Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Brawl High, Starr Park
The final bell rang, long and shrill, and the classroom dissolved into end-of-day chaos.
Backpacks thudded onto desks. Chairs scraped. Someone near the window was already arguing about what to wear on Monday. The winter air outside pressed frost against the glass, faint snow clouds looming over Starr Park.
Then the loudspeaker crackled.
"Attention students," came the tired office voice. "Before leaving for the weekend, Principal Griff has a final announcement."
Static popped.
Then the unmistakable nasal voice of Griff filled the room.
"Urm—yes. As you all know, with the park closing temporarily for the winter season, the owners of Starr Park have agreed to sponsor a Winter Dance for the student body. It'll be next Friday night. So make sure you get a date so you don't look like some loser—oh shi—"
The speaker cut off abruptly.
For half a second, silence.
Then the room exploded.
"A dance?!"
"Next week?!"
"I need something new to wear!"
"I am not going alone, bro."
Janet sat very still.
A dance.
Next Friday.
Her pulse quickened.
Across the room, Fang leaned back in his chair, laughing at something Buster said. Edgar elbowed him and Fang rubbed the back of his neck in that sheepish way he always did when embarrassed. His hair fell into his eyes and he shook it away, still grinning.
Janet's stomach flipped.
Just ask him.
You run student council meetings. You give speeches. You can ask one boy to a dance.
Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.
No. What if he laughs? What if he already has someone in mind?
Before she could overthink it further, she stood and slipped out of the classroom.
The cold courtyard air hit her cheeks, doing nothing to cool the heat rising there.
"Janet!"
She looked up to see Piper, Amber, and Colette waiting near the fountain, all staring at her like they'd just uncovered classified information.
Janet narrowed her eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You stayed in the classroom an ungodly amount of time after the bell," Piper said smoothly.
Amber tilted her head. "Were you maybe..."
Colette clasped her hands dramatically.
"ASKING OUT A CERTAIN SOMEONE?!"
"Colette!" Piper and Amber hissed.
"What?!" Colette whisper-yelled. "You know I live for this stuff!"
Janet's face burned. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Piper gave her a look.
"Darling."
"Oh please," Amber said. "You've had a crush times a million on Fang since we were basically toddlers."
"I do not have a thing for him!" Janet said stiffly.
Colette gasped. "Blatant lies."
"Focus," Amber said. "Did you ask him?"
Janet hesitated.
And that was enough.
"You did," Colette breathed. "How did he react? Did he get flustered? Did he trip over his words? Did he immediately say yes?"
"Maybe he was planning to ask you," Amber added.
Janet suddenly crossed her arms.
"Oh, and you three are experts?" she shot back. "Just like Colette has a thing for Edgar and Amber totally doesn't stare at Lou during lunch?"
Amber's face went pink instantly. "I do not stare—"
"You absolutely stare," Piper said calmly.
Colette clutched her chest. "Edgar does not count. He's just... around. Frequently. And brooding."
"And you light up when he texts," Amber muttered.
"That is slander."
Janet raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, and Piper doesn't have a thing for Rico?" she added triumphantly.
Piper froze.
For half a second, her composure cracked and the faintest blush crept into her cheeks.
"That," Piper said carefully, regaining her poise, "is neither here nor there."
Amber snorted.
"Deflection," Piper added smoothly, turning back to Janet. "Classic."
Janet's victory crumbled.
She sighed.
"I didn't ask him."
Blank stares.
"You didn't?" Amber blinked.
"You've been building up to this for weeks," Piper said gently. "You literally made a planning document."
"It was theoretical aesthetics!"
Colette straightened dramatically.
"This cannot stand."
Janet narrowed her eyes. "Colette."
"As your friend and devoted supporter of romance, I refuse to let you fumble this."
"Colette, don't you dare."
Too late.
Colette spun on her heel and began marching across the courtyard with terrifying determination.
Janet felt her soul leave her body.
⸻
Across the courtyard...
Fang tried not to look toward the fountain.
He failed immediately.
Janet was laughing at something Piper said, sunlight catching faintly in her hair.
"She's gonna need a date," Buster said casually.
Fang looked away too quickly. "Yeah. Probably."
Edgar followed his gaze. "You're an idiot."
"I didn't say anything."
"You don't have to."
Fang shifted his weight. "She probably wants someone who has a plan. Not someone who waits until the last second."
Buster grinned. "You like her."
Fang rubbed the back of his neck. "Even if I did... what if she doesn't like me like that?"
Before either of them could answer—
"FANG!"
All three boys turned.
Colette was marching toward them like a determined storm cloud.
Behind her, Janet looked like she was reconsidering every decision she had ever made.
Fang's stomach dropped.
"...Oh no."
Buster's grin widened.
Edgar smirked faintly. "This should be entertaining."
Colette stopped directly in front of Fang, eyes sparkling with chaos.
"We need to talk."
And somewhere across the courtyard, Janet considered transferring schools.