The Good Girl Squad

Chapter 6

It was Wednesday, the week before homecoming. Yes, the homecoming dance was this Friday night, and I still hadn't met my date or seen the dress Patricia picked out for me. She promised that I would meet him today. Apparently, we had a date tonight.

I had been talking to Caesar in secret. Mostly over text, but sometimes we communicated in looks in class. I hadn't told him that I was forbidden from seeing him, because he would just freak out and tell me to leave the group. I was so popular now, I couldn't trade it all away for him.

I waited outside of the school building, right beside the entrance for my date. He was supposed to meet me there, according to The Good Girl Squad.

     "And you must be Ashleigh. Man, Patricia said you were pretty, but she didn't say anything about being hot," a male voice said.

     I turned around to see a boy winking at me, a sly smile on his face. He had dark brown hair and tan skin with dark brown eyes. He was hot, but I didn't notice it as much as I would've before I met Caesar. He was tall and fit, but didn't have the awkward cuteness Caesar did.

"Thank you. You must be my date," I answered, pulling on a fake smile.

"Yes, babe, you're in luck, I am your date. The name is Jessie Borden." His name reminded me of Lizzie Borden, you know, the one who killed her family with an ax or something. "So, Patricia wants me to drive you home."

I nodded. "Where's your car?"

He put his hand on my back and slid it down into my back pocket. "This way." He pushed me forward, a little to roughly. I tried to ignore and walked on.

He had a bright red Ferrari parked in a front parking space. Some of the guys would have killed for that car. He hopped into the car, leaving me to open my own door. I rolled my eyes, but said nothing.

He blared a loud rap song and pulled out of the parking lot. "So, I'm on the football team, you know," Jessie said.

I glanced at him and nodded. Patricia would never set me up with someone that wasn't on the football team.

"I'm pretty good. I was almost captain, but stupid Tom stole it. I'm ninety percent sure he's on steroids anyways, so I'm practically already captain. I would expose him, but you know, I'm too nice of a guy for that. The bro code, you know."

     I stopped listening around 'I'm pretty good.' His ego was even bigger than his arms, and let me tell you, those biceps were also very big. I just nodded along with these stupid words, and pretended that I cared.

     He continued talking about his extensive football career, until we finally pulled up to my house. "Is anyone home? It looks really dark in there."

     I shook my head and hopped out of the car. "Thanks for the ride," I said, making eye contact for a second, before walking off. He winked and smirked at me, then I went inside my house.

     My dad was actually home when I got there. "Oh hello Ashleigh. I'm off to a meeting. See you later." I noticed how he didn't mention when he'd be home. He didn't know. He could stay at the office all night, if he got caught up.

     He pushed past me and walked out the door, a crisp suit on, dragging his briefcase behind him like a pet. The door slammed behind him, as I whispered a goodbye. That was the first time I had seen him in at least a week.

     The house was cold. I went up to my room and slid under the bed. This was my safe spot. One of the only places I felt good in. I laid on my stomach, resting my cheek on the cool hardwood floor. I closed my eyes, blocking out the world.

     I reminded myself that things were better now. I was popular at school. People liked me. I even had a boyfriend, or almost boyfriend, Caesar. Plus I had a hot date for Homecoming. Oh wait, how on earth was I going to explain that to Caesar? What if he asked me to go with him?

     He knew we couldn't be seen together. The squad wouldn't allow it. But would he be okay with me going with another guy? He would have to be.

     I pulled out my phone and dialed in his number. If I had to break the news, I wanted to do it in my safe spot.

     "Hey Ashleigh. What's up?" Caesar's familiar voice filled the phone.

     "Oh nothing much. I just have to tell you something. Okay, Patricia is making me go to Homecoming with some dumb jock. Sorry, but I have to. Are you mad?"

     Caesar sighed. "Who is it?"

     "Jessie Borden. I don't even like him, so don't worry about it."

     "I don't think I'm comfortable with my girlfriend going with another guy, but I guess you have to. Just know that I'll be there keeping an eye on you. I don't trust that guy." I smiled at the fact that he called me his girlfriend.

     "What do you mean you're going?"

     "What? You think I'd miss you all dressed up, even if it's my me you're going with?" I laughed.

"Okay, but don't let the squad see us."

"Why? I thought you weren't afraid of them."

"I'm not. I just don't want them to do anything to you."

"It'll be fine. I promise. Probably, anyways." I laughed, swallowing my discomfort. "Well, I'm going to go."

     "Aw, do you have to?" I whined, not wanting to be all alone.

     "Yeah, sorry. My parents are being a pain. They want me to take out the trash, or mop the floor, or drown the cat, or something stupid like that." We both laughed, and I rolled my eyes.

     "Bye Caesar, have fun drowning your cat."

     "Bye Ashleigh." There was laughter behind his voice. That and something else, like an unwillingness to hang up. He hesitated for a moment, then the line went dead.

     I sighed and crawled out from under my bed. I couldn't stay in my safe spot for too long. The longer I stayed the harder it was to get out. If I stayed in too long, maybe I would never be able to get out.