She cackled when she ripped the beer out of my grip. Maybe she laughed, I don't know, but the way I heard it, she cackled like a witch. "Penny Radcliffe." In all the years I imagined running into her, I always figured she would forget me. She made fun of me so much, I assumed I was a peon in her big, elaborate world of popularity. My name tag may have given it away, but I highly doubted so based on the pitiful tone she used with me. "I believe you took my beer." Her cat eyes squinted at me while the corner of her mouth turned up. My pulse raced as she popped open the can and took a long drink. "This one?" My nostrils flared as I huffed out my chest. It was only a beer, but really, it wasn't. All four years of high school consumed themselves in that little aluminum can. Every insult, prank, conniving laugh existed in that beverage, which Mandy threw in my face. After so many years had passed, I thought all the pettiness would be set aside, but clearly, I was mistaken. "Forget it," I said, defeated.
