Thankfully, Becca calms down by the time we get to the cafeteria. Considering I haven’t eaten yet today, and it’s noon, I grab a little more than usual. But once we sit at our usual table in the corner, the pizza in front of me isn’t that appetizing. I’m too worried about dress shopping and my escort for the game on Friday night. I have no idea how I’ll figure it out in time.
Rhett notices I’m not my usual self, and he leans closer to me. “What’s wrong? I thought you’d be excited about being on the court.”
As exciting as it is to be nominated, it’s not worth the fight I’ll get into with him when I bring up Carson, or the glare I’m getting from Mandi right now. She looks like she’s about to make my life more difficult. And she does, as soon as she opens her mouth. “Who’s your escort, Kinsley?” she asks, loud enough for the entire table to hear. After she’s proud of her work she mumbles to her groupies, “Not that she’ll actually win.”
I don’t sit and cower. No, this time, I speak up right away. I’m tired of her running her mouth like I’m trash. “Not that I owe you an explanation, but it’s not about winning, Mandi. I’m happy to be nominated.”
She tosses her napkin on her tray. “Oh please, anyone who knows they’re going to lose would say that. I mean, everyone wants to win. Though I’d understand if you backed out considering your situation and all.”
Rhett slaps his hand on the table, startling me. “Sorry, Sunny,” he says, before giving her a warning glare icy enough to freeze the bitch right out of her.
Of course, she doesn’t do anything other than roll her eyes at him. “It’s getting old, Rhett. I can’t believe you’re not bored yet.”
“Mandi,” he says through gritted teeth. “I’ve listened to you spew your bullshit for weeks. Enough already. I don’t even know why you sit here if we make you that miserable.”
“Rhett,” she says, with her head tilted to the side, her fake eyelashes batting like the little tramp she is. “You know why I sit here. I’ve always sat with you.”
“You and I aren’t getting back together, Mandi. Going out with you was a big mistake—the couple times I did it.”
Her eyes glaze over as she listens to him tell her there’s no chance for the two of them. I know better than most how much the truth hurts. It’s probably why I manage to feel a little bit sorry for her despite the way she treats me.
She blinks away her tears, locking up her emotions before anyone else can see her disappointment. “Fine,” she says. “But when Kinsley screws you over for her crazy hot, house pet, I won’t take you back, Rhett. You had your chance.”
As always, she’s not satisfied until she has the last word. And Rhett lets her have it—mostly because he’s looking at me like I have some explaining to do. It’s all too much to handle, and now I wish I wouldn’t have come to school at all today. “I’m not feeling very well,” I mumble quickly, as I get up from the table, hurrying to the trash can to dump my uneaten lunch.
Once my tray is returned, I lock myself in the handicap bathroom stall outside the cafeteria. I crouch down in the corner, just trying to breathe. Then, I see his sneakers before I hear him. “Sunny, open the door.”
Why does he keep coming in here where he doesn’t belong? “I’ll be out in a minute.”
He knocks on the door again. “Please, open it.”
I reach up, flipping the metal lock, and the door opens without even having to touch it. Rhett slides in, locking it behind him before squatting down next to me. “What’s going on?”
“I’m just stressed out. That’s all.”
“What was Mandi talking about?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess she overheard me talking to Becca in the hallway.”
He reaches for my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Did something happen at home?”
“No.” I never told Rhett about the conversations I had with Carson, the night he told me he wanted me to be with him, but there’s been no reason to. Carson’s been on his best behavior. I can’t tell if he’s biding his time, waiting for Rhett and me to break up, or if he’s finally accepted a friendship is the only kind of relationship we’ll ever have. Either way, by backing off, it’s made my life a little easier.
“Then what’s going on? Talk to me.”
I sigh, wishing it didn’t have to be like this. It’s a risk even bringing it up, but if I plan to get through the night in one piece, with Mandi nearby, he’s the only one I want by my side since Rhett can’t be there. “I want to ask Carson to be my escort.”
Rhett blinks a couple times, but doesn’t respond right away. When he does, his voice sounds like I knocked the wind out of him. “Why would you ask him?”
“Because I don’t have anyone else,” I whisper.
“What if I don’t want you to ask him?” His words are soft, not at all mean or spiteful like I was expecting—only vulnerable.
“Then I won’t go.”
He stands up, and pinches the bridge of his nose. Now that I’ve stressed him out, I expect him to reach for the latch and leave, but he doesn’t. He waits me out.
“It’s just one night. It won’t mean anything, Rhett.”
“If it doesn’t mean anything, then why does it feel like such a big deal?”
“I don’t know. I’m not trying to hurt you, but I don’t want to look like a fool, either.”
“How would you feel if I was escorting Mandi for the whole school and town to see? They’d think we’re a couple. Is that what you want people to think about you and Carson?”
“Of course not. Everyone in this school knows I’m with you. They see us together every single day.” My chin quivers as I try to spell it out for him. I don’t want to cry, but on top of being confused, I’m angry. It’s not Rhett I’m angry with though—it’s my dad.
“That’s not how it’s going to look Friday night, Sunny. They’ll see my girlfriend with another guy—a guy that she lives with.”
“You know what I want?” I try to hold it in the best I can, but my body doesn’t let me. Hot tears spill from my eyes, leaving a trail down both my cheeks. It’s been awhile since I cried like this—let it all go without caring who sees or hears me.
“Sunny, please don’t cry.” Rhett kneels down beside me, reaching for me, but I stop him before he can touch me. Right now, I don’t want to be comforted. I want to feel the anger inside me because it only hurts more to act like it doesn’t exist. I’m tired of pretending I’m a normal teenager with normal teenager problems. What other girl on the court has to deal with this?
I choke out a sob, “I need my dad to come back, Rhett. That’s what I want. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a replacement for him. I shouldn’t need a replacement for a man who’s still alive. He’s supposed to be here.”
“I’ll figure something out. I’ll talk to Coach and see if I can leave the locker room at halftime to be with you. I want to be with you, Kinsley. Okay?”
I swipe my tears off my cheeks before reaching for some toilet paper to blow my nose. It’s not the least bit attractive, but I don’t really care. “Don’t worry about it,” I tell him. “I didn’t want to go in the first place. Betty has me on the schedule anyway. It’s a really busy night for the diner.”
I lie about the last part. Betty insisted I take the weekend off to do normal high school activities. Little does she know, now that I’ve made the homecoming court, I’m planning on staying home.
“Don’t lie to me, Kinsley.”
I push Rhett out of the way, but he doesn’t budge. “What is your problem?”
“I’m not going to let you do this. You deserve to be on the court, whether the crown ends up on your head or not. I already know you’re not working. You have no reason not to show up to the game.”
“And how would you know my schedule?”
He turns his head away from me, and I know this next part is going to be interesting. “Because I’m the one who made sure it happened. I went in there the other day and asked Betty to give you the time off. With Fall Fest the following weekend, I figured you’d try to work through homecoming to make up the difference.”
I’m shocked—completely and utterly shocked. It’s a sweet gesture, but he has no right going behind my back like that. He doesn’t understand how much money I’m losing by taking two weekends off in a row. Not to mention I’m spending a lot of the money that needs to be put towards bills on two outfits to wear to some stupid football game and dance.