Mixtapes & Polaroids | Sam x Deena

29

"I'm not a kid!" Josh protests, hand wrapped around the strap of his backpack as Simon drapes a lazy arm around his shoulders.

They're walking through the bustling crowded hall at the end of the day, bell rung speakers crisp with bad feedback and an abundance of merging conversations they couldn't care for. Everyone was always a little more buzzed on a Friday, with people gathered by lockers tossing around plans to make their miserable lives feel less miserable for a few hours into the night. Some were even ahead, kicking off the party in the dingy bathrooms with bloodshot eyes and lopsided smiles.

Deena hated it.

All of that dissipating energy, all the people bumping into her without a care in the world as they talk about getting wasted or who their next fuck was. She found it unbearable, but then again they were headed to the field to catch the last bit of cheerleading practice which meant she gets to see Sam. So maybe Deena is a little less annoyed. Plus, they had their own plans. They were going to see another one of Sarah's gigs, just a town over and Josh was dead set on making an argument trying to tag along with them.

"Hate it to break it to ya' buddy, but my twelve year old cousin looks older than you." Simon clicks his tongue, and Josh shoves him away with an annoyed groan.

"It's a bar, Josh." Deena sighs, but Josh only rolls his eyes.

"So? You're all underage, what's the problem with me?" He fires back, motioning between his sister and the so very amused boy munching on an oatmeal raisin cookie Deena was sure he stole off of her lunch just earlier that day.

"The problem is you look underage." Deena groans.

"In other words, you're kind of a baby. Like— a baby nerd. Nerd baby." Simon chuckles, ruffling a very irritated Josh's hair as they push through the double doors that led out to the field. Blinding sunlight and warm rays greet them, and also the rampant sound of Kate yelling at the girls.

Now that part, that feels like home.

"Seriously Carly? It's three counts then turn. Three counts then turn! We've done this a million times!" Kate exclaims as the three approach, and Simon's already waving to the girls who, as usual, pretend like he doesn't exist.

Well, except for Sam. Sam is the only one waving back, stood right in the center as she perches a hand right above her eyebrows, squinting through the bright sun just to take a good look at Deena. Deena does the same, almost mockingly, and Sam just can't help but smile even when Kate was going extra hard on them and her body felt like it was seconds away from disintegrating.

"How do I look like a baby? I'm literally fifteen." Josh tosses his bag onto the floor of the bleachers, and slumps down like a scorned child.

"Nerd baby. Sorry. I don't sprinkle puberty powder, so you're all out of luck." Simon shrugs, shoving the cookie wrapper into his pocket as both him and Deena take the spot next to him.

"Even if you could, by some miracle, get in, do you really think I'd let you? Look, I cant control whatever shit you're into on your little computer. I do not wanna know. But i'm not gonna be responsible for bringing you to a goddamn bar." Deena chimes in, leaning forward and looking past Simon to give Josh a stern gaze as he deflates with a small huff.

"You're no fun." Josh mumbles bitterly under his breath.

"What do you do on there? Do you like... look at boobies and stuff?" Simon leans in closer to the boy, his failed attempt at a whisper causing Deena to smack him over the head and Josh to cringe in disgust.

"Simon! Seriously?" Deena exclaims, but Simon just stares back at her with wide eyes and confusion smeared onto his features.

"What? I was just asking!"