Kiss Don't Tell

Chapter 2

The next day rolled around at school, but the air felt different. I was talking to Benjamin when I turned around to see Lily walking towards me. She walked up to me with a bright smile plastered on her face.

"Hey, Tabitha!" she said. "How are you?"

I blinked, convinced I must be hallucinating. "Uh, hi, Lily," I stammered. "I'm... good?"

"Great!" she beamed. "I wanted to invite you to my party this Friday. It's going to be at my parents' mansion. Super casual, you know? It's just a fun get together with friends."

I glanced around, expecting to see the hidden cameras. This had to be a prank, right? But Lily's smile didn't falter, and she handed me a glittery invitation.

"Um, thanks," I said, taking it hesitantly.

"Of course! Bring Benjamin, too. The more, the merrier!" And with that, she sashayed away, leaving me bewildered.

As soon as she was out of sight, Benjamin appeared at my side. He'd been my best friend since 5th grade, always there with a kind word or a warning look. Today, he had the warning look.

"Are you seriously considering going to Lily's party?" he asked, eyebrows raised.

"I don't know, Ben," I sighed. "Maybe this is my chance to fix my reputation, you know? Maybe she wants to make peace."

Benjamin shook his head. "Tab, I don't trust her. She's been awful to you for a long time. Why would she suddenly be nice?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I have to try, right? This could be my chance to be part of something bigger."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, if you're going, I'm going too. But I'm telling you, this is a bad idea."

---

By the time Friday rolled around, I was as nervous as ever. I'd taken Lily's "super casual" dress code to heart, picking out my favorite pair of jeans and a comfy hoodie. Benjamin showed up at my house in a similar getup, looking equally apprehensive.

"Ready for this?" he asked, offering me a reassuring smile.

"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

We drove to Lily's mansion, my heart pounding with every mile. The house ahead of us, its appearance intimidating. As we walked up to the front door, I could hear the sound of music and laughter from inside.

We stepped in, and my heart sank. Everyone was dressed for the red carpet. glittering dresses, sharp suits, and perfectly styled hair. I felt like a fish out of water in my casual clothes.

Benjamin leaned over, whispering, "We can still leave, you know."

I shook my head, trying to muster some courage. "No, let's just see how it goes."

---

Lily spotted us almost immediately and made a step in our direction. Her smile was wide, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Tabitha! Benjamin! I'm so glad you could make it."

"Uh, thanks for inviting us," I mumbled, feeling more out of place by the second.

"Oh, I love your outfit, Tabitha," Lily said, her voice trailing with sarcasm. "So... casual."

I flushed, my cheeks burning. "Thanks," I muttered, looking down at my feet.

Lily giggled, turning to her friends who were already smirking. "Everyone, I have a big announcement to make!" she called, climbing onto the kitchen counter. The room fell silent, all eyes on her.

I felt a sinking dread in the pit of my stomach. Benjamin's grip on my arm tightened. "Tabitha, let's go," he whispered urgently.

But before we could move, Lily's voice rang out. "I just wanted to let everyone know that Tabitha here is a disgusting lesbian with no fashion sense!"

The room erupted in laughter. My face felt like it was on fire, and tears sprang to my eyes. Benjamin stepped forward, his face furious. "That's enough, Lily. You're disgusting."

But I couldn't stay. I turned and bolted for the door, the laughter echoing in my ears. I ran until I was outside, the cool night air hitting my face. I didn't stop until I reached the end of the driveway, collapsing onto the curb in tears.

A moment later, Benjamin was there, kneeling beside me. "Tabitha, I'm so sorry. She's awful. You didn't deserve that."

I shook my head, unable to speak through my tears. Benjamin wrapped his arm around me, letting me cry on his shoulder. "It's okay, Tab. We'll get through this. She's just a bully. Everyone will see her for what she really is."

I nodded, sniffling. "I just... I wanted to fit in."

"I know," he said softly. "But you don't need their approval. You're amazing just the way you are."

We sat there for a while, the sounds of the party fading into the background. Eventually, I wiped my tears and took a deep breath. "Let's go home."