Make My Way

Chapter Eight

Stella's POV

When the game is over, I got in my little green bug and pulled up to the doors of the stadium so that Lila and the freshmen and sophomores I was driving could get in. I saw them fighting for shotgun and laugh. The good old days, I thought. Their squabbling was soon put to rest when my friend Lila, who was a senior, walked out and promptly sat in the front seat. "Paisley, Rori, get in! We're leaving!"

I revved the engine and they hurried to put their bags in the trunk. They climbed into the backseat and I began driving to the local Applebee's. When we got there, I reserved a table for 8 and we waited patiently for the rest of the girls to get there. Slowly everyone started arriving. Once everyone was there, we told our the hostess at the register and she took us to our table and gave us our menus.

"So how was your first game?" I inquired, once we were all situated, mainly towards Rori since she was a first year cheerleader.

"Good, I messed up a lot thought." Rori said with a little disappointment in her voice.

"That's okay, everyone messes up during their first game." Aurora said sympathetically. This is true because during my first game I messed up I don't know how many times. That was the game Neil scored the winning goal. I smiled and shuttered at the same time thinking about it.

"Well I don't know about you guys but my boobs need a break." After saying this Lila proceeded slip her hands up the back of her shirt to unhook her bra. I laughed and almost considered following her example but decided against it. I grabbed my menu. Appetizers are half price at 9:00 it is currently 8:45 so we all place are drink orders and wait till 9:00.

My phone rang. It was Aria. I stood up and walked to the waiting area because it was quieter. I slid the green button over to answer. I had to give some other cheerleaders, even though they were seniors, a ride to somewhere. I brushed it off without much thought and told her to snap chat me the address but she just said the others would direct me.

I returned back to my seat next to Aurora and Lila and jumped right back in to the conversation. Everyone was talking about clothes and where they like to shop. I mentioned that one of my favorite stores was Forever 21 but I buy bras and underwear at Victoria's Secret before fading out and just listening.

When we all got our food, we had a couple moments of silence and then we all broke off into our friend groups and talked with them. I naturally talked with Lila and Aurora. We talked about guys and what we were doing tomorrow and our plans for the year.

Lila had been dating a really cute football player named John (generic, I know) since the beginning of last year. They had just celebrated their one year anniversary with a special date and she was describing all the details. She was going to the homecoming dance with him and would wear his jersey to the game if she wasn't a cheerleader. Aurora really has a huge crush on Caden, Aria's ex boyfriend. I didn't want to say anything, but Aura really want his type. Even Aria had been quite the stretch from the typical volleyball and basketball players he usually dated. Not that I really cared, but it was better than talking about my love life right now.

"Stella, you've been really quiet tonight. What's going on? How's Netella?" Lila asked.

"How does everyone know about that ship name but me?" They laughed but unfortunately they still looked at me for an answer.

I sighed and started talking, "Well, it's kind of a long story... Apparently, Aria had been snapping Neil and was this close," I made a tiny space between my fingers to exaggerate, "to asking me to homecoming. And I had no idea, I just thought it would never actually happen but then Luca asked me out."

"And you turned him down and now you feel terrible?" Aurora tried to finish for me.

"Not quite.... I said yes."

"What?!" They said in unison.

"I don't know what to do now. When I was walking away, I think Neil heard us talking. He knows I'm going out with Luca, but the truth is, I don't even want to! I would trade in a thousand dates with Luca for that one homecoming night with Neil and now I don't know what to do. I just- I just don't know."

They looked at me and tried to give me advice but it was no use. The only one who might actually be able to do something now, was Aria. Aria. What had she said on the phone? I checked the time. It was 10:17 Crap, I thought, I told Aria I'd be there by 10:20. "I've got to go guys. Sorry," I turned to Laine and Everly, the girls I was giving rides to, and said, "Laine, Everly, come on, we've got to go."

They grabbed their things and jumped up. We got in my car and I asked, "So, where are we even going?"

"Easton's house," Laine responded.

"What?! Easton?"

"Yeah, I thought you knew that," Everly said.

Easton was one of Adrian's, who I didn't exactly like, best friends. "Well obviously I didn't. Just wasn't expecting that. Why are we even going there? Why is Aria there?"

"You'll find out," Everly said mysteriously.

I shake my head and reluctantly start the car and begin driving to Easton's house.