Play Date
A Miriam songfic
You call my on the telephone, you feel so far away
You tell me to come over, there's some games you want to play
I'm walking to your house, nobody's home
Just me and you and you and me alone
Miriam was never the one to plan the date. Date wasn't even the right word. It was more like Zane summoned her, and she fawned over him until he got bored with her. Tiffany used to tease her at first, but as they got older, she just sighed whenever Miriam up and left.
As far as Zane was concerned, she was just arm candy, someone to pass the time with when his meathead friends were being annoying. She knew it. Tiffany knew it. Everyone around them knew it. Christ, even their parents probably knew it. But deep down, they were more than that. She knew it.
That's why, when Zane called, she went to him. That's how it had been for years. She probably knew him better than most people. She was there when his dad was being a jerk to Zane, whose only compliment to Miriam was how beautiful she was. She helped him with whatever he needed, gave him whatever he wanted.
We're just playing hide and seek
It's getting hard to breathe under the sheets with you
I don't want to play no games
I'm tired of always chasing, chasing after you
Zane and Miriam's parents were friends, that's how they met when they were younger. The Gilberts were also in their friend circle, so the two of them and Emma were always sent to play together.
Even when she was a kid, Miriam could tell that Zane had a bit of crush on Emma. How could he not? She was smart, and talented, and didn't take any of Zane's crap. Miriam would be lying if she said she wasn't envious about that last part. She just thought he would've grown out of it by now. Why else would he want to crash her party? It was just a stupid slumber party that was the same every year, and the one time Miriam had been invited she had hated every moment of it, so no way was he doing this for her.
She watched Zane being surrounded by all the chattering girls, a smug smile on his face, Miriam sulked beside him. And when Emma brought Zane up to talk, she sulked even more. This had to be one of the stupidest, lamest parties she'd ever been to. And then a bunch of drinks exploded all over her, and it became the worst party she had ever been to. Not only had Zane had apparently gone and ditched her, but now her top was ruined, and her night was wasted. Tiffany was right, she should've just gone to the movies with her.
After she left, Zane was leaning up against his car. She wasn't even in the mood with him when he grinned at her. She just got in the car and he drove her home.
I don't give a fuck about you anyways
Whoever said I gave a shit 'bout you?
You never share your toys or communicate
I guess I'm just a play date to you
"Why do you go?" Tiffany asked her once over a juice. "He doesn't like you."
Miriam took a sip and was half tempted to tell her to shut up. But she didn't want to hurt Tiffany, God knows she was probably the only one who could stand her. "Yes, he does."
Tiffany raised an eyebrow that Miriam chose to ignore. "Yeah, but Miriam, you don't have to go running to him whenever he calls."
"I don't. Remember last week when I told him I was too busy?"
"That's… that's not what I mean, Miriam."
"Then what are you talking about?"
Tiffany sighed. "Never mind."
Miriam knew why she went. She went because he expected her to. Everyone expected her to be the one on Zane's arm. But the illusion was slowly wearing off. Zane was making sure of that.
Wake up in your bedroom and there's nothing left to say
When I try to talk, you're always playing board games
I wish I had monopoly over your mind
I wish I didn't care all the time
"Miriam, there you are!"
She was still woozy from waking up on the table at the JuiceNet, but seeing Zane made her feel slightly better. She flashed her brightest smile and went over to him. "Where else would I be?" she asked flirtatiously. She started for a hug, but he pushed her away.
"I've been up the whole night looking for you!" He exclaimed, and she started to hear a tone of annoyance and anger. "You parents have been calling me nonstop. Where were you?"
"I don't know," she stammered nervously, backing away slightly. She had never heard him talk like this, not to her at least. "I think I passed out in the cool room at the cafe or something, I woke up in the cafe. Zane, I'm sorry," she tried to explain, but Zane just scoffed.
"You made me look bad to everyone," he said accusingly. "Then you show up out of nowhere as if nothing's wrong? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Miriam felt her heart drop. "Zane, please, I'm sorry-"
"You know what? Just save it, Miriam."
Before she could say another word on her behalf, he turned and stalked away, leaving her colder than when she woke up.
We're just playing hide and seek
It's getting hard to breathe under the sheets with you
I don't want to play no games
I'm tired of always chasing, chasing after you
What was his problem? What did that weird Rikki girl have that she didn't? It was Miriam that always there whenever Zane wanted her, gave her time for him and did whatever he wanted. She made sure that she was as pretty as possible whenever they were together so that it made him look as good as possible. And now suddenly, he had no time for her? He was just going to blow her off?
"Maybe this is a good thing," Tiffany suggested gently.
"Why would me being ignored be a good thing, Tiffany?" Miriam spit out irritably.
"Well, it's just… Miriam, he doesn't like you, he just makes you think he does so you pay attention to him."
"That's not true," she said stubbornly, crossing her arms.
"Really? When was the last time you two did something you wanted to do?" Tiffany pointed out. "When was the last time he said something nice about you without you having to ask for it?"
"Stop it, Tiffany!" She said through clenched teeth. "Just leave it, okay?"
The two sat in silence for a while, and she stared at her drink. She expected Tiffany to leave, but she never did, and Miriam knew she was a royal pain to her.
"I'm sorry, Tiffany," she whispered.
"I know," she said, clearing her throat. "I just don't want you to waste your life on someone who doesn't deserve you."
Miriam gave her a small smile and went back to her drink, pretending not to notice when Tiffany began to stare adoringly at Lewis as he walked in. How that guy didn't notice her obvious crush on him was an astound degree of obliviousness.
Ring around the rosy
I never know, I never know what you need
Ring around the rosy, I want to give you, want to give you
What you need
She laid out on the raft in Zane's pool. He had asked her to come over, but when he started talking about mermaids again, she just got in the pool and ignored him. It was all he wanted to talk about ever since the boat sinking. She didn't have time for him going crazy. She had final exams to worry about, and college applications that still needed to be filled in. She and Tiffany had found some great colleges around Australia but going to school abroad was seeming more and more appealing.
"Don't be here when my dad gets back," he said dismissively as he stalked away, and Miriam shrugged before settling back against the raft. Whatever. Like she wanted to be here, to be reminded who Zane was growing into being. Or even worse, if that girlfriend of his dad's came too, and she had to be reminded who she was growing into.
She clenched her fists and growled in frustration before flipping off the raft and into the cold water. For a minute, she stayed submerged. The water surrounded her, and she felt her hair float around her. When she was younger, she adored the feeling. Her stupid parents were constantly gone, off on their business trips or parties or whatever stupid crap going on with their lives, leaving Miriam on her own. It was always Zane who was there when she wanted to hang out with her. He actually listened to her. And now she wanted to do the same and he just kept blowing her off. And did he seriously think she didn't know he was dating or seeing or whatever with Rikki? He probably thought he was being clever or secretive, but she saw the two of them together, she saw the way he lit up whenever he got a text message.
Miriam pulled herself out of the pool and scrolled through her phone.
"Hey, Tiffany, can we hang out?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah, of course," Tiffany said immediately.
"Thanks. I need help with that history assignment, if you don't mind."
That was a lie, and they both knew it, and Miriam could've kissed her when Tiffany didn't pry.
I don't give a fuck about you anyways
Whoever said I gave a shit 'bout you
You never share your toys or communicate
I guess I'm just a play date to you
"I'm sorry I yelled at you about that stupid locket," Miriam muttered as she and Tiffany walked home.
"It's okay," Tiffany said tiredly.
"No, it's not," Miriam insisted. "You don't deserve that."
"I know you didn't mean it."
Miriam sniffed slightly, and she struggled to keep the tears in. "I guess I had what Zane said coming," she whispered, looking at the ground.
Tiffany stopped her and, before Miriam could say anything, wrapped her into a hug. Miriam went stiff at first; what had she done to deserve Tiffany? She put her arms around Tiffany and returned the hug, squeezing her tighter as she quietly sobbed. Stupid Zane, she thought. Stupid me.
"Come on," Tiffany eventually said. "My parents are out of town for the weekend. Wanna have a party?'
"Honestly?" Miriam said, wiping her eyes. "Can we just have an us night?"
Tiffany smiled brightly, and they began to walk for her house.
You know I give a fuck about you everyday
Guess it's time that I tell you the truth
If I share my toys, will you let me stay?
Don't want to leave this play date with you
Tiffany didn't think she could be any happier. She stood in the airport with her best friend in the world, each holding a ticket to Paris. She had gotten a scholarship with a fashion school there, and once Miriam found out, she made sure she got accepted there too.
They boarded the plane, and Tiffany couldn't be happier to be getting out of the Gold Coast. Sure, it was beautiful, but it was something she had seen all her life, full of people she known all her life.
Miriam looked nervously out the window, and Tiffany took her hand. "You okay?"
The blonde girl nodded. "Just thinking about Zane. I think it's the first time in weeks," she chuckled dryly.
Tiffany bit her lip, tempted to remind her of the school dance not long ago, but ultimately decided against it.
After the incident at the café, Zane hadn't messaged her once, and at their last dance, he had been so preoccupied with Rikki that he didn't give her a single glance. She had been busy dancing with Lewis when she heard Miriam laughing, and she had looked over in time to see Rikki running out the café. Nate had grabbed her into whatever lurching it was that he called dancing when Miriam tried to make it to Zane, and for once, Tiffany felt something other than disgust towards him. She quickly cut in and managed to convince Miriam to go find some fun somewhere else. At first, she was annoyed that she had to stop dancing with Lewis to keep her friend from doing something incredibly stupid, but the beach party they had eventually found made her forget about that.
"You're not thinking about staying, are you?" Tiffany finally asked.
Miriam shook her head and smiled, pulling out two magazines and handing one to her. "No. You were right, Tiff. About everything. Besides, being with you is so much better."