I sit in class, nervously tapping my foot as our teacher lectures at the front of the room.
Zoe sits next to me, studiously copying notes from the board.
Kelsey
There's no way, right?
Kelsey
Brooke Dalton is the hottest girl in school.
Kelsey
There's no way she would ask out someone like me.
Zoe
Sounds like she just did.
By the time lunch rolls around…
Thinking of all the different ways to interpret Brooke saying:
Zoe and I wait in line for food, trays in hand.
Kelsey
She probably just meant it as like…a friend thing.
I move forward in line and spot Brooke, seated at a table beside Colton.
Kelsey
I mean, she's not even queer…
Colton draws Brooke in for a kiss.
And again, she turns her head, giving Colton her cheek.
Kelsey
Then again, she did say she was going to break up with Colton after homecoming.
Zoe
Ugh, he's way too good for her. Always has been.
Kelsey
Why do you hate Brooke so much, anyway?
Zoe
I don't hate her. I guess I've just never seen what's so special about her.
Zoe
Why a basic b**** like Brooke can wake up every morning…
Zoe
And get everything she wants without even trying…
Zoe
While I have to work my a** off.
We both grab milks from the lunch line and move forward.
Zoe
I'm in every AP class this school offers…
Zoe
I'm in clubs most people don't even know exist…
Zoe
And I spend, like, three hours every morning getting dressed.
Zoe
Do you know how long it takes to straighten this hair?
Zoe
Meanwhile, Brooke coasts by, and she gets everything she wants.
Zoe
And her hair? Flawless.
Zoe
She probably doesn't even use product.
Zoe
So, I don't hate Brooke.
Zoe
I hate what she stands for.
We take our trays and head toward the tables.
Kelsey
Brooke is anything but basic.
Kelsey
You should get to know her better.
Kelsey
She's smart, and funny, and tough.
Kelsey
You ever think she comes off like a b**** because she has to?
Kelsey
I mean, it's lonely at the top, right?
Zoe
Dude — you've got it bad.
Kelsey
Which, again, begs the question…
Kelsey
Why would a girl like Brooke ever want someone like me?
Kelsey
I mean, I'm not cool. I'm not popular.
I look over at a gaggle of girls.
Girl
We wanted to know if you would sit with us.
The girls turn to each other and laugh.
Girl
You are so funny. You should, like, do improv or something.
Girl
Anyway, we'll be right over there. You should join us.
Zoe
Seems like you're pretty cool to me.
Kelsey
Yeah, right. Don't worry. I'm not gonna sit with them.
Zoe
You should. I need to work on my article, anyway.
Zoe
Totally. See you tonight?
I reluctantly take my tray over to the girls' table and sit down.
As the final bell of the day rings, I make my way outside.
I find Brooke waiting for me at the curb.
She smiles as I draw near.
Kelsey
I think so. I can drive if you want.
Brooke
Great, because I usually get a ride with—
Colton pulls up in his sporty Mustang, the top down, soaking in the balmy Texas breeze.
Colton
I've been looking everywhere for you. Hop in.
Brooke
Oh, that's okay, Colt. Kelsey's going to give me a ride today.
Colton frowns, noticing me. He scowls.
Colton
I thought we were going to work on our college apps together.
Brooke
Get started without me. I'll send you what I have later.
Brooke
I'll see you later, Colton.
Colton shakes his head and drives off.
Brooke forces a half-hearted wave as he leaves the parking lot.
Brooke
See, he knows something's up with me.
Brooke
Homecoming can't come soon enough.
I unlock my car - a beat-up Chevy.
Brooke's room is exactly like I’d imagined it:
Pink pastels, posters cut out from teen magazines…
I take the room in as Brooke digs through her closet…
Pulling hangers off the rack and stacking them in my waiting arms.
Brooke
How would you describe your look?
Kelsey
Uh…vaguely disgruntled lumberjack?
Brooke
Not how you look now—
Brooke continues to dig through the closet, tossing more outfits onto the pile.
Brooke
But how you *want* to look. How you want people to see you.
I think while juggling the ever-growing stack of clothing.
Kelsey
I guess I never really wanted them to see me in the first place.
Kelsey
I was always fine with being - you know - invisible.
Brooke stands, satisfied with her selections…
And picks a dress from the top of the pile, holding it up against me.
Brooke
Well, you're not invisible anymore, Covington.
Like she’s truly seeing me.
After a moment, she breaks eye contact…
And heaves an additional selection of outfits into my arms.
Then she practically shoves me toward the entrance to her walk-in closet.
I change in Brooke's closet, struggling to fit into a slinky dress.
Kelsey
So you're half-naked in the closet of the girl you like.
Kelsey
Nothing ironic about that.
I fall over, pulling a rack of clothing down on top of me.
Brooke
You okay in there?
Kelsey
Yup, just a second!
I pull myself up, straighten myself out, and take a deep breath.
Brooke's eyes light up as I step into the room.
The full effect of the dress is now on display:
A glittery, sequined number that hugs my curves.
Brooke
Oh my god - Covington, you look amazing!
Brooke
You don't like it.
Kelsey
No! It's not that. It's just…
I turn to the full-length mirror propped against the pastel-pink wall of Brooke's room…
And take in my reflection.
Brooke searches through the pile and hands me another selection of outfits.
Brooke
Then let's try again until we find her.
I must have tried on 20 different outfits.
From a painfully tight skirt and low-cut blouse…
Finally, I emerge from the closet wearing an outfit that looks like an elevated version of my own style.
A blue checkered button-up shirt over jeans that fit me perfectly…
With a gold chain for contrast.
I turn to my reflection in the mirror and smile.
I notice Brooke behind me in the mirror, watching…
I sit in front of Brooke's vanity.
Brooke stands behind me and removes the tie from my hair.
My blonde locks fall to my shoulders.
Brooke sprays me with perfume from a vial.
Then Brooke straps a pair of heels to my feet.
She motions for me to walk.
I take a few tentative steps…
Brooke tries to stifle a laugh.
Giving up on the hope for heels, Brooke pats her bed…
Motioning for me to sit down with her.
She opens up a makeup palette…
And I try hard not to blink as she starts to apply the makeup.
Brooke
Stop that - you're gonna mess me up.
Kelsey
Sorry - bad habit.
Kelsey
No, it's just - no one ever showed me how to do this stuff.
Kelsey
I wasn't really interested when my mom was around, and now…
Kelsey
It's just my dad, and he doesn't even know how to use a hairbrush.
Kelsey
I mean, he's balding, but—
Brooke laughs and moves closer to apply eyeliner.
Brooke
Look, you don't need to wear makeup every day.
Brooke
Or any day, if you don't want to.
Brooke
But everyone likes to feel special sometimes.
My heart practically beats out of my chest.
Kelsey
Can I ask you something?
Brooke
Only if you promise to hold still.
Kelsey
Why are you being so nice to me?
Brooke starts on my lips, tracing a stick of ruby red lipstick along the folds of my mouth.
Brooke
It's hard living in a small town your whole life.
Brooke
People form impressions of you and never let them go.
Brooke
They think you're fake, or a b****…
Brooke
And that's what you are for the rest of your life.
Her face is mere inches from mine now.
Brooke
But you? You're new.
Brooke
You're the only person in this whole town who doesn't think they know me.
I close my eyes, moving closer towards Brooke…
Longing to brush my now red lips against hers.
Instead, Brooke, seemingly clueless, finishes applying my lipstick and turns away to grab a hand mirror.
Brooke
Besides, we're friends, Covington.
Brooke
You're stuck with me. Whether you like it or not.
And try to hide my disappointment.
The makeup Brooke has applied is minimalist, but plays up my assets perfectly.
Kelsey
Now I'm like…a stylish lumberjack.
I blush as Brooke turns to put her makeup palette away.
She then grabs her phone and snaps a selfie of us.
She posts it, adding a few hashtags to the caption:
#newbestie #gocougars #ourmilkshakefriesbringalltheboystotheyard
Brooke
What's your handle? I wanna tag you.
Kelsey
Oh, I don't have one.
Brooke blinks, unbelieving.
Brooke
Okay, I get you're not rebellious, but are you even from Earth?
Brooke
You don't have an Insta?
Kelsey
Didn't think anyone would want to see my pics.
Brooke
Puh-lease, I do. I'm making you an account, just as soon as—
Brookes eyes go wide as she takes in something on her screen.
Brooke
You know that super creepy taxidermy cougar in the school lobby?
Kelsey
Uh, yeah, it haunts my dreams every night - what about it?
Brooke holds up her phone, which displays a picture of the Corbin High atrium—
The head of the creepy taxidermy cougar conspicuously missing.
Brooke
Someone decapitated him.
Brooke stands and starts to pace, frantically texting.
Brooke
It had to be Riverview.
Kelsey
Oh, like they stole it? Do people actually still do the whole team rivalry thing?
Brooke
In Texas they do. You know what this means?
Kelsey
We'll have to get a less creepy mascot?
Brooke
No, silly. We have to steal it back.
I pull up to the school’s empty parking lot, Brooke in my passenger seat.
Members of the Corbin High football team and various cheerleaders are gathered around clusters of pick-up trucks.
All of them look pretty defeated.
Colton stands among them, looking up at the billboard hanging overhead…
Shaking his head at something I can't see yet.
I park a fair distance from the boys.
Brooke moves to get out of the car.
Kelsey
I should go meet Zoe.
Kelsey
The girl from the paper. For the interview.
Brooke
This could be your chance to bond with the guys. Impress Colton.
I mull this over - conflicted.
Brooke
You can meet up with Zoe later.
Brooke
Plus, I'd personally be less bored if you joined.
Brooke heads toward the group, leaving me behind.
I watch her leave and head towards Colton.
I grab my phone and shoot off a text to Zoe:
I get out of the car and jog to catch up with Brooke.
I notice Brooke has stopped short under the shadow of Colton's Texas-sized billboard.
As soon as I reach her and look up…
I see why Colton is scowling.
Someone, presumably from Riverview, has spray-painted the sign.
Instead of: "CORBIN HIGH - PLAY LIKE A COUGAR."
"CORBIN HIGH - PLAY LIKE A GIRL."
Brooke mumbles to herself:
Brooke
Misogynistic a**holes.
Colton
What is she doing here?
He’s clearly talking about me.
Brooke
This is a team activity, right?
Brooke
Isn't she a member of the team?
Colton
So what, you speak for her now?
Colton
She's the one turning us into some kind of joke.
Kelsey
I deserve to be here, Colton.
Kelsey
And I'm not the reason we're a joke.
When I don’t back off, he turns and sighs.
Colton
Whatever. Not like anything's happening, anyway.
Brooke
What do you mean? Aren't we going to get them back?
Colton pulls out his phone, taps on the screen, and throws the phone to Brooke…
Who fumbles it – causing me to swoop in to catch it before it hits the ground.
Brooke and I watch as a video plays of several members of the Riverview Rattlesnakes…
Chugging drinks out of the hollowed-out head of the Corbin Cougar.
Colton
They're all out partying with the cougar at Chase Ryan's place.
Brooke
So you're just giving up?
Colton
Babe, there's no way any of us are getting into that party.
Colton
They'll spot us from a mile away.
Colton
You'd have to be, like, invisible.
I grab the phone, watching as the Riverview quarterback, Chase Ryan…
Tosses the creepy cougar head to one of his teammates, who drops it, laughing.
Kelsey
I think I might have an idea.
I make my way inside Chase Ryan’s party…
Getting bumped and jostled by a throng of Riverview partiers—
None of whom seem to notice me.
Then, the sea of bodies parts as Chase Ryan bounds down the stairs.
For a second, it looks like he's headed right towards me.
Chase
What is she doing here?
But he moves past me, heading instead towards Brooke—
The one who's got his attention.
She pours herself a drink.
Chase
Who let you in, Dalton?
Brooke
I just wanted to talk.
Chase
Yeah, right. You came to steal the cougar back.
Brooke
I came because you were right.
Brooke
Last year's homecoming game—
Brooke
You told me to call you if I ever wanted to date a winner.
Brooke
I'm so over Colton. I mean, he's letting a girl play on our team.
Brooke
I need a real man. So I thought we could catch up.
I watch her flirting with Chase…
Trying, but failing, to hide my jealousy.
She nods, motioning for me to go through with the plan.
This catches Chase's interest.
I slip by, unnoticed, into the back room.
Music blares as Riverview couples dance, bodies intertwined.
I push my way through them, searching for the cougar.
I near a group of the Riverview Rattlesnakes…
Who stand out from the rest of the crowd in their black and red jerseys.
I watch as they turn one of their own upside-down for a keg-stand.
The cougar head is nowhere in sight.
I jump as someone taps me on the shoulder.
I spin on my feet to find a drunk Riverview jock.
Riverview Jock
Hey. Wanna dance?
Riverview Jock
You're funny. Why haven't I noticed you before?
Kelsey
I'm not exactly from around here.
Riverview Jock
Well, what's your name, Not Exactly From Around Here?
I read a series of texts from Brooke:
"Think I found the cougar."
"Upstairs. In Chase’s room."
Kelsey
Pretty sure you'll find out soon.
I pat the Riverview jock on the shoulder as I head upstairs.
Upstairs, the door to Chase's room is ajar.
I peer in and spot the cougar head sitting on a shelf next to a cow skull.
The cougar’s dead eyes stare at me.
I almost think of abandoning the mission—
Letting the Rattlesnakes keep our horrifying mascot.
She sits across from Chase, listening to him drone on.
If the Corbin Cougar is important to Brooke…
Well, then it’s important to me.
Chase
I mean, I don't know about y'all…
Chase
But my mama taught me to never hit a girl, let alone tackle one.
Chase
I mean, it ain't a fair fight.
Brooke nods, feigning interest.
Chase
I'm glad you agree. And I'm glad you came tonight.
He smiles, moving closer, resting a hand on Brooke's lap.
But her smile returns as she spots me in the doorway, slowly making my way inside.
Chase, with his back to the door, doesn't notice me.
The door creaks as I inch into the room.
And for a second, I’m sure Chase will spot me and put an end to our plan.
But Brooke grabs Chase and pulls his face toward hers.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I near the shelf, reaching out to grab the disembodied head.
Brooke has Chase Ryan entirely under her spell.
I wrap my hands around the cougar head…
Then turn back towards the door.
Chase starts to turn his head again, as if he can hear me behind him.
She yanks Chase’s face closer to hers…
I freeze, red with jealousy, as I watch Brooke make out with Chase Ryan.
So she *does* like guys - just not Colton.
Distracted, the cougar head slips from my grasp—
Chase jumps, breaking away from Brooke…
Chase
Hey! What the h*** are you doing?
Kelsey
Playing like a girl.
I grab the cougar head and run as Chase rushes after me—
Leaving Brooke, who’s taking a sip of her drink, casually trailing behind.
Chase
That chick stole the cougar!
Chase arrives at the entryway and points toward me.
His teammates spring into action, running after me.
The drunk jock from before spots me and watches, wide-eyed, as I run.
Riverview Jock
Who is that?
Brooke
That's Kelsey Covington.
Brooke
You know, the girl you're all so afraid of.
A truck, driven by Jason, pulls up to the house.
Several other Corbin Cougars sit in the truck bed, whooping as I run for my life.
As the Riverview Rattlesnakes near, I act fast.
I throw the taxidermy cougar head towards the moving truck.
I watch as it soars through the air.
One of the Cougars in the truck bed catches it.
Brooke cheers, running to catch up with me.
As the truck screeches out of Chase's driveway…
I turn tail and sprint towards my own car—
Slamming the door shut before Chase and his teammates can stop me.
Brooke enters on the passenger side…
And I put the car in drive.
Brooke flips Chase and his friends the bird as she ducks in.
I peel out, leaving Chase and his friends behind, in the dust.
Brooke
That was epic, Covington.
Kelsey
Me? You're the one who kissed Chase Ryan.
I blush deeply, then deflect.
Kelsey
No, I mean, shouldn't Colton be the one who's jealous?
Brooke
I was just using the commodification of women's bodies to my advantage.
Brooke
Plus, it didn't mean anything.
She adjusts her hair in the mirror.
Brooke
Anyway, this calls for a celebration.
Brooke
Milkshake fries on me?
Brooke snaps the mirror shut and turns to me.
And I melt, lost in Brooke's infectious smile.
As Brooke and I step inside the diner…
We’re met with applause from the Cougars—
Except for a pouting Colton.
Someone puts the cougar head on the bar…
And snaps a picture for Instagram.
I smile, taken aback by the wave of support…
As my teammates bring me into the fold…
She sits alone at a booth, her reporter’s notebook and camera on the table in front of her.
I completely forgot my promise to Zoe.
Zoe looks directly into my eyes.
Then she stands, moves through the bustling crowd of jocks and cheerleaders…
And stops, right in front of me.
I open my mouth to say something.
And potentially lost my first, real friend.
Brooke pulls me out of my stupor…
Slinging one arm over my shoulder…
Handing me a milkshake with the other.
Brooke
Welcome to the team, Covington.
