Chapter Text
The last day of school was a countdown to freedom.
Lizzie couldn't wait to escape, the scholarship, the books, the essays, Addison. None of that mattered until August.
The last bell rang, just one more walk past the shelves of trophy cases that would never have her name on them. One last run in with Addison Kensington, the school's golden girl, and Lizzie's personal reminder that Kingswood Academy wasn't built for girls like her. Lower-class, scholarship girls.
Laughter and chatter echoed in the hallways as students filed out of classrooms, arms heavy with textbooks they wouldn't touch for three months. At Kingswood Academy, the last day wasn't just the end of lectures and exams, it was the beginning of yacht parties and summers abroad.
Lizzie clutched the battered strap of her bag and tried not to look like she cared. Around her, students squealed about their summer plans. Lizzie just walked faster, her eyes scanning the corridors for Molly or Yasmin, trying to make it out quickly and escape one last snarky comment from Addison.
"Leaving without saying goodbye, scholarship?" The voice was soft but sharp, like honey on a knife. Lizzie didn't even flinch; she knew it was coming. Lizzie turned around, preparing herself to see the faces of Addison's snickering friends, but they were already halfway down the hallway. Addison had lingered, lounged against the lockers, her tie loosened, blazer hanging off one shoulder as if she was posing for a photoshoot.
Lizzie narrowed her eyes. "Why would I?"
Addison shrugged, pushing off the locker. "You've survived another year here, thought you'd be grateful enough to thank me for keeping things interesting."
Lizzie scoffed, annoyed but not surprised at Addison's arrogance. "That's what you call it? Interesting? Get over yourself, Addison."
Addison tilted her head, smiling an infuriating smile, like she knew something that Lizzie didn't. Lizzie turned on her heel to walk away, finally escaping Addison's bullying. As Lizzie tried her best to walk at a normal pace down the hallway, Addison called out after her, "Well, you'd be bored without me." Lizzie didn't slow down, but the words clung to her.
"Interesting? What about making my life a living hell does she think is interesting?"
Lizzie threw her bag onto Molly's messy bed and flopped down next to it. The glittery fairy lights strung across the walls cast everything in a warm glow, much too cheerful for her mood.
Molly, rummaging through her overflowing closet, didn't even glance at her. "Addi Kensington strikes again?"
"I almost escaped school without seeing her," Lizzie muttered, running a hand through her dark hair. "She thinks I should be grateful for her making my life 'interesting'. Like tormenting me is some kind of public service."
Molly poked her head out from behind a mountain of clothes. "What? She's crazy. But also, I'd be a little more bored without her constantly taunting you."
Lizzie sat up, crossing her arms. "I think you'd survive," she huffed. Chuckling, Molly emerged from the closet, holding a sequinned top against her chest. "Speaking of survival, you need to help me pick an outfit. Tyler's texting me already." Ignoring Molly's demand for outfit help, Lizzie asked, "Oh yeah, how's it going with Tyler?". Molly's smile was all the answer Lizzie needed, but Molly somehow turned the conversation back to her clothes. "Great. I love him so much, he said I'll look good in whatever I wear, but I don't believe him, so please help me find an outfit!" Holding both a black top and a sequinned top in her hands, Molly looked to Lizzie for help. "The party's in a not-so-abandoned abandoned building that Addi's dad owns, right?" Molly nodded, confused about where this was going. "Then wear the sequins, we won't be able to find you in that black top."
As Molly squeezed into the top and Lizzie checked her lipstick, a honk outside made both girls jump. Yasmin's voice called out through the open window, "Hurry up, let's go!"
Molly grabbed her bag, giving Lizzie a quick nudge. "Come on, scholarship. You're getting drunk tonight!"
Lizzie huffed. "Don't call me that, you're already making me regret it," as she followed Molly down the stairs and out into Yasmin's car.
Yasmin's BMW purred down the suburban streets, bass thumping from Yasmin's collaborative party playlist. Lizzie sang the songs with Yasmin, purposely off-key, while Molly messaged on her phone. Yasmin turned the music down a bit. "Can you believe it's already the last day of school?" she asked, "Feels like the year just started."
"I know," Lizzie said, smirking. "And now we get to celebrate just like we've earned."
"Exactly." Molly chimed in, setting down her phone in her lap. "Honestly, I'm just ready to drink. Tyler's excited too, he said he's looking forward to seeing the chaos tonight."
Lizzie laughed, "Chaos? That's a generous way of putting it."
"Eh, normal for us," Molly shrugged, "Us three have more fun than anyone."
Yasmin glanced in the rearview mirror to see Molly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Just try not to get lost. Or do, if you want. It'll be fun either way."
"Yeah, fun is mandatory tonight." Lizzie grinned. "We've waited long enough for summer." Lizzie leaned back in her seat, letting the soft leather cushions of the BMW envelope her. "I'm actually so excited, this building is huge. More space, less supervision, bigger music, I just hope I don't run into Addi too much tonight." Yasmin shook her head with a soft laugh. "You are impossible. Honestly, I can't wait to see how everything goes down." Lizzie leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "I just hope the music's good, and the drinks are shots instead of sugary crap. That's all I care about, I swear."
Molly laughed, "Of course. Everything else is optional."
The lot finally came into view, the old building looming, fairy lights flickering along the roof and through the bushes. Yasmin slowed down, the engine's growl softening as they came to a stop. "Here we go," she said. The three of them exchanged grins, laughter bubbling up as they climbed out of the car.
The old building smelled faintly of dust and old cement, but the sound of music made it feel alive. Neon lights flickered across cracked walls, casting shadows over clusters of people dancing, laughing, and hooking up. The floor vibrated under Lizzie's feet as she stepped inside with Molly and Yasmin, subconsciously making sure the buttons on her shirt were done up right.
"Wow," Molly said, glancing around. "This... is bigger than I thought."
Lizzie laughed, weaving through groups of friends, clearly eager to start drinking. Yasmin rolled her eyes, "Just don't get into trouble," she said casually, letting Lizzie take the lead.
Lizzie smirked. "Me? Trouble? Never."
They found a small clearing near the speakers, the bass pounding through the floor. Molly immediately began chatting with some people she recognised, while Lizzie leaned against the wall, surveying all the drunk, sweaty bodies. It wasn't that she didn't like being social; she just liked noticing details, seeing who was there, how they moved, and how the night might unfold.
Somewhere across the room, she spotted Addison. Leaning against a bar, sipping something pink, surrounded by her usual circle of friends, her smirk was effortless. Her blonde hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders. She wore a fitted black crop top, paired with high-waisted leather pants, boots clicking against the floor as she shifted her weight. Lizzie's chest tightened slightly, but she forced herself to look away and focus on Molly, who was laughing at something someone had said, already tipsy.
"Drink?" Molly asked, holding up a red solo cup.
Lizzie took it without hesitation. "Thanks. Keep me fueled."
They laughed, hitting their cups together. Around them, the party swirled in motion. Dancing, flirting, teasing. Lizzie let herself get pulled into a conversation with a couple of people she recognised from school, the noise, energy and alcohol making it easier to forget the day's earlier tensions.
The music continued to pulse through the old building. Lizzie balanced a cup in her hand, laughing as Molly tugged her towards a familiar face.
"Tyler!" Molly shouted over the music. "There you are!" Before Lizzie could react, Molly was gone, weaving through the crowd with Tyler in tow. Lizzie shook her head, smiling despite herself, and took a large sip from her cup.
"Guess it's just us," Yasmin said, leaning against the wall, a cool smile on her face. Lizzie nodded in agreement as she began refilling her cup, taking another sip almost instantly. She raised her eyebrows at Lizzie. "Try not to drink it all at once."
"Where's the fun in that?" Lizzie retorted, her words already beginning to slur as her chest buzzed.
A few minutes later, a group had gathered around a makeshift beer pong table. Lizzie grinned, picking up a ping pong ball. "Alright, watch this," she said, tossing the ball. It clinked into a cup on the other side of the table seamlessly. Cheers erupted, and she laughed, sipping again from her cup.
Yasmin shook her head but smiled, watching Lizzie loosen up. "You're really getting into it, huh?"
"Of course," Lizzie said, swaying slightly. "I didn't come here to sit in the corner."
As the night wore on, the cups piled up, and Lizzie drifted from one group to another. She laughed at jokes she barely heard, shouted over the music, and shared drinks with people she'd never met before. Yasmin stayed near the wall, sober, keeping an eye on her, until she finally excused herself.
"I'll be back, gotta pee," Yasmin said, disappearing towards the bathroom.
Lizzie tilted her head, finishing her cup. After yet again refilling it, she wandered deeper into the party. She stumbled on the dance floor, but the music carried her forward. She ended up in conversations with groups of strangers, laughing drunkenly. Lights flashed over sweaty, laughing bodies, and for the first time all day, Lizzie let herself forget the stress of school, the taunting from Addison, everything.
She ended up near the back of the dance floor, where a group was gathered around a small circle of people 'shotgunning' cans of alcohol. One girl in particular caught her eye, short, black hair, a tight, long sleeved shirt and a grin that made Lizzie's chest feel warm.
"Hey," Lizzie said, sliding a little closer. "I've never seen you. Do you go to Kingswood?"
The girl laughed, leaning slightly closer. "Nah, my friends dragged me along. I'm just trying to survive without embarrassing myself."
Lizzie smirked, teasing slightly. "Surviving without embarrassment? That's ambitious. Don't worry, I can help."
"Is that a promise?" the girl challenged, tilting her head playfully.
"Depends." Lizzie said, stepping closer, the alcohol making her confidence spike. "Can you handle a little chaos?"
The girl laughed again, eyes sparkling. "Maybe. Try me."
Lizzie grinned, leaning in slightly, letting the music and lights make everything feel more immediate, more daring.
Lizzie was laughing at something the girl said, feeling a warm and dizzy thrill from the alcohol and the music. But before she could reply, Addison stepped in, drink in hand, eyes glinting in the coloured lights.
"Well, well," Addison said casually, voice low enough to be playful, teasing. "Making new friends, are we?"
Lizzie blinked, caught off guard, before pinching the bridge of her nose. "Can you just leave me alone for one night? I'm clearly trying to talk to someone." She said, exasperated.
Before Addison could answer, the girl cut in. "Don't worry, it's alright. I'll catch you later." she said, giving Lizzie a kiss on the cheek and a wink before turning to walk away.
Watching the interaction, Addison's cheeks burned, probably from the heat inside the building. She just needed fresh air. Once the girl was gone, Addison leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice. "Didn't think you'd have the guts to show up, scholarship." Lizzie's pulse quickened at the frustrating nickname, but she tried to play it off. "Didn't think you'd notice." Addison's smirk turned into something daring, and she pulled a joint out of a pocket in her pants. "Want to prove you're not as boring as you look?" she asked, never taking her eyes off Lizzie's. Unsure if it was the alcohol or the need to prove Addison wrong, Lizzie agreed. "There's a spot in the bush outside I like to smoke. Lets go." she said, turning around without even checking that Lizzie was following. "Lead the way." Lizzie replied with a roll of her eyes.
They slipped past clusters of dancers, the music fading slightly behind them as they moved toward the building's back exit. Once outside, the night air was cool and still, a sharp contrast to the heat and chaos inside. The cool air clung to Lizzie's skin as Addison guided her toward the darker stretch of bushes at the end of the lot. Leaves brushed against Lizzie's arms as they ducked into the shadows and sat down in the grass, the space feeling a bit cramped.
Addison lit the joint, the flicker of the lighter illuminating her focused features for a brief second. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled in a smooth stream, handing it over to Lizzie. Lizzie took a hit and her throat stung, she bit back the urge to cough as she gave the joint back to Addison.
After taking another hit Addison taunted. "Your scholarship doesn't cover this, does it?" she smirked, handing the joint over.
Lizzie rolled her eyes, taking it and bringing it to her lips. "Wow. I'm surprised you managed a whole thirty seconds without mentioning the scholarship." She exhaled smoke, letting it drift between them. "I was starting to think you lost your touch."
Addison chuckled, leaning back on her hands, her green eyes catching the glow of the amber. Lizzie paused for a second, studying Addison. "You really do hate me, don't you?"
Addison hesitated mid-drag and her smirk faltered, eyes flicking towards Lizzie's face. "Who said that?"
Lizzie shrugged, feeling like she had the opportunity to finally call Addison out on all her bullshit. "You've been on my case since day one. I mean, what did I ever do to you? Since I moved to school you've made my life a living hell, you-"
Addison leaned in, suddenly, sharply, and before Lizzie could process it, Addison's lips pressed against hers.
It was quick, impulsive, almost rough. Then Addison pulled back, eyes wide and shaking her head. "Shit. Sorry, I don't know why I-"
But Lizzie didn't let her finish. She reached forward, closing the space, her hand finding Addison's jaw as she kissed her back. Slow this time, deliberate, tasting smoke and tequila on her lips.
Addison froze for a breath, then kissed her harder, hands finding Lizzie's waist, pulling her closer. The joint slipped, forgotten, into the grass. Lizzie's heart hammered, the world spinning faster than alcohol could ever make it. Every sharp word, every smirk, every glare they'd shared seemed to combust in that kiss, until there was nothing left but heat, want and the press of Addison's body against hers in the dark.
Addison's mouth moved against Lizzie's with a hunger that felt reckless, dangerous. Lizzie let out a soft sound she couldn't hold back, and Addison deepened the kiss, her hand sliding into Lizzie's hair, tugging gentle until Lizzie gasped.
"You drive me insane," Addison murmured, her voice low, desperate.
Lizzie's laugh came out breathless and shaky. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."
Addison grinned against her mouth, then shifted, pushing Lizzie gently back onto the grass. The bushes closed them in, shadows thick and protective. Lizzie's heart raced as Addison's body hovered over hers, one knee slipping between her legs.
The kiss turned frantic, their hands fumbling, Addison unbuttoning Lizzie's shirt, Lizzie pulling her closer by the waist. It was clumsy, charged, and fueled by months of tension finally snapping.
Lizzie's fingers brushed Addison's bare skin under her crop top, and Addison shivered, biting down gently on Lizzie's lower lip. "I fucking hate you." Addison whispered, pressing kisses along her jaw and eventually sucking on her neck, both girls far too drunk and high to care about the obvious marks it would leave.
Lizzie arched into her, breathing coming in shaky breaths. "Yeah? Well I hate you more."
Their breathing dissolved into soft moans as Addison's hands roamed, curious and daring. Lizzie tugged her down until their hips pressed together, the friction creating sparks that sent heat pooling in Lizzie's stomach.
"Tell me to stop," Addison said suddenly, her breath quick.
Lizzie's answer came without hesitation. "Don't you dare."
That was all Addison needed. Clothes shifted, skin bared into shadows, their mouths finding each other over and over as the world outside blurred into nothing. Every touch was urgent, every sound hushed and desperate, the kind of secret that could never see the light of day.
When it was over, they lay tangled in the grass, the night air cooling their sweat-damp skin. Lizzie's heart still pounded as Addison rested half on top of year, breathing hard, a satisfied smirk tugging at her mouth.
"Well," she murmured. "That's one way to end the school year."
Lizzie rolled her eyes, but her smile gave her away. "You're insufferable."
"Mm. You didn't seem to mind."
Lizzie shoved her lightly, but neither of them moved to untangle just yet. The party thumped on in the distance, but here in the shadows, it felt like another world. One they weren't supposed to share, but they did anyway.
The bass thudded louder as Addison and Lizzie slipped through the side door. A lot of people had left now, they hadn't realised how long they'd been.
"Lizzie!" Yasmin's voice cut through the ever-shrinking crowd before Lizzie could catch her breath. She and Molly stood near the edge of the dance floor, both looking equally annoyed and worried.
"There you are," Molly rushed over. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"
Addison awkwardly attempted to edge toward the crowd, but Molly's eyes darted after her, immediately catching the slightly tangled state of Addison's usually perfect hair. Suspiciously, she looked back to Lizzie, her eyes narrowing as she flicked them down to the crooked buttons on her shirt.
"Your shirt isn't done up right." Molly said plainly as she grabbed both Lizzie and Yasmin's hands and walked out of the party. Yasmin, confused but compliant, fell into step and before Lizzie could fix her shirt, she was pushed into the back of Yasmin's car.
The moment the doors shut, Molly whirled on her. "You did not just hook up with Addi Kensington," her voice half whisper, half scream.
"I didn't!" Lizzie blurted, lifting her hands like she could physically push away the truth. "We just... smoked a joint. That's it."
Molly's skeptical glare could've burned a whole through steel. "Uh-huh. A joint. You don't even smoke!"
Lizzie, too drunk to hold the act, let her head roll back against the seat with a sigh that sounded far too guilty. The collar of her shirt slipped slightly, and Molly's sharp eyes caught the telltale marks blooming along Lizzie's throat. "Lizzie. Grace." Molly's voice rose in horror and glee at the same time. "Those are hickeys."
Yasmin whipped her head around, eyes widening. "Wait, what?"
Lizzie groaned, covering her face with her hands. "Shut up. It's not- it's nothing." Molly's grin spread from ear to ear, practically vibrating in her seat. "You hooked up with Addison Kensington. Token straight girl, Addison Kensington, who has made your life horrible for two years." Lizzie groaned louder, sinking further into the seat, wishing the car would swallow her whole.
Yasmin blinked, still catching up. "Addison? As in Addi who has been tormenting you since we were freshmen?"
"Yup," Molly said, smug as ever, arms crossed like she'd just solved a murder.
Lizzie didn't answer. She just stayed hidden behind her hands, her cheeks hot, her body still buzzing with the memory of Addison's mouth on her skin.