Chapter IV

It’s lunchtime now, and I sit with my four new friends and I think the guy who the mayor was talking about, Peyton.  Compared to the mayor and Jonathan, he’s actually pretty attractive, in a different way than Skye is.  He has a great tan, shaggy blonde hair, and really great bone structure.
            “Hey, I’m Peyton,” he says.

“Yeah, I know you. Your dad sold me my house, and your grandpa told me about you,” I say, shyly.

“Wow!  My grandpa tells everyone with a teenage daughter about me.  It gets so annoying.”  

“I guess any publicity is publicity.”

“That’s very true.  Well, I have a question.  So I think you’re very cute,” he says.

“How is that a question?” asks Samantha.  I was thinking the same thing.

“I’m not done yet.  I’m… nervous.  Anyways, prom is in a few months, and it’s kind of a big deal to me and my teammates.  So if we become friends, would you want to go with me?” he asks, his cheeks becoming flushed.  I’m not sure if I should be flattered or creeped out.  I’ve been creeped out a lot lately…

“Sure, I guess,” I say, and smile.  That was kind of a lame answer but he’s kind of lame for asking me when he just met me.

“YAAAAYYYYY!!!!” everyone shouts and starts clapping.

“Okay, now everyone has a date except Jamie and Samantha,” says Haley.

“Oh, I know that we don’t have dates. And that’s because we aren’t going. We have to study.” Jamie remarks. She really cares about her schoolwork, I suppose.

“You can stay home, but I am going.” Samantha says.

“But I thought you didn’t like the dances here.”

“I don’t. But this is different. It’s prom. Prom is every girl’s dream.”

“Yes, but if you don’t study then you won’t get into a good college. And if you don’t get into a good college, you won’t have a future.” Jamie is a nerd, and it’s easy to tell.  I feel bad for Samantha. She has to be next to ‘You can’t go to the movies, you have to study’ all the time. I wish Jamie wasn’t such a know-it-all all the time. But, I guess having her is better than having no one.

“Jamie, it would be one night without studying. You can still have a great future if you miss one night,” Samantha pleads.  Haley tells me that if her sister doesn’t go, she can’t, because of her mom’s orders.  But it’s not the same for Jamie since she’s the older one, which I think is really bad parenting.

“Alright, fine. But only if I find a date,” Jamie says. 

“Yay!” I say, trying to be as peppy as they are.  I feel out of place.

“Not many people like me though, guys always go for Samantha,” Jamie says.  I kind of see why.  Jamie wears glasses and cares more about school than anything or anyone else.  Samantha has everything guys want.

“Well, there has to be somebody who likes you,” I suggest.

“I’ve got a cousin that might be interested in Samantha,” Peyton offers.

“Good,” I said.

“What about me?” Jamie whines, which gives me another reason as to why guys go for Samantha more often.

“I’ve got a brother,” Brian says in a mumble. 

“Yay, you talked for once!” I start applauding, and then so does everyone else. I guess I’m peppy now, and this school doesn’t understand sarcasm.

“So it’s settled, we should all meet at Elizabeth’s house.” Haley says.

“Why my house?” I ask.

“Because, you are the one that assigned us dates, remember? And I am the leader of our group.” Haley says. Hah, seriously? She hadn’t even said one word in the ‘dating’ conversation.

“Okay, then. Come over at six tonight. I am assigning you all things to do. I will host our party. Peyton, bring your cousin. Brian, bring your brother. Haley, I’m the leader of the group now.” I say.

“What? No you’re not.” Haley says.

“Who just assigned people everything they need to do and follow?” I ask, knowing the answer.

“You did.”

“Yes, I did. Now, who votes for me to be leader of the group?” I ask. Everyone puts their hand in, except Haley. “With Haley as my second in command,” I offer.  She puts in her hand, and then we’re dismissed to go back to class.

I see Skye in the hallway, but I look straight ahead and he doesn’t look at me.  I know he sees me, and he knows I see him.

I’m strangely attracted to him but disgusted by him at the same time, and it makes me want him so much more.