Sydney
The guys went quiet for a second.
Then Micheal slapped him on his back.
“You’re right, cap.
But you’ll have to bring your A-game this time.”
The guys laughed.
“That was just a little slip.” He smirked, bunny teeth exposed.
My breath caught for some reason.
“Redwood can practice themselves insane,” he continued lazily.
“We’ll still beat them.”
There was this confidence in his voice that didn’t waver.
That same confidence that always led the team to victory, but he always used to get under my skin with his stupid words.
God!
I picked out my books and slammed my locker shut.
But I didn’t walk too far when the cheerleaders walked into the hallway, Brooklyn leading them as they walked towards the guys.
Brooklyn, confidence and pride in every step, just walked into their midst and planted a kiss on Micheal’s lips.
And when she pulled away, she gently slammed her birthday flier against Tyler’s chest.
The guys didn’t say a word.
They just watched.
“You all better be there.” She purred, walking back to the girls.
Dean smirked as they walked away.
“Ready for next week?” he called.
Tracy flipped her hair.
“Always.”
The entire hallway paused and watched them walk away, their eyes particularly on Brooklyn as she stopped to hand fliers to whoever she saw fit to be at her party.
She looked pretty and sharp as usual.
And making the hallway quiet with just her presence?
That was a damn superpower.
But me?
I made the hallway buzz and roar with laughter.
Always the damn joke.
I clutched my books tighter and continued to class.
“1.0, it can’t flop.”
”It will if her sister’s there to swim in wine.”
I froze, my heart sinking to the ground.
Laughter flooded the hallway.
The memory of the Halloween party still fresh in their minds.
And though I couldn’t place the voice that had spoken, I could feel eyes on my back.
His eyes.
They knew I’d been listening, and they knew just what to say at that moment.
“She probably wouldn’t show up.”
I spun around at Tyler’s voice, catching his gaze immediately.
He was staring, but no sign of amusement was on his face.
“Then where’s the fun in that?” Someone else said, and the boys laughed even more.
Tyler turned away.
But someone’s gaze remained.
Dean.
“Oh, she’ll show up alright.” He said, looking straight at me.
“I’m counting on it.”
Then he waved at me.
I turned away so fast, I’d have thrown myself against a locker.
‘Dumbass.’ I muttered as I walked the rest of the way to class.
By lunch time, I completely confirmed that no one wanted me at my own sister’s birthday party.
And if they wanted me, they wanted me as entertainment.
Maybe I’d show up white faced with a big red nose or something.
I wanted to scream.
“Girl, tell me you’re going to that party.” Maeve said, stuffing her face with fries.
I just beat around with mine.
“Even Brooklyn doesn’t want me there.” I muttered, avoiding every eye that seemed to be looking at me.
Maeve swallowed, her brows drawing together.
“So you’re saying you’re going to leave your house for a bunch of losers?”
”They’re not all losers,” I said quietly.
“You’ll be there.”
She raised a brow.
“You really think I’m going to crash a party without you?”
”Crash?”
”Hell yeah,” she said.
“If Brooklyn had the guts to invite you so dismissively, do you think she slid an invitation into my locker?”
I tilted my head, a smile tugging at my lips.
“She actually did.”
Maeve shrugged.
“And I chose to ignore it.
We’re going to crash that party.” She said, “And I do not mean ruin. Find the original chapter at g.com.
You are going to show up there like you belong.”
I tried to smile at her words.
But Tyler’s voice rang in my head.
“She probably wouldn’t show up.”
It was like all three of them had conducted a meeting and concluded on that.
I really didn’t want to ruin Brooklyn’s first big birthday party.
“It’s no use, Maeve.” I muttered.
But suddenly she grabbed my face with her palms and forced me to look at her.
Her expression was serious.
“You are going to that party, Syd.
I’m not going to sit here and allow you to drown in yourself, thinking about people who don’t matter.” She said firmly.
“You are going to show them that you’re Sydney Walker and not just Brooklyn’s sister.”
I managed a nod and a smile, even though deep down, I still didn’t want to go.
Because what if I panicked again?
What if I embarrassed myself in front of everyone?
Again.
By the end of school, I was sitting at my desk staring at my chemistry notebook like it carried a virus.
And I could swear I’d never been so scared of a piece of paper in my life.
The assignment was due tomorrow, and just during the last class, I’d realized Dean didn’t have a copy of the reaction results.
And you might be wondering why that’s so important.
The reason is, we weren’t paired for nothing.
As a group, we had to submit the assignment together—with the same results written in both our notebooks.
And being the unserious jock that he was, Dean hadn’t even bothered asking for it.
He just rushed out of class with everyone else once the last bell rang.
Now I’m sitting alone in class, searching for a strategy, a plan or a way out other than walking down to the gym to hand it to him in front of the entire basketball team.
“Shit!” Just the thought made the hair on my neck stand.
I never liked the gym.
And let’s not even talk about a gym filled with about thirteen of the tallest guys in school.
But I had only a few options anyway.
It was either I squared up or I risked failing the class.
‘But Tyler would be there.
And a bunch of other people.’ My head reminded me as I walked down the hallway heading for the gym.