rule number one; you gotta have fun

“It was a nice intention that went a little too far. Like, they didn’t need to foist those giant sweaters on people whose dresses didn’t meet the standards…” Wow. Katie was fast, and Gwen was glad that she was on the track team; that was the only way she’d be able to keep up. “Yes, we are alive. I mean, I’m a little cold, and my hair is super wet, but we are in one piece, so I guess a little celebration makes sense?”

In the spirit of being alive and only half drowned by the unpredictable downpour, Katie tied her hair up into an appropriately messy bun. It was that time of the night anyways. “Well hey, mine’s is a goner but if you want, I can show you where the towels are. I remember-” spending my entire last summer here- “Uh, where Steve said they were. Roughly. Ah!” She noticed the tray of jello shots and immediately pounced on ‘em. “Here, we can drink and chew while we look. Nothing good happens before midnight, right? The gremlin in us all is officially allowed to come out.”

“I do think the PTA moms were a little…overzealous when it came to the dress code. One tried to measure the distance between my collarbone and the straps of my dress…” Gwen grabbed her skirts in one hand and Katie’s hand in another. “Quick. Let’s go.”

“Thank you! That’s exactly what I think, Gwen. Like, put the measuring tape away Linda, nobody needs that. Right, right-,” Katie held onto Gwen’s hand tightly, cursing how tight the sequence dream of her dress’ skirt was. “Crap, crap, crap. Run, run, run,” she muttered. Heels were the worst. “Ah! We made it! Gwen, we’ve survived. Some of those poor stragglers out there are never gonna be dry again, man. We should celebrate. You want a jello shot?”

Her look was too heavy, too long for him to comprehend, or even to want to understand at this time of night with this much drunk teenage energy flowing around them. They’d left things unspoken and unsettled and far too uncertain to ever jump back into the conversation without serious preparation. He was pretty sure this wasn’t the time or place for that.

“I’d say I hadn’t seen her, but that would be a complete lie. And we’d both know it. She’s kind of hard to miss these days.” He laughed, but it was a sobering thought, that they were all changing and growing so fast around him that he barely recognized some of the people he’d gone to school with since elementary school. Some days it felt like everybody around him was in on this secret about life that he was missing, like they knew something that gave them purpose and meaning and drive….while he was still trying to figure out if he was too grown up for heely sneakers. “I guess it’s the start of something new for everybody who knows what’s coming next.” It sounds sadder than he means, so he laughs and exhales hard. “Woah, that was so much less depressing in my head. Ignore my angst, please, I’m supposed to bring the party, not take it out back and beat it to death.” He nodded, offering her his arm to escort her onward towards the drinks. “Well in that case…M’lady? Let’s go find each other the grossest and most celebratory drinks we can think of. I’m thinking gin, in a mug, with some orange crush. Deal?” He winks. “You look good, too, Sparks. Just like always.”

*:･ﾟ★       ,,,

Katie laughed as he offered his arm, shaking her head at his ‘killing the party’ comment. As if Steven Beaumont could ever kill a party. She understood though. As fun as it all was, this was an end of an era for them and they were supposed to have things figured out for ‘what comes next’. If you took away everything Katie knew about what was going to happen in Havensdale, she was in the same boat. She had no idea what she was going to do with her life. But she took his arm, throwing back her head as she laughed again, flashing a grin.

“Sounds deliciously disgusting and I can’t wait. Bonus points if you throw a couple of crazy straws in there,” she winked back, nudging him as they walked. “Oh, why thank you,” she added dramatically, tossing her hair with her free hand. Things could be fun and breezy, couldn’t they? It’s what she wanted right now, desperately. Katie bounced on the balls of her feet when they landed at the certified ‘booze table’, red cups and all. “Alright maestro, work your magic.”

She smiled to herself, totally not sneaking looks over at him and his floppy hair, and his stupid, gorgeous smile. “Hey, Steve? Not to bring down the vibes but I, uh, am definitely not one of those people who knows what’s coming next. I don’t even-,” she paused, shaking out her arms, “I don’t even want to go to college. Not now. I don’t even wanna think about it... Actually, I don’t want to think about anything that isn’t just right now, you know? I just want to be present. And drink this super gross drink and, I don’t know, hang out with you. If that’s, y’know, cool?”

                   Duh, I mean I went to all the effort of getting in to your prom in the first place, it only seemed right to stay for the encore. Several, drinks I mean, not people I need help seducing, but the offer is tempting. Seduction is a lot of work and sometimes a gal just needs some help. But tell me, did you seduce anyone?

                  That’s so true, you gotta go big or go the hell home. Besides, the after party is way less hostile and even Faye Montgomery is a little bit drunk off her ass. I bet at this point even she doesn’t remember how many of our cheerleaders you’ve tried to take out. Let me know if you wanna make out with someone then or do another shot, I’m down for both. [ laughs ] I don’t know about seduce... I did maybe kiss the host for longer than is strictly expected during spin the bottle.

Thanks, Sparks. [ smiles a little ] You going soft in your old age?

You’re welcome, McReid. [ laughs a little ] Oh yeah, big time. Basically a melted marshmallow over here. Watch your hands, you will get sticky. Are you going to Steve’s after party?

‘I remember’. All it took was two words for the mood to come crashing down, the carefully practiced face he’d been putting up since this ill-planned circle had been formed and he’d been sat across from her finally starting to slip. But—as he stared at her, the flash of regret and confusion crossing his face for only as instant–he thought about how little he wanted to do this now, to cover this now. He swallowed back anything and everything he had to say, and simply leaned forward.

Their lips met for just a second too long, and for the briefest of moments he could swear she felt something too. But he wasn’t that stupid. He pulled away and cleared his throat, too uncomfortable to say anything, but too cool not to. Her words saved him, a necessary reprieve from eloquence. “A drink actually sounds amazing right now. I’m feeling all too sober tonight. After all, this is the end of everything, right?” He said, meaning high school, and being a kid, and that unexplainable but also inescapable feeling of unreceived closure that came with growing up. “We should probably celebrate our last official night as kids. What’d’ya want, a beer? Or are you feeling fancy? I could try mixing you a drink, but I can’t promise it’ll be any good. I learned everything I know from my brother, and youtube videos.”

★ 

There was suddenly so much Katie wanted to say to him. He pulled away, she broke the tension and she couldn’t help but think about all the things she wanted to say. Not just about them, about their summer fling and all the times she’d stayed up thinking about whether or not she should text him (she didn’t, they were keeping it casual). She wanted to tell him to run. Run away from Havensdale before it was too late (but Frederick had promised it would be better- humans and supernaturals living in peace). She wanted to tell him he wasn’t his brother and he didn’t have to be. Steven was kind, he was capable. He made her laugh. He could do anything he wanted. Katie wanted to say all this because she knew they were running out of time. Time, time, time. But there was still tomorrow, so she stayed quiet.

“God forbid you show a sliver of skin that isn’t, like, arm or leg. How scandalous. I’m sure you gave every boy a heart attack with the scandal of your belly ring, which is quite fabulous by the way. Yeah. Just things. It wasn’t that exciting or whatever. You can ask the big boys about it, I guess. I guess it was on brand?” She did have to admit that she enjoyed the compliments and the curiosity. “Only human-y tampering? Stuffing the ballot box? I’m so unimpressed. At least be somewhat subtle. Like, a child could tell you that! Of course I know Ruby McReid. Who doesn’t? Mmm. Fascinating, fascinating. I’ll be sure to file that all away. Ugh no. No, no prom for this girl, thank you very much.”

“Even then, you’re on thin ice. Ha, I hope so! Let them spend the night trying to recover elsewhere while we have a good time. You know my ex was there too. Havensdale is like-,” she smooshed her two palms together-, “Way too close, you know? They have former prom kings and queens come in to hand off the new crowns like this is the Miss America pageant or something. Right on. I’ll let my imagination wander for now on what magical shenanigans you’ve caused though.” Shenanigans was probably much too fluffy a word but Katie didn’t want to think too much on the messy stuff. Not tonight. Even if, well, she couldn’t help it. “Yeah, right? I mean... It’s just weird. All this prom stuff, it’s silly. I mean we know what’s happening here, in this town- what’s coming- and it’s, like, this is what everyone’s concerned with? Really?” Katie let out a breath, shaking her head. “Sorry, I’m totally bringing down the vibe again. Remind to quit drinking John’s dusty antique booze, please.”

The thing was….he didn’t really want it to land on Katie. Nothing personal–or maybe that was the problem, things were too personal–but she probably would have been his last choice. He would have taken Isaac Rhodes or Joey or shit, even Carrie McReid even though it obviously would mean being disemboweled by her sister before he wanted to kiss Katie. But….here they were. He shook off his doubts, gave her a wink, and leaned forward.

“You’re not going to fall in love with me if we do this, are you? Cause I’ll have you know that I am veeeery lovable in the right circumstances. You know, with the right lighting and everything to really highlight my cheekbones.”

“I remember.” Katie didn’t know why she’d said that. Of all the things... Maybe it was because tonight was supposed to be about some ‘end of of an era’ thing but she knew too much. People like Steven Beaumont didn’t know what was coming to Havensdale. She wasn’t doubting the plan, she wasn’t doubting her loyalties- she wasn’t- but things were never doing to be the same again. It made her heart stick in her throat. It made her think about summer and him. Nothing was complicated, nothing was scary or intense (right). She shook off her doubts, flashed a grin, and leaned forward. It wasn’t a peck, it wasn’t a kiss kiss (this was spin the bottle, after all) but she might have hesitated on pulling back. They’d been good at that. After too long a pause, Katie cleared her throat. “Um, drink? You wanna get a drink? With me.”

As soon as the hug was over, Sophia’s smile widened into a much more natural one. Just because she (actually) enjoyed spending time with the werewolf didn’t mean that she was automatically going to be a fan of hugs; it was going to take a lot more than that to turn Sophia. “Well, I’m glad that your family were massive bullies and peer pressured you in. Maybe if I hadn’t been so busy with things I would have hexed my way into it…” She leaned forward, curious to catch the drama. Not because she cared about the people involved but because it was good to know what was happening. “Vote tampering? Like human vote tampering or juju-y tampering? Because both are fun. Good for Ruby McReid. I’m sure everyone is thrilled by that. And who are Isaac Rhodes and Leila Lexington. I don’t know them.” She handed over the cup. “Cheers.”

“Me too. Oh, but! I did get like, four different stink eyes from chaperones for my highly offense mid-drift. You woulda thought my belly ring was flipping them off or something. That was cool. Things? Um, mysterious. Vaguely scary. I love it, it’s very you,” Katie grinned, meaning it well. She still found it wild trying to wrap her head around warlocks. They could literally do anything. Somehow turning into a big bad wolf every month paled in comparison to that but Katie had never been one to think she got the short end of the stick. “Um, human. He tried to stuff the ballot box or something. Sloppy work, really. It probably would have worked if it had been juju-y, right? Of course you know Ruby McReid. Isaac’s our class president, beloved by all and scandalously well dressed. He basically puts us all to shame like, every day. I’ll point him out when I see him. Aaaand--- Ah! There! Leila Lexington, see, in the pink dress? Pretty, head made for a tiara. She baked like, a billion cake pops for campaigning. Cheers!” She wolfed down a generous amount before adding--- “Mm. Did you have a prom? Before Havensdale, like, happened for you.”

              Holy shit. Be calm Cams. “Not that I’m not flattered and all, but didn’t we just have a conversation earlier about how we might as well be family and everything?”

              “Ugh, right. Shit... Scrap that? I mean, obviously Jake’s your family and Jake’s like, mine too but not in the same way. Not in a weird way. Not in the literal...sense. Oh god,” she laughed, covering her face and hoping no one in this circle was following her. “Hey either way, you don’t have to. I can spin again. Or you go. See where fate lands ya, Camilla Howell.”

“I mean it’s nothing against you,” Leila explain, feeling herself blush as all the players in the game turned to look at her. “I just…I’m not exactly an expert at the game.” A sudden idea struck her. “Could we, I don’t know? Do some sort of cheek kiss thing? Is that allowed?“

“Hey, I should be so lucky,” she said, making a point of looking over the other players. Katie leaned over with a friendly smile, planting a kiss on Leila’s cheek and most likely losing what was left of her lip gloss. “I was serious though, you can pass on whoever you want. Can I get the prom queen a drink while you entertain these lowly subjects?” Katie asked with an added curtsy just for good, silly (although she was serious) measure.

“Katie, darling.” She was not quite as excited as the werewolf, but she did smile and accept the hug, even if not lacing the words with sarcasm did feel more than a little foreign. “So, fill me in on the drama. Who was hot and who was not? Who won and who lost? Were there a lot of tears? And yes, he did. Sans magic even. Want some?”

Sophia hadn’t hexed her into the next dimension post-hug so she figured it had been an okay tipsy move on her part. Smooth sailing. But now for the good stuff... “It was epic! I mean, it had everything and I mean honestly, I wasn’t even that into the idea of a stupid prom. If my whole family hadn’t been in my face about it, I wouldn’t have gone but like, I’m so glad I did. It was entertainment at its finest. Are you not entertained, Havensdale! Logan Durante walked out, like, a hundred people got disqualified--- Well, a few. But for vote tampering! Who even knew that was a thing at prom? Greg Porter got his whole life dragged through the mud in front of everyone by Jess, got a drink spilled on him by this little blonde and then he lost five bucks to Jesse McArthur. Isaac Rhodes and Ruby McReid won in my year which, despite my Beaumont campaigning, is totally fair. Leila Lexington and Alex Andrews won for the juniors which was cute. Oh, there were tears. You can still hear Faye Montgomery screaming---,” she took a breath, finally. “I would love some, thank you.”

She didn’t even know who had dragged her into the game, but it seemed like the appropriate thing to play; half the cheer team was part of the circle, and that’s what people did at high school parties, so why not? And like, kissing was fun, right? Except… “Oh. Um, you can respin if you want to. I mean, you don’t need to kiss me.”

“My legacy in this legendary backyard will not be rejecting a bottle sanctioned smooch from the prom queen, Lexington. Nuh uh, not gonna happen. Not from these lips!” She declared it as dramatically as it deserved before shrugging. After all, it was actually just a game. “But like I said, you’re the queen. You do what you like- those are the real rules. Here, you can even take my respin if you wanna. Go wild. Godspeed and good luck, JPQ.”