Chapter Text
*10th Grade...*
*Akarsha smiles up at Noelle. Not a shit-eating bastard grin or a smirk, but a genuine smile of true happiness on Akarsha’s beautiful face. Noelle’s smiling for real too, instead of the confident grin that screams “I’m right, have always been right, and always will be right you simple bitch.” Min clasps Diya’s hand as the pair leans against the snack table, watching from afar amidst the lights and sound*
Diya: Sorry.
*Min looks over at Diya, who is wearing a knee-length, blue, backless dress and looking incredibly flustered*
Min-seo (smiling): For what?
Diya: For making you skip out on our first slow dance in six years...
Min-seo: (It should be illegal to be this cute.) Don’t worry about it, there will be many to come. There’s no harm in taking a breather in a building full of teenagers wearing too much cologne!
*Diya smiles a little, and Min’s heart soars*
Diya (blushing and glancing away): I, um... your bow tie is really nice.
Min-seo (looking down at their three piece black suit with a red bow tie): Thanks, Akarsha helped me pick it out. (She doesn’t need to know that it’s a clip-on.)
???: Can you fucking move so I can get some punch?
Min-seo (turning to glare at the snotty junior guy in a green suit with metalhead hair): If I didn’t care about being kicked out I’d beat your ass. (MAY MY CALM INTENSITY DESTROY YOU.)
Guy (eyes widening): You’re a woman?!
Min-seo (taking a step towards the guy): I’m your worst fucking nightmare—
Diya (tugging on Min’s arm): Min, let’s just go...
*Min scoffs and follows Diya away from the intruder. Still, she marks him as a target for later. Then she hears a crash and some gasps followed by a stream of curses. They both wheel around to see the guy lying on top of the broken table, and even with the low lighting Min can see his shirt is becoming stained with blood dripping from his nose*
Min-seo: If I knew you were going to fall on your ass anyway, I would have just knocked you down myself.
Guy: I didn’t trip, you fucking hit me!
Min (raiding an eyebrow): Um, no I didn’t.
Guy: Then what just punched me?!
Min-seo: (I can’t believe this guy) *she looks to Diya* You know I didn’t hit him, right?
*Diya nods, and Min turns back to start having a shouting match with this limp-dicked sonuvabitch. Meanwhile, Diya looks around and suddenly feels overwhelmed by all the flashing lights and pounding music and—*
Diya (beginning to hyperventilate): (I need to get out of here, I need to get out of here, I need...) *Diya uses her free hand to hug herself* (I just need a moment of quiet… I need some air, or—)
*all of a sudden, Diya feels that the lights aren’t as harsh, the sound softens. It’s a similar effect to wearing noise-cancelling headphones, but without the uncomfortable pressure on her ears. She also feels a comforting presence hear her, and gives Min’s hand a squeeze. She also becomes aware of people yelling, a few clapping (Min must’ve dealt a good line) and of Noelle breaking through the crowd, tailed by Akarsha*
Akarsha (looking Diya up and down): Damn, Madonna, when did you change your outfit?
Diya: What? I—
*Diya looks down, and indeed her dress has changed from light blue to almost black*
Noelle (brow furrowed): Min, Diya, we need to leave. Now.
Min-seo (pointing a finger at Noelle): I am at WAR and I will WIN!
Noelle (turning to Akarsha): I think we need to show them what we’ve been working on.
Akarsha (smirking): Noelle, we’re in PUBLIC!
Noelle (scowling): No, you imbecile, I mean the—!
*Akarsha drops the smile, giving Noelle a meaningful look*
Akarsha: I know, I know. This is serious. And not just because it’s you. *she pauses, and then hurriedly adds* Not that you’re always serious, I just—
Noelle (a touch more softly than usual): It’s alright. *turning to the other two* Like I said, we need to go. Make whatever excuses you need to your parents, just—
Min-seo (gesturing wildly): What are you talking about?! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?!
Noelle (to Diya, looking too tired to deal with this): Just grab her, this is important.
*Diya nods, grabs Min, lifts, and slings her over her shoulder. Min shrugged for a few seconds before fall silent and submitting as Diya escorts her out. Diya marches Min to Noelle’s car where she is set down on the ground and her knees immediately give out. She is able to grab onto Diya for support before she kisses dirt, and is able to get in and buckle her seatbelt without too much trouble*
Noelle (putting her keys in the ignition): Don’t ask questions until we have our resources. This is... something else entirely.
To Be Continued…