Chapter Text
Tales of a High School DUFF
By: Beatrice Young
What does homecoming mean to me?
If you asked me at the beginning of senior year, I would've told you, «Absolutely nothing». But tonight, possibly the greatest night of my life, I have changed my tune.
You know that one moment in high school that changes everything? It all started senior year. about a month before homecoming. I was cruising the hall with my two best friends...
***
Beatrice’s article affected the school just as much as her video, but this time the change was positive. People around the school were reading «The Crucified Sword» with smiles on their faces and murmurs of awe. Students that normally occupied very different places in the high school’s social hierarchy were admitting to themselves and other that they were indeed DUFFs and there was nothing wrong with being one.
The school’s website had never seen so many people accessing it in all its existence. The likes and comments grew more and more every single day, positive this time. Kids started to share their own DUFF stories and insecurities, and Beatrice decided to turn them into a weekly column. She was giving voice to people like her and it became a huge thing in OCS.
Her relationship with Ava only grew stronger after Homecoming too. Ava was surprisingly romantic when she wanted to be and neither of them had ever felt so happy. And all thanks to a weird plan that fortunately didn’t go as they expected. Well, except when it came to Ava’s grades.
Beatrice never missed an opportunity to proudly state that Ava had passed Science with a great grade and had been offered a full scholarship and a place at the Ohio State girls’ soccer team – football, Beatrice! And since, Young got into Northwestern University to pursue her journalistic career, they would be able to see each other. A lot.
Beatrice’s musings about the past and the future were cut short, and she was brought into the present by a ring from her phone. She read the message.
“Babe <3: I’m seeing you”
Bea looked out the window, spotting her goofy girlfriend with an even goofier smile, waving at her from her front porch. She couldn’t contain her own smile.
“Me: Stalker much?”
The pout she received from the other girl when she read the text made her day.
“C’mon, Bea!” called Ava, getting impatient.
Rolling her eyes, the taller brunette quickly exited the house and headed towards her girlfriend. Girlfriend… she loved the ring of it.
“Hey, girlfriend-slash-neighbour!” greeted Ava with a kiss.
“Hi, girlfriend-slash-neighbour!” another greeting, another kiss. When they decided they had kissed enough to tide them up for the next two minutes, they headed to Ava’s car. “You hungry? I’m hungry.”
“You already know the answer to that question, baby.” And it was true, Ava’s stomach was a bottomless pit.
“Good, ‘cause I was hoping to take you to dinner. How about a little Dave & Buster's?” suggested Beatrice. “A dark booth?”
Ava let out an exaggerating gasp. “Beatrice, are you trying to woo me while also dirty talking? ‘Cause if yes, it’s totally working!”
Beatrice rolled her eyes fondly and let Ava wrap an arm around her. “Maybe if you’re goodm we’ll accidently touch knees.”
“Oh, Bea, don’t say that, my heart is weak.”
Ava’s goofiness was contagious because Beatrice found herself saying with a deep voice. “Beatrice kiss Ava now?”
“Oh, monster voice! Sexy!” and the monster got was she wanted without problems.
In the end, it was not about popularity or even getting the girl. It's about understanding that, no matter what label is thrown your way, only you can define yourself.
Take it from a DUFF.