1. We're Just Friends!
Brynn’s POV
“There’s no way in hell that I could ever beat Darcy Delange for Homecoming Queen.” I scoffed, leaning up against my locker in defeat. My best friend turned to me, his eyebrows raised.
“Don’t doubt yourself, Brynn.” I smiled up at Carter, who brushed his light brown-hair out of the way as he looked down at me, his green-grey eyes fixed on me with a confident expression.
“All right, fine.” I signed the application papers that I would later turn in to be officially considered in the running.
Carter Quincy had been my best friend and next-door neighbor since 7th grade. Now, we were seniors at Gilmore Oaks High School, home of the green and black Gryphons. Carter was on the track team, and I was on the cheer squad. We had different friend groups, but were still somewhat inseparable.
"Quincy!" Carter tensed up as his coach’s voice rang out from the end of the hall. I laughed and turned him around to face the coach, encouraging him to walk away.
“Looks like skipping three practices in a row isn’t the move.” I giggled nervously as he hesitantly headed down the hall towards Coach Duhamel. Lynn, Maria, and Katie rounded the corner at the other end of the hall, and rushed over to me when they recognized me at my locker.
“Girls!” I squealed, hugging them. Us four were on the cheer squad together.
“You’re running!?” Maria cheered, grabbing the papers from my hands. They all leaned over my papers together, reading my responses to all the questions.
“Now all you need is a date!” Katie laughed, pointing at the blank space I had left in the section about who I would be arriving at the dance with.
“I don’t need a date-date. I’ll just write Carter’s name down.” I replied, rolling my eyes as I took the papers back.
The girls suddenly got quiet- which worried me because usually, they would make annoying jokes about how Carter and I would be the cutest couple if we got together.
“I hear Darcy wants to ask him,” Maria whispered. I laughed nervously.
“He’ll say no, I mean, we hate her.” Lynn sighed.
"You hate her, but does he? They do kind of flirt, in front of you, too.”
“He just does that to annoy me, though.”
“I think he does it to make you jealous.” She piped up. I rolled my eyes as the girls giggled. Here come the jokes.
“Carter Quincy and I will never be anything other than just friends!” I said, my voice rising slightly. The girls gave each other incredulous looks, suddenly quiet again.
“Good to hear,” A shrill voice said from behind me. Darcy. I knew that squirrely voice anywhere.
"Darcy!" I turned on my heels to face her, a plastic smile on my face.
“What are these?” Darcy laughed, snatching the papers from my hands. I held my breath as her piercing blue eyes scowled over the pages. She looked up with a smirk.
“Looks like you don’t have a date. And don’t bank on Carter. I’m asking him after school today. Have fun getting one with three days to go.” She announced, turning and walking down the hall, her white hightops stomping on the papers as she let them fall to the ground.
“Well, great. My one chance is gone.” I said, turning back to the girls. They looked concerned for me, rushing to gather my papers and smoothing them out.
“We’ll figure it out. We’re going to go dress shopping today after school. Meet us in student parking.” Lynn said in an attempt to raise my spirits.
“Sounds good. I’ll figure out this ‘date’ thing as soon as possible. Find out if anyone’s got a crush on me!" I joked, hurrying off to class as the warning bell rang.
