Pen Pals: A Sweet YA Romance, page 2
"Thanks," I told her and then mentally cringed at my words. Yeah, thanks for the punishment. Geez. Sometimes I wished I wasn't so polite. It made me thank people for being asshats all the time.
"So, who did you pick?" Mallory linked her arm with mine as we turned toward the gym.
"Adrian. It seemed the better choice between the super snotty Blake and her. And I wanted someone that would feel my pain with the gender-neutral name." I tried to make a joke, and Mallory laughed like I had told the best one ever. It was pretty lame, actually, and I was sure she only laughed because I was Captain, and she thought she had to.
"I picked a Madison. You think she is the one with the fake boobs?" She laughed. I laughed too, even though it really wasn't that funny. It was awkward, a little painful too.
"Maybe. You could ask." I suggested. My mind going to what I would put in my first letter. I had no idea. What did you say to someone you didn't know and didn't want to know?
"Yeah, like, Dear bitch are you as fake as I think you are? That would be the perfect opening." She laughed again.
"Dear bitch?" Christine came up behind us. "What did I miss?" She laughed and put her head between us. Her lips made a loud smacking sound as she pressed a kiss to our cheeks.
"Not much. Just trying to figure out conversation starters for our new pen pals. Mallory isn't too good with non-offensive openers." I laughed and rolled my eyes as Mallory pushed me.
"Bitch." She laughed.
"Seriously though, what are we going to say to them?" Christine sighed. She pulled out a folded-up piece of paper that looked like she had already started writing her letter. "I have, Dear Samantha, this whole thing is stupid. But since we have to do it, what is your part on your team? I'm a flier." She looked up at us, and I smiled for her. At least she was trying.
"That is a better start than I have," I admitted. I honestly didn't care what part they had on the team. I didn't know what I would write. I had two days to figure it out.
I turned on the small light at my desk on Tuesday night. I had to write this letter. My dad passed out in his chair, and I knew from experience that he would be out until after I left for school tomorrow morning. Thank God for small miracles, even if he wasn't really into the big ones anymore.
Dear Adrian,
This blows.
I tore out the paper from my notebook and crumpled it up. She would know that this blows. Stating the obvious isn't necessary. I sighed and tried again.
Dear Adrian,
I'm the Captain of the team. What is your role?
Another page followed the other into my small trashcan. I couldn't follow in Christine's footsteps. Not to mention I didn't care.
With another sigh, I put my pen to the paper again. I'd be honest.
Adrian,
We have to do this, so I'm going to give it my best. I give my best in everything I do. (Including the many pranks I have thought up for your school.)
A grinned down at my words. This could be fun.
Replacing the cheer teams Go, Fight, Win cards with We Really Suck. Yeah. That was one of mine. Dressing your mascot in our colors and putting a wig on it. That was me too.
I held in my laugh. Watching the cheer team hold up those cards was one of the best, the shock of the stands and the laughter of our team in said stands. It was priceless. The blonde, fake cheerleader lost her mind when that happened, and we had to run from the school. The dress on the mascot was a mild one, but the memory of putting the fake eyelashes on the horse still made me smile. I had been behind many the pranks on them over the years—way too many to admit.
Have you thought up any of your school's pranks? Or are you a follower?
I signed the bottom with my name and smiled at the completed letter. I was so going to piss Adrian off when she read my letter. I could get into trouble admitting that I had thought of those pranks. But I could talk my way out of it.
Drew
I looked down at the envelope in my hand, the first one in many more. Her name slanted across the front in a small-condensed script. The girl was probably writing last minute or something. I opened it hesitantly and unfolded the paper. A few sentences filled the half sheet of paper that had been stuffed into the envelope. A slight locker room smell came from the contents. That wet smell of the showers and sweat after practice. Well, I guess I could 'guess' where she wrote it.
Drew,
I'm only doing this because I need to be on my team. I don't care about you. I don't care about your team. I just don't care. So let's not pretend.
Adrian
Okay then. If that is the way she wants it, then so be it. The girls around me read their notes aloud, and a few laughs filled the air between us. It seemed they had some girls on the other team that was pretty open to the idea. Too bad I didn't have someone like that. Maybe I should have gone with Blake. Shariess had gone with her, and she seemed down to earth. Not snotty at all.
"What's yours say?" Christine asked as she sat down next to me and tried to peer down at my letter.
"Uh, she doesn't care." I laughed. She didn't care a lot; that could be good, though. No pretending. "It's perfect, really." I smiled and pushed her letter into my bag. I wasn't sure I could do the not caring thing. It wasn't my usual thing, but I could try. It wasn't like I lost any sleep over this either.
School life went on as usual, and I avoided home as much as possible. It was all the status quo. The following letter was due the next day, and I had tried to write it a million times. For not caring, I was doing a horrible job.
Adrian,
Well, I guess my first letter wasn't what you were looking for...
I looked down at the words and crumpled up the latest attempt. My break was almost over, and then I wouldn't have another chance to write until tomorrow morning. It was due tomorrow morning. Ugh. Between the 3 hours a day of practice for cheer and my 3-4 hours of work right afterward, I didn't have much time.
Adrian,
Honestly, I don't care either. But we should at least find something to talk about. We can't fill the paper with 'I don't care.'
I groaned into the empty break room. This was so hard. Why was this so hard? Just put some words down on the stupid paper. She probably won't even read it with how much she doesn't care. I laughed at the thought.
A glance at my phone told me that my break was over—time to get back to waiting tables. The pay wasn't the greatest unless you got the big tipping old guys that thought it would impress you or something, or the kind old ladies that missed their grandkids. But it did keep me away from my house, and that was the goal. As soon as I was 18, I was gone. I had enough saved up for a few months' rent at one of the apartments nearby, and I could pick up some extra hours by then because even competitive cheer would be over by then.
I surveyed the floor and walked over to Sarah. "Looks like you got lucky with the guys, huh?" I laughed.
Lucky is not what I would call it. They went to Park Hill High, and they were all on the football team. They were also obnoxious. They also loved to have us wait on them while being very loud and messy. Filling their many, many annoying requests. It wouldn't be bad if they tipped anything worth putting away for a rainy day, but they didn't. I mean, what high school student could without using daddy's money?
They were my inspiration for my prank ideas. If only I could be there to see their reactions to some of them. Like the last prank, that was a great one. And seeing some of their responses at Steak and Shake after didn't count. I wanted to be a fly on the wall to see the reaction.
"They asked for you," Sarah replied and put some menus back under the counter. I turned slowly towards her waiting for her to admit to her lousy joke, but she wasn't smiling.
"They don't even know my name," I told her and glanced over to them. Two of them were looking over this way, and they nudged each other when they saw me looking and cracked some joke between them. They were two of the three guys that had been at Steak and Shake last week.
"Oh, I know. They asked for the cheerleader." She laughed.
She was a book nerd and definitely not the cheerleader they were requesting. I groaned in response and turned to start filling some cups with ice water for them. At least it was only five of them today. I could do this. Better than being at home, I kept repeating that thought in my head as I loaded up the glasses onto a tray and pasted on a smile for them as I walked over to the table.
"I've got some water for you boys. Do you know what you want yet?" I asked as I placed the water down for each of them, my service voice in full effect. I knew they didn't know what they wanted, at least not without a million immature questions first.
And they started with a bang, "Well if you're offering, sweetheart." One of them scooted over and patted the bench next to him.
"You wish, Parker." One of the others barked. "If she would go for anyone, it would be me." He grinned and winked at me. Ugh.
"Actually, I'm pretty sure she is already into me." He looked over and gave me his best imitation of a smolder. He was no Flynn Rider. So what? I have a thing for animated heroes or anti-heroes as it may be.
Another laughed. "In your dreams Miller."
One of the guys just smiled and kept his mouth shut. At least one of them had some brains.
I started to put their glasses of water down on the table when the guy they called Miller went to knock one over. The silent one quickly caught it, and I gave him a quick nod in thanks. He could have let it play out. He ignored me and sent a look at Miller before leaning back in the booth and unwrapping one of the straws I put down.
I kept my smile in place like I hadn't seen anything and said, "So that's a no? I'll give you all a few more minutes." I turned away from them, and my smile dropped as I met Sarah's grin from across the restaurant. I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head. She was enjoying this way too much.
Finally, after a painful 20 minutes of taking their ever-changing order, I had it submitted and just had to wait for it to come back up. Since the restaurant was dead beside my new best friends in the corner, I pulled out my notebook and flipped to the letter I had started on break.
I picked the first topic. So if you don't like the subject of pranks, change it. Or I'll just start rambling about my pet cat or something. His name is Hook. Long story, but he lost his paw in an accident before I got him. I was tempted to get him a hook to replace it. See what you have to look forward to if you don't pick a topic?
Looking down at my words, I chuckled. I could go on and on about Hook. If it weren't for him, I probably would avoid my house altogether. But living creatures needed food, and I wasn't a monster.
"Hey. Could you maybe fill my coke back up and finish your love letter later?" A voice asked from the other side of the counter, and I snapped my notebook shut and stuffed it under the counter. It was the silent one.
He was the one out of their group that could pass as Flynn Rider's twin, strangely. You know, if Flynn Rider wasn't a cartoon character. His jawline and straight nose matched almost perfectly. Although his eyes were a deep chocolate brown, almost black, instead of the reddish-brown the cartoon character had.
"I'm so sorry." I flushed, embarrassed for being caught not doing my job even by one of the guys—especially the one that might even be nice. I took the empty cup from his hand and turned to fill it up. "Here you go. Anything else I can get you?"
"Well, if you are free Saturday night after beating your team into the ground, we could catch a movie or something." My mouth fell open, and my smile slipped from my face. I guess being silent earlier didn't actually mean he didn't have an over-inflated ego.
Pity.
"Excuse me?" I finally found my voice.
"Oh, I'm sure you heard me." He leaned forward against the counter and smirked.
"Get it, Jackson!" One guy cheered him from the table, and I turned my glare on the guys still at the table.
"Is that a no then?" He laughed and pushed back from the counter. "I thought our teams were playing nice with pen pals or something. We could play nice together too."
His dark eyes sparkled with amusement, and the smile on his face highlighted his straight white teeth and natural dimple. Scruff from the day covered his jawline, and a smattering of freckles brushed his already dark skin across his cheeks and nose. I knew girls that would kill for his dimples and freckles. They go so far as to put freckles on their face with makeup. Shariess wanted to get a dimple piercing once she turned 18. They were into it big time. This guy. This Jackson would have half the girls on the team wanting to throw their panties at him with just a smile. Even with him being from the rival team.
"If you believe that, I have oceanfront property in Ohio for you," I snarked at him with a sneer.
"Oh, that is a good one. You sound just like my old man." His eyes crinkled in amusement. "Just try not to cheer for the wrong team this Saturday. It'll be hard- I know, just try to keep your head about you out there on the sidelines." His eyes dipped from mine for a split second before his dark gaze focused on mine. "And if you change your mind about dinner, you can find me in the center of the celebrations when we win the game." He turned from me, and I watched as he made his way back to his friends. Not many people could leave me speechless, but his self-assured cockiness sure did.
I stared after his retreating back and held in the urge to lob a jelly pack at his head. He probably had the most oversized ego of them all. And he had told me his role on the team. If he were in the middle of the celebrations, he was the quarterback. Quarterbacks were notoriously egotistical. At least Adam was, and it seemed most of the others I saw on the field during the games were too. Dating Adam had been one of my biggest mistakes. All he cared about was himself; all he talked about was himself. It was continuous. Gag me. I shuddered at the thought of going through that again. No, thank you.
The bell chimed behind me, and I sighed; food was up. I started loading up the tray and braced myself to go back to their table. Something about Jackson made me want to avoid it. Unfortunately, that wasn't in my job description. Turning back in their direction, I pasted my service smile on and took the food over to them.
"Change your mind, beautiful?" Jackson asked once I was at their table.
"Not likely." I placed his food down in front of him and then made quick work depositing the rest of their food.
"Ha, even she can see what a loser you are." Miller laughed and nudged Parker next to him. The rest of the guys chimed in with their laughter and immature comments as Jackson silently watched my reaction to it. A half-smile spread across his lips as he seemed to ignore his friends.
"Okay, can I get you all anything else?" A fake smile plastered to my face that I could guarantee did not reach my eyes. I brushed my hand along my apron to remove some of the uncalled-for nervous sweat.
At their laughter and immature jokes, I replied, "Great, enjoy your food." Then I turned to go.
"Oh, that looked fun." Sarah snickers as I make my way behind the counter and pull out the salt and sugar to start filling up our empty bottles.
"You get them next time," I reply as I screwed the top off the first salt container.
Adrian
Mind blown.
Not what I expected at all. Drew was a girl. Not just any girl, but the cheerleader from the diner. Hot, sassy, and full of sarcasm, exactly my type of chick. The hot cheerleader I had wanted to hook up with. Amazing luck.
Taking her letter from my bag once I make it home from practice, I open it. I should have known it was a girl's handwriting. So perfect and curvy, just like the girl that wrote it.
Adrian,
I'm not sure if what you admitted in your last letter was a secret or not. But it is safe with me. I won't tell a soul. Promise. Not that you have to believe me. As for hooking me up with someone from Park Hill... I'm not really looking atm. Guys aren't on my radar with how busy I am.
The only room I have for a man in my life is Hook. And even that might be pushing it sometimes. It works out well since he's a cat, though. But between school, cheer, and work, that really equals no life. I know, lame.
This will sound weird, but I'm glad that we have to write to you guys. It is an excellent little outlet. It almost makes me feel bad about some of the pranks I've done, but not entirely. Does that make me horrible?
On another note, you mentioned liking big dogs. Do you have any? If so, what is its name?
Drew
After finishing the letter in record time, I re-read it. As if something new would be revealed. Like she would admit to a crush on me. One real conversation with her, and I expected her to fall head over heels. Even I didn't have that large of an ego. Well, not really.
It was clear she thought I was a girl. Hell, I had thought she was a guy. It is an easy mistake with only a name to go by. If it weren't for her name tag the other day, I wouldn't have put two and two together. What to do with the information that was the real question? It wasn't like I could just walk up to her and say, 'hey, I'm your pen pal.' That was against the rules, even if it was an accident figuring it out.
How do you even add that to a note, 'btw, I'm a guy'? That would fly like a lead balloon. I would just have to wait until homecoming. It was the only option. Folding the letter up and putting it into my desk drawer with the other notes, I see Parker pulling up outside the house. He was early.
"I'll be back later, mom," I call out to my mom in her study before grabbing my keys off the table by the door and heading out to meet the guys.
"Jackson," Miller calls. "Let's get out of here; we got some ladies to pick up."
I climb into the shotgun that he vacated with a nod, "Yes, we do."
Even as I agree, I have a hard time pushing Drew to the back of my mind. Maybe we could stop by the diner later. Reaching over, I turn up the radio as we pull away from the curb. It was Friday night, and it was time to have some fun.
