Minor warning for this chapter! There is attempted sexual assault against a character!
~~~
Why was Lucas so obsessed with double-doubles? Taylor watched as he ordered one for himself. She shook her head in disbelief and took a sip of her own coffee. Black, just how she liked it. She waited until he sat across from her at the small cafe table, before smiling.

"I still can't believe you like black coffee. Who the actual fuck drinks their coffee black?"

Taylor laughed and took another sip of her coffee. "Me. I like it black. My mom doesn't like milk, so I've never had milk in my coffee."

Lucas scoffed and sat across from her, pushing blond hair out of his face. "That's awful," He paused, glancing out the window at the snow, which was coming down in steady flakes. He seemed to be pondering something.

"Is everything okay?" Taylor asked, leaning forward slightly to get his attention.

He blinked in surprise. "Yes, of course, just zoned out. How about you? What's it like working with the Falcons?"

Taylor shrugged. "Everyone passes them off as idiots, and full of themselves," Her thoughts trailed back to the conversation she had had with Nasir, the last time she saw him.  He had just been upset. She shook her head. Why was she thinking about him? "They aren't. They have their dumb moments, but still, it's good."

"Do they do a lot of practices?" Lucas questioned.

Taylor nodded. "Especially as of late. They are playing their rivals next weekend."

"That's a sucky game to have right after Halloween."

Taylor hummed in response. "It is. They are dead set on this new move where they feign passing. They've been practicing it like crazy. I personally hope they win, and this move might help if the can get it down. That and then there is team bonding soon."

Lucas shook his head. "That's really too bad. I'm not a Falcon supporter by any means, but I never liked the Serpents," He glanced at Taylor. "At least now I have a reason to like them."

Taylor could feel her ears heating up, and she ducked her gaze towards her coffee, occupying herself with taking a sip, before placing it back down. "What are you being for Halloween?"

Lucas shrugged. "Me and a couple of friends are going together with some siblings. How about you?"

"Clara, Aubrey and I have always done themed costumes, we were the mean girls last year."

"And this year?"

Taylor chuckled. "We are going as the Heathers this year."

Lucas let out a laugh. "Who's who?"

"I'm Heather Duke, Clara is Heather Chandler, and Aubrey is Heather McNamara."

"That is fantastic," Lucas laughed again and took a drink of his coffee. "You have to send me a picture."

"I will."

~~~

"This is seriously the first time I've worn a skirt since last Halloween," Clara commented, looking at her red checkered skirt. "It's colder than I remember."

Taylor chuckled and buttoned up her green jacket. Her mom had made all three of their hairs super curly and tied them up. "This is seriously one of the most ridiculous things I've ever worn."

"I think you look hot Heather." Aubrey chimed in, tying her hair up with the yellow scrunchie.

Clara turned, a gleam in her eye. "Shut up Heather!"

"Sorry, Heather."

Taylor laughed and tucked her phone into her pocket, picking up her green croquet mallet. "At least we've got defence for tonight."

Clara tugged her skirt down a tiny bit, so it hit just around her knees, and tugged her socks up to her knees, so there was only a tiny sliver of skin exposed. "There, now you can't tell that I have pale legs."

Taylor scoffed. "You look fine, come on, let's get going."

Aubrey pushed her hair away from her face, and picked up her croquet mallet as well, before turning to follow Taylor out of her bedroom. "I still can't believe you got us into this party. You know that the Fishers always have the biggest Halloween party."

Taylor nodded. "I know, I can't believe I got in either."

"It's because she's part of the Falcons now. All the Falcons get invited." Jacob chimed in. He was wearing a dumb leather jacket, making him part of the T-Birds. "And sadly, that means she, and you two, are coming as well."

"What?" Clara poked Jacob's side. "Afraid we'll see your drinking abilities?"

Jacob scoffed and shoved Clara away. "Shut up, I'd be more worried about you."

Clara scrunched her face up at Jamie, and Taylor grabbed the back of her collar before her mom could make them take group photos.

"Let's go, we are going to be late." She grabbed the keys off the rack and followed the other three through the door.

"Have fun kiddos!"

Taylor waved good-bye to her mom and shut the door behind her. She hopped into the truck and started it, waiting until they all had their seatbelts on before pulling out of the driveway. She turned the corner, ignoring Clara and Jacob still bickering, and sped up, heading on the highway towards the Fishers' small farm.

"I'm nervous," Aubrey commented. "I hope this doesn't turn into a scene from Mean Girls."

Clara leaned forward from the back. "Don't worry. I trust that Taylor, as our DD, will get us out if anything goes wrong."

Taylor nodded her agreement. "You all know where to find me if need be," She glanced towards Jacob in the back. "That goes for you too,"

Jacob nodded, his usual attitude overtaken by understanding.

"Is this where I turn?"

Jacob nodded. "Range Road 34."

Taylor turned on her blinker and turned, following the road north, until she came upon a small farm. There was a dusting of snow covering everything, except for the twenty or so cars out front of the house.

The house was light up brightly, and the front door was wide open. Taylor could hear the music before she had even pulled into the driveway. She shook her head as apprehension overtook her. There was no need to be nervous. It was just a bunch of teenagers from her school.

She stopped the truck, letting another car behind her pull in, and hopped out. Her heels sunk slightly into the ground.

"It's cold." Aubrey groaned, linking elbows with Taylor and Clara. "Come on, let's go inside."

"We are heading home at midnight Jacob!" Taylor shouted after the boy's back. "If you aren't out here you are getting a ride from someone else."

Jacob gave her a thumbs up before vanishing inside the house. Taylor sighed, unable to shake the feeling in her stomach.

The three of them walked towards the house and climbed the steps, stepping inside. Taylor almost immediately wrinkled her nose at the scent of pot. It was heavy in the air, and clinging to everything.

Clara coughed slightly. "That's awful."

Taylor nodded her agreement. "It really is horrible."

Aubrey handed a beer to Clara and one for herself before laughed in amusement and handing Taylor water.

"Thanks." Taylor dragged the word out, popping the lid and listening to the heavy loud pop music of someone's trashy playlist blasting out of the speaker. The lights had been dimmed, and if Taylor squinted, she could make out the various faces of the hockey team, all wearing the T-Bird jackets. Issac was supervising, understandably so, being the host.

Her gaze landed on Nasir, and her face began to heat up. He was wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and the same leather jacket. His face was shrouded with shadows where he was leaning against the wall. Taylor ducked her gaze before he noticed she was watching.

"Okay, have fun," Taylor said. "Please don't hurt yourself."

Aubrey chuckled, before walking off with another kid from their school, towards the back deck. Clara was standing with Jamie over near the table, and Taylor sighed, turning to lean against the couch.

~~~

She had been there for about an hour, and it had only gotten louder. More people kept spilling in through the doors, all in costume, and Taylor had been drinking her water, keeping her eyes on her friends as the party picked up, shouts and heavy clouds filling the air. Everyone was dancing and Taylor huffed, watching as Jamie grabbed Clara's arm, gently tugging her towards the upstairs.

Taylor's eyebrows furrowed as she watched Jamie and Clara vanish up the stairs. She sighed, and before she could pull the mom friend move and chase after them, she walked out onto the front porch, into the freezing air.

The snow had started again, covering her truck with the same dusting of snow, and despite the cold flakes on her bare face and knees, she couldn't help but feel chilly. Her thoughts chased around. She still hadn't spoken to Nasir since their little spat earlier, and now she was worried. Maybe he really was angry with her. She hadn't done anything though, or at least not that she knew of.

Taylor shook her head. She had to stop thinking about him. There was no point in thinking about him.

Her eyes narrowed as she began to question Jamie's motives. He had taken Clara upstairs, and although Taylor knew that Clara knew what she was doing, something about Jamie's expression had struck her as off.

Taylor pulled her lip between her bottom teeth, looking carefully forwards. Her apprehension was growing and she began to pick on the fabric on her green jacket. She couldn't fight off Jamie by herself. Maybe she should go check on them.

She turned and ducked inside, the stifling heat sudden and harsh against the chill outside. Taylor raised her head, looking for Aubrey, but frowned when she was unable to find her. Her nervousness was beginning to grow. She needed to help now. Clara had been up there for far too long.

Taylor glanced around for Jacob and found him missing as well. She groaned, palming her face. Who to ask? She looked around the room before her eyes landed on Nasir, and she sighed. She had no choice.

She squirmed her way through hot and sweaty bodies, trying to keep the disgust off her face, but obviously failing as Nasir raised an eyebrow as she approached.

"Look, I know you don't like me or whatever, but I really need your help." Close up, Taylor could see that his hair had been combed back and greased.

Nasir shoved his hands into his pocket, looking at her green outfit in amusement. "You look like the grinch."

"I'm Heather Duke." She snapped.

"Is that why the three of you were all wearing similar outfits?" Nasir asked.

Taylor nodded. "Yes, we are the Heathers."

Nasir chuckled, pushed a hand through his hair, and took a quick drink from his cup, presumably ginger ale. "What do you want help with?"

Taylor wrung her hands together. "I think Jamie is trying to take advantage of Clara."

Nasir blinked in surprise. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I don't know," She shrugged. "I thought it might just be them hooking up, but I don't know, something seemed off, and if it is, I can't fight off Jamie on my own."

Nasir placed his cup on the mantle. "Let's go. Where did you see them go?

"Up the stairs."

Nasir had a much easier time getting through the crowd than Taylor did, and she followed right behind him, happy for someone to part the disgusting horny sea. They rushed up the stairs and Nasir paused, looking between the doors, all of which were closed.

"Which one do you think?" Nasir asked.

Taylor's panic was beginning to overtake her stomach now. "I don't know. Just try all of them."

Nasir nodded and grabbed a door handle. Taylor turned and went to opposite way. She made it to the end of the hallway and pushed the door open into an empty bathroom. She quickly shut the door and opened another door. It was a plain bedroom, probably a guest room.

Taylor grabbed another door across the hall and pushed it open, and found Jamie, his hand up Clara's skirt. Clara was trying to squirm away, but Jamie had a hand pinning her down.

"Stop," Clara mumbled, shoving at the hand pinning her down, but failing. He movements were sluggish, and she was trying to move away from Jamie on the bed.

"Nasir!" Taylor called. "They are in here."

Nasir quickly appeared next to her and stepped into the room.

Jamie glanced in their direction. "Fuck off, this isn't any of your business."

"It is now," Nasir spoke, and Taylor's eyes widened at how quickly he had gone from the friendly person she knew to the intimidating person she saw now. "Get off her Jamie."

"Leave now and you can have the sloppy seconds."

Taylor growled in anger and made a step towards Jamie. "She isn't some slut toy you get to play with you fucking asshole."

Nasir tossed an arm in front of Taylor, stopping her from advancing. He shook his head slightly. Instead, he walked forward and linked his arm under Jamie, pulling him off Clara and pushing him to the floor. He then gestured for Taylor to grab Clara.

Taylor linked an arm under Clara. "Are you alright?"

"He gave me a drink, I didn't know he had put stuff in it," Clara mumbled, slumping against Taylor.

Taylor cooed gently and pushed her hair down. "It's okay. You're okay now. You'll be fine."

Jamie stood up, and his eyes were dark as he glared at Nasir. "You fuck everything up."

"I'm not letting you rape her." Nasir snapped.

Jamie pushed Nasir back. "First team captain, and now this. It should've been me."

Nasir scoffed and kept his hands up. "This is exactly the reason why I'm team captain and not you."

Jamie groaned and took a menacing step towards Nasir, nearly tripping over the wool rug in his drunken state. "You asshole. Think you're so high above me. Like you don't want to get into anyone's skirt."

Nasir rolled his eyes and turned. "Let's go. He's always a dick when he's drunk."

Taylor helped Clara walk towards the door, and was almost out when she heard Jamie step forward.

She spun back around and watched as Jamie shoved Nasir forwards. He stumbled slightly, before turning and punched Jamie. Hard. Jamie tripped backwards, and fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

"He'll be there for a while," Nasir hummed.  "Just leave him."

Taylor nodded, blinking at Jamie in surprise as Nasir rubbed his hand. She had never thought Nasir had the nerve to punch anyone, but here she was, staring at it. She walked out of the room, aiding Clara in walking down the stairs and towards the exit of the house. Aubrey had reappeared and she picked her way over.

"What happened?"

"I'll explain in the car. Can you grab Jacob?"

Aubrey nodded and vanished again.

Nasir rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, and opened his mouth to say something, but paused as Aubrey reappeared with Jacob.

"What's going on?" Jacob asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

"Nothing, Jacob. Can you help me get Clara to the truck?"

Jacob looped his arm under the other side of Clara and together they stepped out into the chilled air.

~~~

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!