Work Text:
You Belong With Me (Why Can’t You See?)
Music blares in Tammy’s ears, she pushes through the crowd, looking for someone. A specific person. Her eyes light up when she sees Tina, her olive skin glistens in the dim light of Chealsea’s living room.
She hasn’t seen Tina all night - she had spent the entire night dancing with boys opposite of Jocelyn (looking over their shoulders to see if she could catch a glimpse of a yellow barrett). She shoves past a few people, Jocelyn follows her silently. She steps in front of Tina, blocking her path.
“Tina, where have you been? Did you go outside to fart so no one would know it was you?” She blurts out, Tammy internally facepalms, laughing awkwardly. “I would never do that.” She quickly adds. Tina doesn’t even acknowledge her as she turns to gently push past her, her shoulder brushes Tammy’s chest, “Sorry, Tammy. I’m just gonna dance past you.” She says with her signature monotone lithe. An alarm bell goes off in Tammy’s head - Tina cannot leave, she just found her! She blocks Tina’s path, “No, you’re not. No, you’re not. No, you’re not.” She says playfully as she blocks Tina’s attempts to push her past her. “Move it!” Tina says frustratedly and Tammy pulls back with a squeal, letting Tina push past her as her chest tightens. Tammy groans, why does she even care what Tina does? She follows Jocelyn away silently.
She doesn’t see Tina until a few minutes later, Tammy’s dancing with Davy Russo, his hands wandering to places Tammy isn’t quite comfortable with (but is too nervous to tell him off for) when she sees Tina over his shoulder. Tina. Dancing with Sam.
Sam? Really? Sam is like the dorkiest boy in school! One time Tammy saw him fall on his face in gym class - during light stretching. She scoffs internally, Tina’s a dork too. They’re… good for each other. Two dorks in a pod. She doesn’t care. Her attention shifts elsewhere as Davy’s hand travels further down.
This is no longer UB, Tammy thinks. She tenses as he grabs a fist of the flesh of her ass, squeezing. God, they’re in the 8th grade! Where did he learn to do that!? He chuckles into her hair, she swallows harshly. If she pulls away now she will make a scene - no one will want to dance with her again! She’ll be the school prude. She just has to suck it up.
A little while later she waits for her dad to come pick her up. She stands with her back against the wall, waving goodbye to Jocelyn. She crosses her arms over her chest, biting the inside of her cheek. She looks down at her feet and when she looks back up she sees Tina and Sam again. She rolls her eyes - because she doesn’t want to look at the two dorks, obviously - and looks away. She only looks back up as she hears Sam yell goodbye to Chelsea and something weird about her cat, she watches as Tina approaches Jimmy Jr. Her chest tightens, she bites her lip, eyeing her up as she walks over to him.
Tina sits down next to him, Tammy narrows her eyes. They talk, and then - and then, Jimmy Jr. rests his head on her shoulder. Tammy digs her fingernails into her arms and before she can even think she’s marching over. “Oh, hey, Jimmy Jr. You’re dad… is… outside.” She lies with a laugh and a smile. “Oh.” He says with his irritating lisp, “O’tay… I- I gues’sh I’ll sh’ee you tomorrow?” He says, turning to look at Tina, she smiles and Tammy’s eye twitches. “Yeah! I mean, yeah.” She says, as awkward as ever. He stands up, “Bye, Guy’jze.” He says before lethargically walking away and out Chelsea’s door. Tammy immediately takes his place.
“Hey, dorkbutt.” She says nonchalantly, crossing one leg over the other. “Oh, hey, Tammy…” Tina says disinterestedly. Tammy bites her lip, “How- how was your night?” Tammy says, “Not that I, uh, care or anything…” She adds quickly. “It was good. Not in the way I expected but… good.” She says with an easy smile, Tammy loses her breath for a second. “So… are you like… dating Sam now or something?” Tammy cocks a brow, feigning disinterest. Tina laughs, “Oh, no. We’re just friends.” Tammy sighs in relief through her nose. “Oh, good.” She says before she can stop herself, Tina speaks before she can correct herself. “Good? What does that mean? Do you like Sam?” She says rapidly, how does a girl that talks so slow normally talk so fast!? Tammy gulps, “What?! No!” She denies immediately, Tina cocks a brow. “Okay,” She says, clearly skeptical.
“You actually look really nice in that dress, Tammy.” She says immediately after, Tammy flushes red. “Shut… shut up, Fluffy-Butt… I- I always look good…” She stutters through her response looking at her feet. “Tammy? Are you okay?” Tina says, her voice almost… soft? Tammy groans, “I’m fine.” Tina doesn’t seem to believe her. “Are you sure? You’re acting really weird…” She says and Tammy huffs. “I’m fine!” She says, her voice squeaking. Tina’s eyes widen behind her wide rimmed glasses. “Oh.” She says like she’s just realized something and Tammy panics internally, “What?” She says, trying to act non-chalant. “Tammy, do you like me?” She says it so casually, Tammy almost falls out of her chair, “W-what?” She sputters out, “T-that’s ri-ridiculous!” Tina’s eyebrows crease. “You don’t have to lie. I won’t make fun of you.”
Tammy stands, just as she tries to bolt she feels a warm hand on her wrist, she turns around, meeting Tina’s eyes beneath her glasses, “Why- why are you, uh, running away?” Tina says and Tammy takes a deep breath, what makes Tina think that Tammy likes her? Ridiculous!. “I- I, uh…” Tina blinks at her, Tammy feels stupid, she tries to rip her arm away from Tina’s grasp but her grip is too tight. “Tammy!” She says and Tammy stops, looking at Tina humiliatedly, she stares at Tammy with kind eyes. “You have my phone number. Text me.” Tina says, with a surprising amount of confidence. “Well technically it’s my family's emergency phone number but, uh… same thing.” There’s the awkwardness.
Tina lets her go as the flip phone buzzes in her pocket. “My dad’s here. See you… later?” She says before walking away. “Wait!” Tammy yells after her, Tina looks at her over her shoulder.
“I’ll text you.” Tammy says. Tina smiles before running out the door.