Jennie left the stall and exited the bathroom, leaning against the wall until Chaeyoung walked out a few minutes later and nodded towards the lecture room. They walked into the large oval room and noticed quite a few other teenagers milling around different areas. Lisa, Jisoo and Seulgi were sitting behind a seat that had 'Park Chaeyoung' taped on and waved them over.
"Look, Chaeng, your own little seat and everything," Lisa said, pointing.
"I know," Chaeyoung replied with a grin, taking her seat, "It's gonna start in a few minutes guys, so I just wanted to say thanks again for coming down. It means a lot."
"No worries," Jisoo responded, "And sorry for earlier. I promise you won't hear a peep from me from now on."
"Thanks. You all rock."
Chaeyoung got a round of reassuring smiles as they heard a man go up to the podium to start proceedings. All the while, the redhead prepared her sheets and pens for rebuttal in front of her and saw Mr. Ramos slip into the group behind her. As the first speaker got up she felt her nerves begin to waver a little, focusing solely on listening to the words being spoken.
When it was her turn, she stood tall at the podium and saw Jennie mouth 'love you' at her before she spoke. Taking a deep breath, she started her speech, knowing it pretty much by heart at this stage and made sure to make eye contact with everyone in the room, looking at her girlfriend if she ever needed some reassurance. When she was done, she calmly walked back to her seat, inwardly delighted, happy at how she had performed and got back to focusing on everyone else's speeches for her rebuttal.
The time passed in a flurry of words and arguments until eventually everyone had said their speech, presented their rebuttal and the judges had excused themselves to deliberate. Everyone gathered around the blonde when the judges left, congratulating her, telling her she'd been fantastic until the judges returned, asking everyone to return to their seats.
"Firstly, we'd like to thank everyone for being here today, we were all very impressed with the quality arguments put forth and the confident approach to public speaking presented here today. Those of you who are not named winners, please be assured that debate is something you can continue on with through your high school and college years and we look forward to seeing you again. If we call your name, please come up to accept your plaque. In third place; Ryan Kim, St. Marks Preparatory School, Santa Barbara."
There was a round of applause as a tall boy went up and took a small plaque from the judge at the podium.
"Second place, Jackie Donaldson, Whitfield High School, San Diego."
A jumpy girl let out a slight squeal and jumped from her seat, excitedly taking the larger plague and blowing a kiss to the entire room as everyone clapped.
"And in first place, we would like to say that we were thoroughly impressed with this entrant and are looking forward to seeing them in competitions in the future. So congratulations to Park Chaeyoung of Mission High, San Francisco."
"HA!" Seulgi said, jumping up with a grin, "In your face, other schools!"
"Yea!" Jisoo said, jumping up as well, getting lost in the excitement, "We have the best debater in the whole state, so suck on that!"
"Um, very well. If you could please sit down so your friend could accept her award," the judge said from the podium, a shocked expression on his face.
"Oh right," Jisoo said, looking down to see Chaeyoung slinking down low in her chair, "But nobody forget that she's the best!"
Jisoo was yanked down into her seat by Jennie, Seulgi pulled down as well by Lisa as Chaeyoung sunk lower and lower.
"I'm quite certain we will remember," the judge spoke again, "Uh, Park Chaeyoung, first place."
Chaeyoung stood up, her legs shaking slightly, in shock that she'd actually won and at her friend's display. She went and took the large plaque from the judge and smiled at him, going back to her seat quietly.
"Again, we'd like to thank everyone for coming today, it's been a pleasure to bear witness to such wonderful debating."
There was another round of applause around the room as people started standing, talking with others, a few leaving the room with a tear in their eye, disappointed at not winning. Everyone rushed towards Chaeyoung, but Jennie got there first, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend and swooping her down for an enthusiastic kiss. She pulled back and held the blonde in an embrace, Chaeyoung with a dazed smile on her face.
"Well done, Chaeng!" Lisa said as Chaeyoung continued to looked dazed by the kiss.
"Uh...fire bad?"
"Ah," Seulgi said, nodding her head, "She's gone caveman. Happens to Lisa sometimes. Extreme shock or arousal. I'm thinking it's maybe both here."
"Hmm? No, no, I'm fine," Chaeyoung said, snapping herself out of her daze as Jennie continued to hold her tight, "I can't believe I won! And thanks for all your encouragement, guys, it really means – baby, do you think we could stopping hugging for a sec? Talking and having the breath squeezed outta me is kinda difficult."
"But..." Jennie pouted, then sighed, giving her girlfriend a final tight squeeze before letting go, "You were wonderful. You so totally deserve it."
"Thanks. I still can't believe it. And thanks, Mr. Ramos for all your support and help and everything. I couldn't have done it without you."
"My pleasure, Chaeyoung. You're a delight to coach."
There were more words of congratulations and thanks as the entire room started to disband. The gang walked back towards the carpark and got into the car, driving back to the hotel in a flurry of excitement. Chaeyoung and Jennie quickly went to their room, grabbing their bags and checking out before going back to the car. They had meant to check out before going to the debate itself, but in the commotion of the gang arriving had forgotten.
When they got back to the car, Jisoo had moved to the front seat and was flicking through radio stations as Lisa and Seulgi kissed in the back seat. Jennie got into the drivers seat as Chaeyoung yanked Jisoo from the passenger side.
"But I don't want to be in with them kissing the whole way!" Jisoo pouted.
"Won't be an issue," Jennie said, "Jisoo, sit between them."
Seulgi pulled back, an indignant look on her face.
"Backseats were made for this entire purpose," she said, glaring at Jennie as Jisoo shimmied her way between her and Lisa.
"I agree. But we," Jennie replied, turning her head to look back, and shaking a finger between herself and Chaeyoung, "Are the only ones allowed to make out in here."
"It's true, Seulgi," Chaeyoung said, turning back too, "It's a rule."
"Oh fine," Seulgi huffed, "Then I'm at least choosing the music."
"Good luck controlling the buttons from the backseat," Chaeyoung teased.
Jennie smirked at her girlfriend and started the ignition of the car, heading back onto the freeway towards San Francisco.
"So guys, just one week left of our junior year. Kinda cool, right?" Lisa said as they drove, "You know, if you'd told me the end of our sophomore year that I'd be sitting in the backseat of a car, not only not making out, but that the car belonged to Chaeyoung's girlfriend , I woulda called you crazy."
"If you'd have told me that I would have gone to a school event for anything, this time last year, I would've called you crazy too," Seulgi joined in.
"Well, if you'd have told me that I would have seen five o'clock in the morning at all , I would've gone one further and called up the loony bin myself," Jisoo added.
"It's definitely been an interesting year," Chaeyoung piped up, still giddy from her win, "Came out to my friends, got a hot girlfriend, fell in love for the first time, got kicked out by my parents, said girlfriend slapped some sense into parent from which I got un-kicked out, did the SATs, won an all-state competition and now I'm about to finish my junior year with SAT results and our Prom all on the same day!"
"Yea," Lisa nodded, "Chaeyoung definitely wins for most interesting year."
"Hey, don't forget about Jennie," Seulgi interjected, "She has the SAT and prom and girlfriend thing, plus the move cross-country. Plus, she met me, her best friend."
Jennie smirked at her friend in the mirror and gave her a nod.
"It's very true, Seulgi, I did meet you. And the rest of the gang and got myself a whole bunch of friends I never thought I'd have. So, I dunno if it was the most eventful...but it was certainly the best."