Kids Inc | Kiss Me [2]: Jealousy

[luxken27fics]

Title: Kiss Me
Author: luxken27
Fandom: Kids Incorporated
Universe: Canon (Season 3+)
Genre: Friendship, Romance
Rating: T
Summary: Sometimes a kiss is just a kiss…and sometimes it means so much more. Seven pivotal moments that defined Stacy’s life and shaped her perceptions of love. A Valentine’s Day ficlet serial.

Author’s Note: Based on prompts chosen from challenge set one at 7snogs. Each ficlet can stand alone as well as be read into the context of a larger story.

DISCLAIMER: The Kids Incorporated concept, storyline, and characters are © 1984 – 1993 Thomas Lynch/Gary Biller/MGM Television/20th Century Fox Home Entertainment/Disney Channel. Any resemblance to any person currently living or deceased is unintended (aka, I am writing about the characters, not the actors who portray them). No money is being made from the creation of this material. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Prompt #2: Jealousy
Word Count: 1,184
Universe: Season 3/4

~*~
“Isn’t it great that we’re invited to the high school’s charity carnival?” Stacy marveled, sending a big smile towards her best friend, the Kid, as the two climbed the steps to the high school gymnasium.

“Anything that gets us a day off school is awesome,” he concurred, pressing impatiently through the sea of fellow middle-schoolers that crowded into the building. “Come on, let’s find everyone else!”

The two moved forward as best they could among their chattering classmates, all of whom were excited about mixing with their high school peers. The carnival was an annual event, benefitting the chosen charity of the senior class. This year’s proceeds were going to help fund a new reading room at Children’s Hospital, and thus, the event had a rather retro feel to it.

Stacy and the Kid roamed around the gym for a few minutes, checking out the contests and events, before heading outside, where the majority of people were milling about. Senior class members manned all of the booths, and there was something for everyone – everything from boardwalk staples to children’s games to pie-throwing contests – and, of course, the infamous dunk tank, where students could take out their frustrations with their teachers in a good-natured – and profitable – way.

The dunk tank always brought in the most money.

“Hey, look!” the Kid piped up, pointing across the large green expanse. “There’s Renee!”

Renee smiled and waved as she caught sight of them from her spot in the face-painting booth. Stacy and the Kid made a beeline for her, their curiosity nearly getting the best of them. Gloria, a senior, had been keeping her booth under wraps ever since the carnival was announced a few weeks prior, and they had yet to find her.

“Hey, guys,” Renee greeted them, waving her paintbrush like a wand. “What’s up?”

“Spill it,” the Kid demanded without preamble. “Where’s Gloria?”

Renee heaved an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes as a smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth. “You are never in a million years going to guess where she is.”

“We don’t want to guess,” Stacy replied cheekily, her hands settling on her hips. “Why don’t you just tell us?”

“Why don’t I show you instead?” Renee suggested, putting down her brush and wiping her hands on her paint-splattered smock. “You’re never going to believe it.”

Stacy and the Kid exchanged a puzzled look, but shrugged, each feeling a bit annoyed that Renee wouldn’t immediately satisfy their curiosity. They followed her without protest, however, crossing the schoolyard and ducking behind the impromptu stage that had been erected for opening and closing ceremonies.

Stacy frowned as she passed by it, her eyes settling on a group of kids off to one side, each practicing different acts. “What’s going on here?” she inquired.

Renee glanced back. “Oh, they’re holding a talent show as part of the carnival,” she replied with a dismissive wave.

“And Gloria’s not in it?” the Kid mused incredulously. “Now I know I have to see this.”

Suddenly, Renee stopped, bringing the other two up short. She rocked back on her heels, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, now you know,” she said with a wry smile, nodding her head to indicate two booths that had been set up a few feet away, long lines snaking out in front of each.

The Kid wrinkled his nose. “A kissing booth?!” he exclaimed, sounding completely unimpressed.

Renee nodded sagely. “So much for feminism,” she added under her breath.

Stacy furrowed her brow as she gazed at the scene in front of her. Gloria was manning one booth, all smiles and laughter as she joked with the boys lined up before her – and, occasionally, sending an energetic grin to her left, where one of the senior boys was offering kisses of his own. Stacy had never seen such a thing before, but apparently it was all the rage, at least among the high schoolers.

The idea of paying for a kiss seemed a little creepy to her as well. I guess hormones make you do weird things, she considered silently.

“Oh, my God,” the Kid suddenly gasped, clutching her arm and drawing Stacy out of her thoughts. “Is that who I think it is?”

From the other side of the Kid, Renee started to giggle. “Oh, my,” she breathed, “this is a surprise.”

“What?” Stacy wondered, standing on her tiptoes and straining to see through the ever-thickening crowd. “What’s going on?”

“Right there,” the Kid directed, pointing none-too-discreetly at Gloria’s line. “Isn’t that Ryan?”

Stacy’s stomach turned over. “Our Ryan?” she managed, following his line of vision. Sure enough, their bandmate Ryan was standing patiently in line, his expression completely serious even as the others laughed and joked around him.

She wasn’t sure why her insides were suddenly knotting up, but she felt like she might be sick.

Gloria’s line was moving fairly quickly, so it wasn’t long until Ryan was standing before her, money in hand. The vivacious Latina seemed shocked to see him standing there, and the two conversed for a long moment before she accepted his money. Stacy frowned as she watched the exchange, her sister’s and her friend’s laughter grating on her ears.

“Oh, man,” the Kid intoned, his eyes sparkling as he watched Ryan lean in for his kiss, “he’s never gonna live this one down!”

Renee was shaking her head. “I had no idea,” she kept repeating, somewhat dumbfounded. “I had no idea!”

I did, Stacy thought, shifting her weight uncomfortably from one foot to the other. She’d noticed the way Ryan had been looking at Gloria lately, but she hadn’t really put much stock in it – until now. They’d been friends for ages, after all, and what was a look or two between friends?

But – Ryan? With Gloria? Their kiss certainly seemed to linger longer than all of the others Gloria had dispensed in the last few minutes, so maybe…

But, unlike her friends, Stacy didn’t find it funny. Instead, she scowled, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to figure out why she wasn’t getting as much enjoyment out of this as the others obviously were.

“Whoa, Stace, if looks could kill…!”

Stacy shook herself, glancing at the Kid. “What?” she mumbled, trying to push her jumble of thoughts and emotions to the side.

The Kid was staring at her incredulously. “If I didn’t know better,” he said slowly, a mischievous expression settling over his features, “I’d say you were jealous.”

“Jealous? Me?” she shot back, a flush rising to coat the back of her neck. “Of what? Gloria? No way.”

The Kid pursed his lips, studying her long and hard before shrugging his shoulders. “If you say so,” he sighed, though his tone indicated he clearly didn’t believe her.

“I do,” Stacy reiterated, a bit more forcefully than she intended. She took a step forward, tugging on her sister’s arm. “Come on, guys, let’s go,” she urged.

Mercifully, Renee seemed to have missed the terse words that had passed between the friends. “Where to?” she asked brightly.

“Anywhere but here,” Stacy muttered.

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