The Quarterback's Girl

Chapter 18

Jason was the source of my current position as a social outcast and Poppy has jumped ship, leaving me to drown in the wreck. Who am I supposed to talk to about this? The trouble is that my dad is always working and I can't fathom telling him about all the drama that's been going on. I can imagine him telling me I'm being silly or that high school doesn't last forever, that I won't remember any of this in 20 years. I had no other choice, she was my last option.

"Well you know what you gotta do, kiddo?" My mother says sipping at her large glass of red wine. "Beat them at their own game."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that they think they have you all figured out. So why not throw them a curve ball?"

"And how do I do that?" She looks at her nails and shrugs her shoulders with a grin, acting as though a cunning plan hadn't already begun formulating in her head.

"If you want to poach some eggs then you're going to have to boil the water, do things that will push them to their breaking point and make them crack, stop treading on eggs shells, where has that gotten you?" She swirls the wine in her glass before taking another large sip. "Jason doesn't like it when boys give you attention, no? Look, I'm not telling you to be a slut but there's nothing wrong with ruffling a few feathers." She exhales, "You're just going to have to make it impossible for them to ignore you," a small fire glistens in her eyes, "don't use your words, use you actions and make yourself a spectacle. Do everything they don't think you will, drag them down from that greasy pole they seem intent on climbing. Then they can't ignore you."

"Are you telling me to manipulate my brother, best friend and in-my-dreams potential love interest into liking me again?"

"If that's what it takes."

As much as I hate to say it, my mom is right. I need to take Poppy and Jason down in order to win them back, and to take them down I have to out play them at their own game. This isn't going to be easy but it's something that has to be done. I need  a game plan.

     *     *     *

So you remember that sleezy guy from Stephanie's party? The one Noah saved me from? Owen Mayhew - douchebag by night, baseball captain by day, oh, and he just so happens to be part of the opposing "popular" group at my school. Weird, I know. So, my strategy is to date Owen, my theory is that by doing this Poppy will come running back as my loyal friend to point out the errors of my ways by dating such an ass, Noah won't be able to handle the fact that I'm with the guy he saved me from and, above all, Jason can't stand down from being my older brother and allow me to see the guy that tried to take advantage of me when I was drunk.

As twisted as this all may be, it's the only plan I can actually conjure to get back my friends. But how am I going to do this? I'm glad you asked...