Brigette was absent from school yesterday, which left me to sit alone at the lunch table with Tres, Melanie, and the new girl named Selia. Everything was going the same way it always had: Melanie was openly talking about her sex life with her ugly boyfriend, Tres was also openly talking about his sex life with his ugly boyfriend, and I was trying my hardest to keep the visuals out of my head. Selia was just sitting there with a look of disgust on her face.

After not too long, we got our normal visit from Hilarie. And as she normally does, she started complaining about anything and everything under the palm tree. Her actually attractive boyfriend had just dumped her. And when I say just, I mean a month and a half ago, and she's dragging the story out as long as she possibly can. In addition, he is now dating the same whore that he went to get head from while he and Hilarie were dating. Her parents are fighting. Her parents aren't married. Her dad is trying to act like a 'real dad,'� which she thinks silly since he missed the first ten years of her life. The only reason she doesn't like that right now is because instead of handing over money to her, he's decided to punish her. Her sister is being a real 'bitch'� for ignoring her to go take care of her own two children. On top of that, her job doesn't pay her enough, so instead of going have fun with friends, she has to pay for gas.

Oh, we're all used to it. Hilarie has always had everything negative to say. And she never shuts up about it. Then, she repeats it, so everything previously stated above is now being told again. And you can see the discomfort on Selia's face. Selia does not know the girl even the slightest, and Hilarie is just going on and on and on about crap. Then, a not so normal action happens. Selia just stares Hilarie dead in the eyes and says,

'You know Hilarie, a lot of people have it worse than you.'�

The whole table fell into a hush. No one had ever told Hilarie anything about what she was saying; we just kind of let it be, because she can be a real'� you know. Plus, we really never really listen, just tune her out. Melanie, Tres, and I just sat there, anxious to see how Hilarie responded to basically being told to 'shut the fuck up.'�

'You know, I was just saying, I wasn't complaining or anything.'� (Bullshit.)

'That's what it sounded like to me.'�

'And me,'� hushed Melanie as sort of a reinforcement.

'Well I wasn't, and I don't want your pity,'� Hilarie fibbed to Selia.

'I wasn't going to give you my pity.'�

'I was just saying, I'm not asking anyone to feel sorry for me.'� Here she goes repeating herself.

'I don't,'� Selia responded. 'I'm just saying that a lot of people have it worse than you. You're not that badly off. You have to pay for gas, and can't hang out with friends? Jaimee has to pay for her gas and her insurance.'� Way to bring me into this'�And she kept on going, 'But she can still hang out with her friends. She makes time for them. You can get a better paying job, or maybe just work more hours. You were dumped, oh well, it happens. You're a Senior in high school, you have time. And you know what?'�

'What?'� Hilarie snapped back.

'At least your dad came back,'� and on that note Selia got up and left the table. We were silent the rest of the lunch break (mostly from shock), except for a few minutes when I had to clear up some confusion. Hilarie wanted to know 'what the hell'� Selia's last remark meant. I explained how her father divorced her mother while she was pregnant. He started messing around with his bank's secretary, and threw the wife and unborn child out. Ever since, she's been moving around to random relatives' houses, because her mother only has a high school education to support them.




Today I sat next to Brigette in Physics. The first thing she told me was how Hilarie called her last night and told her everything that Selia had said to her yesterday during lunch.

'So'� How did she take it?'� I asked.

'Oh, you know Hilarie. She was all, that 'B' that, that 'B' this, I can't believe the 'B' had the audacity, she doesn't even know me'� That's how she took it. But you know, Selia wasn't exactly right for saying that so straight up.'�

'I know. She could have been somewhat nicer about it.'�

'Yea. So'� How did you take to it?'�

I thought for a moment, smiled, then said, 'I think Selia is my new hero.'�

''�Mine, too.'�

Those little soap operas that happen in life are what make me the happiest. And truth, I find, is always the best weapon.




Actually based on a true story'�

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