It was a realistic and true ending, especially in the 80s teen sex comedy genre.

Awkward guy has an attractive friend who screws over girl. Awkward guy likes girl. Awkward guy does all he can to win over girl and even helps her out more than anyone when she had no one else to turn to. Girl kisses awkward guy and they are sorta becoming a thing. Girl gets back with awkward guys attractive friend instead in the end.

A guilty pleasure of mine.

Fun fact, the cast had to wear their own clothing and do their own hair and makeup etc. because the film had a low budget that couldn’t pay to keep those people around. The cast of teens is also played by actual teenagers for a change (for the most part). The film was going to have a sequel that follows Gary to college but it was canceled after this one flopped in theaters, however it made millions of dollars after being released to home video and gained a cult following.

For further context: Thaddeus Stevens was asked by Abraham Lincoln and his abolitionist allies to tone down his words in order to gain votes from conservative Republicans, leaning Democrats, and win the general public.

He needed to declare that the passing of the 13th Amendment was not for racial equality but for equality before the law. Establishing it as a matter of racial equality might have lost support, as it was considered too radical at the time.