CHAPTER ONE
the kiss list
Vega and Claire are best friends. Plain and simple.
If you asked them how they became best friends, they couldn't tell you, but I can.
Here's how it went down.
SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2023
Freshman Year
They'd already been in the same friend group. They just didn't really talk.
"Vega," The teacher calls, "Your lunch is in the principal's office."
What the fuck? It's her second week of high school, how is she supposed to know where the principal's office is?
"Where's the principal's office?"
The teacher sighs, realizing her class is all freshman, "Does anyone know where the principal's office is?"
A couple kids raise their hands.
"Ah! Claire, you know Vega, don't you?" asks the teacher. Claire nods.
"Great," The teacher smiles, "Hurry back."
•••
The walk goes fine, until a teacher from another class rushes out of their classroom.
"Excuse me," The teacher says, "Does one of you know how to get into the school page's newsletter?"
Vega and Claire look at each other. They don't.
"Uh..." Claire shrugs, "Don't you have a fold-up assistant for that?"
The teacher furrows his eyebrows, "...What?"
"Yeah," Vega nods, "Like an assistant that you fold up and just, like, keep in your desk."
"Exactly," Claire says, "And it, like, helps you with stuff."
The teacher shakes his head, "...Okay. Goodbye, girls."
He walks off, and Vega and Claire turn to each other again.
"You're fucking weird," says Vega.
"So are you," Claire narrows her eyes, "I like it."
AUGUST 9TH, 2024
Summer Break
"I can't believe you fucking transferred," Claire says, "God! I'm gonna be stuck with... Sarah. And fucking Allie."
"You love Sarah and Allie."
"I know," Claire sighs, "But I'll still miss you."
"It's fine," Vega shrugs, "It's not like we're gonna stop being friends."
"...Right," Claire nods, lying down, "Right."
AUGUST 26TH, 2024
The First Day of School: Vega Edition
"And you will have a test this week," says the teacher. Vega furrows her eyebrows. It's the first day, right?
Vega does not belong here, at this school with these preppy fucking kids who throw 'parties' where they just chug vodka and have questionable threesomes-- it's just not her. I mean, stuff like that happened at her old school, but nobody acted like they were better than anyone else.
These kids all think they're the shit.
Vega hears someone next to her say something stupid. She turns to her left... and acknowledges that Claire is not there, sighing before turning and facing the teacher again.
The bell rings and Vega makes her way down the hallway, finding her way to her next class. She sits down at a random seat, hearing the boy next to her's conversation with the boy behind him.
Fucking douchebags.
Something about a girl; Vega heard 'slut 'and 'you deserve better, man'. She rolls her eyes.
Then all of the sudden-- a junior walks in. Isn't this a sophomore class? Vega works to remember what class she's in. She's only been paying attention to room numbers.
Ah, History. History has mixed-grade classes sometimes. Oh, fuck, he's cute.
Vega looks up at the list of names. Definitely not Jack... or Charlie, for that matter-- Ethan? He looks like an Ethan. Italian last name. So they have something in common.
Vega tells her brain to shut the fuck up and Claire appears. Mind Claire. Just the Claire that exists within Vega's mind to help her out sometimes. Vega's in full control of it-- it's not schizophrenia, just a coping mechanism when she's in an uncomfortable position.
Mind Claire grins, "Put him on The Kiss List."
Vega turns to Mind Claire, "Oh, fuck yes."
AUGUST 26TH, 2024
The First Day of School: Claire Edition
Claire sighs, feeling someone kick her chair. She turns around.
"Where the hell is this guy?" Allie furrows her eyebrows, referring to the teacher.
Claire shrugs, "Pretty fucking bold to be late on the first day."
"He's cute," Sarah beams, nudging Claire and pointing to a boy across the room.
Allie looks at her, and then at Claire, "She's fuckin' insatiable."
Claire stares at Sarah, "Sarah, you can't date every cute boy you see."
"Says who?" Sarah questions, looking back at the boy she's fixated on.
"Maybe we're too picky," Allie supposes, "We should have lower standards. Like Sarah's."
"No boy is worthy of you, Alberta."
"Don't you dare fucking call me that name."
"Sorry," Claire raises her hands up in defense.
"What about him?" Allie points, her tone very joking-like.
Claire turns to look at him, "Oh. My. God."
Allie furrows her eyebrows, "What? No, Claire, I was kidding. That's... diabolical, he is not cute."
Claire watches him, a smile spreading across her face, "Allie, you can't talk, you've been in one relationship."
"You've been in zero!"
"Don't get so hung up on technicalities."
Mind Vega appears, "You wanna put him on The Kiss List?"
Claire looks at Mind Vega, smiling, "Oh, fuck yes."
AUGUST 26TH, 2024
After School: The Treehouse
"Kiss List?" asks Vega, stepping into the treehouse.
Claire nods, "Henry Mendoza. Yours?"
"Ethan Marino," Vega responds, "He's a junior."
Claire's jaw drops, "Damn, Vega. Mine's a sophomore. He's not... like, a smoke show, he's just cute."
"You have a picture?"
"Fuck, not yet. You?"
Vega shakes her head, sighing, "It's fine. I'll know what yours looks like once you guys are together."
"Shut the fuck up," Claire chuckles, "He probably doesn't even think I'm cute."
"Claire, you're pretty."
Claire stares at Vega incredulously. Vega lies on her back.
"I miss you."
"I'm right here."
"You're not here though."
Claire shakes her head, lying down with her, "You're right. I wish we could have some fun. Homecoming's in two weeks... I just want to have a fun night with you."
"A Vega and Claire night."
"Exactly! God, what would we even do?"
The two lie in silence before Vega shoots up from her position, sitting up, "I have an idea."
"Lightbulb," Claire blurts, sitting up as well.
Vega smiles slowly, "...Let's do the Kiss Lists."
"...I'm sorry, what?"
a/n: you gonna cancel me? gen z me bruh?