[001] superstars

                                                Shiloh Vega was a big, fat, mean lesbian.

                                                According to the town of Wiskayok, they were absolutely convinced that she was a crazy lesbian obsessed with Eleanor Sun. Or at least, she had been. Now she'd probably latch onto any girl that got too close to her. Because of the horrible rumors that followed Shiloh for years, most steered clear of her. If it wasn't for the fact that she was a gross lesbian, it was definitely for the fact that she was an absolute bitch.

                                                Shiloh used to be nice. She also used to be friends with Eleanor Sun. But obviously, both things were no longer true. Shiloh was on her own, forever carrying a target on her back that'd probably remain for the rest of her life.

                                                The only thing that boosted her reputation a little was the fact that she was a part of the soccer team. And that basically made her a superstar, whether she liked it or not. She was a Yellowjacket and it made people hate her a little less. Just a little. Shiloh's pent up anger had made it perfect for her to focus it all on soccer, giving her all and helping to catapult her soccer team into fame.

                                                Shiloh may have been a big, fat, mean lesbian. But she was one with a solid kick that won goals and no one could really deny it.

                                                It'd be due to her skills (and her other team mates) that they'd ultimately make their way to Nationals. They'd leave the depressing small town of Wiskayok and go to the city, competing in Nationals and proving to any and everybody that they were the best. Shiloh was a little excited for it. If it meant she'd get to leave home for a while, Shiloh was more than happy to be on board with it.

                                                And today, they were even doing a pep rally to properly send them off. Shiloh wasn't really looking forward to it but it didn't matter since she'd more than likely skip out on it instead.

                                                As Shiloh walked to school, she could feel eyes on her. She elected to ignore it at first. But when it grew to be too much, Shiloh decided to take the bait and see who was looking at her. Of course, it happened to be the usual culprits. Eleanor Sun, Rebecca Briar, Maude O'Day, and Katherine Howard were the definition of mean girls - Rebecca at the very center of them all. The rest were just her minions, doing whatever she told them to.

                                                Including making fun of Shiloh any chance they could get.

                                                They continued to whisper and giggle even after Shiloh looked at them, causing her to frown. She quickly lost her patience and decided to stick her middle finger up at them all. They all gasped as Shiloh kept it up until she had successfully walked away from them, feeling just a little better at stunning them for even just a little while. 

                                                Eleanor just watched as Shiloh disappeared, the other girls bursting into conversation afterwards. 

                                                "She truly has no class," Maude scoffed.

                                                "I can't believe you used to be friends with her," Katherine adds, looking over at Eleanor with slight regret on her face.

                                                "That was a long time ago," Eleanor's quick to say. And yet, Eleanor could remember all of it like it had just happened yesterday.

                                                "I guess before she tried to attack you," Rebecca adds, snorting afterwards.

                                                "I feel bad for you. She's so creepy. I hate her so much," Katherine shakes her head.

                                                "You talk so much shit and yet you'll never say it to her face," Maude raised a brow.

                                                Katherine turns around, glaring at her afterwards. "More like I won't associate myself with that loser, let alone breathe the same air as her."

                                                "Can we talk about more important things?" Eleanor says, picking at her nails irritatedly. She hated talking about Shiloh. She hated seeing her around the halls or around the neighborhood. After all, Shiloh Vega was a living, walking reminder of her mistakes and Eleanor couldn't bear to think about it for too long. "Like the pep rally later on today, perhaps? It's going to be so much fun."

                                                "You're so lucky that you get to leave this dumb town and go to the city. I bet you're gonna run into so many cute boys," Katherine groaned.

                                                Eleanor smiles, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Well, I'll be sure to tell you all about it when we get back."

                                                "Do you guys think you'll be able to actually win Nationals?" Rebecca inquired.

                                                "Of course. They have me on their team after all, and I'm one of the best players," Eleanor argued. "The team would be lost without me."

                                                Rebecca scoffs. "Someone has a big ego."

                                                "More like, I'm being factual," Eleanor corrects her. "At the end of the day, we're superstars. And I'm the biggest one of them all."

                                                 Eleanor was a good player, but only because she really had to be. In her family, being the best at everything meant the entire world. She had to constantly please her parents - even if it meant having top grades and even taking on soccer to prove that she had many talents. On top of being popular, Eleanor was truly overwhelmed. But Eleanor had to convince herself that it'd all be worth it in the end. And so far, that proved to be true.

                                                  After all, she had just gotten her acceptance letter from Yale a couple days before and her parents had been pretty ecstatic. After she was done with high school, she'd really leave Wiskayok behind in the dust and go off to a fancy university. Eleanor pretty much had her life made.

                                                   And yet she was absolutely miserable deep down.

                                                   Eleanor still manages to keep her head high, now getting ready for the big pep rally. The locker room was full of life, the girls dancing along to Salt-N-Pepa's shoop as it bounced off the walls. Eleanor was among the dancing girls, twirling around with a smile on her face. She had yellow and blue bows in her curly brown hair, her face adorned with makeup. She looked absolutely beautiful - even in the less than fabulous soccer uniform - and Eleanor knew it too.

                                                 Lottie wraps her arms around Eleanor and the two of them giggle as they twirl around, right before they'd let go of each other and Lottie kept dancing as she walked off. But as Eleanor kept having her fun, Jackie Taylor in all her glory walked over and tapped Eleanor on the shoulder. Eleanor pauses, facing the team captain with a small smile on her face.

                                                 "Hey, have you seen Shiloh anywhere?" Jackie questioned.

                                                  Eleanor raised a brow. "No. And I don't care to know either."

                                                 "Come on, I have to do Allie's makeup really quick. Can you find her and tell her to get back here? We all need to be together for the pep rally," Jackie ordered.

                                                  "I am not Shiloh's keeper. Go and find someone else," Eleanor scoffed, preparing to leave.

                                                  But just then, Jackie grabbed her arm to keep her in place. "Please. I know you two are... not exactly best friends. But I really want to make sure things go well today so can you just get her? I owe you one."

                                                 "Yeah, you do," Eleanor says in response before she walks away.

                                                  She couldn't believe that she had even agreed to go on this ridiculous goose chase for Shiloh. But she already had a feeling she'd know exactly where she'd find Shiloh too. Eleanor walks all the way to the back of the school where sure enough, Shiloh was there and smoking a cigarette. Resting her hands on her hips, Eleanor scoffs as she storms towards Shiloh. Shiloh looks up at the sound of footsteps and frowns at the sight of Eleanor.

                                                  "And here I thought today was actually going to be a good day," Shiloh sighs, taking another drag from the cigarette.

                                                   "Are you seriously out here smoking right now?" Eleanor questioned.

                                                   "Why the fuck do you care? It's not like it's bothering you or anything," Shiloh answered, blowing smoke deliberately in Eleanor's direction.

                                                   Eleanor's scowl deepens as she fans the smoke away. "You're not even dressed in your uniform and the pep rally starts soon. God, you're so annoying!"

                                                   "Oh no, call the calvary," Shiloh rolled her eyes.

                                                   "Get up. Now," Eleanor ordered, even holding out her hand for Shiloh to take.

                                                   "You might not wanna get too close. I have the lesbian cooties. Be careful, it's contagious," Shiloh sneered, making Eleanor back away in an instant.

                                                   "Shiloh -," Eleanor begins to say, sighing out her name.

                                                   "What? You're the one that convinced the entire school of that. Don't act ignorant now," Shiloh remarked, the words cutting deep.

                                                   Eleanor knew that it was all her fault. The reason Shiloh had been bullied (and continued to be) was all because Eleanor was incapable of keeping her mouth shut. And when faced wih the consequences of her actions, Eleanor just chose the safe route and ran. She did so without even looking back too.

                                                   "You know what? I can't wait until we graduate. When I'm finally done with this shithole of a school, I can leave and be far away from you. I can't believe I even associated myself with a low life like you," Eleanor retorted.

                                                   "I was thinking the same thing. I must've been absolutely insane to think that I could call a stuck up, self absorbed bitch like you my friend. Glad that's over though. Because now I see you for who you really are," Shiloh shot back, her eyes growing dark as that all too familiar anger consumed her entire body.

                                                    It was funny how the sight of Eleanor used to make Shiloh so happy. And now the mere mention of her name set Shiloh off in seconds.

                                                    "Fuck you," Eleanor scoffed.

                                                    "Fuck you," Shiloh retorted, the two words holding so much malice and venom that it made Eleanor flinch.

                                                     One thing was clear: the two girls hated each other and they'd never  go back to how they used to be.

                                                    Eleanor storms away, blinking away her tears as she left Shiloh to stew in her anger some more. A minute or two after Eleanor had left, Shiloh had finally gotten up and decided to head to the locker room so she could change into her uniform. It wouldn't take that long since she wasn't doing her makeup like the others. All she had to do was change and then she'd be on her way.

                                                   "Nice of you to finally show up," Nat says as Shiloh approached her, now wearing her uniform.

                                                   "You know I had to be fashionably late," Shiloh teased with a small smile.

                                                    Nat was one of the few people who talked to Shiloh and hung out with her. But maybe it was because the both of them were rejects at school. Nat was the town slut while Shiloh was the town lesbian which meant they were bound to be friends. And then there was the fact that Nat had some of the best weed in town so that helped.

                                                   Feeling eyes on her, Shiloh turned around to see Eleanor glaring at her - obviously still upset from their little spat earlier. Nat glances between the two of them until Eleanor walks off first, heading inside the bathroom to presumably check herself out once again.

                                                    "What'd you do to piss off her Royal Bitch-ness this time?" Nat teased, earning a chuckle from Shiloh.

                                                    "Doesn't matter. I just can't wait to get this shit over with," Shiloh says, leaning up against the locker.

                                                    Afterwards, the pep rally began - the entire gymnasium filled with cheering students. Eleanor had to admit that it helped to boost her mood a little, knowing everyone in there was cheering for them. It just reminded Eleanor that she wasn't going to let anything or anyone stop her. Especially not Shiloh fucking Vega.

                                                   "Now, our next act needs no introduction. So let's all just make some noise for your New Jersey State Girls' Soccer Champions!"

                                                    In a straight line, the girls all ran out to meet their adoring fans like they were superstars about to perform for the stage. For Eleanor, it felt that way. But then again, her entire life felt like one giant performance. With a bright smile, Eleanor waves at them all as she runs out.

                                                   "Buzz, buzz, buzz!" the crowd cheered, only adding to the good energy.

                                                    As the girls stood in front of the crowd, Shiloh glanced around and felt a little overwhelmed by it all. Even though she was on the soccer team, Shiloh was still getting used to having so much attention. She felt like she had been the center of attention most of her life - whether it be due to being picked on or having people talk shit about her. This, of course, was different and she knew it wouldn't last forever.

                                                    After it was all said and done, Shiloh Vega planned on living a long, boring life.

( 🌲🔪🦌 )

word count: 2297
notes: ellie's group of friends aren't terribly important which is why i didn't add them to the cast list. but basically rebecca is played by kristine froseth, maude is played by lexi underwood, and katherine is played by ellie bamber. but of course, you can imagine whoever you want since they don't really show up much