Chapter Text
Wei Ying wouldn’t necessarily call herself a weirdo, though she has a lot of the qualities, but she’s a friend to weirdos of all kinds. She doesn’t discriminate when it comes to friends, she’s one of those girls in school who float around between groups, never set with just one clique. She’s friends with the geeks, the popular kids, and the gays.
But this also means she doesn’t really have a best friend. And it’s not like she’s never had one, they just never last. Wei Ying’s been told she can be a bit much, clingy and overwhelming.
Junior year and all that changes when a new girl named Lan Zhan moves to town.
Wei Ying knows immediately that she wants to take Lan Zhan under her wing. Firstly, she’s one of a small group of Chinese girls in school, so that, like, makes them instant friends, at least in Wei Ying’s mind. Secondly, Lan Zhan’s a weirdo. A quiet, but not necessarily shy, gangly thing who’s taller than all the boys. Which immediately makes Lan Zhan a target, so Wei Ying decides to play at being her bodyguard.
How silly of an idea, Lan Zhan’s nearing six feet tall and Wei Ying’s a petite 5’3” and more talk than anything. Lan Zhan could probably bench press her and half the boys in their class, but Wei Ying’s got the gift of gab. She can talk her way out of any situation with anyone, ever.
The first time Wei Ying meets Lan Zhan is in the school cafeteria. Some kind of altercation breaks out because Lan Zhan bumped one of the jocks with her tray, spilling milk on the guy’s shoes.
Lan Zhan is taller than him, and that sets up the fight nicely.
“You think you can take me?” is all the guy gets out before Wei Ying is there, playing moderator.
“Jake,” Wei Ying says, batting her long lashes at the idiot. “She’s the new girl, give her a break, eh? Besides, she might be tall, but you’re captain of the football team. Let her be. Let me get you a napkin. Nice shoes, by the way, are these the new Nikes?”
Wei Ying winks at Lan Zhan and ushers the red-faced boy away. She doesn’t catch up with Lan Zhan until after school, Wei Ying finding Lan Zhan walking home by herself. They must live in a similar part of town, Wei Ying’s going the same way.
“Hey! Wait up!” Wei Ying calls after and Lan Zhan turns for a moment, backpack slung over one shoulder, and continues on walking. “Lan Zhan, right?”
“Yes?” Lan Zhan asks, her pace not slowing, her long braid swinging behind her. Wei Ying has to almost run to keep up with the girl and her long legs.
“Sorry about Jake earlier. He’s an idiot but he’s not that bad once you get to know him.”
Lan Zhan keeps walking.
“Sometimes you just have to give people a chance,” Wei Ying says.
Lan Zhan stops dead in her tracks and turns to face Wei Ying. “I don’t want to be friends with your little boyfriend.” She says little as if it’s a pejorative.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Wei Ying says back, face suddenly red. “He’s just some guy I’m friends with. I’m Wei Ying, by the way.”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says. “You’re friends with a jerk.” She gives Wei Ying a sharp look and begins walking again.
Wei Ying dashes after her, not ready to admit defeat. She’s going to be Lan Zhan’s friend whether Lan Zhan wants to or not. She’ll wear her down.
Wei Ying follows Lan Zhan even when they walk past Wei Ying’s street. Lan Zhan lives in the big house on the hill, basically a mansion, at least in their town. Lan Zhan seems to realize Wei Ying has followed her all the way home when she reaches her doorstep.
“What. Do. You. Want?” Lan Zhan bites out.
“Can I come over?”
“I don’t even know you,” Lan Zhan says.
“That’s the point, I want to get to know you,” Wei Ying says. “Besides, I’m friends with everyone.”
Lan Zhan huffs, says, “I’m not everyone,” and shuts the door in Wei Ying’s face.
Wei Ying smiles at the door, she’s not finished yet. She’ll get her even if it takes all year.
***
It takes two weeks.
Lan Zhan and Wei Ying are paired together for a chemistry project and they have to work on it outside of school. Wei Ying explains to Lan Zhan that they absolutely cannot go to her house, the tensions with her adoptive family are complicated and explosive, so they go to Lan Zhan’s.
‘Finally, I’m in,’ Wei Ying thinks as they enter the large house, Lan Zhan leading Wei Ying into the study. The house is so massive they have a freaking study.
“Sit,” Lan Zhan says, getting some papers out of her backpack. She puts on a pair of nerdy looking reading glasses and sits across the small table from Wei Ying. “We have two hours and then you have to leave.”
“Okay,” Wei Ying says brightly, not at all put off by Lan Zhan’s obvious displeasure at having Wei Ying in her home.
They work in almost complete silence. Wei Ying might be a chatty girl, but she’s actually very serious about her school work, if she’s serious about anything. Usually in these types of projects she has to steer the group and assign work for everyone, but with Lan Zhan it’s different. They work fluidly, no need for talk of direction, no need to dole out tasks. They get more done than Wei Ying had anticipated, and before she knows it, Lan Zhan is looking at the clock and telling her it’s time to leave.
“One second, I just want to finish-”
“It’s five,” Lan Zhan interrupts. She can be very direct and uncouth when she wants to be. Wei Ying thinks it’s kinda funny.
“What, do you turn into a pumpkin at five or something?” Wei Ying asks, and Lan Zhan doesn’t seem to get the reference. “You know, like in Cinderella- oh nevermind. You don’t strike me as the kind of girl who’s into fairytales.”
“Of course I know Cinderella," Lan Zhan says, eyes narrowed. “We can finish the project tomorrow.”
And then Wei Ying is quickly ushered out of the house. A car pulls into the driveway as Zhan walks Wei Ying out, and Wei Ying can feel Lan Zhan tense up.
A handsome young man gets out of the car, lugging a backpack out of the vehicle. “Lan Zhan!” the man calls.
Lan Zhan sighs. “Lan Huan,” she greets, clearly unhappy. “Wei Ying was just leaving.”
“Oh, this is Wei Ying!” Lan Huan says, grinning. He walks up the drive and holds his hand out to Wei Ying. “It’s so good to meet a friend of Lan Zhan’s. I’m Lan Zhan’s brother.”
They shake hands and Lan Zhan looks absolutely mortified.
Wei Ying smiles. “I knew we were friends!” she crows. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Do you have to leave so soon?” Lan Huan asks. “Lan Zhan, have you asked her to stay for dinner? Uncle is making braised tofu.”
“She can’t stay,” Lan Zhan says at the same time Wei Ying exclaims, “I’d love to stay!”
Lan Huan chuckles, “I guess she’s staying,” and leads Wei Ying back into the house.
Dinner is a strange affair. Lan Zhan’s uncle, Lan Qiren, seems just as unhappy for Wei Ying to be there as Lan Zhan is. While not outright hostile, he seems to take an immediate dislike to Wei Ying and her chatty nature. Wei Ying’s adoptive mother, Yu Ziyuan, is much the same so Wei Ying doesn’t take it to heart. Some people just can’t be won over.
“We do not speak during dinner,” Lan Qiren says after Wei Ying goes into great detail about their school project to Lan Huan.
“Uncle, she’s a guest,” Lan Huan says gently. “She can’t know our customs yet.”
Lan Qiren grumbles and they finish dinner in (mostly) silence. Wei Ying manages to whisper a few “Lan Zhans” as they eat, making funny faces at her new friend. Lan Zhan does not seem amused.
Lan Zhan is clearly ready for Wei Ying to leave after dinner, but even Lan Qiren is polite enough to offer her tea, and Wei Ying eagerly takes it.
The two men leave Wei Ying and Lan Zhan to their tea, and Wei Ying decides it’s now or never.
“So,” Wei Ying starts. “We’re friends now?”
“I don’t have any friends,” Lan Zhan says, setting down her teacup.
“Now you do,” Wei Ying says with a smile.
“I don’t need a friend,” Lan Zhan says back.
“Everyone needs a friend,” Wei Ying says. “And trust me, you’ll need one in our school. Everyone has their groups, but maybe you’re more like me. Maybe you don’t need a group. Maybe you’re a floater.”
“A floater?” Lan Zhan looks unconvinced.
“Yeah, like, you’re not really part of any group, you just float between them. That’s what I do, it keeps things easy. I can be friends with anyone I want.”
“I am not a floater,” Lan Zhan says.
“Well, what were you at your old school?"
Lan Zhan seems displeased with the question and doesn’t answer.
“A loner?” Wei Ying asks. Lan Zhan stiffens and Wei Ying thinks she gets it now. “Lan Zhan, I’m not letting you be a loner here. We’re going to be friends.”
“Why do you care so much?” Lan Zhan spits the words out like Wei Ying had proposed something ridiculous. How could the offer (or maybe demand) to be friends with Wei Ying be ridiculous? Wei Ying is a catch with so much to offer.
“Because I liked you the moment I first saw you,” Wei Ying says. “It’s no fun to not fit in, I want to help.”
“I don’t need a friend out of pity,” Lan Zhan responds.
Wei Ying makes a face, she hadn’t meant it that way. But sometimes she’s not so good with getting her point across. She tends to ramble and go on tangents before losing attention.
“It’s not that,” Wei Ying says. “I think you’re cool.” Maybe a bit of a lie, but Lan Zhan is different in a way one could call cool. She dresses a little stuffy, pleated trousers and white button up shirts, and stands up a little too straight, but there’s something about her. She’s really very pretty under the glasses and the attitude.
“You think I’m cool?” The disbelief is evident in Lan Zhan’s voice.
“Yep, and that’s final,” Wei Ying says. “And I’m only friends with cool people, so…”
“You said you’re friends with everyone.”
“Everyone is cool in their own way,” Wei Ying says, and she mostly means it. “You shouldn’t be so judgmental, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Zhan softens at this, Wei Ying isn’t sure why, but she’ll take it.
“So, friends?” Wei Ying asks.
“Friendly,” Lan Zhan says.
And Wei Ying can do friendly. She’s going to be so friendly Lan Zhan will have to be her friend. Maybe even her best friend. For some reason, Wei Ying thinks Lan Zhan would be the best best friend.
***
Two months later and they’re well on their way to being best friends. And oddly enough, it all starts with Lan Zhan punching a boy in the face.
They’re at a soccer match (somehow Wei Ying had convinced Lan Zhan into attending) and some creep from the visiting school has set his sights on Wei Ying. First, he crosses the bleachers to their side and sits behind Wei Ying. He tugs at her ponytail and pretends he didn’t.
Wei Ying jerks around and tells him to stop.
“Stop what?” the guy asks.
“Pulling on my ponytail like you have a crush on me or something,” Wei Ying says back. Beside her, Lan Zhan’s hands go into fists.
The guy seems to take this as a good sign and grins down at Wei Ying. He isn’t unattractive by any means, but he just looks like a jerk, from his smirking face to his tryhard urban clothing. He’s one of those white guys who thinks they’re a gangster.
“I’m Chad,” he says.
“Of course you are,” Wei Ying says back.
“And what’s your name, sweet thing?”
“Not ‘sweet thing’, that’s for sure,” Wei Ying says.
“Come on,” the needles.
“Wei Ying, is this guy bothering you?” Lan Zhan asks.
“Ah, Wei Ying,” Chad says. “Exotic.”
Wei Ying shoots Lan Zhan a look. Lan Zhan sits up a little straighter to her full height.
“Wei is a pretty common surname in China,” Wei Ying says. “So, uh, not that exotic.”
“You’re spicy!” Chad says, seemingly unaware of the disdain growing between the two girls. “I like that.”
“That’s nice and all, but, um…” Wei Ying is at a loss of what to say, something she’s not used to.
“She’s not interested,” Lan Zhan says bluntly. She’s completely turned to the guy now, her arms crossed.
“And who are you?” Chad asks.
“Her best friend,” Lan Zhan says smoothly and Wei Ying wants to cheer.
“Are you sure you don’t want to be her girlfriend, or something?” Chad says meanly. “Let her decide for herself.”
Lan Zhan’s eyes flash and within a second of the words leaving his mouth, she punches him right in that same mouth. A fight is about to break out, but when they both stand, and Lan Zhan is a good four inches taller and broader in the shoulders by a mile, the guy backs down.
“Queer!” he yells to Lan Zhan as he crosses back to his side.
“Oh my god,” Wei Ying says, so surprised she starts laughing. “Lan Zhan! And here I thought I was going to be your bodyguard.”
Lan Zhan huffs and says, “Hardly,” before quickly walking down the stands. Wei Ying follows after, calling Lan Zhan’s name but Lan Zhan doesn’t stop. They reach the parking lot before Wei Ying catches up.
“Lan Zhan, wait, your legs are like a foot longer than mine, slow down!”
Lan Zhan stops, turns, and says, “I don’t want to be your girlfriend.”
Wei Ying baulks at the words, laughs, and then goes red in the face. “I didn’t listen to a word that guy said.”
“And we are not best friends.”
“We’re totally best friends, Lan Zhan, you punched a guy in the face for me!”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Lan Zhan argues. “I just…don’t like guys who mess with girls like that.”
“Oh,” Wei Ying says. “Well, whether you did it for me or not, we’re still best friends. I won’t hear another word against it. Besides, haven’t we sat at lunch together every day?”
“That’s all it takes to be your best friend?” Lan Zhan asks, voice sharp.
Wei Ying frowns, maybe that hurt a little. She’s pretty good at dodging barbs from the best of them, but Lan Zhan can be especially direct and unkind.
“Well…” Wei Ying trails off, kicks at the dirt. “Then I’ll just leave you alone.” She turns to go, but Lan Zhan grabs her shoulder.
“You barely know me,” Lan Zhan says. “How can we be best friends?”
Wei Ying shrugs, looks up at Lan Zhan and knows she really likes her. “I haven’t had a best friend in a long time, but this is different,” Wei Ying says. “I want to be your best friend.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t if you really knew me.” Lan Zhan says it like she’s hiding something, like she could be or do anything that would turn Wei Ying off.
“What, do you stomp puppies or something?” Wei Ying asks and Lan Zhan exhales harshly. “Lan Zhan, I doubt there’s anything you could do that-”
“I’m gay,” Lan Zhan blurts out, ears red, ready for another fight.
“Okay, that makes sense,” Wei Ying says.
“Why does it make sense?”
“Why you punched the guy,” Wei Ying answers. “What, did you think I was going to say you look or act gay or something? I have gay friends, Lan Zhan, I know they’re not, like, a monolith.”
Lan Zhan appears a little stunned. She shakes her head and then turns to walk away again.
Wei Ying grabs her arm, won’t let her leave. “Are we still best friends?”
Lan Zhan huffs. “Fine.”
And Wei Ying is more than happy with fine.