Picture Perfect

Chapter Two

The rest of the day went on with a drag. I don't think I learned anything today. My mind kept repeating what Kelly said at lunch.

How would I have drawn attention by standing up for myself? This is ridiculous! A school should see this as a way to help other people stand up to their bullies, not as a new post on social media!

Walking out of my last class Kelly jumped in front of me. "What are you doing later?" She grinned. I sighed, wanting nothing more than to just go home and take a nice, long shower.

"Nothing...why?" I walked around her and she caught up to me with quick strides.

"A friend of mine is throwing a party at the beach, and I thought you might want to come?"

I stopped walking. "A party?...at a beach?...I'm all ears." I quipped. She laughed.

"Yeah, tonight there's a party down at Everwoods beach, there's gonna be a lot of people there. You wanna come?" She smiled.

"Can I invite someone?" I have no friends, but I want Danny to come so I had to ask.

"Yeah, sure. So is that a yes?" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Sure." "Ah! Cool. I'll text you the time and address. Bye!" She waved and then walked to the parking lot.

I followed further behind. As I got closer to the Jeep I saw Danny leaning against it talking to some guys from the football team. Their conversation grew quiet when I approached.

I ignored them and turned to Danny. "You ready?" He nods and then turns back to his friends. "Bro, is that you sister?" I heard one of the guys say, "Yeah, that's Rile-" I shut the passenger side door, cutting off the rest of Danny's reply.

I huffed and pulled my phone out of my pocket.
'Hey the party starts at eight. The beach is down by a remote gas station. You just turn down a road and your there. See you soon!'

I read the long message from Kelly and then put my phone away.

I heard laughter and turned in my seat and found some of the guys staring at me through the window. Thinking Danny wouldn't purposely embarrass me, but he could accidentally let something slip. So I slung my bag in the back seat and then jumped out.

"Hey Danny?" I asked as I rounded the Jeep. They stopped their snickering and looked at me. Danny gave me a guilty look.

"I think I want to drive MY car if you don't mind." I held my hand out towards him.

"I thought you said this was your car?" One of the guys asked. "Uh...it is. I mean, we share it." Danny turned to me me with a pleading look.

"Yeah. Well you drove here, so I want to drive home." He's lucky I'm going easy on him.

He dug around in his pockets and then pulled out the keys. He dropped them in my hand, and I pushed through the group of guys blocking the door.

When I climbed inside I slammed the door. I started the engine and then rolled the window down. "Lets go." I said without even looking at Danny.

After saying their farewells, the group of guys dispersed. Danny climbed in and turned in his seat, facing me.

"What the hell was that?" I looked at him with a straight face. "That's what you get for embarrassing me." I shrugged.