Page 115 of This is Me

“We will.” Cooper smiled at his mum and walked past everyone and outside.

“Thank you for having us,” Andy, Blaire, and I said in unison as we followed Cooper outside.

“Any time. Bye, sweetie!”

“Bye, Mum!” Cooper called back to the house and made his way over to my car. “Shotgun.”

“Wha—Oh, son of a bitch,” Andy mumbled, and I laughed, giving Cooper a thumbs up.

“Thanks for helping me get ready,” Cooper said with a smile, while Andy and Blaire got into the car.

“Any time,” I said replicating Cooper’s grin, walking to the driver’s side and taking a deep breath before getting in the car.

“I’m a little sad Trent isn’t here, though.”

“Yeah. Not for him, I hope.”

“No, no. Lucky bastard got to go on a family holiday after his exams,” Cooper said with a laugh. “It’d just be cool to have everyone here.”

“I get that,” I said, smiling at Cooper.

As much as I wanted to keep my mind on the night ahead, I couldn’t stop it front drifting to Leroy, and how much I wished things could be different.

The drive to the school was quiet. I had no doubt that Cooper’s mind was trained on the fact he was about to be in an enclosed space with a bunch of people. Some of whom have shown to have strong opinions about who he was. My mind would be in the same place if it weren’t for the previous night. If my mind wasn’t still being circled by the thought of Leroy. Andy and Blaire kept exchanging looks in the back, occasionally glancing at me. They definitely knew what had happened. Of course, Leroy told them.

Once we arrived at school, Andy quickly rushed off to meet up with his date—which he still wouldn’t tell us about—leaving Blaire, Cooper, and myself in the car.

“I knew we’d be late,” Blaire mumbled, watching a few kids walk out of the school to have a moment of privacy. “Look, they’re already setting up the fireworks!”

“I still think that is a terrible idea,” Cooper said, looking over at the workers setting the fireworks up, concern written on his face.

“Didn’t it cause a fire last year?” Blaire asked, slowly getting out of the car. Cooper and I followed suit. Loud music greeted our ears.

“It did. I think they’re taking more precautions this year,” I replied after I locked my car. “Aren’t you the reason they’re bringing them back?” I questioned Blaire, and she shrugged.

“They’re pretty. Fuck you.”

“I don’t know why they can’t just have a normal dance like a regular school,” Cooper said as we all began walking toward the school.

I did my best to ignore the couple making-out against the car next to mine.

“Because our principal is a twelve-year-old stuck in an old man’s body.” I chuckled, and the others joined me.

“You have a valid point,” Blaire said and jumped slightly as Donny’s voice came out of nowhere. “That’s why he said yes to me.”

“Peter!”

“Hey, Donny,” I greeted him as he appeared from behind me and placed his arm around my shoulders. “Didn’t see you there.”

“I was just hooking up with my date!” Donny exclaimed, gesturing to a girl who was walking behind him, Jessica, I believe her name was.

“Good for you, Donny,” Blaire snarled, and I reached around and gave her a small nudge.

“Be nice.”

Blaire gave me a nod before focusing her attention in front of her, and I turned to Donny. “What brings you over here?”

Even though it had been well over a month since Donny had apologised to me, I still was unsure of him. He seemed friendly enough toward me, and he had stood up for me, so, I thought I was in the clear. Though, the faded bruise that sat on my face made me cautious of everyone who wasn’t in my immediate friend group.