Prom Queen, The (Life at Kingston High Book #3) (11 page)

“Yeah, that makes sense.” Arianna picked up her soda and left.

But as Megan pulled on her comfy bathrobe, she wasn’t so sure. Even if she did lose the weight, the dress would still be snug, and she didn’t want to pass out at prom. Then she caught sight of herself in the mirror. In her pink fuzzy robe, she looked like a chubby bear. Nothing like what she’d looked like in the satin dress. No, whatever it took, she was keeping the dress. And she was wearing it too!

D
ayton still seemed happy to exchange Megan’s tutoring assistance for supporting her campaign. He was even wearing her button. Of course, he was also eating her chocolate bars. But it seemed a fair trade. Except that she was running low.
Note to self
, she thought.
Put in another rush order for chocolate bars.
It might be expensive, but it would probably be worth it by the last week when the campaigning would turn hot and heavy.

“Looks like you’re running for prom queen alone.” Dayton pointed to one of her posters as they came out of the classroom together. “No one else seems to be putting any stuff up.”

“Oh, they will,” she assured him. “I heard Amanda telling someone that she’s got a really slick campaign. It sounded like she’s getting some professional help with it. You’d think that’d be against the rules.”

“I don’t see why. Besides, it’s Amanda Jorgenson. Didn’t
you know that girl just floats above the rules?” He rolled his eyes.

“Still . . . it seems unfair.”

He nodded. “Yeah, but that’s life. And just so you know, I’m sure Hallie’s got something up her sleeve too. Now there’s a girl who likes to break rules.”

“Anyway, I’m glad to have a head start.” She tapped his campaign button. “And I’m glad you’re in my court.”

He grinned. “Hey, I like you, Megan. I really hope you win.”

“You’re not just saying that because I’m helping you in class?”

He shook his head with a sincere expression. “No way. You’re a good kid, Megan.” He chuckled as he stopped by his locker. “I know Hallie and Amanda well enough to know they don’t deserve this. I honestly hope you win. And I’m telling my friends to vote for you.”

“Thanks.” As she said this, she noticed Hallie watching them from where she was standing next to her locker. It was hard to read Hallie’s expression, but unless Megan was mistaken, the girl was jealous. Okay, the irony of someone like Hallie Bennett being jealous of Megan was a bit hard to believe. But as Megan parted ways with Dayton, she felt certain of it. And she liked it.

In fact, as she walked to the cafeteria, she thought if Jack didn’t ask her to prom, which she was hoping and praying would happen, maybe Dayton would. She didn’t like Dayton nearly as much as Jack, but he would be a good backup plan.

“Are you going to help me glaze bowls after school?” Lishia asked as Megan joined her friends in the lunch line.

“I want to, but I have rehearsal.”

“In other words, talk is cheap.”

“Huh?”

“You promised to help glaze bowls, but you can’t manage to squeeze it into your busy schedule?”

“How about this weekend?” Even as Megan said this, she remembered that the prom committee was meeting on Saturday morning.

“This batch needs to be in the kiln this weekend.” Lishia gave her a you-should-know-this look.

“Sorry. But it’s not like I can be in two places at one time.”

“Guess you should’ve thought of that sooner,” Janelle told her.

“I’m sorry,” Megan said again.

Now Lishia gave her a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry too,” she told her. “I shouldn’t rag on you like that.”

Megan just nodded.

“It’s just kinda stressful, you know?” Lishia sighed. “So much to get done and so little time.” She waved at Chelsea now. “I hope you’re grateful for all that Chelsea’s doing. She’s really putting a lot of energy into your fundraiser. You should see the silent auction list. It’s impressive.”

“I thought it was everyone’s fundraiser,” Megan reminded her.

“Except that you’ll get all the glory,” Janelle said as she picked up a burrito.

“I don’t want all the glory,” Megan protested. She took a plain green salad and set it on her tray next to her ice water. She’d heard that diet soda could sabotage her diet.

“Let’s stop grumping at her,” Lishia said to Janelle. “She can’t help that she’s got too much going on.”

“I really am sorry,” Megan told them again.

Despite some shameless flirting and obvious hinting, Megan couldn’t get Jack to invite her to prom during rehearsal on Wednesday. She could tell he liked her and enjoyed being with her, but he just didn’t seem to get it. Or else he got it but just didn’t want it. She wasn’t sure. As she left rehearsal she felt slightly defeated. And as she walked to her car, she counted how many days she had left to get Jack to ask her. This was Wednesday . . . and suddenly it hit her.

This was Wednesday—and she’d totally spaced book club. Of course, the real reason it hit her was because Brianna was standing in the parking lot. Almost as if she was waiting for Megan. Thankfully, Jack had gotten a ride home with someone else today. Otherwise he would have been forced to witness what was sure to be an embarrassing confrontation.

“If you planned to just blow us off, you could’ve at least texted or sent a note or something,” Brianna said in a grouchy tone.

“I’m so sorry.” Megan dramatically put her hand on her forehead. “I completely forgot book club.”

“Duh.”

“Was everyone there?”

“Everyone but you.”

“I’m really, really sorry.” Megan unlocked her car, hoping to make a quick getaway before Brianna got really mad.

“Look, you’re too busy for us and we know it. You only put the book club together because you thought it would get you more votes for prom queen. But you know what? We’re not buying. So you can just take it somewhere else.”

“I started book club because I thought it would be fun.”

“Yeah, right.” Brianna glared at her.

“I did. I happen to like to read. Not all of my friends do.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. I devoured all of the Harry Potter books. And all of Twilight. And Hunger Games. And a bunch of others too.”

“Oh . . . ?”

“I want to continue with book club,” she claimed. “We just have to change it to a different time.”

“What time?”

Megan frowned, trying to think. “I’m not sure. Probably in the evening. Or maybe on the weekend.”

“How about Saturday?”

“Well, Saturday’s kind of busy . . . I don’t know—”

“See, you’re not serious. I knew it. You were just using us and—”

“I am too serious. Fine. Saturday it is. But not in the morning.”

“Afternoon doesn’t work for me.” Brianna frowned. “How about Saturday night? Or are you too busy for that too?”

Megan wanted to say no, but knew she couldn’t keep stringing Brianna along without looking really lame. “Saturday night, and we can have it at my house. Okay?”

Brianna blinked. “Really? You won’t let us down again?”

“I give you my word. I’ll provide snacks too.” Even as Megan said this, she felt it was too much. Was she making a mistake? But what could she do at this point? Back out and look flaky?

“Okay. I’ll tell the others. What time? Like seven?”

“Seven is perfect.” Megan made what she hoped looked like a genuine smile. “I can’t wait.”

Brianna smiled back and then pointed to Megan’s campaign button hanging on her sweater. “Got any more of those?”

“Sure.” Megan unzipped her bright pink bag. “How many do you want?”

“One for everyone in the book club.”

“Really?” Megan fished out the buttons.

“We do like you,” Brianna assured her as she pocketed the buttons. “But we don’t want you to let us down. Okay?”

“Okay.” It wasn’t until Megan got into her car that she realized having book group on Saturday night meant she’d miss youth group again. This was troubling on several accounts, but mostly because she felt like now, more than ever, she truly needed it.

Two things became clear by the end of the week. For starters, Dayton seemed to be coming on to her. Oh, she thought it was her imagination at first. And sure, there’d been a time when she would’ve enjoyed that kind of attention from a jock. But for some reason, it was slightly irritating. As if he’d gone out with every first-string girl in the school and had finally decided to give a second-stringer a try—that is, if she was even second string. At least that was how she imagined he was thinking. To be fair, he might not have had that in his head at all. Perhaps he was simply grateful for her help in class. And maybe he actually did like her.

“Come on, Megan,” he pleaded with her as they walked to the cafeteria together. “Just one date.”

She laughed. “I’m sorry, Dayton, but your reputation precedes you. I’m really not your kind of girl.”

“But I’m changing. I’m tired of those kind of girls.”

She laughed louder. “What kind of girls?”

He shrugged. “I dunno. Whatever kind you think I go for. I’m broadening my interests. I gotta think about college next year. It’s time to grow up.”

She smiled as she patted him on the back. “That’s great to hear. I hope it’s true.”

“So give me a chance then. Go out with me tonight.”

Megan wasn’t sure if it was her hard-to-get act (which wasn’t even an act) or if he really liked her, but she just couldn’t see herself with Dayton Moore. Not on a date anyway.

“I know you and your friends are Christians,” Dayton told her as they paused inside the cafeteria. “But that doesn’t seem like a reason to snub me like this. Aren’t Christians supposed to be kind and loving?”

“That’s not why I turned you down.” She glanced over to where Chelsea and the others were already getting in line.

“Then just give me a chance.” He smiled hopefully. “One date. I mean, we have good times together. We get along so good. Why not try a date?”

“Tell you what,” she said quickly. “Let me think about it, okay?”

He didn’t look too pleased, but he nodded. “Okay. How about if I give you a call after school?”

“Sounds good.” She waved, then hurried over to her friends.

“Looks like you and Dayton are getting pretty cozy,” Lishia teased. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

“He’s not so bad,” Megan told them. Then she confessed about how he was pressuring her to go out with him tonight.

“You have to be joking.” Lishia laughed.

“He’s pretty serious.” Megan picked up her tray.

Janelle firmly shook her head. “Big mistake. He’s been my neighbor for years and the guy is trouble. Trouble with a capital T.”

“But what if he’s changing?” Now Megan told them about how he was fun in class. How they got along. And finally how he said he wanted to grow up.

“What a line.” Janelle rolled her eyes as she set a basket of fries on her tray.

“I don’t know,” Chelsea said as she filled her soda cup. “Dayton’s not so bad. I think if Megan wants to give him a chance, she should.”

“Oh, I’m not saying I want to,” Megan said quickly. “I just told him I’d think about it. Mostly to get him off my case.”

“Well, you don’t have a date for prom yet,” Lishia reminded her.

“Yes . . . I’m well aware of that.” Megan scowled.

“But she’s working on Jack,” Janelle said. “Remember?”

“I know,” Lishia told her. “But she can’t wait too long.”

“Trust me,” Megan assured her. “I look at the calendar every day.” She didn’t admit that this dateless situation was not only blowing her prom queen schedule but keeping her awake at night as well. Nor had she told them that her dress was too tight. Or that she was so hungry it took all her self-control not to grab a handful of Janelle’s fries, or take a bite
of Lishia’s cheese pizza, or gulp down Chelsea’s Sierra Mist. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself there were some facts a girl needed to keep to herself.

“Well, Jack really seems to like you,” Chelsea assured her. “I’ll bet he’s already making a plan to invite you to prom.”

As much as Megan wanted to believe this, the other thing that seemed crystal clear by the end of the week was that she was making absolutely no progress with Jack. Her get-Jack-to-invite-me-to-prom strategy was failing miserably. No matter how much she flirted, hinted, or attempted to act coy, he was not biting. To make matters worse, it seemed that Clarisa was getting just as interested in Jack as Megan was. In fact, while using the restroom during their break at rehearsal, Megan had overheard Clarisa telling her friend Saundra that if Jack didn’t ask her to prom, she intended to ask him. Naturally this made Megan even more determined to nail this.

What was really annoying was how it seemed Jack was enjoying the whole thing just a little too much. Almost as if he knew exactly what was going on. But to be fair, Jack was no stranger to flirtatious girls. He was usually surrounded by them. And despite some rumors circulating around school about why he didn’t date, Megan was pretty sure he liked girls just fine.