Chapter 6: Homecoming Committee
Phoenix and Leo were right when they said that Aaron was in worse shape. On Monday, I was standing at my locker when Camryn let out a loud snort. Alice even let out a quiet chuckle, which caused me to turn around. My jaw dropped slightly as I watched Aaron limp down the hallway with his friend Thomas beside him. His left eye was bruised shut and his lip was split. His cheek was bruised and his naturally tan skin looked...gross. However, his horrid appearance didn't stop girls from flocking towards him. All it took was a synced chorus of 'Aaron, are you okay?' to cause me to roll my eyes. I immediately dropped my feelings of sorrow for him when a triumphant grin lined his face.
"He's such a jerk," I complained as I closed my locker.
"Yeah, I know," Alice nodded with a look of boredom on her face. I guess she's upset that I'm just now realizing this. Admittedly, realizing this a few months, even years ago, would've saved me a lot of pain.
"Well, enjoy avoiding him again," Camryn chuckled as the bell rang. I began walking to class, only to hear the arrogant guy's voice call my name from a few feet away.
"Grace!" Aaron called. I kept walking, pretending that I didn't hear him. "Grace!"
"What?" I asked as I whipped around. He stopped jogging and offered me a smile.
"Hey," he greeted me. "How have you been? You ran out on me at the party."
"Yeah, I was tired," I blurted as I continued to walk to class.
"Oh, well, did you give your sister my number?" he asked.
"Yeah, she wasn't interested," I told him, feeling a jolt of satisfaction run through me when I saw his eyebrows furrow.
"Oh, well, did she say anything else?" he inquired.
"No," I bluntly answered.
"Oh," he spoke. Before I could say something else, he continued to speak. "So did you hear what happened yesterday?"
"Yeah, I did," I responded.
"Yeah, Phoenix just attacked me," he explained.
"That's not what I heard," I told him, staring at the classroom down the hall. Only twenty more feet.
"What'd you hear?" he inquired.
"That you were asking for it," I responded once I reached the classroom.
"And you believe that?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, I do," I told him before entering the classroom. He was left standing outside with a confused look on his face.
+ + +
I managed to be left alone by Aaron for the next few days. Phoenix seemed to be controlling his urges to harass me, as well, because I found myself letting down my guard as the week continued on. In fact, Phoenix didn't really speak to me at all, and I obviously made no moves to speak to him. It wasn't until Thursday that I had to speak to Phoenix. And by had to, I mean I had no choice.
I had to rush out of the house on Thursday, mainly because I woke up late, like usual, and my siblings were threatening to leave. I didn't have a chance to grab my gym clothes, which I brought home to wash yesterday. I was standing in the locker room, rummaging through my bag repeatedly to find the obviously missing clothes when I decided to just do my exercises in my normal clothes. I'll get points deducted but it's better than getting a big, fat 0.
The thing about skinny jeans is that they look great on almost everyone, but they don't feel great when you're running a mile for warm up. When it was time for our stretches, I reached down to touch my toes but immediately stood back up, basically throwing myself against the wall. I'd heard a loud rip and I was almost positive it came from me. I practically felt the jean material tear. The air hitting my underwear proved my theory to be true. Just to be sure, I brought my hands to my pants and, like I thought, a split about four inches long found its way onto the butt of my pants.
I immediately looked around, trying to see if I could find someone I knew. Maybe I can borrow their sweater to wrap around my waist. I'd take off my sweatshirt, but I'm not wearing anything underneath and I don't fancy the idea of having to walk around in just my bra. I swore quietly when the only person I recognized was Phoenix. I swore again when I saw the hoodie he was wearing on his torso. I began sliding along the wall in his general direction. He was having a conversation with a couple of guys on the football team and a few girls, who I didn't know.
As I slid along the wall, I began hissing his name. "Phoenix!" I called. I said it a few more times before he finally turned around. There was a fifteen foot gap between us and he looked at me, as if expecting me to walk over to him. "Come here."
"What do you want now, Grace?" he asked as he bounded over with his hands shoved in his pockets.
I chuckled nervously, trying to make myself seem charming. This only confused him, seeing as he immediately furrowed his eyebrows. "You wouldn't happen to be using that sweater, would you?" I asked as I reached over and pulled lightly on the red pullover he had on.
He looked down at his hoodie before smirking at me. "What? This?"
"Yeah," I nodded, growing impatient. "That."
"Why do you need it?" he asked me. "You already have a sweater."
"I want to wear it around my waist," I told him.
"Why?" he asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"Can I just have your sweater or not?" I asked him. He began pulling his sweater from his back, which caused the shirt underneath to ride up. My eyes widened when his toned stomach was revealed and I immediately looked away. I reached out to grab his sweater but he stepped back. I reached for it again, not moving my lower half away from the wall.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked me when he noticed my odd stance.
"Just give me your sweater!" I snapped as I reached for the red and white cloth in his hand. Instead of giving it to me, he grabbed my hand and yanked me forward, away from the wall. I immediately shook my hand from his grip and moved back against the padded wall, glaring at him.
"Look, you can have my sweater if you tell me what happened," he announced. I sighed as I looked at him.
"I ripped my pants," I muttered. He furrowed his eyebrows as he leaned forward more.
"What was that? I didn't hear you?" he inquired.
"I ripped my pants," I repeated a bit louder. It took him a moment to comprehend my words, and when he did, he began laughing loudly. With a scowl on my face, I leaned over and ripped the sweater from under his arm, hurriedly wrapping it around my waist. "It's not funny!"
I went through the rest of the day annoyed. I knew people were wondering why I was wearing Phoenix's football hoodie around my waist. I mean, I attempted to adjust it so that his jersey number was hidden, but then his name was still showing. I eventually gave up and stopped caring about the odd stares I received. It seemed as if everyone was aware of my dislike for him, and it makes sense that they're curious as to why his sweater is draped around my waist. No one dared to ask questions, aside from my few friends, and my siblings.
"Any reason why you're wearing Phoenix's sweater?" my twin asked as we stood side by side in the lunch line.
"You think I wanted to, Leo?" I retorted when I heard the suspicion in his voice. "I ripped my pants and he was the only person in my gym class that I knew."
My brother simply stared at me dubiously before I rolled my eyes and left to my lunch table. I placed my lunch down when I realized my two friends were staring at me with furrowed eyebrows. I delved into the story before they could struggle to ask. Once I finished, Alice looked at me and nodded. "Interesting story, but I was going to ask if you were free after school," she inquired.
"That depends- what's going to be happening?" I asked.
"Well, do you remember Valerie?" Alice asked as she ducked her head.
"Yeah, the girl that you like?" I asked as I began eating my food. She nodded her head sheepishly.
"She's hosting the homecoming committee meetings," Alice explained with a bright red face. "And I promised her I'd bring a few friends with me. It's every Tuesday and Thursday. Do you think you can make it?"
I smirked at Alice before nodding. "Sure."
"It's from 2:30 to 4:30," Alice informed me as she stared at the table.
"I'll be there," I told her. My siblings don't have practice that day, so I should be good with getting a ride home.
"Are you going to come today?" Alice asked me. I nodded in response.
"I can't. I have to babysit for my aunt," Camryn frowned.
Alice looked at me and smiled. "Well it looks like it's just me and you today."
+ + +
"No," my brother blurted.
"Why not?" I asked Leo as I walked alongside him to the car, where Avery was waiting.
"Because Tuesdays and Thursdays are my only free days; what makes you think I'd come back here?" he retorted as we approached the car. I glared at him before jogging ahead, reaching my sister before he could say anything.
"What are you doing at 4:30?" I asked her.
"I'm not sure, why?" she asked, slightly confused.
"Do you think you're going to be able to pick me up later?" I asked her. "I'm on homecoming committee and I need a ride homeâ."
"No, I'm using the car. I have a date," my brother blurted immediately as he approached.
"On a school day?" I inquired.
"Why do you think it's so early?" he retorted.
"A date is more important than your sister?" I asked him with a glare.
"Obviously," he explained. To add more fuel to the fire, Phoenix approached us with his bag over his shoulder and a grin on his face.
"You can't push it back a half hour?" I inquired.
"The movie starts at 5," my brother retorted.
"What are they arguing about?" Phoenix asked Avery.
"Grace needs to be picked up and Leo has a date," Avery explained from the driver's seat.
"Picked up from where?" Phoenix inquired.
"School- she's staying after for a club," Avery replied as she sat in the idling car.
"I can bring her home," Phoenix said to my brother, who grinned triumphantly.
"There you go- you have a ride home," my brother insisted as he got in the car.
"No!" I called as Avery pulled out of her spot and began driving away, but not before winking at me. I whipped around to look at Phoenix, who was grinning straight at me. "Why'd you have to do that?"
"Do what? Offer you a ride home?" he asked. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize that I was committing a crime."
"Why'd you even come over here?" I snapped.
"To get my sweater," he responded. I looked down at my waist before approaching the school. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'll give it back to you after you drop me off home," I muttered.
"So you're going to accept my ride?" he inquired.
"Do I have a choice?" I questioned.
"Not really, no," he responded.
"So why aren't you leaving?" I asked when I noticed that he was following me.
"I'm staying after school," he answered.
"What for?" I questioned. What could he possibly be doing here?
"For whatever you're here for," he responded.
I immediately stopped walking. "No, you're not."
"Yeah, I am," he answered. I glared at him before grabbing my phone from my pocket. I noticed that it was 2:40 and I sighed, deciding to just let him follow me. I made my way to the auditorium, trying to enter quietly. It was a hard task to accomplish because, while I quietly pushed open the door, Phoenix basically tackled it. Everyone looked over at us and I immediately felt my face redden. Phoenix simply grinned and waved at everyone.
Valerie, the girl that Alice is interested in, was standing at the podium with a nervous look on her face. "Are you two here for homecoming committee?"
I just nodded and she pointed to a row of seats before her. Alice was sitting down, staring at me with raised eyebrows. Valerie went back to speaking and I placed my hands on my warm face. "I didn't take you as a homecoming girl," Phoenix muttered.
"I'm not," I retorted.
"Then why are you helping plan for it?" he asked.
"Because Alice is interested in Valerie," I sighed. "And she told Valerie that she'd bring a few friends to help out."
I sat down beside Alice, which caused Phoenix to sit down beside me, earning a sigh from me in response. I tuned in to what Valerie was saying. "I hope you all realize what a commitment this is and that you're expected to come here every meeting. Anyone who can't make it can talk to me about it later. Just for a headcount, does anyone think they're not going to be able to make it every Tuesday and Thursday?"
I looked around the large room. There were barely ten people sitting around. In fact, there were eight. There are going to be seven on Tuesday. I nudged Phoenix and he looked at me with his familiar, mischievous grin. "Tell her you can't make it," I insisted.
"Who says I can't make it?" he asked me. "The scheduling is convenient, don't you think?"
I glared at Phoenix before slowly turning to pay attention to Valerie. Putting my hand on my head, I closed my eyes for a second. Oh gosh, what have I done?
+ + +
"How about we split in twos?" Valerie asked as she jumped down from the stage, fixing her skirt a few seconds after she landed. I immediately reached for Alice but Phoenix yanked me back.
"Don't be that friend," Phoenix explained as we slowly watched Alice approach Valerie. Valerie nodded and I saw my best friend fighting back a grin.
I looked around and saw the other four people paired up. With a sigh, I looked at Phoenix before looking back at Valerie, who had a pile of posters. "I was thinking we could start advertising. The better we make homecoming look, the more people that are going to want to come," she explained as she began passing out posters. "We already have a set date and theme- Hollywood Homecoming." I let out a quiet groan.
"Isn't it always that?" I asked Phoenix quietly.
"Last year we had a Cirque de Soleil theme," he announced, slowly shaking his head. "So many guys in tights."
I immediately frowned, tuning back in to what Valerie was saying while Phoenix had a cringe attack. "You guys take the first wing; you guys take the second; you two the third; and Alice and I will take the fourth," Valerie explained as she handed a group member a thick stack of flyers. Phoenix held ours in his hands as I grabbed a roll of tape.
"Let's get to the second wing," Phoenix nodded as he led the way. I followed behind him, rubbing my hands together. We were quiet as we slowly walked there. I was mostly thinking about how I could get out of coming to homecoming committee. I only have one class with Valerie, and it's not like she'll recognize me. She doesn't even know my name! And if she says something to me, I'll tell her that I had a tight schedule or something. Besides, Cam can always take my place. I know for a fact that Alice will understand.
"Do you think you're going to homecoming?" Phoenix asked me.
I scoffed, shaking my head. "No," I responded. I already know his answer, so I didn't bother asking. Of course he's going. He went last year, and he went freshman year.
"Why not? It's fun," he responded.
"I'm not much of a dancer, and I just don't want to go," I told him. To be honest, I feel like if I go, I'll have to go with my friends, and they'll probably have dates. Camryn can score a date with ease and Alice seems like she'll go just to hang out with Valerie.
"What about going to hang out with your friends?" he asked as we headed towards our designated hallway.
I shrugged as we turned a corner. "No, I don't think they're going to go."
"It seems like Alice is going to go with Valerie," Phoenix replied as he followed behind me.
"Yeah, but what fun is it to be a third wheel?" I asked him.
"Who said you had to be a third wheel?" he inquired.
"Where can I find a date?" I scoffed. "I mean, my last attempt at romance failed."
"That's because Aaron's a failure," Phoenix responded.
I sighed as we reached our assigned wing. Phoenix placed a flyer on the wall and I began grabbing strips of tape, handing him a piece for every corner. "I doubt I'll find a date."
"I can help you get one," he told me, earning a scoff in response.
"What makes you think I want your help?" I retorted.
"Because, believe it or not, I'm a good judge of character," he explained. I stared at him with narrowed eyes. "What? You don't believe me?"
"No, I don't believe you," I responded blankly.
"Okay, I'll prove it to you! I'll find you a date to homecoming," he pressed.
"No, I'm not even going to homecoming," I responded as I held out a strip of tape for him to take.
"Yeah you are, because I'm going to find you a date, and you're going to go with him."
"How do I know you'll choose a guy that I'll like?" I asked him.
"I'll ask you questions!" he answered. "And I'll find guys who are your type."
"Yeah?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"Yeah," he nodded. "So can I?"
I stared at him, trying to determine whether or not I should say yes. I mean, if I don't like the guy, then I'll just say no to his homecoming request. I mean, Phoenix is a pretty good judge of character; he predicted the falling out with Aaron. I sighed before pursing my lips. "Okay."
"Really?" he inquired, earning a nod. "And if I don't find the right guy in time, then I'll just go with you."
"I'd rather go to prom with Warhol Kennedy," I wrinkled my nose. Warhol Kennedy is the creep who almost got expelled for sneaking into the girl's locker room...twice. He also has a weird toe fetish. He smells oddly of fish sticks, and he only talks about women's health magazines and videogames.
"I can ask him if you'd like!" Phoenix called as he followed behind me. I sighed as I snatched a flier from his pile. This is going to be a long day.