And Then it Happened

6

And the week of homecoming was upon us. Banners were strung up along the walls of our school, balloons decorated the hallways and of course, the tradition of voting for Homecoming Queen and King was in high tide. Chatter flittered in the hallway, everyone discussing and gossiping about who they thought the Homecoming Queen and King would be and who they were voting for.

Of course, Cameron Sharpe was one of the names people were talking about. Ugh. I just can't catch a break, Cameron seems to be everywhere now!

I noticed three girls standing by the locker area, squealing as they showed each other their Homecoming dresses and complimenting each other. I walked past them, my eyes flitting around the room attempting to look for a familiar face. When I finally found the blonde hair and blue eyed girl I had been searching for, I hastened my steps. Getting closer, I opened my mouth to greet her, only to be interrupted by someone.

I halted. Cameron Sharpe walked up to my best friend, his arms reaching out for her waist and tugging her to his chest, squeezing her in a warm embrace against him. I gulped when his eyes wandered over to me, scanning my body head to toe. When his eyes came back up to meet mine, he raised an eyebrow. He let go of Sydney, turning his body to orient himself towards me.

"Are you just going to stand there all day like some stalker or what?" he asked me, letting out a slight chuckle. I furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance, huffing as I continued to walk towards them.

"No," I retort. "First of all, I'm not a stalker. Second, I was about to say hey to Sydney over here before you so rudely swooped in at the last second to hug her. Sorry I got in between you guys and your love fest."

I wanted to gag. I still wasn't used to seeing my best friend together with my worst enemy. It was definitely going to take some getting used to, whether I liked it or not.

"Aw, don't be jealous sweet cheeks, there's enough of Cameron to go around –"

Cameron was interrupted by Sydney slapping him playfully on the side. "Cameron!" she shrieked while giggling.

Cameron chuckled again, reaching over to grab Sydney and pull her into his side. He leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. "It's okay baby, I was only just joking. You know I'm all yours."

I would've 'awwed' at their cuteness had it been literally any other couple on the planet. But when it's my best friend with the guy who had tormented me for years on end, I was a little less than enthralled for obvious reasons. I also didn't fully buy the whole Cameron suddenly being in love with my best friend after only talking to her for a few days situation. Something about it all seemed fishy to me.

"Alright, well clearly you love birds need to get a room, so I'm just gonna go now," I state while slowly backing away.

Sydney tore her gaze from Cameron's face to look at me with wide eyes. "Wait, Rachel! I have to ask you something. Are you going to homecoming?"

Cameron seemed to perk up at the mention of homecoming and me in the same sentence.

"Nah, you know school dances aren't really my thing."

Sydney sighed. "Rachel, we're seniors this year. This is the last homecoming we'll ever get to attend. Don't you want to have the high school dance experience at least once in your life? C'mon! The rest of the girls are going," Sydney stated.

"Look, Syd, even if I wanted to go... which I don't... I don't exactly have anyone to go with."

It was at this moment that Cameron decided to butt his ugly head into the conversation. "Why not?" he asked.

I really didn't feel like explaining this right now. Especially not in front of Cameron. "Because I don't have a boyfriend unlike some people I know," I state pointedly looking in Sydney's direction. "No guys really talk to me, and honestly I'm perfectly fine with it."

"Are you a lesbian or something?" Cameron inquired, his eyebrows raising with mock concern.

"No you dipshit, I am not a lesbian!" I exclaim. "Just because I'm not interested in any of the obnoxious, immature boys who go here doesn't just automatically mean I am gay. Ugh, why am I even trying to explain myself to you? Forget it."

Sydney walked up to me, putting both of her hands on my shoulders. "Rachel, I know dances aren't your thing, but I would really love it if you came. It's senior year and I want to have the night of my life with my best friends right by my side."

"And me!" Cameron quipped, a smile gracing his face.

Ah, that answers it. Cameron and Sydney are going to the dance together; I should've guessed as much. They are after all a couple now. I bit down on my lip gently, thinking to myself. I was torn. On one hand, Sydney was my best friend and she was right. It is our senior year. It would be fun to go to a dance and be surrounded with my best gal pals. On the other hand, knowing I'd have to endure being around Cameron all night sounded awful.

"I don't know..." I trailed off, still weighing my options.

"If you're worried about third wheeling, I have a friend I can set you up with for the night. That way, you'd have a date to go with" Cameron stated. I wanted to snort at his pathetic excuse of attempting to act nice and sympathetic to me around Syd.

"Oh my god, yes!" Sydney exclaimed. "That's perfect. Rachel, can't you see? Now there's literally no reason for you not to go."

Oh, yes there is, I thought to myself. There is one pretty big reason and he is standing right in front of me as we speak. However, one glance at my best friend who was literally begging me to go to the dance with them using her best puppy dog pout, and I knew I'd cave.

"Alright, alright. Fine, I'll go."

"Yay, yay, yay!" Sydney said, rushing over to me to hug me while she jumped up and down in excitement.

"On one condition" I add, pulling myself away from the overenthusiastic Sydney. "You owe me so many chocolate covered strawberries," I say, pointing at my blonde best friend. Chocolate covered strawberries were one of my most favorite things in the world. Literally, if any one made them for me, I would love that person forever.

"Agreed," Sydney replied.

"Are you sure you need more of those?" Cameron asked, eyeing my figure up and down again. "You look like you've put on a little more weight recently. You might want to tone down the sweets for a bit."

I felt my blood start to boil. How dare he? "YOU FUCKI-" I start. Before I could literally bite this boy's head off, Sydney came to the rescue, grabbing my arm and dragging me away from Cameron.

"O-kay! We'll see ya later, Cam. Byeee!" Sydney shouted as we got further and further away from the boy who had the biggest smirk on his face. What an ass.