33 || Valentines Day Pt. 2

"You guys totally had a moment!" Chanel squeals. We're at our usual table at Pinkberry before school.

"It's confirmed," Ivy nods. "He likes you."

"You think?" I ask but I'm smiling.

"Yes!" They all yell.

"The ship is sailing," Nikole sings.

I want to tell them to calm down, that nothing really happened, but it's hard not to get swept up in their hype.

"The evidence is all there," Ivy lays her palm flat on the table. "The kisses, the looks, everything."

"Ok Sherlock," I can't help but roll my eyes.

"We just have to deal with Vanessa," Chanel's smile fades.

The table quiets as we all think about her.

"I say we beat her up!" Nikole punches her fist into her palm.

"We can't solve everything with violence," Ivy says.

"It worked with Britney."

I lay a hand on her arm. "I appreciate the thought but I don't think it's come to that yet."

"Let's just keep an eye on her for now," Ivy suggests. "She hasn't really posed a big threat."

"Yet," Chanel scoops a spoonful of yogurt.

I'm tired of talking about Vanessa. She irritates my soul. "Let's switch topics. Today's the day the roses are getting delivered!"

"Ooohhh," Nikole wiggles her eyebrows. "Are you excited?"

"Yes I'm so excited I could just puke from my excited-ness!"

We stand up and throw out our trash before heading to school. The roses will be delivered during second period, which just happens to be English, the class I have with Carter and Vanessa.

It's hard to pay attention to Ms. Faye when I'm anxiously staring at the door. Finally it opens and some of student government walks in rolling a cart filled with roses. The class cheers.

"Settle down!" Ms. Faye claps.

Stacy stands in front of the classroom announcing who the roses are for but not saying who they're from. I get my roses from the girls and giggle at the stupid stuff they wrote on their cards. Im thinking that's it when Stacy calls my name again. I'm genuinely surprised.

"Aubrey Powers?"

Huh? I look up. She's holding a bouquet of red roses. My mouth falls open a bit. I stand up and walk up to her.

"Someone really likes you," she grins handing me the roses. I'm shocked.

When I get back to my table I open the card. It doesn't say who they're from, it's just addressed to me. Vanessa's nosy ass tries to read the card. I close it and glare at her.

"Can I help you?"

"Chill out," she rolls her eyes.

I always knew her dumb nice act was fake.

Carter gets his roses and I watch his face. He smiles and accepts them from Stacy then sits at his desk to read the card. He looks thoughtful. I
bet he's wondering who sent them.

I laugh to myself.

I practically float out of class with my roses.

"Guess who got roses?" I say grinning like crazy at lunch.

"Ooooh," Chanel wiggles her brows at me and Ivy winks.

"I bet it's from a cute boy," Nikole smiles cheekily and I nudge her to be quiet because Carter and the guys are at the table. And Vanessa although I have no idea why.

"It could be from Jason Dunce," Vanessa opens her big mouth and just like that my good mood is sucked dry.

"I don't believe anyone asked for your opinion," Nikole snaps.

"Chill," Ryan says and she glares at him.

I don't have to look to know the girls are shooting Vanessa dirty looks. Either she's oblivious and doesn't realize or she knows and is just pretending to ignore them.

"I don't think they're from Jason Dunce," Carter speaks.

I give him a curious look. "Why would you think that?"

He shrugs. "Just a thought."

"Who do you think sent you roses?" Ivy asks slyly.

"I honestly have no idea."

"Dude it could be anyone," Trevor says. "Literally almost all the girls are in love with you."

"Is there anyone in particular you wish they were from?" Chanel probes and I suck my pink lemonade through my straw so I can keep my face neutral.

"Yeah," Carter replies and I see him subtly glance at me which makes me choke on my drink and I start coughing and spluttering wildly.

"Eww you got spit on me," Vanessa whines.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes.

After lunch Ivy pulls me aside.

"Ask him to the dance."

"What?!"

"Ask Carter to the dance. You do know it's girls ask boys this year right?"

Oh yeah. Every school year we switch it up. Last year it was boys ask girls now it's girls ask boys.

"I can't," I chew my lips nervously. "What if he says no?"

"Aubrey you idiot! He likes you ok? Capiche? So ask him."

I nod.

I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna ask Carter to the dance.

I'm so gonna do it.

Just walk right up and ask him.

Easy peasy.

After school we have another committee meeting and work on the decorations. The dance is this Saturday and we have to be here at ten am to start setting up.

"Did you ask him yet?" Ivy comes up to me while I'm painting a heart.

"No not yet. I'm gonna ask him after we're done here."

"Thata girl," she hip bumps me and I give her a anxious smile. My heart is beating in nervous anticipation.

After finishing up I wait for Carter to say goodbye to everyone and pack up his things. Then I follow him out to the parking lot.

"Hey!" I call out. "Wait up!"

He turns and smirks at me. "Need a ride?"

"No," I huff falling in step with him. "You're so gross. Sometimes I wonder why-"

I cut myself off and he raises a brow at me. "Sometimes you wonder what?"

"Nothing," I shake my head.

"Well what can I help you with since you don't need a ride?" We reach his motorcycle and I take a deep breath. This is it. The big moment. It's now or never because if I chicken out now there's no way I'll be able to do it later.

"There's something I wanted to ask you..."

"Mhmm," he leans against the bike.

"It's-its about the dance..." I stutter out. Baby steps Aubrey you're getting there.

"Go on."

"I was wondering if- I mean I wanted to ask if-" I pause and take a deep breath. "I wanted to ask if you'd-"

"Carter!"

Are you freaking kidding me? Vanessa comes jogging over out of breath.

"There you are. I'm glad I caught you before you left," she smiles at him and gives me a quick once over before turning away.

"Yeah I was just talking to Aubrey," he turns to me. "You were asking?"

I open my mouth to ask again because there's no way I'm going to let Vanessa stop me. But before I can speak she quickly interjects.

"Wait real quick I wanted to ask. Are you going to the dance with anyone? Because I actually really wanted to ask if you'd go with me." She smiles shyly at him.

I actually feel like someone took my heart out of my chest, squeezed it until blood started leaking, then crushed it completely.

For a moment Carter is speechless. He stares at her. Then he turns to look at me. And at that moment I just can't bear it. I can't ask him to the dance and I can't confess I like him.

I really am a chicken. 

So I laugh and give him a little shove. "Don't be rude. You should never pause for that long after someone asks you a question like that."

I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth. What is wrong with me?

"Yeah sure," Carter finally says. "I'll go with you."

Vanessa smiles the biggest smile while my chest literally hurts and I want to cry.

But somehow I force a copy and paste smile on my lips and say goodbye.

"Wait but you wanted to ask me something," Carter stops me.

I wave him off. "Never mind. It was about the decorations but I'll figure it out myself." Then I woodenly turn away and head home.

As soon as I'm far away enough I let the first tears slide. Then I'm full on crying.

I wonder what people driving by are thinking.

Why is that weird girl with the pink hair sobbing like someone just killed her cat?

Please don't hate me!

I'm sorry it just had to happen! It would be rude if Carter had said no though right? After Vanessa worked up SO much courage to ask him. He was just being polite. So don't hate him either!

I'm sorry for the very late update but ya know it is what it is, I'm trying to update more often but I'm struggling with writing (like sitting down and just writing) and with the added bonus of school stress it's just not happening. So I apologize for making you wait long and yeah I'll TRY to update again by Friday or before but no promises!

Also I have a question I want to ask you guys as my readers and please answer cause this is actually important.

What genre would you like to see me write? More teen fiction? Fantasy? Vampire? Young adult? Romance?

I'm going to try my hardest to wrap this book up in the next month or so and of course I have to start thinking about what I want to write next. So it's helpful to hear some ideas from you all.

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