Chapter 14 - I Could Have Danced All Night

Christopher and Lance made small talk on the drive over to the restaurant. Lance was hoping to pass the time by talking about video games, but it was clear Christopher was rather nervous.

When they got to the restaurant, Christopher insisted on getting the car door for Lance. As Christopher offered him a hand and helped him out of his seat, all Lance could think about was that he wished his date was someone else. Picturing Olivia or Zoey taking the place of Christopher actually brought a smile to his face.

As Christopher escorted Lance into the restaurant, Lance was playing over his potential date with the girls in his head. That daydream came to an abrupt end when he saw Tyler standing there with Olivia by his side.

Olivia looked uncomfortable and bored. Tyler looked like he was trying to make awkward conversation.

They both did a double take when they saw Lance.

Lance meanwhile was enamored with Olivia. “Olivia, um, you look really nice.”

“O. M. G. Simone,” she replied. “That dress. Your hair. You look awesome.”

Lance looked down and blushed at the compliment. “Thank you.” He still wasn't used to compliments like that. 

Olivia realized her gaze was lingering on Simone too long and she remembered she was there to make her jealous. “Tyler, you clean up nicely too.” She conspicuously wrapped her arm around his. “Oh wow, that’s a nice bicep.”

While Tyler beamed at the attention, Lance frowned.

The hostess came over and interrupted them to lead them to their table where they took their seats.  While the dates sat next to each other, Lance and Olivia were straight across from each other.

“Tyler, how’s football going?” asked Olivia. 

“Well, I've been practicing my footing and accuracy. I’m hoping to try out for the community college team.”

“Nice,” Olivia said, pretending to care.

“What are you going to study?” Lance asked.

“Football,” he replied matter-of-factly.

Lanced chuckled at the jock’s response. “Tyler, if you go to college, you need a major.”

Olivia shot daggers at Lance in an effort to encourage him to be nice.

“Oh, right,” Tyler corrected himself. “Undecided.”

“I’m going for Computer Science,” Christopher chimed in.

Tyler rolled his eyes and looked like he was about to make fun of Christopher but instead held it in.

“Well, Christopher is on the yearbook,” Lance explained, attempting to take the focus off Tyler.

“Oh,” Tyler chimed in anyway. “Do you have a sweet picture of me scoring the winning touchdown against East?”

“Um,” Christopher hesitated, “I think so.”

“Nice.” Tyler smiled while nodding his head. “Make sure that’s a full page.”

“I was there,” Olivia added, then smiled at her date. “Tyler over here was the hero of the day.” 

Lance felt like he had bile in his mouth. This wasn’t going well at all.

He and Olivia made eye contact. He had a strong suspicion she was doing this on purpose.

“Christopher,” Lance asked, attempting to play the same game as Olivia, “what was your favorite ride at the carnival?”

“That funhouse was awesome,” he replied.

“Yes,” Lance agreed, looking directly at Olivia, “that funhouse was awesome.”

“Oh, you should’ve let me know,” Christopher added. “We could've gone together.”

Without taking his eyes off Olivia, Lance replied, “I should’ve.”

The four of them shared an awkward silence.

Christopher, in an attempt to break up the tension, spoke up, “Are you guys looking forward to prom?”

“I know I am,” Tyler bragged, leaning into Olivia.

Olivia feigned a sad smile.

“Is there a theme?” Lance asked. “My previous school was big on elaborate productions.”

“I think it’s a casino theme, ” Christopher answered.

“Kings and Queens,” Olivia clarified. “I’m on the prom committee.”

“You’re on the prom committee too?” Lance questioned. He started running through what he knew about Zoey and Olivia in his mind. Clearly they’d had more interaction than either had let on.

“Yeah,” she responded. “I chair the decorations committee.”

There was a long pause during which Lance and Olivia were looking at each other. He could see a sad longing in her eyes. Lance realized he needed to come clean to her and stop this game. He got an idea. He’d seen women all get up to go to the bathroom together in movies. He wondered if that worked.

“Oliva,” he said, standing up. “I’m going to the ladies room.”

Olivia nodded, picked up her purse. The guys let them out of the booth and she followed Lance to the women’s restroom.

Tyler gestured towards the departed women and asked Christopher, “Why do women always go to the bathroom in packs?”

Christopher shrugged.

Tyler decided to answer his own question, “Probably so they can talk about us.”

When the pair got to the restroom, Lance stood there and watched as Olivia went to the mirror, took lipgloss out of her purse and started to touch up her lips.

Lance decided to follow her lead and did the same. Thankfully he put the lipstick Mack gave him earlier in his purse.

When he was done, he looked at Olivia through the mirror. “I’m so sorry,” he apologized. “I’m not actually dating Christopher.”

“Then what are we doing here?”

“At the carnival while you were getting cotton candy, Tyler came over and was hitting on me. I had to think fast, and I had Christopher - whom I just met a few days earlier - pretend to be my boyfriend. It backfired.”

“I figured as much.”

“You did?”

“I wanted to see how far you were going to take this charade.”

“So you have no interest in Tyler?”

“Zero. His ass is getting left behind as soon as we get to the party.”

Lance shook his head realizing Mack was right and he should’ve just told the truth from the start. “You didn’t look like you were enjoying his company.”

“And you have zero interest in Christopher?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

“I just want to play video games with him, not go on a date with him.”

“Does he know that?”

“Umm.. no.” Lance lowered his eyes in shame.

“Ugh, Simone!”

“I know, I know. My friends said the same thing. The truth is, I'm only here to see you.”

“Why didn’t you tell me all this at the carnival?”

“I wanted to, but something came up with… my brother. Why didn’t you talk to me all week?”

“Simone, you hurt me. I put myself out there for you.”

“I’m so sorry, Olivia. I’m bad at social situations. I… I’ve never had a girlfriend.”

“What about Zoey?”

“Zoey? She’s… just a friend. I think. I mean, there might be more. But she’s so… and I’m so… I’m afraid to get hurt.”

“Simone, if you like Zoey, tell her. And don’t wait.”

Lance scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. Wait. He thought he was on the verge of dating Olivia, not Zoey. “But, what about… us?”

Olivia turned to face Lance and held his hands. “Simone, I like you. You’re cute. You’re funny. And yes, I’m totally into you. Yet, you have this bad habit of putting up walls and not being truthful. This week is an example. You seem to be a good friend. However, I need my romantic partners to be open and honest with me. I’m afraid of getting hurt, too.”

Lance wanted to respond with, “I won’t hurt you,” but instead he bit his lip. Olivia sounded sure of herself and he didn’t want to push.

“Let’s get back to our dates.” Olivia said, her mood much more cheerful than when they entered the restroom. “Maybe find a way to let them down nicely, OK? You should talk to Zoey when you see her.”

Lance nodded as the pair left the ladies room. All things considered, their conversation had gone better than he expected. He just wished he knew what he was going to do next.

* * *

Lance’s dad sat down in the living room and exhaled. What was he going to do with his son? When he came back from the store, he quickly remade dinner using jars of premade tomato sauce. He asked Lance to come out of his room, but Lance declined. Instead, after dinner was put away, Lance, wearing a hoodie, quickly got leftovers out of the fridge and returned to his room without saying anything or showing his face. He assumed his son was hiding tears. 

“Lance, I’m sorry for overreacting,” Dad said through the closed door. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” a muffled voice said. “I just want to be alone.”

He swirled his glass of wine then placed it on the coffee table. This is not how he expected this evening to go when he planned earlier this afternoon. He eyed the boxes in the corner of the living room stacked against the wall. He had been too busy working to worry about them. Now was as good of a time as any, he figured.

He started unpacking some boxes. One box was labeled “Home Movies.” He opened it and found it full of neatly stacked VHS tapes all with hand-written labels. He picked out one and slid it in the VCR.

After finding the VCR’s remote control, he finally hit play and sat back down on the couch.

* * *

Mack was in the middle of sketching Lance’s Prom attire when she heard laughter coming from the living room. Not adult laughter. Kid laughter.

She covered her head with the hood again and poked her head out of the room. The coast was clear and she tiptoed into the hallway. She could see the back of Mr. Bigg’s head watching TV. It appeared to be old family videos. She crept closer to get a better look.

On screen were two seven-year-olds. They looked nearly identical except one had short hair and one had long hair. 

The short-haired kid came out from a balcony made of pillows. “When will my prince get here?”

“I am here, fair princess!” announced the long-haired kid.

From behind the camera a booming voice said, “Simone, did you make your brother play the princess again?”

“No, daddy,” little Lance responded, “I wanted to play the princess this time! Simone always gets to play the princess!”

“Lance, let your sister play princess,” Dad corrected his son. “We talked about this. Boys don’t play princess. They play as knights and kings. They do the rescuing.”

“Yes, Dad,” little Lance said with disappointment.

* * *

Christopher and Lance arrived at the party and pulled up to the driveway. There were parked cars and students everywhere. “We’re here,” he said as he put the car into park.

Lance grabbed the door handle then turned around, half expecting Christopher to get the door for him. Christopher was still holding the steering wheel, casually staring off into the distance. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I don't think so,” Christopher replied. “This isn’t really my scene.”

“Oh,” Lance said. He suddenly felt really guilty about roping him into this.

Christopher turned to look at Lance. “What was tonight about?” he asked.

Lance shrunk down into his seat in embarrassment. Like he’d just been caught. Through the window he could see Olivia and Tyler walking towards the party.

“You seemed more interested in Olivia than me,” he continued.

“Yeah,” Lance admitted. “I’m sorry about that. That's because um... I’m…” He nervously bit his lip. “I’m a… lesbian.”

“A lesbian? Ouch, that’s harsh.” He sounded skeptical.

“It’s the truth. That whole Rory thing was fake too. I’ve always been into girls. At the carnival I was… kinda with Olivia.”

He nodded. “I guess I did kinda notice you and Olivia making a lot of eye contact with each other at dinner.”

“I mean - you’re cool. And very nice. It’s just that - I, I don’t see you that way.”

“Then why… this date?”

“Because Tyler was hitting on me. He wasn’t taking no for an answer. You were a friendly face I could trust.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”

Lance sighed. “I’ve been having a real problem with that lately. Listen, Christopher, I’m really sorry about lying to you. I do want to stay friends, though.”

“I want to stay friends too. Just don’t lead me on again. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“Now go and have fun.”

“Thanks.” Lance got out of Christpher’s car and walked along the driveway towards Peggy’s house. 

He was a little nervous, but every click of his heels on the pavement sent a pulse of excitement through him.

Peggy was waiting at the door. “Oh My God!” she exclaimed. “Simone? Is that really you?”

“Yeah,” Lance nervously smiled, “It’s really me.” Lance did a quick twirl to show Peggy the full view. 

“Damn, girl! Look at that dress! Oh, and that hair!” 

Lance blushed. He felt comfortable around Peggy. He knew that Peggy knew he was a guy. But Peggy never once treated him like a boy. When he was around her, he felt like one of the girls, and it was the weirdest, most satisfying sensation.

“Well, welcome to my party! Just don’t tell my parents. They’d kill me.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” Lance promised. “Who are all of these people?”

“I think they go to our school. I’m… not entirely sure. I should really find out who leaked the rumor about my party.”

* * *

Zoey was leaning against a wall watching Peggy and Lance talk. She couldn’t take her eyes off Lance's transformation. She felt something flutter inside of her. Maybe Mack was right. Maybe she was falling for Simone. 

“Hi, Zoey,” a girl said, walking by.

Zoey smiled and waved to her.

Just then, something shattered in another room, and Peggy left to investigate. It was a good time for Zoey to check how Lance’s dinner date went. But before she could go to Lance, Deanna came to her side.

“Wow,” Deanna said in a snarky tone.

“What?” Zoey replied, looking puzzled.

“You’re totally checking out your pet project.”

Zoey gave an annoyed frown.

“So what’s the deal? You didn’t come together.”

“She had a date.”

“He had a date? Come on Zo, let’s get real. You’re with him 24/7 and you’re just going to let him go on a date with another girl?”

“It was with a guy.”

“Oh, wow, that’s even better! Queen Zoey lost out to a guy. You were supposed to turn him into prom queen, not gay.”

“He’s not gay.”

“Ouch, I hit a nerve. I know you’re falling for him. I’m not blind. Zoey Sellers - most popular girl in school - fell for the homeless boy on the park bench.”

Zoey exhaled and tried not to let Deanna bait her. “I hate to break it to you Dee. But it’s just a bet.” 

“Tell me again you’re not interested in him.”

“Drop it, Dee. I’m not interested in Lance. When this whole thing is over… I probably won’t ever see him again.” She then walked away hoping Dee didn’t follow her.

Zoey walked to where she saw Lance standing a minute ago. He wasn’t there. Zoey kept searching the party and ran into Olivia and Tyler walking by. Zoey hid behind a curio cabinet to avoid being seen.

Olivia was clearly annoyed. “Stop following me, Tyler,” she insisted.

“We’re here together,” he reminded her. “You’re my date. Do you want me to get you a drink?”

“No, Tyler. Listen, our date is over. I had a nice dinner with you, but I saw some of my friends back there and I want to hang out with them for a bit.

She headed off towards another room at the party, leaving Tyler standing there alone.

“Tough break, Tyler,” Zoey emphasized, coming out from hiding.

“Oh, Zoey,” he said, acknowledging her. “Don’t worry, she’ll come around. I just need to work at it.” 

“Yeah, OK,” she mocked.

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”

“Being a stalker doesn’t suit you.”

“Suck it, Zoey.”

“Been there. Done that,” she sneered. “Six seconds of my life I won’t get back.”

Tyler didn’t have a comeback and instead pushed by her and further into the crowd.

* * *

Lance was standing by himself near the keg. He was hoping to find Olivia or Zoey, but he hadn’t run across them yet.

“Hey cutie,” a voice said behind him.

Lance turned to see Deanna. He looked around to make sure she was actually talking to him.

“You clean up pretty good,” she added. “Compliments to Mackenzie.”

“I’ll let her know,” Lance responded coolly, crossing his bare arms defensively.

“Have you ever been to a high school party?”

“No.”

“Here, let me get you a drink.” She cut in front of the line for the keg. “Excuse me.” She then poured a cup and returned to Lance and handed it to him.

Lance took the plastic cup and cautiously looked at it.

“Let me guess,” Deanna said. “Never had a beer either?”

He shook his head.

Deanna grabbed a cup from a girl walking by, who yelled, “Hey”, but Deanna ignored her. She looked at Lance and held the cup up. “Welcome to high school, Simone. Cheers.”

They tapped cups and they both took a sip.

Lance swallowed it. It was bitter and his face had a weird expression.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it,” Deanna encouraged. “Hey, Simone.”

“Yeah?”

“Did Zoey ever apologize for putting you in this situation?”

“Um, no.”

“That Zoey. What a bitch. You totally deserve better. But, you are crushing it. Cheers.”

They tapped cups again and they both took another drink.

“You are looking so cute in that dress,” she praised.

Lance couldn’t help but blush at the compliment. Maybe he had Deanna pegged wrong?

“Here’s to your totally cute makeover,” Dee added. “Cheers.”

Lance took another sip. He noticed his lipstick marks on the cup and felt a little rush of excitement.

* * *

Zoey was grabbing a soda from the kitchen when she heard someone behind her.

“Hi Zoey,” a girl she only vaguely recognized cheerfully greeted her. “So about the car wash...”

“Oh, hi. Clarissa, right? Peggy told me it was a huge success. You made hundreds of dollars for the drama club.”

“We did,” she agreed. “But I was talking about the favor you promised.”

“I figured. Thank you so much. I don't know how you did it, but we were long gone before Simone’s dad came home. Mission accomplished.”

“We gave Simone’s dad a performance he’ll never forget.” She laughed.

Zoey saw Lance in the next room. Their eyes locked.

“Um, Clarissa, can we talk about this at school Monday? I need to go to talk to Simone.”

“Sure,” Clarissa said as she walked away.

Zoey watched Lance coming towards her. He was smiling and walking erratically in his heels. She thought he had mastered walking in them. She then noticed a red plastic cup in his hand.

“Have you been drinking?” Zoey asked.

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “Dee got me a drrrink. She was telling me… telling me how great… how awesome I’m doing.”

“Simone, you’re slurring your speech. How much have you had?”

“Well, I had a beer,” he recounted. “Then something called vodka. Did you know vodka is made with potatoes? See Dad, I’m eating my veggies.”

Just then a pop song came over the stereo.

“I love this sonnnnng,” Lance slurred. “I’ve never danced.”

“You’ve never danced?”

“I mean I’ve never danced around people. I dance when I’m alone.”

“OK,” Zoey took Lance’s hand and pulled him to where other party-goers were dancing.

* * *

Tyler was playing cards with a few of his friends, when Deanna slid a chair up beside him and handed him a mixed drink.

“Sorry to hear about your date,” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said. He took the drink she was offering and sipped it. “Thank you.”

“Forget the cheerleader. You should totally go out with the new girl.”

“Simone? She is kinda cool. I was out with her earlier. She has a date though.”

“Well, he’s gone and she thinks you’re kinda cute.”

“Really? I thought she was kinda flirting with me,” he said excitedly. “There’s still time to salvage tonight?” 

“Really. In fact.” Deanna came close to his ear. “She said you were cuter than Rory. You could be a great boyfriend, Tyler.”

“A great boyfriend? Tell me more.”

“Don’t be afraid of greatness, Tyler. Go to her. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em. That could be you. Go to her.”

Tyler stood up with intention. “Sorry guys,” Tyler bragged to his friends. “I have a girl to see.”

The table of friends cheered him on as he strutted away.

* * *

Lance and Zoey were dancing in a very crowded living room turned dance floor. Lance was copying Zoey’s dance moves. 

“Hi, Simone!” one girl who was dancing near them called out. “I love your dress!”

“Hi,” Lance meekly replied. “Thank you.” He turned to Zoey. “They know my name.” 

“It’s because you’re with me. People are curious about you.”

“I’m usually invisible.”

“You’re not anymore. You’ve been turning heads all night. And even before tonight,” she added. “I’ve had people at school ask about you.”

Lance nodded. But he was too buzzed to really let that sink in. 

“You know what, you’re a pretty good dancer,” Zoey spoke out over the music.

“You know what,” he repeated Zoey’s words, “I think I’m drunk.”

“You are,” she giggled.

“And these heels are killing me.”

“Girl, you have no idea. Take them off.”

Lance leaned down and kicked off the heels. “This is so much fun. I could dance with you all night.”

“I’m sure we’d both get tired.”

“You’re right. I’m kinda tired now. My eyes are kinda heavy,” he mumbled. He felt safe and comfortable with Zoey and let his eyes close as he swayed to the music. “I feel safe with you Zoey.”

“Me too.”

“I have a secret.”

“Oh?”

“I like someone. I have a crush. And I don’t know what to do.”

Zoey giggled. “Easy there, tiger. You shouldn’t jump into anything while drunk.”

“What should I do?”

Zoey bit her lip. Lance was dancing there, eyes closed and looking so cute. “You should kiss them. Your crush, that is.”

“Aye, aye captain” he said, saluting.

Zoey’s heart was beating. Was Lance talking about her or Olivia? She was getting nervous. Could she really date Lance… or rather Simone? Should she pull Simone in for a kiss? Would this change everything? She knew she wanted to. But she hesitated and stood at a distance for a few moments, not understanding why she was hesitating. 

As she was lost in thought another dancer bumped her out of the way and off the dance floor. “Hey!”

Lance did a spin and then felt hands around his waist. “This is so fun,” he mumbled.

His dance partner got closer and started grinding into Lance. Lance smiled and moved his hips with the beat.

Zoey got pushed into a river of people trying to get outside.“Simone!” she called, but her voice was drowned out by the music and the dancing crowd around her.

Lance spun around in his partner's grip and wrapped his arms around their neck. “Thank you for this,” he said. “I needed this. Since I’m drunk, I should really let you make the first move-”

Lance felt lips meet his own and he felt his body go flush as he let his kisser in. They were moving, his partner was leading them around the dance floor. Lance never realized how strong Zoey was.

Finally Lance felt his back hit a wall. His kisser had him pinned and was forcing himself on him. “Shouldn't… we do… this… in… private?” Lance mumbled through the french kisses. He was so excited.  He was doing it.  He was finally making out with a girl. Lance could feel his member swelling up under his tuck.

Zoey swerved in and out of the dance floor until she found a couple making out in the corner of the living room. It was Lance and Tyler. She froze as the emotions flooded her. Her ex-boyfriend. Her kinda girlfriend. Making out together. That should’ve been her. She got bumped away again before she could go break them up. She began to aggressively fight her way through the crowd back towards Lance. Things had gotten way out of hand and she was going to put a stop to this.

Lance enjoyed it as Tyler started sucking on his neck. 

“I can't believe we’re doing this,” Lance whispered.

“I know right,” Tyler replied.

Lance’s eyes snapped open to see Tyler on top of him kissing his neck. “No. No, stop. What the hell? What happened to Zoey?”

“Am I too rough, baby?”

“This is wrong.”

“No, this is right.” Tyler insisted, squeezing Lance. Lance could feel Tyler’s member dig into his thigh.

“Let me go.” Lance finally managed to wedge his arm between them and pushed Tyler away. “Stop!” he finally managed to say. “No means no, asshole!” Lance yelled.

People around them stopped dancing at the commotion. Lance looked around at the people staring at him.

“What’s wrong?” an annoyed Tyler asked. “We were having a good time.”

“You were… forcing yourself on me.” Lance slurred, frantically looking around for Zoey. She was nowhere in sight.

“Stop making a scene. Come on, babe, let's take this outside. I’ll warm you up.” Tyler attempted to grab Lance’s hand but Lance swatted it away.

“Don't touch me.”

“Oh, is that how it’s going to be? Go ahead. Be a cold bitch. See how many friends you’re going to have when people start realizing what a prude you are. I’ll bet it’s lonely on top of your pedestal.” He slammed the wall behind Lance and walked away.

Lance flinched and crossed his arms and looked around at the faces in the crowd staring at him. He could feel tears welling up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Deanna who was moving closer to him laughing. “Stupid bitch got drunk.”

“Stop it, Dee - now!“ Zoey demanded, finally pushing through the crowd.

“What?” Dee responded to Zoey. “This cunt’s been at the school for two weeks and suddenly she thinks she’s hot shit.” She looked at Lance. “Doncha? I see through that costume of yours. You’re just a scared little girl.”

Lance shook his head, trying to hide the tears. Too many people were staring at him. He couldn’t take it anymore and ran through the crowd of onlookers to another part of the house.

Deanna chuckled and looked at Zoey and whispered in her ear. “I guess he is gay. Game on, Zo. You’re lucky I didn’t out him in front of everybody.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Zoey shouted at her over the music and ran after him down the hall until she found him in the bedroom of Peggy’s parents, sitting on the bed crying. She sat next to him and attempted to put her hand on his shoulder. He flinched it away. “Lance,” she said gently.

“It’s the same thing all over again. I try to open up. I try to make friends. It all ends in disaster. ‘With you. With Olivia. With Dee.”

“Lance, it’s OK.” She tried to calm him down.

“No, it's not OK,” he said, fighting through the tears. “This was all a big mistake. I shouldn’t have come. We were fools to think we could pull this off.”

“Lance. You were pulling it off. You were having fun.”

“Maybe you were having fun. Laughing at me. Dressing me up like a girl and parading me around like a toy. Making me believe I finally had friends. Did you enjoy watching me make out with your ex-boyfriend? Was this all a game for you?”

“No, it wasn't. This is real for me. I’m sorry I wasn't there for you when Tyler showed up. I’m sorry about Dee. I didn’t realize she was doing that to you. You do have friends, Lance. Me. Mack. I guess Olivia and Christopher.” Zoey took a deep breath and looked at Lance who looked drowsy. “I should’ve known that Dee would pull something like this when we were doing so-”

“I wanna go home. I’m drunk. I’m humiliated. I’m tired. I’m not sure I want to keep doing this.”

Zoey didn’t want to argue with him in his upset and inebriated state. “OK, I’ll get our things.” As she stood up, Lance laid back on the bed. She looked around to ensure no one would bother him. 

She quickly returned to the party that resumed as if that scene hadn’t happened. She found Lance’s heels and both of their purses and returned to the bedroom.

She sat down on the bed and shook Lance’s shoulder. “Lance, are you ready to go?”

Lance didn’t say anything as light snoring was now coming out of his mouth.

“Wonderful,” Zoey said to herself.

“I saw what happened,” a girl’s voice said from the doorway.

Zoey looked up to see Olivia standing there.

“What do you want?” Zoey asked defensively.

“I wanted to check up on her.”

Zoey looked down at Lance. “She’s humiliated.”

“I heard what happened. Why weren’t you there for her? A good girlfriend would’ve been there for her.”

“I’m not her girlfriend.”

“So you two didn’t discuss your feelings for each other yet?”

Zoey turned away from Olivia. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s obvious Zo,” Olivia continued, sitting down on the bed with her. “You two are totally into each other. Anyone can see it. Even you.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Yeah, where have I heard that one before?”

Zoey turned to face Olivia. “Olivia, this is nothing like that. I swear.”

“It isn’t? ‘Cause from my point of view it sure looks like it.” 

“I-” Zoey started, unable to find the right words.

Olivia brushed a lock of Zoey’s hair from her face. “You’re flustered again. Just like that night.”

“I’m trying to forget about that night.” As Zoey said that her eyes looked down at Olivia's lips. Her memory recalled how they tasted when they kissed at homecoming. “I was confused.”

“I could tell. I was confused too.” Olivia smiled and scooted closer to Zoey. “Here I was thinking I was a straight girl. Being with you that night opened my eyes to the feelings I had been repressing for so long. You must’ve had that same feeling.”

Zoey scooted away from Olivia.

Olivia’s smile disappeared. “Clearly that’s why you like Simone over me. She’s safe. You're still in denial. She has a dick so you don’t have to face the truth about yourself.”

Zoey wanted to respond to the accusations of her sexuality, but realized Olivia knew the truth about Simone. She spun around to face Olivia. “You know?”

“I had my suspicions. She didn’t quite pass that first day.”

“So you were toying with her too?”

“Absolutely not. I love Simone. She’s awesome. If you weren’t in the picture, I would’ve told her how I feel. She wouldn’t be at this stupid party tonight. I’m more worried about what you’re doing to her.”

“I’m not doing anything to her.”

“Then tell her how you feel.”

“I was about to. I think. Then we got separated while dancing.”

Olivia placed a hand on Zoey’s leg. “Zo, don’t hurt her, like you hurt me.”

Zoey closed her eyes and grimaced. “It was just that one night. I didn’t mean to hurt you or lead you on. It was an accident-”

“You accidentally made out with me during the homecoming dance? We were both into it.”

“Tyler was with his bros and wasn’t giving me any attention. And you did. I never flirted with a girl before. We were having fun and I got carried away.”

“Until that night, I hadn’t either. I was so excited to see you the next day of school and you pretended I didn’t exist.”

“I was feeling guilty. I cheated on Tyler with you.”

“Are you sure that’s the reason?”

Zoey didn’t answer.

“You should’ve dumped him a long time ago.”

“And what? Dated you?”

“If you wanted. I was available. I was willing to come out of the closet for you.”

“Doesn’t matter much now, Tyler dumped me anyway. For you! Imagine how I felt when he said he dumped me for you. For a lesbian!”

“I wanted nothing to do with that dick. And you say that like it’s a bad thing. My crush is about to date a lesbian.”

Zoey looked at her, then looked at the sleeping Lance. She curiously turned back to Olivia. “Wait, which one of us is your crush?”

“Ha!” Olivia giggled. “So you admit you’re into girls too.”

“No- I’m not… I mean… I’m into…” Zoey turned to face the sleeping Lance. “Simone.”

“She is a cutie.”

Zoey faced Olivia and nodded with slight acceptance. “She is.”

Olivia stood up. “Well, Let me help you get her to your car. It’s the least I can do.”

“Thank you,” Zoey said as they both lifted Lance out of the bed and draped his arms over their shoulders.

“Wass going on?” Lance mumbled.

“Shhh,” Zoey explained. “Me and Olivia got you. We’re taking you to my car.”

* * *

Mack was lying on Lance’s bed in boredom waiting for him to come home. Suddenly behind the room’s locked door, she could hear a phone ring. A few seconds later, a knock on the bedroom door.

“Lance, the phone is for you,” Dad said.

Who could this be, Mack wondered. Maybe it was Zoey with an update. She rolled over and grabbed the portable phone, pressed the “Talk” button and cleared her voice. “Hello?”

“Hey,” a feminine voice said. It wasn’t Zoey.

“Hi,” Mack cautiously replied, trying to speak in one word answers so as to not out herself.

“How was your week? Make any new friends yet?”

Mack didn’t know how to answer. “Yeah, I think so.”

“That’s great, Lance. I’m so proud. Dad told me you have a girlfriend now. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Mack then realized who she was talking to. “Simone.”

“Yeah?”

“Sorry - I just - I don’t think we’re official yet. You know how Dad can be.”

“Are you coming down with a cold? Your voice is kinda hoarse.”

“Yeah, I haven’t been able to shake it.”

“So, what did you think of my prom dress? You didn’t say anything about it.”

“I loved it. It’s so you.”

“Now I just need to find someone to go to prom with.”

“You’ll find someone.” Mack was getting antsy. She worried the longer she talked to Simone, the more likely she'd get caught.

“Too bad we won’t be at the same prom.”

Mack chuckled, “Yeah, that would be crazy.” 

“Especially since you almost have a date.”

“I’m pretty confident Zoey will be my date.”

There was silence for a few seconds before Simone responded, “What happened to Olivia?”

“Shit!” Mack cursed under her breath.

“I heard you had a falling out with her. When Dad said you had a girlfriend I assumed…”

Mack was freaking out. She didn’t know how to get out of this one. She forgot to modulate her voice and said, “I meant Olivia. Zoey is a nickname.”

There was more silence and Mack knew she had screwed up.

“Who is this? Where’s my brother?”