I almost forgot about the Gatsby speech. Almost. I wasn't too nervous about the content itself, since I knew all I had to do was throw around stupid buzzwords like "American dream" and Mrs Myers would eat it up because she lacks imagination. However, I was worried about speaking in front of my peers. Everyone in that class has a talent for making me feel like I walked through the stupid forest and got smacked by every branch.

I haul myself up to the front of the class, trying to keep my cool. But my cool refused to be kept. I looked like this.

"You may begin," says Mrs. Myers's voice from what seems like miles away.

I take a deep breath, and begin.

"So... um Jay Gatsby... his real name is apparently James Gatz. I thought that was really interesting, because even though he had tons of money and a mansion, he still felt the need to be someone else. Like he wouldn't let James Gatz take the credit for being so awesome and popular- he pushed Jay Gatsby into the spotlight instead. At first I thought that it wasn't really a big deal- I mean he just gave himself a name that sounded cooler, and what difference does a name make, right? But it really does change things. It gave him a sense of freedom, and confidence. He was no longer tied down by the name he was given, and he could choose to be whatever he wanted. Like, one day he just said 'screw it' and decided to be at the top of the metaphorical food chain. All because of one shallow, immature girl who didn't, or perhaps couldn't reciprocate his feelings for her."

    I could see the class zoning out and my homeslice Myers looking quizzical. My suspicions were confirmed: my ramble was making no sense. So I switched gears real quick.

    "Jay Gatsby symbolizes the loss of innocence and the beginning of a new era in American history. The extravagant lifestyle and ostentatious nature of his yellow car and pink suit serve to symbolize a larger trend of materialism and hedonism in society. His swimming pool symbolizes the fact that people no longer had time to connect with their fellow humans, preferring to stay away from DEEP things, and by the time they are ready to take the plunge, its too late. Daisy herself represents the American dream, because...

    I didn't even need to finish the sentence. Mrs Myers looked like someone had revealed a truly earth shattering idea to her. I blabbed on even more, blatantly reciting sparknotes because I actually did not read the book. When I was done, I breathed a sigh of relief and walked back to my seat as Jemma high fived me through a fit of giggles. Thankfully, my classmates were not up to judging me because it was too early in the morning.

With first period done, I walked slowly across the lawn, because I know Dillon goes the same way to his math class. Not that I have his schedule memorized or anything, because that would be creepy. He's about twelve and a half seconds later than usual today. I wonder if everything is ok with him?

He seems to be in a hurry. It would be a shame if he were to bump into me somehow, knock my books out of my hands, and maybe even make eye contact with me as he hands me my books back and gently asks me if I'm ok. Or not. Ok Dillon, you can not bump into me. Go to class. That's fine too.
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    By lunchtime, I had mostly given up hoping that Dillon would ask me to prom. Not completely, but mostly. Until I saw him emerging from the parking lot with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. My heart quickened. This was it, this is the moment.

    He was wearing a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes too perfectly, along with khakis that lengthened his already approximately 4.10% longer than average legs. I almost inhaled a bee. A bee, I tell you.

    By now, the whole school had gathered around the quad, where he was walking towards and where Cara and her friends sat. What fuckery is this?? I covered my ears to protect myself from the noise of my heart exploding into Avogadro's number pieces. But wait... he was... going past the quad... and coming... here??? I squealed and clawed a very annoyed Jemma. Dillon Austin Colt, the freaking king of Wesley High, was coming over to the pariah land behind the band room. I didn't even think he knew this part of the school existed to be honest.

    He arrives, and looks me in the eye. The whole school is gathered around us, including the yearbook photographers, and Cara Soldera who looks shocked. This is it, my moment of triumph. The time Cinderella becomes a princess and her evil stepmother and sisters regret everything they did to her. The time Harry Potter is saved by Hagrid on his eleventh birthday. The time where the wreck it Ralph princess becomes a princess. The time where Forrest Gump runs. Wait ignore that last one.

"Kim, I have loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. You're the most beautiful girl at Wesley High... nay, the whole world. I can't stop thinking about you, and I've been searching for the right words to tell you that...."

Holy cheese it's like he read my DillonXKim fanfiction.

"Just kidding. I wanted to practice what I wanted to say when I asked Cara to prom. Thanks!"

I'm not sure what happened after that. Everything was a blur, literally cause I was crying, and figuratively because as Jemma lunged towards Dillon with lightening speed and punched him right in his pretty face. Blood gushed out through his nose, as he stood open mouthed, like a statue, unsure of what had just happened. But Jemma wasn't done. She straight up tackled him, releasing a colorful repertoire of words that I will most likely use in the future but not in polite company.

Humiliated doesn't even begin to describe it. It got worse, as Cara decided to rub salt in my wounds by saying something I had been telling myself for years: "you really thought he would ask you? As if any man wants to be seen with you anywhere? You think you're all that, but you're..."

She didn't finish. Jemma "Rhousey" Reynolds was back at it again with her kickassery. Dillon's bros tried to pull her off of Cara's despicable face but, they were no match for jumping Jemma. Some of Cara's friends tried to help out and had their highly impractical fake nails broken. Looking back, didn't appreciate Jemma's realness at that moment as much as I should have, because I was hyperventilating while crying.

    Desperate to escape this nightmare, I turned around and ran. Headfirst into the gum wall. You see, most American schools have some sort of nice sculpture or mural created by its students, for posterity to enjoy. We have a literal wall covered with used gum. My once perfect hair now had things I'd much rather not describe embedded in it. The worst part? The yearbook kids got every second of it on camera and video.

    I must have looked absolutely demented, clutching my hair and sobbing swear words at a throng of teenagers gawking at me. Then, out of nowhere, Luka showed up. He looked absolutely livid. I've never seen him this angry, ever.

    "You guys should be ashamed of yourselves! What do you have to gain, by being so cruel to people? What in the actual fuck is wrong with you all? And Dillon, you asshole, thank goodness I don't have to share a room with you anymore because you wet your bed all the time as a kid."

    Everyone just kind of stood there, openmouthed. Then the whispers started. "Dillon Colt used to wet the bed?"

    I didn't stay to find out how the bed wetting saga ended. I ran to the office, which was no mean feat considering I was blinded by tears. I get there, and beg the registrar to go home, but she says I can't unless I'm sick. At this point, I'm so done with this school. I'm so done with this town. I'm so done with the stupid fake plants on her desk.

    No problemo. I can be sick. I don't care what I'm doing anymore, since I've made up my mind never to return to Wesley High. I take my thermos of ramen out of my backpack, and shove most of it my mouth. Then I spit it out, all over the school nurse's desk. I even threw in some disgusting puking noises just for shits and giggles. The office people were horrified and kept screaming for me to stop, but I still had some chocolate milk, ripe for spraying the walls brown with my mouth.

    They finally allow me to go home. In fact, they said something about calling 911 if I didn't. I grabbed my backpack and ran out of the school, throwing sheets of homework in the air like confetti while screeching incoherently.

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A/N This was a super long chapter but I didn't want to break it up into two. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for reading! Vote if you liked it :)