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The Invite

He woke up with his phone ringing in the bedside table. Lazily, he reached out to his phone and pick it up. He found an unregistered number calling him.

"Hello?"

"Clarkson?"

"Yeah? Who is this?"

"Jake."

"Jake who?"

"C'mon Clarkson we're not playing knock knock jokes here."

"Oh. Jake. " Jake. The name resounds in his head. He felt a little pinch in his heart. This name. This guy named Jake have her. This guy named Jake is the one she fell in love with. This guy is her boyfriend  and his own friend. "You called. What's up?"

"Man, could you please accompany George for me at the formal?" Jake ask him.

"Why?"

"I couldn't go there. I have something to do."

"What is it? Boy, you should be the one to bring him to the formal. You're her guy." Her guy. It stings him.  What could he do?

"Well, I'm busy."

"You're always busy. Busy with what?"

"Well, just a little favor to make with someone."

"Favor? You do favors and leave your girlfriend alone?" He tried to keep calm. That's a stupid excuse. Favors? Why do you have to do a favor when you leave your girlfriend hanging?

"C'mon Clarkie. I'm just going to accompany Janelle to her prom. I guess Georgina will understand. She knows Janelle and I are cousins."

"Why don't we switch places? I accompany Janelle and you accompany George?"

"Well man, I just couldn't. We're miles away and I already promised Janelle that I'll accompany her to her first prom. My aunt Mora is counting on me. "

"W-well..." It would be awkward man. He said to himself. What could be more awkward? He was suppose to ask George to the formal but failed and now Jake is giving him his chance to be with her in the formal. Well, Jake just indirectly give him the chance.

"C'mon Clark. I'm still here at aunt Mora's. I'll be returning on Sunday. The formal's in Saturday."

"O-okay."

"Thanks. So I'm gonna hang up. I'll call and tell George."

"Okay. Thanks Clark." then Jake hang up. 

Shit. Shit. Holiest shit. He muttered to himself. He wouldn't be this so much happy. Things go well by chance. There are Jake's other friends. He has Alex, Trevor, Ed and Lester. Why did Jake call him? It could have been Jake's other friends but he chose to call him. 

His heart just couldn't stop the rapid beat. He is going to be with Georgina in the formal. He will have that chance to hold her hand and to dance with her in the dance floor, the chance that Jake wasted. However, things could be so awkward. He wanted to give himself a punch. He wanted to bump his head to the wall. He is stupid. He don't know what to do. He don't know what exactly to react if he sees Georgina in the front porch of their house.

And things maybe would be so awkward.

-----

She is choosing between three dresses she have in store. The peach dress with a glittering details whom her aunt Reese gave her, the pastel blue dress that looks elegant with its flowery details that is her aunt Jill's gift last Christmas or the cream colored dress with flowers on its single strap it has on the left shoulder which her mom bought her last week. In between choosing, her phone rang. It is Jake's new number calling. He'd probably ask her what she'll wear.

"Hey Georgie."

"Jake. Hey."

"I'm sorry."  his words echoed in her head. Sorry? For what?

"W-what is it? Why are you saying sorry?" Did he do something wrong?

"I can't accompany you to the formal. I'll be accompanying Janelle  to her prom."

"Oh. I see. It's okay. It's Janelle's first prom, right? You should really go and accompany and watch over your cousin." 

"Yeah. Thanks for understanding. But don't worry. You don't have to find a date to the formal or go alone. I have someone to proxy me."

"Who?"

"Clarkson."

"What?!" She hold herself back. "I mean, C-Clarkson? Why?"

"He's the first one who came into my mind." It could have been Alex, Trevor, Ed or Lester.  "You and Clarkson get along so I presume you'd be okay with him. Besides, he already agreed to accompany you to the formal. Just call Clarkson so he'll know what you're going to wear so you guys have a match. " 

Match. Match is a bitch. Why does Jake need to do this? Things go awkward over the time. 

"Is there any problem with Clarkson?"

"Nothing. I'm okay with it." Liar.  "But I don't have Clarkson's number. Can I have it?"

Bitch. You sound like the girl who used to be stalking Jake and giving him creeps. You sound like the yourself a year ago.

"Okay. I'll send it to you later. Bye babe."

"Bye babe. I love you." Really?

"I love you too." 

She don't know.