"So are you going to do it?" Denver asked me as we walked to the food line. We were on break for dinner. I grabbed a peanut butter sandwich from the plate, a pack of Pringles, an apple from the bowl, a brownie from the pan, and a water bottle from the cooler. Denver followed me to the booth where Tommy and Gabe were already sitting.
"I don't know." I shrugged my shoulders as I sat down next to Tommy. Denver sat across from me. "I told them I won't do it unless I get the rest of my class's approval."
"Which you're sure to get." He winked at me. I put my head down to hide the blush across my face.
"What is it?" Gabe asked.
"Olivia's up for writing and directing the production."
"Really?" Tommy looked at me.
"Only with my class's approval," I reminded. "That's a very important part. You can't leave that out."
"Dude!" Tommy put his arm around me and shook me hard. "That's amazing! I told you that you should do it! Finally, I'm not alone."
"What's happening?" Kasey sat down next to me. Thank God for these long seats. You fit could four on each side easily here.
"Olivia's writing the musical!" Gabe cheered.
"Only with my class's approval!" I preached. "You guys can't leave that part out!"
They all laughed at me as Kasey clapped me on the back. "Nice job, kid!"
"I'm two years younger than you."
"And you're still a kid."
I rolled my eyes and ate my dinner.
Toby and Taylor joined us. Kasey happily gave the news. Toby took a victory lap around the cafeteria.
"You're an idiot," I said once he returned out of breath.
"I don't even care anymore!" he cheered. "I'll tell you now, you have my vote!"
"Oh, my baby's growing up!" Taylor reached across the table and pinched my cheek.
"I'm five months older than you!" I addressed. "You guys always leave the important parts of the conversation."
"We only do it because we know it annoys you," Tommy said gently pulling on my ponytail.
"I hate you all," I grumbled.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"5...6...5, 6, 7, 8," Matthew counted and we began our dance. Tommy was careful to lift me this time. Instead of stopping at the hug, I pretended to be ripped from his arms and thrown to the ground, as that would be happening in the show. When we finished, Matthew grinned. "That's the best I've seen it."
I smiled and looked up at Tommy. He gave me a smirk.
"Alright," Matthew looked at his watch. "You two been practicing this dance for an hour and a half without a break. Give me one more good rep and I'll give you a break then we're heading back the gym for a full ensemble." I got up and reset. We ran through the dance one more time. Matthew clapped his hands this time. "I'm so happy with this dance. I'm going to the bathroom. Do the rep one more time without me then pack up and head to the gym."
"But you that was the last rep!" Tommy protested. I groaned and lied on my back.
As he walked away, Matthew laughed. "When I have ever been truthful about the term 'one more time?'"
Tommy looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders. "He's not wrong."
I got up and reset. When I pulled away from Tommy, I fell to the ground harder than I intended. I groaned as I held my hip.
"What'd you do this time?" Tommy asked crouching down to me.
"Hit my hip on the tile," I answered.
He huffed. "You just can't stay out of harm's way, can you?"
"Are you the one being thrown around all over the place?" I countered. He didn't answer. "Didn't think so."
He helped me up. "Do I need to carry you again?"
I punched his arm. "Shut up."
We grabbed our backpacks and walked to the gym. As we went, Tommy asked, "Do you really want to write this musical?"
I sighed. "I don't know. It definitely sounds like something awesome. I mean, it's the opportunity of a lifetime! But the stress and late nights that I know I'll go through will be intense. I don't know if I'm ready for that."
"That's reasonable," Tommy commented. "Do you have an idea of what you want to do?"
"I think they're agreeing with my idea."
"The one about the Boston Massacre?"
"No, I scrapped that. I suggested the Women's Rights Act."
"How would that play out?"
"I'm not going to give a lot of information, but overall, it'd be about standing your ground and proving your worth," I summarized.
"Sounds good," Tommy said smiling. "Can't wait to see it."
We reached the gym. Tommy went on further in, but I stopped by the water fountain to grab a drink. I wiped my mouth as I turned around and ran into something hard enough to fall to the ground. I didn't hit the fountain, thankfully, but my butt did hurt.
"Ow," I groaned.
"Aw, crap, Olivia!" I heard Denver say. "Here, let me help you up."
He stretched his hand out to me. I took it. Denver pulled me up all the way with ease, but he pulled a little too hard. I lost my balance and fell into him. Our faces were close enough to feel his breath on my face. I looked into his eyes for a moment.
"You alright?" he asked. His brown orbs looked into my blue ones. Denver suddenly became a lot cuter than I saw him to be.
I nodded slowly. "Fine. Thanks."
He smiled. "Good."
I stepped away, cleared my throat, and stepped out of the way. A small grin formed on my face and it wouldn't go away. Denver took a drink from the fountain while I walked into the gym and set my stuff down on the bleachers.
"Hey," Taylor greeted coming up to me.
"Hi." I pulled my drumsticks out of my backpack and set them on my bass drum.
"What's got you all smiley?" she smirked.
"Nothing." I shook my head but the grin still played on my lips.
"Nothing my butt. What is it?"
I gazed over at Denver, who was joking around with Gabe. They had a quarter and were shooting it on the basketball net.
I looked back at Taylor. She gasped, realizing what I was meaning. "No!" I looked down at my feet bashfully. She squealed. "No!"
Taylor grabbed my arms and jumped up and down.
"Whoa, calm down, girl," I urged. A gushing smile rested on her face.
"You..." She lowered her voice. "you like Denver?"
I made a small space between my pointer finger and thumb. "Just a little bit," I confessed almost inaudibly.
"No way! Awww, that's so cute!"
"Quiet down!" I hissed.
She laughed. "Are you embarrassed?"
"Shut up."
"Olivia!" Tommy called. I looked over and saw him and Matthew waving me over. Mr. Wires and a few other people stood around.
"I gotta go."
"Where you going?" she asked.
"Probably want to run through the dance." I began walking away.
"Don't think this subject has been dropped," she warned.
"I already dropped it!"
Taylor squealed again. "Oh, my baby's growing up!"
"Still five months older than you!" I reminded with my back turned on her.

YOU ARE READING
The WRA Draft
Teen Fiction"Here it is, folks. The lucky school." He opened it slowly. With a terrible grin, he read, "Marrisville Jr. Sr. High School located in Iowa." "No!" students screamed. They all jumped to their feet. Others broke down in tears. The reactions were...