“The cav—”
Ashleigh knocked on the window. “Come on,” she mouthed. “I can’t wait to see Kendall’s face.”
“Oh my God,” I chuckled. “Your sister is—”
“An idiot? Yeah, I know.”
“Actually, I think she’s pretty awesome.”
“Well, I think you’re pretty awesome. Now can we please get out of the car?”
“Okay.” I shouldered the door and Ashleigh and Lily backed up to give me some space.
“Thank God. I thought you were going to sit in there all morning.”
“Hey, Ashleigh, good to see you too.”
“Aaaand here we go.” She let out a low whistle and I immediately saw the reason. Everyone had stopped to watch me climb out of Avery’s car.
He came around to my side and grabbed my hand. “Just breathe, babe. I got you.”
“They’re all staring.”
“Yep. That’s what happens when you’re dating the star quarterback who never dates.” Ashleigh smirked.
“Leigh,” Avery warned.
“What, I’m just saying.”
“You good?” He squeezed my hand.
Avery seemed so calm and composed. Why did he seem so calm and composed?
“Yo, Chase, man.” Micah sauntered over to us. “I was going to ask what you were doing all weekend but looks like I have my answer.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Avery warned.
“Snitch, looking good.” Micah’s mouth curved, but I saw no contempt there.
“I guess you don’t look bad either, for an asshole.”
Avery exploded with laughter as I smothered a smirk of my own.
“Touché, Miley. Tou-fucking-ché. Guess I’ll spread the word that the snitch just got bumped to QB’s girl.” He took off toward the school building.
“What just happened?” I asked Avery, dumbfounded.
He pulled me into his arms and tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind my ear. “You underestimate us, babe.”
“But—”
“No buts. I’m going to kiss you now, okay?”
He didn’t wait for my answer, cupping my face and kissing me deeply. Ashleigh and Lily made fake gagging noises, but they were soon drowned out when Avery’s tongue curled around my own.
Until Ashleigh grumbled, “Bitch alert.”
I eased back and glanced over to where Kendall was sending me an icy death stare.
“Ignore her,” Avery said. But I didn’t want to ignore her.
I wanted to make sure she knew exactly how things were.
So I kissed Avery again, just to make sure she got the message.
“Watch it, snitch.” Kendall narrowed her eyes, contempt rolling off her, as she and her friends passed me in the hall.
It had been the same all morning. I tried not to let their whispers and taunts affect me, but I couldn’t deny the confidence I’d felt kissing Avery outside of school slowly began to crack.
“I can’t believe he’s actually with her,” she said a little too loudly. “Unless it’s all some joke to get her back for what she did last year.”
Pressing myself to my locker, I shrunk into myself. If they hated me before, they really hated me now.
“Hey,” Ashleigh strolled up to me. “Why are you hiding in here?”
“Not hiding, just… catching my breath.”
“You cannot let Kendall Novak win.” She gently coaxed me from my locker and slammed it shut. “My brother wants you, Miley. You.”
Her wide smile and kind words eased the knot in my stomach. “You know, you’re pretty awesome.”
“I know.” She grinned proudly. “Now, no more hiding.”
“Easier said than done,” I murmured.
Micah had kept them at bay in my last class, but I still had a lot of classes to get through. Just then, my cell phone vibrated.
“Is it Ave?” Ashleigh peered over my hands and I snatched it away.
Can’t meet you at lunch, I have practice. Sorry. But if you come and watch me after school, I’ll give you a ride home?
“What did he say?”
“He’s got practice at lunch.”
“Good thing you have me and Lily then.” She grinned again.
“Good thing indeed.” I looked up and Kendall glowered at me.
“Ignore her. Come on.” Ashleigh gently tugged my arm.
I wanted to take her advice, but something told me Kendall wasn’t going to take it easy on me. Because I had what she wanted.
I had Avery.
I survived the rest of the day. Thankfully, I only had one more class with Kendall, but I sat in a row behind her so she couldn’t exactly keep turning around to taunt me.
The second I filed out of the room, Ashleigh and Lily pounced on me. “This is a surprise,” I said.
“We thought we’d keep you company while Avery is at practice.”
“Oh, okay.” My brows furrowed.
But the second we made it to the bleachers, I realized why they had offered to come with me. The cheer squad was also practicing, and we had to walk right past them.
“Why would Avery really want her when he could have me?”
“I don’t know, Kendall. They looked pretty serious this morning,” her friend said, shooting me an apologetic look.
“Well, I’ll be crowned Homecoming Queen. And everyone knows Avery will be King. There’s no stopping destiny.”
“God, she’s so deluded,” Ashleigh hissed as we moved around the squad to sit up in the bleachers.
I tried to block out Kendall and her venomous words and focus on Avery. He looked so good running drills. I had to pinch myself a couple of times, hardly able to believe he was mine.
But then Kendall caught my eye, smirking, and a sinking feeling spread through me. She would be crowned Homecoming Queen and Avery would be crowned King. And I didn’t even have plans to go to the stupid dance.
The end of practice approached, and Coach called the team into the huddle. But when they broke formation, I frowned.
“What are they doing?” A couple of players were jogging toward the bleachers holding their Rixon Raiders game night banner between them.
“Oh my God,” Lily breathed as my eyes spelled out the words painted over the familiar Rixon Raiders lettering.
Miley Fuller, will you go to Homecoming with me?
“Go…” Ashleigh nudged me. “Go down there.”
“I…” My heart crashed against my chest,
“Go.” She yanked me up and gave me a gentle shove. I stumbled down the
