The smile reappears and so do the dimples. “Anytime. You know that.”
@QweenPandora: Well, lovelies, members of this year’s Homecoming Court have been decided, and I don’t think the nominees were a surprise to anyone. It looks like PrincessParker has been given a chance to make another move on KingMidas, especially since there seems to be a bit of trouble in the paradise he’s carved out with NewGirl. Speaking of, NewGirl, what gives? This pic surfaced of you chatting it up with SeXyBeAsT in your driveway. Keeping secrets, are we? Guess we’ll have to stay tuned to see what happens next.
Later, Peeps!
—P
Chapter 24
BLUE
We make the ride back to school with the windows up. The temp has dropped quite a bit since school let out. Scar and Jules are just as bubbly about being here as before, but neither has said a word to me about West. They had plenty of questions when they first heard he’d vandalized my car—via Pandora, of course—but I sidestepped each one until neither Scar nor Jules knew what to make of it. For now, no one has any idea how volatile things between us really are.
Even then, people aren’t sure what to believe.
Had West really done it? Or was it someone else?
Those are the whispers on the wind. Some assume it’s the result of a nasty fight that has since blown over. Which, ironically enough, has led them to believe West and I are more serious than anyone originally thought. However the heck that happens. Others question whether it has all been some sort of bitter retaliation on Parker’s part, for me stealing her guy or some shit like that. Guess this is what happens when there aren’t any pics, but only eye-witness accounts.
I’m sure the reason there are no pics is because whoever saw West tampering with my car was too afraid of him to take any.
Either way, whatever conclusions people have drawn, they’re wrong. That’s all I know.
I catch myself smiling when I turn into the lot, thinking of what I pulled off earlier, and also praying I covered all my tracks.
Scar looked at me like I was crazy when I went back to my car after scrubbing spray paint off my hands, then came into the house dragging two garbage bags filled with the football team’s extra pants. I’d return them eventually, but for now they’re mine.
I snagged them from the storage room in the field house during the pep rally. Actually, Lexi did that part, when she decided I had too much to lose if I got caught. Whereas she, on the other hand, could use the few days off if she got suspended over this. So, while she did her part, I did mine.
Which everyone attending this game will see soon enough.
I spot her just after I park, and the lot is already full. This year, the athletic department decided to hold the game earlier in the day, so students could just stick around after school to make sure the stands are at max capacity.
Good for optics. Good for funding.
Lexi waves me down and I usher Scar and Jules that way, introducing the three for the first time. Lexi admits she usually avoids these kinds of gatherings like the plague, but tonight’s extra special.
“Jules, Scar, this is Lexi. The one good thing about this godawful place,” I add.
Jules rolls her eyes, likely thinking I’m exaggerating, but she has no idea.
“Hey,” she says with a bright smile.
To which Lexi responds with a nod. “Hey.”
Scar waves and the next second, we’re on our way to the bleachers. My heart’s racing a mile a minute, but I play it cool. The crowd is already fired up, and there’s standing room only. However, our seats are reserved with a laminated sign for members of the paper.
Guess there’s one perk.
The crowd goes wild when the announcers talk over the loudspeaker, getting everyone hyped up about tonight’s big game.
The dance squad do their part to get fans riled up as well, and I’m holding my breath at the sight of the first black and gold helmet that takes the field. My eyes are glued to them all, waiting for West to make his appearance, and as expected, he’s last in line.
Then, a hush comes over the crowd when they lay eyes on him. Quiet murmuring follows as confusion spreads. My guess is they’re staring at the bright pink letters painted vertically down West’s pants that read: BITCH.
Seeing him out there, wearing my handiwork, I can’t possibly be more satisfied. It was the perfect storm. First, with the earlier than usual game time preventing anyone from coming to West’s rescue with a spare pair, and Lexi’s willingness to steal the extra uniform pants from the storage room, West was left with two options.
Sit this one out … or let the world know what he really is.
My bitch.
It takes everything in me not to glance over toward Lexi and smile. Especially when Scar starts asking questions about who would do such a thing. Jules passes me a knowing look, though, then lifts a hand to cover her laugh.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, it appears we have a wardrobe malfunction of some sort on our hands,” one announcer explains.
I snort then. Can’t help it. While I would’ve liked for this to have stolen just an ounce of West’s confidence, it clearly has not. His head is still just as high as always, and he doesn’t look any less focused. But it wasn’t about that. This move was simply about me getting the win. And thanks to being on the newspaper, it will be memorialized.
Raising my phone, I snapped a pic. Whether I’m allowed to publish this baby or not, this is definitely my best scoop yet.
Cypress Prep
