I Was Teased Throughout School – At Our 10-Year Reunion, Nobody Recognized Me, so I Took Advantage of It

At first, it hurt. Then, when Ashley stopped in front of me with Brielle at her side, it became useful.

“I love your dress,” Ashley said.

“Thanks.”

Brielle smiled. “Are you someone’s plus-one? I swear I’d remember you.”

“I came alone.”

“I swear I’d remember you.”

Ashley lifted her eyebrows. “Brave.”

“Curious,” I said.

Brielle laughed. “Then come sit with us. Our table needs better energy and more younger-looking faces.”

I looked past them to their table. They all had the same smiles and the same sharp eyes, just with better makeup.

“I can sit for a few minutes.”

“Then come sit with us.”

Ashley pulled out a chair for me. “So, what do you do?”

“I manage a marketing team.”

“Of course you do,” Brielle said. “You look like you send emails people are scared to ignore.”

“Only when they deserve it.”

Ashley laughed. “I like her.”

That stung.

“I manage a marketing team.”

“Reunions are always rough,” Madison said. “Too many people pretending they peaked after graduation.”

“Happy to serve,” I said. “Most people did peak in high school, they’d just never admit it.”

For a few minutes, she sounded normal. She talked about traffic, work, and how weird it was seeing everyone older.

Then the organizer tapped the microphone.

“Everyone, don’t forget our ‘Where Are They Now?’ slideshow starts soon!”

“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?”