Date Me

“I like sitting with Dawson.”

“Whatever. So, I think you know enough about me. I’m sure you made Dawson tell you all about us.”

“Most of what he told me wasn’t very happy. You hurt him. It hurts to have your heart broken.”

“He told you that I broke his heart?”

“Yeah, he did. We talked about you at the Cave one night.”

“Was that the night he was trying to make me jealous by flirting with you?”

“It was the next night after the dance. Everyone else was partying at Hawthorne, but we both ended up at the Cave. He told me he couldn’t be your friend.”

She scrunches up her nose. “Interesting. So that’s how you got together. Did you sleep with him that night?”

I let out a loud laugh. “Not even close. He kissed me once and that was only to prove to me that he wasn’t a bad kisser.”

“Dawson is an amazing kisser.”

“Well, not when he’s drunk and you’re not expecting it.”

Peyton laughs. “I remember that. He stood up, which knocked Mariah off his lap, and walked straight across the room and kissed you. I actually thought it was kind of romantic.”

“Trying to make your ex-girlfriend jealous is not romantic,” Whitney and I both say at the exact same time.

We look at each other and laugh. “So, you lived in L.A. What do you think of Co

“It’s definitely different here. But I like it.”

“Does that mean we’re not getting rid of you anytime soon?”

I chuckle. Gosh, she reminds me of Vanessa. It almost makes me like her. You have to appreciate that kind of confidence. “Afraid not.”

Peyton smiles at me and touches my arm. “I’m glad you’re staying. I know we’re going to be good friends. Especially since we’re in so much together. Dance Team, Soccer, Literary Club, and Student Council.”

I study Peyton. She seems sincere, but I get the feeling she’s listing all her activities for Whitney’s benefit. She didn’t mention Social Committee. She’s trying to make Whitney feel left out.”

“Don’t forget Social Committee,” I tell Peyton.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.”

Whitney glares at her. “Kind of hard to forget about it when that’s why we’re here.”

“Are you feeling inspired for Greek weekend yet?” I laugh, trying to dissolve the tension.

“No, but I really want to go there now.”

“Have you been there, Keatyn? I hear its coastline is very different from the French Riviera where your parents live.”

Her comment makes me pause. How does she know where my parents live? I’ve never been that specific.

Then it hits me.

The school file. It had my parents’ fake address in it.

“I have been to Greece, and you’re right, Whitney, is does look different.”

“So, you’ve traveled a lot?” Peyton asks me.

“Yes, quite a lot. I was homeschooled for most of my life because of my mom’s job.”

“Oh, really?” Whitney asks. “What does your mom do?”

“She’s retired now but, before that, she worked in oil and gas.” Oh my gosh. Where do these lies come from?

It’s really kind of sad how good I’m getting at lying.

Whitney laughs, “She retired when she hit the lottery?”

I sigh. Just when I was thinking Whitney wasn’t half bad, she reminds me what a bitch she is. “Yeah, something like that,” I mutter.

After letting our toes dry completely in the sauna, we decide it’s time to head back to school. Whitney wants to get back in time to have di

The three of us are standing at the counter to check out. For some reason, they put all of our charges together rather than separating them.

I get my credit card out of my bag and toss it onto the counter at the same time Whitney does the same with hers.

We both say, “I’ll get it.”

Whitney looks at me then down at our cards. My black one next to her platinum one.

I could give a crap what color anyone’s credit card is, but obviously Whitney cares.

She gives me a puzzled look.

I shrug my shoulder, give her a smirk, and don’t hide the sarcasm in my voice when I say, “Lottery.”

A silly waste of time.

7:50pm

I float into rehearsal feeling relaxed.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Aiden says when he sits down next to me.

“About what?”

“About being your arm candy. If you need arm candy, I’ll be there.”

I can’t stop from smiling. “Thank you.”

“You like getting your way, don’t you?”

“Um, yeah. Who doesn’t?”

He laughs at me and then says, “You also need to finish telling me about that script you wrote. When did you write it?”

“I spent most of last summer in Europe and I had a lot of free time. The script is about a girl who makes a wish.”

“Like, one of those movies where two people make the same wish at the same time and when they wake up they’ve switched bodies?”

“No. It’s more like her wish sets other events in motion. Events that make her think she’s on the verge of having everything she’s ever dreamed of. But then it all comes crashing down.”

“How so?”

“She finally gets the boy she wanted. Some guy offers her the lead role in a movie. It seems like her life is getting perfect, but it's not. The boy is selfish and doesn't really love her. And the guy that wants to make the movie with her is, um . . .”

“Sleazy?”

“Yeah, he's sleazy. So is the boy who really doesn’t love her moves away. She decides to move away too. Like, for a fresh start.”

“And then what? Wait, let me guess. When she moves away, she meets a guy? The dream guy she should really be with?”

“I’m not sure. I haven't finished it yet. I stopped writing when I came here.”

“Why?”

“Sometimes it seems like a silly waste of time.”

“That sounds like something someone told you, not what you feel.”

“The boy who moved away. When they were together, sometimes he’d catch her writing. He kind of thought it was dumb.”

“Wait. Are we talking about the script or your real life?”

“The script. I think I’m going to make her parents be famous. Maybe actors themselves. Or screenwriters, or directors. I haven’t figured that part out yet, exactly, but I do know that she’s going to be afraid to follow in their footsteps.”

“I could relate to that. My dad used to talk about me taking over his business. It was all about investments and it seemed really boring. I’ve liked being outside since I was a kid and when we moved to Napa, I felt like I was home. I could ride my horse, play in the dirt, kick a soccer ball around all day and not come in until it was dark. And then I fell in love with the whole growing process. I love the lifestyle. It fits me. Now, if my dad leaves me the Napa place, I will happily take it over. And in the meantime, I want to make a wine for charity.”

“The wine you want to make will be for charity?”

“Yeah, like all the profits will go to good causes. Like, cancer research, maybe. Helping the homeless.”

I study Aiden for a moment. The god continues to surprise me. “That’d be really cool,” I tell him.

Because it would be.

I pull my phone out of my bag and check my texts. I have one from Braxton.

Braxton: Magically delicious got me a date.

Me: Really? A date?

Braxton: Okay, not a date. She’s coming over to help me study. Tonight. In like five minutes. I’m a little nervous.

Me: Why?

Braxton: She’s seventeen. And slutty.

Me: I thought you were grounded. And do you really want a slutty girl?

Braxton: I got the grounding lifted with my exemplary behavior at Homecoming. And I can’t decide.

Me: I think you should find a nice girl your own age. Don’t rush it. Kiss. Enjoy it. Seriously, kissing is my all-time favorite thing. The more you practice, the better you are at it. I think you should focus on that. Not sex.

Braxton: We’ll see. Got any new lines?