Chapter 22

October 16th, Friday

~

I'm eating lunch outside with Charlotte and we both were sharing a Caesar salad with grilled chicken and pink lemonade. We sat under a tree to block us from the sun even though it was kind of chilly out, but not too much for us to not eat outside.

As we watched some of the boys play football again in the courtyard, some nerds studying on the school benches, and Celeste and her crew leaving campus, Lotte and I couldn't help but to judge.

That is what best friends do best.

"People like her truly disgust me," she commented first.

"I know right," I already knew who she was talking about without her even saying it.

"Like...why would Jake, honestly, as good looking as he is, date someone as ugly as her?" Charlotte really wanted to know. "I'm talking about her personality." I shrugged picking up my clear plastic cup of the lemonade.

"Well, my mom once told me when I was young, that it's hard getting rid of cockroaches once you get them," I sipped my drink with chilled eyes. Lotte busted out laughing.

"Omg, Dawn! I never heard you talked like that, that's so funny!" She exclaimed.

"It's funny 'cause it's true," I looked at her with uneven eyebrows. "I don't care for Celeste but lately she's been all in me and my life, but she can get all in me if she wants to. If she wants to play the game, I'll play back. She can start it, but Imma finish it," I told Charlotte eating the salad. "And I honestly, still don't understand why don't you just go ahead and nominate yourself for homecoming princess," I told her. "Don't be afraid of her."

"I'm not afraid of her, I'm afraid of loosing. Against anybody!" Lotte protested.

"The Montgomery Family is better than that and you know it," I told her. She sighed rolling her blue eyes, smiling. "Charlotte, if your Dad knew you were backing out of a contest like this and you're sure to win? He'd be disappointed," I pointed out. Lotte looked at me still smiling.

"Now that's where you're wrong babe. I never joined the contest, which means I'm not backing out. So he can't be mad at me even if you told him." I rolled my eyes smiling as she knew I wouldn't. "Besides, I know what I'm saving myself from."

"Which is nothing, but whatever. I still think you should do it," I mentioned to her watching Celeste leave off campus alone. Weird.

"Well I'm not. Maybe next year I'll go for queen."

"That's what we all saaay," I told her. "And we never do it." She laughed.

"Wellll."

I looked back up to see Jake playing football with that boy Andrew, but from a distance it looked like he said something to Jake and Jake nodded and turned to the other guys and kept playing, but he walked off secretly to the parking lot and got in his corvette and drove away...

The same route Celeste took.

'Omg...Celeste might be meeting up with Andrew somewhere and Jake doesn't even know! I have tell him that Celeste is cheating on him before homecoming for sure! Jake can't write a song like that for a girl like Celeste! She can't just use him for looks and he defiantly can't waste his time!'

"Girl, did you hear me?" Lotte got my attention back. I turned back to her shaking out of it.

"Wait huh?" She chuckled.

"I said guess what Kevin texted me last night," she repeated. I smiled.

"What happened?" I asked. She slid her phone to me.

"Just scroll down. I still can't believe it and it was all last night," she smiled sweetly. I took her phone and read the messages.

8:26pm
'Sooo what r u doing this weekend?' -Kevin

8:28pm
'I might hang out w/ Dee if she's free. Y?' -Lotte

8:31pm
'Well....I was wondering if you'd want to go out for food or shop....maybe.' -Kevin

He seemed so nervous.

8:33pm
'I might go shopping with Dee like I said but...what kind of food tho? :/' -Lotte

8:35pm
'Well my mom told me about this bakery downtown and I was wondering if you'd want to try it out w/ me.' -Kevin

I smiled when I read that and I looked up at Lotte.

"He asked you to go to your favorite bakery?!" I exclaimed. She nodded violently eating her roll.

"Hmmmhuh!!" She said chewing. "Now keep reading!" I laughed looking back down at her phone.

8:36pm
'Trendy Treats? I love that bakery we should totally go there<3' -Lotte

8:36pm
'Cool! Do you want to meet up?' -Kevin

8:37pm
'Ha! Dafaq?? You're taking me. What do you think this is boy;)' -Lotte

I had to laugh at that one.

8:39pm
'Haha! I figured. I'll pick you up at 5pm?:)' -Kevin

8:41pm
'Better make it 6pm. I like to try on my clothes before I buy them;)' -Lotte

That was very true statement.

8:43pm
'Yes ma'am:) I'll put it in my calendar.' -Kevin

That was honestly so cute.

8:44pm
'I'll make room for you;)' -Lotte

8:45pm
'Goodnight Shawty:)' -Kevin

8:45pm
'Night Hun;D' -Lotte

I laughed as I gave Lotte's phone back and she did too. Kevin called Charlotte, Shawty, due to them sounding alike and it's kind of their inside joke since they met. It's like how Jake called me Kit-Kat, but he calls me it to be ignorant and not for being cute. Lotte squealed.

"Haha! I know right! Kevin is finally taking me out! It's ironic he's taking me to the bakery. He must've really been paying attention to my snapchat stories lately," Lotte really thought about it. I nodded smiling. I couldn't tell her the truth just yet.

"Probably, but see! That means he cares! Maybe y'all will end up going to homecoming together," I mentioned looking down at my salad. Lotte gave me a shrug sucking on the ice from her lemonade.

"Hopefully. Ah!" She gasped. "What if he ask me to homecoming at the bakery!? Ugh, that'll be the cutest!!" Lotte dreamed. I laughed.

"Ugggh, if only Kevin was here to see you drool!" I commented. Lotte shook her head.

"Nope. Nor will I ever let Kevin see my weakness. If he wants the prey, he'll keep chasin," she nodded once. I chuckled shaking my head.

"You're difficult Lotte," I ate my salad. "So difficult." She shrugged.

"Nah. The Montgomery Family just knows how to run the game," she corrected me. I laughed for real.

"Hahaha, I don't know how Lotte but you're my best friend," I told her honestly. "And I wouldn't trade you for nothin'. No matter how crazy your mind works." She looked at me laughing.

"Same to you! Dawn Noel has a few tricks herself. Pulling in seniors left and right. Teach me your ways girl! Teach me your ways," she begged. I slapped my knee laughing.

"I am not pulling seniors left and right! Asher is just....a good friend of mine."

"Hmmmhuh, who happens to be a swim and track star for Cumberland High. We're living in the golden age my friend," Lotte concluded spitting her ice back her cup. "The golden age." I nodded and I agreed.

"Yess!" But I glanced back out at Jake and I sighed whispering, "But maybe not all of us."

~

As Lotte and I departed at lunch with friendly waves, I was heading to the science building when Jake, sweaty as can be, jogged up to me.

"Hey Kit-Kat," he stopped me. "Got a minute?" I backed away a step because one, he was sweaty, and two, I really didn't want to spill to him Celeste was cheating on him with another guy.

I mean I will, but just...not right now.

"Ew," I tried to walk away from him. He stopped me again.

"Haha, can we just talk a sec?" Jake asked again.
I sighed.

"As friends?" I rolled my eyes.

"What is it Jake?" I finally asked him rolling my eyes. He smiled.

"Well, tonight's the football game. I was going to ask if you and some of the cheer girls could help one of our football guys ask a girl out to homecoming tonight?" He asked. I widen my eyes face palming myself.

"Uggggh!" I groan being forgetful.

"It's not going to be all that bad. It's just a poster he made and-" I cut him off.

"Noo! I forgot there was a game today! Charlotte and I were going to hang out," I held my hand on my forehead looking back at the career building where she'll be in fashion design.

"Oh..." Jake didn't know what to say. "Why is that such a big deal?"

"Because I keep ditching her," I said agitatedly. "This is like the third time I brushed her off for something. She wants to hang out with me but I'm either secretly with you or Asher. She's going to hate me!"

"She's not going to hate you Kit-Kat. Just tell her to go and support you at the game. Besides Kevin's on drumline. I'm sure she wouldn't mind then," Jake mentioned. I bit my bottom lip thinking about it.

"I suppose....maybe if I can get Asher to go too, she can get some real details for me since you obviously haven't!" I pointed at his chest. He laughed.

"Look I'm trying my best!"

"You're not trying hard enough," I crossed my arm looking away.

"But what are you two doing tomorrow night?" He cocked an eyebrow at me. 'Crap. The movies,' I thought biting my lip. I hit Jake's arm and he laughed rubbing it.

"Shut up," I snared at him. He shrugged.

"Alright."

Jake and I looked at each other for a few seconds until I heard someone come up from behind me.

"Dee!" They greeted me. I turned around and smiled extra big.

"Asher! Hey!"

We involuntary hugged and Asher looked at Jake as Jake looked at him. Them both smiling and I felt a competition going on through their eyes. I chuckled as this was kind of awkward for me, but I let it go.

"Asher this Jake, my acquaintance. Jake this Asher. A VERY good friend of mine," I introduced them. Jake laughed by what I called him.

"I seen ya around," Jake shook his hand.

"Same to you. Varsity football?" Asher wanted confirmation.

"Quarterback," Jake nodded once. Asher did too.

"Nice. I hear y'all have a game today. Y'all Ready?" Asher asked. Jake laughed once.

"Course. We haven't lost a game yet. You should check us out." I kind of tensed when he said that and looked up at Asher.

"I know right. I mean, I was planning on going, but I'm not so sure," Asher rubbed his chin. I quickly looked at him as Jake totally did that for me to get the ball rolling for an opportunity and I had to accept it.

"You should totally go," I looked at Asher. "I mean, I'm on the varsity cheer team. You can see use do some of our routines," I told him. "And my friend Charlotte will be there. I'm sure she wouldn't mind sitting beside you in the stands in the student section," I nodded. Asher smiled looking at me then Jake.

"I guess I could go. I never been to y'all games. Sure, why not. Thanks for the suggested Dee," Asher hugged me. I smiled.

"Anytime." We all were looking at each other and Jake looked sad yet happy at the same time as I was with Asher and the warning bell rang.

"Well, I guess that's our cue to go. See you next period Dawn," Jake nodded once walking away. I nodded disgustedly.

"It's Daw-" but I stopped myself and turned around at Jake as he actually called me by my name and Asher waited for me.

"Something wrong?" He asked with a smile. I looked at Jake for one more second before turning back around.

"Huh? Oh, um, no. Just....thinking," I told him.

"Oh, well, we better hurry before Ms. Rosemary flips," Asher suggested. I nodded up at him.

"Right."

As we walked to class I thought of Jake and why he seemed so sad earlier before we went our separate ways.

'Is Jake upset I'm with Asher??' I had to think. I widen my eyes as the tardy bell rang. 'Nooo that can't be true. I mean, Jake has Celeste! He has a full girlfriend! Why would he care about me and he's just helping me to get with Asher??'

As Asher and I walked into the science hall and to our class, we walked in literally a minute late. Ms. Rosemary looked at us as the class was still talking as class didn't even start yet.

"Umm, Asher, Dawn.... You're late," she told us bluntly.

"Yes ma'am, we're sorry," I apologized.

"Yeah, we lost track of time in the hallway with our friends," Asher explained. Ms. Rosemary nodded.

"It's okay, but one more and I'll have to make you get a tardy slip," she told us.

"Yes ma'am," we both replied.

We walked away to our seat and I rolled my eyes. "It was only like a minute," I whispered to Asher.

"I know right. Like, I don't even like this class. I couldn't care less," Asher sat back in his seat. I laughed.

"Alright class, go ahead and take out your essays and pass them to the front-"

"WHAT??" I whispered yelled looking at Ms. Rosemary.

"It will be a test grade and if you turn it in on Monday, I'll deduct twenty points automatically," she looked down at her desk.

As the people behind Asher and I passed their papers forward, I couldn't help but to look at it confused.

"What is this??" I asked Yasmine behind me.

"Our essay," she told me plainly.

"Yeah, we got this assignment Wednesday," Trish told me. "Didn't you know?" I shook my head passing it forward after the boy in front of me turned around for it.

"No I forgot. Did you do it Asher?" I asked him.

"Not at all," he shrugged. I groan.

"Ugh, I don't know what my deal is. I forgot to my algebra homework yesterday too. What was I doing??" I asked myself.

"It's okay Dawn. The highest we can make is a B. It's better than a zero," Asher informed me. I nodded looking down at the table.

"True."

As class started and Ms. Rosemary talked about more formulas I'll never use in my life, I was taking notes, but after I got bored and was feeling like falling asleep, I started writing the story again for the Writers Block Contest. It went well, but I didn't finish it as it was a hard decision. Should the girl be stood up, or not?

Class eventually ended and Asher and I stood up and walked out class and we both stopped and looked at each other in front of the lockers.

"I guess I'll see you at the game tonight," Asher smiled, poking my arm. I chuckled.

"Hehe, I guess so. Bye Asher, I'll see you later," I reached up and hugged him with one arm around his neck. He hugged me back.

"See you," he kissed my cheek. I blushed really hard and he smiled at me and we both went our separate ways as that was Asher's last period and I still had two more to go and I was so happy, Asher was actually going to the football game....

For me.

~