Gabriela

We got stomachaches from eating too much?

Parisa

You really don’t remember?

Gabriela

I don’t know. The guy gave us free ice cream?

Parisa

He gave YOU free ice cream because he said he loved seeing a pretty face. And then he looked right at me and charged me six dollars. It was humiliating, and you didn’t even call him out on it or check to see if I was okay after we left the store.

Gabriela

I’m sorry! I didn’t realize what happened. But thanks for bringing it up six months later.

Parisa

I just wish that for once you’d recognize your beauty privilege.

Gabriela

That’s not a thing.

Parisa

Well, it should be.

Gabriela

Are you effing kidding me right now? You’re on the path to being valedictorian. You’re gonna go to Harvard. You’re the epitome of privilege. I never make you feel bad about that stuff.

Parisa

Do you know why I get good grades? Because I HAVE TO. I care about what college I get into because I have to care.

Gabriela

And you don’t think I have to care about getting good grades? You don’t think there’s pressure on me to have a better life than my moms?

Parisa

That’s not what I’m saying. I just think it’s different. If love is never going to be in the cards for me, then I at least need a good job.

And I know that high school has sucked for both of us, but I’m the one who’s suffered through four years of being called “that hairy Persian” because of my arms or “Pinocchio” because of my nose.

Gabriela

Parisa, no joke. I know things are really heavy right now, but this is a lot.

Parisa

I know this might come as a shock, but I can be mad at you without being, like, irrational.

Hello?

So now you’re not gonna write me back? That’s great. So glad we had this talk.

GABRIELA

I’m not sure what it says about me, but all my best works of art—the ones I’ve begun and completed in one sitting—always poured out of me when I was in a state of fury. Whether it was after a fight with my moms or after a particularly rough shift at Katie’s Diner, I’d put my headphones on, listen to Megan Thee Stallion (“Savage” on repeat), and get all my angst and emotion out with paint. So I guess I have Parisa to thank for all the progress I’m making right now on my George Seurat homage.