By the time I stepped outside, most everyone had already cleared out, thank God. It wasn't a long walk from school to the strip mall, but it really sucked to be a senior without a license and risk getting caught hoofing it around town.

I got about ten steps away from the parking lot when a black Bronco pulled up beside me. The windows were tinted and only cracked an inch, enough to allow me to hear some creepy old dude ask, "Hey, little girl. You need a ride?"

The best thing to do when confronted with a pervert is to simply ignore them. Which is exactly what I did as I kept walking, hoping the freak would just go on his merry way and find some other, more stupid girl to lock in his basement.

But then, something about the way he started laughing made me do a double-take as the window slid down, revealing Trip—my crush—in the midst of cracking himself up.

"You idiot!" I laughed out. "I thought you were a random perv, you jerk!"

"Sorry," he chuckled. "Hey, where you going? I'll drive you."

Truth was, I really wanted to get in Trip's truck. But I also really didn't want him to think that I really wanted to.

"Um. Actually, I'm just headed over to the mall."

"C'mon. Hop in. After scaring you, the least I can do is give you a ride."

Well, when you put it that way...

As I stepped into the passenger seat, he asked, "Where to, Miss Daisy?"

Cute.

"I guess you can just drop me at Totally Videos."

He put the truck in gear. "As you wish."

I don't even know what I wish, I thought.

I mean, I probably should've just been content to ride out my good fortune.

Sometimes, when you're part of the popular crowd, there's a ton of pressure on you. Everyone is always aware of what you wear, or do, or say. Sometimes, it feels like you're being scrutinized with a fine-tooth comb, any flaws magnified tenfold. You're always expected to act a certain way.

But sometimes, there were perks.

Here was this great-looking guy, fresh from the farm and plunked right into my very own high school. Out of some unspoken law of the universe, it was just assumed that he would be part of our group. I knew most of the girls in school were drooling at Trip from afar. And yet, lucky me, I was afforded actual access.

But somehow, it felt a little vapid. I wondered if he would have bothered offering me a ride if I was just some random classmate as opposed to a girl who was part his new circle. I supposed I'd never figure it out, but what I really wanted was for Trip to want to be around me, not just hang with me out of default.

Not that I was complaining. At that moment, I was just happy to be where I was.