Chapter Text
Lori skipped through the hallway, in a far better mood than ever before. Mainly due to the fact it was prom season and it was something Lori happened to look forward to for as long as she could remember. The thrill of being chosen as prom queen, the dress picking and finding ways to get people to vote for you is one of the best things teenagers could experience. Even if she didn’t necessarily win she was going to try and make the best of it. Especially when her own girlfriend was running for prom queen. It was a win-win situation. As she skipped through the hallway, Lori felt sudden hands around her waist and soon spun around, giggled completely and was thrown off guard by it.
“Okay, okay put me down!” Lori said through her laughter as she was placed back down back down where it was safer. It was Tiffany. Her smile was as big as ever. They were dating for quite some time now. In the beginning it was definitely awkward. They didn’t know how to talk to each other. And all Lori could do was smile and awkwardly laugh whenever Tiffany said anything at all and Megan calling her whipped for it. In defence of Lori it was impossible not to be.
Tiffany grinned ear to ear, Lori was starting to think there was no way her grin could get any bigger, as she held Lori’s hands. “We need to go dress shopping. After school? Cool.” Tiffany didn’t even wait for an answer as the bell rang out, meaning they’d have to get to their classes. She kissed Lori’s knuckles before letting go with a small giggle, her eyes filled with such love that it made Lori feel like she was on cloud nine. Something about seeing Tiffany being her genuine self was something that wasn’t always so apparent. Seeing that flowing more within Tiffany was perfect. It was all just perfect.
After that extremely long period, Lori walked over to her locker and noticed there were scratches all over it. And on top of that, something was written on it. Of course Lori wasn’t allowed to have a normal day and just be excited. Someone always had to ruin it. And something smelled disgusting, as she opened it rotten tomatoes spilled from the locker and into the floor, Lori almost wretched from the smell of it. Everyone looked at her as if she had done something. But Lori knew why people were messing with her. It was the lead up to prom queen people would play dirty. After all, she needed to do everything in her power to win. It made sense that someone else was doing the same.
“Hey, I was wondering where you were. What’s - oh.” Tiffany walked past noticing what was in the locker and what was now seeping to the floor, wincing at the smell that made everything shudder and gag. Before she could say anything else a large amount of it fell to the ground with one wet plop. Pushing away the bike in her mouth as she looked at Lori, gesturing to the locker before then stepping back in disbelief.
Lori shrugged her shoulders in disbelief and slammed the locker with no care in the world. Her anger was bubbling but it could wait. She could wait until prom was over. She didn’t have time for that. It could wait. It all could wait. Instead of tearing her hair out about it she decided to deal with that at another time. She decided to focus on her girlfriend. Forcing a smile on, linking arms with Tiffany as they walked to where they needed to be.
Although as soon as they entered the classroom there were beady eyes on Lori. She swallowed thickly feeling herself going into a state of losing her mind. Mumbling something to herself as she sat down. Her head slumping against the desk. There was a lot of noise and there was nothing to stop it. The paranoia over prom queen now looming over her head and threatened to crush her like a piano. Was she ever fit to even be prom queen? Tiffany easily had the better chance of winning. Everyone did. So why did she feel so determined to try when soon enough Lori would be out and down for the count.
“Lori?” Tiffany tried to get Lori’s attention, looking over to her getting up from her desk and walking over, crouching at Lori’s desk. She wasn’t stupid, she knew something was going on. Tiffany wished Lori would tell her. “What’s wrong?” She tried to get something out of Lori but she didn’t even get a response. As she soon was about to say another thing Lori got up and left, gesturing for Tiffany to follow.
Although Lori couldn’t help but question if this was the right thing to do. But with the way Tiffany happened to be smiling at going all in, how could she not?
As soon as the bell rang they ran to the mall as fast as they could. Checking out all the dresses they could find, and trying them all on. As Lori was trying on dresses that definitely didn’t do her any favours. And without fail Tiffany would point out which dresses did and didn’t work with Lori’s idea. “No, that one just…looks bad. You need one that speaks to you.” Tiffany explained as she saw the dresses. All of them seemed flimsy. Not appealing. None could ever convey how beautiful Lori was. And that irked her a lot.
Until something caught her eye. A white dress. Although Tiffany didn’t want to pressure Lori into buying something that she might have not wanted. It caught Lori’s eye before Tiffany could even point it out. She held the dress out before putting it against herself looking up, Lori smiled as she spun around smiling. Feeling confident in herself.
“What do you think? Lori asked with a small happy go lucky tone in her voice as her and Tiffany’s eyes met and to say it did was an understatement. The way that Tiffany was quiet slowly began to make her get nervous. “Is it-” Before Lori could even finish her sentence a small kiss on the cheek gave her answer. Soon she bought it, they walked outside and Tiffany couldn’t help but smile with the largest smile on her face as they began walking back to Lori’s house.
Soon enough it was time to get ready for the night. Tiffany snuck out to Lori’s place, not caring of what her mom might say. Tonight was about them. And a night they could forget about the world around them. Even if it seems impossible to enjoy it, Tiffany just wanted to try. “Your dress looks stunning. Something tells me I’ll need to fight off any boys who look at you.” Tiffany said as she was doing her makeup.
“Just don’t key someone’s car…”
“It’s not fun if you read my mind, Lori!” Tiffany replied as she turned around to look at her. Noticing Lori was struggling with what to do with her makeup. Tiffany clicked her fingers together when an idea came to mind. Pulling Lori over to the bed and gesturing for her to lay down. “I’ll do it.” She explained as she got her makeup brush leaning forwards. In all the times they had kissed, this felt rather intimate.
Tiffany couldn’t help but smile at it all. “I wish you would let me do this more often. It’s…nice.” She whispered as she felt blood rushing to her cheeks. Only Lori could make her feel like this. Feel vulnerable yet content. It was rare for Tiffany to lower her guard, but yet around Lori she just made her melt.
“You say that but you’d never let me do yours.” Lori smirked, getting a small nudge from Tiffany. She knew that this wouldn’t take long but Lori felt like she had been there for ages. Something about how focused Tiffany seemed did have some sort of effect on Lori. How could she not? Her girlfriend had an attractive face when she was focused.
It didn’t take long for them to actually get there. In fact it was sooner than Lori expected. And it was packed with people. She went to almost turn around and run, but Tiffany already predicted that and gently pushed her forwards to the middle of the hall as music boomed ever so loudly. Lori chuckled nervously, mumbling under her breath. Maybe drinking some punch would simmer her nervous down. She sat down fidgeting nervously as she watched the crowd dance around with loud cheers becoming somehow louder. This was becoming hell.
Then again this school felt like hell.
“Tiff, I don’t know about this.” Lori mumbled, feeling her throat tighten up as she looked over at Tiffany. She looked like a deer in headlights. And she definitely felt like it. Although the feel of Tiffany squeezing her hand definitely felt reassuring for a brief second. “I mean it. I don’t know what to do here.” Lori sounded incredibly defeated and they hadn't even properly started yet.
“You’re gonna be okay Lori.”
To some extent Lori wanted to believe that but she knew it wouldn’t be the case.
Soon they were on the dance floor. Tiffany was completely memorised by Lori. She didn’t care if she won. The real prize was right in front of her all along. And that was enough. The music drowned out everything. Lori moved close to Tiffany, a small smirk crawling onto her face. One that seems
To be scheming, but there was one thing Lori was good at, it happened to be getting ahead of Tiffany.
“You say it like it’s a mantra.” Lori bit back, gently spinning Tiffany out and then back towards her. Things seemed to be going fine. Everything for once didn’t seem like it was going to go horrible. Lori was genuinely laughing for what felt like the first time in a while. Although she could hear something in the background. By the time she went to try and comprehend it, it was too late.
One of the other people within the hall pulled Lori back by her shoulders, causing her to let go of Tiffany. There was a group snickering at her. As Lori went to stand back up she seemingly slipped over hitting her head on the floor. The random group of teenagers purposely the part of the floor where Lori happened to be standing was slippery . She didn’t know what was happening but she could hear people talking. Talking about her.
How she didn’t deserve to win.
How Tiffany was the better candidate.
And most of all, how she was one of the freaks that belonged in Shadyside.
Usually she wouldn’t listen. In fact she could stick up a middle finger and call it a day but in this moment she froze. She felt like she couldn’t move. Her throat tightened up as she looked around at all the eyes that were on her. Lori couldn’t speak. She tried opening her mouth but no sound came out. All she could do was stare. It wasn’t until they began talking again that it finally made Lori snap.
Lori stumbled up her heart beating out of her chest as she felt herself wanting to get out of there. She got up almost slipping again, catching herself this time as she ran out unable to process anything else. Couldn’t even process the sound of Tiffany calling her name as she bolted out of the hall, music being drowned out as the door closed behind herself.
Lori was done with running for prom queen.