Mackenzie & The Boys | PsycheAwards2017

Three.

The next day I entered school with a newfound confidence. I didn't know how, but these son-of a-bitch football players were going to help me get a scholarship! In exchange for my presence!

Upon my entrance I was immediately jumped by a hyperactive Kade. I jumped slightly when he pulled me behind a tree.

"Hey Kenzie!" He smiled

"Hi Kade, what do you want?" I asked, sounding ruder than I meant.

"Don't sound so sad to see me! I know you missed me." He winked.

"I sure did." I said, lacking enthusiasm.

"You're no fun, Kenziebear."

"Shut up! What is with the pet names?" I asked, throwing my strawberry blonde hair over my shoulder.

"If we're gonna be friends i at least want a nickname." He wined.

I sighed, patting his shoulder comfortingly.

"Fine. You can call me Kenzie. I'll call you uh, Kade."

"Make it Kenziebear and you won't have to give me a nickname." He smiled.

"You've got yourself a deal." I winked.

He smiled a radiant smile. It was so much better than Trevor's.

Kade enveloped me in his strong embrace and strutted from behind the tree. I was stunned. Nobody had ever been so affectionate towards me since I was three.

I bet this was how my mom acted before her addiction. Just the thought of it made me shudder.

As Kade and I made our way down the hall, we received many weird stares and whispers. It made me uncomfortable. I was going to protect myself from this mess. The next person to look at me awkwardly or whisper received a death glare. Unseen by Kade, of course. Or not.

"Be nice to your peers, you can't have friends if nobody likes you." Kade whispered harshly in my ear.

I shuddered at our close proximity and shrugged it off.

"I like me. That's all that matters."

"Wrong."

I rolled my eyes but quickly was back to my normal self once I saw Gwen barreling towards me.

She squealed as she enveloped me in a hug. As we pulled away, Kade drug his arm off my shoulder as if he was nervous.

She thrust an envelope into my hand labeled in a cheesy Gwen font. It read 'you're invited!'

I looked at her questioningly and she just sighed.

"It's a beginning of the year party. Duh." She told me, flipping a piece of brunette hair as she eyed Kade.

Kade shifted under her gaze but quickly recovered to the hyper guy I knew. He snatched the envelope from me and tore it open to reveal the card.

"Sounds cool. I'm coming!" He announced.

Gwen's eyes lit up. Mine did not. The quiet get together my best friend usually hosted would be filled with eleven rambunctious football players. And me. Their little popularity project.

"Tomorrow night! Be there or be square." She growled, getting the perfect idea to announce the whole party to the school. Fantastic.

As if right on cue, Trevor strode into the scene, making me groan. I hated that boy.

"A party, huh? Am I invited?" He narrowed his eyes at me. I challenged him back. Before I could say no, Gwen cut me off.

"Of course! Invite as many as you want!"