forced, but if he’s offering to spend time with me, no way am I going to turn that down.
“I think that can be arranged.”
I’ll take his comfort any way I can. And hey, what if Alex is right? What if Rob isn’t disgusted by me; he just doesn’t know how to deal with his perceived failure? If we can just get over the awkwardness of what happened, maybe we can get back what we both believe is lost. As much as I hate that he knows exactly what’s under my shirt, I owe Rob my life. Being forced together this week might not be his ideal scenario, but I want to grasp it with both hands. And maybe, just maybe…I can make him smile again.
Chapter 13
The Pretender
Rob
“So, I’m guessing you didn’t hear the part about the scavenger hunt, right?”
Evie buckles herself into the passenger seat of my car, and sweet Jesus, this is a sight I never imagined I’d see again. I’m still torn over whether I can handle it or not.
“Yeah…no. I kinda missed that. Why are we doing a scavenger hunt?”
Digging around in my backpack for the packet that one of the cheerleaders handed to me at the pep rally, I hold it out between us so we can both read it. “Uh, something to do with making us work for the title of Senior Power Couple this year.”
She groans, rubbing her forehead. “Are you sure you’re okay with that?”
Her words sting far more than they should. “We’re not the only Court partners who aren’t dating, so I guess it’s stuff that any two people could do.”
“Yeah...Rob, there’s no way I’m gonna be able to do some of this stuff.”
As we read over the list, I know she’s right. There’s things on here that I’m not sure I can do either, no matter how much I try to put on an Oscar-worthy performance.
Homecoming Court Scavenger Hunt
Hug a stranger. Post video.
Saran wrap someone’s car together. Post pics.
Dye one partner’s hair.
Buy a new pet. Double points if you both get a pet.
Video karaoke. Sing a song together. Post it.
Camp out in someone’s backyard. In a tent. Come to school the next day straight from camping. Post pics and/or video of camping fun.
Go to the candy store and buy chocolate. Post receipt.
Go to the bakery and have a cupcake eating race. Video it.
Switch cars for the day. If one partner doesn’t have their own car, video washing the car of the escort that has one.
Pick out and buy your escort’s Homecoming outfit.
Pick out your escort’s Spirit Week outfits.
Go on a date with your escort (if you’re already dating, go somewhere you’ve never been). Post pics.
On Monday of Spirit Week, trade places with your escort at their practice. (If one partner isn’t in a fall activity, both go to the same fall practice.) And yes, this has been cleared with all coaches and directors.
Choreograph and perform a dance in the senior hallway with your escort, sometime during Spirit Week.
Pick one day during Spirit Week for the male escort to carry the female partner between every class.
All pics and videos to be uploaded on the IHS website.
You will receive an email tomorrow with your karaoke song assignment and your dance song assignment.
“I guess you’re right. We could do most of these, but there’s no way I’m going to hug a stranger. Not gonna happen.” A shudder rolls through her slight frame at the mere thought.
“That’s okay. I can do that.” Even though that idea completely freaks me the hell out, I know it makes Evie feel a million times worse, so I’ll take one for our team.
Christ, the irony. We are actually Team Evie and Rob now.
“What about the date item though?” Just the idea of going on a date with her twists my stomach in knots.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her shake her head and continue reading through the rest of the packet before she gives me a small laugh. Doesn’t even sound close to the real thing. “Look, things are gonna be awkward between you and me from now on. I get that. But we used to be
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
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Jill Gregory
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