Page 53 of The Prom Queen Project
“You, at trivia night?” A quick succession of chuckles escaped my lips. “Is this a prank or something?”
“If this is how you’re gonna respond to me asking you on a date, then I take it back.”
I froze, my body glitching, as the laughter faded from my throat. My jaw dropped.Was he really asking me out on a date?
“A date?”
“More like a half-date.”
“Abercrombie, what the hell are you talking about?”
“I can’t come over to your house tomorrow for tutoring, so I figured we could do this trivia night thing tonight instead.”
“Oh,” I said, making an effort to keep my disappointment from bubbling to the surface. “Wait, why can’t you come over tomorrow?”
“My mom has to work, so I’m watching my sister.”
“Isn’t your sister a teenager? She can’t stay home alone?”
“Not unless I’m willing to risk her inviting that half-baked boyfriend of hers over and getting blackout drunk.”
“Oh.” I breathed. “Shit, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for her mistakes.”
I pursed my lips, not knowing what to say next. “So, you wanna go to trivia night to make up for missing a study session?”
“It’s better than nothing, right?”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “So, I’ll see you in an hour?”
“Cool. It’s a date.”
But it wasn’t, really.If someone had told me on the first day of school that my partner in crime would end up being the emo kid who got held back last year, I would’ve laughed in their face. Despite our many differences, the idea of being with someone who wasn’t a complete jackass—cough, cough, Ryan Connors—made the whole dating thing seem less like a waste of time. It was just nice to settle into the illusion that I was actually in a happy relationship with a guy who was, not onlyveryphysically attractive, but also a little charming.
After I hung up the phone, I caught a glimpse of Kendra in my peripheral vision. She moved closer, her head lowered.Ugh. What now?
“Hey, do you have a second? I was just—”
“Sorry. I’m running late for my date with Elliot.”
“I just want to talk.”
“After two months?” I scoffed. “Now you want to talk?”
“I know. I should’ve tried sooner, but—”
“Yeah, you should’ve. Look, I gotta go. I just…I can’t do this right now.”
Shrugging her off, I sprinted to my car while clutching my bag for dear life as it threatened to slip off my shoulder with every jostling step. It was too little, too late for apologies. Honestly, I doubt that she was even going to say sorry in the first place.
If I had to guess, she was probably just gonna suggest that I take the high road in order to mend my fractured relationship with Meredith.But I was done. And Kendra already decidedwhich side she wanted to be on. A bone-chilling shiver coursed up my spine as the icy air brushed against my bare legs, sending a sharp reminder of the winter’s bite. Instinctively, I cranked up the heat to full blast the moment I turned the ignition, desperate for warmth against the relentless cold. At least it wasn’t snowing…yet.
While I was driving home, I may or may not have exceeded the speed limit more than once while navigating the winding, narrow back roads, shrouded in a canopy of overhanging trees and sunlight. I drove into the driveway, leaped out of my car, and dashed up the grand staircase. After quickly changing out of my clothes and taking a fast shower, I slipped into a pair of blue jeans and a pumpkin-colored sweater. Forty minutes later, I was stepping out the door again, driving towards The Honeycomb Café. It was a small coffee shop on the south end of town. Ever heard of tarot card readers?They were a big deal here. Same went for all those hippie-dippy people who enjoyed painting and smoking the devil’s lettuce.
As I rounded the corner, the soft and inviting glow of the signature Honeycomb Café logo came into view, its charming portrait of a honey bee sipping coffee plastered above the shop. I parked my car, pulling my jacket firmly over my shoulders before stepping out into the brisk air. Inside, laughter and warm smiles radiated throughout the room, filling the air with a sense of joy and camaraderie.
Elliot was already sitting at a table waiting for me.
