Chapter Text
September 1st, 1989,
Dear Diary, I like to think that I'm a good person. Y'know I think that there's good in everyone, but, here we are, my first day back in Skaiaberg! And, uh, I look around at all these kids that I knew from Elementary school, and I ask myself "What happened?"
I jotted down my entry in the journal, specifically on page 413. I'm a little detail oriented. I wore my favorite (f/c) shirt and a gray knee-length skirt. My (h/l) (h/c) hair was down, with a tiny part of it pinned back by my headband. Well, one of my dad's old ties that I made into a headband. I mean, why not. He never used it. He never used any of them as a demolitions expert. I walked into the school, and immediately my ears were filled with the harsh words of the upperclassmen to other students, specifically my fellow freshmen. "Freak! Slut! Burnout! Bug-eyes! Poser! Lard-ass!"
We were so little, happy and shiny, playing tag and getting chased. "Freak! Slut! Loser! Short-bus!" Singing and clapping, napping and laughing, baking cookings, eating glue... "Bull-dyke! Stuck-up! Hunchback!" "Then we got bigger, that's what caused it all, like the Huns invading Rome." I didn't watch where I was going and accidentally bumped into a sophomore. "Ahh!" I squeaked. "Oh! Sorry!" He glared at me and just stalked past me. Welcome to my school, this ain't no high school, this is the Thunderdome. (no rhyme intended) Hold your breath and count the days, we're leaving in six weeks. At least, that's what I thought. "White Trash!" I'm going to be just fine if I'm not dead by then...
I walked into my first class, and everyone stared at me. I forgot that I was a year ahead in English. Not to mention that it seems a lot of the juniors and seniors didn't pass English II... Shit. I hunched my shoulders and lowered my head. I stared down at the floor, and found a seat as close to the door and as far away from the other kids as possible. "Alright kids, we have a new student today. You, stand up and tell the class about yourself." The teacher said, pointing to me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Umm, hi. I'm (y/n) (l/n)." I said, cracking my knuckles, one by one to relieve stress. "Grade?" My breath hitched. "... Freshman." I looked to the floor, shamefully. I could feel some of the seniors smirking. "It says here that you attended Skaiaberg Elementary. Is that correct?" "It is." I nodded. "Welcome back, (y/n)." I smiled a little and went to sit down. A senior pulled my chair out from under me. "Ahh!" I said, falling to the floor. "Ngh!" I scowled at him, but looked away in submission, when he glared at me. I grabbed my chair and sat down in it.
But I know, I know, life can be beautiful. I pray I pray for a better way. If we changed back then, we could change again. We could be beautiful... The bell rung as I wrote this. I accidentally tripped my old friend, Eridan, as he walked past me out the door. "Oww!" Just not today. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked, kneeling down to help him up. "Get awway from me, lowwblood nerd!" "Oh, okay..." I said, bowing my head and rushing out the door. "Freak! Slut! Cripple! Homo! Homo! Homo!" I went and grabbed my lunch from my locker. Things will get better, once Dad gets a letter sent from Harvard, Duke, or Brown. Away from this nightmare, we can go elsewhere, and completely blow this town. I dream of blinding city lights or quiet little cafes. "WATCH THIS!" A football player said to his fellow team mate, smirking at me, maliciously. I'm fighting the urge to strike a match and set this dumb ablaze!
All of my stuff was knocked out of my hands. "OOPS." The same football player said as I picked up my stuff. "Karkat Vantas: second year as linebacker, and seventh year of smacking lunch trays and being a huge dick!" "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY TO ME, SKANK?!" He said, grabbing my collar. Shit, I said that out loud. "Ahh! Nothing!" I quailed. He growled and threw me to the floor. But I know, I know, life can be beautiful. I pray I pray for a better way. We were kind before, we can be kind once more! We can be beautiful... ":DD < *AC s33s a face that she hasn't s33n in sw33ps and runs to gr33t her furriend!*" "Ahh!" I squeal, as a girl I know pounces on my back. "Hey, Nepeta," ":33 < Hey!" Nepeta Lejion: My best friend since diapers! Even when we're across the country, we Pester/Troll each other, and have Movie Night! ":33 < are we on fur Mewvie Night?" She asked. "Yeah, you're on Jiffy Pop detail." E33 < I rented 'The Purrincess Bride'!" "Ohoho, again? Wait, don't you have it memorized by now?" I joked. ":'33 < what can I say? I'm a sucker fur a happy ending."
"2crap Cat!" Another football player yelled at Nepeta. "Wiide load!" He laughed as he smacked Nepeta's lunch tray to the floor. Sollux Captor: Quarterback; He is the smartest guy on the football team, which is kind of like being the tallest dwarf. "NICE ONE, SOLLUX!" Karkat said. "Hey! Pick that up! Right now!" I called to them. "II'm 2orry, are you actually talkiing to me?" Sollux glared at me. Usually, I would've shied away in submission, but this was about Nepeta, not me. I glared right back at him. "Yes, I am. I want to know what gives you the right to pick on my friend. You're a high school has been waiting to happen; a future gas-station attendant!" He leaned down to my level and raised his hand to my face. Shit, I fucked up. He's gonna beat me to a pulp. Nope, he did something much worse. "You have a ziit, riight there." I clapped a hand over the bump. Everyone except Nepeta started laughing at me. It followed me to my next class. As I started to write in my diary, I could hear the words of pain that resonated inside not only my fellow lowerclassmen but also the pariahs of the upperclassmen's social ranks.
Dear Diary, Why? "WWhy do they hate me? wHY DON'T i FIGHT BACK? Why do II act liike 2uch a creep?" Why?! ":'(( < Why won't he date me? WHY DID I HIT HIM? Why do I cry myself to sleep?!" Why?!! "Somebody hug me! Somebody fix me! Somebody save me! Send me a sign, God! Give me some hope here!! Something to live for!!!" It was as if the entire atmosphere had changed. A bright light flooded in from the hallway and the silhouette of three girls stepped into the room. "Ahh, Heather, Heather, and Heather!" And then there's 'The Heathers' as their clique is called. "I love Heather, Heather, and Heather!" Feferi Peixes: Head Cheerleader; Her mom is LOADED, She owns Crocker Corp. "I want Heather, Heather, and Heather!" Terezi Pyrope: Runs the yearbook; Stone cold Judge in the Student Court, according to Nepeta. "I need Heather, Heather, and Heather!" And, Vriska Serket: The Almighty; She is a mythic bitch.
Judging by the sway of their mini skirts, their designated theming color coodination, and the fact that they all had a personal copy of Moby Dick, it was clear to me that the trio had not changed in the slightest since elementary school. Three seniors scrambled out of their seats, so that 'The Heathers' could sit there. Majestic sluts. They're solid teflon: Never bothered, never harrassed; I would give anything to be like that. "i'D LIKE TO BE THEIR, UH, BOYFRIEND,,," "That would be beautiful..." "if i sat at their table, guys would notice me :'D" "So beautiful..." ":'33 < I'd like them to be nicer..." "That would be beautiful..." "i'd like to kidnap a Heather and photograph her naked in an abandoned ware house and leaver her tied up for the raaaaaaaats." John WTF?!!
In the next class, I was going to the bathroom. The Heathers had come into the specific one where I was doing my business. I heard one of them go to the nearest stall, and... throw up? "BL444RRR" "Grow up, Terezi, 8ulimia is soooooooo 8ty-seven. >::::[" Vriska said, annoyed. "Maybe you s)(ould sea a docterrorist, Terezi. 38(" "Y34H, M4YB3 1 SHOULD >:[" "Ahh, Heather, and Heather," "BL4RRRRR" Terezi threw up again. "And Heather." Ms. Disciple sighed. "Perhaps you didn't hear the bell ofur all the vomiting? You're late fur class." "Heather wasn't feeeeeeeeling well, We're heeeeeeeellllllllping her!!!!!!!! >::::(" "Not without a hallpass, you're not. Week's detention!" I scribbled down a note from Mr. Vantas, and stepped out of the stall. "Um, actually, Ms. Disciple, all four of us are out on a hallpass… Yearbook commitee…" I handed her the note. "I see you're all listed… Hurry up and get where you're going." She handed Vriska the note.
Vriska looked down at the writing. "This is an eeeeeeeexcellent forgery. Who are you????????!!!!!!!!" She asked me. "Uh-um, (y/n). (l/n). I crave a boon." "What 8oon?!!!!!!!! >::::[" "… Um… Let me sit at your table, at lunch. Just once! No talking necessary! If people think that you guys tolerate me then they'll leave me alone…" "Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!" ")(e)(e)(e)(e!!! 3ED" Two of them laughed, while the other one puked. "BL4444RRRR" "Before you answer, I also do report cards, permission slips, and absence notes!" "HOW 4BOUT P3RSCR1PT1ONS" "Shut up, Heather!!!!!!!!" "SORRY H3ATH3R" Vriska came closer, held up my chin. I winced, as she moved my head from side to side.
"Hmmmmmmmm… For a greasy little no8ody… you doooooooo have good 8one structure." "And a semetrical FAC—E! If I took a meat cleaver down the center of your skull, I'd )(ave MATC)(ING )(ALV—ES!!! T)(at's V—ERY important!" I followed Feferi's hand with my eyes. "OF COURS3 YOU COULD ST4ND TO LOS3 4 F3W POUNDS" I clutched at my stomach, and hunch my shoulders. "Aww, s)(e's S)(Y!!! T)(at is SO CUT—E!!! 38D" Feferi giggled. "And y'know, y'know, y'know this could 8e 8eautiful. Mascaaaaaaaara, may8e some lipgloss, and we're on our waaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!" Vriska grinned. "Get this girl some 8lush, and Heather I neeeeeeeed your 8rush; Let's make her 8eautiful…" "Let's make )(er beautiful…" "L3TS M4K3 H3R B34UT1FUL…" "Make her 8eautifuuuuuuuul!!!!!!!! Okay???????? >::::)" "Okay!" I said, more out of fear than eagerness.
"OUT OF MY WAY GEEK!" Karkat growled at John. "i don't want trouble." "YOU'RE GONNA *DIE* AT 3 PM!" "dont *don't you dare TOUCH ME!" "Get away pervert!" Roxy and Rose snapped at John. "what did i ever do to them?" "Who could survive this?! I can't escape this!!! I think I'm dying!!!!!" "Who's that with Heather?" Ms. Disciple asked. "Woah!" "Heather, Heather, Heather… and someone." "Heather, Heather, Heather… and a babe." Eridan, his brother, and their dad, Coach Ampora said. "Heather, Heather, Heather…" ":OO < (y/n)?!!" For the first time, I felt comfortable at this school!
And you know, you know, you know! Life can be beautiful! You hope, you dream, you pray and you get your way! Ask me how it feels? Lookin' like Hell on wheels! My God, it's beautiful! I might be beautiful! And when you're beautiful… It's a beautiful FRICKIN' DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!