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A breeze disrupted the air where two girls were sitting, carefully balanced on the bannister of their front porch. These past few days had been a whirlwind for the girls, one more than the other, with a killer on the loose and losing two schoolmates. It had all added up in one grieving girl's mind, her mood having dampened exponentially. She was in desperate need of a break, something the universe seemed hell-bent on denying her. She needed something like a party or…
"Hey Sid…" the girl sitting In front of her said. Tatum, her… Best friend. Hearing Tatum's voice snapped Sidney out of her head and onto her friend. "Yeah, Tate?" Sidney smiled, a small thing but a smile nonetheless. It was things like this that Tatum had always admired in Sidney. How could one person go through so much but still be so kind? So brave? And still look so beautiful through it all, Tatum would never know. But she guesses that's just Sidney, the amazing Sid super bitch.
"What if we just… didn't go to Stu's party?" She suggested, lacing her hands together. Sidney looked at her, confused. She'd seemed pretty content about the idea earlier, even convincing Sidney to go. What could've changed Tatum's mind? "After what happened to you," Tatum turned her head away from Sidney, trying to hide her fear, the fear she felt last night. The fear she felt at the feeling that she could've lost her Sidney. "It doesn't seem like the best idea, y'know?" She looked back over, locking eyes with Sidney.
Sidney took her in then. Her brows knitted together, lips set in a slight frown, the slight slouch in her posture. All things so uncharacteristic for Tatum, Sidney's face tightened in response. "Yeah." She breathed, tilting her head towards her hands, "I wasn't really that keen on going in the first place." She looked up again, smiling, smiling at her concerned, pretty best friend. A relieved smile replaced the frown on Tatum's face as her posture relaxed and she felt a sigh leave her lips. "Good," she laughed, "I didn't want to stop you from having some fun but I just couldn't leave it. Not with that psycho and… Billy." She added Billy's name hesitantly, the subject still being one of a sensitive nature. Sidney nodded, "Yeah, you're right Tate." They both smiled again.
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"DEWEY!" Tatum called as she and Sidney entered the house, Mrs Riley would still be working till later so it was only Dewey who would be home. "Dewey!" She shouted again, annoyance lacing her voice, it was then that Dewey tumbled into view, appearing at the bottom of the stairs. "What is it, Tatum?" He asked, "Sid." He added, it looked like he came down in a rush, having not taken off his police jacket yet. Tatum rolled her eyes and called him a doofus before stepping forward, pulling Sidney by her hand. "We've changed our mind. We're not going to Stu's tonight." Her tone final, leaving no room for Dewey to argue (not that he would, he wasn't happy at this 'party' idea Stu had apparently suggested).
"Why? Did something happen?" Dewey questioned. What? Just because he didn't like the idea didn't mean he wasn't curious. Tatum scoffed, shaking her head. "Stu's stupid not an asshole." Dewey relaxed slightly.
"What's wrong then? You girl's seemed excited earlier?" A slight frown formed on his face as he looked at the two people he thought of as siblings.
"After last night…" Sidney started, pushing her bangs behind her ear, "we figured it would be safer here." She smiled after that, her hand coming down to wrap around Tatum's.
"Me and Stu are in a rough patch anyway, I'd rather hang with Sid." His sister added before moving forward, trying to get past him and up the stairs. "Get us some food, would you?" Tatum called as she and Sidney ran past him and up to her room. "Hey, I'm meant to be watching Sid! Remember?" He called after them to no response, sighing and shaking his head he left them to their own devices.
The two girls laughed as they shut the door to Tatum's room, excited for the night to come. "Come on Sid, I'm sure I have an outfit you could borrow." Sidney blinked in confusion as Tatum opened her closet. "Clothes to borrow? Why do we need to change, we're not going anywhere?" She laughed as she walked to stand behind Tatum.
"Oh Sid…" Sighed Tatum dramatically, "you're so clueless." She turned around, a blue shirt with a flower print and plain jeans in hand. Grinning, she held them out to Sidney, "we're having our own party." Taking the clothes, Sidney smiled and nodded, replying with a quiet okay.
The two girls changed into their respective outfits, Tatum going for her usual yellow turtleneck and a skirt. They'd changed in front of each other before so found no need to go to separate rooms.
After the girls were done they found themselves sitting on Tatum's bed together, waiting on Dewey and the food. They sat in comfortable silence before Sidney spoke, "Hey Tatum?"
"Yeah Sid?" Tatum turned to her, leaning forward with a sweet smile. Sidney stared at her for a moment, willing the words, "we've been friends forever right?" She asked, looking down at her fidgeting hands.
"Yeah?" Tatum laughed, that she knew. She and Sidney had been friends since Kindergarten. "What's up?" She scooted closer, close enough that their hands touched. Sidney looked at her then. "You'd never hate me right?"
"Of course not!" Mock offence filled Tatum's voice, her hand flying to her chest in her dramatics. "How could you even ask that!" She laughed, the sound of it causing Sidney to smile.
"I like you." She said simply, "in a way I've never liked Billy or any other guy." Tatum stared at her, eyes wide, body still. Sidney clutched the bed sheets, fearing rejection when-
"I like you too, Sid."
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Dewey knocked on the bedroom door, "I got you girl's food, it's in the kitchen okay?" He called, leaning against the door. He heard rustling then footsteps as Tatum called out an okay. He pulled away from the door just as the girls appeared at it. "What's with the outfits? Thought you weren't going anywhere?" He teased, an easy smile on his face. Tatum only rolled her eyes as Sidney smiled sheepishly.
"Just because we're not going doesn't mean he can't look nice Dewey!" His little sister scolded him, storming past him and down the stairs, Sidney in tow.
Once the food was sorted out the two girls settled in the living room. Sidney on the couch while Tatum shifted through their movies. Finally she picked one, "how's 'But I'm a cheerleader' sound Sid?"
"Good." Sidney replied, smiling from her spot on the couch. Tatum smiled back then put it into that cassette player. She settled next to Sidney on the couch and they watched the movie happily, adding commentary when necessary and enjoying the food. Signing contently Tatum wrapped Sidney in her arms and resting her head atop Sidney's.
This was way better than any Stu Macher party.