Chapter 1
Okay, yeah. This was getting a bit tiresome.
Amelia had turned down two guys in one day (seriously—two? in One day?) and one of them turned out to be very demanding, absolutely not taking no for an answer. Spouting things like he wouldnt leave her alone—atleast, not till Amelia had a date for prom (which she does not have.) Amelia was thinking of just ditching it. She wanted to spend her time gaming on a prom night, anyway.
“...um, okay. Is that all, dude?”
The boy in front of her gave her a firm nod. Geez. So persistent. Amelia just smiled at the boy, desperately trying not to lose her cool as irritation spread throughout her whole being, causing her to want to yell like a pot full of boiling water in order to let out some of the pent up steam. However, Amelia didn't, even if she really really just wanted nothing more than to shoo him away with a scream—it wouldn't do any good to her reputation. Ugh.
In all honesty, Amelia didn't even care much for prom in the first place. Sure it was fun or whatever but it was too formal for her liking... she prefers house parties anyway. However, she had to, since she was a part of the cheerleading team and all. The girls were currently on a manhunt to chase some of the 'handsome popular guys' in their school—mostly people from sport clubs, though. Apparently, jocks were fitting partners to pair with for prom if you want to win the title of prom queen and king. Amelia never understood it, most of the jocks were nothing but boastful idiots who think they're superior just because they have greater physical strength. (Speaking of which, she has cheerleading practice later. You better not forget like last time, Amelia!)
Amelia didn't dislike the cheerleading club—well, at first she did—but things like that can change over time. Alright, yes, Amelia was a bit of a nerd and naturally wanted to be one of the "cool kids", which lead to her to the decision of joining the cheerleading club. (In Amelia's mind, it was a one way ticket to becoming a cool kid, okay. Mayhaps she was a biiiit desperate.)
Obviously, it wasn't a pleasant experience at first, for someone who has gotten so used to sitting down and playing games or watching science videos all day. (But she gradually started to like cheerleading and all it had to offer. Hah, take that, peoplewhothoughtshe'dneverbecomeacheerleader!)
Unbeknownst to them, Amelia had a talent for art as well, occasionally scribbling some random objects she sees in class on the corners of her notebook. (Yes, please applaud her for she is a lot more talented than you think.) Amelia even had a small sketchbook that she hid in her bag and everything!
As soon as the boy had dismissed himself and was out of her sight, Amelia let out a sigh, leaning back on the wall behind her. She brought a hand up to tangle them onto her strawberry blonde fringes, messing up her hair. Amelia could really just disregard what the boy had proposed and just go about her day like nothing had ever happened, however, some of the girls from the cheerleading team are securing their dates for prom at a rapid pace. At this rate, she would be the only one who hasn't found a date for prom.
And it was bad. Amelia had a reputation to uphold as a member of the cheerleading team—she should have a date by now. She groaned, frustration bubbling up inside as the pressure had sunk into her mind. This sucks.
“A little stressed there, Amelia?”
The latter lifted her head, eyes darting towards the direction of the voice. There on the window beside her, just about one foot away from where she stood, was Alice Kirkland; a green eyed bespectacled woman with her long honey blonde hair neatly tied up in twintails, two pairs of hairpins on her hair as some of her fringes were swept to the side. Upon seeing her, Amelia's facade broke and she pouted, moving towards Alice with a whine, “Allie~ You'll never guess what just happeneddd.”
Amelia set her arms on the windowsill and doubled over it, letting out an exaggerated sigh as she sulked. She heard a chuckle from Alice and suddenly felt fingers hover over her hair, softly carding through the blonde strands, making Amelia momentarily relax and forget about her woes. “I reckon that I can guess, Amelia.”
She could, yeah. But she didn't let her guess. Too impatient.
“I got asked out again today.”
“Ah,” Alice continued. “Again? That makes a total of 10 gentlemen this week—” Alice patted her hair two times. “—Amelia, you're so popular with the blokes!”
Unbelievable. With an incredolous huff, Amelia lifted her head up to look at Alice, brows furrowed and a pout still plastered onto her face. (It's not leaving any time soon.)
“S'not funny, Alice.” This earned yet another chuckle from Alice, her hands cupping Amelia's cheeks, startling the latter from the sudden contact. “Mm. I apologize.” She lifted Amelia's head a bit and took a moment to look at her.
What.... What is going on? Amelia was internally starting to freak out at the sudden gesture and the brit's silence that followed. What's going on? She gazed back at Alice's face in mild bewilderment, feeling a familiar heat spread throughout her face—but tried to fight it off whilst Alice just continued to stare at her, for some reason. (Well, 'inspect' seems more like an appropriate term.)
“Your hair is disheveled,” Alice pointed out, breaking the silence, to which Amelia just responded with a blink. Oh... oh! It was just about her hair. Yeah. Okay. God, so uncool. Amelia was freaking out over nothing! Alice withdrew her hand, “Would you mind hopping in here? I want to fix your hair. It's not good for your image.”
Yeah right.
Amelia almost rolled her eyes at Alice, wanting to tell her that her hair being messy is alright and that some guys definitely dig it. But they've gone through that conversation so much that she had a hunch Alice would just state that Amelia's hair is as messy as an old broomstick. So she lets it go. “Pfft duh! Gimme a sec.”
“It's give me, not gimme.”
“Yeah yeah whatever.”
Amelia straightened herself up and placed both of her hands on top of the windowsill for support. She hoisted herself up and put one leg into the room as Alice just stood close by to support Amelia and prevent her from getting into a possible accident. Amelia swung her other leg in and hopped off of the windowsill, stumbling towards Alice and instinctively wrapping her arms around Alice's figure in a hug as her feet steadied itself on the floor of the school library.
“Get off,” Alice pried her off, a shade of pink dusting her cheeks and Amelia just responded with a grin, releasing her. Alice trudged further into the library to which the other simply followed, leading Amelia onto a chair and pulling the nearest one from the table it was tucked under, facing Amelia and gesturing to the seat. “Take a seat.”
“Gladly!” Amelia chirped and walked over, sitting down on the chair. She brought a hand up to her hair and removed her star-shaped hairclips, holding the both of them in one hand after she was done and attempted to comb down her hair with the other. Alice raised a brow at this. “Don't you have a comb, Amelia?” The latter looked at Alice, a blank expression on her face. “What. You don't?”
“Alice. Why the heck would I carry a comb around with me?”
“You're in the cheerleading team.” she said, as if it would immediately explain everything.
Amelia raised a brow at this. “...So? What does that have to do with anything?”
“Well,” Alice shrugged. “Most of the girls from the cheerleading team seems to prioritize having a brush with them at all times.”
Touche. “And you think i'd have a comb too?”
“Yes.” She deadpanned, nodding. “But it seems as though you don't carry one around.”
“Just 'cause i'm in the cheerleading club doesn't mean i'm a beauty queen who likes looking nice twenty four seven,” Amelia huffed. She crossed her arms with a lopsided smirk, tilting her head up to look at Alice. “What. Can't comb my hair without a brush?”
“Alright, pardon my rudeness, my dearest childhood friend,” Alice mock-sighed, bringing up a hand to run her fingers through Amelia's blonde locks once more. “I can make-do without a brush, don't underestimate me.”
“Mkay then.” Amelia grinned, starting to hum a tune as Alice silently combed her hair down with a hand.
Cheerleading practice was nice. A little hellish, but nice. Amelia drank some water from her water bottle, her eyes darting over to the bleachers, where her childhood friend sat, reading what seemed to be... handouts? Maybe.
(Alice and Amelia had an arrangement where they both walk home together after school, even before Amelia had joined the cheerleading club. To be honest, she had expected Alice to break their tradition since Amelia would often be busy with cheerleading practice—but Alice continued to take part in their arrangement. Amelia felt bad about it but Alice just constantly reassured her, telling her that she doesn't mind waiting a few extra hours. Though, despite being guilty about it, she was secretly glad that Alice stayed loyal to their arrangement so that neither of them would have to walk home all alone.)
'Allie's being a studybug as usual, huh. Better distract her!' Just as she was about to approach Alice with another one of her mischievous antics, another cheerleader, Jenny, hooked an arm around Amelia's shoulders, causing her to stop in her tracks. “Amelia! Have you had any luck finding a prom date?”
Shit.
“Nah, not really.” She shook her head, chuckling. Amelia hopes that Jenny wouldn't find her inability to have a date for prom suspicious. “You?”
“Well~ I think i'm close to convincing Maurice to go to prom with me!” Jenny giggled, “You know, the one from the basketball club?”
“Mhm. Yeah I know.” Amelia glanced at Alice's direction noticing that she had seemed to be writing something on her handouts(?). Wait no, she's probably highlighting something. She is holding a highlighter, right?
“Okay, but seriously—” Jenny unhooked her arm and jabbed a finger onto Amelia's chest, catching the latter's attention as Jenny's other hand rested on her hip. “—you need a date soon.”
Fuck Abort Abort!!!
“Well I guess,” Amelia tittered, unable to meet Jenny's eyes, which had a glint of suspicion in them. “There's... only four days left till prom, huh?”
“Of course. And it is getting worrisome that you still don't have a date,” She threw a hand up, letting them quickly fall onto her side right after. Shiiiit. “I don't get it! You're fucking hot, why aren't you being asked out yet? Unacceptable.”
Because I keep turning them down. Amelia just let out a hysterical laugh and waved a hand around her face. “It's okay! I'll find a date sooner or later, no worries!”
Yeah, no worries indeed. She gulped. Fuck this shit, she didn't even want to go to prom—but, well, she's a cheerleader, so she has to. Amelia sighed. She just can't wait till prom was all over.