The boys were bummed that I couldn't make it to the game. Unnecessarily bummed. And since I couldn't tell them the real reason, they thought I was making excuses to not come. Well, in their defense, migraine was probably not the most creative excuse of all time. In mine, I was put too much on the spot to think of anything else believable.

They are already treating me as a part of their group. A fundamental part. Two weeks and yet these boys make me feel as if I've known them for a lifetime. They include me in everything. Their groups, their plans, their pranks . . . everything. It has been a long time since I had a friend group outside the Blacks. A little over a year and a half to be exact. But the warmth with which they welcomed me, its awfully hard not to go along with whatever they want.

They'd cracked me in record time. I never thought I'd let people in that easily.

They are so playful. I've never seen a bunch of boys with such mismatched personalities getting along like a well oiled machine. They're coordinated and in so bro-manlily sync with each, its both hilarious and cute. What they have is enviable. Logan is slowly settling in as one of them too. It's like we were all meant to be. Damn, that was cliché. But I guess life can get a little cliché once in a while.

Luke was making it painfully obvious that he's trying to set me up with someone. Guess who, guess who?

That's right! The asshole Benjamin.

Well, I guess he's not as much of an asshole as before, but, urgh, come on! Its a good thing that its a group of mostly boys because then I'm pretty sure all of them would've been aware of my constant embarrassment and the deadly looks I give Luke. But of course, that bastard is unaffected. In fact, it only seems to egg him on more. So, I've decided to stop. Reacting and telling him to stop, I mean.

The homecoming court was announced at the pep rally at half time during the game. To no one's surprise, Alexander, Benjamin and Lucian were princes. Lauren was a princess too. Bad news was that so were Tarter and Asher along with some other people. Apparently, each year five boys and five girls are selected as the Homecoming Court. Three of them would be Seniors and two would be Juniors. 

The boys want to go to the beach next weekend. Which is also the weekend after the homecoming game, and homecoming dance.

Speaking of, I still don't have a date. And who do I ask, considering I'm new? There's only one person I do know but asking Logan would be inviting an unprecedented awkward situation. I'd rather not. We had decided to do the group thing, but then Lauren insisted that we get dates yesterday.

I wonder why.

What happened next? Well, Ben got himself a date, Luke was annoyed, Nick was uncomfortable and Alex was overjoyed. Me? Inconvenienced. 

I'll either go stag, or convince Freya. I am not staying home.

Cart and Jake visited this weekend. Properly this time, not a surprise visit. We played a lot of games Saturday evening and ordered pizza. Sunday, we had fun watching Harry Potter marathons for the most part of the day.

Anyways, back to present, Freya and I were going to her place to work on a paper for Mr. McQueen. We didn't sit near each other in class this semester, so we decided to make up for it this way.

I gaped at the place as I followed her. It was magnificent . . . and too familiar.

"You live here?" I asked her after parking my car in the driveway as told and locked my car, walking up to her.

"Well, I certainly hope so," her lips tugged up, "Or else we might get kicked out quite disgracefully."

"I feel like I've been here before," I told her, eyeing the place.

"Ha ha, I don't think so," she chuckled nervously, "Unless you were spying on me . . ."

I gave her a blank look. She laughed.

"Come on!" she urged, grabbing my hand. The place was damn big, with its two stories and glass walls of the house, overlooking the pacific. The swimming pool and the lighting was an added bonus.

She led me through the place, but I could hardly absorb all its beauty. I wanted to live in a house like that. It was my dream house . . . well, close enough.

She dragged me upstairs to what I assumed was her room. And to say I was surprised was an understatement. It was so . . . so girly. Very unlike what I imagined her room to be. I kept my face blank and followed her in without any comment.

God, so much fur and pink. I have nothing against a girl being girly but it doesn't appeal to me at all. Its just not my cup of tea. I felt so out of my comfort zone.

"Okay, settle down, make yourself at home," Freya sighed as she dumped her bag near the door, "I'll go get us something to eat and drink."

I nodded mindlessly in agreement and she left. I took out my laptop and got comfortable to work. After a round of snacks and drinks, we fell quiet and worked silently on our papers. Our silence was interrupted by loud footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Freya!" a deep voice sang, the footsteps halting outside her door. They knocked. I sat up straight, amused and confused at the same time. Freya froze and cursed under her breath.

"I'll be right back," she said apologetically, hastily getting up, opening the door, going out and shutting it behind her. I was curious, hearing the hushed tones and hurried conversation.

She came in after a while, making sure to shut the door behind her.

"Umm sorry about that . . ." she said sheepishly.

"That's fine," I shrugged, "Who was that?" I asked, failing to curb my curiosity. Her eyes flashed with panic for a split second before she answered, "Oh, just my brother, you don't know him."

I frowned.

"I think I recognized the voice," I said.

"Yeah, well, we go to the same school so you might've heard him the hallways," she laughed awkwardly.

"Okay," I dragged out, "Back to the paper."

****************

I went home late that evening. After we finished the paper (which was due Friday, by the way), Freya and I watched dog videos to spend time, laughing and 'aww'ing over their adorable little selves. Her brother didn't appear again.

I was offered dinner there, but I politely declined. Logan texted me that he made me lasagna. My favorite. That's actually what prompted me to take my leave. Logan can cook only one dish, and that's lasagna. But that lasagna he makes is to kill for. At least I think so.

Logan and I chatted while we ate, going over all topics from sports to school. We steered clear from the mention of our parents.

"Who're you going to Homecoming with?" he asked out of the blue. I paused chewing, briefly wondering how reminiscing how they messed with my hair by sticking gum in it a few years ago went to Homecoming. I swallowed deliberately.

Then cursed myself internally for forgetting to talk to Freya about it.

"Umm no one yet," I stated, "Why, what about you?" I asked him for the sake of politeness.

"No one," he shrugged, then brightening up, "We can go together!"

I almost choked on the bite of lasagna I was eating. I did not expect him to suggest that. I'd thought he'd find a who- an actual date to go with.

I cleared my throat. Okay, that'll solve the problem of dates. But I'd thought about this too, and I can't ignore the fact that it felt weird. And wrong. But . . . people go as friend-dates all the time.

"How about this, we wait till Thursday to see if we get any genuine dates. If we don't, we go together as friends," I proposed.

"Fine," he clipped and stalked away to wash his empty dishes.

I sighed.

"Logan, what's going on with you?" I asked, annoyed, "You're being so weird, being hot and cold so quickly, you're giving me a whiplash!"

"Nothing," he said curtly, doing his dishes.

"Oh, don't fuck with me," I rolled my eyes, "If something is going on, talk about it. If you have a problem, say something. This is stupid. We never fight like this and I don't want to start now."

He let out a deep breath.

"Its nothing, Isabelle, I swear," he sighed, turning to me.

"Fine," I huffed, "Don't tell me." 

I stomped to my room without doing my dishes. I'll do it when when he's gone.

Have you ever fought with any of your close friends repeatedly for no reason? Isn't it annoying? Not communicating, not talking, pushing away, it all aggravates the situation. I wish he's just spit it out and be at peace.

But nope! We wanna suffer. Fine, effing do that.

*******************

Boys in the school were very wary of me after the Archer incident. Very wary. To the point where they wouldn't look at me in the eye and would apologize profusely even if I bumped into them in the hallways.

In their defense, Archer was gone from school for two days after that. So, yeah . . .

It was satisfying and amusing  initially, now its just irritating. They walk on eggshells around me. I mean, okay, I kneed a boy in the balls, I didn't murder him, people. I don't see the fuss about it. Now, it was inconvenient because I didn't have a date to Homecoming despite it being Thursday. Logan got a date - ahem! - Tarter.

I was preying on Freya for that reason.

"Lets go, Freya, pleeeaassee!!" I begged her. She gave me an unimpressed look.

"No," she said flatly. Boy, does the girl know to stand her ground. We've been going on about this on and off since Tuesday afternoon. But, I can be persistent too. I'll break her, I'm sure. I just hope its in time or the dance.

"Freya, come on, it'll be fun," I tried to convince her . . . again.

She groaned.

"Will you let me finish my assignments if I said yes?" she questioned. 

I nodded eagerly, "I promise."

"Fine," she buried her head in her hands.

"Yay!" I hugged her, "Thanks, Freya!!"

"Yeah, now get off," she huffed. I laughed.

"You love me," I said.

"Right," she rolled her eyes, "Keep telling yourself that." 

I pouted, opening my mouth to reply but she beat me to it.

"Remember your promise," she narrowed her eyes.

I begrudgingly shut my mouth and she went back to her work with an approving nod.

At least I got my way . . . sort of.

*******************************

The Homecoming game was amazing. Our school got a parade doing at half time with the homecoming court in it. Ben was pissed, having to have to go through that, and I quote, 'completely unnecessary travesty of a ridiculous high school tradition'. Naturally, we all cracked up at this. Obviously, he sulked even more.

But they managed to get him to participate. Luke, ever the charismatic heartthrob, had all girls drooling. Ben with his I-can't-care-less attitude was hooking the females of Eastwood High, Lauren was sucking up all the attention with wild grins and seductive winks. Alexander seemed to be having a good time with all the air kisses he blew. I'd never seen a boy blow them out before without looking weird. Definitely a unique talent. Tarter predictably did things that elicited wolf whistles from all the bleachers.

I won't be surprised if she wins Homecoming Queen after that. After all like it or not, majority of our school was boys. 

Needless to say, it was an interesting and memorable half time.

We ended up wining the game, which added to our zealous spirits and the after party was an epic blast. I did not drink more than two beers, so a little tipsy was as far as I went and I survived without any mishaps.

 Amazing how being sober can prevents unwanted situations, right?

I was the DD for the evening as the boys were hell bent on forgetting reality. To say I was annoyed at trying to get their sorry, inebriated asses back to my car to drive them home would've been an understatement. But I did it anyways, like a good friend would.

They all owe me free food and drinks for a week.

What? I said I did what I good friend would. I didn't say I did it for free, you dimwits!

*********************
{17th May 2021}
*********************

A/N

Late update . . . sorry. I just had an inspiration for another story line. Check it out if you want.

Until next time, all my love,
xoxo.