Chapter Text
Students rallied with excitement as the varsity football team cruised down the hallway. With homecoming weekend approaching fast, Woodsboro High had been teeming with anticipation— for both the big game and the dance that would accompany it.
After dumping a couple of textbooks in her locker, Sidney tossed her school bag over her shoulder and slammed the door shut with a metallic bang.
Tatum stood where the door once obscured her from view.
Sidney jumped, but let out a soft laugh when she realized it was only her best friend. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough that you should have noticed!”
“Sorry. I guess all that school spirit was distracting me.”
“You gonna go to the game this year?” Tatum asked, sauntering down the hall beside Sidney. “The team’s looking really good this year. Steven Orth is basically superhuman.”
“Hmm.” Sidney tilted her head. “No, I don’t think so. I have plans with my dad.”
Tatum rolled her eyes. “If you’re not going to the game, are you at least going to the dance? That’s the fun part.” She smiled, nudging Sidney with her shoulder.
Sidney shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Maybe? Oh, come on. Are you telling me Billy hasn’t asked you yet?”
“He hasn’t,” Sidney replied. “But I’m sure he will. He’s probably just waiting until the right moment to ask.”
“Well, he doesn’t have a lot of time left, does he? Want me to start dropping hints? I can do that,” Tatum offered. “I will do that.”
A slight blush rose to Sidney’s cheeks. Tatum always found a way to embarrass her, whether she knew it or not. “No, Tatum, you don’t have to do that. He’ll come around. He always does.”
Tatum shoved the door open. A wave of fresh, fall air rolled through the exit. “I’ll be real subtle about it.”
“We both know you’re incapable of that,” Sidney joked, heading down the steps. Since autumn had just arrived, the air hadn’t cooled down yet— the days were still temperate and sunny. There wasn’t much of a difference between the temperature inside the school and out.
“I can be subtle when I want to!” Tatum exclaimed.
“So has Stu asked you?” Sidney asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.
Tatum’s face fell flat. “…No. But he will. He loves me.”
Sidney adjusted the strap of her bag, cracking a small smile. “Then why are you so concerned with my love life when you have your own to worry about?”
“Because you’re my best friend, that’s why!” Tatum tapped Sidney’s shoulder. “I want the best for you— and if your boyfriend can’t give that to you, then I will.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Billy’s the best,” Sidney replied. “Like I said, he’ll probably ask me sooner than later.”
An arm suddenly wedged between them and tapped Tatum’s shoulder. Sidney didn’t have to turn around to know it was Stu.
As Tatum looked to see who had touched her shoulder, Stu impishly sidestepped, making it look like there was nobody there. At that point, Tatum caught on, turning to face him. “Knock it off!” She exclaimed, smacking his shoulder. But she couldn’t fully conceal her amusement; a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth.
“Knock what off? I didn’t do that,” Stu raised his arms in defiance.
“Yes you did, moron!” Tatum retorted.
Stu pointed exaggeratedly at Sidney, putting her on the spot. “Tell her it wasn’t me!”
“I don’t know who you’re trying to fool, Stu,” said Sidney. She’d gotten accustomed to Stu’s antics over the summer. At some point, she learned to tune it out. She wasn’t sure how Tatum was able to put up with it every day— at least Billy had more tact. “Have you seen Billy around?”
“No,” Stu replied. “But you know who was looking for you?”
“Who?”
“Randy.” He raised his eyebrows.
Sidney sighed. “I already made it clear that I didn’t want to be his dance partner.”
A familiar voice came from behind her. “You don’t want to be dance partners with who…? Me?”
“Speak of the devil,” Tatum remarked, pulling Stu’s arm around her.
Sidney turned around to face Billy, her smile deepening. “Don’t worry. I didn’t mean you— we were talking about Randy.”
“He wasn’t trying to steal you away from me again, was he? I thought I told him to cut that out. He knows I was planning on asking you,” said Billy.
“How long have you been planning on it? Because homecoming is this weekend,” Sidney urged. She noticed Tatum giving her a nod of approval out of the corner of her eye.
“Since the day after homecoming last year,” Billy replied. “It was one year ago today,” he started, “that I asked you to the dance.”
All Sidney could do was smile as she waited for him to finish his spiel. His game was incredibly cheesy, but she didn’t care. One year ago, he had made her happy when she was at her lowest. The least she could do was humor him.
Billy continued, “So, what do you say, Sidney? Will you be my date this year too?”
Blocking out Stu’s immature mockery, Sidney nodded. “Of course I will, Billy.” She took his hand. “You’ve been incredible to me— how could I say no?”
Billy was a bit more straightforward when it came to silencing Stu’s banter. “Shut up, Stu.” His eyes locked on his friend for a moment before flitting back to Sidney. “It’ll be better than last year. I promise.” He leaned forward for a kiss, which Sidney gladly returned.
“Finally!” Tatum interjected. “I was wondering what was taking you so long!” She shot Stu an alarming glance.
Stu flashed her an identical look.
Tatum’s shoulders dropped in disappointment as a block of silence passed between them.
“What?” Stu shrugged, his intensive gaze turning into one of hilarity. “I guess I’m supposed to ask you too?”
“Obviously!” Tatum shouted.
Stu pulled her closer. “I didn’t think I had to!”
Just then, a cop car pulled up to the curb. After rolling the window down, an officer shouted from the drivers seat. “Hey! Are these clowns bothering you?”
Tatum sighed, shoving Stu’s arm away. He immediately coiled his arm back around her. “Dewey!”
“What? I was going to give you and Sidney a ride home, if you needed it,” Dewey replied, leaning out the window. He squinted slightly to combat the sunlight.
“That’s nice of you, Dewey,” Sidney said. “I think I’ll take you up on that.” She gently pulled away from Billy, beckoning for Tatum to follow. “We have a lot of studying to do. The ride home would save us some time, wouldn’t it?”
“I guess,” said Tatum, once again shimmying away from Stu. “We’ll see you guys later.” She strode to the passengers seat and popped inside.
Sidney waved to Billy. “I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”
“What about tonight?” Billy slyly asked.
Sidney felt another blush creep across her cheeks. “…We’ll see about that.”
Stu slung his arm across Billy’s shoulders. “Yeah, we’ll see about that!” He called. “I think Billy’s forgetting that we already made plans.”
Billy ducked out of his pal’s arm, giving him a sharp shake of the head as they faded into the distance.
Sidney chuckled as Dewey took them down the block, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Billy would actually show up after dark. He had a knack for not getting caught— even when she was sure her father could hear their every move.
So if he ultimately decided to stop by tonight… she knew there’d be nothing to worry about.