Heather {RICKY BOWEN}

{seven}

"Homecoming"

Mia isn't prepared to enter the girl's bathroom and witness Nini Salazar-Roberts flushing a dress down the toilet. It had only taken a glance in her direction to know the dress was the one she had planned to wear to the Homecoming dance later that night. 

She had run into the bathroom in hopes of avoiding Ricky and Big Red as they discussed their plans for homecoming, the shorter boy trying to convince the other to ask Nini, as she was now single. Mia didn't want to eavesdrop on the two, but she listened in any way, not like the sharp pain in her stomach when Ricky's reasoning for not asking the blonde was: "We aren't that close, and now that Nini friend-zoned me, there's really no point in continuing the plan."

"This isn't mad, this is empowered! I'm done with boys who think they can control me, and exes who can't even handle being friends!"

Mia glances away from where she was setting her bag on the counter, watching in the mirror as Nini turns and flushes the toilet one last time. 

"I'm done with boys."

Mia enters the stall to the right, trying to get out of the girls' way as they discuss their plans for a 'girls night.' Leaning against the wall, she listens as Miss. Jenn exits the last stall and invites herself along. 

She waits until she hears the doors close before exiting the stall, walking to the sinks to wash her hands and splash her face with water. 

"Mia! I thought I recognized your bag. I know you were listening to us talk about our plans tonight, and I think you would be a great addition to the outing. Why don't you tag along?"

"It's really sweet of you to invite me, but I don't think I should come." 

"Nonsense. It'll be so fun!" Miss. Jenn opens the bathroom door.

"It's just- well, Nini doesn't seem to like me all that much, so I think I would just ruin the whole night." Mia Toys with the sleeves of her (Ricky's) sweater, her eyes trained on the tiles underneath her feet. 

"Well, if you change your mind, we'll be at the karaoke bar next to the Bowling Alley." 

Mia nods as the older woman leaves, feeling conflicted. 

She wanted to go to the homecoming dance, but now that she knew she was definitely going alone, she wasn't so interested. 

Ashlyn was quiet, watching as Mia paints the sets scattered around the stage. 

"I thought you said the Art Club was going to help you with this?" 

"Well, they were, but Mrs. Josnar had another project to take on and that requires most of the art club's help, so I told her I could handle it." 

"Mia, are their names still in the program? Are they still getting recognition for your work?" Ashlyn stands, taking the paintbrush from Mia's hand. 

She nods, her face darkening as she looks away from the intimidating red-head. 

"That doesn't seem fair. We have to tell Miss. Jenn that you're doing all this on your own!" 

Mia reaches to take the paintbrush back from Ashlyn's outstretched hand. "Ash, it's fine, really. I don't mind doing it." 

Ashlyn rolls her eyes, moving the paintbrush out of Mia's reach. "Well, it's not fine. Anyway, are you going to the dance tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. Miss. Jenn Invited me to go out with Nini, Kourtney, and her so I think I'm going to try that out."