Sweetest Pain || Hawk Moskowitz

11 Awkward

The girls, except for Sam, were sitting on the floor of Moon's living room, having their own movie night. They had all their snacks and drinks spread out around them with their pillows and blankets. 10 Things I Hate About You played on the TV while Moon and Yas gave each other manicures. They occasionally gave KT side eyes, watching her as she brushed through her hair for the umpteenth time. She had been quiet since they left school, hardly saying more than a few words at a time and only speaking when she was spoken to. It was kind of getting on Yasmine's nerves.

She finally snapped, letting out an exasperated groan. "What are you pouting about?"

KT looked over, seeing Moon was working on Yas' nails. She ran the brush through the same strand of hair again before shrugging.

"Did something happen?" Moon asked softly, a little more patient than Yas. It was clear to KT that they were both worried, but she felt a lump in her throat at the mere thought of what had happened. But it wasn't their fault.

KT finally put the brush down, pulling the bowl of popcorn into her lap. "I asked a guy out."

"Really?" Yas asked, shocked, as she had yet to be informed of the little plan. Her eyebrow arched high as she began to inquire. "Who?"

"Doesn't matter," KT said as she started to eat the popcorn by the handful. It was salty and buttery, their one cheat for the week because how could you watch a movie without popcorn? She cast her gaze down, staring into the bowl. "He rejected me."

"He said no?" Moon asked, stopping the manicure to reach out to KT.

She nodded, not looking up as Moon took her hands into hers. "I feel like an idiot."

"Don't," Yasmine said, not missing a beat. They looked at her, seeing a mean look in her eye, but it wasn't directed at either of them. It was more protective than vindictive or unkind. "He's the idiot."

Moon nodded in agreement, then asked, "Did he say why?"

"No, he just said no," KT said, bowing her head as Moon continued to comfort her.

No matter what they said, she still felt bad. She was embarrassed, rendered speechless in the aftermath of it all because she had not thought about whether he'd say no. She hadn't expected to be rejected because she'd thought things were going well; they'd talked and discovered some crossover in their interests, they were complimenting each other, and their dance had felt electrifying... She thought she'd had a chance.

I misread everything and made a fool of myself in front of him. Now I have to see him everyday until the end of school and it's going to be far more awkward and weird and insufferable. That'll be just great.

"Forget about him," Yasmine said suddenly. KT didn't look up. "You're, like, the hottest smart girl in school. Everybody wants you, even the nerdy guys and annoying, little freshmen. You can get any guy you want, so just forget about this one."

"It's not like that's easy," KT mumbled. She remembered how it was just that past weekend they had talked all day about which was better, Marvel or DC, and debated who was the better billionaire hero, Tony Stark or Bruce Wayne. It was the kind of thing she couldn't talk to anyone else about because her friends didn't like comics or cartoons. It was the side of her they didn't see. "I thought we were getting along just fine."

"Well, like I said, he's an idiot," Yas said. She carefully scooted herself over to KT, making sure not to ruin her nails. She wrapped her arms around her (step) sister and pulled her close. "Because no smart guy would ever turn you down."

Moon moved to KT's other side, joining the hug. She pushed KT's hair out of her face, smiling at her as she finally picked her head up. "Yeah, you're super cool, so it's his loss."