High School Reunion 2, Episode 5: Why Confront When You Can Complain and Repress?

Last week on High School Reunion… old feelings came back! Would it be any fun if they didn’t?

This week opens with – what else? LouAnn talking about Johnny. As she sits with Denise and Laura at the sauna, she describes her mixed feelings. Laura compliments Johnny on his simple, easygoing personality, saying that he would be someone without a lot of baggage. Even so, after sleeping with Johnny on their Hall Pass, LouAnn feels strangely guilty about what her boyfriend might think. She can’t deny what is going on, though, and needs a clear answer from Johnny about what his intentions are with her.

Shortly after, we see Amanda and Heather in the kitchen with several girls from the Class of ’93, whom she describes as “lame.” She feels as if they are always judging her. Fellow soph Heather F. doesn’t care what they think – she’s there to get what she came for. Meanwhile, Heather C., Jeralyn, Denise, Jessica, and the other seniors comment with disgust on the sophomore girls’ skinny-dipping and their motto “out with the old, in with the new.” “They must be talking about their breasts,” the seniors decide, then laugh. Jessica momentarily doesn’t get it – or doesn’t seem to – before realizing “new” must refer to breast implants. They believe that Heather came to stir up trouble.

Upstairs, Heather stumbles onto her bed and receives another hall pass. And – of course! – she wants to take Gabe. She feels that there is no denying they still have feelings for each other. So why hasn’t he come to see her since then? Oh yeah – it must be Denise’s fault! Heather feels that Denise has made Gabe too self-conscious, and that he would do more if she weren’t around.

LouAnn hangs out with Johnny again, wondering if they would be as compatible at home as in Hawaii. Lounging with him out on chairs, she asks him why he came to her with his feelings now at this reunion, and not sooner? Theme of the episode, my dear. Johnny replies that it didn’t seem right, because his feelings were based on events that seemed long ago. LouAnn remarks that the situation is stressing her out, and Johnny tells her that he doesn't have any expectations, which doesn't seem to put her at ease.

Heather muses over the conversation she had with Gabe on their last Hall Pass. As Gabe swims in the pool, his voiceover remarks that it is a little uncomfortable, being there with his ex-wife and the mother of his children. He doesn't want to fight or relive stuff that happened ten years ago.

Later, Heather motions for Gabe to join her upstairs, where she invites him on her Hall Pass. Gabe manages to get out a reply along the lines of "Sounds good... completely flattered... but…" "But what?" demands Heather incredulously. Gabe goes on to state diplomatically that he came to the reunion to reconnect with old friends, and when he goes out on a Hall Pass, he feels as though he is missing out on that. You understand, don’t you, Heather? Oh wait… this isn’t your reunion. You’re just a gate-crasher. Never mind. Gabe asks why she couldn’t talk to him here as easily right now as on the Hall Pass, and Heather says she couldn't even talk to him until the Hall Pass. Doesn’t he remember how much fun they had? Gabe says that she shouldn't think of his refusal as a rejection, and Heather tries to sound nonchalant. Alone, Gabe emphatically states that there is no "us," that he and Heather F. are two different people. Heather leaves the scene, burned. She thinks about how Denise will know that Gabe turned her down, and how it's just like high school, with Denise exerting “silent control.”

NuLenny gets in his cameo, as we see him wandering alone just like OldLenny. Meanwhile the senior girls gossip in the pool, where Denise learns that Gabe turned Heather down. They all share giggles of satisfaction. Laura is proud of Gabe for turning down the Hall Pass, and now it allows Denise to be with him. Right…

Back in the kitchen, the seniors ponder the “person” they admire most, and Daniel offers T.J., because of his turnaround from redneck to New Face of Tolerance. It almost chokes Daniel to say it, but T.J. "impresses" him. T.J., too, marvels at how much he has changed, feeling that the boxing match helped him see the same characteristics in Daniel that he sees in himself, and that he is now smart enough to know how stupid he was in high school.

Heather F. is hurt that Gabe turned her down, but decides to heal herself by playing a prank on Denise, LouAnn, and Laura. After all, it’s what any red-blooded 26-year-old eight years removed from high school would do. We learn again that the senior "cheerleaders" hated the sophomores, and Heather elaborates that Denise followed her after school, calling her names and saying she'll kick her ass. At one party, Denise yanked all of Heather's hair, knocking her to the floor.

That night, the reunion attendees head to the Rockum' Dragon Luau, where they are treated to an elaborate production that includes dancers waving fiery batons. Rather than just relax and enjoy, Heather decides now would be the perfect time to play the prank, with everyone in the same location. With Stacy and Amanda as her accomplices, she tosses toilet paper, rubs their tooth brushes under her armpit (uck!), writes on their mirror in soap, etc. We see a close-up of Denise’s high school picture. I'm surprised Heather didn't pause to draw devil horns over it in thick magic marker. The sophomores giggle and run off.

Afterward, Amanda unwinds from her tom-foolery by hanging with Trevor. She confesses about their prank, and Trevor thinks it sounded "sweet." Didn't like the cheerleaders too well, I take it.

Laura comes up to her room and screams when she sees the damage. With a maniacal gleam in her eye, she shrieks, "This means waaaaar!" She then shows the damage to several other girls, including Amanda, who plays dumb. Jeralyn, however, isn’t fooled by her act, as are none of the other girls. A survey of the room shows that everything has been covered with disgusting muck, even the toilet seats. Denise can't believe how childish the sophomores behaved.

While all this is going on, Heather sits in her room, figuring that the seniors are conspiring in theirs. "This is so small, and so huge at the same time," she says. She’s scared, and her heart is racing.