Haunted by you
By Friday, the shift is obvious.
Shauna walks into homeroom wearing a pale green polo dress cinched with a hair tie, and a sparkly scrunchie on her wrist. Lottie’s wearing Shauna’s red flannel from Tuesday over a spaghetti strap tank.
They don’t even try to explain it.
People notice.
Jackie notices.
It gets worse when she sees Lottie at practice wearing a pink-and-green striped button-up she recognizes. Crisp collar. Pearl buttons. It’s hers. From J.Crew. From last spring. From her own closet.
Jackie corners her after the whistle blows.
“You’re wearing my shirt.”
Lottie turns, deadpan. “Am I?”
Jackie crosses her arms. “You are.”
Lottie glances down. “Huh. Guess Shauna didn’t mention.”
Jackie’s mouth tightens. “You’re stealing her now?”
“I don’t have to steal anything,” Lottie says, eyes glinting. “She gives it to me.”
Jackie’s voice drops. “That shirt isn’t hers to give.”
Lottie doesn’t flinch. “Looks like it is now.”
Shauna walks up behind them just in time.
She’s got her hair in a bun and Jackie’s old cheer jacket over her shoulders. She sizes up the scene immediately.
“Oh,” she says, voice dry. “Is this a fashion emergency?”
Jackie glares. “Just admiring the way my closet’s been emptied without permission.”
Shauna shrugs. “You weren’t using it.”
Lottie stifles a laugh.
Jackie looks at her, then back at Shauna, something wild flickering in her eyes. “You look stupid in my clothes.”
Shauna’s smile is razor-thin. “Then it’s a good thing they’re not yours anymore.”
Jackie storms off.
Shauna exhales. “She’s really going through it.”
Lottie smirks. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Shauna says, slipping her hand into Lottie’s. “She can spiral. I’m good.”
They walk back to the team like nothing happened.
But Jackie notices the way their hands stay linked.
And it ruins her for the rest of the day.