Diary of a High School Has Been (18+)

Entry 6: Asking Preston Out ... AGAIN

As you may have guessed, I hadn't heard from Preston in what felt like forever. I was beginning to think I should just give up on the Preston pipe dream. It was all destined to come crumbling down anyways so I tried not to let myself get too disappointed when he didn't talk to me at school. I thought he didn't mean what he said that night at the diner. He was just trying to make me feel better until the night was over. But today, after school he agreed to take me to a party on Saturday night!

Can you believe that?! He's the last person on the planet I would expect to go to a house party!

It went down something like this:

At  the beginning of cheerleading practice, the girls were all huddled together excitedly talking about something. I was trying to ignore them as I stretched but they were so loud and chattery, it was hard not to eavesdrop. I wasn't surprised when Leah and Willow came running over, jumping up and down all excited about Elizabeth's party.

"We were invited to Elizabeth Addler's party!" Leah screeched way too excitedly.

Was she dense? Why would I want to go to Elizabeth Addler's party? She was hooking up with my ex boyfriend and he was sure to be there. Why would I put myself through that?

"What makes you think I would want to go to a party at Elizabeth's house?"

"Because Drake will be there!" Leah exclaimed like it was a good thing

"That's precisely why I don't want to go."

I was sure my best friend was losing her mind.

"Why not?! You can bring Preston and show him off to everyone! Drake will lose his mind!"

So Leah wasn't a total lost cause. Her idea was valid but there was only one problem. I didn't know my status with Preston.

"I can't take Preston! We haven't even talked since last weekend. I don't think he's interested."

"That's not true." Said Alyssa.

My lord and savior. The key. The one with all the knowledge. She had the answers to all the questions I was asking myself after Preston and I had our little diner date. I asked her what she meant by that and she told us about what happened when he got home.

"Well, when my brother came home later than usual, my dad stayed up to make sure he made it back okay. I heard them talking from my room. My dad asked what he was up to and Preston said he was out with a girl. My dad asked if it was you and my brother said yeah."

"And then what?" Leah interjected.

"Then my dad asked Preston if he likes you."

"And what did he say?" Willow interrupted again.

"He said, 'Sure, maybe'"

"Sure? Maybe?" I folded my arms because in what world was that supposed to be flattering.

Sure, it wasn't total rejection but what the hell. The guy was so passive about everything. He couldn't even just flat out say if he liked me or not.

"No, see! In Preston lingo, that means he definitely likes you!" Alyssa insisted. "'Sure' means 'yes' and 'maybe' means that we should expect to see you around more."

I stood up from the ground with a quickness.

"Are you sure? You're absolutely positive?"

Alyssa nodded her head with a large grin.

"Then why hasn't he talked to me? He didn't even kiss me the other night. He didn't try anything at all."

"My brother's just not like that. You're gonna have to go to him more than once. And he doesn't try things with girls." Alyssa shuddered disgusted by the topic of conversation. "If you want him to kiss you - which I don't know why you would - you're gonna have to make the first move. That's just how he is."

Me? Make the first move? Does that sound like me at all?? No. I've never had to do that before! And Preston makes me so nervous, I don't think I'll be able to!

Anyways, after practice, Leah drove me over to the Dunn's auto body shop. This time, I didn't try any gimmicks and I let Leah come inside with me too. I was just wearing my cheer shorts with a hoodie on top. My hair was still in a ponytail and I didn't care how my make up looked. I was too wired and ready to give Preston a piece of my mind.

"Hi Mr Dunn," I smile with a wave. This time, he wasn't so shocked to see me.

"Hey Parker, Preston said I might be seeing you around more often."

"He did?" I asked.

"Not in so many words but I know when my son likes a girl."

Was Preston on the same date I was?

"He's in the shop. You know where to find him."

I told Leah to follow me and we walked through the door to the garage. Preston's band wasn't there but the drummer was there handing Preston tools as he worked on a car. Before approaching, I pulled Leah to the side.
I pointed him out to Leah and asked her to keep him occupied while I talked to Preston alone.

"Preston," I called.

He looked up from the car and smirked.

"What's up?"

I wanted to be mad. I wanted to lay into him for not following up after our date. I wanted to yell at him. But he  looked so hot with his messy white t-shirt and jeans. Yup. I folded.

"Can I speak with you for a second," I asked in a sweet tone.

"Sure," he shrugged, shoving the dirty rag he had into his friend's hand. "Here Levi, finish it up."

Preston walked over to the large garage door so I only assumed I should follow him. He reached down, grabbing the handle and threw the door up in one smooth motion. I think I actually swooned as his shirt came up and exposed his happy trail coming from his jeans and underwear.

We stepped outside and walked to the side of the building. Preston casually leaned against the wall and reached in his back pocket for a cigarette.

"Long time no see," he said as he sparked his lighter.

"Long time no see?" I asked in disbelief. "You don't ever talk to me. Not after the diner. Not at school. You said you weren't embarrassed by me."

"I'm not."

"Then why haven't you approached me."

"You never came up to me either." He shrugged.

"But how was I supposed to know I could?"

"You're here now, aren't you? I'm not ignoring you. I'm not telling you to piss off."

"Okay but-"

"But what? Do you want to go out again?"

When he asked this, I couldn't tell if he was asking me out. Either he was or he was asking me if I was asking him out.

"Well, yeah-"

"Where do you want to go?"

"There's this party this weekend. I don't know, I thought it would be fun to go together."

Preston shrugged. I knew he wasn't the social type but maybe he could be for one night.

"That could be alright...." He responded hesitantly.

"I know it's not really your scene but...."

"No, it's cool. If that's what you want to do, I'll go."

"Really!?" I asked, sounding way more excited than I wanted to.

Out of absolutely nowhere, Preston took his free hand and spun my ponytail around in his fingers before dropping it.

"I'll see you around," He said casually.

He threw his cigarette on the ground, stepping on it as he walked away toward the garage. I was just left there, standing with my ponytail in my hands, trying to remember how it felt when it was in his hands.

The whole thing felt like a dream but all I know now is that he totally agreed to go to the party on Saturday and now I'm freaking out. This is like my last chance! I have to show Preston that I'm perfect for him. I have to make him fall head over heels in love with me!