Natalie watched, laughing, as the girls twirl around to their own, slightly off tune, rendition of Kiss From A Rose. She places her cup down, ready to grab Travis, maybe pull him into a dance. Far away from Jackie. But she’s already too late as she sees Travis wrapping his hands around Jackie’s waist. His eyes find Natalie in an ashamed gaze, which only makes her angry. She doesn’t have time for his stupid guilt, this whole thing was dumb anyway.
She slams her wine cup on a nearby log, ready to storm over to Coach Scott and ditch all this high school dance shit, when out of the corner of her eye she sees Misty. Who is swaying side to side and nursing at her cup of wine in a very pathetic way.
Misty’s eyes scan the dancing girls with the most lost look Natalie has ever seen. Like someone just stole her lunch money, which she doesn’t doubt has actually happened to Misty before. She’s not exactly the image of popularity. Well, neither was Natalie but at least Natalie was relatively liked. Even out in the forest, stranded so far from society, Misty couldn’t escape how much of a social anomaly she was. Which in all honestly was mostly her fault, in everyone’s defense she was a bit of a freak.
But all that just made Natalie feel worse, Misty probably wouldn’t even show up to any dances if they were in the real world and now she’s out here the only girl without a friend. Natalie instantly starts to scold herself, because she knows what she’s about to do. It’s the worst idea she’s probably ever had, but she did say that no one deserved to be iced out. And if that applied to Allie on the field it probably applied to Misty out in the woods.
Before she can stop herself she is making her way over to the tree that Misty is standing by and cursing herself under her breath.
Misty doesn’t even register Natalie until she is right in front of her staring her in the eyes. It’s almost cute how shocked Misty looks, like it is the weirdest thing ever that Natalie would ever want to stand by her. Which, honestly it’s a little weird to Nat too.
”Wanna dance, Quigley?” Nat questions.
And if Misty looked surprised before, she was absolutely astonished now. Her eyes looked like they were about to burst from their sockets; and Nat almost busts up laughing when Misty starts to look around to find someone else she could be talking to.
“Are you serious? Me?” Misty gapes.
”Who else?” Natalie laughs, “Don’t know anyone else here named Quigley.”
”Oh. Right, yeah of course! I would love to dance with you, Natalie.” She beams at her like this is the best thing to ever happen, it’s oddly endearing. Nat can’t help but smile back.
Natalie grabs one of Misty’s hands and pulls her out further into the small crowd of girls. She wraps both her hands around her waist while the shorter girl slings her arms around Natalie’s shoulder.
They start to sway back and forth, though the music has died down to only a few girls humming. Nat catches a few stray glances, all looking at her with a raised eyebrow. But she shrugs them off. She already made the choice to dance with Misty, the worst thing she can do now is regret it.
Something else catches her eye though, Jackie dragging Travis away from the party and back into the woods. Misty notices it too when Nat’s gaze lingers a little too long. She looks back toward Natalie with a scrunched look of pity on her face.
“You really shouldn’t blame Jackie, it's not personal.” Misty tells her.
I-I don’t blame Jackie. There’s nothing to blame her for.” Nat mumbles, avoiding her eyes and watching their feet dance around each other beneath them.
“Well that’s good cause-“ Misty looks around and leans in, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I heard Jackie telling Shauna she was getting with him so she didn’t die a virgin.”
The shorter girl pulls back and smiles, like she’s just told her something that fixes everything, “So really, you have nothing to worry about! Jackie doesn’t even like him!”
That doesn’t really put Nat at ease. Not only was Travis gonna hook up with someone else, it was gonna be someone who didn’t even care about him.
Natalie sighs, it’s not really her problem anymore. Travis can do whatever the hell he wants, who was she to police him? Maybe he would at least be able to get it up with her.
“Hey, you wanna get out of here?” Nat asks.
“Already? We can’t stay for a little longer?” Misty pouts. “You know I’ve never been to a dance before, and you know this is probably my only chance to if we really are gonna die out here.”
“Misty part of the school dance experience is ditching early to go do something way better. People show up to these things just so they can leave,” Natalie insists, “I’m giving you the full package here.”
“What would even be ditching to do? What is there to do in the woods?” Misty asks, reaching to push her glasses up her face.
Nat laughs, “you’ll see.”
Misty hesitates for a second before taking Nat’s hand and letting herself be dragged off into the forest. They made it to a small clearing, next to a large tree with a thick trunk. Nat started to dig around in a bush before producing a bottle of whiskey.
Misty gasped, “Have you had that this whole time?”
“Found it under the porch a week ago,” the taller girl laughed, taking a swig out of it before offering up towards Misty.
She hesitated before grabbing the bottle from her and swallowing down some herself, immediately making a face at the way at its taste. Nat couldn’t help but laugh at the way all her features pinched up.
Misty scowls at her in return, pushing the bottle of whiskey back into her hands.
“Why are you hoarding that? The girls would love you if you showed them it.” Misty tells her, lowering down to sit next to the other blonde.
“Because it’s not for them. They can get fake drunk with their fermented berries, I’m not sharing anything.” Natalie scoffs, lying down against the brush.
Misty just hums in response, picking at the dirt beneath her. They let the silence fill the distance between them.
Natalie knows Misty relatively well. Or maybe just a little better than the rest of the girls did. Only because she made a little bit of an effort to be nice to her. Misty was a bit of a weirdo but Nat didn’t think that meant she should be totally shunned and harassed by the team.
Maybe she just felt a bit bad for her because she had to watch the girl try out for the soccer team. She failed pretty hard. Though the other girls hadn’t made it easier, constantly targeting her on the field. They made sure she’d never get on the team. Who wanted to be on a soccer team with Misty Quigley?
Coach Scott had made her equipment manager out of pity, but she took on the role with a whole lot of enthusiasm. Though the rest of the team wasn’t all that excited. Nat really didn’t mind it though, Misty was considerate. She always had a cold water bottle after practice for Nat. Though she chose not to pay attention to the fact she only ever had one for Nat.
It was because Nat was just decent to her. She didn’t yell at her like the other girls did, she even said hi to Misty at lunch and in the halls. She was a social outcast too, it’s not like she could be embarrassed much.
“So much for secret boyfriends, huh?” Misty laughs halfheartedly.
Nat just looks at her and clicks her tongue, nodding. She’s not exactly sure how relatable that statement is considering there differing circumstances.
“Hey, do you think…” Misty starts before sighing, “Do you think Coach even likes me? I mean he says he does but he doesn’t really act like it.”
“Ugh, Misty, you know Coach is gay right?” Nat scoffs, taking another big swig of the whiskey.
“What? No he’s not!” Misty gasps, looking offended she would even suggest that.
“Yeah he is!” Nat retorts, laughing.
“No he’s not!” She yells, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Misty, come on. It’s so obvious. Plus he has a boyfriend.” She probably shouldn’t be telling Misty this, but something is making her lips a lot looser than usual.
“He doesn’t!” Misty screeches, “If he did… if he did why would he say he likes me too?”
Nat can take a guess.
“I think he just… didn’t want to upset you, you know? He’s a good guy but you’ll find someone else, Misty.” Her attempt at comfort is sad to say the least. Misty doesn’t look too content with her explanation, returning to picking at the dirt.
As it starts to get dark, Nat starts to feel herself get hazy. An odd sensation but one she recognizes instantly.
“Holy shit, did I eat shrooms?” She laughs.
She turns to Misty who looks just as out of it as her but also… guilty? Was that what it was?
Misty avoids her eye contact.
“Oh my god, did you drug me?” Natalie gapes.
“They weren’t meant for you! They weren’t meant for any of you! They were… they were meant for Ben.” She defends. “But then Mari took them from me and put them in the soup! I didn’t know what to do!”
Natalie busts up laughing like this is the funniest thing ever, too out of it to really think clearly.
“God they are all gonna be so pissed with you when they come down!” Nat giggles.
Misty drags her hands over her face, groaning, “I’m so sorry, Nat.”
“Why were you even trying to give them to Coach?” Nat asks.
“Why do you think? So I wouldn’t die out in the woods without ever even being… kissed. I thought he’d loosen up about my age.” Misty admits.
What a creep, Nat thinks. And she is surprised to find that the thought isn’t too far from fond.
“Misty, you have to know how weird that sounds.” She tells her.
Misty doesn’t say anything, just avoids her eyes.
Nat sighs, “I can’t believe you had shrooms this whole time and we’re holding out on me.”
Misty chuckles, “It won’t happen again.”
“Better not,” Nat laughs.
But what Misty says really does damper her mood. It’s not like she hasn’t heard things about the shorter girl. All these rumors of how she sluts herself out to whoever will take her. Which is always combatted with a ‘Who would actually fuck Misty Quigley?’
And Nat geusses she’s always probably known Misty has never kissed someone, but it’s worse to hear her say it.
She looks over to Misty who is staring off into the woods, slightly rocking back and forth.
I wouldn’t mind kissing her.
It startles her as soon as she thinks it. Because, what the hell? Since when did she start thinking that about girls? Since when did she start thinking that about Misty, especially?
It must be the drugs. Maybe these really would’ve worked on Coach Scott if they can do this to her.
But the longer that Nat looks at her the more it makes sense to her brain. Misty is cute, now that she thinks about it. She purses her lips in this kind of endearing way and her fidgeting is sort of sweet. Plus, she looks pretty good in the blue dress she’s sporting now.
Actually now that it’s dawning on her, Nat realizes she wouldn’t just not mind kissing Misty, she really really wants to. That gets her heart racing a little faster.
But what would Misty think about that? She’s such a freak about their coach, would she ever really even consider someone else, much less a girl.
Would Misty be into that? Would she be desperate enough to try? Nat thinks that would be worse if it was just desperation.
But if she’s anything, it’s not a coward.
“Misty.” Nat mumbles.
“Yeah?” She asks.
Nat doesn’t say anything else just scooches herself over by her legs, until she’s close enough to hear Misty’s breath catch.
She pulls Misty’s legs by the ankles, positioning her until both her feet are situated on either side of Nat. She waits a split second for Misty to maybe push her away or just flat out reject her.
When nothing comes, Nat leans in closer, licking her lips slightly. She waits another second, feeling Misty’s breath ghost right across her lips.
“Is this okay?” She breathes.
Misty doesn’t say anything, just springs forward to close the gap between them. It takes a second for Nat to process it, but as soon as she does she is reaching up to grasp at the girl’s face, pulling her impossibly closer.
Misty pushes forward, causing her and Nat to fall back until the bleached blonde is only propped up by her arms with Misty straddled over her. They barely break contact.
Holy shit, is all Natalie can think. She’s kissing Misty fucking Quigley. This would’ve never even crossed her mind before the plane crash. It never even crossed her mind before a few minutes ago. But she thinks what’s shocking her the most is that Misty’s a pretty good kisser. Who would’ve guessed?
She’s a tad bit over eager, but that almost adds to it. Nat is kinda struggling to keep up. It almost makes her laugh.
She feels a tongue give a small prod to her lips, causing Nat to gasp. Misty takes the chance to grip her bottom lip between her teeth, tugging it harshly before letting go.
It leaves Nat completely breathless. She breaks from Misty just to stare at her, astonished.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, was that too much?” Misty panics.
Nat just laughs before tugging her back into a kiss. She slips her fingers below the strap of Misty’s dress, trailing her lips off to Misty’s jaw.
Misty pulls back this time, “this isn’t like a pity thing is it?”
“No, it isn’t.” As surprising as that seems to both of them.
Nat leans back in, now starting at her jaw and sucking her way down the other girls necks. She can’t wait to see the marks in the morning, she wonders how Misty will excuse that one.
Misty lets out a soft gasp as Nat pushes her straps off to get a better angle at her collarbones. This whole thing feels so addicting, she’s dragging her tongue across her skin and she just wants to keep getting lower and lower. Watching Misty crumble beneath her.
But then a screech breaks through the air, causing both of them to snap apart.
“What the fuck was that?” Nat blurts out.
“I-I have no idea… should we go look?” Misty asks, hesitant.
Natalie gets up, pulling Misty up with her, who is readjusting her dress straps.
Nat can’t help but think how much of a shame it is that they were interrupted. But still she grabs Misty’s hand dragging her through the woods to go check on the noise. They could continue this later, she’s not sure how she’ll feel sober but she’s pretty sure she won’t regret this.
She just prays that Misty won’t either.