"A dance, huh?" Tali chuckled, shifting her relaxed position on my bed.

"Yeah, but it's kind of different," I replied beside her, explaining further.

"I should've known. Got to admit that sounds awesome though. Virtual Reality. It'll take centuries for Ridgeton High to get there I'll tell you that," She grumbled. "And when the principal is not a descendant of the Glenny clan."

"Like that'll ever happen." I snickered at that last statement. "People are pairing up so fast it's scary," I added, telling her about the girl who thought it'll be a good idea to start fireworks in Electronics class to ask her date out to the dance.

   The only interesting thing was Mr.Walsh's man-child fit. And I thought I was the lonely one.

   That, however, was dethroned by the couple who asked each other out at the same time with smart watch corsages in the lunchroom just yesterday.

"Wow, this doesn't make me hate my life at all." She sighed.

   I rolled my eyes. "I kind of just want this dance to be gotten over with already."

"Hmm." Talise sat up. "So..."

"So... what?" My anxiety began to kick in at the inevitable question I didn't have to predict.

"Has anyone asked you?"

   I pursed my lips at her wiggling eyebrows.

"Are you kidding? When I tell you half the school hates me, I don't just mean the girls, you know. And the other half won't dare to risk their reputations by asking me out." I shrugged.

"Well, you could still hang out with those who don't hate you. You know, your friends," Tali said.

"Yeah, that's probably what I'll do."

   Her hopeful look was a bit unnerving though.

   But I had to admit a part of me was too. Hopeful, I mean. Call me a terrible friend but I was really counting on the fact that no one had asked Minji out yet. At least I won't look so pathetic.

   If  I decided to go that is.

"So you're definitely going then?"

"I wouldn't say definite—"

"Oh, come on Beth." I winced at the kick I received in the side by her one socked foot. "It's going to be at home! Not even you can screw this up!"

   I know Talise didn't mean much by it, but she might as well have just kicked me in the heart at that statement. I expressed my depression in the quietest and most comfortable way possible; by sinking deeper into my bed's covers.

"Thanks for that, Tali." I mumbled. "Really."

"You know what I mean." She replied, pulling on the comforter I had shielded my body with. I'm not going to allow you to restrict yourself from having a good time. You went to only two dances in Ridgeton. Two!"

"Even if I decide to go, I'll still be an outcast. Like Ridgeton. Everyone will be with dates but me. Like Ridgeton." I cast her a knowing glance. "Need I say more?"

"It'll be different this time." She nudged me with a small smile.

"Because it's virtual reality?" I muttered into the pillow I'd burrowed my head in.

"Because it's not Ridgeton."

"You mean a sticky, sweaty, alcohol-infused almost orgy?"

"Yeah! See? You're getting it now!" She poked my shoulder. "And you know you could just ask someone out first right?"

"Are you trying to freak me out?" I asked, raising my head from my bed without being controlled for the first time.

"Come on!" She smiled. I shrieked as she yanked the pillow beneath me. "What idiot would say no?"

***

"No," Aarav said.

"You sure?"

"Positive." He focused back on his lunch like the conversation hadn't just occurred.

"You know, you may never get this opportunity again."

"I think I will, though."

   Well damn.

   That had been the result of an exchange between Aarav and Viola, who had chosen one of those rare days to take some time off her gazillion club meetings and hang out with her best friend, Camila.

   Yep, there were two of them now.

"But I probably won't go for those either. Come on, Vi, you can't seriously tell that there's a point to school dances. As much as I admire Mr. Speck's technique, I'm still not sold. In case you haven't noticed, I don't need a dance to hook up." Rav bit into his pie. "We already have Liberation Week for that. Which is the day after the dance if any of you care to remember. I'm going to be spending my time preparing for a week that is actually worth looking forward to. If you're me, anyway."

   Feeling somewhat threatened by Aarav's smirk, I made a mental note to ask Minji what Liberation Week was again. I wasn't really sure whether it had been mentioned during orientation and I didn't want to have to recall.

   Especially when I had purposely blocked everything orientation-related from my thoughts after that whole Edna-charity case stunt.

"What about you, Dorian?" Camila asked. "You can't tell me you've been oblivious like Rav to the multiple looks you've been getting."

   I knew that by now, the 'bystanders' (cough, stalkers) that always happened to be around Rav had found out about his decision and hearts were breaking. Maybe Dorian could be their glimmer of hope.

"Maybe." He responded with a nonchalant shrug. "Or not."

"But the dance is tomorrow," Viola pressed.

"Well, I heard everyone still gets the virtual package though," Camila said. "So you can always change your mind."

   Why were they both so concerned about Dorian's decision, geez?

"What about you?" The mockery in Viola's tone was enough to know the question was directed to me.

   I was definitely asking for that jinx. Damn it. I hated how all eyes, including pairs from the neighbouring tables were staring at me, eager for an answer. Where was the usual indifference, the hate?

"Uh," I choked down my salad. Still an insulting pick by the food system, by the way. "I..."

"You should come," Viola gave me one of her brightest smiles. The kind she normally dropped right before—

"It's not like you have anyone—I mean anything else to do." She placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin on them, gauging my reaction.

—that happened. My sight remained downcast as Camila's snort, unified with other whispers from the worst eavesdroppers from other tables, filled my ears.

   Minji lowered her hand over mine and said under her breath, "You know you're always free to join Naru and me right?"

   I shook my head. I suppose I should have seen it coming. Minji was so amazing that it couldn't be a surprise that she had finally gotten someone to ask her. Clearly, she had been doing more than tutoring Naru for the past few days. As happy as I was for her, I didn't want to feel like a miserable third wheel.

   Plus I was more focused on seeing less red from Viola's words.

   I failed.

"Seriously, what is your problem? Is the thought of not being a bitch for just a single day that excruciating?" I ended my outburst by mimicking her elbows to table, chin to elbows action.

"Listen, Minji," I threw my bag over my shoulder and stood up from my chair without addressing the others. "I've got to go."

   And this time, it really was to the library. With a real junk-filled lunch in hand.

A/N: Go Beth 🥳

QOTD: What do you do when someone comes at you like Viola did to Beth? Ignore or fight back?

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Originally published  on 17th September, 2021.