"Cat got your tongue?" questions Aaron. There's a slick smile forming on his face. His plump pink lips motion upwards and his eyes are gleaming. Its a face of victory and he's showing it because he wants me to feel defeated. Somehow I do.
"How exactly are you gonna do that?" Is all I say but he shakes his head, letting me know it won't be that easy for him to spill everything.
"You'll see."
"Yeah well let me just tell you that your dumb homecoming proposal extravaganza was all for nothing because I'm not going with you."
He raises an eyebrow questioningly at me. "You already said yes."
"I can still say no."
"But you won't, because if you do everyone will know what kind of person you really are. Ruining people's repution is what you're acing at right now. Have you seen Giana's latest post?"
"No. What did she put?" I question alarmed.
"Oh nothing. Just exposing that Kimmy Wilkerson is cheating on her boyfriend with his brother. Penny Lot is actually lesbian--which let's be honest, we all knew. Steven Cho is a virgin and oh yeah Aaron Reeves is a phony bad boy who's actually a douche bag. Go figure, huh?"
"Why is she doing this?"
"Because you pushed her. That girl is stopping at nothing. You know Bianca already tried to take down her account but she can't and Bianca is a genius with this type of shit."
"Well I already asked her to stop. What's makes you think her seeing us together at homecoming will change her mind about you?"
It's that same old smug face again. He looks so sure of himself and it pisses me off. He steps closer and stands taller, as if wanting to intimidate me with a close proximity but I don't falter.
"You just focus on getting yourself a nice dress for homecoming and leave the rest to me."
"Why are you the only one that can make a plan?"
"Because I have to make it believable and if I tell you, you'll just ruin everything. I watched the spring musical last year. That was some shitty acting you pulled up on stage."
"That was the point asshole, I played an airhead that didn't know what was going on."
"Oh really? Damn. No wonder you didn't get the lead."
"If I were you I wouldn't get so smug," I remark. "For some weird reason you still have the mentality that everyone at school loves you. Must I remind you that you're not Mr. Hotshot anymore or should I show you the comments on Giana's post?"
The smile on Aaron's face falls immediately and he stares at me with anger in his eyes.
"You fucked this up for me," he says, "and you sure as hell are gonna help me undo this whether you like it or not." He turns around and stomps toward the car leaving me alone.
I let out a sigh, feelings of annoyance, anger, and guilt swarming within me.
I end up calling Nat to pick me up. She takes me home and quickly I change to the uniform I have to wear when I work.
I say goodbye to my parents and Nat hurries me as I walk out of my house.
We work together at a nearby burger joint called Burger Off. When we arrive I am greeted by the smell of greasy food and the sound of meat sizzling on the grill.
Nat and I quickly clock in and go out front.
"Finally you're here, did you two expect me to do this myself?" Eric Peyton tells me with a tsk. I look around the restaurant, not failing to notice how there's barely anyone here. The most customers we have are fifteen a day throughout the week. On the weekends its a different story.
I roll my eyes at him as I move over to the cash register and take his place, waiting for the customers to come and pay for their food.
"Not in a good mood?" he prys.
"Not really."
"Why?"
"She got asked out to homecoming by Aaron Reeves," says Nat as she begins putting napkins in the empty napkin holders.
"Oh the bad boy," he says and looks at me with a knowing look. "Well that's funny. I didn't even know you talked to him."
"I don't," I say. "Its a long story."
"Sounds like drama to me," Eric says, "I wanna hear the details."
Nat and I met Eric through work. He was tall and scrawny; red locks of hair curled around the top of his head and his green eyes stood out from his freckled face. Unfortunately he doesn't go to the same high school as Nat and I.
Eventually we bonded with the stress of school and complaints about customers we all shared and became good friends with Eric. Nat and I liked to fill him in with anything that happens to us, as if he went to school with us, so hearing Aaron Reeves' name wasn't a first in one of our many conversations. Most of those conversations about Aaron Reeves were mostly me complaining and ranting about him.
"Not right now," I say as I rub circles on my temples. "I've had enough of Aaron Reeves today."
"Geez that bad?" he questions looking at Nat to which she nods.
A customer comes over to pay and I get to work, trying to leave my thoughts on the supposed bad boy.
"Have a nice day," I say when I'm done charging the customer and give her back her change. The older woman smiles at me briefly before walking toward the exit.
I let out a sigh and lean on the counter underneath the cash register. I can feel Eric's eyes on me, waiting for me to give in and fill him in. With another sigh coming out of my mouth I turn and meet his eyes and tell him what I know.
"Wow," he says, "here you thought you were doing a good thing and then life decides to fuck you over and make everything blow up on you. It kind of hilarious if you ask me."
My eyes narrow. "I wasn't asking you."
Eric rolls his eyes. "Oh chill. Its not like going to homecoming with the guy will do anything bad to you."
"He's a jerk," I state.
"Yeah but you got yourself involved and your plan got fucked so now you have to go with it or else."
"Or else what?" I ask.
"Or else Aaron Reeves won't leave you alone until you help him. Plus that Giana bitch probably won't let you off that easy. Look just go with the flow in Aaron's plan okay? Do some good to that boy for once. If people see that you went with him and you both had a good time eventually people will see Giana is a dumbass and forget about that post. Things will go back to normal."
"And if no one believes we had a good time and hate him forever?"
"Then make it believable. But remember at the end of the day you're only doing this to fix the mess you've made. Nothing else, don't go and involve yourself where you're not needed."
"Hard to say it but he's right," says Nat.
"Fine," I reply. "But first I need to go shopping and find myself a dress for homecoming. Will you come with me please?"
Nat smiles. "Can't wait."
sorry this chapter sucked &that it took so long to write. but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. Thanks for all the support you're giving to this book, it means the world to me ð
I'll try to update asap!