Freshman

Pep Rally

Jeremy's POV

"Psst! Four eyes!" I grit my teeth.
"What?" I hiss at Charlie.
"Are you going to the pep rally?"
"No." I answer through clenched teeth.
"Oh c'mon! You get out of class for two dollars! Who wouldn't want to go?"
"Me." I don't want to go and watch the football team get worshipped.
"Is that cute girlfriend of yours going?"
"She's not my girlfriend."
"I bet you wish she was."
"Shut up."
"You didn't deny it. I'm right aren't I?"
"Are you this annoying to everyone or am I just special?" I say drily
Charlie ignores me. "C'mon, this is a way you can go and see her."
"Do you just want somebody to sit with?" I ask. He shrugs.
"Guilty."
I groan.
"Seriously though, there's gonna be hot cheerleaders and football players and I need to scope out the competition."
"I'm not going. Find someone else."
"Y'know I would, but the only other person who can put up with me for an extended period of time is my sister, and she's not a very good wingman. She's got this 'talk to me and I'll castrate you with a dull spoon' vibe. Not very good for helping me get phone numbers."
"Yikes." I comment sarcastically, and Charlie nods. Before I can say anything, Mr Todd walks in. I think he's a gym teacher, I haven't had any of his classes. All I know is he's a young guy, and Dani says he's cute.
"Mr Todd, how can I help you?" Madame Connelly asks. He holds up a Manila envelope.
"I have last minute pep rally tickets for sale."
Charlie looks at me pleadingly. A few students walk up to the front.
"No." I say immediately, looking at my worksheet.
"Please." He begs.
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Please." He drags it out, I groan.
"Fine." I get up, reaching for my wallet in my back pocket.
"Awesome. You're the man Jeremy."
"Shut up."
_________________
After lunch, Charlie and I walk into the gym together. The bleachers are up, and filled with students. There's a huge doorway shaped balloon in front of the change room that adds on the gym. I groan; there is way too many people here. I look up at the bleachers, hoping to find Dani.
I spot her sitting on the furthest back bleacher, without anyone she knows.
Charlie elbows me. "Go on dork, sit with her." His eyes zero in on a blonde girl in the front row.
"I'm a bit occupied." he saunters over to her. I groan. Typical.
After making my way to the back row, stepping on a few toes and getting a few dirty looks, I take a seat beside Dani. She's dressed in blue jeans and a low cut shirt, leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Hey."
"Hey." she smiles.
"So." I cough. "Where are your friends?" I use that term loosely. Bunch of stuck up pricks
"Oh." Dani bites her lower lip. "They're not here. Lizzy said it was lame, and the others just probably aren't at school anymore."
I nod, my hand rests on the bench, right beside Dani's. And I mean right beside it.
"So, how was class?" I attempt to make conversation.
"Fine."
And apparently I failed.
"I'm surprised you're here." she comments.
"Why? Can't I be involved in my school?"
"Well yeah but...."
"Hey Four-Eyes!" I groan. Charlie walks up to us, taking a seat right in between Dani and I.
Charlie winks at me. "Hey Danielle." he greets her, she smiles.
"Hi." She looks at the front, where a few teachers and the principal are talking.
"So, you struck out with that girl?" I say.
"Nope." He grins slyly, waving a slip of paper in my face. "I got her number AND her friends."
Before Charlie can say anything else, Principal Dickens stands oat the front, grabbing a microphone.
"Good Morning students and welcome to the fiftieth annual Stonewall High Pep Rally!"
A few weak cheers arise.
"Okay I know you can do better then that, on the count of three I want you to scream as loud as you can!"
"One! Two! Three!" Nothing.
"All right, let's just announce the football team already."
The school's current Prime Minister, Daniel Reed takes he microphone. The Space Jam theme begins to play.
"Captain Will Hance, number seven!" Will runs through the balloon entrance, where the junior team is lined up. He high fives all of them.
Will grabs the microphone. "Let's go Red Devils!" He screams, instantly the crowd cheers.
"Really?!" Mr. Dickens questions. Silence, absolute silence.
Will takes the microphone. "I love you Dani!" She blushes, everyone laughs. She buries her face in her hands. Principle Dickens rips the microphone from his hands, handing it to Daniel.
"All right Will go get in line." Will jogs to stand behind him. Charlie gapes at her.
"So that's your boyfriend right? Or is he some creepy admirer?" he asks.
"I assume you have a few admirers."
"Yes, that's my boyfriend." She says, her voice muffled. I don't know what to do, I pat Dani's shoulder.
"There there...." I mumble, not sure what to say, and Charlie gives me a sarcastic thumbs up.
After the rest of the team is announced, Principle Dickens stands at the front.
"After we announce our nominees, they will come to front an the school cheer will take place."
A nervous looking girl runs up to the front and hands him an envelope. He tears it open, and pulls out a sheet of paper.
"Marie Taylor."
People clap for her, and she walks up to the front to stand beside Mr Dickens.
"Kyle Brighton."
I know Kyle Brighton, he's a pretty good guy. I'm happy he got nominated.
"And lastly, Abigail Wense."

Dani and I look at each other, then to Abby who's making her way to the front from the first row. She stands beside the other nominees, her facial expression a mixture of shock and happiness.
"She's cute." Charlie mumbles, he looks at Dani. "Is she a friend of yours?"
"We used to be friends." Dani mumbles, resting her head on her palms.

"Let's have a round of applause for our nominees!" Principle Dickens says, applause follows after.
"So, how are you feeling?" I turn to Dani and notice she's gone. I look at Charlie.
"Where's Dani?" I ask.
"You didn't see her leave?" He asks. "She just left like ten seconds ago, she said her stomach hurt or something."

Why would Dani just leave? Is she okay?