Chapter Seven—Success
"So are you guys stoked for the big party tomorrow or what?" Pogue asked excitedly, sitting down with his usual burger and fries. Tyler, Caleb, Pogue and Reid had all met up for dinner at Nicky's for a break from their tedious homework load.
"Oh shit," Tyler said. "I completely forgot that was tomorrow!"
"Me to," Caleb said, he had been so distracted lately he'd even forgotten about the upcoming weekend. "Isn't at Lacey's place?"
"Yeap," Pogue nodded, taking a large bite from his burger. "It's her annual back to school themed party. How could you guys forget?"
"What's the stupid theme this year?" Reid asked, slurping loudly through his straw.
"Some stupid ball thing. Everyone's just going to dress up, get completely smashed and then end up passing out in her hot tub."
"Dude, remember last year?" Reid chuckled. "The theme was 'Under the Sea' the chicks wore like, nothing all night."
"Yeah well Lacey says we all have to dress up formally this time, and bring dates."
"What?" The other three groaned.
"The party is like, tomorrow. This sucks."
"It's easy for all of you," Pogue grumbled. "Look, Tyler can take Val, Caleb can take the new girl Blake, don't give me that look Caleb, I saw you two in the library today. You totally want her. And Reid, you can take Cass."
At this final remark, Reid slapped the table and began to laugh.
"You're joking, right? Cass? Agreeing to date with yours truly? Pogue she wouldn't know what to say if I asked."
"Whatever dude," Pogue shrugged. "A date is a date, and I know for a fact nobody's asked her yet."
"I hate having dates." Tyler grumbled, now picking at his fries grumpily with a fork. "It's such a pain in the ass to ask."
"Well you know Lacey, she's strict about that kind of stuff."
"Why don't you ask Lena, Pogue," Caleb taunted. He was a little miffed at Pogue's remark about him and Blake. "I saw you eye fucking her in the library today."
"Dude, who's Lena?" Tyler asked.
"Pogue, have you been keeping a babe from us?" Reid demanded. "That is against the brotherly code of love!"
"I haven't been keeping anything," Pogue retorted. "Lena's my English partner. She transferred in late last semester from Italy, she's really cool."
"Who cares if she's cool?" Reid snorted. "The question is, is she doable?"
"You're disgusting man." Tyler said, shaking his head.
"She's hot if that's what you mean." Pogue said, whipping off his face with a napkin.
"Well then call her up," Reid said simply. "Tell her to put on his best dress, sexiest pair of underwear and have her naked in the hot tub by 9."
"You are sick man, really." Pogue shook his head and him.
"Yeah, get your brain checked out sometime for deficiencies." Tyler sneered.
"Gentleman, there is nothing wrong about enjoying the special features of woman." Reid said, attempting a tone of innocence.
"Anyways," Pogue rolled his eyes. "Hey Caleb! Tell them how crazy is it you and that new hottie used to be friends in the womb."
Reid and Tyler looked utterly perplexed.
"What? You and Blake were baby buddies?" Reid said, amazed with this information.
"Yeah," Caleb smiled. "She lived here in Ipswich until she was two and a half, guess it turns out our mom's were pretty tight back in the day."
"That's totally bizarre dude. Must be like, a sign from up above."
"Yeah," Reid snorted in agreement. "A sign from above that you should get her down below." With this he added a perverted gesture that caused Tyler to choke on a french fry and Pogue to burry his face in his hand.
"I'm going to have to agree with Pogue and Tyler," Caleb said, looking slightly mortified by Reid's action. "You need help."
"Whatever," Reid said with a 'Pfft' and a wave of his hand. "You know what I'm talking about. I bet she's way better then Sarah."
"He's probably right dude," Pogue grinned. "Blake is smoking."
Tyler nodded in agreement. "Go for it dude, it can't hurt to ask her to a party."
"Fair point," Caleb grinned, swiping one of Reid's fries.
"Hey those are mine!" Reid whined, shooting him a dirty look.
"That's for stealing my cookie." Caleb said, grabbing another handful and dodging a blow from Reid. And with that, all four of them began to laugh.
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The next morning however, during swimming, none of them were laughing.
"This totally sucks." Tyler moaned again. "I'm going to look like a total idiot asking her to this gay ball thing, especially after what happened."
"Simms, quit your whining. She's probably dying for you to ask her. Cassidy on the other hand, how am I supposed to pull that one off? She's a stubborn girl, that one. Which is probably part of the reason I want her so bad." Reid seemed to trail off into deep thought after this.
Caleb stepped out of the shower, wrapping one towel around his waist and grabbing another one to dry off his hair with.
"Well I have no idea how I'm going to ask Blake," he said, stepping into the conversation. "I don't even know if I should or not."
"Why wouldn't you?" Pogue interjected as he swiped on his deodorant.
"Reid, could you please put some clothes on?" Tyler muttered, turning abruptly away the moment he had glanced over at Reid. "It really creeps me out how you walk around in the change room naked all the time."
"You enjoy it fag," Reid shrugged, grabbing his boxers off of the bench and slipping them on.
"So who wants to wager a little bet fellows?"
Caleb, Tyler and Pogue all groaned. Reid always made up stupid bets, with even stupider consequences for the losers.
"What is it this time Reid?" Caleb asked, yanking his white wife beaten over his head.
"Last person to get there date has to pay everyone here 20 bucks."
"No thanks," Tyler said grimly.
"Why would you even bet that you idiot?" Pogue asked. "You'd be the one losing."
Reid punched him and Pogue dodged it, so Reid settled by giving him dirty looks for the remaining five minutes in the change room.
"Well," said Tyler, stepping out of the pool building and into the fresh air. "Good luck boys." He gave them a serious salute and then halted as he spotting Val, crossing the path towards the main building.
"You to. I really don't want to have to star in 'Saving Private Tyler'" Reid chuckled. "Well, this is men, get r' done." He said, clapping Pogue and Caleb firmly on the backs, before heading off.
"He's totally screwed." Pogue muttered as they watched Reid dash across the lawn. Caleb smiled.
"You never know with Reid. He's bound to pull something off."
"Yeah, well we better get going ourselves." Pogue said and they began to walk across the lawn.
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It was Tyler who succeeded first.
"I did it," he said smugly as he took his seat next to Reid for their American history class. Reid shot him a repulsive look but then it turned to a smile.
"What'd I tell you? Easy as pie for you."
"Yeah well, I definitely feel better now that that's done and over with. She seemed all happy and pleased when I asked her."
"It's because she likes you man."
"Nah," Tyler shook his head. "I told you already man, she's cool with us just being, you know—"
"Fuck buddies?" Reid interjected.
"Well, I wasn't going to use those words exactly but I guess you could say—"
"Hush!" Said Reid, placing a finger to his lips. He nudged Tyler and pointed to a few seats lower then theirs.
"Looks like Pogue's making his move on that Lena girl."
"She is pretty hot," Tyler murmured back. "Better then Kate, that's for damn sure." He said, glaring over at Kate who said a few seats down from him and Reid, chatting loudly non-stop to Lacey who looked completely uninterested in whatever Kate was saying.
"Oh man, she's going to throw a fit if she sees Pogue with someone else." Reid giggled.
"I thought she dumped him?" Tyler said.
"She did. Which is exactly why she's going to be pissed. She probably just wants to see him moping around and being miserable."
"How girls find that amusing I will never know." Tyler said, shaking his head.
After class, Tyler and Reid caught up with Pogue to find out the news.
"Well?" Reid questioned. "How did it go?"
"I haven't asked her, yet." Pogue said defensively. "I asked to have lunch with me first. So if you two will excuse me, I have a date to catch."
"Good luck buddy!" Reid called as Pogue winked and headed over towards Lena who was waiting patiently for him at the door, smiling as he caught up with her.
"Well," Reid sighed. "I guess it's time for me to face the music."
"You're going to find Cass?" Tyler asked.
"Yupp. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it."
Tyler gave him a cheer as Reid hurried off, scanning the crowd for Cass. When he found he, he was delighting to see her walking by herself towards the café. Reid jogging towards her until they fell into step.
"Morning Cassidy."
"It's after twelve, Garwin." She said, but didn't seem to mind that Reid was walking beside her.
"So what are you up to?" Reid asked casually, his hands shoved into his pockets as he sauntered along beside her.
"Going to meet Val, see what she's up to." Cass answered, fidgeting with her purse.
"So you excited for the big party tonight?" Reid asked. Cass looked up from her bag and stared at him.
"I guess so, yourself?"
"Sure am. But say, I hear from my sources that you, Cassidy Wells, do not have a date to this grand event at present time. Am I correct in this statement?"
She sighed. "That you are, Garwin."
"Well now that's a surprise."
"I guess," she said glumly.
"Well, I have a proposition for you." He grinned.
"Do tell," she said irritably.
"As amazing and insanely popular as I am," Reid began. Cass shot him a look that told him to cut to the chase. "Despite all this, I also, do not have a date to the party. And seeing how it is an almost requirement, at least for all those who are socially inclined. I figured you and I might as well go together."
"You know, normally I would say no." Cassidy began. "However," she shot him a slight smile.
"You do have status Garwin, and a girl with as much reputation as myself, could not afford to attend such an event without a date. So, under these conditions, I'll agree."
Reid was completely stunned. He gaped at her; he had been expecting a flat out no, followed by several insults and a bruised ego.
"Pick me up at 7," she said decisively and then marched off to the café.
Reid stood there, mouth still slightly open and dumbstruck as she headed off. Then he pounded his fist into his palm and let out a quiet "Yes! You are the man Garwin. You are the man!"
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"She said yes?" Tyler asked, in utter disbelief. "Well, wow, what can I say? Congratulations buddy!"
"It's just my endearing sense of charm." Reid bragged, puffing out his chest. It was his turn to be behaving smugly. Caleb groaned and shifted the food around on his plate. The feeling in his stomach had grown slightly worse since yesterday, but this time the butterflies accompanied it. He was usually never nervous to ask a girl out on a date, as much as he hated to admit it, he knew he was exceedingly popular with the ladies.
A few moments later Pogue came over looking smug and sat down beside Caleb.
"Well I've got myself a date. How about you Reid?"
"It was as simple as 1,2,3." Reid gloated, looking positively smug.
"No way, she said yes? How about you Caleb?"
"Looks like I'm the only one who's going alone so far. I haven't asked her yet."
"Well get on it dude," Pogue said. "I've already heard that Drew Brady wants to ask her, along with half the water polo team."
"And we all know she wants you to ask her," Reid said, jabbing a finger at Caleb's chest.
"But if you don't hurry she might have to settle for second best."
"All right fine," Caleb muttered in defeat. "I'll go find her before English."
He scraped his chair and got up, tossing the remains of his lunch in the trash. He wished his stupid jitters would go away. He scanned the room, spotted Blake who had just gotten up to leave. Perfect, she was alone. This was the one chance he was going to get. He hurried over to the exit she was heading to, pushing past several indignant people as he did so.
"Hey! Blake!" He called after her. "Wait up!"
She turned and stopped, smiling at him.
"Hey Caleb, what's up?"
"You headed to English?" He asked, slightly out of breath.
"Yeah! Just thought I'd go for a walk outside first, want to join?"
"Sure," Caleb grinned, feeling oddly shy.
They headed outside, walking side by side until they reached a nearby bench and sat down.
"So," She said, straightening out her skirt and school tie. "You exciting for the big party tonight?"
"Yeah, for sure." He replied.
"Lacey says it's going to be a blast," she said excitedly. "I went to her house last night, it's a sick party spot."
"It really is," Caleb nodded in agreement. "Lacey always throws killer parties."
"Yeah," She nodded. "I only wish I had a date."
"Well actually," Caleb grinned. "I'm still looking for a date too, and I was kind of hoping you'd go with me." He flashed her his winning smile, but still felt slightly sick to his stomach.
"Really," she said with a grin, her eyes flashing. "And why is that?"
"Well," said Caleb grinning back, feeling his cheeks heat up. "I don't want your first big Spencer party to be ruined if you go with a jerk or a water polo player."
"How am I supposed to know you're not a jerk?" She smirked, eyes settled firmly on his.
"You've just got to take my word for it I guess." He shrugged playfully. "Besides, ask your mom, I'm sure she'll say I was a gentleman even at age two and a half."
"I'm sure she would." She laughed. "Okay, well, why don't you pick me up at seven?"
"How about 6," he said, smiling at her. "I want to take you out to dinner first."
"Good idea," she nodded. "Drinking on an empty stomach is never wise."
"So it's a date," Caleb said, feeling his spirits sore as he stood up.
"It's a date. See you in class," she winked at him and then headed off towards the English building. Caleb stretched his arms over his head and was almost tempted to give himself a pat on the back. Maybe things weren't going so bad these days after all.
Author's Note: Okay, okay, I know I said a plot twist. But I thought the chapter ended perfectly here, and the big party is coming up next, with something else. Keep guessing but I guarantee you won't figure it out! Stay tuned, and thanks once again to everyone who's reading, you guys are awesome!