Stand up to Anna

Something about the way Anna’s saying it is just too much for Nat, at least this early in the morning. “Don’t be mean, Anna,” she says shortly.

“Hey, I’m just telling the truth,” Anna says with a shrug.

“Oh yeah?” Nat arches an eyebrow at her. “What kinda slut are you, then?”

“Excuse me?”

“What’s your profile? You told us what guys are gonna want to do to these girls—when they see YOU what are they gonna want?”

Anna swallows, looks down. Behind her, Nat can see the girl she kicked out of her seat saying something sharp to the stoner who’s groping her; he looks startled. After a few seconds, Anna mumbles something.

“What was that?” Nat demands.

“I said ‘painslut!’” Anna snaps, glaring at her. Natalie is startled to see she actually has tears in her eyes. “I’m…I’m small, and my tits are small, and I’m smart and accomplished. Any guy we were actually in high school with I’ve beaten at something, sometime. All that adds up to…yeah, I’m mostly gonna be appealing to guys who feel like doing some S&M.” She sighs. “Or like…ageplay, but that’s not much of a thing in guys in Bridge Year.”

There’s a brief, stunned silence. “Oh. Sorry,” Nat says finally. “But…like I said then. We’re all in the same boat. We gotta stick together.”

“Yeah,” Claire says softly. “Solidarity!”

Anna sighs. “It’s a nice thought, but I’m afraid once we get in there it’s gonna be fuck or get fucked.” She smiles wryly. “Why do you think I’ve always been so proactive about taking charge of things, Nat? I know what’ll happen to me if I lose focus.”

“The whole thing seems impossible,” Denise mumbles. “I’m never gonna make it through the year. I like sex too much, and it’s so stressful trying to figure out when it’s worth it and not…I’m scared I’m not gonna last.”

“Sure you will!” Claire says encouragingly. “We all will.”

“Statistically unlikely,” Anna says, face grim. For a few moments, they just ride in silence.

Suddenly there’s the sudden sound of a slap and a cry: “Ow! What the fuck, bitch!” All four of the girls glance back to see what the hubbub is. The stoner who’d been groping the girl Anna evicted is clutching his cheek, looking startled. The girl is glaring at him. He glances around, sees that people are staring, and mutters something dark to her before getting up and moving further back in the bus.

“Well, huh. Good for her,” Anna mutters.

Claire shakes her head disapprovingly. “Some people. There’s never a call for ****.”

They arrive at the Bridge school shortly thereafter, and the students begin to file off the bus. The girl Anna kicked out of her seat storms down the aisle alone but with her head held high, practically the first off the bus. The red-band girl who was fucking her boyfriend staggers off leaning on his arm and giggling stupidly, clearly unbothered that she doesn’t have any actual pants on. Natalie and the other girls gather their bags.

“All right, bitches,” Anna says, looking determined. “Let’s go.”

As she heads off the bus, Claire catches Natalie’s arm. “You know…{if Popularity > 25}I think I saw you on Insta the other day and got the wrong idea, but…{endif}you’re pretty cool. Thanks for reminding us of what’s important.” She smiles.

“Oh, yeah,” Nat says, blushing slightly, surprised and grateful. “Any time.”

They head off the bus after Anna, Denise silently bringing up the rear.