That's What She Thought

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

The next day, Peyton flipped her wavy blond hair behind her shoulder and checked out her boyfriend. She gave him a flirty wave, and carried her lunch tray to a table in her high school's cafeteria. 

"He's so hot," Brooke, who sat down with her, whispered as she pointed at Jack. "Why do you get him?" She nudged Peyton in the side with her elbow playfully.  

"Hey, Peyton," said a voice from behind her. She turned. It was Josh.  

Immediately trying to fix her attitude-which was about to be sweet instead of her usual tone of sour she used with him-Peyton said, "Uhh...hi." She tried to sound as casual as she could, but a tiny bit of sweetness appeared in her voice...and this was very unusual when she talked to Josh. 

He sat down next to Peyton. She wasn't just now realizing he was pretty attractive. Looking at his face yesterday in the yearbook, she had realized that he had probably looked like that for a while-cute. But she apparently hadn't noticed it because she was too busy worrying about him leaving her alone instead. Was that really what she wanted, though?  

Stop it, Peyton, she told herself. You love Jack Thomas, the total hottie you're dating. Not Josh Colt, the other cutie you know. No, he's not cute, he's ugly. No, he's not ugly either!! Then what is he?! 

"Peyton? Hello?" Josh's smooth voice tone said into her ears, snapping her back to reality. She didn't like Josh, not even one tiny bit. Not at all. She had to remember that.  

"What?" she said harshly. There. That was better. 

"I asked you a question, like, 3 minutes ago," Josh replied, confused.  

"Sorry," she shook her head. "What was it?" 

"I was wondering," he smiled, "if you would like to go to the Valentine's Day dance with me in a couple of weeks." 

"What?!?" she scoffed. "Haven't I told you like a million times that I don't like you that way? Or...at all?" she added for effect. "I'm sorry, but I think you should realize by now that I'm not going to accept any dating invitation from you! Seriously!" She rolled her eyes, hopefully convincing him to not ask her anything like that ever again.  

She saw the slight hurt in his face...and it made her feel kind of bad.  

She had to stop the side of her that was longing to date the amazingly toned football and hockey star. No! He was none of that. He was just Josh, right? 

"Well, I think maybe if I ask you enough times, you'll finally give in and go out with me. I can see it in your eyes," he said, grinning again, "that you really like me, but you just don't know it yet." 

Or maybe you do know it already, her brain was telling her over and over. But she pushed all of her good Josh thoughts to the side. "I don't like you, Josh. Please don't ask me again. I mean, why do you think I always say no? Maybe because you creep me out by asking me every day? Or, maybe it's because you-" 

"Shhhh," Josh put a finger to her lips. "You can trust me. I really like you, Peyton."  

"Not interested," she willed herself to say, and in a huff, she began to get up.  

Brooke followed awkwardly. "Yeah," she said, "if Peyton says to leave her alone, then leave her alone. It's a law, you know." 

"No, it's not Brooke," Peyton said abruptly, confused and not really wanting to get into Brooke's stupidity right now. 

Brooke shrugged.  

"No, don't leave," Josh began to follow her. Pleading her to come to his table and hang out with him and his stupid sports buddies (one of them being his best friend Brady), he touched her arm in an effort to get her attention.