thursday, november 26th

"Okay, today is the big day!" Miss Grace rattled her hands on the floor, creating a drumroll of some sort. "We are trying the costumes on!"

That earned excited gasps and whispers from everyone around the room. Beth turned to Robin. "I don't know if it's worth being excited. I'll probably just get a crappy maid's dress."

Robin chuckled softly. "Straight from the 50s."

"Exactly!" Beth huffed.

After a long, exhausting speech from the teacher the whole class started flowing towards the door and out.

The group wandered trough the halls, following the teacher and chatting quietly.

Beth got her costume and yes, it was a corny one. It had lots of extra stuff on the sleeves, and a puffed skirt with a white apron.

"This apron has more lace than actual fabric on it." She groaned, turning to Robin. After changing the costumes on, the two girls had moved away from the crowd to a smaller room, hoping to find a proper mirror and some peace.

"It's not nearly as bad as my shoes!" Robin pointed down to her feet. She was wearing these weird-ass shoes that looked like some elf had dropped them on their way to santa's workshop.

Beth looked around. "No mirrors here." She groaned. "How's my hair? Does it fit the costume?" She asked Robin.

Robin stepped closer and was about to touch up Beth's hair, but she stopped her hand in a second.

"Can I.." She softly spoke, asking for permission.

Beth nodded, and Robin started fixing her hair.

They were both silent, only Robin muttering some remarks every once in a while. Her fingers softly moved her hair to the side and adjusted it. Robin's gentle touch sent a shiver down Beth's spine, and the girl did everything she could to stay calm.

After a while, Robin spoke again. "Okay, I think it's all set." The girl smiled, but didn't take her hands off of Beth's hair.

Beth's eyes moved slowly to Robin's lips. A soft shade of red started growing on Robin's cheeks, and the girl's hands on the other's hair stopped.

The moment stopped. The tension between the two was growing in a rapid speed, getting unbearable as they kept staring at each other.

Some point of Beth's brain fully realised what was happening. They were alone in the room, face to face, close, the other girl's hair tangled in her hair, she felt like she couldn't breathe.

This is it.

Robin's eyes flickered to Beth's lips and back to her eyes, and hers were doing the very same.

That's when they heard the door crack open in the other side of the room. The two girls shot away from each other, taking a few steps away. Robin's face was flushing, though she awkwardly tried to cover it. The pulsating knot on Beth's stomach slowly eased as she took a deep breath, and couldn't help but smile at Robin's reaction.

She quickly got back to her costume, pretending to tie her shoelaces. Kate walked into the center of the room, oblivious of what had just happened.

"Robin, that's way too much blush!" The other girl gasped, staring at the girl's red face. "Where did you even find makeup to try?" She furrowed her brows, still very oblivious.

Beth lowered her head to cover the growing smirk on her face.

"Yeah." Robin simply said. "I-I should probably go wash it off, huh?" She laughed to relieve the tension, then walked off. Kate sent a curious look Beth's way.

Suddenly Robin stopped and turned around.

"Hey!"

Beth was quick to answer: "What?" with a tone that came out way too excited.

Robin looked embarrassed. "Sorry, uh, I was talking to Kate." She mumbled, pointing at something behind Beth. The girl turned around to see Kate rushing to catch up Robin, giving Beth a small smile as the two left her in the room by herself.

Well, that was humiliating. Beth's cheecks wouldn't stop burning, as she walked out of the room, the previous minutes playing again in her mind. She got back, took her costume off, swiftly avoided Josh's attempt to talk to her, and walked back to the classroom along with a few others.

—

"Class dismissed; have a nice day!" Ms. Grace announced, packing her own purse. Beth closed her shoulderbag and grabbed her jacket to go. She hadn't spoken much with Robin after the try-ons, still feeling the awkward tension. The lack of conversation was killing her, since by now she was already used to Robin's constant fast talking.

"Miss?" Tammy softly spoke, walking over to the teacher's desk.

"Yes, Tammy?" Ms. Grace turned around.

"Can I borrow the classroom for a little? I have an announcement to make."

The teacher smiled at the girl. "Sure, why not. I have another class to get to. Just lock the door when you leave."

"Thank you!"

Ms. Grace left, leaving everyone half-ready to go now staring at Tammy.

"What's going on?" Kate asked the blonde.

Tammy walked to the front of the classroom, fully gathering everyone's attention. Robin and Beth exhanged confused looks.

"Okay, so. We have the first show next friday -the dress rehearsal- and, I thought, we should have a little party after that." The blonde glanced around the room, excitement in her eyes.

"Don't we have a party after the real show?"

"Yeah, but that's the formal party. The one with the teachers and parents and all." Tammy explained. "This party would be just ours. Much more fun."

"It's not a bad idea." A girl on the front row spoke.

"Yeah. Where would it be? Who arranges it?" Another girl asked.

"Me." Tammy pointed at herself. "You don't have to worry about anything." The girl turned to her bag and started going trough it, looking for something.

"Of course you don't have to come, id you don't want to. But I really hope that all of you will be there." She smiled, pulling out a pile of invitations from her bag.

The invitations were passed around the room, everyone getting one pink card.

Beth read the paper in her hand.

Yeah, yeah, she liked to think she was above parties and stuff, but this one seemed different. These people were actually nice, they would be fun company. And who said that this party would be one with alcohol? Or make-out-sessions? This one could just be a cool gathering.

She could actually have fun if she went there.

It was almost like Robin heard her thoughts, as she spoke: "Parties are the most.. high-schoolish thing to do, but this one actually sounds fun." She was clearly trying to 'break the ice' again. It was no doubt that the awkward moment from earlier was still fresh on her mind.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"So, do you think you could possibly, uh, be going?" Robin asked.

"Maybe." Beth shrugged. "What about you?"

Robin hesitated for a second.

"I'm going." She said.

Okay, now I'm definitely going.