After the first day things started to settle into a nice little routine. Get up, go to school, watch practice with Christine, get a ride home with Louie, do homework, go to bed. On the weekends I worked at Lind's from 10-3 and after that Christine and I would find some of the boys and hang out with them for a while. Sometimes we'd go out to a movie, or they'd scrimmage in the park while Christine and I'd watch. Whatever we did, we always had fun though; I remember thinking that life really couldn't get any better.

At least 'til report cards came out.

"A, A, B, A, B-, A. Beat that Petey."

"With Pleasure. A, A, A, B, A, A-. So I'll be seeing you at the homecoming baby girl." Petey turned on his heel and strolled towards the Titan table, leaving his report card on the table.

Christine was in shock. "There is no way Petey Jones beat me. Liz, where's your calculator?"

I dug it out and added their scores. "4 plus 4 plus 3.8 plus 4 plus 3.2 plus 4. Divided by six is… 3.5. That's yours. 4 plus 4 plus 4 plus 3.8 plus 4 plus 3.2. Divided by six… 3.67. I'm so sorry Christine."

We looked at Petey, whose face was covered in mashed potatoes, apparently on purpose. "Not as sorry as I am. What am I gonna do?" Her head fell into her hands and she groaned.

Ronnie sat down next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Well you made the bet, guess you'll have to go to homecoming with him."

"But I don't even have a dress." Christine admitted through her fingers.

"I don't think Petey would care if you came in a paper sack. He really likes you and he wants to show you that."

"You can wear one of my mamma's old 40's dresses. I'll go too, so then you'll have somebody to talk to." I wasn't planning on going but this was an emergency.

Ronnie looked up suddenly. "You weren't coming?"

I shrugged. "Not 'til now, and I guess it's too late to scrounge up a date."

"Want to go with me?"

My face felt hot. "Um sure. Pick me up at eight?"

Ronnie glanced over at the Titan table. "Actually, the team's going out for dinner first and I said I'd come. So how's six fifteen?"

"That's fine, tell Petey to pick Christine up at my house too. We can get ready together."