We learn why Melinda is an outcast at the homecoming pep rally. Melinda does not explain, however, why she called the police at the party. There is a secret Melinda is keeping to herself. When those around her turn hostile, Melinda distracts herself by examining the cheerleaders, She describes the cheerleaders solely in terms of appearance, solidifying their role as female sexual objects. The tone of her observation that the most sexually promiscuous girls are also the most celebrated shows her discomfort with her own burgeoning sexuality, and the role it plays in the female identity. She feels betrayed that everyone assumes the worst about her phone call, and no one cares to look deeper into her motivations.
