Selective Dissonance: The era of Sandra (Season 1 Episode 5-7)
maddiebuttitta for Lauren Ep 5
American, 16-17 years old, lesbian
Lauren is a 16-17 year old high school student. She is quiet, friendly, and likes to keep to herself, but she can get easily frustrated. Ever since coming out, she has been ostracized by many of her peers. In gym class in particular, she feels like she is being judged for her every action and has to take special care not to seem as though she’s objectifying her classmates. The social anxiety she faces around her peers gets even worse when she starts to hear strange noises in the school’s shower room.
Dear diary,
It’s weird to think that back in middle school I actually liked gym class. Ever since I started high school it’s become the worst part of my week. I spend my mornings trying to figure out a way out of it, but I can only use the “I’m on my period” excuse so many times.
Stephanie spent the rest of the day holding her nose whenever I walked past her and telling everyone I don’t shower. It’s like I can’t win! If I try to get a shower like everyone else, I’m apparently a pervert. If I don’t, I’m a pig. And she’ll never let me forget it
I could still hear the breathing. It grew louder than all the scuffling and squealing outside the shower. All the girls yelling across stalls about weekend plans and boyfriends and exes. It wasn’t coming from any of them. It wasn’t coming from outside my stall. I could feel it too, like a vacuum sucking the breath from my lungs. Stepping out of that stall was a relief. But even when I looked back at the entrance to the shower room, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my gut.
