Settling For Less (Riley McDonough Story)

Chapter Five

Peyton's POV

The day after I saw Mike and had my talk with Jesse I made Caroline come over and help me move my furniture. The paint in my room had to settle for twenty four hours and it had, so I wasn't wasting any time.

"Why do you need a couch in your room and why is it so heavy?!" Caroline complained loudly as we moved my small gray couch into the corner of my room. It was small and round, making me feel like I was in my own little cave when I sat it and covered myself with blankets.

"Because it's cute." I said as I did one final push into the corner. "See? That wasn't so hard."

My room was perfect. The gray couch was on the corner, my bed was in the middle, on the other side of my bed was my desk, and across from my bed was my dresser with a mirror. My full body mirror hung on my closet door and everything felt complete

"I'm just happy it's over." Caroline collapsed on my black and grey bed.

"Me too." I curled up on the soft sofa. "Although it's gonna suck sitting up in the morning and instantly seeing my reflection."

Caroline laughed. "Yeah, that does suck. But the dresser would look awkward next to the couch."

"True." I agreed.

"So," Caroline asked slowly as she sat up to look at me. "About that party tonight..."

"Caroline."

"Hear me out!" She argued. "Mike invited a lot of people, a lot of girls. It's not like he's on the hunt for you or anything."

"Carol-"

She cut me off. "And even if he was, what's the big deal? You've had tons of guys hit on you before, you should be a pro at brushing some off."

I laughed loudly. "I have not been hit on by tons of guys."

"You know what I mean." Caroline rolled her eyes. "Just come with me tonight, please."

Hours later I was dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and an off the shoulder top. Caroline came around to pick me up and I was surprised when I opened the door to the backseat.

"Coonor?" Connor was in the driver's seat of Caroline's car, and Caroline was in the passanger side.

"Caroline nominated me designated driver tonight." Connor said as he began to drive down my street.

"I didn't want to do it and I didn't want to take a cab or hitch a ride." Caroline argued as she applied some last minute makeup. "You barely like drinking anyway. It's a win, win."

"You're a really frustrating person, you know that?" Connor commented.

I just sat back and watched as they argued. For two people who supposedly couldn't stand each other, they sure did spend a lot of time together. It was something I had tried to bring up with Caroline often, but she wasn't having it. She would bring it up when she was ready, I assumed.

I knew first hand that Connor was still talking to Ella, although I really had no idea where that would be heading. Then again, no one did and no one knew where Caroline and Connor were heading either. It was funny that someone as quiet and sweet as Connor was in some sort of a love triangle, if you could even call it that. I wasn't too sure what I could call it. I didn't even know who I was rooting for.

"You guys are annoying." I finally said to stop their bickering. "Can you not argue for, like, two seconds?"

"Sorry." They mumbled in unison.

"So," Connor said after some silence and Caroline applying some lipstick,"you know Mike probably, definitely, wants to hook up with you tonight, right?"