Chapter Text
Sam arrived at the main gym, alone, where Foamcoming was being held. Her last.
Thank cod for that.
Nate had begged her to come and support him during his first school dance, but his friends had changed plans last minute and went out to eat first. No sweat off her back. It'd be weird hanging out with a bunch of underclassmen anyways. She'd miss taking digs at her little brother on his first date, though.
Oh well. She wasn't about to let her ticket go to waste. The school usually rented out decent DJs, and the snacks were okay, if kind of bland.
Clinging to the perimeter of the dance floor, Sam strode over to the punch bowl, head held high. One of the chaperones handed her a cup, a pufferfish unaware of the students throwing food and garbage to stick to her protruding spines. Teenagers.
Although she acted oblivious to the whispers trailing her wake, she felt as if everyone saw right through her shaded sunglasses. To her right, a particularly brazen inkling dared to call her out on it.
"Too cool for school, Shades?"
Sam instinctively reached for her hip before remembering Nate currently held her Hero Shot for modding. Instead, she whipped off her sunglasses, eyes still black and electric teal from what had happened last summer.
"You're lucky we're not on the turf field right now, squidlet. My ink could melt your brains." With a final sneer, she stalked away from the mint-inked girl, a little shocked at her own behavior. Did she really just threaten a kid over some petty comment?
Sam shoved her hands in her pockets and picked up the pace, not bothering to put her shades back on. Let them stare. They'll talk anyways.
She caught a glimpse of Nate from the far side of the gym and raised a hand to wave before hesitating, not wanting to ruin his good time. He was bright yellow right now, speaking animatedly to his date, that Fischer girl. He didn't need her bugging them.
Absent-mindedly, she swirled her drink around. Her eyes shone back at her from the punch inside it, irises still vicious teal from the events of this summer. She glared, the reflection copying her exactly. Avoiding any further eye contact with herself, she took a few gulps, choking down the artificial fruit flavoring and sugar suspended in water.
In doing so, she also impeded her ability to make eye contact with anyone else.
Distracted, she bumped into a particularly tall inkling, fumbling her cup like a particularly slippery clam. Noticing her drink had spilled on them, she quickly started to apologize, but with a quick glance up, she realized her mistake in bothering with niceties.
"Is this how we greet people now, Sam? By trying to splat them?" Ethan Houzuki deadpanned, fruitlessly wiping punch off his tux coat. His girlfriend and turf partner Nicole stood nearby, holding a drink of her own.
"Hold on. I'll go get some paper towels,” she said, leaving the childhood rivals to their own devices.
Ethan stood a head taller than most Inklings, blessed with a regal stature. His tentacles wreathed his perfect pale face in perfect golden hues, a fitting crown for the king of Turf War. Sam groaned, fighting back the urge to punch him in his perfect nose.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I was really looking forward to drinking that punch."
"Samantha Harper, occupied as always. Never watching where she's going." He muttered in reply, refusing to make eye contact.
Sam put her hands on her hips. "I'll be sure to aim for your face next time," she quipped, trying to push past and get as far away from him as possible, but Ethan grabbed her shoulder, preventing her quick escape.
"Oh no," he smiled without mirth. "You and I need to talk. Why aren't you in Calculus anymore?"
Calculus? Why did he care about that all of a sudden? Sam bristled, pushing his hand off her. "None of your business, Mr. Honor Roll. Besides, how do you know my schedule? We don't even have math in the same class period this year."
He glanced to the side, composure wavering. "I have my ways. But that's not important right now! How am I supposed to- to-"
"What, Ethan?" She growled. "Compete?”
“Yes! No one else stands up to me! No one other than that- that little brat from Team Blue, but you- you’re different! You’re-”
“Shut UP!” she shouted over the music. Nearby inklings turned to stare, and she shot them a harsh look. “Look, I’m just the same as everybody else. Anyone can do what I did. And clearly, someone did. I’m glad. Some kid was able to knock you off your high seahorse and teach you a lesson. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there to see it.
“And my classes? None of your business. I’m sure you’ll get into some great Kelpy League college as valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 GPA. And I’m not gonna bother chasing you there. You’re alone now at the top of the world. Happy?”
She brushed past him without another word, her empty plastic cup falling to the ground with a muffled clatter, crumpled.
The din of the party covered any further comment from him as she stalked away towards the gym exit. She was surprised to find a hard lump growing in her throat as she clenched her fists, breath held tightly.
She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.