I Was Teased Throughout School – At Our 10-Year Reunion, Nobody Recognized Me, so I Took Advantage of It
“Rough night?”
Madison clapped. “Oh, this is going to be amazing.”
Ashley’s smile faded. “What did you send in?”
“The funniest clip.”
Brielle covered her mouth. “Please tell me it’s not sophomore year.”
Madison grinned. “The hallway video.”
My hand tightened around my glass.
“What did you send in?”
“The one with Evangeline?” Brielle asked.
“Yes!” Madison said. “I forgot how funny that was.”
Ashley shifted in her chair. “Madison…”
“What?” Madison said. “Come on. She was basically our class mascot for awkward.”
I set my glass down before I dropped it.
“What was she like?” I asked.
“I forgot how funny that was.”
Madison smiled like I’d handed her a gift.
“Oh, it was tragic. Braces, frizz, always red in the face. You barely had to say anything, and she’d panic.”
Ashley looked down. “We were awful.”
Madison rolled her eyes. “It was high school. Everybody got teased.”
“Not everybody went home crying,” I said.
The table went quiet.
Madison narrowed her eyes. “Did you know her?”
“We were awful.”
I smiled, but my chest ached.
“Better than you did. Excuse me. I need the bathroom before the show.”
They nodded and continued speaking to each other.
***
I made it to the restroom before my hands started shaking.
I called Mom from the sink.
