Chapter Text
Vicky wakes up with this obnoxious pounding in her head. She remembers nothing from the night before. All she can recall was loud music, people dancing,and a couple of drinks, well clearly more than just a couple. She must have been at a party. Why would she even go to one on a school night? The poor girl can’t really concentrate with her head still pounding away. It sounds like it’s coming from outside.
“Come on Vicky we’re already late!” Oh it seems like the pounding really was coming from outside. With a groan, Vicky shuffles over to the door and opens it only to see Oz impatiently tapping their foot,
“Seriously Vic, Amira and Brian already left and-,” they stop and takes one good look at their friend. She has messy hair, dirty clothes from last night mixed with some stains, she smells terrible, and she’s even missing her hand, “Jesus Vic, you really did a number on yourself!” They run their hand through their hair looking even more worried than they did not five seconds ago.
“Thanks,” she answered back not really listening, “so what even happened?”
Oz sighs, “Right, of course you wouldn’t remember. So Polly threw one of her usual parties. We crashed it, and by we I mean you forced me to go with you, and you tried to impress her by drinking all of the alcohol, playing beer pong against a god of death, losing to that god, and nearly getting us killed because you betted our lives on that game.”
“Seriously?” She looked surprised. Then again she really shouldn’t. It’s not the first time she nearly killed her friends, usually Oz, just to win over a girl, “Oh god I’m really sorry!”
“No it’s fine. Look I’ll help you get ready and we can just head to school during lunch.” Vicky simply nods not really having the energy to answer.
The morning goes by in a blur. It was a struggle for Oz considering they were practically carrying their friend room to room getting ready for her. Eventually Vicky finally manages to put herself together again...literally...she found her arm. By the time she actually sobers up it’s nearly lunchtime. No longer being in a hurry, Oz finds both of their backpacks, and the head out of the apartment. Not even two steps out the building and these two are already knee deep in a conversation, “I just don’t get why you go through these crazy schemes just to get Polly to notice you. Why don’t you, I don’t know, just talk to her,” Oz questions.
“It’s just not that simple. I just get really nervous near her. I can’t even look at her without blushing like crazy! It’s like the little bees in my stomach are buzzing on cocaine and Polly is that cocaine!”
“Lovely description,” they said clearly sarcastically.
“Thanks,” she answered back with genuine delight, “but seriously talking to a crush is just not easy. You wouldn’t know cause you don’t like anyone.” She pats their head as Oz rolls their eyes, “Well excuse me for trying to be reasonable.”
The rest of the walk was mainly Vicky pestering Oz and asking about their nonexistent love life. Surely they must like someone, right? After all high school is all about the romance and drama that happens with the students rather than building up skills and knowledge to use for adult life. But alas no matter how many times she asks she’s met with the same reply, “Stop talking.” Of course she doesn’t listen to them and continues with the pestering up until they get to the building.
When they walk in the bell for lunch rings, so they go straight to the cafeteria. They both get food and walk to their usual spot only to see the table empty. Oz sighs, “I guess Brian and Amira skipped school again.” They don’t get a response from Vicky. They turn to see her staring at the numerous posters promoting the monster prom. The shadow monster walks over and looks at the date, “Just three weeks away.”
“Yep.”
“What a perfect time to ask someone you like to go with…hint hint.”
“...Yep.”
Oz starts getting annoyed, “I’m not liking quiet Vicky. She scares me.”
She turns to him looking confused, “Wait why?”
“Because it means she’s plotting something.”
“Pfft oh Oz, of course I’m plotting something!” She finally sits down at their table with Oz following, “Alright, you might as well tell me cause I know you’re going to drag me into this.” Vicky smiles as she takes a marker out of her pocket. She dramatically pushes her food out of the way. It nearly falls to the ground, but Oz catches it in time. As she begins to doodle on the table, with permanent marker mind you, she starts explaining her plan, “Ok so we throw this huge fake part. We’ll hire a bunch of actors to play as the guests. It’s going to be one hell of a bop alright. I’m talking loud ear bleeding music, alcohol that can kill you in one sip, drugs that make you think you’re seeing every equation, ya know all the stuff Polly likes that’ll convince her to go. All the ‘party guests’ will talk me up. They’ll be all like, ‘Vicky is such a fun girl to be around! She’s cool, pretty, smart, reads Russian literature for fun,’ and then-”
Oz raises their hand to stop her, “No stop, you already lost me at fake party. Vicky that’s just ridiculous! We are not going to throw this huge party just to have people work as your wingmen! You could literally just ask anyone to do that for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean have someone who’s close to her talk good about you. I’m sure she’ll start getting interested once a friend of hers keeps saying how much of a fun person you are.”
Vicky suddenly stands and grabs her friend’s shoulders pulling them close,“Oz you’re a genius,” however she sits back down, “Oh wait, I don’t know anyone that’s friends with Polly.”
“Well there has to be someone who could help. Let’s see,“ Oz scans the room looking for the table where the ghost girl sits. They spots her as well as some other familiar faces, “Ok what about Vera. She and Polly seem really close.”
“Nah, she’ll make me pay my entire life savings. Something I don’t even have.”
“Fairpoint, what about Damien? Don’t you two hangout sometimes?”
“Mainly with Amira, and those two are usually off burning buildings while I go get coffee. Also he scares me.”
“Ok, oh what about Liam?”
She leans in trying to look at who Oz is pointing at, “Who’s Liam?” She finds a purple vampire who seems to be too busy on his phone to actually engage with the others, “I don’t know. He doesn’t really seem like the helpful type.”
“You’d be surprised. He’s actually fairly nice once you dive through his grumpy facade filled with irony and sarcasm.”
“Daw, he sounds like a purple version of you!” She gives Oz a silly smile only to be met with their usual annoyed look, “Seriously Vicky, you have been trying, and failing, to get Polly’s attention for three years. In all honesty she probably doesn’t even know you exist! I think getting Liam’s help might be your best bet. Especially if you want to take her to prom, which is just around the corner.” Vicky looks over to Liam feeling unsure. She doesn’t know the guy. How can she be sure that he’ll help her? For all she knows he could also be going after Polly. But after taking one peak at the ghost smiling for whatever reason, it was enough to get the girl’s determination back, “Yeah alright, sounds like a good enough plan. I just need Liam to help me win over Polly. How hard can it be?”