Success is Sweet, Revenge is Sweeter

Beth was always an odd one. Back in high school, she was the outsider, the outcast. You know— that one girl whom everyone seems to be against for no real reason? She was pretty, but she was made to think she was not. She could never truly be herself for she was always being judged. The little thin blondes always used her as something to talk about. But she acted like she didn't care. You know the kind of girl I'm talking about, right? Well, in high school, that was Beth.1

I'm pretty sure I was Beth's best friend. Notice how I say that, I was her best friend, she was not mine. That may sound snooty, but it was true. I had a number of friends and I spent time with them and liked most of them the same amount. Due to Beth's social status, not many people wanted to hang out with her. I was one of the few. The thing was, she truly was a fun person to be around... when she wasn't being self-conscious that is.2

People made her think badly of herself. It was quite sad, really. She wore these huge glasses and she didn't have the best haircut, but behind all of that, she really was quite beautiful. Maybe that is why the hair-straightening gossips started to pick on her. Jealously. She was depressed as well. She once confided that to me and the fact that she had suicidal thoughts and she burnt. Much like cutting, but with fire.3

I remember the day all this information accidentally fell into the wrong hands. Fueling the gossip and cajoling surrounding Beth. I wouldn't say it was directly my fault. I said something to someone I thought knew, and well, she didn't know. This girl ended up telling someone else, who told someone else. You know how high school gossip spreads.4

"Crockerbelle?" the halls were full of gossip, calling Beth by the name most only knew her by "She's suicidal? Could've guessed that."5

The glare she gave me that day was almost painful. Later, I attempted to make up with her by explaining the whole situation. And my naïve high school mind thought she had forgiven me and we had moved on. But there is no fixing such a betrayal of trust. The damage had already been done.6

"Hey Crockerbelle!" a voice called out to her as she headed toward the bathroom between classes, "What are you going to do in there? Burn your skin with the toilets?"7

Voices and laughter surrounded around her. The little blondes and their hulky jock boyfriends giving her looks and stares, giggling all the while of course. Beth walked on, her head held high— something I know I never could have done in a situation like that.8

"I can't really hear you. Why don't you talk a little louder?" she said to them scornfully. "Give me more fuel for my fire."9

Through all of this, she kept strong. It is something I admire now, but didn't appreciate at that point in time. Beth was a writer, a very talented one at that. She was also an actress but she never got parts in the school plays because even the teachers caught the misfit vibe from her. She did get good grades, which in a way only made it worse.10

"What do you do, study all night long?" were questions that were often shot at her.11

She would just smile softly and reply, "I do enough to get by."12

"Get by! You're getting hundreds all the time," would be the reply of the group, "Hey! Do you think if I had no friends and no social life I could do so well?"13

"You're not jealous, now?" she'd say. "But someday we'll all be old and most of us will have failing jobs and families." Then under her breath she'd always say to herself, "And I? I'll be beautiful, strong, and happy."14

So you can see why everyone was so shocked when they saw her at the reunion twenty-five years later. We were shocked that she had even come, she hadn't come to the five or ten year reunions, but no one can blame her for that. If I were her, I wouldn't have even come to twenty-five. But then again, she did get her revenge.15

It was a classic scene, one that will stay with me forever. Classic. To a T. You see, the peppy popular blond leader, Savannah, was the one who had always led the mocking of poor Beth. Now, at the age of forty-three she was an old, Botox using, mother of three, divorcee... two times over. So man-hunting Savannah was chatting up Jack, the hunky jock and resident cutie whom she had dated for most of high school. Now, he was old, balding, and he had definitely put on more than a few pounds. I remember, sitting there watching, disgusted that she still used the exact same moves that she had used at the age of sixteen. When suddenly, Jack put up his finger, stopping Savannah mid-sentence, something had caught his eye.16

"One second babe," he said to her, attempting to sound like his former, less bald, hunky self.17

"Jack?" Savannah asked using her high-pitched ditzy voice, as he walked past her, "Where are you going?"18

He didn't answer for he was attempting to reenact his high school strut. Highly amused I followed his line of vision to the refreshments table. Standing there, her back to us, was a woman. She was thin, athletic, and her hair was perfect. A natural shade of dark brown, not even graying yet. You could tell she was beautiful without even seeing her face. The way she moved as she sorted through a bowl of mixed chips, obviously only wanting to eat a certain kind.19

I didn't recognize her from the back so I assumed she was the trophy wife of one of the geeks of our grade. Someone had made a lot of money and got himself a little young thing. That was the most probable answer.20

"Hey there," Jack said, as smooth as sandpaper. "I don't think I remember you. Want to refresh my memory?"21

The woman stood there a moment, still turned away from him. Her body convulsed, once, for only a second, a quick bout of laughter. She stayed turned away, still sorting through the chips. "Jackson Fennely. Nothing would give me greater pleasure," she said, in a voice that was strangely familiar to me. "I'm surprised you don't remember me."22

"I'm just as surprised as you are honey," Jack replied, sweet-talking her.23

She turned now, her face as beautiful as her body and actions had said it would be. She put her hand to her chest, elegantly pointing to herself. "Elizabeth Crocker."24

Jack looked at her, screwing up his eyes as he attempted to recognize her. "I don't remember an Eliza— Beth!"25

She laughed then, loudly and clearly. "Bingo."26

"Beth?!?" Savannah asked, her face looking as shocked as a face with an immense amount of Botox can. "No, it can't be."27

"Maybe you should call me Crazy Crockerbelle, just like old times," Beth said to Savannah. "Then it may register for you."28

"Who's talking about Crazy Crockerbelle?" a voice said from behind them.29

It was Julie, Savannah's best friend and most loyal crony. She sauntered over to the little group, her batwings of fat and cellulite jiggling. Some people just don't age well, and Julie was one of them.30

"I remember her," she continued, letting out a little squeaking laugh. "Has anyone seen her? She disappeared after high school. I bet she finally slit her throat. We all knew she was going to some day."31

"Um..." Savannah said, attempting to save her friend from further embarrassment. "Jules..."32

Beth started to laugh again. "Julie, it's been so long. I forgot your... lovely sense of humor."33

Julie cocked her head to the side. "And you are?"34

"Jules," Savannah cut in. "This is Crockerbelle..."35

Julie's mouth dropped, if it wasn't for her jaw I bet it would be on the ground. 36

Jack, still trying to get a piece of meat, despite everything that Beth represented during his high school years, struts back over to Beth. He smiles, checking her out from behind. Both Savannah and Julie watch him, slightly disgusted, slightly shocked. He goes in to put his arm around Beth's neck, but, having been watching him with her peripheral vision, she swats his hand as soon as it touches her.37

"Excuse me," she says, turning to him, "but I'm happily married."38

She lifts up her left hand, two rings rest on her ring finger, one sporting an amazing looking diamond. She smiles as she watches the other two girls goggle at the rings. 39

"I... I was..." Jack starts, attempting to recover himself.40

"Actually, I lied to you earlier. But only so you would recognize me," she says to him, "I'm no longer Beth Crocker the name I went by in high school, I'm Elizabeth Parker."41

That's when my mouth dropped. Beth was Elizabeth Parker, the Elizabeth Parker. Author of the best-selling novel series that is currently being made into movies by none other than John Parker, amazing director and every woman's dream: her husband. It was rumored she was a secretive person, that is why there are few pictures of her about. Which explains why none of us recognized her instantly.42

"Crockerbelle is married to John Parker?!?" Savannah cried out, realizing who she was and getting the attention of the whole room.43

"Why?" Beth asks, smirking. "You jealous?"44

The whole room was silent then. It was full of our grade from high school and their families. The shock in the room was tangible as each person puts two and two together.45

"Dear?" a voice says softly, but never the less breaking the silence. "What's going on?"46

Beth turned and smiled at her husband who had come to stand beside her. "Remember when I told you about how my classmates felt about me and you didn't believe me?"47

"Yes, you've been working for a while on that book of lies you call a memoir," he replied, jokingly, "But, if it's true... then why are they so... silent." He looked uneasily at their attentive audience.48

"For the same reason you wouldn't believe me, love."49

She smiled, a crooked sarcastic smile stretching across her beautiful face. Then, as quickly as the silence had come upon the group, chaos was established. People were talking about her, attempting to get up to her and talk to her, glaring over at her jealously or in admiration or shock. It truly was chaos as chaos goes at high school reunions. 50

I managed to catch her eye, and she smiled, but only fractionally. I then watched as she slipped away quickly and quietly with her handsome celebrity husband. Everyone was so worked up and talking about what had just happened that they didn't even notice their subject disappear. I smiled, happy for her. I know I too could have been nicer to her, maybe if I had I would have gotten more than a fraction of a smile that evening. But nevertheless, I let her be.