Living with the Player

Chapter 25

I guess I never really realized how much time I spent with Nico until now that we barely spend time with each other at all.

Instead of walking together between class, I see him walking with some girl who laughs at all of his jokes. When I arrive at my locker, it's just as I left it. After school, I come home to an empty house. Which, I mean, is normal.

It's occurred to me that, in some ways, Theo is basically my boyfriend. I've met all of his friends and we go on dates but he's never called me his girlfriend and I've never felt the motivation to bring it up. Plus, I always see him talking to other girls. I don't really know at this point and I don't bother asking.

That is, until the Valentine's Day dance rolls around. Samaya is contemplating between Leia Fisher and Jeremy Barrett to go with. I don't even know if I'm going. I've been hearing rumors that Kenzie wants to start some shit there and I'm not super interested in buying a dress just for it to get ruined.

There's still a few weeks before the dance. But in a small school like ours, stuff like that is all that gets talked about.

"How is my beautiful best friend today?" Samaya asks as she approaches our locker. Her face is flushed and there are flowers in her hand so I'm assuming she's chosen a date.

I smile. "I am magnificent. Unbelievable. You could cut me open and rainbows and unicorns would spill out of my intestines."

Samaya scrunches her nose. "Ok, ew. But also, look." She holds up her poster and flowers. "Leia asked me during bio today and I said yes!"

"Do you have pictures?" I ask and she nods, struggling to reach her phone with her hands full.

With a laugh, I take the flowers from her hand and she gifts me a grateful smile as she slips out her phone. "Isn't it adorable? Jeremy definitely wouldn't have thought of anything this cute."

"Definitely not," I agree. "Damn, I wish I was there."

"I'll show you some videos later. Leia and I are thinking of going in pantsuits because we're definitely going to look better than the guys. Do you wanna get one too?" she asks.

I start putting my books in my locker. "I don't know if I'm going."

Her mouth drops in an 'O.' "What?! How can you not go? It's going to be so much fun!"

I shrug. "I don't want you to have to feel like you have to spend the night with me. I want you to hang out with Leia and have fun. Plus, dances aren't really my thing."

She gives me a look. "You know I would never ditch you for Leia. What's the real reason?"

I'm coming up with a response when I hear, "Ladies and gentlemen!"

Everyone looks towards the voice. I see Theo standing on a chair in the middle of the hall with a speaker. He catches my eye and grins.

"Can I have Jennie Cho come over please?" he says into the speaker.

Phones start recording as people make way for me. Eyes wide, I feel push me from behind and my legs start to move in his direction.

"Jennie Cho, the best fighter, the prettiest girl in our school, and the most confident person I know!" he says as his friends cheer him on. He hops down and pulls out a poster that says: Can I Fight For Your Hand To The Valentine's Dance? "Would you do me the honor of being my date to the Valentine's Dance?"

His friends are hooting and everyone waits for my answer. I'm completely shocked. My body doesn't even know how to react.

I take in the scene. Theo's smiling at me encouragingly as he holds up the handmade poster. Slowly, a small smile begins to form on my lips. "Yes," I say finally.

The entire hallway cheers as Theo pulls me into a hug, pumping his fists, and slapping the backs of his friends. All eyes are on us.

When he lets me go, my mind is absolutely blank. The poster stays in my hands as I walk back to my locker. I can't even comprehend what just happened.

Samaya starts squealing, trying to show me the video, as I fan myself off. I'm smiling with her when something catches my eye.

Nico and I make eye contact from opposite sides of the hallway, causing me to freeze. His jaw is tight. It feels like an eternity before he turns away.

My hand on the poster tightens. Then, I turn away too.