He was well behaved this morning- knowing that if he wasn't I would freak out. He even ignored Izzy's pleas of "Go faster Charley….pleeeasseee….just for this street- look there isn't even anyone else here…pleeeeasseee". Izzy's just as bad as Charley when it comes to speed- worse in fact. And she's even more dangerous considering she doesn't seem to give a crap about denting her car. She's just luckier than Charley when it comes to crashing and whatnot.
Izzy slams the car door, trapping one of the tassles on her hazardously long scarf in the process.
"Oh dammit."
I turn to see her tugging on her scarf and laugh.
"Oh yea very funny." Izzy grumbles finally freeing herself from the door and catching up with me and Charley. She's been weird this morning- all grumpy. Definetely not her usual chipper self. Charley seems to have noticed this to.
"What's up your butt?"
Izzy sighs dramatically and tosses that offending scarf over her shoulder. She's gone for boho chic this morning. With faded straight leg Levis tucked into brown knee high flat boots and a pink and purple kaftan type thing.
"It's the formal at the end of this week and no-one's asked me…I'm thinking of boycotting the whole thing"
"Sure…just like you were going to attack Eva Bradley with pinking shears last year because she happened to wear the same shade of purple as you at prom?" Charley gives me a sideways grin.
"Or how you were going to picket for animal rights at homecoming the year before because Tara Simpson said she was going to wear real fur?" I add, returning Charley's grin.
"I mean it ok. And if I have to remind you AGAIN- a real homecoming queen would so not support the use of fur for a fashion accessory."
I laugh and wave off my friends to their home rooms.
Come to think of it, it is weird that no-one's asked Izzy to the formal. Crazy she might be, but no-one can deny that she's impossibly pretty. For most of the year our little group is pretty much invisible but when it comes to prom season, or any kind of dance/formal, Izzy suddenly becomes very eligible. Her willowy figure and delicate features become noticeable.
In homeroom I find myself wondering who I'm going to go with.
Izzy's right- the formal's on Saturday and it's Thursday already. It might sound dumb, but I'd thought after this weekend that maybe Lucas would ask me. Clearly not.
I could go on my own…which would probably be ok…just kind of shameful at first…. I make a list of options on the back of my homework diary.
1. Wait for Lucas to ask me.
2. Take the next offer that comes up.
3. Go on my own 4. Not go at all
Well number 4 definitely looks attractive at the moment- but it's not an option, since my mom bought my dress and it didn't really come cheap. Hate to see it go to waste. I feel silly for caring so much but I so don't want to go on my own. As for waiting for Lucas…well that's not very reliable really. So unless the asker is a known serial killer or someone completely off limits…I guess it's number 2.
In bio I decide to make another list.
What constitutes as a completely off limits asker.
1. Serial killer/ anyone who looks vaguely psychotic 2. Someone ridiculously smaller than me (would look silly dancing with them.
3. Anyone with body odour/ bad breath that can simply not be covered up no matter how much deodorant/ toothpaste is used.
4. Anyone with overgrown facial hair.
"You forgot someone with contagious and deadly disease." Izzy's voice breaks my concentration. She's looking over my shoulder at the list. I blush. Ok- so the list is stupid- but right now it's all I can think of to help take my mind off this stupid formal.
"You're not the only one without a date Iz." I remind her, putting my jotter away and turning to face her.
"Oh really…what about your thingy thing thing with Mr Lucas Scott?" she says winking at me.
"It's not a thing."
"Sure it is- he keeps coming to your house."
I sigh. If only it were that simple. If only a guy coming to your house to hang out with you meant that he liked you. Not "just friends" liked you, but wants to take you to a formal likes you.
"He'll probably ask you…y'know…by the end of today." she sounds doubtful despite her words- can't say I blame her.
"I seriously doubt it." I reply glumly.
She smiles and pats my cheek.
"Don't worry mon petite pal…Isabel Van Hogan is -as we all know- champion of the world. And if there's one thing champions of the world know how to do, it's find dates…" she twists up her hair and secures it with a pen "I guarantee we'll both have two spectacular dates by the end of today!"
"I love your optimism" I say grimly.
"Groups of 3" calls Mr Phillips from the front of the class, "Read and discuss pages 82 to 84 of your textbooks."
Do teachers actually think we do that? I mean surely they realise that giving us permission to discuss something in class is never a particularly productive learning outlet.
Regardless of my thoughts on teaching methods, Izzy and I get into a group like usual and to our immense surprise, Nathan Scott drags his stool over to join our us.
"Hi." he says smiling broadly.
Izzy and I look at each other- both completely weirded out.
"Hi." I reply uncertainly.
So- I've had one or two conversations with Nathan Scott but I wouldn't call him a friend. He's an acquaintance at most. Certainly not someone who would put himself in a group with me and Iz when he could go with some of his jock buddies. Or Rosemary.
And yet here he is.
We try and discuss what we're supposed to but sooner or later we lapse back into general conversation, figuring the best thing to do is ignore Nathan. And of course general conversation is steered round to the thing at foreground of everybody's mind.
"I just don't understand," complains Izzy twirling her pencil around in her long elegant fingers, "it's not just that I don't have a date, it's that no-one's asked me. No-one!"
Now let's just pause this moment for a second- Izzy might be starting to sound a little self absorbed- trust me when I say, she really isn't. She doesn't care about things like popularity or her looks. And she isn't just one of those people who just SAYS she doesn't care. She actually doesn't. And she isn't vain at all. It's just that she's always been beautiful and she's always been the first to be asked out- so obviously, it would seem a little weird to her that no-one's asked her.
"Izzy, you'll get a date. You always do. Me on the other hand…"
Nathan who's been relatively quiet till this point suddenly joins in the conversation.
"How about you come with me?"
It's not until I see Izzy frantically nodding at me behind Nathan that I realise the question was directed at me. This is too weird. I don't even know Nathan Scott. Saying yes would be silly and irrational and probably turn out to be the stupidest thing I could possibly do.
"Um…well…I…um" I stutter. I'm too shocked to even form actual words.
I'm about to attempt a "No" when I see Izzy holding my jotter above Nathan's head and pointing to my first list. More specifically "Number 2- Take the next offer that comes up."
I hesitate. Lucas. The name just keeps revolving round my brain, telling me to say no. But let's be honest here- it's not gonna happen is it? I've just been kidding myself. Lucas wants a friend in me and nothing else….. So I figure…what the hell? Nathan's cute and….I'm sure there's something else… "Lucas' brother" my brain says in a sing song voice…SHUT UP BRAIN…What harm could it do…really?
I raise my eyes to meet Nathan's sharp blue ones.
"Um….sure…why not?"