Author's Note: As per usual, I do not own Faking It or any of the characters.
Sorry it has taken so long to post a new chapter, I promise I have not forgotten about you. Feel free to review, tell me what you like, what you don't like, etc… now on with the story!
Karma's POV
Karma woke up and the first thing she did was check her phone. She didn't have any missed calls or texts from Amy so she messaged her making sure she was okay and see if she wanted to head to school together. After a very silent car ride with Lauren, the girls all got out of the car, Lauren walking in one direction, Karma and Amy in another.
"So, what happened last night? You kinda vanished, then I didn't hear from you again." Karma asked as soon as they were out of earshot of Lauren.
"I know, I'm sorry." Amy responded. "There was some crazy going on. Lauren gave my mom an ultimatum, either Mom tells Bruce about my dad, or she will. So Mom told him the truth. After that I just wanted to go to bed."
Wow. I wish she would have messaged me. I could have helped her through this. It can't be easy watching your family fall apart. "How did that go?" Karma questioned.
Amy replied honestly, "It's been tough, but I'm glad she told Bruce. They're trying to work it out." Karma nods, Yeah, cause couples can survive something like that. "They are even considering the tantric healing retreat that your mom recommended." Wow. They are really trying.
"Well, if they're desperate enough to try that, it must be serious. How's Lauren dealing it?"
"Who knows." Amy answers. "Right now she's all about planning Junior Prom."
The girls walk up to the security check in and place their purses on the table. Felix is there, just finishing up having his own bag checked. "Wait, is it prom season already?" Felix asks the girls after overhearing the last bit of their conversation. "Ugh, God. I'm allergic to dancing teens in formal wear."
He's such a nerd, but he's our nerd. "Why? You worried you can't find a date?" Karma teases him.
"I've got two hot prom dates lined up already." Felix informs the girls. They both look shocked and a little confused. "My couch and my Xbox. A thruple date if you will." The girls laugh. Yup...such a nerd.
Karma grabs her purse from the table, "Well, you have fun with that. Amy and I will be bucking the trend and going together." Please don't freak out, please don't freak out.
"Wait, what?" Amy stops walking so she can look at Karma. "We never-"
She's freaking out! Okay, play it cool Karms. Make it sound like a just friends thing. "I know it's silly, but it's a rite of passage. We could have the whole dance floor to ourselves, we could request Straight Up on loop." Come on. This has got to work. I can't go to prom with anyone else. It has to be you, Amy.
"I prefer Felix's idea. The couch part, not the video game part." Dammit. I just want to dance with her again. I love the feeling of her arms wrapped around me, and since she "got over me" she doesn't even hug me as much as she used to.
Amy must see Karma's disgruntled looking face because she quickly follows up with, "But I promise, we'll marathon movies about prom, like Carrie."
Ugh, really? Well, there are worse things. I could snuggle close while watching a horror film, and that would mean me and Amy would be alone for a while..
"Wait, the original or the remake?" Felix's voice interrupts Karma's thoughts.
"The original." Amy answers affronted. "And I'm insulted you would even ask me that."
As they carry on their conversation, Karma get stopped by the security guard so he can run the metal detector wand over her. Um hello! Best friend you are leaving behind here.
The bell rings while Karma is still trying to catch up to them. Amy turns around and waves at Karma while she heads to class in a different direction than the one Karma needs to go. She waves back, briefly considers texting her about ditching her, but decides against it. Around third period, both Amy and Karma's study hall hour, Principle Turner makes an announcement through the school video system. He dictates that prom is now a mandatory event for all students, and that all of the students must bring a date. Consequences of not attending prom with a date is a month of detention.
Now Amy and I can go to prom together! Best idea Turner has ever come up with. I have to go find Amy.
Karma finally tracks her down at the library, in a study room, having a conversation with Shane. "Amy!"
Shane and Amy both shush her. Karma looks around at the students who are actually studying, and walks quietly over to the table her friends are at.
"Everyone at this school is freaking. We're going together, right?" Please, please, please.
Amy looks over at Shane, then leans forward, whispering to Karma. "You know, I would, but it's not fair to you."
What the hell? "Fair? What are you talking about?"
Amy continues, "Karma, you've been dreaming about prom since you were six years old. And your dream date wasn't me. It was a cute boy who's really into you."
Well that's true, but dreams can change. My dream date NOW is you. Or you know, a cute best friend, who's still really into me. "Yeah, that would be great." Karma says, not really knowing how she's going to put this, "But-"
"What about Felix?" Amy interrupts.
"Felix is super cute." Shane chimes in.
"Yeah." Amy agrees.
"What? Ew, Felix?" Why are they trying to set me up with Felix? Gross. He's a dude. Wait, that's really gay, I can't say that. "He's like my brother. And you're the one always flirting with him."
Amy looks confused, and maybe a little grossed out herself. "What? Please. Oh! Oh, what about your new lab partner? You said you two have chemistry. I remember that because then i said "in more ways than one", and we laughed."
Shane laughs, "That's a good one."
Karma tries her best to smile, I meant just the class..but if Amy really doesn't wanna go with me, I guess I have to find someone else. "He is really cute. The other day he lit my Bunsen burner." Is that a sign of flirting? Lighting a fire for someone?
"Go get your flirt on before he asks someone else." Amy tells her enthusiastically.
"Okay." Karma turns around and heads out of the library.
Karma is down the hall, a plan forms in her always scheming little mind. I could always say that I tried to get him to ask me, but he just wasn't interested. That since the breakup with Liam, no boy is interested in me. Amy would have to be my date then because neither of us could go alone. Perfect.
As Karma walks towards her next class, she almost physically collides into Wade. "Hey there, Chem buddy."
"Hi." Wade seems surprised, but happy to see her.
"Hey, uh, did you write down the homework assignment last week? I totally spaced in class and forgot to get it."
"Oh, uh yeah. I'll get it to you at lunch? Cool. Gotta get to class. See you later." He puts his hand on her shoulder as he walks away.
After practising what she was going to tell Amy at lunch about Wade, Karma feels prepared to deliver a slightly-upset-but-not-to-hurt-about-the-rejection-guess-we're-going-to-prom-together speech.
She walks up on Shane and Amy sitting in the grass. God, do they ever go anywhere alone? "I tried all of my best hair flips and still no prom invite." Karma whines at them.
"I can relate." Shane comments. "I'm trying to bait my crush into asking me, and nothing."
Amy looks at the both of them, pouting over their crushes. She stands up on the bench that Shane is sitting on.
"Listen to you two. Waiting around to be asked like it's the 1800s." Amy points at Karma. "You are woman." As she motions towards Shane, "And you are gay man. Let's hear you roar! History rewards those who seize the reigns of their own destinies!" Amy smiles, hoping she has encouraged them both, especially Karma, enough to go ask out their crushes.
Well, I did ask you out, but you shot me down, instead insisting on Netflix. Then when we found out it was mandatory to go, you still insist I go with someone else. Well fine. I am Karma freaking Ashcroft. If I can Liam Booker to be monogamous, I can do anything. I can have any guy at this school, if I actually try. "Amy, you are so right. I'm just gonna ask my "crush" to prom myself."
Shane stands up with enthusiasm, "Same here!"
As Karma looks around outside, she sees her last ditch effort standing in a group and says, "Ooh, there he is right now."
"Oh, mine too." Shane replies. They both wave, at the same group of people. Only one person waves back. Shane and Karma both look at each other with horrified disbelief. At the same time they both start hurriedly walking towards Wade. As Shane is pulling on his backpack he pointedly states, "You've obviously mistaken Wade's friendliness for flirting."
Karma, never one to back down, points out "Maybe you've misinterpreted his sensitivity. Not everyone is gay."
"Yeah, well not everyone in this school is in love with you."
"We're settling this now."
They both arrive at behind Wade at same time and they greet him, almost in synchronization.
Wade turns around, and sees the two of them together. "Hey, guys. I, uh, did not realize you two were friends."
Karma puts on her sweetest voice, "Wade, can you please tell Shane about how you called me cute the other day?"
Shane shakes his head as he scoffs at her. "Oh, poor Karma. He meant cute like a viral video of a puppy sneezing." He chuckles as he looks at Wade to back to him up. "Right?"
Wade replies, "No, no. I meant cute as in attractive, hot, sexy." He keeps smiling at Karma, who is grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
Shane reminds him, "But you flirted with me at the PFLAG event. And we talked all about your ex-boyfriend Aaron."
"Ex-girlfriend actually." Wade explains. "It was with an "E" not a double "A". But you're right. We've been flirting." Shane smiles.
"So are you gay or straight?" Both Shane and Karma ask at the exact same time.
"I'm bi." Wade answers, still smiling.
Karma and Shane dawn looks of total confusion, both of them standing there with their brows furrowed and their mouths slightly open. "Had that not even occurred as a possibility to you two?"
Shane tries to play it cool, "Of course it did."
Karma tries not to make a fool of herself, "Bi? Totally. Yeah." What the hell? How did I forget that bisexual was a thing?Damn, I should have thought of that.
"This is kinda awkward," Wade continues, "but, I like both of you. And I'm not really sure who I wanna bring to prom yet. Is that cool?"
Shane and Karma both express their approval. Wade mentions talking to them later about prom after he has had some time to think. He leave and Karma and Shane look right at each other in complete disbelief. Shane walks off next leaving Karma standing there in shock. She rushes to catch up with him.
"Well that was weird." Karma states.
Casually, Shane says while looking at his phone, "Eh, not really. Maybe it was for you, but it wasn't for me."
"Right. Well, look," she begins. "We need a civil way to decide who gets to take Wade to prom. What's fair? Should we flip for it? Rock-Paper-Scissors?"
"No need for that." He says confidently. "I'm going with Wade because Wade is gay."
Karma reminds him, "Um, he just told us he was bi."
Shane stops walking and turns to face Karma, so he can explain this properly to her. "The "bi" label is just a step in the coming out process. It goes: drunken hookup" He starts counting the steps off his fingers. "Curious, bi, full-blown gay, Elton John." Shane continues walking.
Karma follows him and points out a flaw. "His last relationship was with a girl." She shakes her head like she has won. This isn't even about who takes who to prom anymore.
"So was every other gay guy before they came out." Shane says this like it's obvious knowledge.
"Well, what about Amy?" Karma asks. "Even you said she could be bi."
Shane, getting defensive, but having no more valid points, simply says, "It's different for girls."
Karma grabs him by the arm, "Whoa. That is a ridiculous double-standard. Really close-minded and hypocritical. If girls can be bi, so can guys." Oh my God. I have been around my mother too much. "Wait, are you just trying to freak me out?"
Shane does have this horrible little habit of getting into my head to psych me out. I remember the whole Reagan thing where he said lesbians were viciously territorial, making me go slightly possessive and agree to a terrible "group hang". That was such a bad night.
"Since when are you so open-minded?" Shane asks her, avoiding answering her question. "Even if a tiny part of Wade is into you, I know what a guy wants, because I am one." He smiles and walks off, effectively ending their conversation.
Shit. What am I supposed to do now. Shane is right. I don't know anything about what guys like. And I don't even really want to go to prom with Wade. I want to go with my best friend, with my soul mate. I gotta go tell her what just went down. Maybe I can talk her into going with me, since my only hope has a thing for the drama queen of Hester.
Karma turns back towards the school, and starts looking for Amy.
I know I left this is kinda a not so great place, but I want the next chapter to focus on prom night, and I'm going to do it from multiple points of views…..