Chapter Text
Lena Luthor did not want to go to the Christmas Eve party for teenagers. Sorry, “young adults”...either way you put it, she didn’t want to go. She’d much rather stick to her books, maybe curl up by the fireplace with some nice, warm hot chocolate. But her mother, Lillian, was very insistent that she go to the party— it’s good to keep up appearances.
So Lena was going to the party. And that was the end of that conversation. She didn’t have to be happy about it though! And she was NOT going to be singing karaoke, no matter who that light landed on. She also was bringing her book, because she didn’t want to deal with the noise. She just wanted to lose herself in that world.
Meanwhile, across the ski lodge, Kara and Alex Danvers were going over field hockey strategies. Kara was the star of the team, and Alex was the head of it—both juniors in their high school back home, Midvale High.
“Girls!” Eliza Danvers, the matriarch of the Danvers girls, stared at them in disbelief. “Girls! Come on, get up and get dressed.” When they didn’t respond, she physically took the plans away from Alex’s hands.
“Mom, we were using that.” Alex complained.
“But nothing. You two are going to the party for the youth tonight, remember?” Eliza raised her eyebrows at Alex in a challenge, as if to say “try me.”
Alex shut up.
“Do we have to get all dressed up?” Kara asked reluctantly.
“No, but do look nice. What you have on is fine,” Eliza decided at last. “And be good! Have fun.” Eliza shooed them off. Alex whined the entire way there, but Kara kept on with optimism. “Maybe there will be other sports players.”
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t think anyone else will play field hockey though.” Alex denied.
“Either way.” Kara shrugged as they went in. She noticed a cute girl reading in one corner of the room, but unfortunately for her, Alex dragged her off to sit beside her instead.
The crowd was bustling as two people on stage burst out into song. “What the hell is this?” Alex hissed at her sister. “What did Mom make us come to?”
“It’s karaoke, Alex. Not hell.” Kara responded drily. “I’ll go up if we get the spotlight on us.” She offered.
“Okay, but only because I don’t want to.” Alex agreed darkly.
The first light didn’t hit them though. Instead, it hit on the cute girl from before. Now that she had a spotlight on her, Kara could see she had black hair and a pair of the most striking green eyes she’d ever seen.
“Come on up!” The karaoke master called. “It’s time for you to make a stand.”
“I’d really rather not,” The girl started to say, before she was physically pushed upstage by the crowd.
The next spotlight… did hit Kara and Alex. The crowd started an uproar loud enough that it bothered Kara but Alex just shoved her up on the stage. “Don’t embarrass me up there.” She called up helpfully.
“You’re probably gonna thank me for this one day.” The master of karaoke said with a shrug as he set up the machine. “I’m Mxy.” he added unnecessarily.
The music played before either girl could introduce themselves. Kara took the lead, seeing as she could actually taste the fear radiating off of the other girl. “Living in my own world, I didn’t understand that anything can happen… When you take a chance.”
The pregnant pause was enough to make Kara doubt that the other girl would sing. Just as Kara started to come down from the stage, though, the girl sighed, gripped her book tighter, and began to sing into the microphone. “I never believed in what I couldn’t see. I never opened my heart, to all the possibilities.”
Kara and the girl sang together. “I know that something has changed, never felt this way. And right here tonight? This could be the start of something new.”
“It feels so right to be here with you.” The girl called out.
“And now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart… the start of something new.” They warbled.
Kara took the lead then. “Now who would have ever thought, we’d both be here tonight?”
“And the world looks so much brighter, with you by my side.” The girl answered.
“I know that something has changed, never felt this way. I know it for real, this could be the start of something new … it feels so right to be here with you. And now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart— The start of something new.” The girl broke off.
“I never knew that it could happen til it happened to me.” Kara sang out.
“I didn’t know it before, but now it’s easy to see. That it’s the start of something new, it feels so right to be here with you…. And now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart— That it’s the start of something new, and it feels so right to be here with you. Now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart…. The start of something new.”
There. It was finished. Kara finally dared to look at the girl. “Kara,” she called out.
“What?” The other girl answered, trying to hear over the uproar of the thunderous applause.
“My name— I’m Kara.”
“Lena.”
She was about to reply again, but only had the chance to shoot the girl — Lena! — a brilliant smile when Alex came up on the stage and dragged her off. “What the HELL was that, Kara? You never sing on stage— I thought you had STAGE FRIGHT.” She demanded as she pulled Kara’s hand towards the exit.
Unbeknownst to her and Kara, the other girl was following them a few feet behind. She was tired of socialising just now. She wanted to go home and rest in her bed, read more.
“I’m not afraid to sing, I’m just… Shy about my voice.” Kara tried to explain. “Besides, you guys always see me as Kara, the field hockey girl.” She pointed out. Holding up a hand, “I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying that I have more talents than just hockey.”
“Kara,” A voice with an accent made her turn around to see who was speaking to her. It was Lena. Holy shit, it was Lena. “Hello. I—”
“Hey.” Kara replied intelligently.
“Well, I’m going back to the party. Kara, hurry up. It’s almost midnight, and Mom wants us back at 12:15 okay?” Alex drawled, smirking. She might not be the easiest sister to live with, but she was definitely trying.
“Sure thing. I’ll be out here.” Kara promised, not turning away from Lena’s eyes. The eye contact was almost electric in and of itself, but then when Lena brushed past her to stand at her side, Kara felt like she was dying just a little bit.
“So that’s your girlfriend?” Lena took a guess, smiling nervously.
“Oh, God. No.” Kara shook her head aggressively, shuddering. “That’s just my adopted sister, Alex.” She laughed with Lena at the mistake that Lena’d made. “I love her, but she’s a lot sometimes. I’m kind of glad she just left like that.” Kara confessed.
“Oh, right.” Lena wasn’t sure what to say to that. She warmed both her hands around the mug of hot chocolate, her book tucked safely under her arm.
“Bored of the party?” Kara ventured after a few minutes of silence. She knew she only had a limited amount of time with Lena, and wanted to make it count.
“Something like that.” Lena answered. “I never even wanted to go. My mom made me,” she explained.
“So singing definitely wasn’t on your list of plans for the evening then?” Kara asked, laughing again.
“Oh, God no.” Lena echoed, joining in on the laugh this time. “I never sing. Maybe to my showerhead.”
“You were really good up there.” Kara offered. “If it makes any difference, I don’t sing either. I just play field hockey.” She slightly shrugged.
“Field hockey,” Lena repeated, as if it answered a question she’d had, glancing at Kara’s arms. “I’m more of a lab geek.”
“You mean science? Or dogs.” Kara teased.
“Definitely science!” That had startled a laugh out of Lena, at least, which served Kara’s purpose.
There was a comfortable silence now. “Oh, hey, look! The fireworks are starting.” Kara spoke suddenly, in tune with one of the fireworks crackling to life in the sky.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Kara smiled, still looking up at the sky.
“Yeah, it is.” Lena was only looking at Kara, though she turned away with a flush when she realised what she was doing.
“Hey, give me your number! I mean, if you want.” Kara offered as she turned back to Lena. “I’d like us to be friends.” She admitted.
“Are you sure?” Lena hesitated, pulling out her phone anyway. At Kara’s nod, they switched phones to put their contacts in. “I don’t have many friends.” Lena confessed shyly.
“Well now you have me.” Kara promised.
“Ten! Nine!” They took their respective phones back as the chant of a countdown began. The new year was starting. “Eight, seven!”
“Six. Five!” The girls made eye contact. There was a sizzling, sparkling feeling in Kara’s stomach again, that had nothing to do with the fireworks.
“Four, three— Two, one….” The crowd went wild and Kara looked wistfully at Lena, who was looking at Kara with wide eyes.
The moment had passed.
Unhelpfully, Alex showed up immediately after, when Kara was just about to apologise and ask for another chance. “C'mon, Kara. We have to go back tomorrow.” She reminded her.
“Okay, I’m going.” Kara agreed, regretfully turning back to Lena, unsure of what to say— Lena was gone. “Damn it.” She muttered.
“There will be pretty girls back at school. Come on.” Alex shushed her sister with no mercy, bringing her with her towards the lodge where they were staying.
Eliza was waiting on the doorstep when they returned. “Hey girls, did you have fun?” She asked with a bright smile.
“We did.” Kara was going to leave it at that, sullen at the thought that Lena had just left without even a goodbye, but Alex just had to chime in.
“Kara went up on stage, and serenaded this girl. They practically had eye sex!”
“I hope they wore protection.” Eliza calmly commented. Turning to Kara, she asked with a twinkle in her eye: “Would you like to start birth control, dear?”
“NO!” Kara shouted in disbelief. “I just want to be left alone, please, for the love of God.” She begged.
“Mom, they’re both girls. No protection or birth control needed.” Alex laughed.
“Right.” Eliza agreed, laughing as well. Kara was not.
She stormed off to her room, sighing. “I hate you both,” She called down the hall, fully knowing that she didn’t hate either of them, and probably never could. Luckily, they knew it too, or else there might have been an all out war.
Unfortunately for Lena, that was what was happening back at the Luthor’s ski lodge— the war waged on between mother and father, while her brother, Lex, teased her mercilessly over the fact that Lena had actually sung.
The end of winter break saw Lena and Kara not having texted at all, each too scared to make a move. Neither one was to blame, nor did they blame the other. After all, they each thought who could ever want them? Lena was “just” the science nerd — not to mention a Luthor. Meanwhile, Kara was afraid Lena was too good for her.
The star hockey player was walking back into the school. She was being surrounded by what felt like all of the students in the school, each welcoming her back and celebrating the big game that would be coming up in the following weeks. It was a little overwhelming.
Unfortunately, not everyone coming up to greet Kara were people she wanted to see. For instance, Mike Matthews was pushing his way through the crowd— fixing his hair all the while. “Kara, hello. Are you excited for the big game coming up?” Mike preened at her.
“Yeah, it’s going to be good.” Kara enthused, her love of hockey overcoming her distaste for Mike.
“So when is it?” He asked, obviously trying to prolong the conversation.
“In a few weeks.” Kara tried to reply as patiently as she could.
“And who are you going up against?” Mike pressed. “Surely no one can beat you, Kara Danvers.” He flirted.
“I haven’t been bested yet.” Kara agreed, though she brushed off the flirting tone in Mike’s voice. “But we’re going up against National City. Who knows what’ll happen then?” She offered uncertainly.. She didn’t want to set her own hopes too high.
“You’re definitely gonna win.” Mike agreed. “I’ll be at the big game cheering you on!” he promised.
“Thanks,” she said.
Luckily, before Mike had a chance to think of another excuse to talk to Kara longer, the bell went off for students to herd over to their classes.
“Gotta go now, bye Mike.” Kara hurriedly exited. She was on her way to class when she noticed a slight blur of black hair. She thought for a split second about Lena, then the last warning bell rang as she thought about it. She walked around the hallway and made her way into the class.
Taking her seat, Kara began to scroll her phone — Facebook’s feed, her ever growing list of unread texts. Though she still hadn’t heard from Lena, much to her disappointment. After the song they’d performed together, Kara had thought there was at least some chemistry between them.
Maybe she was wrong.
She turned around to speak to another classmate, who had asked her about the homework at the time, when she saw who was sitting two seats behind her.
Lena.
Quickly explaining the homework to her fellow student, Kara brought out her phone and typed out a text. “Are my eyes deceiving me? Are you at my school right now?” What were the odds, honestly, that Lena would wind up in Midvale? Who could ever have thought.
Imagine Kara’s surprise when indeed, she heard the ping of a phone behind her. She turned around, and was just about to happily start talking to Lena, when Ms Grant — the teacher for this period and the overall teacher of the drama section of school, walked in.
“Everyone with a cell phone in their hand… You know better. Bucket, all of them, now.” Ms. Grant said with a roll of her eyes. She passed the bucket down to Kara’s row first. “And I think this calls for a detention for some of you. Ms Danvers, Ms Luthor, and Mr Matthews.” She announced. “You will be taking an hour out of your day after school to help the drama club.”
Kara could tell that the news had shaken Lena when she stole a glance backwards. It was fair, after all it was probably Lena's first day at Midvale High. Not starting off great, and it was all because of Kara …
Alex cleared her throat. “Um, Ms. Grant, your ladyship, uhhh…. Kara can’t miss practice. We’ve got that big game coming up soon and—“ She wheedled, only stopping when she noticed that Ms Grant had turned to face her.
“Half an hour for you too then, Ms. Danvers.” Ms. Grant nodded decisively. “Well, with all that being dealt with, what’s to say we begin the first period?” She announced after a pregnant pause, challenging anyone to say anything else.
No one did. Kara tried to ignore the death glares that Alex was shooting her way, though she couldn’t help but notice the steady staring right at the back of her head.
When the class finally ended, Kara rushed to the door and waited, not even trying to pretend to play patient as she waited for Lena to come out of the classroom. “Lena!” She whisper-shouted in excitement when she finally saw the ravenette. “How did you get here? I had no idea you went to Midvale High!”
“Kara.” Lena managed to say as she was yanked by the arm over to another section of the hallways. “I didn’t know you went here either. I’ve just moved from National City.” She murmured, nervously watching Kara’s reaction.
When nothing but excitement came, Lena let down her guard and gave Kara a small smile. “It is good to see you, though. I, uh, I’ve thought about texting you but never seemed to know what to say.” she confessed.
“It’s the same for me. I figured, hey, you’d be way too busy to talk to me, or maybe I’d been too late to message you and you would ignore me, or something else. I dunno.” Kara chimed in. “Listen though, no one here can know that I sang with you.” She whispered anxiously.
“Oh.” Lena’s face fell. “No, yeah, I understand. No one wants to sing with me, a Lu—“ She started, then came to an abrupt halt when she recalled that Kara didn’t know her last name. Unless she was paying attention during class, but Lena was hoping she hadn’t been.
“No! It’s not that, at all. I’m just— the hockey star, here. You know? Nobody wants me to be into anything but hockey. I have to win the big game.” Kara quickly dispelled that fear. Lena could visibly feel the way Kara was working herself up trying to fix the miscommunication.
“I understand, I think. No one in my family wants me to be a singer either, if that helps.” Lena offered softly, placing a hand on Kara’s shoulder. “They’d rather die of the shame.” She mumbled. “Anyway, we should probably get to the next class.” she commented, seeing most of the crowd having dispersed.
“You’re right. Where’s your next period? Need any help finding it?” Kara asked helpfully. She tensed under the hand on her shoulder for a second before relaxing under it.
“Uh, science lab..” Lena read out, peering at her paper as she took the hand off Kara’s shoulder with a slight blush.
“Across the hall from me. Language arts.” Kara beamed as she spoke. “Come on, I’ll walk you there.” Kara slung an arm around Lena’s shoulder, making the Luthor blush again as the blonde led her towards their classes.
For Kara, language arts went by in a blur. She didn’t particularly know if anything exciting had gone on during that class, focusing too much on the memories of singing with Lena. She’d never felt as much adrenaline as she’d had then. Not even winning a hockey match had felt that good.
On the other side of the hall, Lena was in the science lab. Her element. She loved this type of class, loved making herself useful in classes where she could have fun just relaxing during the class, or even when she got to impress the teacher by correcting him or her.
One such occasion was today. She smiled to herself, reading the equation on the board and when she was starting to write, realised the teacher had made a mistake. She muttered the corrections under her breath, but she’d been too loud — the teacher had noticed.
“Do you have something to share, Ms. Luthor?”
“Um. Just— the equation’s wrong, sir.” She said apologetically, looking up from her paper nervously. “It should be six over A, not A over six.” she explained. “I think you just wrote the wrong sequence.”
The teacher turned back to see the board. “Ah. So I did.” He commented, erasing and fixing the mistake. “Nice catch, Ms. Luthor.”
Lena nodded with a slight smile, ducking her head shyly. When a hand popped out from across the table, she startled. “Hey, I’m Sam.” a brunette greeted her quietly. “You’re new, right? I’m impressed with your math skills.”
“Thank you, yes. I’m Lena.” The ravenette responded, smiling slightly. She wanted to be known as something other than the Luthor in this school. Especially seeing as Kara was here.
“Nice to meet you Lena.” Sam said. “I’m the head of the science club here, and I’m sure that we’d love to have your skills there.” She added, a broad smile in place.
“Oh, I… I’m not sure. I’m trying not to get noticed too much here,” she explained cautiously. “I don’t want to make a splash. I’m sorry.”
“I get it. Well, a spot will be open for you if you change your mind.” Sam smiled.
“Thank you.” The two went back to work, signifying that the conversation was over.
The rest of the day went by in something of a blur. Detention came creeping up with a screeching speed. Lena had never had detention before, but she already had an inkling that this one wasn’t going to be one that made much sense, even without a comparison to look at. It was Ms. Grant’s after all, and she was head of the drama club.
Besides, they’d been told to meet the teacher in Drama Club. That… was going to sure be a sight to see. Lena wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Soon enough though, the time for the detention came around. She made her way through the halls, ducking her way past people in the corridors.
Once she finally found the room for Drama Club, Lena had to resist a strange urge to light up upon seeing Kara already there. The hockey star was currently painting a set background, focused on it with a paintbrush in her mouth.
Meanwhile, Kara’s sister (was it her sister? Lena couldn’t remember her name. Another strange feeling had her wishing it wasn’t a girlfriend.) had noticed Lena’s entrance, and was currently glaring daggers at her.
She cleared her throat as she walked forward and onto the stage to start work on the props, Ms. Grant paying attention and marking Lena present.
“Lena, hey.” Kara seemed to notice her at last. Lena gave a small smile, nodding hello. “How are you?” Kara persisted. “I’m really sorry I got us into detention.” She offered.
“Not your fault… well, technically it is, but uh— I don’t blame you?” Lena stumbled over her words. Stupid.
“Oh, good. I was afraid you’d be mad!” Kara let out a breath of relief. “Alex over there is furious with me,” she confided, nodding over to the stranger who had also landed detention.
Might as well bite the bullet. “Alex?” Lena queried, trying to avoid looking as crestfallen as she felt.
“Yeah, my sister!” Kara enthused. “She’s the best. She’s also one of the best hockey team members. Our family friend, John Jones? He’s the coach!”
Lena exhaled sharply, laughing at herself. Kara was not dating Alex. That brought Lena to her next few thoughts: Was she dating someone else? And more importantly, why did it matter to Lena if she were?
“So is Coach Jones going to be mad that you missed practice?” Lena asked curiously. “Since he knows you two better than the rest of the team, I presume.”
“He’ll probably be pissed, yeah.” Kara made a face. “First day back off vacation and we’re already doing time? Yeah, I don’t think he’ll be all too impressed.”
“Better than the first day of school here, period.” Lena offered ruefully. “My parents may actually attempt murder.” Probably too close to the truth, but Lena wasn’t going to tell Kara that.
Kara let out a nervous laugh. “I really am sorry.” She repeated. “Oh no,” she muttered to herself, watching as Alex came closer to them. “I’m sorry twice over, for whatever she’s about to say.” Kara hurriedly prefaced Alex’s arrival.
“Kara.” Alex greeted. “And you must be the illustrious Lena. Kara’s been telling us about you, since winter break.” She turned to Lena with an arched brow that Lena matched easily, instinctively. Better to show no fear.
“Oh?” Lena asked with a slight blush, oblivious to the invisible warning signs Kara was giving Alex. At least, until she turned to face Kara, who then froze in place.
“Ye-yeah,” Kara nodded at last, after a pregnant pause. “I mean, you know… it was amazing, singing with you.”
“I feel the same way.” Lena admitted in a quiet voice, glancing at Kara longingly.
“O-kay.” After another long pause, Alex broke the moment. “If you two are done, we have work to do.”
“Oh shit.” Kara turned when she heard a familiar voice shouting at Ms. Grant to release two students from detention.
Of course it would be Coach Jones. Lena flinched. “I gotta go.” Kara murmured with a frown, reaching out to touch Lena’s hand once Coach and Ms. Grant had seemed to reach an agreement.
“Bye.” Lena said back, lamely as she watched Kara trail after Alex without looking behind her.
When Kara jogged quickly to meet Alex and Coach Jones, she was just in time to hear the beginning of the lecture that he was giving them. “I thought we would be starting the school year off on a good note, you two.” He glared. “Who’s fault was this?”
“You want the technicality or the explanation?” Alex asked, a bitter tone in her voice as she shared a glance with Kara.
“I think you both owe me an explanation.” The coach answered, swiveling around to look at them seriously. “I don’t think your mother’s going to be impressed.”
“Kara was texting in class.” Alex blurted. “She saw the pretty girl from the lodge this winter, and decided she had to text her then and there.” So much for solidarity, Kara mused with a dejected sigh as John turned to face her.
“In my defense,” Kara started with a sigh, barely resisting the urge to look back at Lena. “—she’s very pretty.” She flinched at John’s bark of humorless laughter. “And I’d not texted her all winter; she probably thought I hated her!”
John frowned, “Oh, well, if she’s really pretty, then.” The coach rolled his eyes. “Kara, you don’t have time for some flirtation right now.” He tried to reason with her, but Kara was hard to dissuade when she wanted something.
“I know how to keep track of practice. If I hadn’t been texting — I won’t anymore, promise! Not at class… — then it’d all be okay. I’d be at practice and you wouldn’t even know about her.” Kara pointed out reasonably. Or at least, she thought it was reasonable. Perhaps it wasn’t. John’s face said it wasn’t. She cringed.
“Just trust me, Coach.” Kara frowned again. “I can do this. I really like Lena.” She nodded as they walked towards the field hockey practice room.
“This is your first screw up in all the years I’ve been helping with the team.” Coach Jones allowed, thinking it over. “I guess I’ll allow it for now. But if I hear she’s messing with your game, she’s out Kara. I mean it. You better keep your head in the game.” He warned.
“I hear you.” Kara practically skipped the rest of the way to practice, she felt so happy about knowing that she could make it up to Lena about getting them into detention. Maybe she’d ask the ravenette on a date…. If Lena was even into girls? She wasn’t sure, all of a sudden. But she was better off not getting too trigger happy.
Best to just focus on practice for the next hour and a half.
The next day…
“Lena! Hey, Lena. Where are you headed?” Kara jogged to catch up with the pretty brunette. “Can I walk you to class?” Kara asked.
“Are you allowed to?” Lena bit out, her eyes widening— disaster written all over her face. She did not just say that! Shoot, she was going to ruin her chance at being a friend to Kara… if she hadn’t already.
“Of course— that is, if you allow me.” Kara said, halting at the harshness in Lena’s tone. “I’m sorry, did I do something?” she asked worriedly. She hadn’t meant to upset the pretty brunette, but if she had, then it was going to have to be fixed.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble for hanging out with me.” Lena admitted, sighing as she ran a hand through her dark hair, scratching slightly to soothe herself.
“You won’t be the one who’s blamed. And besides, I’m not in trouble for hanging out with you,” Kara insisted. “I was in trouble because I texted in class. That’s on me, not you. Now,” she gave Lena a grin, “Can I please walk you to your next class?”
“If you insist,” Lena wasn’t used to this. Everything was new to her, when it came to friendships. She had business associates and that had been it for most of her life. But now she had a friend — a cute one, at that.
“I do. Where’s your class?” Kara asked, gallantly offering Lena her arm to take. Lena laughed, taking it. “Drama, with Ms. Grant.”
Kara nodded. “Me too, cool! To the theater then, Lena.” Kara said with a bright smile, squeezing Lena’s arm and walking with her. The crowd of people seemed to disperse and separate whenever Kara walked through them, as if she were the most important student in the school.
Perhaps she was.
Lena listened to Kara rambling as they walked to class. She chuckled, breathlessly pushing some hair back from her face. “You’re funny,” Lena announced after Kara tried to make another joke.
The joke had fallen flat, but Lena didn’t miss the way Kara’s eyes lit up at the compliment. “Funny looking.” Kara corrected. Lena let out a big, belly laugh. “Yeah, okay. Tell that to your fan club, Danvers.” Lena said.
Kara shook her head, turning into the theater. “You’re wrong. I have no fan club.”
“Oh I disagree, but okay. I think I heard Mike Matthews was the president of it.” Lena said haughtily, grinning.
“You mean you’re not?” Kara asked, feigning hurt.
“I just met you!” Lena laughed again, eyes sparkling.
“But we have chemistry, Lena.” Kara insisted. “You have to be in the fan club.”
“Silencio everyone! We’re about to make some magic here.” Ms. Grant shouted as they turned into the room. Lena was glad she didn’t have to respond, her blush saying too much as it were. Kara thought they had chemistry.
Lena wasn’t really paying attention to the rest of the class, but luckily whenever Ms. Grant called on her, she had a correct answer. Perks of being one of the smartest kids in all the schools she’s had to go to, Lena supposed.
“Students,” Ms. Grant cleared her throat in a way that demanded attention. Lena sat up straighter. “As you all may or may not know, there are auditions for the school’s musical happening today. If you happen to come by, make sure you bring your talent because I am tired of not having anyone with excitement in their veins and talent in their mouths!” Several students snickered. Ms. Grant rolled her eyes. “ Not what I meant.”
“Does anyone get to audition?” Lena whispered to Kara.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Ms. Grant is gracious enough to give us all 30 seconds before she shouts cut.” Kara said, laughing. “Not that I audition.” she added nervously. “Never have, probably never will.” she said.
“I might do it just to piss off my mother.” Lena admitted. “She’s transferred me to twelve different schools so far this year.”
Kara’s mouth fell open. “Twelve? Yeah, okay, so do the audition thing! Your mom sounds evil.” Kara scowled in commiseration. Lena smiled.
“Only if you do it too.” She challenged Kara. Kara winced, but didn’t show signs of distress other than a small frown. She seemed to deliberate for several seconds before finally…
“Okay. Fine, you got it Lena.”