Chapter Text
Audrey and Brooke had their arms linked as they walked to the entrance of the dance. It was being held in the Matrix, a fifteen story five-star hotel. A woman in a pants suit opened the door for them, smiling when she saw their joined arms. Audrey looked away quickly, a light blush creeping up on her cheeks. The two girls followed the signs through the lobby and down a few long hallways until they spotted their friends waiting outside the wooden double doors leading into the party area.
Brooke slipped her arm out of Audrey’s and went to hug Emma and Zoe, leaving Audrey to hang back and whisper with Noah. “How was the ride here?” The boy asked, his voice low.
“Fine.” Audrey answered, keeping her eyes trained straight ahead, trying to not glace at her fake date as she walked through the doors with Emma.
“Did anything happen?” Noah pestered.
Audrey looked at him suspiciously. “What the hell would happen?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “Nothing happened. Nothing’s going to happen. Drop it, Foster.” She gave him a stern look, then followed Zoe into the room, leaving Noah to scowl and glare behind her.
Stavo came up beside him, grinning amusedly at his boyfriend. “Come on.” He grabbed Noah’s hand and guided him into the room.
“She’s so frustrating.” Noah muttered, scrunching up his nose.
“I know.” Stavo agreed, patting Noah’s head.
The boy looked up at him, his glare never wavering. “Do not pat me. I’m not—“ Stavo silenced him with a kiss, earning a surprised yet pleased sigh from the brunet.
“Now, shut up and dance with me.” Stavo mumbled, barely pulling away from his boyfriend.
Noah gave him a lopsided grin. “Yep. Dance. Let’s go.”
An hour later, Audrey and Brooke were pulled close to each other, Audrey’s hands resting on Brooke’s hips while Brooke’s arms were laced around Audrey’s neck. They were gazing at each other with such affection and longing, but neither of them noticed because both of them were the most oblivious people in the world.
They’d been crowned just moments before, standing on the low stage hand in hand as Zoe placed the two silver queen crowns on their heads. Their friend gave them each a knowing look, to which both of them ignored. After the crowd stopped cheering, whistling, and clapping, they made their way back down to the dance floor and held each other, beginning to sway to the slow, sweet music. After a few minutes of dancing alone, the others joined in, but Audrey and Brooke didn’t notice because they were too absorbed within each other to care about anything else in that moment.
“You’re wearing combat boots, aren’t you?” Brooke smirked, noting that for once she was the taller one.
Audrey rose a brow and asked, “You honestly think I would wear heels?”
Brooke grinned widely and shook her head. “Not at all.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Of course not.” She thought it was hot, though she wouldn’t say it. Audrey in anything was gorgeous. “I’m actually surprised you wanted to wear a dress, though.” Not that it was a big deal. Okay, well, it was a big deal because Brooke had never seen Audrey in a dress before and goddamn it was a beautiful sight. Sure, skirts and tights (both of which made Brooke’s knees weak, if she was being honest), but a dress that extravagant? Audrey looked like a fucking goddess and it made Brooke forget how to breathe.
Audrey shrugged. “I thought it looked nice.”
“It does look nice.” Brooke said quickly, then looked away and added with rosey cheeks, “Very, very nice.”
“You look gorgeous, too.” Audrey mumbled softly, bringing one hand up to Brooke’s face, softly stroking her cheek with her thumb. Brooke was staring at Audrey with those big doe eyes and Audrey was looking at her with adoration and before either of them knew what was happening, their lips were connected and moving in a slow rhythm. Audrey’s hand moved from Brooke’s cheek to the back of her neck, drawing her closer. Brooke twined her fingers through Audrey’s soft hair, pulling slightly, making Audrey groan lowly, causing Brooke’s body to surge with passion and hunger for more.
But as quickly as it began, it was over. Audrey froze, her hands leaving Brooke’s body. She stepped away with wide eyes and scrubbed her hands over her face. “I—I’m sorry.” She stuttered, avoiding Brooke’s gaze. Brooke opened her mouth but nothing came out. She was going to tell her that it was okay, that she liked it, that she liked her, but she couldn’t find her voice. Audrey scratched the back of her head and began walking backwards. “I gotta go. I’m gonna go.”
“Audrey,” Brooke finally spoke, though her voice was choked, tears threatening to spill.
“I’m sorry.” She called back, then exited the room, leaving Brooke standing there alone and gasping for air like she was being strangled.
Emma watched the scene unfold from across the room, and after Audrey ran away, leaving a panicking Brooke in the middle of the dance floor, she abandoned her dance with Zoe and approached her distraught best friend. “Are you okay?”
Brooke turned to her with sad eyes and shrugged hopelessly, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I don’t know.” She answered honestly, flopping down on a nearby empty chair and resting her chin in her hand. She began to rub her temples in agitation, hating herself for what had just happened.
“What happened?” Emma pulled up a chair in front of her friend, looking at her with concern.
Brooke leaned forward in the chair, holding her head in her hands. “We kissed again.” She sighed, biting her lip so hard she was sure it drew blood.
Emma grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Brooke, you have to tell her.” She said softly, pleadingly.
The blonde looked up at her and nodded, finally coming to her senses. “Yeah, I know.”
“Now.” Emma added.
Brooke furrowed her brows and leaned back. “Now?”
“Now!” Emma exclaimed, standing and pulling Brooke to her feet. She motioned towards the exit doors but Brooke didn’t move, anxiety starting to bubble inside of her.
“I don’t even know where she went.”
Emma’s eyes scanned the area until they landed on Noah, who had just come back into the room. “Hey, Noah,” She called, motioning the boy over.
“Yeah?” He nodded at them as he approached.
“Where’d Audrey go?”
“Parking lot.”
“There you go.” Emma put her hands on Brooke’s shoulders and began pushing her towards the doors.
“My knight in shining armor.” She muttered sarcastically under her breath.
Emma squeezed her shoulders. “Hey, you got this.” She encouraged.
Brooke turned and gave her a small smile. “Yeah.” Then she took a deep breath and exited the room before she could change her mind.
Noah stepped up beside Emma as they watched Brooke leave. “They’re totally gone on each other.” He stated, crossing his arms, an affectionate smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Yep.” She agreed, propping her hands on her hips, mimicking the same smile.
He nudged her shoulder twice and snickered, “Ten bucks they’re a couple by the end of the night.”
Emma looked up at him incredulously and snorted. “Noah, that’s not even a bet; they will be together by the end of the night. They’d be stupid not to be.”
“True.” He drew out the word, slurring slightly.
Emma side eyed the boy, grinning in amusement. “Are you drunk?”
“Absolutely.” He answered easily, his head bobbing up and down.
She snorted and spun him around, pushing him towards Stavo, who was approaching the two them with two red cups of who-knows-what in his hands. “Go dance with your boyfriend.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her a dramatic bow, then walked away just as Zoe grabbed Emma’s hand from behind and pulled her girlfriend back on the dance floor.
Brooke found Audrey sitting on the hood of her car, her back towards her, staring up at the stars. She’d changed out of her dress and was now wearing black pants and a grey tank-top. The combat boots were still on and Brooke couldn’t help but smile. But that faltered when Audrey turned to her and Brooke noticed the girl’s eyeliner was running, the result of her crying.
The blonde took off her stilettos and hiked her dress up in her hands, crawling up the front of the car and sitting beside Audrey. She took a shaky breath, closed her eyes, and said, “I don’t want to pretend anymore.” Brooke got right to the point, because she knew if she danced around the topic then she would never tell Audrey how she really felt.
Audrey stiffened beside her, keeping her eyes up at the sky as she muttered, “Well, prom is over so we don’t have to.” Her voice was monotone, but Brooke could still hear the hurt and…disappointment?
Oh my god. I’m a fucking idiot. Brooke wanted to slap herself, to throw herself off the car. Because she liked Audrey and Audrey liked her too and how the fuck did she not know this? How could she be so oblivious? They kissed for Christ’s sake! Twice!
“Holy shit.” Brooke breathed out slowly, and began giggling.
Audrey looked at her then, her brows crinkled together in concern. “What?”
“You like me!” Brooke proclaimed loudly, then added, “And I like you, too.”
The brunette’s eyes widened as pure shock flashed over her face. “You—you do?” She asked in disbelief, her mouth hanging open.
She nodded and gave a little shrug. “Who wouldn’t?”
Audrey barked a laugh, rubbing her hands over her face as she said, “This whole ‘fake dating’ thing has been killing me.”
“Me, too.”
“We’ve liked each other this whole time.” Audrey shook her head, chuckling some more at the thought. All along she was panicking for nothing. All along they could have been actually dating instead of playing this stupid game. She should have listened to Noah. (She’d never admit to that, though.)
Audrey slid closer to Brooke and put her arm around her waist, pulling the girl flush against her. She felt light, like she was floating. Brooke felt the same, like she was in some sort of dream. Because she liked Audrey and Audrey liked her and it was just too good to be true. Too perfect. Too amazing. She hoped that if she was in fact dreaming that she stayed asleep forever.
Brooke turned her head up at Audrey, who was looking down at her. Brooke darted her gaze down to Audrey’s lips, then back to her eyes. She leaned closer and whispered coyly, “Are you going to kiss me or not?”
Audrey grinned, cupped her face, and pulled Brooke into a kiss.