“I just realized most of the popular girls are popular because they were fucking the horsemen.” My eyes narrow as I try to come to terms with it.
“Or the horsemen fucked them because they were popular.” Kenz bumps my arm with hers. “What’s going on in that mind? Worried about being nominated?”
A little shiver rushes through me. “Never thought I’d have to worry about that.”
She smiles. “It’s not like you’ll have to worry. Your escort is most likely going to be a horseman. They get nominated every year.”
My brow furrows. “What happens if I get nominated and one of the cheerleaders doesn’t get her spot?”
Will they get mad or even? Or is it part of their plan?
“Fuck ’em.” Kenz grabs my hand as the cheerleaders run and tumble their way onto the gym floor. “They chose the wrong team to back this time.”
I swallow as the girls perform a quick cheer before running to sit in front of the football players. The student council president, who happens to be Parker Ford, stands at the microphone and clears her throat.
“I hope you all participated in voting for this year’s nominees to the Homecoming court. We have a great spirit week scheduledfor next week, including bringing back the bonfire on Thursday night.”
Some whoops accompany the clapping from the student body. Meanwhile, I think I’m going to be sick. This is ridiculous. There’s no way those girls would give up the chance to wear a crown to get back at me.
They have popular guys to fuck. They don’t need mine.
Caden glances back over his shoulder. He finds me and I can feel that swell in my heart. He smirks and returns his attention to the stage where the president has been listing off all the themes for next week.
“Okay.” She pauses and grins. “What everyone has been waiting for... the Homecoming court.”
She waits for the smattering of applause to die down. She announces the underclassmen first. The freshmen look so fucking young.
The sophomore class gets announced and Zoey Turner and Logan Price join the freshmen on stage. Zoey grins up at Logan and punches him in the arm. He smirks down at her.
I don’t really recognize the names of the juniors.
Then she pauses.
“Now for the couples who will be paired for the Homecoming activities until the announcement of the Homecoming King and Queen at the game next Friday!” Her smile is huge and her blond ponytail swishes behind her. “Okay, first up, Sidney Brown and Luke Foster.”
Sidney stands and pretends to be surprised, but comes up on stage and takes the flowers from the vice president with a huge grin. Luke rises and follows at a more sedate pace. The football team stomps the ground while the cheerleaders yell.
Luke steps next to her, but doesn’t touch her as his gaze finds mine. So many times he’s been up on that stage and smirking,proud of himself. But this time, all I see is worry for me. I smile and clap for him, even as my nerves try to get the better of me.
“Ashley Kim and Eli Jacobs.” Everyone goes crazy again.
Ashley doesn’t look surprised as she takes the flowers and glances Eli’s direction before facing front. Eli bumps fists with Luke before taking his place beside Ashley. So far, so good. Not that I’m enjoying seeing my guys paired up with the girls they used to fuck, but it’s better than having all those eyes on me.
“Emma Garcia and Caden Ross.” The same level of applause, but people in the crowd turn to talk to each other. Emma and Jack usually get paired together.
My stomach churns. One name left. Hannah. Come on. She would be pissed if anyone took her place.
“Harper Davidson and Zach Gray.”
My heart stops and Luke moves to step forward but Sidney grabs his arm and talks through her smile at him.
“Go on,” Kenz says. “We’ll deal with it after this. But everyone is looking at you.”
I don’t think my knees will work, but I stand and work my way down the steps to the floor and cross to the stage. The noise is muffled like I have noise-cancelling headphones on. My heart beats faster than a hummingbird’s wing as the vice president smiles and hands me a small bouquet of flowers.
He points to where I need to stand and I move there. Caden brushes the back of his hand against mine, jolting me back to reality, making time speed back up.
Then Zach climbs the steps. Is this his plan? Or the cheerleaders’?
