LJ Idol: 3 Strikes Week 10: Craic

[proceedcyclone]

Looking around, it seemed like a typical teen party: girls wearing skin-tight clothing that only covered the necessities, boys crowded around a keg in the corner of the backyard while there were bottles of hard liquor and red Solo cups scattered across the island in the kitchen just inside the sliding glass door, music that was loud enough you could barely hear the person next to you talking, and an odd, almost palpable level of anticipation and possibility in the air. Liz attended every single party and they were all some version of this as if the hosts were merely trying to recreate that first party they went to, like how a drug addict is always in search of replicating that first high, but Liz couldn’t be more bored. She came because she is expected to; if you don’t come to the parties, you run the risk of becoming a pariah and she didn’t exactly have the most social capital as it was. People knew her and she knew them, but there was a distance between them. She had friends she sat with at lunch and periodically hung out with outside of school. Some of her friends were even well-connected in the social hierarchy via sports or clubs or other extracurriculars, but she never bought into the stuff they were into and in some ways it felt as if their friendship was merely an act of survival in the jungle that was high school.

On the side of the yard, some movement caught Liz’s attention. A group of football players were laughing and pushing around one of their smiling teammates. Liz recognized him as Tyler, who lived across the street from her. They weren’t exactly friends, but predictably, their paths crossed frequently enough that they were friendly with each other.

This far from the speakers that were attached to the back of the house, Liz could just make out the words “dumb” and “stupid” floating through the air and she winced, thinking of the tutor that arrives at his house three times a week after football practice. One of the things she really didn’t understand about other teenagers was how much they tormented their own friends under the guise of "good-natured teasing" about their less than perfect qualities and nothing ever changed; the victim put up with it and bystanders remained silent. She drained the rest of her cup and, to her amazement, her feet carried her closer to the group.

“Tyler will be lucky if he graduates,” Steve smirked as she approached.

“If he does, it’ll only be because he spends so much time in the learning center getting help,” Tim said. “You won’t ever catch me in there,” he added, shaking his head.

“‘Help?’ They just give him the answers!” Steve replied and the group rang out in another round of laughter.

“Knock it off, Steve,” Liz heard herself saying on the outskirts of the huddled group.

“Oh, look at that,” Steve said, turning in her direction. “Tyler has a girl fighting his battles for him, too. Isn’t that cute?” he said as he gave Tyler another push in Tim’s direction.

Liz, ignoring Steve’s comment, said, “C’mon, Tyler, let’s see if there’s any food inside,” but when her eyes met Tyler’s, he was no longer smiling and rapidly shook his head once. Even though Tyler was quick, Steve had still managed to catch his silent plea.

“Wow, Tyler doesn’t even want your help,” Steve spat. “Maybe it’s because of your father. I wonder how long he’ll be home for this time.” Liz’s attention moved from Tyler to Steve, who was patiently waiting for her response with a grin. Liz didn’t talk about her father much; there wasn’t exactly a lot to tell because everyone already knew that he was hardly home as he oscillated between jail awaiting trial and prison where he’d serve out his sentence, but he was currently home after being released last week. Her classmates rarely mentioned him, though, and Liz immediately regretted walking over. She shot Tyler one last look, but his eyes were turned downward, seemingly engrossed in his sneakers.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t think of a good comeback because she could: Steve’s mother was well-known for getting around, so to speak, but while Liz’s cheeks burned, she couldn’t quite bring herself to stoop to Steve’s level. She may not be able to stop him and Tyler may not appreciate her intervention, but she didn’t have to be complicit and play their stupid game.

"Only a year and a half of high school left," she muttered to herself as she walked away, but if social media was any indicator, there were bullies of all ages.

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

Glad Liz took the high road.

[ofearthandstars]

I have to confess I have been in a similar situation - angry enough to start to confront a bunch of assholes, but then feeling completely in over my head as soon as I open my mouth. I kept wanting Liz to just sucker-punch Steve, but I get why she doesn't.

[drippedonpaper]

I hope Liz one day can have a life where she feels free to say what she feels. I can see the roots of some of my previous problems/habits came from my automatic reaction to "just take it."

Poor Liz. She is trying to "play the social game," but may not stand a chance. You really made me care about her!

[erulissedances]

That last line was a zinger and oh too true.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dsrmousey]

As a teen who was bullied all through high school, you find later in life that bullies pick on people and make them feel small, because they themselves feel small. This was very relatable. Nice work. Peace~~~Desiree

[marlawentmad]

This sounds like a bad craic. Unfortunately, there are bullies of all ages.

[alycewilson]

Good for her for saying something in the face of bullying. I still regret the times I didn't speak up on other people's behalf in high school.

[banana_galaxy]

Things may work out in unexpected ways in the future for Liz, if my experience is anything to go by. I accepted FB friend requests with a couple of girls who'd not been especially friendly to me in high school, and long after that fact, one of them sent me a private message to apologise for how she'd treated me in high school, feeling ashamed for how long it took her to have the courage to say so. The other one sent me private messages to explain how much she admired my ability to be independently minded in high school. I think Liz is going to be alright, as tough as it is for her to deal with this sort of thing. But, I connected with her experience.