out names in the order they are on the list so of course she calls my name last. After everyone says ‘here’ when she calls their name, she crumples the list up and throws it behind her.
“Can you guys come out now?” she calls. Two girls come from the sides of the stage. They are wearing palm length, blue shorts that were ripped and had fringe at the bottom. They were wearing tight white v-neck shirts with- you guessed it- the signature red bras underneath. The shirts had the school logo on it, a paw print- our mascot was a grey wolf. The girls were also wearing high top black and white converse.
“These are what you are required to wear for the auction. We will provide the shirts and shorts, so that’s why we need you to fill out these pap
ers so we can get your sizes.” Papers started being passed down each row. “But you need to get these shoes and the bras yourselves. They must be exactly the same as you see up here. Everyone needs to be the same, no trying to stand out. We will have the full dress rehearsal tomorrow so you need to get these today. You don’t have to buy the shoes, I’m sure you can find someone who will let you borrow a pair if you need them,” Courtney explains as if she is so over it. “You can use one of your own bras if it’s red and this style.”
“Yeah, like we all have bright red push-up bras that are two sizes too small in our drawers,” I whisper to Jessica and she smacks my arm.
“Okay, let’s get started,” Courtney claps her hands.
The rest of the rehearsal was a waste of time. First, we walk out together and stand in a line while Courtney does her introduction. Then, we all go back stage and come out one by one when it is time for people to bid on us. Each of our shirts will have a number on the back. I will be number 20. We did the same things over and over again. Courtney would coach girls on how to walk properly. Blah blah blah.
Finally, when we were allowed to leave, after being told “Don’t forget same time tomorrow! Bring your bras and shoes!” a billion times, Jessica and I walked back to the front of the school.
“Want me to call my mom and ask if she can drop us off at the mall so we can get our shoes and bras?” she asks me. I roll my eyes and nod. She unlocks her phone and is about to click on her mom’s contact when a blinding red convertible Porsche pulls up in front of us. My heart nearly pops out of my chest. Hayden, with his curls blown back from the wind, is in the driver’s seat with Lance is in the passenger seat. I hear a little gasp from Jessica as her thumb stops moving over her phone.
“Hey,” Hayden says, “You girls need a lift?”’
I know where this is headed, so I speak up before Jessica could, “No, thanks, we have a ride.”
“Actually,” Jessica locks her phone, “I just remembered that my mom is at work. Could you give us a ride?”
“Your mom has to work on a Saturday?” I ask under my breath. She nudges me.
“Anything for my sister’s best friends,” Lance says as he reaches over and opens the back door.
Jessica gets in and I have no choice but to do the same. I slide in behind Lance.
“So where are you two off to?” Hayden asks.
“The mall.”
“Oh, what for?” Lance asks.
That'll be an awkward answer.
“Nothing in particular,” I speak up eyeing Jessica. I look at the rearview mirror and see Hayden glance at Lance. Then his eyes flash up and we make eye contact through the mirror.
He does have pretty eyes.
“So, how was rehearsal? Was Courtney mean and grumpy as usual?” Lance asks, turning around in his chair.
“She’s always like that?” Jessica laughs.
“Oh yeah.”
“Well, it was long and boring,” Jessica answers instantly. “She just yelled at us the whole time.”
I smile to myself. Jessica wasn’t bored, she loved every second of it. I was the bored one.
“Are you excited for the auction?” Hayden asks.
“Not as excited as you probably are,” I mutter.
I feel another nudge from Jessica and I glace back up to the mirror. Hayden’s lips are turned upward and I can tell he is smiling. Why is he smiling? I need him to hate me so he doesn’t bid on me.
We spent about 15 more minutes in the car making small talk with me trying to act more and more like a bitch to the two of them to no avail. All I got was more nudges from my best friend and more smiles from Hayden in the mirror.
We pull up to the mall and Jessica and I get out.
“Thanks for the lift,” Jessica says with a smile.
“Anytime,” Hayden smirks. “What’s your number?”
Jessica gives both of them her number and then Hayden asks me for mine.
“I don’t have a phone,” I say.
“Isn’t that your phone in your pocket right there?” Lance asks glancing down.
“Yeah well, I am not allowed to give my number to strangers. Thanks for the ride though,” I see Hayden laugh and that makes me feel like a little kid. I turn around to walk into the mall not waiting for Jessica. I hear her say something else to them, and then she catches up to me.
“Why are you so mean to them? They are so nice!”
“They are trying to manipulate you.”
“What’s wrong with that?” she asks.
“You are ridiculous. Let’s drop the subject and buy these stupid clothes,” I say as we walk into Victoria’s Secret. Jessica goes straight to the bright colors and finds a lace red push up. I find a green bra with neon green lace trim that isn’t a push up.
“What are you doing?” Jessica asks me.
“Buying this bra, what does it look like I am doing?”
“It has to be red.”
“What are they gonna do? Kick me out of the auction?” I ask sarcastically.
“Maybe!”
“Oh, what a shame.”
“Jenna, stop. Remember what she said about the Academic Dishonor stamp?”
“They can’t punish you when I am the one doing this. Trust me, you will be fine. Besides, it’s a public school; they can’t force me to buy anything. If it’s that big of a deal, I can say this was the only bra I could afford.”
She checks the price tag, “It’s the same price as the one I am buying!”
“They don’t know that.”
“Why do you go out of your way to cause trouble?” she asks, moving up in line.
I shrug, “Why did you go out of your way to sign me up for something I didn’t want to do?”
She sighs and drops the subject.
Chapter 6: Listening
The next morning I am in front of the school. I have my bra and shoes on and my pajamas on as well. She was going to make us change our clothes anyway so why not be comfy? Jessica pulls up and we enter the theater. We sit as Courtney begins roll.
“Amanda?”
“Here,” The girl, who I assume is Amanda, answers. I am confused as to why she is first and not more towards the middle, since she is really pretty.
As Courtney calls out names, I look at each girl. Every girl is gorgeous. Most of them are blonde and Jessica is the only red-head. How did I beat them as Last Girl? I wasn’t anything special. Some girls would notice me looking at them and would then roll their eyes at me. Well, I’m not going to make any lifelong friends here, that’s for sure. “Okay, your shirts and shorts are all here. I personally checked everyone to make sure we had the right sizes based on what you put on your form. If you over-estimated or under-estimated sizes, there really isn’t anything I can do about it, so make it work,” Courtney says in her usual bored voice.
Other members of the cheer squad bring out cardboard boxes and start calling out names. A brunette girl in the middle of the stage calls out mine and I get up out of my chair and walk up to her. She thrusts the shorts and the shirt into my hands and tells me to go backstage. I follow where she points and walk into a big room with those paper curtains that people change behind in movies all the time. There were a lot of them. I saw silhouettes of other girls changing behind their curtains and realize what I was supposed to be doing. All the curtains have numbers on them so I assume I should go to number 20.
Once I get there I start to pull off my pajamas. I look at the clothes I was given. The white t-shirt had a red 20 on the back and the paw print on the front was red as well. I don’t remember the shirts yesterday being red. I thought the letters were in black. Well, with my green bra I guess I will look like a Christmas tree. I pull on the clothes and wrap my hoodie around myself so no one will see my undergarment.
I hear Courtney call, “Okay, let’s get started. We are going to start with you walking out individually so that way I can make sure to get to everyone of you in time. During the real auction, we will be walking
out together first, because people need to be able to see what they can bid on. Number one, are you ready?”
Great.
“Are you done?” Jessica asks.
“Yeah.”
She enters my section, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do what?” I ask nonchalantly.
She unzips my jacket and points to my chest, “That.”
“Well it’s a little too late to go back now, isn’t it?” I zip it back up.
“Why is yours red?”
I look at her shirt and see the paw print is black, unlike mine.
“I was wondering the same thing.”
She shakes her head, “Okay well come on let’s go watch.”
We sit on the side of the stage where we couldn’t be seen. Other girls are there too but when they see me sit down, they leave.
“People are so rude,” Jessica says and I shrug. I’m used to it now.
We watch as Courtney judges and tries to coach numbers three through eighteen. A blonde cheerleader comes up to us and asks if we are ready.
“Why are you wearing that jacket?” she asks me.
“Oh, I- I’m self-conscious about my body,” I reply and Jessica giggles.
“This is the Slave Auction, you can’t be self-conscious about anything!”
“I know but I’m cold and I promise when I go out there I will take it off.”
“You better, otherwise Courtney will be M. A. D.” she says and then hurries away.
A couple seconds later Courtney calls number 19. Jessica takes a deep breath and walks out the way Courtney had told her to. She stands center as the cheer captain watches her and dismisses her. Apparently, Jessica did everything right. A lot of the girls got yelled at. I will most likely be one of them.
“Number 20!” she calls. I pull off my jacket and lift my chin up. I need to look confident while doing this.
I walk into the bright lights, just the way Courtney told me to, and stand center stage. She is quiet for a long time and I instantly regret doing this. Finally she speaks.
The Last Girl Page 2