"Wear something cute, okay?"

***

The girls spent the whole weekend together, shopping for their Spring Formal dresses. Since Lydia was the one to drag her out to shop, she bought their outfits. They weren't too expensive to buy. After all, they went shopping at a Macy's in the only mall in town and Lydia had plenty of money to spare.

Eventually, they were back at school and the week had begun again. Jennifer dreaded walking in with Lydia, mostly because she heard her classmates talk about their friendship for the millionth time. They were obsessed with them, always confounded to how they just got along. 

Jennifer heard them talking sometimes. It was always the same theories and questions:

"I bet Lydia is just friends with her for her money."

"I wonder if Jennifer is her dealer?"

"Maybe she stalks her and Lydia's just used to it."

She would say that it was unbearable, but at this point, Jennifer really didn't care anymore. For years people had judged her, so she was used to it by now.

As the girls reached their respective lockers, which just so happened to be next to each other, Lydia spoke. "Hey, I was thinking that we should go out tonight."

"Tonight?" she asked. "But we literally just spent the whole weekend together."

"Yeah, but there's this indie band playing at Melody Lane tonight. They're called 'Lance & Griffin'; they're from the city." She stated.

Jennifer raised her eyebrows, interested. "What is it like a gig or something?" 

Lydia nodded in confirmation. "Mm-hm, and I looked up their Instagram too." She mentioned whilst opening her locker. "The lead singer is so cute."

"Reminder: you have a boyfriend." She evoked to her.

"I didn't mean for me." Lydia declared as she retrieved her books for the day. 

In astonishment, Jennifer raised her eyebrows. "Wait, are you suggesting...?"

Lydia grinned. "Yep."

She instantly shook her head, growing nervous. "Nope."

"Oh, come on, Jen! You need to put yourself out there." She pointed out, acknowledging how she was the only girl in school who wasn't dating anyone.

"I told you three months ago that I'm not looking for guys to date!" she exclaimed with an anxious smile. "Besides, I was planning to study tonight anyway."

Her friend rolled her eyes, sneering. "You always study."

"And what's so bad about that? I'm sorry we're not as smart as you, Lydia." Jennifer said.

"Please! Just come with me because I have no other single friends to take!" she pleaded.

Once again, Jennifer shook her head. "Absolutely not."

At her wit's end, Lydia had one more trick to bring to the table. She raised her hand, her index finger pointed at Jennifer. "Don't make me do it."

Her eyes widened, recognising what she was about to do. "Lydia, not here."

"Don't make me cross you out." She uttered.

"Di, don't do it...!" she harshly whispered. Jennifer swiftly glanced at her surroundings, acknowledging that many people were watching in awe.

"I'm crossing you out, Jennifer Check!" Lydia made a large 'X' with her fingers, "crossing" her out. A few students giggled around them before moving on.

Finally, she conceded. It was hard not to after being humiliated like that. "All right, what time is the show?"

She beamed. "8:30, and also can you pick me up? My mom has a date tonight, so she's taking the car."

"All right then," Jennifer responded. "I'll pick you up at eight."

"Wear something cute, okay? You never know what could happen tonight." Lydia told her before walking away with her books in one hand and a handbag in the other. She strutted past the student body like a runway model; she was utterly flawless.

Wear something cute.

That term meant something completely different to Jennifer. To her, it meant she had to wear something that wouldn't upstage Lydia. Even if that's not what she meant, Jennifer still took it to heart. Lydia was the star, not Jennifer.

It was never Jennifer.

The school bell rang and her peers immediately shuffled to their classes. However, Jennifer instead made her way outside; since she had a free period. Every Monday morning, she would sit outside and just read. It was better than being crammed inside the smelly library that was always busy in the morning.

The sun blinded her gaze as she exited the building. She held a hand up to her face, her eyes soon adjusting to the light. Although, through the gaps between her fingers, she spotted a familiar classmate who was sitting by his lonesome.

He had his head in one hand, leaning over despondently. Being the kind-hearted girl she was, Jennifer instinctively approached where he sat. She glimpsed the face of the student, recognising him as Isaac Lahey.

"Isaac?" He turned his head in her direction, startled by her sudden appearance. "You all right?"

For a moment, she noticed a few bruises that lined his jaw and the area around his eyes. "Yeah, yeah... I'm fine..."

"If you were fine then you wouldn't be skipping classes." Jennifer wandered closer to him, though Isaac pretended not to care, still looking away from her. She sat down on the brickwork, only a few metres away from him. "Can I see?"

"Do you really want to?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Wouldn't it be better to show somebody? It might help."

After some apparent uncertainty, Isaac ultimately faced her. She saw the purple-reddish bruises in a better light; it looked like he had been really beaten up. It was a known fact amongst a small group of people that Isaac's dad wasn't the best man to be around. Years ago, his friend almost drowned, and his father blamed it on the victim instead of the team he was coaching.

Jennifer sighed. "Did you get to put some ice on it?"

"My dad wouldn't let me." He informed her. "I wish that I could do something about it."

"You could always talk to the police." She suggested.

"I can't. I know it's the easiest thing to do, but I just can't." Isaac said.

He wasn't wrong. Beacon Hills wasn't the best place to get help; the police department was tiny compared to one in the city. "I really wish I could help, Isaac." 

"Yeah, you're not the first to say that." He mentioned.

"But seriously, I wish I could help." Jennifer started, emphasising with him. "My dad wasn't the best guy either. He cheated on my mom, hit her a few times and then walked out on us. Haven't seen or heard from him since."

Isaac frowned. "That must suck."

"We've moved on from it now. But if you ever need to talk or anything, I'm right here." She grazed his hand as a means of comfort. They met each other's eyes, slightly smiling. Isaac was grateful for her sympathy towards him, so grateful that he leaned closer to her.

The two paused as Jennifer gazed at his pink lips. She inched somewhat closer as well, being drawn in. Soon enough, their lips touched. It was something that was out of their control; it was like their bodies wanted it

They didn't know how long they were kissing for, but they enjoyed it. Jennifer was the first to break away, needing to breathe. She took a moment to scan the area, seeing if there was anyone around. "Do you want to go somewhere more private?"

"Sure." He uttered drowsily. Jennifer took his hand, the pair strolling away from the public eye as they entered the school building again. 

She didn't know what she was doing, but it was a strange instinct that she decided to follow. Perhaps it was practice for later, Jennifer was unsure. However, she knew that she didn't want to be a virgin forever. So, why not?

***

Later that night, Lydia was getting ready for her night out with Jennifer. She straightened her strawberry-blonde hair and wore a light pink jacket over a tight dress. Lydia stared at her reflection in the mirror as she applied her lipstick. 

"That dress is really short, I can almost see your butt." Her boyfriend mentioned, watching her get ready from her bed.

She turned to him. "It's a rock show, Stiles. This is my rock look." 

"I've never even heard of 'Lance & Griffin'. They sound shit." He told her.

"Actually, I've heard a bit of their music and they sound cool," Lydia stated. "Plus, I've always wanted to go to a gig."

Stiles shifted on the sheets, sitting up a little. "So, are you going with Jennifer to get her a man? How old are these guys anyway?"

"I think they're around their early to late twenties?" she thought.

He raised his eyebrows. "That's a bit old, isn't it?"

"Age is just a number, sweetie." She cited, primping her hair. "I'm planning to introduce her to the lead singer because he is smoking!"

"Geez, thanks." He mumbled.

Lydia noted his discontent, slowly walking over. "I meant for her, idiot. You're much hotter."

He smirked. "I can say the same about you."

Their lips instantly interlocked, the couple making out on her bed. Lydia crawled onto her duvet as she cupped her hands around Stiles' face. He even unbuckled his belt, the intimacy growing between them. They continued to embrace for a while longer until she felt a sudden impulse to stop.

She pulled away, the moment ruined. "Jennifer's here."

"How do you know?" Stiles wondered.

As if she anticipated it, they heard a loud yell from below. "Lydia! Quit tampooning yourself and get down here!"

"That's fucking weird." He murmured.

His girlfriend slid off her bed and straightened up her clothes. She took one last look in the mirror, still adjusting her hair. "Better hurry before she gets annoyed."

"You always do what Jennifer tells you to do." Stiles pointed out.

"She does the same with me," responded Lydia. "It's just that I like the same things she likes. We have stuff in common. That's why we're "biffs"." 

She revealed an exact copy of the necklace Jennifer had. It was cheesy, but she liked wearing it, especially when they were hanging out together. Of course, she didn't wear it all the time, unlike her best friend.

Nevertheless, Stiles jeered. "Oh, come on. You two have nothing in common!"

"That's what you think." She stated.

He leapt from the bed, following Lydia as she exited the room. They strolled downstairs, finding Jennifer waiting for them at the front door. She wasn't too overly dressed, Jennifer wearing a light blue sweater and a pink puffy coat. On her lower half, she wore a black denim skirt and some brown ugg boots. 

"I borrowed my mom's car tonight, so she'll kill me if it gets damaged. But I get it until 11:30!" Jennifer informed her, grinning in excitement. Her eyes drifted to the boy walking behind Lydia. "Hey, Stiles."

"Hi, Jennifer." He greeted her.

She sniffed the air, jokingly. "It smells like Thai food in here. Have you two been fucking or something?"

Lydia gasped before abruptly giggling, lightly shoving her friend. "You're so gross!"

"You're gross!" Jennifer playfully shoved her back.

"No, you're gross!"

"You're so gross!"

"Fuck you!" She thrust her towards the door, Lydia giggled as Jennifer hit the wood with a small thump. 

Their playful argument ended, the shy teenager not wanting to be pushed around anymore. "Can we go to the club now?"

"Yeah, let's go," Lydia replied.

She opened the door, the girls leaving the house. Stiles tucked his hands into his pocket, trailing them. "Melody Lane isn't a club. It's a bar." He asserted. "Actually, I'm pretty sure that it's just a bingo hall with taps."

"Eat my ass, Stiles. You're just Jell-O that you weren't invited!" Jennifer shouted.

Lydia's face contorted into a confused smile. "You seem oddly cheerful."

"I'm just in a... surprisingly good mood," Jennifer said as she reminisced the day's events.

 "Look, I'm not jealous. That place is disgusting. Everyone there has a moustache, and my dad gets called there every few weeks because of a fight." He explained.

Jennifer chuckled. "Shut up, Stiles. You're lime green Jell-O and you can't even admit it to yourself.

Stiles halted outside Lydia's house, staring at the girls as they wandered over to the car. "Stop kidnapping my girlfriend!"

"Blame your girlfriend because it was her idea!" Jennifer yelled back, unlocking her car. The two climbed inside and slipped the key into the ignition, firing it up. They sped off down the road, discarding a despondent Stiles to watch them depart.

***

I feel like this chapter was shit but I hope you liked it. We've reached the events of the movie, so that means some shit is about to go down.

See you for the next chapter hopefully.

- Alice ❤