After we had explained everything to Principal Towers and Koh's name was cleared, our group of friends went out for some ice cream at Mabel's, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.
"I can't believe that Kara would stoop so low!" Payton exclaimed as she scooped up a spoonful of her Peppermint Paradise Sundae.
"Well, I can," Wes spoke up. "She's had it out for our school since day one."
Julian nodded in agreement.
"So, Koh, what exactly did you do at those cheer practices that made Kara so mad?" Sakura asked before she took a large bite of the Banana Split Bonanza that she and Nishan were sharing. When Nishan ordered that special for them, Sakura had given him a look. Trouble in relationship paradise? I wondered.
Koh smirked. "Let's just say that Kara's not a fan of food coloring. Or stink bombs. Or replacing the pom-pom material with rubber snakes."
Everyone laughed.
"Oh man, I would love to see the look on her face!" Julian cried. His face suddenly morphed from laughing to serious.
"Hey, Koh, I've been meaning to ask you something, but I got sidetracked by this whole Kara thing."
"Yes?" Koh asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Would you—would you like to go out sometime? I know this cool bowling alley that we could check out," he began, his root-beer-brown eyes pleading like a puppy dog's.
"Aww!" Payton squealed.
"Shh, Payton!" Mia whisper-hissed. "She hasn't even replied yet!"
Everyone stared at Koh, waiting for her response. Her lips curled up in a devious smile.
"Sure," she smirked. "I'd love to go out with you."
"Yay!" Payton exclaimed. "I've shipped you two since, like, forever!" Ezra took advantage of her distraction and carved out a big chunk of her sundae.
"Hey!" Payton lightly slapped his arm away. "Now I get to have some of yours. It's only fair!" Everyone laughed as Payton took a dollop of Ezra's Rocky Road Mudslide Supreme.
In the flurry of conversation, I felt someone nudge at my arm.
"That reminds me, wehaven't gone on a date in a while," Wes murmured. "How about next Friday?" He smirked.
"Hmm," I pretended to check my appointment calendar on my iPhone. Even if there was something, I could change it and make them wait. After a few seconds, I looked up.
"I think Friday can work," I fluttered my DiorShow-coated eyelashes at him.
"Great!" Wes grinned. "I've got something special planned for you."
I smiled to myself. He was always doing things like that, surprising me with special dates. I was so lucky to have someone like him… but unfortunately, he came with a problem that was always threatening to drive a wedge in our relationship. A problem named Autumn Brooks. My eyes widened as suddenly I realized something. No wonder our outing was so peaceful and perfect… Autumn wasn't here!
But I had realized that too soon as the stained-glass door of Mabel's opened… and in came the devil in ratty sneakers herself, Autumn Brooks.
Fuck my life, I groaned to myself.
"Hey, everyone!" Autumn chirped. "What did I miss?" She raised her hand and waved it wildly like a three-year-old. "Menu, please!" As if things couldn't get any worse, Autumn decided to take a seat at the table Wes and I were sitting at. (We were all sitting in twos and threes in tables next to each other.)
"Hey, Wes," Autumn cooed.
"Hey," Wes replied. I dug my Chanel Black Satin manicure into my Agent Provocateur garter-covered thigh.
Luckily, I was saved from watching any more of Autumn's flirting as Payton bounded up to our table.
"Autumn! You'll never guess what happened! Julian asked Koh out!" She squealed. "Aren't they the cutest couple ever?"
Autumn's face turned pale. Payton flushed as she realized her mistake.
"Oh!" Payton cried. "I forgot! I'm sorry!" Her kind face filled with sympathy. It seemed like Payton, along with the rest of the student body, had forgotten that Julian had broken up with Autumn. Just like they should have. Autumn didn't deserve any of the guys she got.
I bit my lip and took a sip of my Mabel's Diet Delights shake to conceal my smirk.
"You never care about anyone else but yourself!" Autumn screeched. "All you care about is being a materialistic, date-obsessed party girl! My boyfriend just broke up with me and all you care about is his new girlfriend!" Her face got red and her eyes became squinty. Autumn burst into tears (yet again) and ran for the bathroom.
Payton started to go after her, but I put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "No. Just give her some space," I ordered in a soft, sweet tone, sounding like a concerned friend when really I could give a rat's ass about Autumn. "I'll take care of this."
Before I entered the bathroom, I checked over my shoulder to make sure that no one was following me on the way there. Perfect, I thought, seeing that all my friends were still at their tables.
I opened the door, and, just like I expected, Autumn was crying in an unlocked stall. I flung open the stall door loudly. Autumn looked up, shocked, momentarily distracted from her crying spree.
"Autumn, are you okay?" I asked in my "sweet-as-honey" voice.
Autumn's eyes grew big. She wasn't expecting this. Especially since we didn't have an audience.
I patted her on the shoulder consolingly. "I know how hard breakups can be," I murmured in a soft voice. This was total bullshit, of course—before I met Wes, I was always the dumper and never the dumpee. And none of my exes had come even remotely close to breaking my heart.
I continued on with my charade."I know we haven't always got along, but you can always talk to me. Breakups are always hard on everyone. I knew Julian meant a lot to you," I lied smoothly. She didn't really give a rat's ass about Julian—she was way too selfish for that.
Autumn looked at me. Her eyes were red. Her cheeks were tear-stained. I had never seen a more pathetic sight… well, except for maybe her ratty sneakers.
"Ju-Julian and I had been fighting for a while n-now," Autumn choked. "He said I n-never let him pursue his career goals." She sobbed into the Spring Floral dress that she had stolen from a prep classmate of ours (like she would actually own anything stylish), wiping her nose on the skirt of the dress. Eww! I screamed inwardly.
"He—he's so selfish!" Autumn blubbered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He likes football and his fr-friends and his family m-more than me!"
Now, I was sick of faking nice.
"Maybe because you're a selfish bitch," I hissed, my normally vibrant brown eyes turning into black cesspools of venom. "No wonder Julian dumped you. No wonder Payton and everyone else forgot about your breakup. No wonder the entire student body hates your guts."
Autumn gasped.
I pulled some tissue from the tissue paper dispenser and practically threw it in her face.
"And here," I continued. "Try wiping your nose on some tissue instead of your clothes. And, please stay the fuck away from us tonight, I don't want you ruining everything like you always do."
And with that, I left the bathroom.
When I got back, I everyone was joking around and laughing except for Payton, who seemed to be anxiously waiting my return.
"Is she okay?" Payton asked me.
"Actually, she's feeling ill and doesn't want to see anyone right now. She's gonna go home with a cab. She said to go on without her." I said in a seemingly serious tone.
"Okay," Payton replied. "Tell her I hope she gets better soon!"
Let's hope the opposite is true, I thought to myself as we paid our bills and left to go to the movie theater.
