like a glove, even in the chest, which has forced Ali to pass on innumerable cute dresses since puberty. The salesgirl brought over a pair of cork wedges, which were super cute, but Ali walked out barefoot from the dressing room and chose a peep-toe leopard-print pair instead. Could a leopard be considered a wildcat? Anyway, they made the look more her style—preppy but with a little kick of unexpected.
The dress was marked down, though not by much, but Ali totally would have paid full price. And she did, for the heels. It was worth it, a perfect outfit for the Wildcats’ first Psych-Up of the season. She knew her teammates would love it. And Ali would take their love any way she could get it.
Just as she’d hoped, her teammates have been pulling her aside to pay her compliments since she walked in.
“Where’d you find it?”
“It’s perfect!”
“You look like a model!”
Ali feels beautiful. She feels seen. And she eagerly, earnestly returns their compliments.
Honestly? The whole dressing-up thing doesn’t even need to be an official rule at this point. The Wildcats seize any opportunity to do it. Dressing up for Psych-Ups helps make their weekends feel more weekend-y, especially when they miss out on stuff other kids do, like going to parties and out on dates. The annual Varsity Dinner is practically a mini-formal—cocktail dresses, updos and blowouts, manis and pedis. And when the Wildcats are on the road—traveling for club play or tournaments—the girls pack something nice to wear for each dinner, even if they just end up walking over to an Applebee’s across the hotel parking lot.
Phoebe once leaned over and joked to Ali that it’s as if the Wildcats are dating one another.
The few times Ali’s dressed up for boys—the tartan miniskirt, sleeveless cream turtleneck, and whiskey riding boots to Parker Nero’s family Christmas Eve party is one instance that comes to mind—her efforts went largely unnoticed.
Not with her teammates. More than notice, they trade accessories with you for a better match, check your butt for panty lines, sit behind you with your curling iron and make sure you don’t miss a strand. They happily climb up on beds or chairs or car hoods—whatever it takes to get the most flattering angle—and snap a hundred pictures on your phone so you have options.
Ali’s mother says that women actually dress to impress one another. It is definitely true for the Wildcats.
Apparently, even for Grace.
Ali just happens to glance over from the couch when Grace, nearly an hour late, arrives at Mel’s, her arms awkwardly laden with her sleepover stuff. She struggles to balance everything while closing the front door.
Ali rushes over both to lend a hand and to get a better look at Grace’s hair.
Wildcat blue.
“Grace!”
“Hey, Ali. I’m so sorry I’m late. I had to dye my hair twice to get the color just right. And I didn’t want to show up with it looking half-assed. Only the best for the Wildcats!”
Ali reaches out. Grace’s hair is soft and unbelievably shiny. And she sees now that it’s an ombre, lighter at the tips, darker at the roots. More hues of blue than Ali knew even existed. Though it is totally not her style, Ali can still appreciate how amazing Grace looks. Ali didn’t notice before, probably because everyone is so sweaty and gross after tryouts, but Grace is a really pretty girl. And her blue hair actually amplifies it, her eyes like little pieces of amber, her skin dewy and clear and practically poreless.
“It looks awesome,” Ali tells her.
“Yay! I’m so glad you like it! I know it’s a team thing for the girls to dress up, but this is the fanciest thing I own.”
Grace then lifts her arms like a T to show Ali that, technically, she is wearing a dress. Black jersey cotton, shapeless as a bag, the hem over her knees, the arm holes loose loops. Inside, the hint of a black sports bra. The look is modern, utilitarian. It reminds Ali of a YA series she devoured over the summer, bleak dystopian. But on Grace it works. She pulls it off.
Grace works her hands through her hair, subtle adjustments made blindly but with maximum effect. “I just hope it’s clear how much being a Wildcat means to me.”
Despite how cool Grace looks, she doesn’t seem to wear her coolness like a defense mechanism. She’s warm. Eager. Excited.
Ali likes her. Truly.
“The girls are going to flip out when they see you, Grace. In the best