Jessica tries to find Kevin

Jess tried to stay calm and act natural, but walking through her own party in the overly-revealing version of her cheer-leading uniform felt all too humiliatingly real. The girl wasn’t sure if she’d ever been quite as aware of the air against her skin as she was feeling it against her exposed midriff right then.

She winced the first time someone saw her, expecting a reaction… but there was none.

People smiled at her, but no one seemed to acknowledge anything was wrong and Jess grew from anxious to actually wanting someone to stand up and say something about how absurd she looked – this wasn’t normal. Even if she had decided to put her uniform on for some reason everyone would’ve recognised the Eastlake cheerleader’s uniform was meant to have a middle… right?

Someone had to notice… right?

Jess bit her lip, her cheeks flushing brighter pink as she stood awkwardly in the living-room doorway – painfully aware of how inappropriately dressed she now was. She almost hoped that she’d spot the other members of the squad dressed in their uniforms too… but nope, the other girls were in the same outfits they’d been in when they’d arrived. It was just her.

“Fuck…” Jess muttered under her breath, stepping as cautiously as she could through the chaos of her own party - she had far more important things to worry about than her own birthday.

Walking into the living room Jess almost bumped into Samantha, a tall athletic redhead and another member of the cheerleading squad. It took Jess a moment to register who it was but when she realised she grabbed the girl excitedly by the arm,

“Oh my god, Sam… listen, you sit next to M-“ Jess froze, her mouth open and eyes growing wide in horror. How the hell was she meant to ask anyone about Kevin Scott if she couldn’t even say his name?!

“Sit next to…?” Sam cocked an eyebrow, pulling her head back in confusion.

Jess stumbled, “Uh… you know the, uh, weirdo you sit next to in Math?”

Sam screwed up her nose, “Eew, Kevin? What about him?”

Jess smiled, “Yeah, do uh… do you know where he lives?”

Sam made like she was going to vomit, “God no. Eew, Jess why would I know that? Who cares right?”

“I just, I really need to find him. It’s important, Master has-" Jess stopped with a gasp, covering her mouth as she felt the cringing heat of humiliation burning into her. She hadn’t meant to… the word had just slipped out.

Sam blinked, “Kevin has what Jess?”

The blonde withdrew her hand, equally confused… had Sam just misheard her or… Jess felt her stomach drop.

“Sam when… when I say… uh… Master,” Jess had concentrated on saying ‘Kevin’ knowing it would come out wrong, but she needed to be sure, “You heard…?”

“Kevin,” Sam shook her head, “Are you drunk Jess?

The blonde girl bit her lip, “No – I… you really think I’m saying Master?”

Sam gave Jess a concerned look, holding onto her bare shoulders, “I really think you’re saying Kevin… why do you want to know where that creep lives anyway?”

Jess shook her head despondently, “I… it doesn’t matter…”

“Okaayy…” Sam frowned, “Aaaanywaaayy… I think Tiffany and Brad were looking for you.”

Jess took a deep breath, barely listening. She had to find someone that knew where Kevin lived…

As Samantha turned to walk away Jessica stopped her, “Oh uh… and Sam?” she didn’t want to draw attention to it but she needed to know, “Is there… is there anything weird about uh… how I’m dressed right now?”

Jess felt the redhead’s eyes sweep over her body, feeling the heat in her cheeks rising just a little bit higher as she anxiously waited for her answer.

She shrugged, “I, uh… I’m not sure what you mean Jess. Like… you’re wearing what you always wear right?” She watched her blink rapidly, “I mean, not that it looks bad, like… you look amazing… obviously.”

“Have you ever seen me wearing anything else?” Jessica tried hopefully.

Sam shook her head, “I don’t think any other outfit would suit you, you know? It’s like… it looks great on you… I don’t think I could imagine you wearing anything else.”

The girl was obviously floundering but Jessica knew she sort of had her answer.