Jenna
Jenna finishes straightening the last few strands of her wavy, dark hair. For once, she's not wearing it braided, opting for a free look instead. Done! She switches the straightener off and sets it down on a heatproof mat. Running her fingers through her hair, she smiles as it cascades down her back. However, as she continues to gaze into the mirror, her expression falters. Oh, come on. This isn't me, she thinks, wiping off some of her heavy make-up. I've always been plain and boring, with simple tastes. The girls at school think I'm geeky because I'm a gamer... If they see me wearing make-up, they'll have a field day. Although the bullying at school isn't as bad as it used to be when she skipped it most days, Jenna is still unpopular- she only has one real friend now.
Tears begin to fall softly, and Jenna struggles to hold them back, not wanting to ruin all her hard work. She wonders whether she will ever find her happily ever after-maybe she's destined to be alone forever? Ever since losing her best friend from the past, Jenna has found it hard to trust people, to open up to them. She still doesn't understand why they grew apart, and she carries the pain with her-a small, tight stone in her heart.
She can't help, but wonder why she's bothering to try and make an impression on someone who most likely won't be interested in her once they meet and she gets to know the real Jenna. Surely, tonight is a recipe for disaster, and Jenna is headed straight for it. She lives in a small outback town-everyone knows just about everyone and it's really difficult to meet anyone new. If she follows through and goes to Maniac's Club tonight, half the kids from school are probably going to be there.
Jenna is prepared to be the laughing-stock of the entire school-really, she already is, and has been since she fell out with her best friend from the past which led to rumours circulating. Once people see her and realise she's on a date, they'll take photos and share them around.
Luckily, she'll have the entire weekend to hide from everyone-hopefully, it will become old news for some by Monday.
The constant bullying is likely to become ten times worse, if her fears about tonight come true-and, to top it off, she could end up on a date with someone she goes to school with if she's unlucky! She starts to consider every possible way that tonight could go wrong. What if she doesn't want to see me again and then it gets super awkward if we run into each other at school or in the supermarket? I'll be outed to the whole town as an official lesbian if there are photos! She starts to panic. Maybe I'm crazy for doing this in the first place... thinking a relationship could work with a complete stranger I've met online. She clutches her phone and contemplates cancelling while she still has time-it might save them both from humiliation. Suddenly, her phone screen lights up with a notification.
Jenna's heart skips a beat as she sees that the message is from the dating app she's been using to talk to Startacular-her perfect stranger. She tried to make her profile as minimalist and discreet as possible-appropriately named Simplicity,she included only a short message about herself and no photos, to prevent anyone from discovering her real identity. Initially, she planned to delete her account because she felt stupid, and convinced that her sparse profile wouldn't be enough to interest anyone. However, someone had reached out to her, delaying her plans to delete the account. Despite being secretly thrilled that she had received a message, she initially ignored it, afraid of the impending possibility-meeting someone in person. But, Startacular was so persistent that Jenna eventually responded and, although they still haven't met in person, the two became friends. Not long after that, love just happened and neither girl could deny they felt something for the other one. Now, it's been three months since that first message and Startacular regularly tells Jenna that she feels like the two of them really understand each other-Jenna agrees. Eventually, neither of them could deny it-they needed to go on a date! Startacular suggested it first, and Jenna refused the idea. But, she kept persisting, even offering to pay for Jenna's meal if it meant she'd meet her. Not having the energy to resist, and being excited despite herself, Jenna finally agreed.
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Startacular: Hey, are you almost ready? I'm about to leave home. Please don't leave me hanging!
Simplicity: No, no! Don't worry, I'm just running a little late-I'm still getting ready!
Startacular: Oh? Send me a pic, then! I'd like to see...
Simplicity: What? No!
Startacular: Playing shy? Oh, come on! Well, I hope you're worth waiting for... I can't wait to meet you.
Simplicity: Hahaha, don't worry! I'm 100% worth waiting for... see you soon!
***
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Jenna places her phone down on the dresser and takes one last look at herself. She knows she can't back out now, but she can't force herself to move for several minutes. When she finally does check the time, she leaps up from her seat. The time, no! I'm going to be late! What if she leaves before I arrive? She panics, throwing her wallet, phone and keys into her shoulder bag before rushing out the door. She's exhausted and sweating from the walk by the time she arrives, despite Maniac's being only a block away as the city centre. As she walks into the restaurant, she takes a deep breath. Quickly, she finds a booth and slides in, grabbing the menu to cover her face. She can already feel strangers' eyes on her as she waits for Startacular to arrive-her heart is racing, and she feels dizzy. I should just leave... But, what if Startacular's already here somewhere and figured out I'm her date? What if I try to go now and bump into her? Jenna realises she has no choice but to sit and wait. She grits her teeth and stares at the menu, then it dawns on her. One of the reasons anyway why people are staring. She has the menu upside down and quickly turns it the right away around which removes a few preying eyes.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKJt5zBT42
As she tries to read over the menu, noting most dishes are cheap and low effort, burgers with chips and soda, her mind keeps wandering to the interior of Maniac's club all around her. Not her scene, definitely Startacular's scene likely. She was the one who suggested it after all as Jenna hardly ever goes out enough to have a hangout spot for grabbing a bite to eat.
Maniac's club looks more like a diner than a club, the design choices are questionable for a diner as there is metallic steels swivel seats at the counter, fraying booth seats, black walls with purple rock stencils such as skulls, broken hearts, a tiled black and white floor leading up to a mini stage. Do they ever have bands in here? Neon lights and some old, cheesy rock posters are scattered around to top it all off, giving the final impression of a club.
Eying a sign near the counter where you order, it indicates it's an alcohol-free establishment. No license to sell which confirms everything Jenna is thinking. They're a diner that wanted to be a club in the end potentially and the owner(s) weren't able to gain the license required to sell alcoholic beverages which required them to change the game plan slightly.
Aileen261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGsMCkQhvS
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Aileen fidgets uncomfortably, tapping her feet on the floor of her own booth. Twirling her long blonde hair around her finger, she absentmindedly pulls small strands out of her styled bun. She checks herself in the compact mirror she always carries with her-flawless, as usual. As the daughter of a politician and a lawyer, her family's status and wealth means that she mostly gets whatever she wants. There's always been a lot of pressure to live up to their expectations of her parents and carry the family image as it depends on Aileen someday -she looks perfect, right now. She's one of the richest girls in the school and never wears anything other than the most sophisticated high-end fashion. Sometimes, she can't believe some of the outfits worn by the other kids at school. Suddenly, it hits her: What if Simplicity isn't like me? What if she's poor rather than rich or at-least middle class in society? She feels nervous. What if Simplicity doesn't like me when she realises I'm a spoilt rich kid?261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7ea6lj6AS
Laughter interrupts Aileen's thoughts, and she looks around to see a few seniors from school sitting at an adjacent table. Aileen sighs. She's sure the girls are only laughing because they're jealous! Brittany-the meanest of the group-points her phone at Aileen and taunts her, as she laughs with her friends.
'Go back to minding your own business!' Aileen hisses, glaring back at them. The group laugh at her again but soon turn away to start filling out their university applications. I could ruin your life... Aileen thinks to herself, staring at them intensely. One phone call to Daddy and your applications might not even be considered!
'Stop looking at us, bitch,' Brittany growls, and Aileen quickly looks away.
She sighs, disappointed, thinking that she's blown her chances for a normal date by aggravating Brittany. It's also super late... We said we'd meet at six, why isn't she here yet? Standing up to go home, she pauses and tries to reassess the situation. Maybe this just isn't the right time for us? We have a strong connection, and I love her but... she's obviously nervous about meeting face-to-face, I shouldn't have pushed her into this date. This is my fault, I'll put her out of her misery, tell her we'll cancel the date tonight. Maybe we can give it some more time so she can come round to the idea? She makes her way over to the door and is about to grasp the handle when she spots a familiar face rushing towards her, looking stressed.
Jenna? Aileen is unable to believe her eyes. She sprints to the bathroom in the few seconds she has before Jenna reaches her. Peeking her head around the main door of the bathroom entrance, she watches her take a seat. It all makes sense now-why she and Simplicity clicked so easily, how little information was in her bio and her obvious reluctance to meet up. Simplicity is the punching bag of the school... but she also used to be one of Aileen's closest friends!
With tears running down her face, Aileen gently closes the door and slips into one of they bathroom stalls lined up in a row. She and Jenna used to be the best of friends when they were both younger. They told each other everything, had sleepovers almost every weekend and shared a love of gaming. They even dressed up together. But... when we started high school, I stabbed her in the back. Aileen closes her eyes, filled with regrets she's never been able to truly ignore as she grew into a late teenager. She'd always told herself it was for a good reason, but she knows that's a straight-up lie. Aileen betrayed Jenna because, as they got older, she began to worry about what others thought of their friendship, her parents and their friends were watching. She was scared and couldn't confide in anyone, even Jenna, about her feelings. So, Aileen took the easy way out. She made Jenna's high-school life hell to save her own-she turned on her, and everyone else at school followed suit not long after. Poor Jenna had become the butt of everybody's jokes which occasionally included some pranks such as water balloons, courtesy, of the whole school-the bullying was merciless. Aileen's parents had never liked Jenna, so they were happy, proud even, when she ended their friendship.
The Jenna-and-Aileen friendship duo chapter of their lives was officially over and, when she looked back, it had affected Aileen's life more than she realised at the time-Aileen became a shadow of her former self. Although she was accepted by the popular kids and found her own group of wealthy friends, she felt lost; there was a Jenna shaped hole inside her that that could never be filled. She kept the interests she'd shared with Jenna secret because she knew her new friends wouldn't understand them, and she knew her parents disliked them. She fooled everyone around her into thinking she was confident and happy. She'd had a few casual boyfriends, but they were just like her. She wanted something different, someone who was a polar opposite but who she could really get along with and maybe enjoy Aileen's more secretive hobbies-science and gaming. Most importantly, she wanted someone she could love with all her heart, and who would love her back whole-heartedly too.
Jenna
With every passing minute, Jenna's anxiety rises. She lowers the menu, feeling like she's about to be sick-there's a sour taste forming in her mouth. Clutching her hurting stomach, she rushes to the bathroom to wait it out-she doesn't know how far away Startacular is and she doesn't want to tell her to her face that she can't go through with the date. Jenna also knows that if she texts to cancel, Startacular will surely try and change her mind.
One stall is engaged when Jenna enters the bathroom, so she takes the adjacent one. She switches herphone off and slips it into her bag-the date is over before it even began. She should feel guilty for standing Startacular up... and she does but, ultimately, she suspects her anxiety would make a potential relationship toodifficult or even been a complete turn off for Startacular as there was times, Jenna downplayed her true emotions when they texted.
Feeling claustrophobic and dizzy, she abruptly sags against the wall of the stall in an attempt to stopthe room from swaying, accidentally kicking the door in the process. The other stall opens with a sudden bang; someone rushes out, startling Jenna. The girl is just as rough with the outer door as well, exiting swiftly after a slightpause.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQdt2ZwPhh
