DISCLAIMERS:
- All characters in this story are 18+ including those in high school or graduating.
- This chapter includes a WLW bisexual pairing. Speaking as a bi woman, exploring fantasies in safe spaces is hot. Harassing or sexualizing real life bisexual women or WLW couples is NOT hot.
CHAPTER 3. Truth or Dare
Zoe reconnects with an old friend.
The rest of the school year passed in a blur of final projects and other lasts. Zoe did surprisingly well on all her AP exams - at least well enough to qualify for the college credit.
Prom was about as exciting as she'd expected - an overpriced dinner in fancy garb with the people she'd normally hang out with in sweats at a Denny's. But Grant had been true to his word - he'd even asked her to prom by serenading her with a Backstreet Boys song and some guys from the school's a cappella group.
Graduation itself was less emotional than expected. Probably because Zoe's graduating class of over 600 kids made for a very long, very repetitive ceremony. By the end, everyone was restless, even most of the parents.
Besides, all the students knew that the best part comes
after
the graduation ceremony: Senior Night.
The big school lock-in is the last event of their high school experience. Seniors spend the whole year fundraising for it - it doesn't matter that nobody really knows what happens at Senior Night, it's just supposed to be fun.
"You should at least
try
to sneak me in."
Grant was sulking. He slid down the side of his car, FOMO sprawled clearly across his features. Grant was one of those kids who was held back in kindergarten. Even though he and Zoe were technically peers, she liked to tease him for his status as a Junior.
"You're gonna be like, ziplining through the cafeteria or something fucking crazy, and I'm gonna be watching Mamma Mia. With my mom. Again."
"You literally love Mamma Mia."
"So? I don't wanna watch it every week."
"Your watch history says otherwise," Zoe teased. When Grant just responded with an unamused glare she reached out to jerk his arm. "'Screw them if they can't take a
joke!'
"
"I know where you sleep."
Zoe just laughed and shrugged off her graduation robe. She folded it neatly before handing it to Grant.
As far as moms go, Zoe thought Mrs. McCall was pretty cool. She never made her feel weird about spending the night or eating their food and she'd been nice enough to let Zoe borrow Grant's sister's old cap and gown ($40 to rent her own? Seriously?).
Zoe tossed her hair, hoping some of the volume from her curls were still intact. When Grant started mimicking her she reached up to screw with his hair, but he dodged her hands, fists up like a boxer. They slapped at each other before Zoe finally conceded.
"Okay Rocky, we get it. Will you help me now?" Zoe whined. "This is the last time I'm seeing people, I need to be hot."
"Well, you should've told your mom that eighteen years ago."
Zoe punched his shoulder.
Grant laughed, but he reached out and adjusted the twisted strap on her dress, a flouncy white thing from Reformation. She swiped under her eyes for smudged mascara and then he helped her rotate the chain of her necklace to hide the clasp.
"Okay, my liege," Grant drawled. "Can we go now? Remember, you have to give me the insider intel. I wanna be prepared for next year."
-
Grant was going to be sorely disappointed. That's all Zoe could think as Senior Night dragged on.
The food was great - local businesses donated tons of it. And different classrooms had organized games of BINGO, mini auctions and other contests for gift cards and small prizes. Her friend Erika won a Starbucks gift card in a heated game of Kahoot.
But there was only so much Zoe could eat and her trivia threshold was maxed out. It was clear that most of their fundraising had gone toward the big ticket raffle prizes that Zoe wasn't very interested in - an Xbox, mini fridge, season tickets to some football game.
You couldn't even roam old hallways for a hit of nostalgia. They'd blocked off most of the school, limited to just the cafeteria, a few classrooms and the connecting hallways. Which is why when everybody begins filing into the auditorium for a hypnosis show - what's bound to be a bunch of the hockey guys making idiots of themselves for a laugh - Zoe ducks into the nearest girls bathroom.
Everything about it is familiar. The cheap linoleum tile, the ugly fluorescent lights, the leftover sticker glue that lines the mirrors above the sinks. But it also feels off. Absent are the girls crowding the mirror to fix their eyeliner and the too-strong citrusy scents of vape juice.
Zoe rips off some paper towel from the dispenser and soaks it in cold water. She presses it against her eyes to wake herself up before tossing it and checking her phone.
2:02 a.m. Great. Grant isn't picking her up until 8:00.
Suddenly, the bathroom door swings open.
"Ohmygod, Zoe?"
She looks up and her eyes widen.
"Fuck, you're tight."
"Shut up." Zoe laughed. Her friend and cheer teammate, Sarah, leaned over her for partner stretches - which Zoe was undoubtedly feeling in her hamstring.
"Such a prude," the blonde rolled her eyes, leaning into Zoe's leg even more. She inhaled sharply. "But seriously, if you want to keep your left splits you need to stretch more."
"Aw, but you're not around to do it for me."
"I'll stretch you out anytime," Sarah teases, making a 'V' with her fingers and bringing them to her mouth. She flicks her tongue between them lewdly. "Just say when and where, baby."
"You're disgusting."
Zoe stares at her old friend. Best friend, even. Sarah is blonder now than Zoe remembers, probably new highlights, but otherwise the same. She's also still wearing her graduation dress - a tight white bodycon which shows off long, lean legs and her ridiculous figure. Zoe eyes her cleavage enviously.
They haven't talked much since Zoe quit her extracurriculars sophomore year to pick up more shifts at work. What's the point in a well-rounded college app if she can't even afford the tuition?
Regardless, Zoe always thought Sarah kind of resented her for quitting. They'd quickly lost touch without all the cheer practices and carpools and game days.
While Zoe spent her weekends tolerating bad dad jokes and wiping down tables, Sarah had maintained her popularity until the very end. Probably on account of her being thin and pretty with shiny blonde hair, a well-off family and all the best clothes. And, bluntly put, an insane rack to fill them out.
"Hi," Zoe says, drying her hands off to have something to do.
"Decided to skip the stupid show, too?" Sarah asks with this can-you-believe-how-lame tilt of her head. She turns to the mirror, combing her fingers through her hair.
"Only 'cause the hypnotist told me to." Zoe deadpans. Her chest swells when Sarah laughs. She forgot that that's how it was with their friendship - Zoe was always trying to impress her. Whether it was getting a laugh or a better high kick.
"Hang out with me." Sarah says, turning to face Zoe. And that's how Sarah had always been - direct. She didn't ask, she told you, and assumed you'd say yes. To be fair, people usually did. Sarah's face lit up. "Ohmygod, let's play truth or dare."