#HER PINK HAIR WAS SO PRETTYYYYYY

[maria-ruta]

Favorite episode of Steven Universe and why? Favorite gem design?

oooh ive been thinking about su again lately and I love this show a ton so I'll be glad to to answer (ill put under read more lol bc thats a lot of text haha)

Favorite episodes:

the cat fingers - ooohwhat a wonderful body horror! and the first episode of the eries that made me go "haha what the fuck?" when i was watching it for the first time

giant woman - first intruduction of fusion and cute song and opal! ah good memories <3

the roses room - oh also such a good one

first aperience of lapis and episode after that - wow what there are other gems? and crystal gems are hiding something and maybe not so good? and monsters are also used to be gems? wowza! also such a beautiful visual with all the water magic and blind lapis and water tower

sugulite episode -oh hell yeah! also strong in a real way is a great song

STEVONNIE!!!!!!!!!! "screaches" tbh I love all the episodes when they appear (maybe except for the car races) - the first one and the one where Stevonnie has to survive on some alien planet for a while is "cheif kiss"

two episodes when the green hand apears and when we find out Garnet is a fusion - ah a CLASSIC <3

on the run - the song, the first time we see the kindergarden, the I NEVER ASKED TO BE MADE holy shit im so emotional over this episode, might be one of my very favorites

the episode where Garnet and Steven go to investigate what is the claster and they see those fucked up mutants - HOLY SHIT IT WAS SO SCARY AND UNCANNY I LOVE THIS EPISODE SO MUCH also one of my most faves

episode where Pearl gets very mad that lion belonged to Rose and that Steven knows something she doesnt and that Rose has secrets from her - when you see how fucked up it is, when for a second you could see she wants Steven to fall, but also knowing later on whats shes been going through... can understand why (understand, but not excuse)- such controvershal feelings but hey thats why we love this show dont we?

Timetravel sandclokes episode - hey another fucked what the fuck :D also love how Steven is surprised he can be so annoying lol

befriending Peridot <3

Pearl Steven and Greg build spaceship

Garnet shares abuility to see the future, so Steven and Connie don't get into snowstorm

bunch of rubies arrive and everyone play baseball - so fucking cute fhgfdhjfg

Garnet's story of how Ruby and Saphire met <3

When we see Blue Diamond in person for the first time and she steals Greg and how team goes to save him - so much good stuff, they tears, caused by Blue, the human zoo, THE AMETHYSTS <3 the whole diversion plan, the WHATS THE POINT OF FEELING BLUE song <3

First aperience of Smoky Quartz, Steven and Amethist having troubles feeling like shit, Jasper's downfall, the "you killed my diamond, your diamond - Pink Diamond!" and "come here sis" - very good

Peral goes puk and has a crush on pink haired biker girl UwU

Bismuth episode

traveling into Pearls head episode

Garnet wedding <3

the final is also so good (even tho its rushed and I WISH so much that there would be more of gathering rebels gems throughout the galaxy to overthrown the diamonds, but I know how pressed the whole crew was to finish the series right here and right now... even with all that, I think they managed to make a great final! <3 )

AAAND steven the future too

how all the traumas finall catching up - good shit

especially love the episode where Steven and Peridot make dream show

and the two perls episode also very good

Pearl and Bismuth rollerskate UwU

and when Steven was with Jasper

and the final <3

woof that was long haha

Favorite designs:

I love the main 3 (i remember when i was teen i hated new designs, compared to the pilot, but later on I started to think that new ones are better... idk, I think Garnet's square afro and huge hips and Pearl's nose are SUPERIOR)

I really like Rose Quartz's design - shes so prettyyyyyy

I liked Blue Agate design! those boots wowza!

Peridot and her cool limbs (i dont remember the name of those thingies)

Blue Diamond has cool design but

THE WHITE DIAMOND??? oh man, I love her design! so stunning but creapy! the use of white and black, the wibes of b/w old tv shows? very very cool

I ALSO love fusion designs so much!!!

I especially like how more stable fusions tend to have less limbs and have more humanoid form

I like how fusions that have amethyst in there tend to have very sharp teeth and even extra maw (exept for Opal... but maybe she just doesnt open her mouth wide enough for you to see hehe)

I like Pearl+Ruby fusion (sorry I don't remember her name... I dream to draw fan comics about them but eh...)

I also like how gems, who've been healed from their monstrocity still have some kind of monster aspects

like little horns and such

I like the gem that used to be the worm, who eated shiny things haha shes cute

AND SNOWFLAKE OBSIDIAN????? whats her buisness looking so swell????? shes so cool loking but she only been there for like... five seconds ToT

ok im done thank you

[bangtiddies]

BTS Game

tagged by @lustjoon

Rules: Answer the questions and tag more ARMY friends to play along!

First BTS song? run

First bias? jungkook

Current bias? jin and maybe jimin

Put the members in order of your bias list: ah omg i don’t like ranking them cause they all make me wild in different ways eeeek but i’ll have to say jin, jimin, namjoon, hobi, taetae, yoongi, jungkook eeek they’re all very close though because i love them so much omg i’m so hurt that i ranked them fndsoihfdkjsk

Favorite BTS song? blood sweat and tears

Favorite BTS song that is underrated? wishing on a star

Favorite song of Wings? blood sweat and tears

Favorite song of each LY Her, Tear and Answer? her: dimple, tear: outro: tear, answer: epiphany

Favorite music video? blood sweat and tears (both the original and japanese ver)

Favorite dancer? jhooooooooooope

Favorite vocalist? jin, ooh his voice is prettyyyyyy... although all of them are unique in a way and as a musician i appreciate and love all of their voices

Favorite rapper? yoongi probs, i love how he sounds. but like the vocalists, they each have unique styles so it’s kinda hard to compare them to each other.

Favorite hair color on each member? pink jin, mint yoongi, orange hobi, purple joon, orange jimin, red tae, classic brown haired kook

Favorite choreography? blood sweat and tears (i’m so biased toward bs&t, it’s so superior)

Favorite ship? minimoni, the softest ship

tagging: @parksfilter @taehyung-me-down @hobisbeautifulass @peekaboongi @mygsii 

[thalia-amongst-the-thorns]

OCKiss #5- Drunken Kiss

Party People

(Sasha/Ed)

The reflection staring back at Sasha is wild. Face flush, unruly cotton candy fluff hair spotted with chip crumbs. Their favorite lime green eyeshadow melting off into a sweaty mess on their dark cheek bones, Frosted Rose lip shimmer streaked across their chin and the rim of the red plastic cup cradled in their hand. Eheh, they looked sooooo cute, like a soupy clown, like a cute little soupy clownnnn. The heat in Sasha’s cheeks spikes and a flicker of yellow with splotches of orange spreads over their neck like a persistent rash.

“Ooooh no-no no no”, they giggle, waving a finger unsteadily at their reflection. “You stop that right now, soupy clown, you don’t-don’t want people to— “, their voice drops to a whisper, least someone outside hear, “—to find out your secret identity.”

They try to focus, can’t, finish off the last of their drink because they are probably just thirsty, got distracted trying to figure out what the sharp tang was (grape soda with vodka? Peach schnapps and blue Gatorade?), realize their shoes are missing and check the medicine cabinet and find a used nail file, and are half-way through buffing their toenails when someone pounds at the bathroom door.

“Occ-uuu-pied”, Sasha sing-songs. The pounding increases in tempo, rattling around in their head. Sasha stumbles, yanks her sandal off and chucks it at the door with a satisfying clunk. Oh, goody, that’s where they got to! “Wait your turn, pleases and thanks yous!”

“Christ Sasha, can you open the door?”

Oh. Oh-oh-oh they knew that voice. Sasha skids back to the mirror, wipes away the stray shimmer and eyeshadow, only now there’s Rose Frost on their cheeks instead. But it looks cute as hell as a highlight, so it’s really a bonus. The bathroom lock is stuck and Sasha jiggles and pulls at it before they lean against the door in exhausted frustration and it abruptly swings outward, sending them tumbling headlong into what feels like an animated lamppost, all long and gangly and hard. 

“Eddy!!!” Sasha yells over the swell of music, hanging onto his shirt front. People are pressed in around them, the party still going strong. Ed glowers down, down, down at them, grabs onto their shoulders to steady them.

“What were you doing— “

“Where did Marcos go, he said he’d watch the door?”

Ed blinks, confused. Oh, he looked so cute when he was confused, a bemused giraffe with red wire rimmed glasses. “He said you needed help?”

“What?” Sasha blurts, then suddenly realizes what a smarty-smart Marcos was. Wasn’t Sasha just telling him how disappointed they were that Eddie was avoiding everyone and sulking in a dark corner? “Why yes”, they say self-assuredly, “yes, I do need help.”

They proudly point at their face where they can feel the dull warmth of the glow as it creeps up their neck to their ear. Ed starts in concern, glances anxiously around but no one’s paying them any attention in the chaos of a flock of frat boys having a chug off. Still, Ed positions his considerable bulk between Sasha and the room, blocking them from view. Soooo considerate.

“Sasha, you know I can’t actually help with that, right? Aren’t your powers, you know— “, he casts about for the right description, “—an ‘alien mood ring’, or whatever?”

“Oh, you remembered!!!” Sasha claps their hands in delight. Sometimes they worry that Eddie doesn’t pay attention to the important bits when they chat at him during patrol.

Eyes narrowing, Ed bends down, sniffs loudly at Sasha’s mouth and frowns. He speaks on a long sigh.

“Are you drunk?”

“Maybeeee, but only a teensy bit.” They pinch their thumb and forefinger together to demonstrate just how not drunk they are. “Just had some of the punch, only a cup or three, it’s de-lic-ious!!” 

“What happened to the list?” Oh deary, Eddie sounds annoyed again. A new song starts, something with a lot of throbbing bass, and Sasha bounces along to the beat, pulling at Ed’s arms to get him to join in. Regrettably, he remains stubbornly rooted to the spot so that he looks like a giant marionette as Sasha swings his arms for him.

He continues, nonplussed, “I thought you said your body couldn’t digest milk, nuts, glutton--do you even know how alcohol effects Esnexians?”

“My Pa drinks all the time.” At least, they’d seen him open wine at dinner. But maybe that was just so they could pour Dad a glass? “Besides, it’ll only affect me half as much then. You need to relax Eddie-- you should try some, it’s part of the experience!! All the best college movies have drinking in them!!”

“I fear for the future of the education system.” His eyes dart to the ground. “And it wouldn’t really, uh, make a difference if I did. I can’t get drunk. Invulnerability extends to the small stuff, too.” 

“Oh, that’s terrible”, Sasha moans. 

“Horrible.” His tone is deadpan, but an odd look passes over his face. He sounds like he’s talking to himself when he says, “I can’t taste, can’t feel anything, really. Everything’s just been dulled for years…”

It was strange seeing Eddie without the cool mask of cynicism. He tried to avoid talking about his powers, but from what Sasha’d gleamed it was more of a pain in the butt than people excepted, not being able to feel things. Seeing him being so vulnerable made Sasha want to wrap him in a warm blanket with a mug of hot coco and mini marshmallows, but he probably wouldn’t like that.

Oh.

Wait

Oh yes, that was brilliant!

They release his arms and clasp a hand on either side of his face, straining on the tippy-tip of their toes to do so, and even than it’s a wobbly attempt. Despite an expression of weary fear, Ed bends forward obligingly so that they’re both eye level. 

“Eddie.”

“Sasha.”

“Eddie”, they say with as much gravitas as they can manage with double vision. “Just because your powers suck doesn’t mean you suck.”

His mouth is open to respond but Sasha’s faster, smashing their mouth to his enthusiastically. Teeth bump jarringly and Ed’s hand automatically grab their waist as Sasha overbalances. His palms are large and warm on their bare skin, his lips soft with the faint waxy taste of chapstick.

With a smacking sound Sasha pulls away for air, beams into Ed’s dazed face. He looks like a building fell on his head—they’d seen it’d happen before.

“So”, they say, booping his nose, “did you feel that?”

Ed’s fingers briefly press against his lips curiously. He smiles softly (a real one, not sad at all!!) before his eyes widen in alarm. “Is that supposed to happen?”

Following his gaze down, Sasha’s sees their skin is now a radioactive grape soda purple glow that pulsates lazily. Little freckles of pink bob in and out of the stream, like the lava in a lava lamp. Fascinated, they hold their hand up in front of their face and giggle at the hazy reflection in Ed’s glasses.

“Oh, I’m prettyyyyyy!!”

“Put it out before someone sees!”

Instinctively they both glance about. A guy in sweatpants and nothing else stands barely five feet from them, staring back with glassy eyes. An awkward moment passes and the guy shrugs, stuffs the remains of a brownie into his mouth and pushes past into the bathroom.

Booming laughter shakes Ed’s frame, startling Sasha into a giggle fit of her own. His laugh isn’t like his normal voice at all, full of adorable snorts and wordless gasps. After a while he’s pulled himself together enough to stand and take Sasha’s hand in his. He’s too tall to sling their arm over his shoulder, so settles for letting them curl it around his waist instead.

“Let’s get some fresh air”, he says, chortling still.

Sasha stumbles along next to him happily. “Sounds fun!!”

[artificialqueens]

wingwomen ch4 (trixya, shalaska) - lale

All of the amazing comments on this so far have made my week!! You’ve all made writing this the best experience, I love you all! I hope you enjoy this part :)

“It’s like a double date!” Trixie said gleefully to Alaska. They were walking back home now that the school day was over, and she was brimming with excitement. She linked her arm through Alaska’s, glad for the 10 block walk they shared before they went their separate ways.

“It’s only lunch,” Alaska reminded her. Trixie pouted.

“It’s a big deal! I’m actually going to get to talk to her,” she pointed out.

“Sharon doesn’t even want to sit with us,” Alaska said. “She said no, Katya said yes. She might not even do it.”

“She said maybe when I asked earlier. And I saw how she was when you were over there, it didn’t look like she didn’t like you. Honestly, she looked kind of shy.”

“I still don’t see why you couldn’t have come with me. I made an idiot of myself in front of her,” Alaska whined.

“I’d already talked to her! She would have been overwhelmed,” Trixie said.

“Whatever. I still don’t think she likes me, she didn’t even talk to me. Thank god Katya’s so chatty. She’s really funny, actually. I like her,” Alaska said. Trixie sighed dreamily.

“God, when she lit her cigarette with Sharon’s? So hot! How does she make smoking hot? Tell me what she was saying. Did she mention me?” Trixie said, remembering the way Katya had winked at her when Sharon had been helping Alaska light her cigarette. She had the most gorgeous smile, with full red lips that Trixie wanted to kiss senseless. “

“I mean, she didn’t explicitly mention you. But I think she likes you! She kept looking at you before I went over,” Alaska said carefully.

“Do you really think she likes me? She might just think I’m a freak,” Trixie said, voicing the worry that had been niggling in the back of her mind. She’d been trying so hard to make friends with Sharon for Alaska’s sake that she’d been able to suppress her anxiety over the likelihood of someone as gorgeous and, apparently, funny, as Katya being attracted to her. Being a cheerleader might have made her vaguely ‘cool’, but she was still known as a nerd who tried hard in class. She was still chubby, and wore a lot of makeup and always had big hair. There was no real reason why Katya would like her.

“Oh, shut up! You’re the furthest thing from a freak. You’re more of a weirdo,” Alaska said fondly.

“I’m serious! For all we know, you and Sharon are going to ride off into the sunset together for your happily ever after and I’m going to get totally rejected by the most gorgeous girl in the world!” Trixie wailed dramatically. Alaska shoved her gently by the shoulder.

“Don’t be such a drama queen, she definitely likes you. Besides, me and Sharon aren’t going to ride into the sunset together. She’d have to actually talk to me for that to happen.” Trixie sighed, infuriated by Alaska’s refusal to accept that Sharon didn’t hate her. At least she’d actually sat with Sharon for a while, even if Sharon hadn’t said much. Trixie still hadn’t even spoken to Katya!

“Why are you being so cranky?” she asked, frowning at Alaska.

“I’m not! God, you’re being a bitch,” Alaska whined. Something dawned on Trixie.

“Oh my god,” she said, “do you need a cigarette? How much of that one did you smoke???”

Alaska wrinkled her nose. “Do I smoke now?” she asked.

***

Sharon dragged her feet as she approached her locker. Her last class before lunch had gone by far too quickly – a very rare feeling for her in school – and now she had to face Alaska and Trixie. Thank god Katya would be there too; if she didn’t have a buffer between them she thought she might have lost her mind. Okay, maybe Trixie wasn’t as terrible as she’d first thought, and she’d always thought Alaska wasn’t as bad as the other cheerleaders, but not hating them and actively wanting to spend her lunch break with them were two very different things.

As she got closer to her locker, she realized that Trixie and Alaska were already there, apparently waiting for her and Katya. Probably to avoid Sharon sneaking away before she could make good on her promise to sit with them, she realized. Alaska was leant against the locker, one long leg bent up at the knee and her combat boot pressed against the metal of the lockers. The rest of the cheerleaders all wore their sneakers all day – Trixie’s were pink, of course – but Alaska wore her boots until practice. It was one of the things about her that had caught Sharon’s attention.

Trixie was stood next to Alaska, pressing what looked like stickers, or maybe band-aids, onto Alaska’s arms and looking hilariously forlorn. As she got closer, Sharon could hear their conversation.

“I definitely don’t need nine nicotine patches,” Alaska drawled, trying to peel one off of her wrist. Trixie smacked her hand away.

“You’re going to get cancer! I should never have sent you over there, it’s my fault,” she said sadly. Sharon couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips. She knew Alaska had never smoked before yesterday. It was kind of cute that she would go along with her and Katya so eagerly in her eagerness to please. She just didn’t really understand why Alaska and Trixie and were suddenly so determined to make friends.

“You’re blocking my locker,” she said when she reached them. Alaska whirled around, quickly ripping the patches from her arm.

“Sorry!” she said, moving to the side so that Sharon could open her locker. She tossed the nicotine patches at Trixie as she tore them off, and Trixie shrieked when one hit her in the face. “Ha,” Alaska said with a smirk, pointing to one that had stuck to her chest.

Trixie turned to face Sharon. “Does my nipple look weird?” she asked, a serious expression on her face as she pointed to the patch stuck to her shirt.

“Very weird. I think you need doctor,” came Katya’s voice from behind her. Trixie’s cheeks immediately flushed scarlet, and she picked the patch off with a nervous-sounding laugh.

Oh. Sharon smirked to herself. If Trixie was smitten with Katya, that would explain her sudden attempts to make friends with the two of them. But where did that leave Alaska? Of course, everyone knew Trixie and Alaska were best friends, totally inseparable. Was Alaska just tagging along to be a good friend, there to distract Sharon while Trixie got to talk to Katya?

Katya broke her out of her thoughts by waving a hand in front of her face. “Sharon? Is there something in locker?” she asked. Sharon realized she’d been staring into her locker, stood completely still. She closed the door quickly, and Katya flashed her a smile. “Let’s eat! I’m starving,” she said, leading the way towards the cafeteria. Sharon took a second to steel herself, preparing for a lunch spent with two cheerleaders – and, really, who would’ve thought even a few days ago that this would happen – and followed.

***

Bozo 🤡: that went so well! Sharon’s pretty cool

Queen of the snakes 🐍: yeah. you don’t think she was hating it the whole time?

Bozo 🤡: No!!! She actually smiled at you, didn’t you see?

Queen of the snakes 🐍: no? did she really?

Bozo 🤡: yeah!!

Bozo 🤡: Katya’s so funny. Isn’t she so funny?

Queen of the snakes 🐍: she’s totally insane. Do you think any of the stories she was telling are true?

Bozo 🤡: Russia’s a weird place.

Queen of the snakes 🐍: yeah, but do you really think they make them do interpretive dances about Putin for gym class?

Bozo 🤡: i don’t even care. She can tell me ridiculous stories all she wants.

Queen of the snakes 🐍: you’re disgustingly smitten

Bozo 🤡: 😍😍😍

Bozo 🤡: you think they’ll come to lunch with us again tomorrow?

Queen of the snakes 🐍: you can go ask them before practice

Bozo 🤡: I suppose. Don’t want you to be tempted by a cigarette [skull emoji, eyes emoji]

Queen of the snakes 🐍: you’re such a moron

Bozo 🤡: FUCK i can’t have lunch with you guys tomorrow

Queen of the snakes 🐍: ????

Bozo 🤡: i have a club meeting

Queen of the snakes 🐍: oh shit

Queen of the snakes 🐍: they might not even want to eat with us tomorrow, anyway

Bozo 🤡: I’ll ask anyway. Maybe I can get away from club early and come sit with you guys for a while!

Queen of the snakes 🐍: i don’t want sharon to get scared off if we keep bugging her to hang out

Bozo 🤡: she won’t get scared off! i really think she’s coming around. We’re basically friends now

Queen of the snakes 🐍: you just want another chance to stare lovingly at Katya, dork

Bozo 🤡: she’s so prettyyyyyy

Bozo 🤡: i just wanna like pet her hair and have her tell me crazy stories in Russian

Bozo 🤡: and then she can sit on my face 😍

Queen of the snakes 🐍: yoU’RE DISGUSTING I HATE YOU

***

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: why did you say we’d have lunch with them again???

Red scare: it was fun!!!

Red scare: I know you like her

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: they’re so full on, they make me tired

Red scare: i see you smiling!

Red scare: she like you. Just ask her to come play with your ouiji board [winky face]

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: shut up!

Ooky spooky 👻: im not going to lunch with them tomorrow

Red scare: yes!!!!

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: no!!!!

Red scare: 😡

Red scare: please??

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: you fucking owe me

***

Sharon took her time walking to the cafeteria the next day for lunch. She’d been half expecting to find Alaska and Trixie hovering by her locker again, but they’d been nowhere to be seen. Katya hadn’t been around either, so she’d been left to walk to lunch by herself. She’d considered ditching them – she’d rarely eaten in the cafeteria before Katya showed up, mostly taking her food outside and chainsmoking her way through lunch alone – but she knew Katya would give her shit if she didn’t show up.

It wasn’t as if lunch with Trixie and Alaska had been awful. They weren’t the dumb bitches she’d thought they were; Trixie was quick witted and would whip out comments that would take them by surprise before making them laugh – or scream-laugh, if you were Katya – and Alaska had a perfect deadpan delivery. But Sharon still couldn’t help but feel nervous around them. Logically, she knew they were nice girls, but there was still that voice in the back of her mind telling her that they were playing some trick on her, pretending to be her friend so that they could humiliate her.

She shook her head, trying to clear the negative thoughts. She needed Katya to talk her out of it; she had an uncanny ability to sense when Sharon was thinking too much and know just how to distract her. Although, maybe it wasn’t so much an uncanny ability – maybe Katya could recognize when Sharon was starting to worry because she knew how it felt. Sharon remembered how they’d first met, on Katya’s first day at school – Katya huddled in one of the small alleys behind the buildings where Sharon liked to sneak out to for a cigarette when she really needed one between periods, hands shaking as she tried to light a cigarette.

Katya hid her anxiety a lot better than Sharon did, she thought. She doubted anyone would look at someone so cheerful, funny and loud and ever suspect the crippling panic that lay just below the surface. Sharon felt protective of her, in a way – she’d seen what they hadn’t, and she knew how incredible it was that Katya kept up such a warm, positive exterior. It was why she and Katya had become such good friends so quickly.

Now, though, it seemed that she wasn’t the only one who Katya had made friends with. Sharon stood by the cafeteria entrance, watching Katya and Alaska laugh together. They were sat alone at a table in the opposite corner of the room; she couldn’t see Trixie anywhere.

Alaska and Katya seemed to be getting along great. Katya was beaming at her, gesturing wildly with her fork before collapsing into a fit of screeching laughter when it tangled in her wild hair. Alaska was laughing too, that gorgeous smile on her face. Sharon barely ever saw her smile like that, unless she was with Trixie. Alaska was easily the quietest of all of the cheerleaders, and definitely the least conventional. It intrigued Sharon; she wanted to know what had drawn the quiet, funny girl she remembered from middle school to the most popular clique in high school.

But why would Alaska be interested in talking to Sharon? She had Trixie and all of their other friends. She had Katya now, too. Maybe Katya would end up joining the cheerleaders, too, and Sharon would be left alone again.

Sharon turned on her heel, heading away from the cafeteria. She didn’t have much of an appetite anymore.

***

Red scare 🚬: where are you???

Red scare 🚬: are you coming????

Red scare 🚬: Trixie isn’t here either

Red scare 🚬: is everything okay?

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: sorry, something came up

Red scare 🚬: Willam said she saw you in cafeteria. Did something happen?

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: no, im fine

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: its nothing

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: you and Alaska looked like you were having plenty of fun by yourselves

Red scare 🚬: why didn’t you come sit?

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: i didn’t want to interrupt

Red scare 🚬: no!

Red scare 🚬: you not interrupt

Red scare 🚬: you’re my best friend

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: sorry

Red scare 🚬: don’t be sorry

Red scare 🚬: 😘

***

Every day the next week, Alaska and Trixie were joined for lunch by Sharon and Katya. Alaska was surprised that Sharon had turned up so often, but she’d seen her every day since the lunchbreak she’d spent with just her and Katya. It was probably all down to Trixie – she was so determined to prove to Alaska that she could be a good wingwoman for her, so she’d probably been hassling Sharon to keep showing up for lunch. But today Trixie had a club meeting, so Alaska had taken it upon herself to make sure Sharon turned up. Maybe she was letting herself get carried away, but she thought she’d started making a connection with Sharon. Getting to know her had only made her like her even more, and she didn’t want to lose the tentative friendship they’d formed. She couldn’t bear to go back to watching her from a distance during cheerleading practice.

Alaska hovered by Sharon’s locker, looking around the busy hallway for any sign of her distinctive blonde hair. When she spotted her walking towards her, she couldn’t but grin. Sharon was strikingly beautiful, with her bleached blonde hair and piercing eyes surrounded by smudged black makeup.

“Hieee,” she said in greeting, stepping aside to let Sharon get into her locker.

“Hey,” Sharon replied, a smile that almost looked fond on her face. “Where’s Trixie?”

“Club,” Alaska said. Sharon’s face fell as she opened her backpack.

“Oh,” she said. “Katya has to meet with the guidance counselor.”

“Oh,” Alaska echoed. She understood Sharon’s uncertainty – Katya and Trixie were definitely the louder two of the four of them. Without their best friends as buffers, Sharon was probably wondering what they’d even have to talk about. Still, this was her chance – the first chance she’d really gotten to talk to Sharon alone. “Well, we can still-”

“I just remembered that I have to do something,” Sharon said quickly. She tossed her books into her locker and slammed the door shut. “I’ll see you around, okay?”

Alaska blinked at her in surprise. “Oh, um. Sure, okay,” she agreed, swallowing down the lump in her throat. Of course Sharon didn’t want to have lunch with her. Why would she? Katya was her best friend, and she even got along better with Trixie since Trixie had started her friendship campaign in their social studies class. Alaska was just the added extra she had to put up with to spend time with them.

“Wait!” she said, lunging after Sharon as she started to walk away. Sharon looked over her shoulder at her. “You’re still coming to the party at Laganja’s tonight, right? After the game?” she asked. Trixie had brought up the party earlier in the week, and when Katya had immediately said yes for the both of them they’d spent the evening freaking out to each other on the phone. Alaska had been planning her outfit in her head for days; she couldn’t bear it if Sharon bailed now.

“Yeah, I suppose so. Katya really wants to go, so,” Sharon said, shrugging. Alaska forced a weak smile onto her face. Sharon wasn’t as enthusiastic as she’d hoped she be, but she was still coming. That was all Alaska could ask for, really.

“I’ll see you there,” she said, waving at Sharon’s back as she retreated down the hallway.

***

Red scare 🚬: Alaska says you ditch her today for lunch??? What happened??

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: what was I supposed to do?

Red scare 🚬: ???

Red scare 🚬: if you don’t know how to have lunch I cannot help you

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: I wouldn’t have had anything to talk to her about!

Red scare 🚬: you talk every day at lunch!

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: not just the 2 of us! Idk, I panicked

Red scare 🚬: say sorry at party. With kissing

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: you’re so ridiculous

Red scare 🚬: she likes you! Party is best time for kissing

Ooky spooky bitch 👻: idiot. Meet you at yours before the party?

Red scare 🚬: wear something pretty 😜

***

Trixie was flustered as she jumped out of her mom’s car, tugging her dress down over her thighs. Her stepdad had been late back from work so they’d had to wait before her mom could give her a ride, and now she was late. She hated being late.

She walked up the path to Laganja’s house, patting her hair to make sure it was still neatly in place. She always liked to look good, but tonight, with Katya at the party, she wanted to look better than ever.

“You look hot,” a voice said from the other side of the front yard. Trixie looked over, then grinned.

“Hey!” she said, crossing the yard to greet Sharon with a hug. Sharon seemed surprised, but gave her shoulder a pat before pulling back. “Are Alaska and Katya inside?” she asked. Sharon’s lips stretched into a thin smile, and she brought her cigarette up to her mouth and inhaled deeply.

“Oh yeah. Last I saw they were in the lounge, glued at the hip. You know how those two are,” she said, sounding bitter.

“What do you mean?” Trixie asked. She knew Alaska and Katya got on great, but she’d always seen it as a good thing. How could it not be if her best friend and the girl she liked were friends?

“Oh, come on, Trixie. I know you’re not a dumb cheerleader, so don’t act it,” Sharon said, raising an eyebrow at her. “I should’ve known Katya would find someone cooler to be friends with. Maybe you’ll be luckier and Alaska won’t ditch you entirely.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Trixie asked. God, if Sharon was going to talk in riddles at her, she really needed a drink.

“At least we’ve got each other now, huh? We can be the reject friends together, unless you’re going to ditch me too,” Sharon said. Trixie huffed, shaking her head.

“God, Sharon, I don’t even know what you’re talking about! I can’t deal with you,” she said. She couldn’t look at Sharon’s smile, somehow bitter and smug at the same time, any longer.

Alaska would never replace her! They’d been friends for too long, and gone through too much together. And Katya…well, maybe Katya did like Alaska better. She’d never considered that before. Did Katya even like her, or did she just put up with her so she could hang out with Alaska?

Determined to find Katya and Alaska and prove Sharon wrong, Trixie walked away from her.

“Check the bedrooms! God knows they’ve got crazy lady boners for each other,” Sharon shouted after her.

“Fuck you!” Trixie called back, slamming Laganja’s front door behind her in her anger. What the fuck was Sharon’s problem? Alaska would never do that. Katya didn’t like Alaska, did she? What had she been saying to Sharon? Trixie’s insides twisted with worry.

***

Outside, Sharon’s smile dropped as she stubbed her cigarette out against the wall of the house. “Alone again,” she said softly to herself.

***

“I don’t know where the fuck Trixie is,” Alaska complained, checking her phone for the hundredth time. Trixie had sent her a text an hour before, telling her that she was waiting for her mom to be free to give her a ride. Thankfully Alaska knew most of the people at the party, and once Sharon and Katya had arrived she’d gravitated towards them. Sharon had disappeared pretty quickly, and she and Katya were squeezed into an armchair together as they waited for their friends to reappear.

“She’ll be here soon,” Katya said, patting her hand. Alaska pouted.

“She’d better,” she said. Katya laughed.

“You should talk to Sharon,” she said.

“What?” Alaska replied, surprised. “Why?”

Katya rolled her eyes. “Because you want to kiss her?” she said, like it was obvious.

“I don’t – what? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Alaska said, flustered. Was she that obvious.

“Do not lie! I see all,” Katya said. She wiggled one of her messy braids, fastened with googly-eye scrunchies, at Alaska.

“Shut up,” Alaska said weakly. If Katya could read her so easily, could Sharon? Was that why she’d run away from her at lunch earlier?

“Just kiss her! She will like it,” Katya insisted. Alaska reached across her to the tray of shots Gia had deposited on the table nearby a few minutes earlier. She picked up two glasses, offering one to Katya. “Oh, no,” Katya said, scrunching up her nose and putting a hand in front of the glass.

“Alright,” Alaska said, shrugging and downing one shot after another. What? She needed them. Katya watched her, looking amused. A flash of inspiration hit Alaska.

“I’ll talk to Sharon if you ask Trixie out,” she said. She’d seen Katya look at Trixie, the smile on face not dissimilar from the one she saw on Trixie’s face whenever she looked at Katya. She was confident enough that Katya would be interested – it was worth the risk of putting it out there.

She beamed, proud of herself, when Katya’s whole face lit up.

“Barbie? You think she say yes?” she asked hopefully.

“Duh! Come on, Kat, don’t you see how she looks at you?” she said. Katya blushed, fiddling with the ends of one of her braids.

“Me?” she said, sounding uncharacteristically shy.

“Yes! Don’t be dumb, you’re gorgeous. Why wouldn’t she like you?” she said. Katya looked down at her lap for a moment, then looked up with a huge, bright smile on her face. She looked positively adorable.

“Yes! Okay, yes! I talk to Barbie – you have to talk to Sharon,” she said, offering her pinky finger to Alaska.

Alaska hesitated. Sharon had done her best to avoid her earlier – why would she want to talk to talk to her now? But she wanted to be a good friend to Trixie. She deserved it.

“Okay,” she agreed, hooking her pinky finger around Katya’s.

“Perfect!” Katya let out a joyful squeal, then grabbed Alaska’s face in her hands. She pressed a smacking kiss to her lips, grinning at her.

When she pulled back, Alaska saw Trixie behind Katya. She was staring at them, face pale. Her hands were fisted into her dress, and her eyes filled with tears.

“Trixie,” Alaska gasped, realising what it had to look like. Katya’s head whipped around, a startled expression on her face.

“Fuck you,” Trixie choked out. She turned around, but Alaska heard her sob before she fled from the room.