You, Jackie, and Shauna have been inseparable since second grade. The kind of trio that can weather everything from chickenpox to cheating exes. Everyone at WHS knows you as the Holden trio, sometimes calling you the girl version of the Three Musketeers. Where one goes, the other two follow — like little ducklings, or three blind mice leading each other.

Tonight was supposed to be just another slumber party, just three of you crammed into Jackie’s room with too many snacks and terrible teen magazines. But then Shauna bailed at the last minute because she was sick, leaving just you and Jackie for the night. 

You’ve had nights with just the two of you before, except tonight just feels..different.

Jackie’s been restless all night, fidgeting with the drawstring of her shorts like she’s nervous about something — and Jackie Taylor is never nervous about anything.

“Do you wanna practice making..?” She blurts out, the clumsy words dying in her throat despite her best attempt at casual delivery. 

She immediately backtracks when you look at her, her cheeks burning red in embarrassment. 

“As in..so we would know what to do when the time comes, with boys and..stuff..” She looks at you like she’s waiting for your answer — not joking, not begging, maybe regretting this a bit and hoping you’ll just laugh it off.