I shoved a spoonful of ice cream in my mouth. Holy cold. I waved my hands around my face as brain freeze set in. Once I swallowed the chocolate dessert, I went on to tell her what transpired in the alcove. Every. Last. Embarrassing. Moment.
“I feel so stupid,” I said.
“Don’t. It’s his fault. If he would’ve come clean years ago, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
I laughed. “Nice. Way to redirect the blame.”
“You know, we could TP his house or something. Oh, I got it. We can feed his underwear to Jimbo.”
“How in the world would we get his underwear?”
“Well, it’d have to be a covert operation. We’d have to go in all stealth like. Or you could just wait for him to leave and tell his mom you left your Trig book in his room.”
“You’re awesome, you know that?” I nudged her shoulder.
“Yeah. But seriously, give it some time. He’ll come around.”
My teeth scraped against my spoon as I stared at the soccer calendar on my wall. “Oh. My. God. You realize I won’t have a date for prom? An-and C.C., Kevin, Drake, and Trey do? It’s like I’m in some horrible alternate reality.”
My life was over.
“I told you, we can hook you up with Deandre.” Ken wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“He’s too young for me.”
“Or you can go stag. You don’t need a guy to go to prom.”
But I wanted one. Day one of life suckage underway.
My car glided into the student lot, and I found a spot a few rows from the entrance. Mom had given me gas money this morning, so I actually got to drive. Although, I think it’s just because she felt bad for me. But hey, I’d take it. I took a deep breath.
“There she is. I can’t believe she has the courage to show her face,” some girl said.
“At least we know why she’s so popular with the guys.” Another chick giggled.
Patrick Clayburn smirked as he fell in beside me. “So, Delyla, what will you do for me if I give you money?”
My eyes narrowed. “Get lost, Patrick.”
He chuckled as he rejoined his buddies.
Geez, why’s everyone staring at me? Self-conscious, I hurried to my locker. When I got there my mouth dropped open. My fingers trembled as I took a poster with my face on it off the door.
Oh, God. Who told everyone?
I looked down the hall and saw the same posters on C.C.’s, Kevin’s, and Trey’s lockers.
“So that’s how you landed Liza,” Martin Stevens said to C.C.
The guys glanced at me, eyes wide. I shook my head no. At that moment, Trey came down the hall. When he got to his locker, he ripped the poster from it and tossed it on the floor. But, he wouldn’t look at me.
From behind me, I heard more giggles then Jasmine, Portia’s BFF said, “I can’t believe her. No wonder she and Rex broke up. I mean, would you want to touch her after they did?”
My head snapped around and I glared at her. Like she should talk. Her boyfriend was only with her because she put out.
A shadow fell over me and I glanced up to see Rex standing there, his arms crossed. “Portia told me about the Romeo Club. That you let guys pay you to help them with dates, so you could get a prom dress. You could’ve told me you needed one, I would’ve got it for you.”
“It’s none of your business,” I said.
He leaned closer. “You ditched me to hang out with them.” He nodded toward the Nerd Herd. “It was never about Science Club, was it?”
“No. Now will you let it go?” I slammed my locker door shut.
Rex stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “What else did you do for their money?”
How dare he. My hand connected with his face. My palm stung from the impact. “And you wonder why I broke up with you? It’s because you’re an asshole with a one track mind. Yourself.”
A handprint spread across his cheek as I pushed past him. Up ahead, I saw Bart coming toward us. He rammed his shoulder into C.C. causing him to drop his school books.
“You guys think you can move in on our territory? Get our girls?” Bart stared at the Nerd Herd.
“N-no,” C.C. said as he bent down to pick up his things.
“That’s right, you can’t.” Bart laughed like a hyena on drugs.
My fingers dug into my folders as I stepped in front of him. “Jealous, Bart? Worried these guys are competition? That girls actually want nice guys instead of dickheads like you, who go to parties and sleep with Tara Tolliver while their girlfriend is at a dance competition?”
His face reddened. From behind me, I heard Jasmine gasp.
“Bart?” she said.
He didn’t answer.
