Tied for Second

Chapter 9 - Shhhhhhhhhoot

Okay so maybeeee Monday wasn't the best, but like it couldn't get any worse now, right? So Trevor knows I hate the idea of him, my friends think I'm a teennnsie bit crazy, and I have to do an enormous chemistry project within the next 3 weeks. Awesome. Besides, Friday is Pizza Day and you can't have a literal meltdown on pizza day, right?

When I woke up, I realized that the crying was really starting to show and poked at the puffy bags under my eyes.

"Starbucks here I come." I mutter, hurrying to throw on presentable clothes. Coffee may be my lifeblood, but it takes longer to get there and get coffee so I have to leave the house wayyyyy sooner than I normally do. I throw on a sweater, jeans, and boots and try to reconstruct my face. I reach my goal of achieving "semi-functioning human" and grab my keys and go. 

I drive to Starbucks and notice some familiar cars parked outside. I don't think much of it until I opened the door and realized I should have chosen the drive-thru.

"SIERRA!!!" Erica's shrill voice broke the quiet hum of the coffee shop. If ever there was a time for an invisibility cloak, this would be it.

I split my face into a look I hope passed as surprise or happiness, and replied, "Oh hi Erica! Funny seeing you here... with your ten closest friends no less?"  I nod at the rest of her clique sitting in the back corner with four tables pushed together. They had all stopped talking and had begun whispering, casting looks over at me. Awesome.

Erica followed my glance, "Oh we ALWAYS meet for Friday morning coffee, its a squadition" she beamed.

"I'm sorry a -- a squat ition?" My eyebrows crinkled slightly, as I asked

"Squad tradition, squadition for short." She explained, her tone saying duh

"Ohhhh. Uhm, alright. Won't interrupt you then. Good seeing you!" I took a step towards the counter, trying to make my escape and get MY COFFEE. I successfully made it to the counter and ordered before Erica released her banshee shriek once more

"OH SIERRA!"

I turn, a smile plastered on and called back, "One seconddddd!!" I paid the cashier and mentally rolled my eyes at Erica's awful coffee shop manners.

Erica waved me back to her back corner of doom and leaned over the table, "Have you heard about the Trevor thing?" she whispered excitedly

I'm sure if I had had my coffee I would have done a complete spit take. I fumble around for the words and my eyes bulge, shocked.

"The Trealdfklaj thing?" I said, my tongue suddenly an immovable paddle in my mouth.

"Yaaa know, his mystery girl, his Cinderella, etc etc." Erica flourished her hand in the air as she continue, "APPARENTLY he's going to ask her out at the big game tonight, right after they win."

So much of that sentence sent off red alarms in my mind I didn't even know where to start.

"Oh." I finally spoke, "That's nice? But why are you telling me this?" 

please please please please please please please let her not know, if Erica knows everyone knows and I just can't deal with that right now please please please please please please

"You're smart." She started

"Thanks?" I mutter

She continued, not noticing my comment, "and I was wondering if you had figured out who it is, or if it was one of your nerd friends or whatever." She smiled prettily and the sudden desire to strangle her and/or beat her head against a table became overwhelming.