The Player and the Played

32. Red Velvet Cupcakes And Romantic Gestures

"Why do you think people want to hear you sing?" Selena asked me, shutting her locker with a loud bang.

"Becauseeeeee Finals are over. My twelve years of schooling have all led to this day, the day I gave my last exam in high school. Now, all that's left is holidays which are for a week, then Prom, then graduation, then I'm off to NYU!" I replied, my grin unwavering.

"Ugh, I still have one exam left."

"Awww, how sad!" I said, mock-sympathising. Selena threw me a pissed off look. 

"How were Finals?" Lana asked me, joining us.

"Shockingly not terrible. I mean, Calculus kinda sucked and I messed up a question but it's okay, I think," I said.

"Stop. You two discussing this is like a slap in my face. I still have French left. Why didn't I just take Spanish? It got over first and is apparently much easier," Selena said, groaning.

"Yeah, French is hard. Well, good luck. You're almost late," Lana replied her.

"Nah, we have half an hour between classes. There was some problem, I think. Anyway, I'm going to the library and studying with Alec."

When she left, I whispered, "I doubt they'd get any 'studying' done" to Lana who smirked in response.

"Well, Finals are over. We have a week till Prom and Tyler hasn't asked me out yet but I think he will, because, Prom, is like, Prom and it's kind of a big deal so, like, he'll, like, ask me, right?"

"I counted, like, seven likes in that sentence. You're blabbering. He will ask you. He's Tyler."

"Yeah, he better. What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You and Reese going together?"

"I doubt he even knows about it and besides we go to different schools and I'd have to ask him and he doesn't even like me and he's kind of an ass."

"Is he 'kind of an ass' because of what he did three years ago to me or because you genuinely dislike him? I'm pretty sure it's the former and trust me, he's changed. He also really likes you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence but I don't have the guts to ask him out."

"Hey, this is the twenty first century. Girls can ask guys out," I protested.

"Okay, okay, whatever. I'll think about it." I tried (and failed) to suppress a grin.

"Hey, speaking of Prom dates, here's yours," Lana said, looking at Tyler who had also taken Spanish like us (yep, he's smart unlike Selena and Alec) and had just come. "Aw, look at how his eyes just light up when he sees you," she whispered to me, gushing. I turned red.

"Hi," I said, a little shy. 

"Yours light up too, awwww," Lana whispered to me, a creepy grin on her face. 

"What?" Tyler asked, throwing a confused look at Lana.

"Nothing you need to know about," she replied and then turned perfectly on her high heel and left. Huh, I had to ask her how she did that. I had tried turning in my heel once and I had tripped. My epic, dramatic exit had been ruined and it went down as one of the most embarrassing experiences. 

"Hey, you there?" Tyler asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

"Yeah, sorry, I just-"

"-zoned out?"

"Precisely."

"So, I'm not really free now but I need your help with something. Could you meet me here after school?"

"Yeah, sure, Ty."

"Thanks. See you then, I really need to hurry."

"Bye," I said waving at him as he left. I sighed as I walked into class late. Just my luck.

***

"So, why did Tyler ask you to meet him again?"

"I don't know," I answered Lana as I fidgeted with my hands.

"He's obviously doing something romantic," Selena said.

"And you know this for sure?" I asked her.

"What? No. I'm just guessing," she defended.

"You're lying. I know you too well. So, tell me, what is this 'romantic' thing?" I asked, determined to wheedle the truth out of her.

"I won't betray him. Just check your locker."

I walked towards my locker in slow motion, determined to make this as dramatic as possible. Unfortunately, Selena didn't let me and dragged me to it herself. I opened it suspiciously and saw an adorable cat. A stuffed cat, but still a cat. In fact, it was better than a cat, it was a stuffed Garfield possessively holding a cupcake. Huh.

"Whaaaaa?" I asked Selena, confused. It was an adorable cat, yeah but why would he tell Selena. I turned to see her reaction but I didn't see her. Instead, I saw Tyler with a tray of cupcakes - mini cupcakes, exactly like the ones at the Fair we had gone to before Finals. The best part? The icing spelt out 'PROM?' and it was a little messy. 

"Oh, my God, did you bake these on your own?" I asked him, too shocked to say much.

"Kinda...I asked Selena for help with the recipe and she was my taster but yeah, I did. So...?"

"Yes, dummy, I will go to Prom with you," I said and blew out the candles. And it was a perfect moment.

A/N

woohoo, after this I'm going to have a sad n dramatic chapter and i can't wait as I've been planning it since I've started the book. 

*evil laughter*

till then,

xoxo

Anu.