CHAPTER TEN
·.¸¸.·♩♪♫ mr perfectly fine ♫♪♩·.¸¸.·

TWO WEEKS HAD PASSED since Reece's father showed up and to say Reece's homelife was hell was an understatement. She and Anne were hardly at home, they spent most of their time at Sinclair's household. On the odd times they were home it was filled with screaming and fighting, between Scarlet and Sean, Sean and Victor, and occasionally Scarlet and Victor. It was like how it used to be, and Reece didn't like it.

Reece and EJ hadn't exactly talked since that night. They were civil with each other around the halls. Waving hello, making small talk but other than that it had gone to the way it was before. She was so grateful EJ was there that night and she had told him profusely. Which he replied that he didn't mind and was glad she was okay to talk to him about it. Their relationship was getting better, or she hoped it was.

It was Homecoming day and Reece was ecstatic. Not only were dance's her favourite part of her High School experience but she'd finally be able to meet her sister's girlfriend, whom she'd apparently already met.

Reece and Josie were supposed to go together but Josie wasn't ready when Reece's date, Trent River, arrived at her house and so, with much protest, they left without her.

Reece and Trent waited in line with some of Trent's friends and their dates. There was James and Megan, Zach and Ally, Cole and Val, and a few others that she couldn't remember the names of. The guys were a part of the basketball team as well as the water polo team with EJ. Which made this even more awkward. Reece didn't know why she agreed to go with him it kind of just happened.

"Next." Mr. Mazzara said as the two walked up to him

"Two tickets for Trent Rivera," Trent said.

"Table 3, snap a picture on your way in."

Reece said a quick thank you before following Trent into the gym. "Do you want to take a picture?" she asked.

"Nah, let's just sit down."

"Yeah, yeah, pictures are lame anyway." she faked a laugh. She was clearly disappointed but she didn't tell him that. They walked over to table 3 which was not only filled with people Reece didn't know but it was on the other side of the gym where her friends were.

Ashlyn waved to her as Reece sat down. The redhead waved back, although it was noticeably a disappointed wave. Sure she could walk over to them but it seemed as though she was stuck at table 3. She didn't want to ditch Trent right after arriving at the dance and so she stayed.

♪♫ ♫♪

An hour or so had passed and Reece had not danced, or even gotten out of her seat, once. On the bright side, she saw Anne coming into the gym with someone who looked an awful lot like Josie. Reece narrowed her eyes, the person looked a little too much like Josie... "Holy shit!" she exclaimed. It was Josie. The redhead ran over to her sister and best friend as they finished taking their pictures.

"You're dating? You two? My sister and my best friend? Oh my god, my prayers have been answered." Reece couldn't stop smiling.

"I know!" Josie exclaimed. The two still holding hands.

"We wanted to tell you sooner but both agreed it'd be fun to torture you," Anne said as they laughed. It was true, Reece wouldn't stop asking for weeks.

"Well, it was definitely worth the wait." Reece was over the moon excited. "I have to get back to my table, but we will definitely talk about this at home."

"Where are you sitting?" Josie asked.

"Table 3." Reece pointed to the group of guys, some of their girlfriends nowhere to be seen.

"Fun." the brunette said sarcastically.

"Come sit with us then," Anne interjected pulling her arm towards table 10.

Reece declined, it was a nice offer but she'd still feel bad. They went their separate ways. Homecoming was not turning out as fun as she thought it would especially when she saw a girl in a glittery dress with a guy in a suit walk into the gym. Now, this may not seem like a big deal but it was because the girl in the glittery dress and the guy in the suit were none other than Gina Porter and, you guessed it, EJ Caswell. They looked good together.

—(••[ Reece Hastings ]••)—
junior
"I'm not jealous. I'm serious, we broke up months ago, I don't care. It's not like he's wearing the suit I told him to wear, and it's not like I'm wearing the dress he bought me." She chuckled nervously. "Okay maybe I am, but it's not like I planned on wearing it! I wasn't even supposed to come to homecoming. Leave me alone!" She walked out of the camera frame, only to walk back in. "Also this is a very nice dress and I would not let it go to waste." She walked right back out exclaiming, "Why does my life suck!"

Reece rested her face on her palm and sighed. She got up deciding enough was enough and she shouldn't sit around waiting for her date to talk to her. She made her way towards her friends at table 10. "Reece!" Ashlyn exclaimed. "You look amazing!"

She chuckled, "As do you."

"Haven't seen much of you." Ricky pointed out as she sat herself in between him and Big Red.

"Yup turns out Josie was right. Take notes everyone, never go to a dance with a jock. They will not dance with you and you will sit there miserable," She turned to EJ, "no offence."

Reece let out a sigh, as Ricky patted her back. "So, Carlos, where's Seb?"

Carlos let out a groan.

"He thinks Seb stood him up," Ashlyn explained.

"What? I'm sure that's not true. He was so excited! He could be stuck in traffic."

"Or maybe he was just in a farming accident." Ashlyn comforted him by rubbing his back.

"Not helping."

Gina chuckled lightly as she turned to EJ. "Could you get me some punch, babe?"

Babe?

"Sure, babe." He said hesitantly as if he didn't realize they were calling each other that now. He got out of his seat to do as he was asked.

Reece turned towards Big Red, "What was that?" She asked.

"Not sure, they've been acting weird all night." He replied.

Ricky was the only one who decided to speak up on the matter, he sat in EJ's seat. "Hey, not to intrude on date night, but you can do better than EJ. That guy's bad news."

"You're not one to give relationship advice. And when I want your opinion, I'll ask." Gina shot back.

Before things could get out of hand Reece stood up, "I think I'm gonna go. My dates probably getting lonely." She looked over to see him talking with the rest of his friends. Did he even realize she was gone? Reece gave them a tight smile and left.

A while after she left she noticed Gina and EJ fighting at the drinks table, which lead to the girl pouring punch all over him.

Reece was so wrapped up in her own world she didn't think about going to help him. Leaving Reece Hastings to sit alone once again. The rest of the group had either left the gym or were dancing, which is exactly what Trent was doing. He was dancing with a girl from earlier, Malia or something, Reece didn't care.

Just as she was about to leave someone sat next to her. It was Willow Sloan, a fellow junior. She was in a few of Reece's classes but they'd never really talked before. She wore a red mid length dress as her blonde hair was tied with a red ribbon. Her blue eyes sparked as the light shined on them. "Is it just me or does this night suck?" the blonde asked. "I mean I come here with this really hot guy, but only because my parents force me too cause they hate the idea of me liking women, and he doesn't ask me to dance or anything!"

Reece chucked, "Yeah I get that."

"Right! I mean why take me if you're not even going to look at me." She rolled her eyes.

"Exactly!" Reece exclaimed. "I didn't even get a picture."

"Wow, what is wrong with boys?" She asked rhetorically as she let out a sigh. "I'm Willow." She extended her arm.

Smiling the redhead did the same, "Reece."

"Well, Reece, just because our dates suck doesn't mean we can't have a little bit of fun." Willow got out of her seat. "First up, pictures."

Reece laughed as they headed towards the photo booth. The two girls took multiple pictures, a few with them both and a few alone (which Reece suggested).

For the first time Reece was actually enjoying herself and it was clear that Willow was too.

♪♫ ♫♪

Three hours into the night and the girls had completely ditched their dates. They felt as if they'd known each other for years, which had only happened with EJ before, and frankly, that scared Reece. She shouldn't be feeling this way, not this soon, it had only been a few months since the breakup. But whatever Reece was feeling she wasn't quite sure if she wanted the feeling to be gone or not.

Reece took a sip of punch while Willow was telling her a story about her little cousin. "I swear she never wanted to go back there ever again." She laughed.

"Don't need a king, I got my crown. Don't need a hero to lift me off the ground."

Reece gasped.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I build this heart it's beating loud. Won't let no bad blood ever bring us down."

"I love this song!"

"Well it's a good thing I know how to dance."

Willow extended her hand out, "Come on." Reece took her hand as they made their way towards the dance floor. Where they danced along side Carlos, who although Seb hadn't shown up yet, was doing his best to have a good time.

As the song went on more and more people joined in. She saw Ashlyn and Carlos dancing together, with Big Red eventually joining in, as well as Anne and Josie. She smiled.

"No more running, I run this show. Way up here, yeah, the view is gold Born to be brave Now I'm standing miles high like castles in the sky, like castles in the sky."

"That was fun." Reece said as the upbeat song transitioned into a slow song. As she was about to make her way to her seat Willow caught her hand.

"It's not a proper dance without one slow song." She said.

Reece smiled placing an arm on her shoulder and the other in the palm of her hand.

Although she wasn't looking she could feel someone staring at her and she was right. EJ watched as the two girls slow danced with each other. He could tell that she was happy but he couldn't help but feel the slightest tinge of jealousy along with guilt.

Why would he be jealous? It's not like Reece was his anymore he wasn't allowed to be jealous of who she was with because she wasn't his girlfriend. Besides, he didn't like her like that anymore...right?

♪♫ ♫♪

Reece sat in the passenger's seat of Willow's car blasting music. Josie and Anne had left early as the younger girl was getting tired. Which left Reece with no way back and Willow offered to take her home. The girls sang along to Love Story by Taylor Swift. Reece couldn't explain it but every time she looked at the girl beside her, her hands got all sweaty and she began to get tongue tied.

Unbeknownst to her, Willow was feeling the exact same way.

I've only known her for a few hours, Reece told herself but she couldn't help but feel whatever it was she was feeling.

When they got to Reece's house Willow walked her to her door, her excuse was that you can be someone's 'date' without saying a proper goodbye.

"Nice house." Willow said awkwardly.

"Thanks." Reece returned in the same manor. They stood their for a few seconds before Reece broke the silence. "I should probably get inside."

Willow nodded, but she seemed to be having an argument with herself.

As Reece was about to turn the doorknob, without taking any chances, Willow cupped the girl's cheeks and kissed her. To say Reece was shocked would be an understatement, before she had time to react the blonde pulled away.

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that. I thought maybe you-" she was cut off as Reece placed her lips on hers once again. Willow placed her hands on Reece's cheeks while Reece laid hers on Willow's neck.

The kiss felt different from anything else she had ever felt. She'd never kissed a girl before, as her only relationship was with EJ. It felt much different but maybe it was because Willow wasn't a guy. The feeling of the kiss wasn't a negative feelings, she felt sparks fly as they kissed but it didn't feel like EJ.

Who cares about EJ, this is Willow! she told herself. Reece pushed him to the back of her mind and returned her focus on Willow and the kiss.

They pulled away from each other, smiling. This was the perfect way to end the night because, as Willow would say, you can't end homecoming without a kiss.

INEZ SPEAKS

PLEASE READ
I'm alive everyone! Omg this took me a lot longer then I thought it would. I was supposed to be finished all of season one by Christmas/New Year clearly that didn't happen. Anyways! I've been trying to figure out a way to show representation in this book and this was the perfect opportunity.

Josie and Anne are the cutest thing ever and we'll definitely be getting more into it. 🥰

Reece and Willow.

That's it. AHHHHHHHH. I'm freaking out over my own books. Also I've been thinking and rereading the past few chapters and I've noticed Reece hasn't really talked to anyone besides EJ, Josie, Anne and now Willow. But I'll make sure that changes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🥳

Olivia Scott Welch. Willow Sloan
THE GIRL AT THE PARTY

she/her     lesbian     junior