Make My Way

Chapter Nine

Aria's POV

It had only been about ten minutes after the cheerleaders left that the football players came out. I had already snapped Neil and didn't expect him to respond yet. I had just been scrolling through my Pintrest and Instagram. I looked up and watched them stream out. Most of them walked to their cars, but a few stragglers stayed behind, talking to each other. They were probably just figuring out details about where they were going or something.

I saw a particular group of guys that including Blake, Evan, Adrian, Xavier, and Easton. They laughed and Easton punched Blake in a friendly way. Adrian gestured for Easton and Evan to go on without them and he whispered something to Blake. Blake walked back inside and Adrian turned to the lot. He scanned through the few cars left until his eyes settled on my little car. I looked down quickly and pretended to be looking down at my phone.

He started waving and, after a few seconds, I turned to look up at him. I'm gave him a confused look and her gestured for me to come to him. When I rose an eyebrow in the dim light, I didn't expect him to se it but he must have because he shook his head in annoyance. He ran down the steps and jogged over to my car. Reluctantly, I rolled down my window. He bent down and rested his arms in the edge. "What do you want?" I asked.

"Just come with me."

"Why would I do that?"

"Trust me." Without waiting for and answer, he turned and began walking back to the stadium. I groaned and clambered out of my car to follow him. What did he have planned? Confused, I followed him inside. There wasn't any light coming in from outside and the lights inside were dimmed down. He pointed to the left and I followed the direction of his finger. "Suite 132," he said. I went to the box suit he was talking about and pushed open the door. Inside, Blake was sitting at the table with something in his lap. I sat down across from him and he smiled at me.

"Hey," I said quietly.

"Hey. Aria, in eighth grade, I had a crush on you. Sure I've kind of liked other girls since then, but you've never really left my thoughts. During the last few months of sophomore year, I felt that again. When I saw you again on the first day this year, I knew I had to do this," he paused, "Aria, will you go to homecoming with me?" His voice cracked nervously on the last word. I heard a stifled laugh from just outside the door but I chose to ignore it.

Blake brought out a small, gray, stuffed bear from under the table. It was holding an little card reading, 'I can't "bear" to go to homecoming without you,' and a silver necklace. It had a very small, heart-shaped charm on it and the chain was smooth to the touch.

"It's beautiful," I said softly. I looked up into his eyes. "Of course." I stood up and walked around the small table to him. He stood up too, and I headed him the necklace. I turned around and he clasped the chain holding the delicate silver heart around me neck. I turned back to face him and I embraced him in a tight hug. He hugged me back and just as we were breaking apart, I heard a voice behind me.

"Sorry to break this lovely moment up, but the coaches are kicking us out now. We've got to go now," Adrian's voice cut through the quiet.

"Okay," I sighed. We walked out to the parking lot, Adrian in front of us and Blake and I shoulder to shoulder.

He called back to us, "So I'm assuming she said yes."

"No," I said sarcastically, "I said no and he was so heart broken and I felt bad so we hugged it out."

All three of us laughed. We stopped at my car. "Oh, I almost forgot, we're going over to Easton's house. Want to come?" Adrian asked me.

"Who else is going?" I responded with another question.

"Eh, us, Evan, Xavier, I think Merrick, and later a few of the cheerleaders are coming over. Like Laine and Everly."

I thought for a moment and glanced any the time on my phone. It was only nine and Stella probably wouldn't be done until around ten. "Well, I have to meet Stella somewhere at tenish but maybe until then."

"We were going to go pick up Laine and Everly anyway so maybe Stella could just drive them over to Easton's."

"Let me call Stella and ask but that should be fine." I pulled out my phone and clicked on Stella's name. I explain the situation and she agrees to bring Laine and Everly over. "It's all set! But I don't know how to get to Easton's house. I've only been there like once."

"It's cool. Blake will just ride with you."

"Okay," I say, and climb into my car. Blake gets in and shuts the door. "So, where am I going?"

"Just drive that way out of the parking lot and I'll direct you from there."

"Got it."

When we pull up to Easton's house, a thought comes to me. "Won't we be bothering his siblings? I mean his littlest brother is only nine."

"Eh. They'll probably just stay in their rooms. I'll be fine." I shrug and follow him inside.

We head down to the basement and when we walk in together a loud "Oooooo" fills the room. I roll my eyes at the four boys and another thought occurs to me. I was going to be alone with six teenage guys for at least another hour. After a few minutes of Blake and I being intensely interrogated, the aroma of fresh pizza filled the room. Everyone's heads turned to see Adrian holding three boxes of pizza and a two liters of pop.

"How many people are you feeding?" I asked and they all laughed before rushing to try to get the first pieces of pizza.

Boys, I thought, I'll never understand them.