Teen Drama | Teaser | Frenemies

I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing, aiming to push her off the throne

“If I say Regina George¹ is a pussycat compared with me, d’you get the reference?”

Dina tosses her mane of glossy hair casually over her shoulders, studying me with assessing eyes. Her make-up is as immaculate as her outfit, but I’m not intimidated.

“What about Madison Morgan², or Gen³? Are you completely Clueless?” She snickers conspiratorially to her friend, Alison, Angela? I can’t remember the clone’s name but as she’s not Queen Bee, it doesn’t signify.

I’m aware that Dina was listing classic mean girls, I know my pop culture. My own idols are Brooke Davis⁴ and Katherine Merteuil ⁵. As the new girl in school, I’ve landed in her circus, scattering her ponies. So if Dina can’t get me onside, we’ll be in contention … and she doesn’t want me as an enemy.

“Don’t stomp your little last-season Prada shoes at me, honey,” I respond, arching one laminated eyebrow.

For a moment her face hardens at the perceived insult. But just as suddenly, she breaks into a sly grin, recognizing that I’m quoting from a scene in Legally Blonde.

She gets it, and in a flash she knows I’ve got the measure of her.

“Oh, I like your outfit, too, except when I dress up as a frigid b*tch, I try not to look so constipated.” She quotes Legally Blonde back.

Now we’re both smiling, although there’s vitriol and weaponry behind my smile, that I won’t reveal for now. There’s no way I’m letting my guard down anytime soon, and Dina should watch her back.

“So what’s edible on this heinous menu?” I ask, surveying the lunch queue where our peers push trays toward the servers.

I’ve shoved between Dina and Alison, or whatever her name is. When I evict Dina from the throne I’ll hand-pick courtiers and hangers-on, and unless Alison impresses me, she won’t survive the cull.

My eyes scan the room, getting a feel for the hierarchy. Once we have our food I follow the girls to an unoccupied table by the window. It commands a great view of the refectory and the school grounds. Pupils watch as I sit with Dina and her crew, none of the other girls daring to usurp us.

“So what’s the local talent like?” I ask, prising open the packet to eat my wrap. A queen needs a consort, if not a king.

“Not too shabby,” Dina shrugs.

There’s more to tell, and she hopes I will coax it out of her. But I sip my water and wait.

“There are hot guys in the local football team, Lampton Orient …” Dina begins.

“Tell her about Glenn,” Alison interrupts excitedly, with a giggle.

Dina throws a fierce look her way. It shuts her friend up as if she’s been slapped. Interesting, there’s some drama here worth digging into.

I pretend to be absorbed in the prattle Dina spouts in an attempt to distract and entertain me, mentioning shopping malls, youth clubs and gigs. But my mind is ticking over. I’m reminded of a quote I learned at my last school.

“To keep your own secrets is wisdom; but to expect others to keep them is folly.”

Secrets bring leverage and power, and using them is one way I’ll rise to the top. I intend to start by raking through Dina’s.

If you’re eager for Dina’s downfall, or curious about Glenn, the origin story is here, and all three episodes are in this list:

In the context of the 3-part series this is ‘teasing’ I referenced several films, and this teaser was no different: Mean Girls¹, The Duff²,To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before³, Legally Blonde, Clueless, Cruel Intentions ⁵ and One Tree Hill⁴ (the last is a US TV Series) Quote about secrets: William Scott Downey

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