It was the start of summer 2013 and the first time the whole group had been together since school began last fall. As had often been the case in the past, we gathered at Ben’s for a pool party. His older brother who just graduated bought beer and liquor for his “baby brother” because “what else is there to do in a small town?”
I was curious to see how, if at all, the old group had changed. New places, new faces…surely their outlook and demeanor would have changed. Right? Well, apparently teen movies are more accurate than you’d hope and most of them hadn’t progressed past high school. I was never down with these comments, but sadly only four others had changed being away. We shared looks of discomfort and disgust as they ripped on the “queers and weirdos.”
Especially Ben. He and his brother were spoiled. The only time he didn’t get what he wanted was me, and that’s mostly because I saw no redeeming qualities in him. Plus, he was the lead when it came to bullying and the most obsessed with my virginity.