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Great.Allondrarecognized their voices.StaceySt.James,AshleyCromwell, andMadisonFord—cheerleaders,Tessa’sBFFs, andAllondra’soccasional tormentors if she got on their radar.Sincethat was the last thing she wanted right then, she slowly and silently pulled up the zipper of her jeans and waited for the trio to leave, hoping they wouldn’t notice her feet under the stall door.Theywere in the same study hall as her but sat on the opposite side of the room near the baseball players so they could flirt shamelessly when the monitors weren’t looking.Sincedemerits affected their status on the cheerleading squad, they couldn’t be late for classes.Ifthey were on time for the study period,Allondraprobably would be, too, since crossing the hall and entering the lunchroom only took three seconds.
“Ohem gee!Speakingof dorks—did you hear whoWestis asking to the dance?”
Allondrastiffened at the mention of her crush.Shereally didn’t want to know who he was taking, especially if it was the stuck-upTessa.Maybeif she covered her ears, she wouldn’t hear who it was.Okay, stop acting like a kindergartener, you twit.Growup!
“Who?”
“You’llnever guess!Notin a million years!”
“Who,Stacey?Comeon!Dish, girl!”
“Areyou ready for this?”Therewas a long, dramatic pause, and then, “Allondrafuckin’Dawson!Canyou believe that shit?”
Squealsof disbelief echoed off the tiled walls.Allondra’seyes widened, and she slapped her hand over her mouth to keep quiet.Shehad to have misheard but couldn’t think of any other girl in their class with a similar-sounding name.Therewas no wayWestwas asking her to the dance.Right?Notwhen he could inviteTessaor any of the other girls who hung all over him.
Oh, myGod!Ishe really going to ask me?
Asplit second of excitement about her dream come true was interrupted by, “What?Whythe hell would he ask that nobody?”
Theinsult stung.
“Ryantold meWestis doing it as a joke.He’sgoing to ask her and then stand her up.”
Thegirls cackled loudly asAllondra’seyes burned with hot tears.
“Oh, that’s fucking awesome!Ihope he does it somewhere we can video it.”
“Yes!Oh, myGod!Thatwould be perfect!”
Ajoke.He’sdoing it as a joke.
Herbody trembled, and she almost sat down hard on the toilet, stopping herself just in time.Shecouldn’t let them know she was there.Notnow.Notever.
HowcouldWestdo that to her?Andin front of the whole school!She’dbe mortified.
Thethree girls continued to babble for a few more moments, butAllondraonly caught bits and pieces over the roar in her ears.Herchin quivered as she fought to remain silent and hold back the sobs that wanted to erupt from her throat.Ofall the people who might pull a mean prank on her, she would have never imaginedWestbeing the one to do it.ButRyanHayeswasWest’sbest friend.Ifanyone knew who he would invite and why, it would beRyan.Herheart crumbled.
“C’mon,”Staceysaid. “Let’sgo.IfIget another demerit,I’llmiss tomorrow’s game.”
ChapterTwo
Theoutside restroom door opened and closed again, with the threesome’s voices fading as they crossed the hall.Whensilence finally surrounded her,Allondra’sweakened knees gave out.Shenearly fell into the toilet but caught herself in time, grabbing onto the nearby shelf and, in the process, knocking her book bag to the floor.Shedidn’t care about getting dirt and germs on her bag since it wasn’t as bad as having a piss-wet ass from the unflushed toilet.
Theperiod bell clanged over thePAsystem, announcing that all students must be in their assigned classrooms, but she ignored it.Shewasn’t going into study hall after what she’d just heard.She’drather earn her first demerit ever than sit in the lunchroom, knowingStacey,Ashley, andMadisonwere most likely telling everyone whatWest’splans were.They’dstare and laugh at her from across the room, and she would squirm under their scrutiny, unable to escape for forty-five minutes when the bell rang again.
Aheavy, dull ache took up residence in her body, and a wave of nausea roiled in her stomach, drowning the earlier butterflies.Tryingto keep her sobs as low as possible in case someone entered the restroom, she leaned against the wall as tears scalded her cheeks before dripping onto the floor.Thiswas the worst day of her young life.West’ssmiling face bounced around her mind as it often did, but she nearly vomited at the image this time.
Howcould she have been so wrong about him?Whywas he scheming to play such a cruel joke on her?Whathad she ever done to him to deserve that?Shetutored him all year to ensure he passed chemistry and never asked for anything in return.Yet, making her a laughingstock in front of the entire school was his way of thanking her?Fuckthat!
Boyssucked.Mostlikely, men did too—her father and uncles being the exceptions.Herdad was the greatest man she knew, and she doubted there was another like him in her future.Someonewho would treat her as if she were the most precious woman on earth.Allondrahad hoped thatWestwould be that man someday, but that dream had just been shattered.Herdestiny was probably to be a crazy cat lady who lived alone and died a virgin at a ripe old age.Wonderful.
Longminutes passed before her tears and sobs ebbed.Sheused toilet paper to blow her nose and wipe her eyes.Shockand hurt slowly morphed into anger.Nowthat she had a heads-up about whatWestplanned to do, she could shore up her defenses and come up with a response for when he asked her to the dance.Hopefully, he wouldn’t do it today.Thepain was too fresh, and she’d probably burst into tears again when she saw him next.
Howcould she avoid him?Despiteonly having two classes together, they often passed each other in the hallway between periods.Andthen there was the tutoring session that afternoon.Theonly thing that came to mind was going to the health office and feigning a headache, stomachache, or heart attack.Something, anything that would convince the nurse to let her go home.Thatwould be another first.Shehadn’t gone to the health office for any reason other than dropping off paperwork for her annual physicals since elementary school.Sinceshe was rarely sick, other than seasonal allergies, her parents wouldn’t think she was faking it.Hermom wasn’t working today, so she could easily come and pickAllondraup.Thatwould work for now, but she couldn’t stay home for the rest of the school year.Sheneeded to talk toSadie—her cousin would know what to do.
Gatheringher things, she exited the stall and stared at her reflection in the mirror again, taking a shuddering breath to stave off another round of tears and blubbering.Hereyes were red and swollen, and her cheeks were pale, so at least she looked sick.Withany luck, that would help convince the nurse to let her call her mother.
Shequickly washed her hands and then splashed some water on her face before grabbing a few paper towels.Whileshe wanted to appear ill for the nurse, she didn’t want anyone else to see her looking like that.Itwould just give the bullies another reason to taunt and laugh at her.Glancingat her watch, she was surprised to see only seven minutes left until the end of the period.Withany luck, she could get to the health office without running into anyone.
