batshit - euphoria

01.

"This shit is fucked up," Fez commented as he and Tabby watched Maddy hook up with some random guy in the pool.

"Yeah, she's definitely gonna get a UTI from that," Tabby said, before returning her eyes to her phone screen.

Coming to McKay's party was something that Tabby was starting to regret, especially since she wasn't fond of him– anyone on the football team was a bitch in her sight. However, she had rarely gone to any parties during her high school career, and junior year was supposed to be epic, right? Seeing everyone be their worst selves tonight reminded her of why she'd prefer to be somewhere else, watching the Snapchat stories of what happened, rather than be in the midst of chaos.

"You fuck with the new girl?" Fez asked.

"Jules? Yeah, Kat introduced us. I think she's cool. Someone Rue would like," I said.

"That's what I told her."

"Speak of the devil."

Rue walked up in all of her slim, tall, and obviously high glory. The girl stumbled from side to side, and Tabby stood up quickly in paranoia that Rue would fall.

"Tabby," Rue said, and puts her hand on the other girl's shoulder.

"You're back," Tabby nodded. "How long?"

"Five days."

"How are you feeling?"

Rue let out a short chuckle. "Better than ever, Tab."

Fez went on to tell Rue about how drugs were bad for her life, the things they do to people, etc. All of this was shit Rue had heard before. Tabby didn't even attempt join the discussion, since she had told Rue this before, as well. People do what they want. What makes them feel good.

•

"Hey," she heard a voice call out to her while she walked home.

The girl's bleary eyes fell on Nate, who sat in his truck that followed beside her. Despite his efforts to get her attention, she just ignored him. Nate persistently honked his horn at Tabby, until she glanced his way.

"Get in," Nate ordered, waving her toward him.

"Fuck off, Nate," Tabby said, speeding up the pace of his steps.

"It's about to rain, dumbass."

"Like you really give a damn, and why the fuck would I let you drive me home when you're drunk?" she yelled, holding her cold arms.

"You're fucking impossible, I'm trying to be nice–"

"Nice... Nice? Nice?! Were you nice to Jules, the new girl?"

"She had it coming, Ta–"

"You were an asshole," she spat.

"Bitch."

"You've barely said a word to me in the last three years, and you choose to let 'bitch' be the first thing you call me besides my name."

You see, Tabby and Nate have history. In elementary school and until Tabby's departure from middle school, the two were secretly best friends. You read that correctly– secretly. Nate's dad didn't approve of having extremely close female friends; it wasn't manly. Because of this, Nate and Tabby would only hang out at Tabby's house or Nate's when no one was home. When Tabby left middle school, Nate was upset, but joined in on the rumors to fit in with everyone else. Seeing the girl coming back freshman year was surreal for Nate. He wouldn't dare talk to her like he gave a fuck about her, which left a bitter taste in Tabby's mouth, since Nate was the first person she wanted to see when she left therapy. Her old friend had gotten taller, bigger, and even cooler, but she had no idea who he was anymore.

Nate stopped his truck, making Tabby hold her keys between her fingers cautiously. Her legs carry her faster, but Nate moves towards her at the same speed. Nate takes his sizable hands to each side of Tabby's face, and she tried to fight back, her punches weakening when she realized that Nate's gesture seemed endearing. Nate's type of endearment was creepy, but for some reason... acceptable.

"I fucking hate you, you prick! You forgot I know everything about you and your crazy fucking family, and–"

"Shh, shh."

Warm, salty tears fall down Tabby's cheeks and she began to sob, her chest tightening with every breath. "You smell like alcohol, it makes me–"

The two connected lips, and immediately Tabby feels 13 again. 

That night, Nate and Tabby hung out at her house. She sobered him up with organic teas and tons of water, gave him food and let him shower at her house. All of this without her dads knowing, somehow. They lived within yards of each other, so she carefully watched as Nate snuck out of her window and to his car that sat in the Jacobs' driveway.