Author's note:
If you enjoyed this story, please check out my other story Decor which has a similar focus on exhibition.
Jessica stared across the cafeteria at the table of popular girls fantasizing what it was like to be one of them. She never really got a fair shot to hang out with them, having failed a grade back in middle school, making her the only 18 year old senior.
"If you stare harder they might ask you to join." Her best friend Amanda said as she sat down beside her.
Jessica laughed. "It's not fair. They get everything handed to them on a silver platter."
Amanda took a bite of her sandwich and talked with her mouth full. "You know it looks easy but think of all the drama."
"What drama? Looks perfectly fine to me."
"Every one of those girls is dying to be Victoria's best friend. The closest ones Emma and Reilly are currently on the top, but they have to constantly fend off the rest."
"And what about Victoria?" Jessica asked.
"She has it the worst. If she makes one mistake, she doesn't just fall to the next rung, she falls completely off the ladder."
Jessica picked at her food and continued to stare. "Still. Seems like a pretty good life to me."
The popular girls laughed at one of Victoria's jokes. Amid the laughter, she looked across the room and made eye contact with Jessica. Embarrassed, Jessica looked down. She waited a few moments and then looked back up. Victoria raised her eyebrow and then focused her attention back on her friends. Jessica's heart raced. Victoria never acknowledged her existence even when they had class together. Why was she looking?
***
Jessica put her books in her locker and slammed it shut. Victoria startled her as she stood on the other side.
"Hey. Jenna is it?"
"Jessica."
"Don't care. I'm having a party on Saturday and I wanted to know if you want to come?"
"I...I...sure."
"Perf. Give me your phone."
Jessica handed her phone over. Victoria put her number in and handed it back.
"I'll text you the deets. Toodles."
Jessica felt like a freshman boy as she watched the most popular girl walk away after talking to her. She looked down at her phone and noticed Victoria put her name as Goddess Victoria. She felt like she was finally making headway into popularity three years too late.
***
Jessica took one last look in her car mirror to make sure her make-up was still perfect. She watched hours of video tutorials to find her style and was pleased with the final result. She needed to make a good impression if she wanted to be invited back.
Victoria opened the door and hugged Jessica. She lead her into the party and announced her presence. She called her Jenna, but Jessica didn't correct her. The party was in Victoria's basement and it was bigger than Jessica's house. There were butlers handing out drinks and hors d'oeuvres with a fully functioning bar on one side of the room.
She was lead through to the food preparation area where a team of chefs were busy cooking an assortment of appetizers. Jessica was overwhelmed by the excitement and ready to start mingling with other people she would never get a chance to talk with at school.
"Look I know this is your first party, but one of our models dropped out last minute and we can't find a replacement." Victoria said.
Jessica was too busy stargazing at the many things around her.
"Jenna." Victoria snapped her fingers. "Right here."
Jessica looked at Victoria.
"Anyway, as I was saying, we need someone and you and the model are like twins. Do you think you can take her place?"
Jessica was delighted that Victoria thought she was hot like a model. If she was a model at Victoria's party, everyone would soon know exactly who she was.
"Of course, I'd love to. What am I modeling?"
Victoria smiled and walked her over to the corner.
"You're going to be a strolling table. Well I mean it's not really a strolling table because its not actually moving, but that's what they call it in show business."
In the corner was a large round table with a giant hole in the middle engulfing the rest of the table cloth.
"So you're going to go in the middle of the table and we're going to put drinks around and you basically just stand there with your hands on your hips, smile and be cute." Victoria said.
"I'm going to be a table."
"A strolling table."
Jessica regretted saying yes. She thought she was going to be walking around in a sexually provocative outfit not stuck in some table. The silver lining was she at least she had an excuse to talk to the people that came over for drinks.
"Do I have to smile the whole time?" Jessica asked.
"Yes. I mean usually the model is pouring drinks but since you don't have your certificate for that I think it's just best you stand there and smile. Don't worry, no one will engage with you, I already let them know the models were just for decoration."
Jessica deflated. No talking either. At least she would be seen helping Victoria out.
"Just wait here and I'll have my team get you ready. Toodles."
Jessica sat down and waited. She looked down at the new dress she bought and realized Victoria didn't even compliment it. All her hard earned money on a dress no one was going to see. At least she was at the party. The alternative was sitting in Amanda's basement watching television and gossiping about guys they'd never hook up with.
Soon Jessica was brought out as part of the table. They had redone her makeup to exaggerate her eyes and mouth. The dress that was part of the table strapped around her shoulders and left a low dip in her top. A push up bra was used to create a voluptuous chest and a ruby pendent was placed around her neck to draw wondering eyes. Matching ruby earrings and a ruby ring were also used to complete the outfit. She stood with her hands on her hip and smiled as instructed. Drinks were placed around her and then she was left alone.
Jessica watched the party and knew everyone was having a good time. She was disappointed she couldn't join, but at least she was now a fly on the wall for the cool kids.
Emma and Reilly walked over and each grabbed a drink. They didn't even look at Jessica. Instead they stared out at the party with judgmental eyes.
"Can you believe what that slut Kylie is wearing?" Emma said.
"If you're going to show that much skin just like take it all off." Reilly said.
Jessica spotted Kylie in the middle of the room surrounded by mostly guys. Her low cut top showed plenty of cleavage and matched with her short shorts, the two girls weren't wrong in their assessment.
Victoria walked over and grabbed a drink, completely ignoring Jessica. She wanted to say hi, but she feared Victoria would be angry that she broke the rules. Victoria pulled out her phone and brought up a picture of a prom dress.
"So here's my prom dress. I let Craig pick the color."
"Oh my God, that's so pretty." Emma said.
Jessica's morale deflated. She had a huge crush on Craig and always fantasized that in her final year, Craig would shock everyone and ask her. But he asked Victoria and she said yes. Now her favorite fantasy would never be a reality. Craig walked over and Victoria quickly put away her phone. He made brief eye contact with Jessica and smiled. His attention turned to Victoria.
"Hey listen, I hear there's a big party going down at Masons. DJ and everything. You want to move there?" Craig said.
The girls grew excited.
"We'll let everyone know." Emma said and hurried off with Reilly.
"I'll let them know to expect us." Craig said and brought his phone to his ear as he walked away.
"Victoria." Jessica said.
Victoria looked at Jessica.
"You're supposed to be a decoration remember. Decorations don't talk."
"Well I want to get out of her and go with you guys."