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Homecoming week was about as I expected it to go.

Blake and Rory, Sean and Casey, and Daryl and Elsa hosted all of the contests. Which left me, Cory, Ezra, and Gabi to our own devices during most of the events.

"You've never smoked?" Gabi asked Ezra with pure disbelief as the four of us hung out behind the cafeteria after school while the three other couples emceed the '90's best dressed contest.

While I did smoke occasionally, I was nowhere near as experienced as Cory and Gabi. They were both daily smokers and I'd never admit it, but even I was slightly intimidated.

That alone was enough to put into perspective how scared shitless Ezra probably was when Gabi insisted he try it. Well, that and the pure look of terror on his pale face.

"It's fine," I told him reassuringly. "I'll walk you through it."

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us acutely aware that we were never supposed to have spoken to each other. If neither of us were on the Court, I would've gone the rest of my life knowing Ezra Griffith as solely a name, not a person. Yet here we were, the EIC and our class's very-likely-to-be valedictorian's first time smoking weed, and the class slut was comforting him through it.

Cory had rolled a nearly perfect joint.

"Could make a better tip next time," I critiqued him, handing the joint off to Gabi after examining it.

Cory grinned at me and closed the space between us, brushing loose strands of blonde hair behind my ears. He leaned down, stopping just before our lips could touch. "You want a better tip, Allie?"

"Is that what they say?" I whispered back and wrapped my hands around his waist playfully. The look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know—he was fucking with me. He wouldn't dare actually try anything.

"Look," Gabi said, "I know you two want to make out or whatever, but can we at least smoke first."

Cory and I pulled apart and I was nothing but smiles as we passed around the joint and watched Ezra smoke weed for the first time, behind the cafeteria, senior year of high school.

He was high as fuck by the time the contest was over. Could barely even walk. I helped Gabi get him into her car.

"Where are you going to take him?" I asked.

"I don't know," she replied honestly and we both looked at the sleeping boy in her passenger seat. Only just an hour ago, he was so much more innocent.

"He's cute, Gab," I said, raising my eyebrow suggestively at her.

"I'm dating someone," she told me sternly.

Right. Like I would know.

"Well, will you text me. Wherever you go. Whenever you get home safe," I said, handing her my phone.

She looked shocked.

"What?" I asked, feeling my own high kicking my ass a little as my eyelids drooped.

She took my phone, put in her number and texted herself, the whole while saying, "I don't know. I guess...I just pictured you different."

"Different how?" I questioned as she handed me back my phone.

"Less caring," she murmured and got into the driver's seat of her car. "I'll text you." She closed the door, and I watched her drive out of the school parking lot with our passed out valedictorian.

I couldn't help but smile and shake my head.

I, Allie Carson, was caring. And Ezra Griffith, Valedictorian, was intoxicated.

I turned on my heel to find Cory, only to see him walking towards me, a sly look in his eye.

"Did they get home safe?" he asked.

"They will," I responded and he surprised me by picking me up by the back of my thighs, forcing me to wrap my legs around him.

"Cory," I somehow growled and squealed at the same time.

"Sh," he said quickly. "We're going somewhere."

* * *

Somewhere was beautiful.

Cory had parked at Rodesio Beach, an area of protected coastline about twenty or so minutes from school. I figured we were just going to walk along the shore or sit in the sand.

Instead, he walked me up a hillside on one of the edges of the beach. It was a bit of a hike, but when we made it to the top, the sun was just beginning its final descent in the sky, dipping over the ocean. And we were above it all.

"Woah," I murmured.

"Right," he said, giving me a prideful grin. He knew he was good.

"So this is how you get laid. You just take girls here and you're in."

He glanced at me and let out a chuckle that almost sounded strained before taking a seat in a small patch of grass right on a cliffside. He patted the spot next to him, silently asking me to sit, as he pulled a pre-rolled joint out of his pocket.

I sat down, not surprised by any of this. It was Cory after all. I helped shield the ocean breeze from him as he lit the joint. We fell into a routine of passing it back and forth.

"So, Princess Allie Carson."

"So, Prince Cory Bernard."

He smiled at me, before taking a quick hit of the joint and passing it to me. On his smoky exhale he continued, "Tell me about your life."

I chuckled in my throat and just before taking a hit myself, I said, "Don't you—well, doesn't everyone—already know?"

I watched the smoke get blown away by the ocean wind as I exhaled. Away. Far away. Gone.

"I want to hear it from you," Cory said as he took the joint from me. "What's something you've never told anybody before."

"So you can gossip about it?" I asked immediately, my voice more bitter than I felt. Or at least, more than I thought I felt.

"No," he said firmly. Then smirked. "Because you're my partner."

I watched as his exhaled smoke drifted away with the wind. Away. Far away. Gone.

I was fucking baked.

"So?"

"If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?" I said, feeling like an idiot as the words came out of my mouth. I took the joint back from him and inhaled quickly.

"Sure" he replied with a laugh.

I exhaled harshly and passed it back. I wish the pain in my lungs hurt worse than it did. Maybe it would make everything else feel better. Especially considering what I was about to confess.

"I think I have a crush."

Cory coughed on his smoke mid-inhale. A smile broke out onto his lips. He handed me the joint so he could use his sleeve to cough into. Then he wiped his eyes. "You mean..." Cough. "You mean to say that Allie Car—the Allie Carson, has a crush."

My head my was in my throat, my throat was in my stomach, my stomach was in my gut. I felt like a fucking idiot. I grumbled, "Why do you have to say it like that."

Surprisingly, Cory's coughing fit of laughter stopped. "Sorry, it's just, well...Everyone has a crush on you. So it's weird to hear that you have a crush on someone."

I looked at Cory, scanning his face as he raised the little bit left of the joint to his lips as he stared at the ocean. The afternoon sun highlighting the natural strands of gold in his dirty blonde hair. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

He laughed so hard it came out in puffs of smoke. "Allie. Come on. You're not dumb."

I couldn't help but immediately argue with him in my head. I could name a few people who think I'm dumb.

Stupid slut.

"Everyone has had a crush on you."

"They've been attracted to me. A crush is different than wanting to fuck someone," I said, hesitating slightly before looking at Cory. The marijuana swirling in my brain suddenly had me questioning myself. "I think?"

He threw his head back and laughed and I wondered why we hadn't hung out before. "No, I think you might be right," he responded finally, still staring at the ocean.

"So what about you?" I asked, leaning back on my hands.

"What about me?" Cory responded, his voice suddenly lower, less energetic.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know, anything—your family, you dreams, someone you're interested in..."

Cory thought for a bit then he looked at me with a nervous smile. "Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask, I can't guarantee an answer," I responded, my eyelids getting heavy as I laid back, the coarse wild grass brushing against my ears.

He mirrored me.

My phone went off.


From: Gabriela

Got Ezra to his friends. Heading home now. You okay?


To: Gabriela

You're amazing! I'm all good, with Cory. Talk to you tomorrow.


"Do you ever think—"

My phone went off again.


From: Sean

Where the hell are you?!


"Sorry," I told Cory as I typed back to Sean.


To: Sean

Hanging out with Cory. I'll talk to you tomorrow.


"Okay," I smiled at Cory now as I set my phone down beside me. "What's up?

"Allie," he whispered and I felt his hand brush against mine in a way that felt comforting, not aggressive. "Can I tell you something."

"Yes, I've been waiting," I teased.

I heard his head turn toward me by the sound of the grass shifting next to me. When I realized he wasn't going to say anything else, I turned to look at him too.

His brown eyes were different than I'd ever seen before. They were serious, heavy. Our usual playful banter seemed impossibly far away.

"I mean, can I," he took a long breath before continuing, "Can I trust you?"

My mind began racing with concern and predictions for what he could possibly be talking about. Why he needed to know he could trust me.

Without a second thought, I reached out and grabbed his hand. Feeling his against mine earlier comforted me, so I could only think or hope that maybe, in this moment, it might comfort him. It seemed like he needed it.

"Yes, you can trust me," I assured him.

He let out a shaky breath, closing his eyes for a moment, before he reopened them softly.

"I think I'm gay."

I wasn't sure what I was expecting. I didn't think it was that. But it didn't seem entirely shocking either. I knew in that moment though that it wasn't the time to think about any of that. It wasn't about what I thought. He needed to know I heard him.

My response felt easy, because it was. "Okay."

He exhaled heavily, like the weight that had consumed him for the past few minutes was suddenly released. I squeezed our intertwined hands.

"I'm really glad you felt like you could tell me that."

"I'm not sure why," he whispered. "No offense."

I smiled. "None taken."

"I guess I just...needed someone outside of the people close to me to listen. And you, I don't know, I just got a feeling you might actually be a good person to listen."

"How did I do?" I asked through a hazy grin.

"You did well." He returned my smile. "You're a good listener."

I had to suppress a scoff.

Gabi thinks I care. Cory thinks I listen.

Why was it that some of the people in my class that I knew the least were seeing parts of me that made me feel the most?

"Never heard that one before. I've been told I take. Listen? Not so much."

I got a little paranoid when he didn't immediately respond to me. I figured he agreed and his previous words about me being a good listener was just him being polite. He did eventually answer though, in a hushed, thoughtful tone. "Maybe that's why you're a good listener. Because you took for so long."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh at that. "Okay, yeah, you're high as fuck because that makes absolutely no sense."

"It does," he defended himself without hesitation this time. "You've had a lot of people listen to you. As the receiver of that, you witnessed first-hand what actually worked and what didn't. You know what responses helped and what reactions hurt. Because you were the one who felt it."

I wasn't sure if it was the weed or if this way of thinking genuinely baffled me, but I was mind-blown. What a beautifully backwards thought process. How was he able to so easily turn something negative into something positive? A trait that always made me feel less, now made me feel more.

"Thank you, Cory," I said, my voice so small that the ocean wind almost took it away before it could reach him next to me.

He heard it though, because he rubbed his thumb against mine, clearly sensing the sincerity in my tone.

"Now that you've talked me up as an incredible listener, I'm here any time you want to talk."

Cory laughed and squeezed my hand so hard my knuckles hurt a little. "Thank you, Allie."

The sound of the waves began to hypnotize me as I leaned further into Cory's side, snuggling in so my cheekbone pressed against his shoulder. "Can I tell you something else?"

"Anything, anytime."

"I'm really glad you're my Homecoming Court joke partner."

I felt his whole body vibrate with laugher. "Me too, Al."

My eyelids slid closed and the smile on my lips that was usually forced now lived there naturally.

* * *

The sound of the school band—screaming trumpets, ground-shaking drums, crashing cymbals—and the roars of school cheers were slightly muted as the ten of us stood outside the gym doors.

It was Friday's Pep Rally and the school gym was jam packed with every Whitewood student, getting hyped up for our Homecoming football game against our rival, San Ramon High, the next day.

It was almost time for our portion of the rally—the Homecoming Court entrances.

As I had seen since freshman year, and as Casey thoroughly explained to all of us as if we'd never witnessed it before, we were going to be announced into the gym as a couple and would have about fifteen seconds to do 'something memorable, but appropriate'—Casey's exact words, as she eyed me and Cory one day in Classroom 211. This was apparently supposed to help solidify our vote for Homecoming King and Queen by the student body at the dance the following evening. We were then going to participate in a competition against each other—a race back and forth across the basketball court that included carrying an egg on a spoon, a potato sack race, and a piggyback race.

Cory and I were pretty sure we weren't going to make it past the entrance though.

"So, what are you guys doing?" Sean had asked me multiple times over the past week.

He told me how he and Casey made up some elaborate handshake they were going to perform.

"Not telling," I would reply with a smirk. "But it won't disappoint."

"Is it going to upset Casey?" Sean whined after the third time I responded this way. "Because I'm going to be the one who has to deal with her, you know?"

"Oh, you'll be fine," I had said with an eye roll.

The school band picked up a new song. I could hear the muffled sound of someone speaking into a microphone, likely Coach McPherson, Head of the PhysEd department and Coach of the Baseball team, who always led the pep rallies.

Corey wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed while leaning down to whisper in my ear, "Ready?"

"For a month of detention?" I replied with a smirk.

He laughed, just as the music from the school band inside stopped.

Then, the gym doors opened and over the speakers came the song 'We Will Rock You' by Queen as Blake and Rory, the first of the couples, entered and cheers exploded. They did some stupid shit where Rory threw a perfectly arched football toss to Blake after he ran the length of basketball court. He caught it easily and you would've thought he'd won the Superbowl with how the crowd reacted.

"Riveting creativity," Cory commented. Casey shot him a look.

Next was Daryl and Elsa, who entered to Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas. Elsa came in on his shoulders, stood up, and did a front flip off him. This was also a huge crowd pleaser.

"People are really going outside their comfort zones, I see," Cory drawled in response to Blake's football entrance and now Elsa's cheer entrance.

"Shh," Casey hushed. She then narrowed her eyes at me and scanned my body. I was wearing a Whitewood High t-shirt and Whitewood High shorts that were a little too short after I rolled the waistband multiple times. I knew she was looking for a sign of what we were about to do. She had been less than thrilled with our lack of effort all week, and she certainly didn't trust us.

Her instinct was right there.

Ezra and Gabi came into Whoomp There It Is by Tag Team and did a fish-and-hook dance.

Then was Sean and Casey, who came in strong to The Power by Snap!. Their handshake was actually quite involved and I loudly cheered for my friend. Even though it was practically already etched in stone that Blake and Rory were going to win, I still had hopes that Sean might pull it off.

Then came our song. I smiled widely at Cory as I Don't Care by Icona Pop blasted over the speakers.

"Ready to make them the joke?" I asked him.

He just grinned back and took off running. I followed right behind him.

I was never afraid of being looked at, but running into a gym where over 1,600 pairs of eyes were on you from all directions, watching you, expecting something of you...it was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time. Like all the previous couples, who were now standing on the court in front of the senior section, we took our places—Cory on my right, with his back turned, while I looked dead on at the sea of my classmates' faces.

Front and center was my social circle. Everyone in the popular crowd always made sure to be in the middle section. I immediately spotted Lindsay and Rachel. Spencer wasn't too many rows behind them. I found my eyes wandering to the other sections though and couldn't help but feel a pinch of disappointment when I didn't have enough time to find where Tyler was.

I recognized the final seconds of our song playing and just as the lyrics sang out I don't care, I ripped my shirt over my head at the same time Cory bent down and pulled down his shorts.

Written in giant red letters right across the ass of his boxers were the words FUCK.

Under my shirt was a skin-tight, white crop top. Written in the same giant red letters across my chest read Y'ALL.

FUCK Y'ALL

It all happened so quickly. Our song was drowned out by a deafening level of noise from the crowd. I saw Casey's face go practically purple with anger and embarrassment, before it disappeared into Sean's shirt as she leaned into him.

Vice Principal Connors had both my and Cory's forearms wrapped in her hands so tightly that I almost squealed in pain as she yanked us out of the gym. Cory was blowing kisses to the crowd with the hand VP Connors wasn't holding captive, while I was throwing up the middle finger.

Once outside the gym, Connors dragged us to be seated on the nearest bench, so enraged her fingers recoiled into her palms after she let go of our arms.

"Mr. Bernard, Miss Carson, do not go anywhere," she said before turning on her heel and heading back into the gym.

That's when the laughter came. I knew I was probably going to be in the most trouble I'd ever been in, but it was so worth it. The look on everyone's faces. The freeing feeling of getting the last word. I collapsed against Cory, who was in just as much of a fit as myself.

"Did you—did, did you..." I tried, but tears were now spilling out of my eyes. Despite wearing only a tiny crop top and skimpy shorts in the chilly mid-November air, I was sweating with joy.

"Casey's face," Cory finished my thought through a quick gasp of air before laughter overcame him again.

All I could do was nod and wipe my tears.

After what felt like minutes of laughing, my oxygen levels slowly returned

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